"Psychedelic Soul" by THE TEMPTATIONS – Full-Length Versions from February 1969 to December 1973 Albums on Motown Produced, Arranged and Often Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong (June 2003 US Motown 'Funk Essentials' 2CD Compilation with Suha Gur Remasters and Two Previously Unreleased Versions) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"…You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth…"

 

Eagle-eyed collectors will notice two things about this stunning "Motown Funk Essentials" release by THE TEMPTATIONS covering the NORMAN WHITFIELD and BARRETT STRONG years...

 

First there are two Previously Unreleased versions of killer tracks "Psychedelic Shack" and "Ball Of Confusion..." (7 and 13 on Disc 1) - but better still is that all of the songs across the 2CDs are the 'full album versions' in Stereo instead of the usual Mono Single Mixes and Edits we commonly get on other compilations. Throw in stunning new SUHA GUR remasters from original master tapes of music most fans adore - and you're on a double-disc winner. Here are the details from Cloud Nine...

 

US released June 2003 - the 2CD set "Psychedelic Soul" by THE TEMPTATIONS on Motown Chronicles B0000582-02 (Barcode 044003865327) is part of their 'Motown Funk Essentials' Series and breaks down as follows:

 

Disc 1 (71:29 minutes):

1. Cloud Nine (3:31 minutes)

2. Runaway Child, Running Wild (9:21 minutes)

Tracks 1 and 2 are from the album "Cloud Nine" released February 1969 in the USA on Gordy GS939 and September 1969 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11109

 

3. Don't Let The Jones Get You Down (4:42 minutes)

4. I Can't Get Next To You (2:52 minutes)

5. Message From A Black Man (6:03 minutes)

6. Slave (7:31 minutes)

Tracks 3 to 6 are from the album "Puzzle People" released September 1969 in the USA on Gordy GS949 and February 1970 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11133

 

7. Psychedelic Shack (6:19 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED EXTENDED VERSION

 

8. You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth (2:45 minutes)

9. Hum Along And Dance (3:51 minutes)

10. Take A Stroll Through Your Mind (8:33 minutes)

11. War  (3:12 minutes)

12. Friendship Train (7:55 minutes)

Tracks 8 to 12 are from the album "Psychedelic Shack" released March 1970 in the USA on Gordy GS947 and June 1970 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11147

 

13. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World is Today) (4:08 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE MIX

 

Disc 2 (78:08 minutes):

1. Smiling Faces Sometimes (12:40 minutes)

2. Ungena Za Ulimengu (Unite The World) (4:28 minutes)

3. Love Can Be Anything (Can't Nothing Be Love But Love) (9:20 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 3 are from the album "Sky's The Limit" released April 1971 in the USA on Gordy GS957 and August 1971 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11184

 

4. Take A Look Around (3:09 minutes)

5. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) (2:54 minutes)

Tracks 4 and 5 are from the album "Solid Rock" released January 1972 in the USA on Gordy G-961L and April 1972 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11202

 

6. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (3:10 minutes)

7. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (12:01 minutes)

Tracks 6 and 7 are from the album "All Directions" released July 1972 in the USA on Gordy G-962L and February 1973 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11218

 

8. Plastic Man (5:57 minutes)

9. Masterpiece (13:49 minutes)

Tracks 8 and 9 are from the album "Masterpiece" released February 1973 in the USA on Gordy G-965L and June 1973 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11229

 

10. Ain't No Justice (6:05 minutes)

11. 1999 (4:04 minutes)

Tracks 10 and 11 are from the album "1990" released December 1973 in the USA on Gordy G-966V1 and January 1974 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8016

 

The 12-page booklet has an essay called "Psychedelic Soul Power" by Leonard Pitts, Jr on the Norman Whitfield Productions between 1968 and 1973 when his leadership and songwriting partnership with Barrett Strong saw The Tempts react to the America they were living in. Battered by the loss of both Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X - and with US troops (black and white) dying in their droves in a pointless 'Red' war 6000 miles away and American cities stricken by poverty and racism - Motown's production line of boy/girl songs needed to address the real world - and beginning with the stunning "Cloud Nine" album - The Temptations took it to the world (and were glad to).

