"Vagabonds Of The Western World: 50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set" Edition by THIN LIZZY – Sept 1973 Album Remastered with Seven Bonuses on CD1, Rarities, Outtakes and Live BBC Radio One Sessions and In Concert Shows from 1972 and 1973 on CD2 and CD3 with ATMOS and 5.1 Surrounds Mixes on the BLU RAY – featuring Phil Lynott, Eric Bell and Brian Downey, Jr. (December 2023 UK Universal/Decca '50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' 10" x 10" Reissue with a 60-Page 10" x 10" Hardback Book - 2023 Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"... Baby's Been Messin' All Over Town..."

Back in October 2010 - Lizzy's third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World" got the Universal '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatment - and I for one raved about its audio, presentation and extras (it was also their final LP with original Lead Guitarist Eric Bell). 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 Series of releases here in late 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 and the 50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set (both reviewed elsewhere). The 4LP Box 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 the 4LP Box. The 'Extras' LP on the 2-LP Purple Vinyl Set does not duplicate anything on the 4LP Box. Both vinyl sets hits the streets of Blighty on Friday, 17 November 2023.

Door number three (released Friday, 1 December 2023) is the 4-Disc Super Deluxe '50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' variant - also a thing of digital lust even if it's only ten-by-ten-inches in size. The ATMOS and 5.1 Mixes on the BLU RAY are first-time-ever for any Lizzy release and CD2 and CD3 contain unreleased material some of which is not on either of the VINYL sets. The 60-page Hardback Book is exactly the same as the one in the 4LP Box Set except that instead of 12 x 12 size you get 10 x 10-inches (so for fans who bought that will have unfortunate duplication - but more of the book and its gorgeousness later). 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.

Some history - 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 Of The Western World" 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 inner sleeves) and the first album 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 – and rightly so. But this is where that road really started and arriving here – 50-years down the line at a 3-Versions 2023 reissue of higher heroes and flaming motorcycles. To the details for the 3CD and BLU RAY variant...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2023 - "Vagabonds Of The Western World" by THIN LIZZY on Universal/Decca 5587532 (Barcode 602455875327) is a Super Deluxe 10" x 10" Limited Edition 50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set with a 60-Page Hardback Book. New Sleeve Notes are by MARK BLAKE (Rare Memorabilia etc) and Unpublished Artwork is by JIM FITZPATRICK – an artist intrinsically linked with the band. It plays out as follows:

CD1 "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (68:21 minutes):

1. Mama Nature Said [Side 1]

2. The Hero And The Madman 

3. Slow Blues

4. The Rocker

5. Vagabond Of Western World [Side 2]

6. Little Girl In Bloom

7. Gonna Creep Up On You

8. A Song For While I'm Away

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World” - released 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca SKL-5170 and May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with the track "Little Girl In Bloom" being slightly edited. 

BONUS TRACKS:

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

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

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

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

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

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

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

CD1 NOTES:

Tracks 9 and 10 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 - a Lynott original 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. The version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:45 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 only on the October 2010 UK 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 11 and 12 are their 2nd UK 7" single released May 1973, both tracks on Decca F 13402 were non-album at the time. 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

Tracks 13 and 14 are 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 15 is Non-LP 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 three-way foldout CD gatefold card sleeve (along with two other Euro Pic Sleeves) 

CD2 "Radio Sessions" (73:18 minutes):

"John Peel Sessions" - 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

"RTE Radio Eireann Session" *

4. 1969 Rock (5:40 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:31 minutes)

6. Broken Dreams (5:38 minutes)

7. Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows (3:55 minutes)

NOTES: No recording dates or Producer name provided - but because of the songs its sometime in 1973. "1969 Rock" is an early more rocking version of "The Hero And The Madman" that eventually turned on the "Vagabonds…" album and here includes a spoken introduction from guitarist Eric Bell. "Suicide" and "Broken Dreams" features a spoken intro by Eric and Phil. "Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows" sees the band joined by guitarist Eddie Campbell of The Real McCoy

* Tracks 4 to 7 NOT ON EITHER OF THE VINYL SETS 

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded 31 July 1973, Broadcast 7 Aug 1973

