"Planet Waves" by BOB DYLAN – January 1974 US Fourteenth Studio Album on Asylum Records (February 1974 in the UK on Island Records) - Featuring the whole of The Band – Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Levon Helm (May 2004 UK Columbia Standard Edition Jewel Case Reissue – First Issued September 2003 in the Bob Dylan Revisited (The Reissue Series) As A Hybrid SACD Remaster in Card Digipak Repro Artwork – Greg Calbi Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS:

Overall ****

Packaging Presentation **

Audio *****

"…May You Be Forever Young…"

On a rush of advance sales - Bob Dylan's first No.1 vinyl album in the USA (which seems almost unimaginable now in the hindsight mists of late 2024) came not in 1964 or 1966 or 1968 or 1970 - but in January 1974. 

Nevertheless "Planet Waves" irritated me as a teenager – I could never quite nail down why – it felt to me at the time like it was a good album trying real hard to be great. Side 1 is fab but Side 2 drops the ball. Sure, it has wonderful Dylan-mellow in "Going, Going, Gone" where Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson add telepathically classy fills and the wonderful anthemic "Forever Young" of course - but even that is faffed with a Fast Version that opens Side 2 – a silly directionless knees-up-mother-brown repeat that feels like filler instead of joy.

But what brings me back to "Planet Waves" these days (it was done with his long-time muckers The Band) is the stunning new Audio achieved when it was reissued in September 2003 - mastered by the legendary GREG CALBI. Man does this thing sound good - so musclebound that I'm hearing it anew – and even loving the faff-bits. Time to relocate Hazel and get Tough Mama…

UK re-released 29 May 2004 - "Planet Waves" by BOB DYLAN (featuring The Band) on Columbia 512356 6 (Barcode 5099751235620) is a Standard Edition Jewel Case Reissue of a SACD Hybrid Reissue first released in a Card Sleeve Digipak on 15 September 2003 (Barcode 5099751235668). It plays out as follows (42:10 minutes):

1. On A Night Like This [Side 1]
2. Going, Going, Gone
3. Tough Mama
4. Hazel 
5. Something There Is About You
6. Forever Young (5:00 minutes)
7. Forever Young (2:51 minutes) [Side 2]
8. Dirge
9. You Angel You
10. Never Say Goodbye
11. Wedding Song
Tracks 1 to 11 are his fourteenth studio album "Planet Waves" – released 17 January 1974 in the US on Asylum 7E 1003 and February 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9261 (all songs by BD). Bob Dylan plays Guitar and Harmonica (Lead Vocals on All) whilst The Band features Robbie Robertson on Guitars, Garth Hudson on Organ and Accordion, Richard Manuel on Keyboards and Drums, Rick Danko on Bass with Levon Helm on Drums. It peaked at No.1 in the USA (his first there) and No.7 in the UK.

First Issued September 2003 as part of the Bob Dylan Revisited (The Reissue Series) – that variant was a Hybrid SACD Remaster in Card Digipak Repro Artwork with a Greg Calbi Remaster. There was a layer for standard CD players also with the Remastered Audio. What you have here is technically a reissue of that Limited Edition into an unlimited edition jewel case in May 2004. The packaging is abysmal – a gatefold slip of paper that reproduces the 'Cast Iron Songs & Torch Ballads' charcoal drawing painting scrawled Dylan liner notes artwork on the inside of the gatefold with a photo of him in the studio (sat in a chair with guitar beside him) beneath the see-through CD tray – and that's your lot. No critique – no history – no appreciation - no lyrics - it just about mentions the Stereo Remaster by GREG CALBI at Sterling Sound on the rear of the booklet. But let's get to the music…

