"Incident At A Free Festival - Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 20 Tracks from 1969 to 1975 by Deep Purple, Manfred Man Chapter Three, Andwella, Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, Atomic Rooster, May Blitz, Paladin, Curved Air, Stack Waddy, BJH, Edgar Broughton Band, Stray, Library Music from Steve Gray, Dave Richmond, Alan Parker and Alan Hawkshaw, Slowload, Leafhound, James Hogg [a band], Jonesy and more (November 2023 UK Ace Records CD Themed Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Chasing Shadows..."

 

RATING: ****

SOUND: **** to *****

PRESENTATION: *****

 

On Page 17 of the booklet for this very hip Ace Records compilation (from those hairymen arbitrators of good taste Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs) is a Promo Picture (no less) of the seriously obscure Slowload who managed a few singles on the largely Gilbert O'Sullivan based MAM Records label. Where do Ace get these things from – never mind locate the decidedly un-PC B-side "Big Boobs Boogie" – a flip to a Loving Spoonful cover on the A? The naffly named but very 1971 period B-side by Slowload was presumably put there to spare punters record shop emporium embarrassment (I will do anything for a slide guitar mate – well almost anything).

 

Such is the way with these Stanley/Wiggs themed-compilations – not all of which I have liked I must say. But this November 2023 one is a great listen and the boys have even put it out on a 2LP limited edition such is their hirsute confidence (God bless 'em). Thematically, picture muddy fields and Rock festivals in the country (and on islands) in the afternoon where the second and third tier bands of the day (most only just past debut albums on deeply Avant Garde labels) get to regale the weary mob before the headliners hit the stage that night. Prog Rock, Guitar whig-outs, some Funky rhythms and even Osibisa-type grooves meets with four Library Music slots to provide that eclectic underground scene vibe. And for the main part, it so works. Good song choices, discoveries too, some very cool 45-single sides that have stood the 50-year test of time. To the Meat Pies and the Afghan Guys...

 

UK released Friday, 24 November 2023 - "Incident At A Free Festival - Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1619 (Barcode 029667109123) is a 20-Track themed-compilation (on CD and 2LP formats) that plays out as follows (CD, 78:25 minutes):

 

1. Chasing Shadows – DEEP PURPLE (November 1969 UK Third Studio LP "Deep Purple" on Harvest SHVL 759, Lead Vocals by Rod Evans)

 

2. One Way Glass – MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE (November 1969 UK LP "Manfred Mann Chapter Three" on Vertigo VO 3, Lead Vocals by Mike Hugg)

 

3. Hold On To Your Mind – ANDWELLA (October 1970 UK 45-single on Reflection R.S. 3, A-side, featuring David Lewis)

 

4. Hot Pants – ALAN PARKER and ALAN HAWKSHAW [Guitarist and Keyboardist with Blue Mink] (1972 UK Music Library LP "Flute For Moderns" on KPM Music KPM 1080)

 

5. Do It – PINK FAIRIES (January 1971 UK 45-single on Polydor 2058 089, B-side of "The Snake")

 

6. Tomorrow Night – ATOMIC ROOSTER (September 1970 UK 45-single on B&C Records CB 131, A-side, featuring Vincent Crane)

 

7. Taken All The Good Things – STRAY (May 1970 UK Debut Album "Stray" on Transatlantic Records TRA 216, featuring Steve Gadd and Del Bromham)

 

8. Out Demons Out – EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND (April 1970 UK Non-Album 45 7" single on Harvest HAR 5015, A-side)

 

9. For Mad Men Only – MAY BLITZ (May 1971 UK Second and Last Studio LP "The 2^nd Of May" on Vertigo 636 0037)

 

10. Back Street Luv – CURVED AIR (June 1971 UK 45-single on Warner Brothers WB 8029, reissued and charted as Warner Brothers K 16092 - featuring Sonja Kristina, Francis Monkman, Darryl Way, Ian Eyre and Florian Pilkington-Miksa)

 

11. Ejection – HAWKWIND (2011 Remastered Version from the Back On Black ROVO13LP reissue of their third studio album "Doremi Fasol Latido" – recorded during those 1972 sessions)

 

12. Meat Pies 'Ave Come But Band's Not 'Ere Yet – STACK WADDY (October 1972 UK second album "Bugger Off" ("Bugger Off! on the artwork) on Dandelion Records 2310 231)

 

13. Lovely Lady Rock – JAMES HOGG [Band name not an individual] (June 1972 UK debut Non-LP 45-single on Regal Zonophone RZ 3054, A-side)

 

14. Third World – PALADIN (May 1971 UK Debut Album "Paladin" on Bronze Records ILPS 9150, featuring Lou Stonebridge, Derek Foley, Peter Solley, Pete Beckett and Keith Webb)

 