 

Right from the get go - the SUHA GUR remasters blow you away. If I compare the single mix of "Runaway Child, Running Wild" on "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969" which weighs in at just under five minutes (released in January 1969 a month before the album - it was a US R&B No.1) - to hear it allowed to stretch out to its full nine-minute album wallop is such a blast - an entirely different beast. "I want my mama!" the inner city child cries just before it goes into a sensational Funk Brothers groove that lasts the final three minutes. The same of course applies to the monster "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" (even though it probably overstays its welcome at twelve minutes). And how good is to hear the seven and half minutes of "Message From A Black Man" from "Puzzle People". The bass and brass of "Friendship Train" sound huge - the group and the musicians laying into a rhythm and a set of lyrics they 'know' matters. And I always thought the simple funkiness of "Hum And Dance Along" is a genuine masterpiece often passed over for more famous tunes (they used it as a Stateside B-side to "Ungena Za Ulimengu (Unite The World)" on Gordy 7102 in 1970).

 

Disc 2 provides more album Funkathons like their 13-minute radical rework of "Smiling Faces Sometimes" (which became a huge hit for The Undisputed Truth) and the near sidelong "Masterpiece" has that genius bass backdrop (like "Papa") that just builds and builds and the guitars and strings battle it out against a backdrop of words about "...thousands of lives wasting away...people living from day to day..." "Masterpiece" is exactly what it is. It's a shame they didn't slap on "Law Of The Land" but again you do get the underrated "Ain't No Justice". The two Previously Unreleased versions see alternate vocals along with different guitar and keyboard funk in "Psychedelic Shack" with radically alternate vocals on "Ball Of Confusion" - personally I love them both to pieces (anything new from this period blows my tiny Dubliner's mind).

 

You can't help but think that Hip-O Select should just do a Temptations Box Set for the Whitfield years and be done with it (and one for The Undisputed Truth for that matter too) - but that's somewhere hopefully in the future. In the meantime - get this fantastic slice of Funk and Social consciousness into your life as soon as your bad self will allow. For once the word "essential" doesn't do the genius on display here enough justice...

"The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier" by TERRY CALLIER [aka "New Folk Sound" as per the Original LP label credit] – US Debut Album on Prestige Records in Mono – Recorded July 1964 But Belatedly Released Spring 1968 (November 2018 UK Craft Recordings Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Seven Bonus Tracks (Five Unreleased) and Paul Blakemore Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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RATING: ***** (Audio and Content)

 

"…Better Days Coming…You And Me Brother…We Can Make It So…"

 

Reissue specialists 'Craft Recordings of the USA' have been behind two huge sources of musical hero worship for me – Creedence Clearwater Revival and Stax Records (Isaac Hayes, Staple Singers, the Wattstax concerts, Truth Records label, the four complete Stax Singles Box Sets etc). In between those standard-bearers for genre excellence – they have also gone after rarities and releases that scream to be re-heard and re-appreciated.

 

And so it is with the debut album for Soul Hero Terry Callier – a gentle Nick Drake-type Folk LP with a Soulful Unplugged vibe that was recorded in one day in July 1964 with only three musicians – two of whom were playing an Upright Bass alongside Callier on Acoustic Guitar and Vocals (and not a lot else). But despite rear sleeve liner-notes dated May 1965 – the vinyl LP didn't actually appear in US shops until the Spring of 1968 - probably March or April because the producer had absconded to Mexico with the tapes and went on a druggy walkabout for a few years (well of course he did). I think the first known review of the album doesn't show until January 1969 - for whatever reason. Apparently our hero had to be told by a friend that his album was in the shops for sale, because no one from Prestige informed him.

 

In fact - the first most US new-music buyers heard of TC and his beautifully mellow voice/songs was via Psych Rockers H.P. Lovecraft who on hearing "The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier" in early 1968 - covered two tunes from it in their July 1968 recording sessions for their second platter "H.P. Lovecraft II". That album saw the US light of day in September 1968 on Phillips PHS 600-279 (April 1969 in the UK on Philips SBL 7872) with covers of Callier's "Spin, Spin, Spin" and "It's About Time" leading the Psych charge as the first two songs on Side 1. The British LP was deleted quickly (April 1970 from a catalogue I have) and I presume the small selling US LP was probably much the same. It is hard to know therefore how many (if any) punters noticed Terry Callier or the misnamed Collier credit on the first two songs of a H.P. Lovecraft LP?