Right from the off, the audio on the jaunty "On A Night Like This" is fantastic, Levon Helm and his Accordion now clear and contributing. Robbie Robertson makes his guitar sound like it's trying to catch a breath – drunk almost - on one of the album's undoubted highlights - "Going, Going, Gone" – Dylan sounding full-throated sincere in his tortured vocal delivery – a gem. Sisters are on the highway while papa is in the big house (his working day are through) for the rollicking Band vs. Dylan shouter song "Tough Mama" – great audio as Dylan wails on the Harmonica and Garth Hudson makes his organ sing. But again, "Tough Mama" is one of those tunes, where you want to explore the themes and wish that Columbia had gone some way to providing lyrics – giving the release something other than what they can get away with. "Hazel" has something our Bob wants – another untouchable lady within reach but so far away. I love the way that his harmonica playing on "Hazel" adds a genuine hurt to the longing rather than just being something to fill the space (it feels old and new). And again, great audio as Robbie warbles those guitar notes in the right speaker for "Something There Is About You" – the other adding layers as both talents whirlwind into each other. 

I often think that our appraisal of "Planet Waves" would have been elevated had Dylan dropped that crap fast version of "Forever Young" that opens Side 2 and started instead with the bleak pain-drenched "Dirge" where Dylan is glad the curtain fell – no more daggering eyes until one breaks out the battle stare. You also must praise Robertson on zippy Acoustic and Hudson on Grand Piano where they somehow manage to make "Dirge" sound bleak and yet full too – a frantic baroness. "You Angel You" is unfortunately just another Dylan song that floats over you as he shout-sings his way through the motions. Robertson runs his guitar through a waterfall as Dylan sings of someone beautiful whose grace might just make him cry – the short three-minutes of "Never Say Goodbye" feeling like a song you should give a second-chance too. "Planet Waves" comes to an end with "Wedding Song" – an Acoustic strummer that regales how much his lady means to him. A track called "Nobody 'Cept You" (said to be a love song to his wife Sara) was replaced at the last minute with "Wedding Song" - there is also alternate versions of "Forever Young" officially out there too - first can be found on "Biograph" and then on "Bootleg Series Volumes 1 to 3".

There are BD fans who rate his 1974 platter "Planet Waves" as being up there – but I think that Seventies accolade goes hands down to "Blood On The Tracks" from 1975. 'Tracks' was a genuinely great album that moved then and does still. "Planet Waves" has never done that for me.  

But in truth - I am returning to the 'Moonglow' album of 1974 (even if I do not know what he's going on about in those scrawled "Planet Waves" liner notes) – playing it again after all these decades because of the revelatory Remaster. And this time, I'm smiling from the lifeboat and not so seasick…

"The Polydor Years" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION – Eight US Albums Plus Twenty Bonus Tracks from September 1974 to August 1980 including "Third Annual Pipe Dream" (September 1974), "Dog Days" (September 1975), "Red Tape" (May 1976), "A Rock And Roll Alternative" (January 1977), "Champagne Jam" (January 1978 USA), "Underdog" (June 1979 USA), "Are You Ready!" (October 1979 USA 2LP Live Set) and "The Boys From Doraville" (August 1980) (May 2019 UK Caroline Records 8CD Clamshell Box Set featuring Eight Albums in Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves Plus Twenty Bonus Tracks – Tony Dixon Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS:

Overall ****

Presentation ****

Audio ****

"...Georgia Rhythm..."

Arising out of the ashes of Roy Orbison's Candymen and Sixties hit makers The Classics IV (Keyboard player Dean Daughtry and Drummer Robert Nix) - Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS to their fans) hailed out of Doraville in Georgia. 

In the early days, they were a Country Rock act with strains of Lynyrd Skynyrd moving quickly into more commercial Chicago Funky Rock territory in the mid to late Seventies. As this retrospective is entitled The Polydor Years - their first two platters from 1972 and 1973 on Decca Records called "Atlanta Rhythm Section" and "Back Up Against The Wall"  are not covered here – just album number three through to album number ten – September 1974 to August 1980.

A superb-sounding 8CD Clamshell Box Set, you get a great deal of bang for your Euro-anaemic Buck – 8 albums remastered across 8CDs in Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves (collectors love these things) plus a whopping 20 Bonus Tracks – most of which are Single Edits, Promo-only Mono Mixes, Live versions etc. Their 1977 US FM Radio smash "So In To You" from the "A Rock And Roll Alternative" album is here too - as is everything else your average ARS nutter needs. To the Champagne Jams...