15. Taking Some Time On – BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST (June 1970 UK Debut LP "Their First Album" on Harvest SHVL 770)

 

16. Ricochet – JONESY (January 1973 UK 45-single on Dawn DNS 1030, A-side, an abridged edit of a track on their 1972 "No Alternative" LP)

 

17. Led Balloon – STEVE GRAY (1973 Various Artists Library Music LP "Fusion: Contemporary Styles In Electro-Pop" on KPM Music KPM 1121, credited as Steve Grey on the LP)

 

18. Big Boobs Boogie – SLOWLOAD (June 1971 UK Non-LP 45-single on Mam Records MAM 27, B-side of "On The Road Again")

 

19. Freelance Fiend – LEAFHOUND (October 1971 UK Debut LP rarity "Growers Of Mushrooms" on Decca SKL-R 5094, featuring Peter French later with Atomic Rooster)

 

20. Confunktion – DAVE RICHMOND (1975 Various Artists UK Library Music LP "Rock Spectrum" on KPM Music KPM 1163)

 

Across its 20-pages, Bob Stanley explains the choices and history of both the tunes and the bands - "Incident At A Free Festival" being a sort of tribute compilation to mid-afternoon slots by uppercoming combos who needed to win the crowd (unlike most of the headliners). The text as you can imagine is hugely informative and is accompanied on almost every name with photo memorabilia from the period - a Pink Fairies Music Press advert for the stand-alone 7" single "The Snake" b/w "Do It" - cool 45 labels like "Tomorrow Night" by Atomic Rooster on B&C Records abutting with Curved Air giving it some "Back Street Luv" on Warner Brothers (magic both of them). Stack Waddy's "Bugger Off!" LP on Dandelion up to a £2.09 advert by Decca for Leafhound's legendarily rare LP "Growers Of Mushrooms" of which there are said to be less than 500 copies.

 

The listen is very Prog Rock meets Hard Rock meets Funky Rock meets Flute and Synth Library Music on KPM and I must admit I mucked about with the track list's playing order on my CD player (I sequenced 13, 14, 15, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3, 10, 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20). There is a truly amazing clarity across the presentation of what amounts to recordings from 1969 right through to 1975 - all of it sounds good, clear, punchy and in the cases of say Paladin and Hawkwind and May Blitz - better than ever (Remasters courtesy of Ace's long-standing Audio Engineer NICK ROBBINS - a man with vast experience handling material like this). To the listen...

 

It opens with Deep Purple, Rod Evans as Lead Vocalist not quite convincing like Ian Gillan would do. Better for me is Mike Hugg taking the vocals on Manfred Mann's Chapter Three song ""One Way Glass" - a cool fusion-type tune that Trifle covered on their December 1970 UK LP "First Meeting" (Dawn DNLS 3017) - see my review for the 3CD Grapefruit Box Set from 2017 called  "One Way Glass: Dancefloor Prog, Brit Jazz & Funky Folk 1968-1975". Tremendous Drums and Poptastic Flute fill out a hammering Andwella while Members of Blue Mink - Alan Holdsworth and Alan Parker - moonlight on a Library Music LP with guitars and flute - one of those expensive and rare sets you can never find. 

 

Paul Rudolph of Pink Fairies puts in a blinding guitar solo for their sought-after B-side "Do It" - he who would eventually replace Lemmy in Hawkwind. Normally hard-rocking Stray manage a very swish groove with their "Taken All The Good Things" - teenagers getting it on in 1970. Can't say I'm enamoured with the sheer crazy of Edgar Broughton's "Out Demons Out" (some love it) and the riffage of the May Blitz track "For Mad Men Only" is a little too plodding for my refined pallet. Although it's a staggering 50-years plus since teenagers like me lusted after Sonja Kristina of Curved Air as they synth-trashed our groovy brains in 1971 with "Back Street Luv" - it still thrills and feels like that woman would sort out your lurve-life in a Brompton bike shed in no time at all. 

 

Trashy, grungeing, full of Pre-Punk attitude and snotty holler - the Hawkwind "Ejection" track for appeared as a Bonus on the 2001 EMI CD reissue for the band's 1972 third album "Doremi Fasol Latido" - Bob Calvert living up to his rep for balls-to-the-wall (here they use a 2011 Mix). The Stack Waddy track is fun at best, only OK at worst but the obscure band James Hogg is a brilliant inclusion/choice - their "Lovely Lady Rock" being a died-a-death debut 45 on Regal Zonophone that I must admit in 30 years of collecting seriously - I've never seen. And on it goes to Jonesy and Leafhound blowing our Prog-addled minds with Mellotron tales of Crimson alternatives and freelance mushrooms (yum yum). The four instrumental Library Music pieces give different flavours to the listen and make available on CD for the first time tracks we enthusiasts would rarely get a look in on.

