"1967-1970" by THE BEATLES – Double-Album Compilation from April 1973 on Apple Records aka "The Blue Album" – featuring Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Producer George Martin and Guests Billy Preston and Eric Clapton (November 2023 JAPAN-ONLY Universal/Apple 2 x SHM-CD Reissue Edition – 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition with 10 Extra Tracks and SHM-CD Format Exclusive to Japan) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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US AND THEM - 1973
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"…Mother Mary Comes To Me…Speaking Words Of Wisdom…"

Commonly known as "The Blue Album” - the 2LP vinyl set "1967 - 1970" became an instant classic when it was first released in April 1973 - as did its "Red" counterpart "1962-1966" (reviewed separately). When they were finally reissued onto the new CD format in 1993 however - they caused consternation because of their extortionate full price - in some cases an eye-watering £30. Then came the 9 September 2009 campaign (commonly referred to as 09/09/09) which saw both the Red and Blue sets reissued in October 2010 as mid-priced Digipak issues with upgraded booklets and audio.

Well here in November 2023 (the 10th to be exact) – we get version three - newly remixed and remastered 50th Anniversary Edition reissues and back to full price - £25 or thereabouts. It also boasts the first new Beatles song in generations - the much-vaulted and I feel overhyped "Then And Now". Harrison added guitar to the John Lennon demo before he died, but only now has technology caught up to allow all four Beatles to be heard as a supposed cohesive song. I can't say I like it or ever will - but others have been in raptures. It ends CD2 in my opinion on a slightly awkward, incongruous and ragged note when what before it is almost perfection. All issues around the world carry the song.

In JAPAN, however, each double has been issued on the Exclusive SHM-CD Format – Super High Materials CDs - a better form of CD with superior sonic retrieval – and it is this that I am thrilling to right now. Here is Hey Jude and the Strawberry Fields Forever sounding better than ever…details…

JAPAN-released 10 November 2023 - "1967-1970" by THE BEATLES on Universal/Apple UICY-16202/3 (Barcode 4988031601730) is a 2 x SHM-CD Exclusive to JAPAN – a 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition with Nine Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:
 
CD1 "1966-1970" 50th Anniversary Edition (56:24 minutes):
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
2. Penny Lane
3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
4. With A Little Help From My Friends
5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
6. Within You Without You *
7. A Day In The Life
8. All You Need Is Love
9. I Am The Walrus +
10. Hello, Goodbye
11. The Fool On The Hill +
12. Magical Mystery Tour +
13. Lady Madonna 
14. Hey Jude +
15. Revolution
NOTES on CD1: 
Track 6 (*) is a Bonus Track not on either the 1973 2LP Original or the 2010 Remastered 2CD Reissue
Tracks 9, 11, 12 and 15 (+) have New Stereo Remixes

CD2 "1966-1970" 50th Anniversary Edition (78:18 minutes):
1. Back In the U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence *
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Glass Onion *
6. Blackbird *
7. Hey Bulldog *+
8. Get Back (Single Version)
9. Don't Let Me Down
10. The Ballad Of John And Yoko
11. Old Brown Shoe +
12. Here Comes The Sun
13. Come Together
14. Something
15. Octopus's Garden
16. Oh! Darling *
17. I Want You (She's So Heavy) *
18. Let It Be (Single Version)
19. Across The Universe
20. I Me Mine *
21. The Long And Winding Road * 
22. Now And Then *
NOTES on CD2:
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22 (*) are Bonus Tracks over both the 1973 Vinyl 2LP Original and the 2010 2CD Reissue
Tracks 7 and 11 are newly remixed Stereo Versions
Tracks 8 and 18 ("Get Back" and "Let It Be") make their Single Version debut on this compilation

AUDIO:
The Audio is fabulous throughout (a genuinely astonishing and painstaking job done) - but it requires some explanation too and perhaps history. If you are like me – an old fart who grew up with these astonishing April 1973 double albums in your home for nigh on half a century or more – the first thing to say is that not only are you hit audiowise with improvements that make the hairs stand up – the rejiggered track running order with the woven-in twelve bonus cuts works so damn well - even if many have expressed head-shaking amazement at the inclusion of either "Glass Onion" or "Hey Bulldog" when we could have had "Fixing A Hole" or "I Got A Feeling".

When the two Abbey Road nuggets "Oh! Darling" and "I Want You…" kick in for instance (newly included) – the effect is magical. Not only are they smart audio choices, but they get to show The Beatles in simplicity and complexity at one and the same time. The final run of four originals on CD2 is mindblowingly good – even if I have serious recoil to "Now And Then" which I think is poor and despite best intentions – feels like something of a marketing sham and personal mistake (but I suspect Paul and Ringo want to honour John, so what would I know, and as I said, others have loved it and been moved to tears). 

The "1" compilation of single mixes from 2015 is used - as are the 50th Anniversary Box Set Editions of "Sgt. Peppers" (2017), "The Beatles" (The White Album) (2018), "Abbey Road" (2019) and "Let It Be" (2021). Again, there may be only one bonus on CD1 – but what a winner – the Eastern Mysticism of "Within You Without You" giving George Harrison room to shine and showing how extensive their musical pallet really was for 1967. It is odd to not hear "Dear Prudence" slink out of the end of "Back In The U.S.S.R" as it does on Side 1 of The White Album – here they have separated them - and that small but significant gap feels slightly wrong to me (new ears may of course not notice at all). Also, you just forget how brilliant some of the Non-LP singles were – the lyrical and musical genius of "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" and the B-side that should have been on an LP - "Don't Let Me Down". Pow after Ker-Pow after Biff Bang Wallop!

PACKAGING: 
The centre and right flaps picture the photograph on the inner gatefold of the original vinyl double album (St. Pancras Old Church in London, 27 July 1969, The Beatles with the public looking through the railings - it's the same photo on the "Red" album). The separate 28-page Japanese white booklet is almost useless as it's all in Japanese (lyrics, song titles) and offers nothing to look at either (no photos), except text you can't read. The left die-cut flap with an easy to access lip houses a new 36-page booklet (four more pages than the 2010 issue) with 2023 liner notes from JOHN HARRIS (the Red album is the same). The lyrics are intact from the inner sleeves of the original album issue to (in blue, matching the artwork) and there's plenty of superb colour photos from the period - it's impressively done. 

PLAYING TIMES:
The CD1 and CD2 playing times of 56:24 and 78:18 minutes are impressively bulbous – a huge 12 extra tracks sequenced into the playing narrative with flow-skills. The compilation itself was basically the A-sides of all their UK 7" singles releases between 1967 and 1970 in chronological release date order with a few key album tracks thrown in for good measure. Eagle-eye fans would therefore note that up to and including "Get Back" - ALL Beatles UK 7" singles for that period were issued only in MONO ("The Ballad Of John & Yoko" was their 1st STEREO single in the UK). So the tracks on the album should reflect that they're all STEREO now and I would argue (as on the Red double) that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain, because the STEREO versions used here are awesome. 