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

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

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

Produced by JOHN WALTERS

"John Peel Session" - Recorded 6 August 1973, Broadcast 16 Aug 1973

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

12. The Rocker (5:10 minutes)

13. Slow Blues (5:31 minutes)

Produced by BERNIE WINTERS

"Bob Harris Session" - Recorded 28 Aug 1973, Broadcast 17 Sep 1973

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

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

16. The Rocker (5:12 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

CD3 "Live, Rarities, Demos & Outtakes" (77:37 minutes):

"Radio One In Concert 1973" - 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)

3. Slow Blues (5:03 minutes)

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

5. Suicide (4:50 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN 

6. The Rocker (Take 1 Instrumental) - 5:17 minutes

7. Little Girl In Bloom (Take 3) - 5:52 minutes)

8. Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2 Instrumental) - 4:37 minutes

9. Slow Blues (Take 2 Instrumental) - 5:39 minutes

10. Here I Go Again (Extended) - 6:42 minutes

11. Suicide (gtr Needles and Pins Jam) - 1:30 minutes

12. Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix Extended Version) - 5:58 minutes

13. Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix) - 3:44 minutes

14. Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate Version) - 3:30 minutes

15. Baby's Been Messin' (Acetate Version) - 4:01 minutes

NOTES for CD3: 

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 show instead introduced the two lead guitarists of the new four-piece Thin Lizzy line-up – Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson.

Tracks 6 to 15 NOT ON THE VINYL VERSIONS

BLU-RAY: 

"Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 1 to 8 are the 1973 Album (as listed above) in an ATMOS MIX, a 5.1 MIX and a STEREO MIX

BONUS ATMOS MIXES:

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

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

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

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

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

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

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

For CD1, CD2 and CD3 THIN LIZZY was:

PHILIP LYNOTT – Bass and Vocals

ERIC BELL – Guitars

BRIAN DOWNEY, JR. - Drums

OLDER REISSUES:

First things first – those who own the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" will need to keep it as there are extras and unreleased not on the 2 Vinyl Sets or here on the 3CD/BLU RAY variant. 

PRESENTATION:

The 60-Page Hardback Book sits atop an inset drawer inside the 10 x 10 Box with both CD card sleeves underneath in a well. The first houses the three CDs in a threat foldout card sleeve while the gatefold second has the BLU RAY. Photos of rare Euro and Japanese singles make up the photos that dominate all five of the inner flaps - "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark alongside "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark and more. They are lovely to look at, but of course suffer from tightness when trying to get the discs out of each slot without tearing the artwork. But these are minor hassles because once fans clap eyeballs on the 60-page hardback - most Lizzyphiles will be literally weak at the knees. 

Throughout its comprehensive text by MARK BLAKE and memorabilia displays are full-page outtake artwork of the LP cover by JIM FITZPATRICK. Blake begins his seriously in-depth 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, press adverts, Decca letters and all of it given room to shine on big fat glossy black pages. 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.

AUDIO:

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. If I was to single out one obvious winner - you can so hear the punching Bass on "Slow Blues" - those guitar flicks and especially Downey’s high-hats and drum rolls - so damn clear and yet ballsy. By the time I get to the truly fantastic guitar riffage of "The Rocker" and I’m a goner. Ludicrously great playing, saucy lyrics via the spirit of Bon Scott - the whole thing just screams out of your speakers with the joy of the ladies hitting the town. Even songs I used to slightly dismiss like "A Song For While I'm Away" suddenly feels alive and beautiful - the acoustic strums and those strings are so good. After the 8-track album - CD1 adds on seven Bonuses that arguably make up an even better LP No.2. Drums, guitars, Phil’s treated vocals - "Whiskey In The Jar" sounding fantastically alive (ring dum a doo dah indeed). That symbol intro/riffage intro to one of their very best Non-LP B-sides "Black Boys On The Corner" is huge as is Eric Bell and that electrifying playing. 

MATERIAL:

You’re struck time and time again as to how tight they were and what a stunning axeman Bell was. With Lynott out-front looking and sounding every inch like the Rock Star he always was - this massive haul puts up a good argument in the hearing as to why they were loved - even then. All three were in blistering form and hammering out new/better 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. 