UK released 31 May 2019 - "The Polydor Years" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION on Caroline CAROLR073CD (Barcode 600753866603) offers 8LPs Remastered onto 8CDs Plus Twenty Bonus Tracks (Single Edits, Mono Promo Cuts and Live Versions) and breaks down as follows:

CD1 "Third Annual Pipe Dream" (47:31 minutes):
1. Doraville [Side 1]
2. Jesus Hearted People
3. Close The Door
4. Blues In Maude's Flat
5. Join The Race (To Inner Space)
6. Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us) [Side 2]
7. Get Your Head Out Of Your Heart
8. The War Is Over
9.  Help Yourself (You Gotta Help Yourself)
10. Who You Gonna Run To (When You're Thru Walkin' On Me)
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd album "Third Annual Pipe Dream" - released September 1974 in the USA on Polydor PD-6027 and February 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2391 136. Produced by J.R. COBB and DON NIX – peaked at No.74 on the US Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK)

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us) – Mono Edit
12. Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us) – Single Edit
13. Doraville (Mono Edit)
14. Get Your Head Out Of Your Heart (Mono Edit)

CD2 "Dog Days" (39:36 minutes):
1. Crazy [Side 1]
2. Boogie Smoogie
3. Cuban Crisis
4. It Just Ain't Your Moon
5. Dog Days - [Side 2]
6. Bless My Soul (Instrumental)
7. Silent Treatment
8. All Night Rain
Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album "Dog Days" - released September 1975 in the USA on Polydor PD-6041 and November 1975 in the UK on Polydor Super 2391 179. Produced by BUDDY BUIE - it peaked at No. 113 in the USA (didn't chart in the UK)

BONUS TRACKS:
9. Crazy (Mono Edit)

CD3 "Red Tape" (39:42 minutes):
1. Jukin/San Antonio Rose[Side 1]
2. Mixed Emotions
3. Shanghied
4. Police! Police!
5. Beautiful Dreamers [Side 2]
6. Oh What A Feeling
7. Free Spirit
8. Another Man's Woman
Tracks 1 to 8 are their fifth studio album "Red Tape" - released May 1976 in the USA on Polydor PD-6060 and July 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2391 223. Produced by BUDDY BUIE - it peaked at No. 146 in the USA (didn't chart in the UK)

BONUS TRACKS
9. Free Spirit (Mono Edit)
10. Jukin (Mono Edit)

CD4 "A Rock And Roll Alternative" (44:06 minutes):
1. Sky High [Side 1]
2. Hitch-Hikers' Hero
3. Don't Miss The Message
4. Georgia Rhythm
5. So In To You [Side 2]
6. Outside Woman Blues
7. Everybody Gotta Go
8. Neon Nites
Tracks 1 to 8 are their sixth album "A Rock And Roll Alternative" - released January 1977 in the USA on Polydor PD-1-6080 and March 1977 in the UK on Polydor 2391 255. Produced by ROBERT NIX, J.R. COBB and BUDDY BUIE – it peaked at No.11 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK)

BONUS TRACKS:
9. So In To You (Mono Edit)
10. So In To You (Single Edit)
11. Neon Nites (Single Edit)

CD5 "Champagne Jam" (53:32 minutes):
1. Large Time [Side 1]
2. I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me
3. Normal Love
4. Champagne Jam
5. Imaginary Lover [Side 2]
6. The Ballad Of Lois Malone
7. The Great Escape
8. Evileen
Tracks 1 to 8 are their seventh album "Champagne Jam" – released January 1978 in the USA on Polydor PD-1-6134 and June 1978 in the UK on Polydor 2391 319. Produced by BUDDY BUIE and ROBERT NIX – it peaked at No.7 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK)

BONUS TRACKS:
9. Champagne Jam (Stereo Edit)
10. Imaginary Lover (Mono Edit)
11. Imaginary Lover (Single Edit)
12. I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me (Mono Edit)
13. I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me (Single Edit)