CONTENT:
But what impresses most is the actual listen itself. Even now, it's truly shocking to hear just how accomplished The Beatles became during this ludicrously productive period. And diversity of writers crept in too. There are the Harrison gems "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Old Brown Shoe" and the magical "Something" with the addition of "Within You Without You" on CD1 now, while Ringo gets the witty "Octopus's Garden". 45-single 7" perfection comes twice - "Strawberry Fields Forever" b/w "Penny Lane" and arguably the greatest single ever released - "Hey Jude" b/w "Revolution" (melodious Paul on the A-side with rockin' blistering John on the B). Most bands would kill a close relative to get anywhere near this level of genius. A gorgeous addition is the hidden White Album ballad "Blackbird", some rockers will like the angry riffage in "Hey Bulldog" (one of the few salvageable tracks on the "Yellow Submarine") and by the time you get to the ballads at the end of Disc 2 - "The Long And Winding Road" and "Across The Universe" - adjectives begin to fail you. Were The Beatles really this good - the answer is yes - and always will be.

To sum up - the sound on these new Beatles 2023 reissues is fabulous; the packaging better than the 2010 versions and the SHM-CD sound of the Japanese variants adds that smidgen of wallop die-hards will thrill to. 

Serious effort was put into this Blue Album 50th Anniversary Edition (the Red double too) and you must say, job done boys. Roll on awards shows…

"1962-1966" by THE BEATLES – Double-Album Compilation from April 1973 on Apple Records of Singles and Album Tracks [aka "The Red Album"] – featuring Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr with Producer George Martin and Klaus Voorman (November 2023 JAPAN-Only Universal/Apple '50th Anniversary' Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue on the SHM-CD Format (Super High Materials) - New 2022 and 2023 Abbey Road Remasters and Twelve Bonus Tracks – Format Exclusive to JAPAN) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATING: ***** 

"...Love Was Such An Easy Game To Play…"

Commonly known as the "Red Album" - the 2LP compilation vinyl set "1962 - 1966" became an instant classic when it was first released 19 April 1973 (2 April 1973 in the USA) - as did its "Blue" counterpart "1967-1970" issued at the same time globally. In fact, by November of 1973, EMI UK was limiting vinyl pressings of all other albums and artists to meet the staggering demand (the looming Christmas market making the two legendary anthologies the ideal holiday gift). Plus – put bluntly – both comps worked. In every way – song after song – the follow through of tunes felt like an almost perfect alchemy. And so the Red and Blue doubles have been in our hearts, homes and collections ever since. 

But where there's a Beatles Anniversary and filthy lucre to be made, there's a corporate will to reissue what they know we all adore and will buy yet again in its newest super-duper, fandango-schmango, ging-gang-gooley-gooley-wash-wash form. 

These new 10 November 2023 Expanded Edition 50th Anniversary reissues essentially replace the October 2010 versions that we have had of "1962-1966" and 1967-1970" ever since they came out after the 09/09/09 Remasters campaign of their entire catalogue. These 2023 versions have rejiggered tracks lists, added significant bonuses and boast new 2022 and 2023 mixes as well as some from after 2010. But is it worth it - you ask? The answer is a Hell Yes – it really is. There are very smart inclusions here that have rounded out The Beatles legacy experience on both compilations and while the rejiggered track lists might irk total purists, they really do tell the story better. To the matter at hand...

Our good buddy the Red Album gets a whopping 12 Bonuses across its two discs (six on either) upping the 26 song tally of old to a new total of 38 tracks – 30 of which are new 2022 and 2023 mixes carried out by the trusted crew of STEVE OKELL and GILES MARTIN at Abbey Road Studios. The rejiggered track runs also present the band’s growth-arc and interests in a more realistic way. Rockers like "Twist And Shout" and "Roll Over Beethoven" slice in that side of their show. And given that the Beatles reissue team had space to spread the wings, George Harrison also thankfully gets a better representation ("If I Needed Someone" and "Taxman"). Their love of Soul Music, R&B, Motown and cover versions in general is represented by "You Really Got A Hold On Me". 

Other smart choices include utterly brilliant gems like the early heart-thumper "I Saw Her Standing There", the gorgeous Non-LP three-part harmony B-side "This Boy" and the relax and float down the stream Psych trip-out of "Tomorrow Never Knows" that tail-ended "Revolver" in such a spectacular and revolutionary way. And while the old set ended on the Ringo-sung whimsy of "Yellow Submarine" – you know get five more that ups the "Revolver" track count to nine - almost the whole LP. And it works - "Got To Get You Into My Life" and "Here, There And Everywhere" – wowing.
I have noted where the inclusions are in my track list below. The card digipaks keep the same look but the booklets are of course upgraded featuring new liner notes from journalist, Author and Beatles nutter JOHN HARRIS. 

I would unfortunately have to say that even with this much stunning Beatles brilliance on display, I am not loving the £24.99 full price tag on material that let's face it, most of us already have. But when you clock the track list and know the new audio is even better than the heights they attained before, it may be too hard to resist for the faithful. 

And for this review, I'm going with the even pricier Japanese SHM-CD Exclusives brought back by my lovely daughter as a gift from her recent holidays in the Rising Sun. To the Norwegian Wood (via Tokyo and Osaka)...

JAPAN-released Friday, 10 November 2023 - "1962 - 1966" by THE BEATLES on Universal/Apple UICY-16200/1 (Barcode 4988031601723) is a 50th Anniversary 2023 Expanded Edition Reissue onto 2 SHM-CDs (Super High Materials format exclusive to Japan) with 12 Bonus Tracks (all recordings are STEREO) and plays out as follows: 

CD1 "1962-1966" (47:10 minutes, Six Bonuses Denoted By *):
1. Love Me Do
2. Please Please Me
3. I Saw Her Standing There * (2023 Mix)
4. Twist And Shout * (2023 Mix)
5. From Me To You
6. She Loves You
7. I Want To Hold Your Hand
8. This Boy * (2023 Mix)
9. All My Loving
10. Roll Over Beethoven * (2023 Mix)
11. You Really Got A Hold On Me * (2023 Mix)
12. Can't Buy Me Love
13. You Can't Do That * (2023 Mix)
14. A Hard Day's Night
15. And I Love Her
16. Eight Days A Week
17. I Feel Fine
18. Ticket To Ride 
19. Yesterday

CD2 "1962-1966" (47:32 minutes, Six Bonuses Denoted by *):
1. Help!
2. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
3. We Can Work It Out
4. Day Tripper
5. Drive My Car
6. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
7. Nowhere Man
8. Michelle
9. In My Life
10. If I Needed Someone * (2023 Mix)
11. Girl
12. Paperback Writer
13. Yellow Submarine
11. Michelle
12. Girl
13. Eleanor Rigby
14. Yellow Submarine
15. Taxman * (2022 Mix)
16. Got To Get You Into My Life * (2022 Mix)
17. I'm Only Sleeping * (2022 Mix)
18. Here, There And Everywhere * (2022 Mix)
19. Tomorrow Never Knows * (2022 Mix)

The triple-foldout card pack remains the same as the worldwide issues but with an extra Japanese booklet, the OBI strip on the outside and the two SHM-CDs in protective plastics tucked inside each inner flap (a nice touch). 