 

Truth told – I'm no knowledge on the Callier debut myself and only after decades has info been gleaned from various sources (the 2018 Jason P. Woodbury liner notes are the first real comprehensive go at its mysterious history). Speaking of reissue history - England’s Ace Records via their Beat Goes Public label imprint smartly reissued the album on CD first – twice in fact. First up was November 1995 on Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 101 (Barcode 029667510127) - a straightforward reissue of the 8-Track Mono US vinyl album on Prestige 7383 (also credited as PRLP-7383 on some original copies). That 1995 CD ran to 37:46 minutes and had no mastering or remastering credits. The sound quality was o.k. - but was made redundant by UK CD issue Number Two - July 2003 on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 156 (Barcode 029667515627). An upgraded Joe Tarantino Remaster, that 2003 CD added on Three Previously Unreleased Outtakes from the original session to the album's eight tracks upping the playing time to 55:01 minutes - "Be My Woman", "Jack O' Diamonds" and "The Golden Apples Of The Sun". To now...

 

This latest and greatest version of "The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier" by TERRY CALLIER was UK released 23 November 2018 on Craft Recordings CR00098 (Barcode 888072053458) and comes in a Card Digipak for the first time (the first two issues on Ace were jewel cases). Of its Seven Bonus Tracks - "Jack O' Diamonds" and "The Golden Apples Of The Sun" had first appeared on the 2003 Ace CD (as previously mentioned) - while the other five are New Previously Unreleased Alternate Version Outtakes. The Craft Recordings 2018 CD plays out as follows (70:56 minutes):

 

1. 900 Miles [Side 1]

2. Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be

3. Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be

4. Cotton Eyed Joe

5. It's About Time [Side 2]

6. Promenade In Green

7. Spin, Spin, Spin

8. I'm A Drifter

 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Jack O' Diamonds

10. Golden Apples Of The Sun

11. Promenade In Green [Take 1] *

12. Be My Woman [Take 1] *

13. 900 Miles [Take 1] *

14. It's About Time [Take 2] *

15. Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be [Take 2] *

* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

The new eight-page booklet wastes three of them at the rear reproducing the Rent Foreman liner notes for Prestige 7383 that introduced Terence Orlando Callier to the world. Originally dated May 1965 – they give lots of that oh-so-cool Sixties psychobabble about time man and how the brother is a brother and a man of our time yet out of time (etc). But the new JASON P. WOODBURY liner notes are far better - no photos mind - but better. However, the real deal here is the stunning PAUL BLAKEMORE mastering - a name that has turned up on hundreds of Craft Recordings and others as a Remaster Engineer to actively seek out. This is a gorgeous sounding CD (the 2LP set the same) and one that's quite shocking at times in its vocal clarity - the timber of his voice and his humanitarian vibe and ideals - chilling and deeply, deeply affecting.

 

Aged only 23 - "The New Folk Sound Of..." album was recorded by SAMUEL CHARTERS in the Webb Recording Studios in Chicago in just one day - 29 July 1964. There were only 3 musicians - TERRY CALLIER on Guitar and Vocals, TERBOUR ATTENBOROUGH on Bass and JOHN TWEEDLE also on Bass. Another surprise is that almost all the songs are covers - five being Public Domain Traditionals - while the other three were from songwriter catalogues of the time.

 

Side 1 opens with the lovely and lonesome "900 Miles" which sets up his style and the album's overall feel. Although it's just him on Acoustic Guitar with his voice high up in the mix and the other instruments behind him, the effect is more FOLK-SOUL than just Folk or Roots. It's beautifully atmospheric - the kind of album you'd play on a quiet Sunday morning when you just want something soothing on the ear and brain.

 

Some tracks work better than others. It's difficult to hear "Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be" now without thinking of a schoolyard song we used to sing which rudely rhymed a "Lavatory" with "Matter Be". But things get better with the quietly lovely "Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be" and "Cotton Eyed Joe". The difference on the Remaster of "Cotton Eyed Joe" is stark - the vocals soar out of the speakers.