CD6 "Underdog" (52:04 minutes):
1. Do It Or Die [Side 1]
2. Born Ready
3. I Hate The Blues / Let's Go Get Stoned
4. Indigo Passion
5. While Time Is Left [Side 2]
6. It's Only Music
7. Spooky
8. My Song
Tracks 1 to 8 are their eight album "Underdog" – released June 1979 in the USA on Polydor PD-1-6200 and July 1979 in the UK on Polydor 2391 398. Produced by BUDDY BUIE, J.R. COBB and RODNEY MILLS – it peaked at No.26 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK)

BONUS TRACKS:
9. Indigo Passion (Single Edit)
10. Large Time (Single Edit)
11. Back Up Against The Wall (Single Edit)
12. Spooky (Single Edit)

CD7 "Are You Ready!" (76:16 minutes, 2LP Live Set):
1. Prelude/Tara's Theme - Sky High [Side 1]
2. I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me
3. Large Time
4. Back Up Against The Wall [Side 2]
5. Angle (What In The World's Come Over Us)
6. Conversation
7. Imaginary Lover
8. Doraville [Side 3]
9. Another Man's Woman
10. Georgia Rhythm [Side 4]
11. Imaginary Lover
12. So In To You
13. Long Tall Sally
Tracks 1 to 13 are their ninth album "Are You Ready!" – released October 1979 in the USA on Polydor PD-2-6236 as a 2LP set – a combination of live recordings and live-in-the-studio sessions – it was their first Live Set (no UK issue). Produced by BUDDY BUIE and RODNEY MILLS – it peaked at No.51 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK)

CD8 "The Boys From Doraville" (42:45 minutes):
1. Cocaine Charlie [Side 1]
2. Next Year's Rock & Roll
3. I Ain't Much
4. Putting My Faith In Love
5. Rough At The Edges [Side 2]
6. Silver Eagle
7. Pedestal
8. Try My Love
9. Strictly R&R
Tracks 1 to 9 are their tenth album "The Boys From Doraville" (ninth studio album overall) – released August 1980 in the USA on Polydor PD-1-6285 and September 1980 in the UK on Polydor 2391 467. Produced by BUDY BUIE – it peaked at No.65 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK)

BONUS TRACK:
10. I Ain't Much (Single Edit)

ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION was:
RONNIE HAMMOND - Lead Vocals
DEAN DAUGHTRY - Keyboards
BARRY BAILEY - Guitars
J.R. COBB – Guitars and Backing Vocals
PAUL GODDARD - Bass
ROBERT NIX – Drums (BOB YEAGER for "The Boys Of Doraville")

Compiled by Michael Cobb - the glossy Clamshell Box Set for "The Polydor Years" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION is cool enough and collectors will dig the eight Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves (front and rear covers, all single sleeves, no inners nor gatefolds, bonus tracks are not super-imposed on the artwork). The 20-page colour booklet comes with new liner notes by long-time writer and music buff MALCOLM DOME (done August 2018) filling in all the milestone blanks alongside snaps of the six-piece band in varying stages of their career (they campaigned for President Jimmy Carter in 1976 and appeared on the White House lawn in a gig for the son of the Georgia POTUS). Even though ARS had British LP variants on Polydor Records UK for most of their albums (even attended Knebworth Festival) - Atlanta Rhythm Section were very much a US phenomenon - all their LPs charted in the USA (their sort of trademark Fish & Guitar Logo is on Page 4). 

I have to say though that the final two-pages of credits at the rear of the booklet are barely readable because of the tiny font and blurry colouring (song titles, writers credits and not a lot else) – there is more info in my Discography above than you get here. But what punters and fans will want is the sweet-as-a-nut Audio – the set mastered by TONY DIXON at Masterpiece in the UK. These were well-recorded albums in the first place and the beefy/clean transfers reflect that. Time for some Country Rock and a few genre-stops in-between…