 

Ace (of the UK) have also issued "Incident At A Free Festival" on a 2LP 20-Track Double-Album (no extras) on Ace Records XXQLP2 120 (Barcode 029667022019) – while Rough Trade have an exclusive – 300 Copies only on Denim Blue Vinyl on Ace Records XXQLP2 120RT - both also issued Friday, 24 Nov 2023.

 

I haven't loved-to-worrisome-oblivion every Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs compilation outing they've done for Ace Records, but as an entry in a good series of finally representing the underdogs - "Incident At A Free Festival" rocks. And that gatefold vinyl double is surely gonna make some black-stuff fanatic a very happy (mushroom) bunny indeed. Pass me the Wellingtons boys...I'm goin' in...again...

"Vagabonds Of The Western World: 50th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl" by THIN LIZZY - September 1973 UK Third Studio Album on Decca - 1974 USA with Phil Lynott, Erib Bell and Brian Downey, Jr. (17 November 2023 UK Universal/Decca '50th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl' Reissue and Remaster with an LP of Extra Tracks - Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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RATING: ***** (Audio and Presentation)

 

"...A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile..."

 

Back in October 2010 - Lizzy's third studio album (and final as a Trio with Eric bell on Lead Guitar) "Vagabonds Of The Western World" got the Universal '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatment - and I for one raved about its audio, presentation and extras. Time to re-rave frankly. 

 

You have to say that Universal has done the absolute dog's you-know-what by their 1973 third studio album for its 50th Anniversary Reissue here in 2023. I love these things so much that I've only gone and committed to all three big formats - the 50^th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl set with a fantastically complimentary Extras LP (which I'm reviewing here) and the 50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set that has a 60-page book to drool over with the album on LP1 and LPs 2, 3 and 4 being the 'Radio One In Concert/John Peel Sessions' from 1972 and 1973 that first appeared on "At The BBC" 6CD Box Set in 2011. Those BBC Sessions are first-issue on vinyl in the 4LP Box which I've reviewed elsewhere. The 4-Disc 50^th Anniversary Super Deluxe variant will also be a thing of '3CD/1BLU RAY/DOLBY ATMOS MIXES' lust - but it's been delayed and is due 1 Dec 2023 with the ATMOS Mixes being first-time-ever for a Lizzy release. At this point in time there appears to be no 2023 single LP, single CD or 2CD sets - just the above 3 variants in 50th Anniversary Issues. 

 

Back to LPs - I've bought great reissue vinyl before - David Sylvian on Virgin, Peter Gabriel on Real World and the stunning Paul Blackmore-Mastered expanded 2LP reissue of Terry Callier's 1968 Debut "The New Folk Sound Of..." on Craft Recordings in 2018 - all these sets have tickled the funny bones, touched the heart and are fabulous owns. But this 2LP set and the 4LP Box Set (reviewed elsewhere) are the business. Details for then and now...

 

Originally released as an album 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca Records SKL 5170 (May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with a slightly edited version of "Little Girl In Bloom") – the LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" had huge tunes like the manic guitar-fest of "The Rocker", the slide guitar meets environmental statement song "Mama Nature Said" and the deeply touching and melodious "Little Girl In Bloom" - it was a huge song-writing step forward after "Thin Lizzy" of 1971 and "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" in 1972. Hip British DJ of the moment (1973) - David Kid Jensen narrates "The Hero And The Madman". It was also the first to feature their trademark look via Jim Fitzpatrick artwork and pointed towards a commercial Rock future that would take three more albums to arrive at "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" - both in 1976. Back to the first of the November 2023 "Vagabonds..." VINYL reissues - here are the heroes and the madmen...

 

Released Friday, 17 November 2023 - "Vagabonds Of The Western World" by THIN LIZZY on Universal/Decca 5587529 (Barcode 602455875297) is a Limited Edition 2-LP VINYL Set on Purple Vinyl - a 50th Anniversary Reissue with an Extra Album. It comes as a gatefold sleeve with two dedicated inners (the original was a single sleeve with a lyric insert) - LP1 being the original 1973 album of 8-tracks while LP2 has 10-tracks around the original release (Single-Sides, Edits, Outtakes). It plays out as follows:

 

LP1 "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Side 1

1. Mama Nature Said

2. The Hero And The Madman 

3. Slow Blues

4. The Rocker

Side 2

1. Vagabond Of Western World

2. Little Girl In Bloom

3. Gonna Creep Up On You

4. A Song For While I'm Away

 

LP2 "Vagabonds Of The Western World - Bonuses"

Side 1

1. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

2. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

3. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

4. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

5. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

NOTES:

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A & B-sides of their second UK 7" single released 3 November 1972 on Decca F 13355. "Whisky In The Jar" (spelt with an 'e' only on American issues) was the real starting point for Thin Lizzy's global success. "Whisky" is a traditional Irish air dating as far back as 1729 and was originally only meant to be a jokey B-side dashed off in the studio to accompany "Black Boys On The Corner" on the A (far more representative of their rocking sound). But British DJ's flipped the single and "Whisky" became the hit. It finally charted January 1973 and eventually rose to number 6.