The October 2010 issue had a 32-page booklet – here in November 2023 you get 36-pages with a new Essay on their history and the contents penned by JOHN HARRIS. The booklet is pleasingly substantial – gorgeous and clean black and white and colour photos from those extraordinary formative years – publicity shots, TV shows, live settings – and of those the lyrics on red pages (same as the original inner sleeves). Harris goes in deep - painting a picture of four young lads from Mop-Top Liverpool going from recording their debut album with the stuffy Parlophone Records in one day to releasing their fourth long player sarcastically called "Beatles For Sale". The sound is so damn good – the lovely harmonies of "This Boy" (a great B-side and genus inclusion) segue into the rattling guitars and Ringo drums of "All My Loving" bursting out your speakers (despite the innocence) with snotty/rowdy intent. Then we get another fabulous inclusion – The Beatles doing their Chess Records hero Chuck Berry a solid with their rambunctious cover of his "Roll Over Beethoven" – kicks the listen into a welcome upbeat. 

TRACK CHOICES:
The original compilation was the A-sides of all their UK 7" singles releases between 1962 and 1966 in chronological release date order with a few key album tracks thrown in for good measure. Eagle-eye fans would therefore note that as ALL Beatles UK 7" singles for that period were issued only in MONO, so the tracks on the album should reflect that - the MONO single mixes. But EMI did nothing of the sort. In fact the original 1973 albums stated only STEREO on the labels and only the STEREO code was reflected in their catalogue numbers too. The 2010 reissues reflected MONO and STEREO for the sake of accuracy. But this time in 2023 – the mixing/remastering posse at Abbey Road has gone out of its way to give us the best of the best – the word STEREO proudly displayed and worked towards (check out the punch in "You Can't Do That"). Purists may poo-poo such tampering, but I would argue that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain, because the STEREO versions used here are awesome.

CONTENT:
Even now, it's truly shocking to hear just how accomplished The Beatles were. Re-listening to each disc in straight order is a gobsmacking experience - and by the time you get to the real song-writing genius of "Ticket To Ride" and especially "Yesterday" (the song that single-handled shut all the begrudgers up) - you're left with a renewed sense of awe. "We Can Work It Out" and "Day Tripper" were a single for God's sake - not on any English album at the time of release! "Paperback Writer", "Ticket To Ride", "Michelle" - track after track of brilliance... Were they really this good - and so early on - the answer is yes - and always will be. It could just be me, but the SHM-CD delivers astonishing power when they go into that guitar solo in "A Hard Day's Night" – the speaker-to-speaker acoustic too in "And I Love Her" almost make up for the sappy lyrics. The feedback that starts "I Feel Fine" – Lennon with that smarmy way he had of making a song sound like a wink and a nod – the strangely joyful "Ticket To Ride" – does right by us.

I've loved re-hearing these classic Beatles songs in this beautiful new sound quality - I really have - and I feel sneakily sexy owning these ultimate 2023 Japanese SHM-CD variants of them. Yesterday - all my troubles seemed so far away – well, there are no shadows hanging over me or this stunning reissue. Job done and how…

PS: The UK/EUROPE VINYL VARIANT for the 50th Anniversary issue of "1962-1966" by THE BEATLES is a TRIPLE-ALBUM on Universal/Apple 0602455920539 (Barcode 602455920539). The First Two LPs reproduce the original 1973 play list of 13 Tracks on Each LP exactly – however LP 3 puts together all of the 12 Bonus Tracks (marked * above) as a separate listening experience. Comes with Inners and the new John Harris inserts. There are also a Red Coloured Vinyl variant.

"Funky Way: Venture Recordings 1967-1969" by CALVIN ARNOLD – Eight Rare US 45-Single A&B Sides on Venture Records Plus Five Previously Unreleased Period Recordings – All in Mono (26 Jan 2024 UK Ace Records/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATING: ****

"…Mo Jo Hannah…"

Never did get an album out, but cult Sixties Soul artist Calvin Arnold managed four corking US 45s on the Venture Records label between 1967 and 1969. Ace of the UK have decided to honour his small but tasty output on this rather lovely Kent-Soul CD compilation that bolsters up those eight Mono sides with Five More from the same period - all previously unreleased and available here for the first time. It may only run to thirty-nine minutes (exactly), but the quality is right up there – not all genius – but a solid four-stars.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1941 - the Southern Soul sound of Calvin Arnold had a driving edge – a sort of gritty Wilson Pickett Atlantic Records groove – with just as much dancefloor no-mercy. His most sought-after double-dose of downhome boogie comes in the shape of his "Funky Way" 45 presented here in all its Mono tight as a gnat's ptoof glory - and alongside its equally good flipside too - "Snatchin' Back". And on re-hearing these two floor-fillers, it is hardly surprising that Venture 605 fetches such mullah these days (it was even given a UK release in limited numbers on MGM Records). Apparently it is Clarence Paul on Saxophone on "Funky Way" while Willie Hutchinson wrote and produced the A-side of the second CA single "Scoobie Doo".

Details dancefloor Maestro please, time for the Mini Skirts in the Old Folks Home (how very appropriate)…

UK released Friday, 26 January 2024 - "Funky Way: Venture Recordings 1967-1969" by CALVIN ARNOLD on Ace/Kent Soul CDKENM 528 (Barcode 029667109628) is a CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (39:00 minutes):

1. Funky Way
2. Snatchin' Back
3. Lovely Way To Go
4. Scoobie Doo
5. Mama-In-Law
6. Mini Skirt
7. You Got To Live For Yourself
8. Just A Matter Of Time
9. Tryin' To Fly My Kite (In Rainy Weather)
10. Your Love Is Too Much
11. Fool Me Baby
12. Messin' With The Old Folks Home
13. Mo Jo Hannah

NOTES:
Tracks 1 and 2 are the Non-LP A&B-sides of a January 1968 US 45-single on Venture V 605. It was also issued in the UK 28 January 1968 on MGM Records MGM 1378 with the same tracks.

Tracks 4 and 3 (note running order) are the Non-LP A&B-sides of his second single issued March 1968 in the USA on Venture VE 610 (no UK release)

Tracks 5 and 6 are the Non-LP A&B-sides of his third single issued September 1968 on Venture VE-626. It was his second and last UK 45-single issued 1 November 1968 in the UK (with the same sides) on MGM Records MGM 1449

Tracks 8 and 7 (note running order) are the Non-LP A&B-sides of his fourth single issued March 1969 in the USA on Venture VE-634

Tracks 9 to 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED period recordings (no details provided) 

The 20-page booklet and superb BRIAN POUST May 2023 liner notes pieces together the Calvin Arnold story from 2013 telephone calls, previous articles in US magazines (Blues & Soul) alongside the latest Discography research. It's a masterful piece of investigation – the text peppered with repro labels of those desirable US Venture Records singles and the two rare British MGM releases. Inbetween are publicity photos of our hero suited and booted by the Motown publicity machine to launch him as a new force – trade adverts that assure us 'this one is going all the way' and so on. There is even a gig advert for a Butler Street YMCA Benefit with Hank Ballard and The Midnighters sharing the bill with Ted Taylor, The Fiestas, Arthur Alexander and The Tams - and there in small print – The Gardenias – of which Calvin Arnold was a member – a band who had recorded with the fireball that was Esquerita. 