One truly astounding discovery has the be the RTE Radio Eireann Session that features the Trio sometime in 1973 in emerging brilliance - Eric Bell and Phil introducing embryonic versions of songs we love. The Remaster is great - Eric Bell and his echoed guitar turning "Broken Dreams" into a sort of 1969 Fleetwood Mac and Peter Green "Then Play On" period feel - fantastic stuff. The 'Gtr Needles and Pins Jam' has the riff from "Suicide" possibly altered via the Searchers 60ts hit "Needles and Pins" while the Acetate Recording at the end of CD3 (very well restored frankly) turns out to be an earlier version of "Suicide" entitled "Baby's Been Messin'" with less than enlightened lyrics that Phil probably knew had to be ditched (and were). The song turned up years later with the riffage and hooks worked out which only goes to show how smart he was working out the kinks on Demos and Live Sessions. But one of the unreleased that will surely turn heads and maybe even make fans laugh out loud is the extended mix of "Here I Go Again" stretched to nearly seven minutes. Lynott starts saying the f-word and rhyming 'pissed' with 'kissed' in verses that were left out for obvious reasons. And Eric Bell shows in an early Instrumental of "The Rocker" that he had most of its wild soloing already in the can - brilliant. And on it goes (I do not have an ATMOS playback facility so I cannot review that - but from what I have heard from other punters - they are revelatory). 

SUM UP:

A gorgeous reissue then – cool artwork, toppermost Audio remasters from men who care and that book finally affording our heroes the respect and affection they have always warranted and engendered. I know it could have had more (couple of those American single edits on CD1) and after getting the 4LP box in Nov 2023 with full LP-sized packaging, the ten-inch sized CD/BR variant feels like a wee bit of an anti-climax - but for me at least its still something I love and will love owning.  

The single "Whisky In The Jar" from 1972 (that charted 1973) and the third LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" from 1973 started the Lizzy success story for real – and this 50^th Anniversary Series (2LPs, 4LP Box Set and this 3CD/BLU RAY Box) is surely one the best for 2023. I'm going to be canning these brutes for months on end.

A beautiful thing – buy it, treasure it and miss our hero/heroes one more time…scratch plates shining into the audience…whooping and hollering…bippin' and boppin' and tellin' a dirty joke or two...

"Sailin' Shoes" by LITTLE FEAT – February 1972 Second US Studio Album on Warner Brothers featuring Lowell George, Bill Payne, Roy Estrada and Richard Hayward with Guests Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Ron Elliott on Guitars plus Milt Holland and Debbie Lindsey on Percussion and Backing Vocals – Van Dyke Parks on Piano on CD2 (June 2023 UK Warner Records/Rhino '2CD Deluxe Edition' Reissue with the 11-Track Album Newly Remastered in 2023 on CD1 and 21 Bonus Tracks on CD2 (16 of which are Previously Unreleased) – Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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 This Review Along With 310 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

TUMBLING DICE - 1972
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands and Thousands of E-Pages of Real Info

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs Themselves

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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RATING: ****

 

"...Weed, Whites and Wine..."

 

 

Alongside their Reissue Brother from another Mother Rhino Records – Warner Brothers (or Warner Records as they seem to call themselves these days) have finally seen to plug in two humungous Remaster holes in the mighty catalogue of Little Feat. Both 1972's "Sailin' Shoes" and 1973's "Dixie Chicken" have been given June 2023 '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatments – Remasters and tasty unreleased. And about Tripe Face Boogie time too. To the guacamole details...

 

UK released Friday, 23 June 2023 - "Sailin' Shoes" by LITTLE FEAT on Warner Records/Rhino R2 6953721 – 603497837434 (Barcode 603497837434) is a '2CD Deluxe Edition' Reissue with the 11-Track 1972 Album Newly Remastered in 2023 on CD1 and 21 Bonus Tracks on CD2 (16 of which Previously Unreleased). It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Sailin' Shoes 2023 Remaster" (37:53 minutes):

1. Easy To Slip [Side 1]

2. Cold, Cold, Cold

3. Trouble

4. Tripe Face Boogie

5. Willin'

6. A Apolitical Blues

7. Sailin' Shoes [Side 2]

8. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

9. Got No Shadow

10. Cat Fever

11. Texas Rose Café

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "Sailin' Shoes" – released February 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2600 and May 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46156. Produced by TED TEMPLEMAN – it didn't chart in either country. NOTE: Original copies of the British LP spelt the song "Willin'" on both the inner sleeve and label as "Willing".