[Note: the version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:44 minutes. However a 7" 'edit' of the track was quickly pressed up for BBC Radio play and the US 7" single on London - this 'edit' version at 3:44 minutes is on the October 2010 UK 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" and on the December 2023 '50th Anniversary' Super Deluxe CD Edition

 

Tracks 3 and 4 are their 2nd UK 7" single released May 1973, both tracks on Decca F 13402 were non-album at the time.

[Note: the version of "Randolph's Tango" that is used here is known as the 'Full Version' at 3:49 minutes - the promo-only 7" edit at 2:25 minutes is Track 17 on the 2CD DE version of "Vagabonds..." from October 2010) 

 

Track 5 on Side 1 and Track 1 on Side 2 is their 3rd UK 7" single and the first to feature a track off the album. "The Rocker" (A-side) was issued as a 7" single in the UK in November 1973 on Decca F 13467 and is an edited version (2:41 as opposed to the album's 5:12 minutes). It was backed with another non-album Phil Lynott track, the jaunty "Here I Go Again". 

 

LP2 Side 2

1. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

2. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

3. Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix, Extended Version)

4. Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix)

5. Gonna Creep Up On You (Alternate Mix)

NOTES:

Track 5 on Side 1 and Track 1 on Side 2 is their 3rd UK 7" single and the first to feature a track off the album. "The Rocker" (A-side) was issued as a 7" single in the UK in November 1973 on Decca F 13467 and is an edited version (2:41 as opposed to the album's 5:12 minutes). It was backed with another non-album Phil Lynott track, the jaunty "Here I Go Again". 

 

Track 2 is non-album also. Often called "Cruising In The Lizzymobile" - its correct title "A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile" is used here. It is also a genuine Thin Lizzy vinyl rarity as it was only ever issued on the B-side of the 7" GERMAN release of "The Rocker". Its CD debut first came on the "Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels" 4CD Box Set in 2001. Its rare picture sleeve is reproduced on the right flap of the inner gatefold (along with three other Euro Pic Sleeves) of this double-album. 

 

Tracks 3, 4 and 5 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 'Alternate Mixes'

 

The inner gatefold has the original album artwork from 1973 on the left side (counters the new 'outtake' Jim Fitzpatrick artwork on the front cover of this double) while the right-side flap has a Picture Sleeve Montage of four rare Euro 45s - "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark with "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark. Both dedicated inner sleeves feature promotional material from Decca in 1973 - a full page advert for the LP with quotes from British DJs and Fans John Peel and Kid Jensen along with cartoon adverts for "Whisky In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango". 

 

It's all beautifully done and the mastering is by two fave Audio Engineers - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM - who have handled huge swathes of Universal's Rock and Pop catalogue - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Spooky Tooth, ELP, Uriah Heep and Thin Lizzy too. The new Remasters are fabulous - loving too the Alternate Mixes. I can see why they were left in the can, but for a diehard like me - they're absolutely fascinating stuff. Apart from not listing playing times on the labels - I'd have to say that this 2LP VINYL reissue is not only a fabulous listen - that 2ND LP plays like the big-ball-brother little-brother "Vagabonds..." has always wanted. I'm going to be canning this on my turntable for months on end. 

 

A gorgeous reissue then and apart from not listing playing times on the labels - I'd have to say that this 2LP VINYL reissue is not only a fabulous listen - that 2ND LP plays like the big-balls-brother little-brother "Vagabonds Of The Western World" has always wanted as a room mate. I'm going to be canning this on my turntable for months on end.

 

The Black Vinyl '50th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set' edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (Issued 17 Nov 2023 on Universal/Decca 5587518 - Barcode 602455875181) are all different too. LP1 is the album remastered with no less than three BBC Sessions (two with John Peel) on the other three LPs (unreleased stuff too). The £110 Box Set is accompanied by a gorgeous 60-Page Book with Rare Memorabilia Pictured and New Notes by Mark Blake. 

 

But back to what we've got - at just under forty-quid, this Double Album 2023 Reissue of "Vagabonds..." is not exactly cheap - but it is the business. But then, as this is Thin Lizzy and as an Irishman and Dubliner who once saw Phil Lynott busking on Grafton Street when I was a kid before the first LP was even out – I am a goner. A truly superb combo set that works - buy and treasure...