The transfers and audio has been done by ALEC PALAO and all is clean and punchy – not audiophile by any stretch of the imagination – but all tracks allowed to breathe in all their hip-swaying Ike & Tina Turner-ish funky way. To the chunes…

His mama told him that women are going to kill poor Calvin, but he thinks this is a "Lovely Way To Go" (better than dying in someone else’s war) – while Calvin wonders what he would have in life if not his "Scoobie Doo". Both sides are funky little neck jerkers, prominent backbeat, brass jabs – just the ticket for scuffing up a talcum powdered dancefloor. His voice is great too – a sort of cross between Bobby Womack and Shuggie Otis. The opening of "Mama In Law" features a duet female vocal (not told who) after which Calvin outlines the many ways his interferring and overbearing in-law is going to the great beyond – a fun R&B chugger as a review box tells us on Page 12 of the booklet. 

Of more interest to dancers will be the frantic and frankly fantastic "Mini Skirt" – a great Do The Boogaloo raver that is just the right side of hard funk to keep it fun. Calvin gets into message-territory with his advice to the young - "You Got To Live For Yourself" – the band tight and locked into the dancer pocket as it gives it some excellent neck-jerk. The end of the eight single sides comes with another brass, piano and drums bopper called "Just A Matter Of Time" – a great what-goes-around comes-around Funky mover (you are reminded of Allen Toussaint with The Meters on Reprise Records circa 1970 getting all Ka Pa). 

The five unreleased (getting an airing here in 2024 for the first time ever) start strongly with "Tryin' To Fly My Kite (In Rainy Weather)" – a song the Rock Band Southwind took to heart on their Ventures Records self-titled LP in 1968. The CA version is fully formed (as all five are) and features a fab Organ Solo and a relentless yes-it-is Steppenwolf beat – not surprising they went for it. "Your Love Is Too Much" is a frantic dancer – brass in the background – drums and guitar to the fore. It’s good and would have been perfect fodder for Wilson Pickett or Otis Redding. Six feet underground is where poor Calvin is going if his lady ever puts him down again for someone else (the boy is in pain, although you would not get that from the hardhitting boogie beat). The others are essentially more of the same but feel strangely unremarkable. 

The booklet tells us that Arnold was a prolific writer with a least five other credits of his songs done by other artists – Rock band Southwind recorded "Tryin' To Fly My Kite (In Rainy Weather)" on their self-titled 1968 US debut album "Southwind" on Venture VTS-4002 - December 1967 saw "Sugar Pie" by The Major IV on Venture VE-606, a Calvin Arnold co-written flipside to the US 45 for "Down In The Ghetto (There's Love)" - and 1969 saw "Repossess My Heart" by Neal Kimble make it to 45-single Promo-stage on Venture VE 629 (another Calvin Arnold solo write). His Arnold surname might have been switched out (for whatever reasons) with Mickey Sevenson on "(I Need) Someone Like You" – a co-write with Leon Ware used by The Righteous Brothers as a Side 2 song on their 1967 album "Souled Out" on Verve V6-5031 – but it was Arnold who wrote it with Ware. Calvin would also have further 45s on IX Chains Records and Sound Stage 7 Records in the Seventies. The point is - it might have been nice for collectors to get those Sixties tunes on this CD as Bonuses to give a more thorough picture of his legacy – especially with a playing time of 39:00 minutes.

Having said all of that, "Funky Way..." is a nice Kent-Soul release to open 2024 and one that dancers and gritty Southern Soul fans will appreciate...

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" by JOHN BARRY - November 1969 UK Soundtrack Album to the Sixth James Bond Film on United Artists featuring Louis Armstrong as Guest Vocalist on the Final Theme Song and a Christmas Song Sung by Nina Van Pallandt (February 2003 UK EMI/Capitol 'James Bond 007 Remasters' Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Four Extended Tracks and Ten Previously Unreleased Bonuses – Michael McDonald and Doug Schwartz Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Majestys-Secret-Service/dp/B000087DS2?crid=1CP6Q8C854HG7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GLK18Gg_wgva60-xKtOd4Q._DH_o3dOcZm2pgNkugXHT126YDysMHeEgNN2b76I9Ok&dib_tag=se&keywords=724354141928&qid=1705259722&sprefix=724354141928%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=31337b75adaece13f84688b50ec51c77&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...This Never Happened To The Other Fella..."

 

In September 1969 - through their United Artists label - EMI UK prepped a hungry James Bond audience with a new compilation LP called "The Best Of Bond - The Original Soundtrack Themes" on United Artists UAS 29021. With the bulk of it by JOHN BARRY - it featured cuts from the first five 007 films from "Dr. No" in 1962 to "You Only Live Twice" in 1967. You can pick it up in 2024 for under two pounds on original vinyl and is a bit of a winner frankly. Which brings us to rusty door No. 6…

The sixth James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" - and some would argue the best John Barry soundtrack of all the 007 outings - came to the UK public (in a vinyl gatefold sleeve) in late November 1969 on United Artists UAS 29020 (Stereo only). With newcomer George Lazenby in the lead role (replacing Sean Connery) - the movie itself premiered 18 December 1969 in the UK and 19 Dec 1969 in the States with Lazenby already stating that he would NOT do a second film. 

Perhaps just as well because as everyone knows, neither "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" or Lazenby was particularly well received - some even scathing of the new incarnation of Bond and his hammy weak-kneed portrayal of Dr. Hilary Bray. And this was despite the fact that OHMSS secured huge box-office takings worldwide - but because it was a lot less than both of its predecessors "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice" - it was technically considered to be a flop. 

Its John Barry melody-filled motion picture music (that included the first use of synths too) - initially anyway - did not make much of an impact either. It barely scraped into the US charts in February 1970 (again on United Artists) arriving at a lowly peak of No. 103 whilst not charting in the UK Top 40 at all. Jazz Vocalist legend Louis Armstrong would die two years later (it was last vocal performance and full of pathos for it – now a wedding standard) while not even Kojak Telly Savalas as arch-enemy Blofeld or the Emma Peel gorgeous Diana Rigg as Bond’s first wife Tracy Di Vicenzo could help save it in the public's eyes.

But time has proven a healer - especially amongst JOHN BARRY aficionados who have always adored its music. So, when the entire Bond catalogue turned up on 'James Bond 007 Remasters' CD in 2003 - many JOHN BARRY fans got whomped – and whomped good in this 1969-case. Not only is there ten tasty Soundtrack outtakes available for the first time (practically more than doubling the original music count of thirty-seven minutes to seventy-nine forty-six minutes) – but four crucial songs are now extended versions with original Barry music reinstated. Those four are "This Never Happens To The Other Fella" (extended from 4:25 to 5:06 minutes), "Ski Chase" (extended from 2:52 to 3:39 minutes), "Journey To Blofeld's Hideaway" (extended from 3:25 to 4:53 minutes) and "Over And Out" (extended from 2:40 to 3:11 minutes). As you can see from the playing times – some are maybe only some fifty-seconds longer – but "Journey To Blofeld's Hideaway" is so radically altered as to warrant a note in the booklet to say, 'Contains Previously Unreleased Music Within Cue'. The listen is so much better and deeper. 