 

For "Sailin' Shoes" LITTLE FEAT was:

LOWELL GEORGE – Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals and Harmonica

BILL PAYNE – Keyboards and Acordian (Lead Vocals on "Cat Fever" only)

ROY ESTRADA – Bass and Backing Vocals

RICHARD HAYWARD – Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals

ROY ESTRADA

Guests:

Milt Holland plays Percussion of "Easy To Slip" and "Trouble"

Debbie Lindsey sings Backing Vocals on "Cold, Cold, Cold" and "Sailin' Shoes"

Sneaky Pete Kleinow plays Pedal Steel on "Willin'" and "Texas Rose Cafe"

Ron Elliott plays Electric Guitar on "A Apolitical Blues"

 

CD2 "Hotcakes, Outtakes & Rarities" (78:32 minutes):

1. Sailin' Shoes (Demo)

2. Easy To Fall (Easy To Slip) (Demo for The Doobie Brothers)

3. Texas Rose Café (Alternate Version)

4. Cold, Cold, Cold (Alternate Version)

5. Roto/Tone

6. A Apolitical Blues (Alternate Version)

7. Boogie – Tripe Face Boogie

8. Trouble (Alternate Version)

9. Doriville

10. Willin' (Alternate Version)

11. Easy To Slip (Mono Single Version)

 

THANK YOU! I'LL EAT IT HERE: Live At The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA, August 28, 1972"

12. Tripe Face Boogie

13. Hamburger Tonight

14. Cat Fever

15. Willin'

16. Strawberry Flats

17. Got No Shadow

18. Texas Rose Café

19. Snakes On Everything

20. Hot Rod (Eldorado Slim)

21. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 were first issued as Unreleased Versions on the 4CD "Hotcakes & Outtakes" Book Set in September 2000.

Tracks 1, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are previously unreleased Demos, Alternate Versions and Outtakes from the "Sailin' Shoes" sessions; Track 11 is a Previously Unreleased Promo Only Mono Mix of a US 45 Single Side while Tracks 12 to 21 are Previously Unreleased Live Recordings done Live At The Palladium in Los Angeles, California 28 August 1972.

 

Fans will know that true Remasters of tracks from these albums first showed in September 2000 on the "Hotcakes & Outtakes" 4CD Hardback Book Set – and glorious they were too. February 2014 saw both full albums show in some form of Remaster quality for the 13CD Clamshell Box Set "Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971 to 1990". And then came Mobile Fidelity ULTRADIC II issues – expensive – beautiful – but bare bones too. Here we get smokes and folks smuggled from Mexico to Tehachapi and Tonopah and a few Teenage Nervous Breakdowns in-between.

 

Put bluntly – the 2023 Remaster of the album by DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT (long standing Audio Engineers for Rhino and handlers of huge swathes of the WEA Sixties and Seventies back catalogue) is great – full of muscle – howling harmonica and drums in "A Apolitical Blues" – that sexy Hammond B-3 organ bolster atop Lowell’s slide as "Easy To Slip" begins to open up – the delicate acoustic of the gorgeous "Willin'" and the Jedidiah dime-store guitar hustle of the title track "Sailin' Shoes" with Debbie Lindsey providing backing vocals. And finally I get to hear the Bill Payne-written Keyboard-Slide-Guitar Funk-Rock of "Got No Shadow" groove across my living room in all the 5:07 minute clarity this deep album dive has always been denied. And that guitar-battle towards the end of "Texas Rose Cafe" comes stomping out of your hi-fi with bovver boots on. YES! It's all clear folks. And at 78:32 minutes – you cannot accuse CD2 of slacking with the Rarities and Unreleased even if half of that so-so recorded live material has remained in cans for a reason (lifeless crowd too).