"Paladin/Charge!" by PALADIN – May 1971 UK Debut Album and April 1972 Second and Final Studio Album on Bronze Records – featuring Lu Stonebridge, Peter Solley, Derek Foley, Pete Beckett and Keith Webb (October 2023 UK Beat Goes On Records Compilation – 2LPs onto 2CDs with One Bonus Track – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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RATING: **** 

SOUND: *****

PRESENTATION: *****

 

"...Mix Your Mind With The Moonbeams..."

 

In the liner notes of this excellent but ever so slightly flawed BGO twofer CD reissue from October 2023 – Keyboard Player, Lead Vocalist and founder member of Paladin Lou Stonebridge describes the sexy Prog-Rock meets Funk rhythms of the short lived Paladin as "...a cross between Santana and Osibisa". Well, I'd throw in War too. And frankly anyone else on Vertigo Spiral with Hippity-Hoppity ants in their Rock Lead pants.

 

Although often described as Prog Rock – much of the time the Paladin sound comes at you like a drum-based funky-rhythms five-piece virtuoso hybrid that squeezes in guitar passages and keyboard flourishes aplenty. Imagine Zeppelin's "Moby Dick" drum solo from their epic October 1969 "II" album attached to cool War-like grooves and lyrics by way of hip-shaker crossover acts like say Malo or Mother's Finest or even The Mahavishnu Orchestra - and you get the sonic picture. These guys could play to beat the band (the first album was laid down during power-cuts) – while the second LP is seen by some as a fusion-of-styles masterpiece with definite Progressive leanings. In fact for their 24 November 2023 Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs compilation "Incident At A Free Festival" for Ace Records (part of a long running themed series of compilations – see separate review) – those two manly purveyors of all things eclectic, forgotten and yet tasteful used the very War-sounding "Third World" by Paladin as a highlight on that CD/2LP comp. 

 

But back to what we got - unfortunately, Beat Goes On of the UK (BGO) have left off one crucial song that appeared on the American variant of the debut album and would for me have given this fab reissue a straight five-stars (hence the four rating - see NOTES re the track line-up under the CD1 listing below). Still, there is so much to love here – to the moonbeams and charging horse dreams...in short, details...

 

UK released Friday, 13 October 2023 - "Paladin/Charge!" by PALADIN on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1501 (Barcode 5017261215017) offers their two studio albums from 1971 and 1972 Remastered onto Two CDs with One Non-LP 45-Single Bonus Track on CD2. They plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Paladin" (37:34 minutes):

1. Bad Times [Side 1 UK – see Notes]

2. Carry Me Home

3. Dance Of The Cobra

4. Third World [Side 2 – see Notes]

5. Fill Up Your Heart

6. Flying High

7. The Fakir

Tracks 1 to 7 are the British LP Version of their debut album "Paladin" – released May 1971 in the UK on Bronze Records ILPS 9150 and Epic E 31137 in the USA.

NOTES: The US LP had eight tracks and not seven – two of which were not on the UK debut. "Giving All My Love" at 2:29 minutes began Side 1 whilst the song "Anyway" at 4:18 minutes replaced "Third World" (3:51 minutes) as the opener on Side 2. The US Epic Records single sleeve LP also had photo artwork on both back and front (the five snaps used on the inner gatefold of the British LP) unlike the plain black sleeve gatefold of the UK version. The song "Giving All My Love" was also the B-side of "Anyway" - their first UK 45-single issued July 1971 on Bronze Records WIP 6108. While "Anyway" is on the "Charge!" album (CD2), unfortunately "Giving All My Love" has not been included on this reissue so you cannot sequence the American LP from this release.

 

CD2 "Charge!" (44:15 minutes):

1. Give Me Your Hand (7:49 minutes) [Side 1]

2. Well We Might (6:02 minutes)

3. Get One Together (2:36 minutes)

4. Anyway (4:17 minutes)

5. Good Lord (6:45 minutes) [Side 2]

6, Mix Your Mind With The Moonbeams (6:00 minutes)

7. Watching The World Pass By (9:33 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 7 are their second and final album "Charge!" – released April 1972 in the UK on Bronze Records ILPS 9190 (no US issue). Some early copies of the British LP had a sticker advising that the song "Anyway" (which had been on the US debut) is an addition to the second British LP at the end of Side 1. For instance even though the German LP on Island Records 86 097 IT has gatefold Roger Dean artwork like the British issue - the song "Anyway" is on the vinyl and Side 1 label as Track 4, but it is not mentioned on the track list of the inner gatefold – so a late addition it was.

 

BONUS TRACK:

8. Sweet Sweet Music

Tracks 8 was the Non-LP stand-alone A-side of a September 1972 UK 45-Single on Bronze Records BRO 3 with "Get One Together" from the "Charge!" LP as its B-side. "Sweet Sweet Music" was also issued in Germany, Spain and France as 45s in picture sleeves - all of which are repro’d on Page 10 of the booklet.