Remastered with pure love from the original master tapes by top Engineer DOUG SCHWARTZ (assisted and remixed by Michael McDonald) – the audio is truly spectacular. Much like the actual films would be lifted-up into something glorious with the Lowry Process a few years later (frame-by-frame restoration) - here the revelations of how good Barry was comes at you on every track except of course the cloying Nina Van Pallandt Christmas trees schlock. To the details… 

Sir. Hilary Bray, my heraldry charts please...

UK released 11 February 2003 (UK/EUROPE reissued 2012 as EMI/Capitol 00724354141928) - "On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" by JOHN BARRY on EMI/MGM/Capitol 72435-41419-2-8 (Barcode 724354141928) breaks down as follows (79:46 minutes):

1. We Have All The Time In The World (Vocals by Louis Armstrong) – Side 1
2. This Never Happened To The Other Fella *
3. Try
4. Ski Chase *
5. Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown? (Sung by Nina)
6. Main Title - On Her Majesty's Secret Service [Side 2
7. Journey To Blofeld's Hideaway *
8. We Have All The Time In The World (Instrumental)
9. Over And Out *
10. Battle At Piz Gloria
11. We Have All The Time In The World – James Bond Theme
Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - released November 1969 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29020 in Stereo and in the USA on United Artists UAS 5204.
NOTES: 
All music by JOHN BARRY - HAL DAVID wrote the Lyrics for Tracks 1 and 5. 
Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 9 are marked * because they are Extended Versions; timing differences to the original 1969 LP are noted in the paragraphs above. 

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS:
12. Journey To Draco's Hideaway (3:41 minutes)
13. Bond And Draco (4:34 minutes)
14. Gumbold's Safe (4:49 minutes)
15. Bond Settles In (2:16 minutes)
16. Bond Meets The Girls (3:27 minutes)
17. Dusk At Piz Gloria (2:32 minutes)
18. Sir Hillary's Night Out (Who Will Buy My Yesterdays?) (4:46 minutes)
19. Blofeld's Plot (5:19 minutes)
20. Escape From Piz Gloria (4:53 minutes)
21. Bobsled Chase (2:03 minutes)

The 10-page booklet has affectionate, witty and informative liner notes from JEFF BOND (no relation) with Page 5 being a double foldout sporting an array of colour stills from the movie on one side – our own Emma Peel in her Spanish ensemble, the wedding ceremony with Diana Rigg as Teresa the only woman Bond marries, the famous silver Aston Martin, Ski Scenes, Blofeld's assassin woman Irma Bunt played by the decidedly creepy Ilsa Steppart (who died in real life only three days after the movie came out – 21 Dec 1969) – while the rear has George Lazenby as James Bond laughing (and why wouldn't he) with the bevvy of girls all living in the Swiss Alpine Retreat Piz Gloria – Blofeld’s Angels of Death. The last page has reissue credits and some discography info.

But the big news here is the SOUND - this CD sounds utterly glorious. Recorded in October 1969 by Barry at CTS Studios in London (Engineered by John Richards) - it was afforded all the luxury of modern recording facilities - and man does it show. The Louis Armstrong song was in fact sung at the end of the movie and not at the beginning – a first for Bond. Barry wrote the music; Hal David the Lyrics and an already ill Armstrong sang his warmest gravel-voice into the microphone with extraordinary tenderness – as if the married-to-the-job but never to be actually-married Bond had indeed fallen in love with Teresa Tracy Di Vicenzo. The swish and sway of the instruments and those plucked strings lend it real heart-wallop power. The first of three instrumentals elevate Side 1 of the album even more – that Extended "Ski Chase" sending your imagination right back to the slopes of the Alps and colour on the snow that would really please Count Dracula. 

The less said about the dreadfully twee Nina song about Christmas Trees the better – and thankfully the gorgeous instrumental melody in the Main Theme of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" that opens Side 2 blasts that bad taste right out of your mouth. For most fans the different opening (cue in) to "Journey To Blofeld's Hideaway" but in a very nice way – one the best instrumentals on the Soundtrack now given room to breathe and relay its magic. And again, your mind goes to cable cars, bobsleds, fur around hoods and goggles the size of American and Australian satellite dishes covering the 1969 moon landing only five months before. I am ambivalent towards the use of the synth on the James Bond Theme – but I know others would be bereft if it was not there. Far better for me is the double whammy of "Over And Out" followed by "Battle At Piz Gloria" – bombs and babes depicted by the dapper gent. 

I kind of knew that the Bonus Tracks would be good – but they are surely the reason why this CD has garnished a bit of a price tag since 2003 issue in February of that year. The four and half minutes of "Bond And Draco" is unbelievably good – while "Dusk At Piz Gloria" evokes such a great Sixties all-things-are-possibly vibe. The bachelor pad sway of the strings too as Bond lays eye son all the girlies will probably make you laugh out loud – big cheesy grin – Barry in his smoker-jacket with Martini in hand. Fabulous stuff. 

Poor Lazenby never did recover as an actor and James Bond 007 would have to wait until 1973 for Roger Moore and "Live And Let Die" (the Wings single doing the business). But this is where the middle magic of JOHN BARRY lies – the unholy triumvirate of "You Only Live Twice" in 1967 and my personal fave, the 1971 gem "Diamonds Are Forever" bringing up the rear and pushing out the front. I can feel a magnetic zipper joke coming on – buy it and wallow...

"Songbook" by GORDON LIGHTFOOT – Singles, Album Tracks and Previously Unreleased from 1962 to 1998 on ABC Paramount, United Artists, Reprise and Warner Brothers Records (June 1999 US Warner Archives/Reprise/Rhino 4CD 88-Track Career Retrospective featuring 16 Previously Unreleased Tracks/Rarities, A 60-Page Hardback Book in a Brick Block Box Set with Andrew Garver, Bill Inglot and Ron McMaster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Songbook-Gordon-Lightfoot/dp/B00000J63I?crid=13LOXAW5HUX33&keywords=081227580223&qid=1704462176&sprefix=081227580223%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=1aade2bc0f54d505e47b9dc3e8d7cd8e&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATING: ***** 

"…Just Like An Old Time Movie…"

In a 1968 magazine interview, Canadian Folk-Rock Singer-Songwriter GORDON LIGHTFOOT professed rather gloomily that he might not be remembered until after he was gone. Permanently moustachioed Gord had been making music since 1962 and come four studio albums and one live with United Artists between 1966 and 1969, seemed to have little by way of commercial success to show for it. And this despite some genuinely gorgeous Sixties Ballads that should have put him up with the likes of say Nilsson or Donovan or even someone as crossover as say Glen Campbell.