CD1 – Released September 1974 in the USA - "Third Annual Pipe Dream" pays homage to the city that made them with the commercial Country Rock opener "Doraville". They talk of it being a breakthrough in the booklet. With "Who You Gonna Run To" on its flip, it was put out a US single in late 1974 on Polydor PD 14248 and January 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2066 488. It did no business in the UK but managed a very healthy chart placing of No.35 in the States in November 1974. It put them on the map and people tuned in. Polydor tried again with "Get Your Head Out Of Your Heart" and "Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us)" on both sides of the pond (Polydor PD 14273 in the USA, May 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2058 560) but neither side of the water took to it. A cool funky Rock tune is "Help Yourself (You Gotta Help Yourself") which I've put on many 70's FEST compilations. Christian rocker Mylon LeFevre sang backing vocals on "Jesus Hearted People" alongside Hugh Baby Jarret of The Jordanaires. Peaking at No.74 on the US Billboard charts – their third album "Third Annual Pipe Dream" saw ARS start an impressive chart run of albums which saw the following seven titles in this Box Set make good numbers also.

CD2 - The "Dog Days" album of September 1975 gets off to A Pop-Rock start with "Crazy (Times)" – but then things get seriously dirty Southern Boogie with the wickedly groovy grunge of "Boogie Smoogie" - a song about a dive filled with hookers, greasy chicken and beer-swilling clientele throwing their cans at the bar band trying to make a buck. The Audio is superb for this huge fan fave. Their commercial 'let's write one that will be played on Country radio' streak kicks in for the jaunty "Cuban Crisis" - the kind of song Little Feat would have made a better fist of. "It Just Ain't Your Moon" is good old boy Rock 'n' Roll and sounds chunky - a sweet-sounding transfer. Things mellow into the big smooch of "Dog Days" - a power ballad that doesn't really ignite. The instrumental "Bless My Soul" is a funky little Southern Boogie number that sounds more 1977 dancefloor than 1975 chicken coup. Another fave is surely "Silent Treatment" - a wickedly catchy groove with 'honky tonk' harmonica where our boys are captured by a quiet lady (Ronnie struck out). It ends on the warmth of "All Night Rain" where ARS do their best Eagles impression.

CD3 - You really hear the quality of the Remaster with the first 45 lifted off the "Red Tape" LP of May 1976 - the Boogie Rock of "Jukin" - Buie and Nix delivering a wickedly good Rocker - the kind of song Jo Jo Gunne would have killed for. "Mixed Emotions" is the same - another clever ZZ Top type groover with Hammond's vocals sounder better than ever and those dual guitars tearing it up. "Shanghied" is another Rocker as the album begins to sound more and more like "Tres Hombres" with a commercial funk. Not surprisingly "Police! Police!" opens with arriving sirens, doors slamming and then a huge guitar riff (another travelling late at night - got hassled - song). The ballad "Beautiful Dreamers" is at least more convincing than the previous LP's attempts - a piano chord tells us that blue jean friends have faded. Again, back to hard-hitting boogie - a huge guitar sound on "Oh What A Feeling" - and the single "Free Spirit" is the same - amazing clarity.

CD4 – January 1977's "A Rock And Roll Alternative" still sees Ronnie Hammond on Lead Vocals and their sound is Funky Boogie Rock exemplified by "Don't Miss The Message" and the rocking Skynyrd vibe of "Outside Woman Blues". But the album is dominated by the huge hit "So In To You" - the kind of Boz Scaggs commercial song that would make you double take if you heard it even now coming out of a radio  - asking - who's that? "Neon Nites" tries to get close to its sound and succeeds with its plucked guitars and slinky beat. Piggybacking on the popularity of the hit single "So In To You", the LP "A Rock And Roll Alternative" was a smash also – peaking at No.11 on the Billboard album charts. It even sparked a March 1977 reissue on MCA Records MCA2-4114 of their self-titled debut (1972) and second album "Back Up Against The Wall" (1973) as a 2LP package simply called "Atlanta Rhythm Section". Even that charted, peaking at No.154 for a 4-week run.