 

PALADIN was (for both albums):

LOU STONEBRIDGE – Lead Vocalist and Electric Piano

PETER SOLLEY – Second Vocalist, Hammond Organ, Piano and Violin

DEREK FOLEY – Lead Guitar and Vocals

PETE BECKETT – Bass and Vocals

KEITH WEBB – Drums and Percussion

 

The card slipcase and 20-page booklet are up to the usual classy Beat Goes On standards – artwork reproduced – new liner notes by MICHAEL HEATLEY that includes interviews with Lou Stonebridge and even Tom McGuinness – McGuinness Flint being the band that Stonebridge migrated too after Paladin imploded. Stonebridge for instance went on to session with many Rock luminaries like the David Byron of Uriah Heep solo LP "Take No Prisoners". Bassist Pete Beckett became a songwriter - went to the States and formed Player who had a huge Yacht Rock No.1 hit with "Baby Come Back" on RSO Records in 1977/1978. Peter Solley made his way into Procol Harum for a while via Blues rockers Snafu and so on. All of these details and more are explored in the booklet. The five photos of the boys that adorned the inner-gatefold of the UK debut and were used as the front cover artwork for the American LP is on Page 2 – pictures of Euro 45s etc.

 

The Audio is from ANDREW THOMPSON – new 2023 Remasters done at Sound Performance and these CDs rock! There is fantastic clarity and power on these albums especially when your speakers are rattling with Osibisa rhythm sections being topped off by impressive keyboard soloing via fusion flourishes close to say Colosseum. To the tunes...

 

From the opening Bass and Cowbell rhythm followed by very Graham Bon Organization organ – the Audio feels great – nice separation of instruments. The first of four Peter Solley compositions on the "Paladin" debut - "Bad Times" warns how easily the good life slips into something less free and far darker. Dig that great guitar break and the speeding up of the keyboards and rhythm section – so "Singing Winds, Crying Beasts" by Santana – the "Abraxsas" album by them from September 1970 having taken the world by storm. From this great Funky-Rock opening, you can only imagine what a fabulous live act Paladin must have been. Lou Stonebridge and Pete Beckett provide "Carry Me Home" – a boozy piano-driven Blues shuffle where the boys beg someone (anyone) to take them away from the sorrow of today. Side 1 ends with a beast of varying colours – cool rhythms, warbling electric piano notes and Funky Osibisa guitar flicks introducing the very War-vibe of "Dance Of The Cobra" by drummer Keith Webb. Soon the chugging Funk is joined by treated Sly Stone guitar where Derek Foley is determined to show everyone he knows a thing or two about the dots on his fretboard. But being the Drummers song – come four minutes in comes the big kit solo by way of "Moby Dick".

 

Side 2 of the "Paladin" debut comes on like Gil Scott Heron with a Funky rhythm behind him as year dates are talked about and predicted – a rant called "Third World". There is even Punk daring and attitude in the highly politicized Pete Solley lyrics and talk of dodgy religious indoctrination being overthrown. By the time the singer gets to 1979 and his boys go "Whoa!" (as they did after year is mentioned) – a Funky Piano solo sexy-shimmies the song to its end lifting "Third World" up into genius Soul-Rock territory. Solley provides tune Number Four with the deeply Funky Rhythms of "Fill Up Your Heart" – a so-Santana groove that it hurts (great guitar work too as they let rip). Solley offers his fourth and final with "Flying High" – a mellow keyboard shimmering love song where some lady is weaving her magical spell around our hapless hero. The only cover on the album ends the LP – a take on a Lalo Schifrin instrumental called "The Fakir" where an Eastern Bizarre complete with baskets of snakes meets with London Prog Rock and Osibisa rhythms. And again, another seriously impressive performance that only grows and grows after repeated listens – much like the whole album. It's such a damn shame BGO didn't include both "Giving All My Love" and "Anyway" as Bonus Tracks so that fans could sequence the 8-track US version of the debut from CD1 (docked a star for that oversight).

 

Although their second album "Charge!" never received a release on Epic in the States – in Blighty and beyond – the second Paladin album holds a High Table placing. Some have called it a masterpiece of Prog Rock meets Fusion meets War meets Osibisa and so on. It was even given the accolade of a gatefold Roger Dean cover (actually one of my favourite futuristic paintings outside Yes and Badger and Budgie). So I might just agree with such lofty aspirations. The Bass line throughout the Peter Solley opener "Give Me Your Hand" anchors another groovy guitar/keyboard funky workout. Slide guitar via Snafu and some kind of Fumble Rock and Roll fills the rollicking "Well We Might" with a simple boogie-joy. It's a smart mood change that makes the music feel more multi-faceted (must have torn up the aisles in a live setting).