 

One of the album's true masterpieces is Side 2's opener - the plea for racial equality and an end to all war - "It's About Time" (lyrics above). Written by a beat poet and a female US songwriter (Kent Foreman and Lydia Wood) and running to a mere 3:33 minutes, it features a lovely guitar strum, but this time it has the added double bass of TERBOUR ATTENBOROUGH which lifts the song out of it's folk-roots feel into something so much more powerful and substantial. It still sounds awesome to this day - as relevant then as it is now. It's followed by "Promenade In Green" which is a Negro song from Alabama copyrighted by Robert Kaufman and Len Chandler in 1961 (a year before Callier started singing) - it's heart-meltingly lovely. "I'm A Drifter" is excellent too, but probably overstays its welcome at just short of nine minutes.

 

Even though it's easy to see why they were left off the album - the Extras are a revelation and sort of mini album unto themselves. It's not that they're sub-standard - it's just that they were more of the same and something had to give. Which is good news for us some 60 years later because the gambling song "Jack O' Diamonds" is superb. But the real winner is his cover of the Judy Collins song "The Golden Apples Of The Sun" which incorporated the poetry of William Butler Yates into the words. It's gorgeous.

 

Of the five newbee 'Alternate Versions' – you can see from track list above – they are Take 1 and Take 2. Callier probably nailed in on Take 2 or 3 after these – so you can hear the reasons why they were not quite up to snuff – a waver in a vocal here – an acoustic slip of notes there – but they are as lovely as you can hope for. It is also not surprising to me in the least that AUDIOPHILE nuts have been searching out the 2LP set reissued by Craft Recordings in September 2018 of this Expanded Edition CD (Craft Recordings CR00097 – Barcode 00888072053441 to be exact). That 180-grams double goes for real money now.

 

Perhaps also (and as a point of order) – it is informative to point out that not all Sixties recordings in the Blues, Rock and Soul worlds were crude rudimentary ramshackle affairs – some defied that presumption with luxurious productions and a quiet beauty. Sam Cooke's "Night Beat" album originally on RCA Records in September 1963 or the Muddy Waters unplugged Blues album "Folk Singer" from January 1964 on Chess Records jump to mind. When ABKCO USA put out the June 1995 CD of the stunning Sam Cooke album "Night Beat" they also pressed an Audiophile LP on ABKCO 1124-1 – Barcode 018771112419. Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-201 from January 1994 did the same for the astonishing clarity on the Muddy Waters album - Chess Records not exactly famous as being a seething cauldron of sonic clarity. Alongside Callier – Cooke and Muddy make a fabulous Trio for VINYL Audiophile lovers. I would also look into "Elvis Is Back" on RCA and "Roy Orbison Sings Lonely And Blue" on Monument - both towering Stereo LPs from 1960. 

 

As you've no doubt gathered, I've been soppy about Terence Orlando Callier for years, so perhaps my review is overly gushing - but once your weary lugs actually hear this criminally forgotten gem, you'll understand why.

 

In its new card digipak, this gorgeous and stunning sounding Expanded CD Remaster of "The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier" from 2018 by Craft Recordings is languishing on Amazon for under six quid. Do yourself a budget room favour and nab his graceful start - and spread the word...

 

PS: see also my separate reviews for the three Terry Callier Soul albums on Cadet Records that followed - "Occasional Rain" (June 1971), "What Color Is Love" (March 1973) and "I Just Can't Stand Myself" (October 1973)

"Vagabonds Of The Western World: 50th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set" Edition by THIN LIZZY – Sept 1973 Album Remastered with Three Extra LPs of BBC Radio One Sessions and In Concert Shows from 1972 and 1973 – featuring Phil Lynott, Eric Bell and Brian Downey, Jr. with Gary Moore Guesting on LP4 only (November 2023 UK Universal/Decca '50th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set' Reissue with the 1973 Original Album Remastered in 2023 onto LP1 - LP2, LP3 and LP4 BBC Sessions and In Concert Series First-Time on Vinyl [Initially Released on CD in 2011] – A 60-Page Hardback Book and new 2023 Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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

 

"...Gonna Creep Up On You..."

 

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've reviewed elsewhere) and the 50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set (which I'm reviewing here) 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/Bob Harris 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 this 4LP Box. The 'Extras' LP on the 2-LP Purple Vinyl Set does not duplicate anything on the 4LP Box. Door number three, 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 any 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 the 50th Anniversary Reissues Series.