But all of that changed big time in November 1970 with a 45-single issued by Reprise from his "Sit Down Young Stranger" album of April 1970. The plaintive and moving "If You Could Read My Mind" became his first bona-fide American charter stomping all the way up to No. 5 on the US Billboard Rock and Pop charts (a more modest No. 30 in the UK). So, with the artist's permission, Reprise quickly re-titled the LP after the song "If You Could Read My Mind" (took until 1971 in the UK for that change to happen) and a fully-fledged album-selling singer-songwriter chronicler of the heart career was born. Lightfoot would switch to Warner Brothers in the late Seventies and stay there to 1998 where this 88-Track expanse ends. It has been a long-time coming – but with its lovely presentation, quality remastering and fair share of unreleased - "Songbook" felt like (and in 2024) – remains an event. Let's get Alberta bound. Here are the details…

US released 15 June 1999 (6 May 2016 in the UK on Rhino 081227946975) - "Songbook" by GORDON LIGHTFOOT on Reprise/Rhino R2 75802 (Barcode 081227580223) is a 4CD 88-Track Remastered Career Retrospective Brick-Block Box Set covering 36 years (1962 to 1998) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (75:45 minutes):
1. (Remember Me) I'm The One
2. It's Too Late, He Wins
3. For Lovin' Me
4. Early Morning Rain
5. The Way I Feel
6. Steel Rail Blues
7. A Message To The Wind
8. Song For A Winter's Night 
9. Canadian Railroad Trilogy
10. Go-Go Round
11. Crossroads
12. You'll Still Be Needing Me
13. The Mountains And Maryann
14. The Last Time I Saw Her
15. Did She Mention My Name
16. Pussywillows, Cat-Tails
17. Boss Man
18. Something Very Special
19. Bitter Green
20. Affair On 8th Avenue
21. Medley: I'm Not Sayin'/Ribbon Of Darkness
22. Softly
23. Mama Said
24. Station Master
NOTES ON CD1: 
Track 1 is a US-only 45-single from 1962 on ABC-Paramount 45-10352 (as Gord Lightfoot), A-side (itself a reissue of Chateau 142 out of Canada n 1962) – Reissued first time on album on the 1971 Canadian LP "Early Lightfoot" on AME Records AME 7000 (no UK issue)
Track 2 is a US-only 45-single on ABC-Paramount 45-10373 (as Gord Lightfoot), A-side (itself a reissue of Chateau 148 out of Canada) - Reissued first time on album on the 1971 Canadian LP "Early Lightfoot" on AME Records AME 7000 (no UK issue) – both Tracks 1 and 2 feature the Anita Kerr singers, Track 2 features Floyd Cramer on Piano
Tracks 3 to 6 from his debut album "Lightfoot!", March 1966 US LP on United Artists UAS 6487 in Stereo, released September 1969 in the UK as "Early Lightfoot" on United Artists UAS 29012 in Stereo only
Tracks 8 to 11 are from his second album "The Way I Feel", April 1967 US LP on United Artists UAS 6587 in Stereo, first released July 1971 in the UK on Sunset SLS 50231 in Stereo Only
Tracks 13 to 18 from his third studio album "Did She Mention My Name?", April 1968 US LP on United Artists UAS 6649 in Stereo, September 1968 in the UK on United Artists SULP 1199 in Stereo only
Tracks 19 and 20 from the studio album "Back Here On Earth", November 1968 US LP on United Artists UAS 6672 in Stereo, March 1969 in the UK on United Artists SULP 1239 in Stereo only
Tracks 21 and 22 from his first Live Album "Sunday Concert", October 1969 US LP on United Artists UAS 6714 in Stereo, November 1969 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29040 in Stereo
Tracks 7 and 12 (1967), 23 (1969) and 24 (1970) are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD2 (75:12 minutes):
1. Sit Down Young Stranger
2. If You Could Read My Mind
3. Poor Little Allison
4. The Pony Man
5. Cobwebs & Dust
6. Too Much To Lose
7. Summer Side Of Life
8. Cotton Jenny
9. 10 Degrees & Getting Colder
10. Nous Vivons Ensemble
11. Same Old Loverman
12. Heaven Don't Deserve Me
13. Don Quixote
14. Alberta Bound
15. Beautiful 
16. Ode To Big Blue
17. Stone Cold Sober
18. Old Dan's Records
19. That Same Old Obsession
20. Lazy Mornin'
21. Hi'way Songs
22.Can't Depend On Love
NOTES on CD2:
Tracks 1 to 5 are from the US album "If I Could Read Your Mind" on Reprise RS 6392. The LP was initially issued Stateside as "Sit Down Young Stranger" in April 1970 - then changed (with the artist's permission) in November 1970 to "If I Could Read Your Mind" when that song became a huge hit single - both issues on Reprise RS 6392. It became known as the "If I Could Read Your Mind" album thereafter. The same applied to the UK release, but in the following year – January 1971 for Reprise RSLP 6392 as "Sit Down Young Stranger", then reissued June 1971 as "If You Could Read My Mind" on Reprise K 44091. The album also featured Ry Cooder on Guitar and Mandolin, Harmonica by John Sebastian (of The Lovin' Spoonful), Harmonium by Van Dyke Parks and String Arrangements by Randy Newman and Nick De Caro
Tracks 7 to 11 are from his album "Summer Side Of Life", April 1971 US LP on Reprise MS 2037 and June 1971 in the UK Reprise K 44132
Tracks 13 to 16 are from the album "Don Quixote", February 1972 US LP on Reprise MS 2056 and April 1972 in the UK on Reprise K 44162
Tracks 18 to 22 are from the album "Old Dan's Records", November 1972 US LP on Reprise MS 2116 and November 1972 in the UK on Reprise K 44219
Tracks 6 (Sep 1972), 12 (Sep 1972) and 17 (1974) are PREVIOUSLY UNISSED

CD3 (76:17 minutes):
1. Sundown
2. Carefree Highway
3. Seven Island Suite
4. Borderstone
5. Cold On The Shoulder
6. Now And Then
7. Rainy Day People
8. Fine As Fine Can Be
9. All The Lovely Ladies
10. Summertime Dream
11. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
12. Never Too Close
13. Betty Called Me In
14. Endless Wire
15. The Circle Is Small
16. Sea Of Tranquility
17. Make Way For The Lady
18. Dream Street Rose
19. Ghosts of Cape Horn
20. Keepin' On Yearnin'
21. Canary Yellow Canoe
NOTES ON CD3:
Tracks 1 to 3 are from the album "Sundown", released January 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2177 and June 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 44258
Tracks 5 to 9 are from the album "Cold On The Shoulder", released February 1975 in the US on Reprise MS 2206 and March 1975 in the UK on Reprise K 54033
Tracks 10 to 12 are from the album "Summertime Dream", released June 1976 in the USA on Reprise MS 2246 and June 1976 in the UK on Reprise K 54067
Tracks 14 and 15 are from the album "Endless Wire", released January 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3149 and February 1978 in the UK on Earner Brothers K 56444
Tracks 16 to 19 are from the album "Dream Street Rose", released March 1980 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS 3426 and June 1980 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56802
Tracks 4 (1973), 13 (1976) and 20 and 21 (1981) are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD4 (76:15 minutes):
1. Shadows
2. She's Not The Same
3. 14 Karat Gold
4. Baby Step Back
5. In My Fashion
6. Never Say Trust Me
7. Why Should I Feel Blue
8. Someone To Believe in
9. Romance
10. Broken Dreams
11. Always On The Bright Side
12. Forgive Me Lord
13. Lifeline
14. East Of Midnight
15. Morning Glory
16. A Lesson In Love
17. A Passing Ship
18. Waiting For You
19. Drink Yer Glasses Empty
20. I'll Prove My Love
21. A Painter Passing Through
NOTES ON CD4:
Tracks 1 to 5 are from the album "Shadows", released January 1982 in the US on Warner Brothers BSK 3633 and January 1982 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56970
Tracks 8 to 10 are from the album "Salute", released July 1983 in the USA on Warner Brothers 1-23901 and September 1983 in the UK on Warner Brothers 92-3901-1
Tracks 14 to 17 are from the album "East Of Midnight", released July 1986 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25482-1 and October 1986 in the UK on Warner Brothers 925 482-1 (LP)
Tracks 18 to 20 are from the CD album "Waiting For You", released April 1993 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 45208-2 and in UK/Europe on Warner Brothers 9362-45208-2
Track 21 is from the CD album "A Painter Passing Through", released May 1998 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 46949-2 and in the UK/Europe on Warner Brothers 9362-46949-2
Tracks 6, 7 and 11 (1982), 12 (1985),13 (1986) are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The Brick Block Hard Card exterior houses four jewel cases and a gorgeous 60-page Hardback Book – interviews, song-by-song appraisals, discography and musician credits, unpublished photos. Using Michael Ochs Archive period photos as the facia front for the single-page inlay to each CD - CD1 then pictures his debut US 45 from 1962 "(Remember Me) I'm The One" on ABC-Paramount on the rear of that insert page. CD2 continues the theme by showing a Mono Promo Copy of "If I Could Read Your Mind" on Reprise from 1970 - CD3 has a stock copy label of "Sundown" on Reprise from 1974 (his first and only No.1 album in the USA and one of his most popular songs) and CD4 uses "Dream Street People" from 1980 on Warner Brothers. The print for the history-essay may be small, but there is at least a lot of it and the overall feel is one of typical Rhino care and class given to what they know is an important artist (few incorrect release dates for the UA LPs).