 

Drummer Keith Webb brings it back to Funky Prog with the Wah-Wah vs. Hammond "Get One Together" – and again one thinks of Santana having a yeah-yeah lets boogie on the rugs moment as the band cooks. Audio-wise "Get One Together" rocks, those keyboard solos tearing out of your speakers. Many copies of UK and German LPs did not have the Solley-penned "Anyway" listed on the sleeve (but it was on the LP and label) so some copies came with a sticker explaining that it was a late addition. You can hear when it comes to its melodious chorus why someone thought it might stand a chance as a single. Side 2 continues the Funk-a-thon with "Good Lord" written by Foley, Stonebridge and Beckett. A very cool guitar and rhythm-intro builds and builds until it just lets-rip into a full on race. Engines cool down again when the singing starts – but it remains a Funk-Rock-meets-Soul nugget on an LP that shows how the band had progressed so much between records (dig that subtle vibe-sounding keyboard solo - brilliant).

 

Peter Solley throws the wonderfully titled "Mix Your Mind With The Moonbeams" into the stew – a contemplative trippy keyboard soundscape that quickly goes Yes as fast as it can – the kind of 1972 tune that would make Rick Wakeman smile. Stonebridge brings the album to a close with "Watching The World Pass By" – its mellow sixties Harmonica opening sounding like Midnight Cowboy has snook in via the back door. But soon (at 1:25 minutes) it's Family Stone Funking and Uriah Heep Rocking and Greenslade Church-Organ Progging like a goodun and pleasing us aging hippies come. CD2 is tail-ended by their second and last stand-alone 45 - "Sweet Sweet Music" - an obvious Funk-Rock groover akin to say Blackfoot Sue or Jo Jo Gunne or even Grand Funk Railroad. "Sweet Sweet Music" is a damn good groove and surprising its radio-friendly commercialism didn't see it chart big for them.

 

A superb Beat Goes On reissue then for me with great 2023 audio, curvaceous presentation and the feeling of a genuine blast from the past come a knock-knock-knocking on your stereo door (shame about that missing song though). 

 

The two Paladin albums go for money and on the evidence presented here – it's easy to hear why. Invest in this cracking 2CD Remaster from BGO and lose pounds as you dance the cobra, charge the Zimmer-frame and give it some moonbeams en route...(where's my Afro-wig when I need it)...

"Mae McKenna/Everything That Touches Me/Walk On Water plus Bonus Tracks" by MAE McKENNNA [ex Contraband] – August 1975 Debut, June 1976 Second Album and May 1977 Third Studio Albums on Transatlantic Records UK (November 2023 UK Beat Goes On Compilation – 3 Solo LPs Plus 2 'Contraband' Single Sides onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Thinking Of You..."

 

MUSIC RATING: *** AUDIO: ***** PRESENTATION: *****

 

Along with George Jackson, Billy Jackson, John Martin, Pete Cairney and Alex Baird – Scottish lass MAE McKENNA had formed CONTRABAND who signed to Transatlantic Records in 1973. As their lead singer, they put out one self-titled album of Irish and Scottish music called "Contraband" on Transatlantic TRA 278 in May 1974. McKenna then went Poptastic solo with her 1975 self-titled debut while Billy and George Jackson along with John Martin formed a full-on Traditional Folk outfit called OSSIAN and they put out their debut in 1977 on a tiny label - Springthyme Records SPR 1004.

 

Back to the case in hand - these Mae McKenna solo LPs are 'not' Folk Records. They were issued August 1975 (TRA 297), June 1976 (TRA 321) and May 1977 (TRA 345) on Transatlantic Records in the UK - but despite its famous-for-it All Things Folk label identity, these albums are far removed from that genre on all three counts. The listen is more mid Seventies Lady Pop and Rock by way of Linda Ronstadt or Helen Reddy or the syrupy acrobatics of Barbra Streisand.

 

Most of the songs across these two crammed CDs are cover versions - pianos mingling with strings and professionally played drums with good session-players putting in quality playing – but not a lot else. It's about as un-Folk as you can get and unfortunately very mid-Seventies nondescript. I recall we could never sell copies of Mae McKenna albums in Reckless because it was not Folk or Folk Rock. However, fans will love the first time availability on CD, the classy presentation and the super clear audio. There is a lot to get through – to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 10 November 2023 - "Mae McKenna/Everything That Touches Me/Walk On Water plus Bonus Tracks" by MAE McKENNA on Beat Goes On BGOCD1499 (Barcode 5017261214997) offers 3LPs and Two 45-Single Sides (by Contraband featuring Mae McKenna) onto 2CDs. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (43:56 minutes):

1. Dying To Live [Side 1]

2. Once In The Morning

3. All In Love Is Fair

4. The Other Side Of Me

5. Song For Simon

6. Together We Get By

7. Elderberry Wine [Side 2]

8. How Could We Dare To Be Wrong

9. Imagine

10. Black-Eyed Susan

11. Said The Major

12. Old Man

Tracks 1 to 12 are her debut album "Mae McKenna" – released August 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 297. Produced by PETE SAMES – it featured Martin Briley and Paul Keogh on Guitars, BJ Cole on Pedal Steel Guitar and Graham Prescott on Bass.