 

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 too.

 

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 narrated the story in "The Hero And The Madman", Jan Schelhass plays Organ on "Mother Nature Said" and Fiachra Trench arranged Strings for "A Song For While I'm Away".   

 

1973's "Vagabonds... " was also the first album to feature their trademark look via Jim Fitzpatrick artwork (more of which is thrillingly used in the book and on the three sleeves) and the first LP that pointed towards a commercial Rock future – a hard-won success that would take them three more albums to arrive at via the worldwide breakthroughs of "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" - both in 1976 (their sixth and seventh studio albums). The ultimate triumph would come in 1978 with the legendary double "Live And Dangerous" which sold in cartloads. But this is where that road really started and arriving here – 50-years down the line at a 2023 four-album VINYL BOX SET of higher heroes and flaming motorcycles. To the details...

 

UK released Friday, 17 November 2023 - "Vagabonds Of The Western World" by THIN LIZZY on Universal/Decca 5587518 (Barcode 602455875181) is a Limited Edition '50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set' with the 8-Track Album on LP1 and LPs 2, 3 and 4 being first time issued on Vinyl of Tracks that first appeared on the 6CD-only Box Set "At The BBC" in 2011. This new 2023 LP-Sized 12" x 12" Box Set also comes a 60-Page Hardback Book with New Sleeve Notes by MARK BLAKE (Rare Memorabilia etc) and Unpublished Artwork by JIM FITZPATRICK – an artist intrinsically linked with the band. It plays out as follows:

 

LP1 "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Side One

1. Mama Nature Said

2. The Hero And The Madman 

3. Slow Blues

4. The Rocker

Side Two

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 "John Peel Sessions 1972 and 1973"

Side Three (Recorded: 14 Nov 1972, Broadcast 28 Nov 1972)

1. Whisky In The Jar (5:50 minutes)

2. Suicide (4:00 minutes)

3. Black Boys On The Corner (3:07 minutes)

Produced by TONY WILSON

Side Four (Recorded 31 July 1973, Broadcast 7 Aug 1973)

1. Vagabond Of The Western World (4:23 minutes)

2. Little Girl In Bloom (4:45 minutes)

3. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:13 minutes)

Produced by JOHN WALTERS

 

LP3 "John Peel and Bob Harris Sessions 1973"

Side Five (John Peel, Recorded 6 August 1973, Broadcast 16 Aug 1973)

1. Randolph's Tango (3:45 minutes)

2. The Rocker (5:10 minutes)

3. Slow Blues (5:31 minutes)

Produced by BERNIE WINTERS

Side Six (Bob Harris, Recorded 28 Aug 1973, Broadcast 17 Sep 1973)

1. Randolph's Tango (3:40 minutes)

2. Little Girl In Bloom (4:41 minutes)

3. The Rocker (5:12 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

 

THIN LIZZY for LP2 and LP3 was:

PHILIP LYNOTT – Bass and Vocals

ERIC BELL – Guitars

BRIAN DOWNEY, JR. - Drums

 

LP4 "Radio One In Concert 1973"

Side Seven (Recorded 26 July 1973, Paris Theatre, London)

1. The Rocker (6:00 minutes)

2. Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm (7:52 minutes)

Side Eight (as per Side Seven)

1. Slow Blues (5:03 minutes)

2. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:47 minutes)

3. Suicide (4:50 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

 

THIN LIZZY for LP4 was:

PHILIP LYNOTT – Bass & Vocals

GARY MOORE – Guitars

BRIAN DOWNEY, JR. – Drums

 

NOTE re LP4:

The 'BBC Radio 1 In Concert' set that appeared on the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" is a different gig. Recorded 31 July 1973 at Golders Green Hippodrome in London - it had the same five songs (and in the same order) - but the 31 July 1973 version of "Suicide" did not feature Gary Moore (26 July 1973 only) - but instead introduced the two lead guitarists of the new four-piece Thin Lizzy line-up – Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson.

 

First things first – those who own the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" will need to keep it if they only buy the two vinyl sets of the 50^th Anniversary issues. The 2010 digital-only twofer contains Paschal Byrne Remastering and loads of extras and unreleased that isn't on these issues. The 3CD/BLU RAY Box Set of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" due 1 Dec 2023 didn't have them either – worth noting for completists. To the gorgeous packaging for the 4LP Box...