Remasters are by a team of three – ANDREW GARVER, DAN HERSCH (of Rhino fame) and RON McMASTER and after years of ordinary WEA CD reissues – everything is a revelation. October 1993 saw the superlative "The United Artists Collection" be issued (see separate review) - that EMI Records USA 2CD Anthology giving fans Four Albums Worth and More with Kevin Reeves Remasters. So technically there is some duplication here if you already have that. But the 70s, 80s and 90s Lightfoot material on Reprise is what most fans will be buying this 4CD set for – plus the unreleased – most of which spring from sessions for that famous label. 

After a few words from the maestro, NICOLAS JENNINGS does an essay that lasts from Page 8 to 34 followed rather cleverly by explanations from Lightfoot on every song (Pages 35 to 51 (the rest if credits and discography photos). 
It is a little surprising to see that his only Number 1 album "Sundown" gets only three entries when it could have done with two more. Still the lovely lilt and comforting wanderlust strings of "Carefree Highway" alongside the six minutes across the bay of "Seven Island Suite" will undoubtedly elicit a few tears amongst the party faithful remembering them with such affection – the remasters as warm as you could hope for. Acoustic favourites like "Cold On The Shoulder" and "Rainy Day People" (cry a tear or two) sound fabulous. The audio quality too on the early ABC-Paramount singles material is shockingly good and amongst the previously unreleased stuff like "Borderline" and "Betty Called Me In" could easily have been unashamed B-side material. Unfortunately, heavv-handed crap like "Keepin' On Yearnin'" and the truly terrible cod Rock and Roll of "Canary Yellow Canoe" are cringingly bad and should have stayed in quality-control cans never to see the light of day - ever.

I have always loved those gorgeous Sixties melodies like "Early Morning Rain" (check out the Paul Weller cover of this on his 2004 album "Studio 150" – nailed it), "The Way I Feel" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" (there is a melodious simplicity to all of the United Artists material) – but to hear songs like "Beautiful" and the gales of November story-song "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" sound this good is a secret thrill I have to share. Although the vocal still sounds ever-so-slightly bad in the mix, his acoustic style vs. those electric guitar pings carries the builder "Sea Of Tranquility" – another deep album nugget from "Dream Street Rose". Although some of the 80s offerings suffered (like so much from that period) with cluttered over-produced too-shiny instruments – there is no denying the loveliness of "Shadows" or the catchy son-of-a-gun guitar chugs in "She's Not The Same" and "Baby Step Back" (no bad cheques). The remasters too are exceptional. Even the unreleased "Why Should I Feel Blue" is lovely – a throwback to the sound of 70s Reprise – and well-produced too. 

The sticker on the outer shrink-wrap declares that you are buying into '88 Songs, 36 Years, 4CDs and 1 Canadian' – which is true. What it doesn't say is that there is good and bad in here. But thankfully and in all honesty – the goodies far outweigh the dips and Rhino have once again (like John Prine, Tim Buckley, Judee Sill, Fred Neil, John Sebastian and so many more) done the business by a Troubadour who was so much bigger than a legend amongst songwriters (Dylan has always name-checked Lightfoot). 

"How could you be anything but beautiful..." - Lightfoot sang over 50 years ago, and I for one, agree. A lovely thing really, check it out…

"Good Old Boys" by RANDY NEWMAN - September 1974 US Fourth Album on Reprise Records (October 1974 in the UK) – Guest Musicians Includes Ry Cooder, John Platania, Ron Elliott, Dennis Budimir and Al Perkins on Guitars with Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Bernie Leadon of Eagles on Backing Vocals (May 2002 UK Reprise/Rhino Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and Remaster with 14 Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Old-Boys-Randy-Newman/dp/B000065DWH?keywords=081227824327&qid=1704377045&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=b194a8e4376b4b51f3dc428926f3238f&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review and 241 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

PICK UP THE PIECES - 1974

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45's...

All In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves

Over 2,200 E-Pages

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

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RATING: *****  

"…Smart Ass…"

Randy Newman's follow-up to the acidic and brilliant "Sail Away" album of 1972 was another ball-buster equal to its predecessor's fame – "Good Old Boys" provided shell-shocked '74 listeners with more deeply uncomfortable subject matters that even here in 2024 (its 50th Anniversary year) raise a "You-wot!" eyebrow response.

Having done the Reissue and Remaster business by "Sail Away" – time for our hero to get the same nod towards door number four. Rhino have found an entire album of February 1973 piano demos with spoken intros between every song (see CD2). "Everyone is so friendly on this album…", Newman snarks sarcastically before his moving and sad "Louisiana 1927" demo version – not really. To the details…

UK released 27 May 2002 (21 May 2002 in the USA) - "Good Old Boys" by RANDY NEWMAN on Reprise/Rhino 8122-78243-2 (Barcode 081227824327) is a 2CD Expanded Edition reissue of his fourth studio album with Previously Unreleased Demos on Disc Two (reissued in 2003 in the UK on Reprise/Rhino 8122-73839-2 (Barcode 081227383923) as a single CD - essentially CD1 of the double). It plays out as follows:

CD1 "Good Old Boys" (36:55 minutes):

1. Rednecks [Side 1]

2. Birmingham

3. Marie

4. Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man)

5. Guilty 

6. Louisiana 1927 [Side 2]

7. Every Man A King

8. Kingfish

9. Naked Man

10. A Wedding In Cherokee County

11. Back On My Feet Again

12. Rollin' 

Tracks 1 to 12 are his fourth studio album "Good Old Boys" - released 10 September 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2193 and October 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54022. Produced by LARRY WARONKER and RUSS TITELMAN - it peaked at No. 36 in the US Rock LP Charts (didn't chart UK).