 

CD2 (78:44 minutes):

1. For Shame Of Doing Wrong [Side 1]

2. My Town

3. Thinking Of You

4. Crying In The Rain

5. Late For The Sky

6. Love Hurts [Side 2]

7. I Have Waited 

8. (I Ended Up) Losing You 

9. Everything That Touches Me

10. Lady For Today

11. Sixty Seconds Got Together

Tracks 1 to 11 are her second solo album "Everything That Touches Me" - released June 1976 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 321. Produced by RITCHIE GOLD - musicians included Elliott Randall and Isaac Guillory on Guitars with Pat Donaldson of Fotheringay on Bass and Timi Donald of Blue on Drums (String Arrangements by Pete Wingfield). 

12. Driven Away [Side 1]

13. Love Me Tomorrow

14. There's Been A Mistake

15. What Becomes Of The Broken Heart

16. Sailin'

17. Love Struck [Side 2]

18. He's A Man After My Own Heart

19. Love Hangover

20. For You My Love

21. I Want To Believe In You

Tracks 12 to 21 are her third solo album "Walk On Water" - released May 1977 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 345. Produced by RITCHIE GOLD - featuring Elliott Randall, Iassac Guillory Ronnie Leahy, Alan James, Gerry Conway and Pete Willsher.

BONUS TRACKS:

22. Lady For Today

23. On The Road

Tracks 22 and 23 are the A&B-sides of a 1974 UK 45-single by CONTRABAND featuring the voice of Mae McKenna on Transatlantic Records BIG 518

The card slipcase is lovely to look at (they are standard now with all Beat Goes on CD Reissues) - as is the 20-pages of the chock-a-block booklet with new liner notes by one of BGO's longstanding scribes JOHN O'REGAN. The album credits for all three are reproduced and the history is his usual plethora of details and interview segments. ANDREW THOMPSON has done the Remasters and as professionally produced albums from 1975, 1976 and 1977 - the CD Audio is top notch. You just wish the material warranted it. To the songs...

 

The debut has covers of Stevie Wonder's "All In Love Is Fair", Elton John's "Elderberry Wine", Randy Newman's "Old Man", Edgar Winter's "Dying To Live" and John Lennon's "Imagine" but few of them really click. A rare moment of beauty comes in her cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Song For Simon" that first appeared on the Humblebum's third album "Open Up The Door".

 

After the overly reaching-for-commercialism saccharine nature of the debut – solo album number two tries to Rock it up a bit with only marginally better results. It opens with a good rendition of Richard Thompson's "For Shame Of Doing Wrong". Elliott Randall of Steely Dan "Reeling In The Years" guitar-solo fame plays all the lead guitars aided and abetted by string arrangements from Pete Wingfield of Jellybread and "Eighteen With A Bullet" fame (Ronnie Leahy plays Keyboards). Channeling her inner Emmylou Harris/Country Rock sound, McKenna tackles Kate and Anna McGarrigle's "My Town" – it feels nice but not a whole lot more. Next up is a lovely Wendy Waldman song called "Thinking Of You" – Waldman had contributed "Vaudeville Man" and "Mad Mad Me" to the self-titled "Maria Muldaur" LP in 1973 on Reprise Records (the "Midnight At The Oasis" LP). Unfortunately McKenna ruins the Jackson Browne masterpiece "Late For The Sky" with crappy synth passages and one of the singularly most inappropriate psyched-up guitar solos I've ever heard. Side 2 goes for the love songs big time but only ends up sounding cloying like a bad Neil Diamond album on CBS Records in the late Seventies.

 

Being embedded in the psyche of 1977 dancefloor Soul-Funk – album number three goes full-on Yacht Rock right from the openers "Driven Away" and "Love Me Tomorrow" but the material is weak and her voice not particularly memorable. Barely anyone cares about Pousette-Dart songs and "There's Been A Mistake" sounds as uninspired as its title. And on it goes to hammy Pedal Steel cack like "Love Struck". CD2 ends with a Contraband UK 45-single (Transatlantic BIG 518 featuring the voice of Mae McKenna) from 1974 - "Lady For Today" written by Rosemary Hardman with a Billy Jackson original on the flipside "On The Road". The A is more poppy and less memorable than the lovely Mandolin filled B-side. It ends a hard-work CD2 on a high note.

 

Workmanlike albums like these are forgotten and cluttering up auction sites with 40-copies for two and three quid for a reason – they were never worthy of our affection in the first place. But if you have any love for these Seventies records – this Beat Goes On gorgeous sounding and tastefully presented twofer is the jobby for you. All others should grab a listen first...