 

Reissue Produced by JASON JONES - the Card Digipak packaging allows three flaps to use outtake period photos of our Band of Four goofing about outside some garage (two beneath the see-through CD trays) and a pleasingly indepth 24-page booklet to be stuck into the flap in the middle. DAVID FRICKE cannot hide his affection for this exceptional American band providing a very cool overview of the album alongside formation and discovery details. Quite rightly Lowell George and Richie Hayward (who have both passed) get bigged up for their styles that made the Funky Rock of Little Feat such an enticing stew to so many. I do think that sonically and stylistically too – their second album is a bit all over the place and the sheer heartstring-tug of "Willin'" tends to overshadow everything else by a country mile. You can hear it in the audience dead zone that is the 28 August 1972 show. It can actually feel like the band doesn't seem to know what it is – are they Rock – are they Funk – are they a strange kind of hybrid. Which might go to explain the staggeringly low sales for their second album and clearly a big leap forward in the writing department (13,000 copies only while the debut had reputedly only managed 11,000 LPs sold).

 

Over on CD2 you get two utterly extraordinary moments no self-respecting Little Feat fan will be able to live without – a very clear if not a tiny bit hissy Demo of the title track "Sailin' Shoes" recorded March 1971 with Van Dyke Parks both playing Piano and Producing. The second is a Demo of the mighty "Willin'" recorded during the "Sailin' Shoes" sessions between 7 and 14 July 1971. With a One, Two, Three count in and near perfect Ted Templeman production values – it is close to the finished article except that the piano solo is not as nice or accomplished – seeking those right notes ala Jackson Browne. But what a find – baked by the sun – loving it. The Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of "A Apolitical Blues" has the same snake-like boogie the finished version does – Chairman Mao on the phone approving. Sounds fantastic too – Ted Templeman ramping up that Captain Beefheart-like Harmonica solo to devastating effect. I might actually prefer this to the LP final. For anyone who hasn't got the "Hotcakes & Outtakes" 4CD set – the outtake "Doriville" turns out be a lovely tune left behind without explanation – perhaps Lowell felt it had not been nailed (the ghost of facelessness has followed us here). Though I would admit that the Mono Single Mix of "Easy To Slip" feels less than the Stereo LP cut no matter what speakers it comes out of (Radio or otherwise).

 

Now with the loud music, the MC shouts to the crowd as Track 12 begins a run of 10 live tracks recorded at The Palladium in Los Angeles on 28 August 1972. Featuring the same four-piece for the "Sailin Shoes'" album – the gig was recorded after the first self-titled album came out, but before "Sailin' Shoes" was released. The Funk-Rock opens with two gooduns - "Tripe Face Boogie" (Bill Payne on Vocals) with Lowell taking lead vocals on the first LP standout track "Hamburger Midnight". Unfortunately his guitar disappears into the background too much even when his playing is fabulous. They bring out the Dr. John-esque then newbee of "Cat Fever" (Bill Payne on Vocals) while the first and second versions of "Willin'" get mixed up into a new brew by Lowell. George introduces "Willin'" as Country and Western but messes up several attempts to begin – worse is the sound that is in and out like a politician's excuses. With more monitor feedback and a decidedly bootleg feel, the band struggles eliciting any vibe from the crowd for "Strawberry Flats". Payne tries to Funk up proceedings with his "Got No Shadow" – both George and Payne energized by the new material and the Funky groove – listen to them dueting at three minutes. And on it goes...

 

I am genuinely conflicted in saying that this is a five-star reissue – it feels more like a four – but there is no doubting that "Sailin' Shoes" deserved this lavish attention and Hersch and Inglot are to be praised for doing such a stellar job with what had to have been compromised tapes for CD2. But with all those Alternates and the New Demos that genuinely thrill – it’s a winner – if not a flawed one.

 

I suspect like so many fans who grew up with them in the Seventies and into the Eighties after they continued without their leader Lowell George – I only have look at the Neon Parks artwork and a picture of LG smiling alongside Hayward (both now sadly passed) – and I am on the CD player with a willing passion. RIP you geniuses of the Hybrid Boogie...