 

LP1 loses its lyrics/pictures insert (transferred to Pages 51 to 56 of the book), the rest of its artwork exactly the same and all LPs have the famous Blue Boxed Decca Logo labels (a nice touch). The artwork on the front of LPs 2, 3 and 4 are of course new – outtakes from Jim Fitzpatrick's archives (no inserts) with the recording dates on the rear sleeves of the BBC Sessions (I've pictured all the LPs and page-samples of the book).

 

The 60-Page Hardback Book will make most Lizzy fans literally weak at the knees – it is a thing of whole-page beauty. Sided by a full-page Black and White outtake artwork of the LP cover by Jim Fitzpatrick – MARK BLAKE begins his seriously indepth study of Thin Lizzy history from Crumlin schoolyards in 1968 to stints with Gary Moore in Skid Row and a contract with Decca for the 'quite green' Irish Rock Trio to record the self-titled debut in January 1971. It weaves its merry way to Page 31 plastered as it goes with badges, posters, singles, memorabilia and all of it given room to shine on big fat glossy black pages.

 

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 The Picture Pages and Montage are so good - rare pic sleeve 45s like "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark with "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark and loads more. You get promo pictures of the band from Decca (dig the Guinness stage logo behind the band on Page 58) – messages from the band in October 1973 apologising to Irish fans for delays with physical copies of the album arriving in Irish shops due to production hiccups in England - a full page advert for the LP with quotes from British DJs/Fans John Peel and Kid Jensen along with cartoon adverts for "Whisky In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango" and oodles more space-hopping and motorcycle roaring.

 

The roll call of reissue credits on Page 57 reads like a who's who for Lizzy – Band Managers Ted Carroll of Ace Records and Chris O'Donnell of Morrison O'Donnell Limited (both he and Chris Morrison were closely associated with the band) with contributions from the Belfast Guitarist ERIC BELL and mainman for Lizzy – the Drummer and schoolboy pal of Phil Lynott – BRIAN DOWNEY. Websites are named and the Jim Fitzpatrick artwork outtakes strewn with fantastic punch throughout will make even diehard old farts like me (and many others too) weepy – rekindling our love for this fabulous Rock band. In fact – if this is the 50^th Anniversary effort for 1973 – then we could hope for "Night Life" in 2024, "Fighting" in 2025 and the big boys - "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" in 2026 - mouth-watering stuff to look forward to.

 

It's all beautifully done and if that isn't enough, the whole shebang is mastered from original tapes by two fave Audio Engineers - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. This dynamic duo have handled huge swathes of Universal's Rock and Pop catalogue - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Spooky Tooth and the DE editions of Thin Lizzy too. The new Remasters are fabulous and GARY MOORE fans will love a chance at getting the 26 July 1973 Radio One In Concert show on vinyl – five songs of that amazing axeman with his childhood friends – all three in blistering form and hammering out material that would leave many a band of the time gasping in awe. The original recording work of great BBC names like Jeff Griffin, Tony Wilson, Bernie Andrews and John Walters ensured that storming singles "Black Boys On The Corner" and "The Rocker" allow stunning warbling guitar solos from Eric Bell while Phil and his Bass sound precise on "Little Girl In Bloom" and confidant on the massively extended EP track "Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm" stretched out in a live environment to nearly eight minutes. For sure, there is repetition, but bluntly – if the Trio of Thin Lizzy is playing any of this stuff fresh and new – I want it all - again and again.

 

A gorgeous reissue then – cool artwork on LPs 2, 3 and 4 and that book finally affording our heroes the respect and affection they have always warranted and engendered. The single "Whisky In The Jar" from 1972 and the third LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" from 1973 started the success for real – and this 50^th Anniversary 4LP Box Set Reissue is surely one the best in 2023. I'm going to be canning this on my turntable for months on end.

 

I know this 4LP Box Set is pricey at just over £110 – so those who want "Vagabonds..." without incurring the wrath of the better half and sundry children might opt for the Double Album Reissue Variant on Purple Vinyl which clocks in about £40 or less (see separate review).

 

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 beautiful thing with great mastering and presentation – buy, treasure and miss our hero/heroes one more time...