BONUS TRACK:

13. Marie (Demo) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

Musicians On The Album Included: 

RANDY NEWMAN - Piano, Electric Piano, Synth and All Lead Vocals

RY COODER and JOHN PLATANIA - Electric Guitars

RON ELLIOTT and DENNIS BUDIMIR - Acoustic Guitars

AL PERKINS - Pedal Steel Guitar

RUSS TITELMAN, WILLIE WEEKS and RED CALLENDER - Bass

ANDY NEWMARK, JIM KELTNER and MILT HOLLAND - Drums

BOBBYE HALL and MILT HOLLAND - Percussion

DON HENLEY, GLENN FREY and BERNIE LEADON of EAGLES - Backing Vocals

  

CD2 "Johnny Cutler's Birthday" (41:44 minutes):

1. Rednecks

2. If We Didn't Have Jesus

3. Birmingham

4. The Joke

5. Louisiana

6. My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell

7. Shining

8. Marie

9. Good Morning

10. Birmingham Redux

11. Doctor, Doctor

12. Albanian Anthem

13. Rolling

Recorded 2 January 1973 at Amigo Studios, Hollywood, CA with Randy Newman on Piano only - Produced by Russ Titelman

Remasters are by DAN HERSCH at Digiprep and with new Liner Notes by DAVID WILD - the '2CD Expanded Edition' set offers 14 Previously Unreleased Demo Versions and a pleasingly comprehensive 20-page booklet complete with reminiscences from the great man himself. The David Wild essay 'Randy Newman's Southern Discomfort' tells it like it was and unfortunately still is - Newman rightly proud of his stance on important issues. There are promo photos, gig posters (World Premier of "Good Old Boys" with the Atlanta Symphony, 5 October 1974) and those acidic lyrics alongside original recording/reissue credits - it's a tasty job done and sounds so good. This is not an audiophile album, but the Hersch Remaster has given enough oomph to the piano-led songs to make them even more powerful and haunting and that's what I wanted. 

The album opens with an incendiary piece of social observation songmanship written as if sung by a Southern Good Old Boy who clearly favours keeping the coloured folk down and most definitely out (as the lyrics literally say). Ever the news junkie – Newman had been watching TV in December 1970 when he witnessed the 75th Governor of Georgia – the deeply bigoted and white racist Lester Maddox (who had been instrumental in enforcing segregation in his town and restaurants in the Sixties) sat beside the legendary Georgia American Football Full Back and Black Civil Rights Activist Jim Brown on The Dick Cavett Show. Placing these politically polar-opposite men beside each other saw Brown unable to contain himself (as Cavett knew) and he remarked about racism towards negroes. It was fractious to say the least, but Newman felt that Brown had never been given a chance to counter the whoops and hollers he felt went the wrong way. So he wrote "Rednecks" where the song is peopled with references to smart-assed Jews, no-neck oilmen from Texas, rednecks who don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. The smug singer (johnny Cutler) goes on to suggest how black people should be put in cages in Chicago and San Francisco and Cleveland. As you can imagine, "Rednecks" is grating-funny - but it’s also deeply uncomfortable as you hear the glee the singer employs in his sickening lists of hate. 

The following two melodies soften things - "Birmingham" and "Marie" filled with the sadness of working people struggling to live let alone love – characters drunk and pleading. The audio on those two is good – clean – but they are suddenly trampled by fantastic audio on "Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man)" which employs a jolly brass section that give heft to lyrics about folks running out of money while cold winds blow onto porches, kitchen tables with scraps on them. Side 1 ends with what I think is one of his most understated masterpieces - "Guilty" - a whiskey-sodden cocaine-laden lover pleading to his lady to take his sorry ass back in her arms again. Others have seen its ache and covered it - I particularly love the Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker versions from the Seventies.

Speaking of exceptional covers, they don't in my book come much better than Aaron Neville taking the sad and moving dustbowl feel of "Louisiana 1927" and making it a highlight on his 1991 album "Warm Your Heart" (A&M Records). Randy's version has strings that elevates the 'trying to wash us away' lyrics about floods - people's homes and livelihoods destroyed by an act of a heartless God and a conveniently absent government. Reprise used "Louisiana 1927" with "Marie" on its flipside as a belated US 45-single on Reprise RPS 1387. They also tried plugging the "Good Old Boys" album by pairing the jaunty and commercially usable "Naked Man" from Side 2 (I think the Eagles are the backing vocalists) with the slow and melancholy "Guilty" from Side 1 as a US 45-single in January 1975 on Reprise RPS 1324. 

Side 2 highlights also include "A Wedding In Cherokee County" which I recall Ireland's Freddie White used to sing in Dublin's Baggot Inn during the Eighties (recorded it for his "Long Distance Runner" album in 1985) - a smokehouse rocking-chair piano lurch filled with fabulous lyrics about no-goods and slimy old bastards.  The album rolls home with tales about machinists and a Polish girl with gaps in her teeth - the Eagles distinctive against the slide guitar on "Back On My Feet Again". Even with Nick DeCaro arranged strings - "Rollin'" feels like an Eagles B-side - is slight - anti-climax after the brilliance that went before it. But there's no doubt about the feeling that "Good Old Boys" is an album seeing a brilliant songwriter flourish - it isn't going to be everyone's favourite Friends episode - all cuddly and warm - but it is genius.

Stripped of all instrumentation except his grand piano - the 'demo' of "Marie" drips of pain and loneliness - the lyrics almost identical to the finished album version. It may end abruptly and have the airy feel of a 'demo' - but "Marie" in this form is loaded with that rarest of things - raw emotion that is almost unbearable to hear. Brilliant. Speaking of rough cuts – the fascinating back inlay shows the Stereo Tape Box for the 2/1/73 US session – 'Birthday Party' crossed out to read "The Joke". Each of the CD2 demos features a spoken lead-in – the lyrics almost all razor-close to the finished cuts – already honed and set to shock. The character (and suggested album title) Johnny Cutler and his Birthday is supposed to be the theme throughout – Newman suggesting sound effects that might preamble each song. You can also hear him working out the storylines as he speaks too. The remastered quality is by and large superb. 

Newman is undecided about including "If We Didn't Have Jesus" – one of the new titles – and while it is good his gut instinct that it was bordering on cliché was right. A rabbit is being chased by a big black dog in "The Joke" – a song that did not make the final cut and you can hear it is thematically out of place. "My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell" could have made the album – Cutler singing of his 29th birthday fading into the manhood of 30 – suddenly singing about how Daddy had a shop in Tuscaloosa where he cut hair (the famous Dixie Howell included). It slowly dawns on the listener that the drunken Johnny Cutler is none too enamouring with dead Daddy and his insufferable magnolias (he puts Vaseline and Razors in the coffin). And on it goes to Cutler's wife being the "Marie" we've known as someone else all these years – the sinister "Shining" probably just that – too sinister. 

For sure Randy Newman's 1974 album "Good Old Boys" will not be everybody's idea of 'Airplane' type laughter - 'Family Guy' gags-a-plenty some of which might actually make you gag - or at least double-take. But this Reprise/Rhino 2CD Reissue/Remaster hammers home its on-the-money brilliance and musical bravery with real style...