CD5 – January 1978's "Champagne Jam" came one year after its career-changing predecessor and didn't just keep the winning formula tight but improved on it. In October of 1977, half of the ultimate guitar heroes band Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in a plane crash – a huge blow to anyone around Southern Rock. ARS responded with an ebullient guitar-boogie tribute song "Large Time" which takes pride of place as the opener for Side 1 – the band rocking out as many fans wanted (glad to be living in the USA). And while the preceding album "A Rock And Roll Alternative" from 1977 was seriously popular - the "Champagne Jam" LP of 1978 took ARS Top Ten – rightly peaking at No.7 on the back of a damn good album (it would be their most commercially successful album). And in "Imaginary Lover" and "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me" – they clocked up two more 45-single hits (peaking at No. 7 and 14 respectively). While I find the ballad "Normal Love" just a little too piano-plinking soppy and the b-word lyrics in "Evileen" cringeworthy, other goodies include the wickedly catchy good-time beat in "Champagne Jam" (me and the boys staying out late) and the very Lynyrd Skynyrd drank-like-a-fish and cussed-like-a-sailor Southern crawl in "The Ballad of Lois Malone".

CD6 – Coming one year after its upbeat commercially savvy predecessor – June 1979's "Underdog" is something of a disappointment. Opening with the very Eagles-sounding mellow of "Do It Or Die" (not my cup of Rosie) that is followed fast by another infernally hooky tune "Born Ready" that could easily have been another winner-45. The awkwardly titled and seven-minute long "I Hate The Blues" sees our lead singer craving a crank-up rhythm so he can let it rip (the Ashford/Simpson song "Let's Go Get Stoned" comes in towards the end). "Indigo Passion" is awful, plinking-plonking filler. At least "While Time Is Left" has some good guitar licks but again the strings and overall lack-lustre do for the song. "It's Only Music" restores the confidence – cute girl shaking like a maniac. The album gave ARS two American Billboard hits "Do It Or Die" that peaked at No.19 and a remake of a song that Cobb and Buie made famous with The Classics IV – the mighty "Spooky" (God knows how many cover versions there are of that slinky gem). Time to go to the masses…

CD7 – October 1979's 2LP live set "Are You Ready!" came in the same year as their seventh studio album "Underdog" and featured an interesting mix of Live American Tour recordings vs. new Live-in-the-Studio jams. To a backdrop of Lara Theme playing over the monitors, the compare hits the mike and shouts the album title "Are You Ready!" ARS are then announced as being from Georgia and the crowd erupts as they rip into an electric version of "Sky High" – lead guitarist making his plank bleed. The Funk-Rock of the hugely popular "Champagne Jam" cements a fab double-whammy opener. Things are mellowed by a mid-tempo groove - another single – the ignoring pain and injustice around the world stepper "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me". The crowd loves Hammond saying, "This one is for Lynyrd Skynyrd…" as the band launch into a tight-rocking version of "Large Time" that not for the first time has ARS sounding like the younger brother of ZZ Top. Sentenced to hard labour and on the wrong side of the law, ARS dig back into their catalogue to let the crowd have the good-old-boys character in "Back Up Against The Wall".

A smart choice from album three "Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us)" allows the boys to showcase harmonies, melodious arrangements and geetar playing. They dig out the acoustic shuffle of "Conversation" (from the second album of 1973) – remembering a friend and lover where communication broke down and time did the destructive rest. Hit single "Imaginary Lover" is ok – but their early breakthrough hit "Doraville" is alive – you feel the band enjoying themselves. Keeping up the reach back, ARS hit the crowd with a first album rocker "Another Man's Woman(It's So Hard)" – the guitars and piano both snarling. Time to revisit a sleeper on 1977's "A Rock And Roll Alternative" – the mellow "Georgia Rhythm" which unfortunately has an in-the-distance feel to the tapes. Not surprisingly the live tour proceedings are ended with the mega-hit "So In To You" and a rollicking cover version of Little Richard's incendiary "Long Tall Sally". In the grand pantheon of Classic Double Live Albums of the Seventies "Are You Ready!" by ARS is forgotten these days (2024) - but its charms deserve a return to.

CD8 – Heading into a new decade with "The Boys From Doraville" (their last album on Polydor released August 1980) and Atlanta Rhythm Section are in a return-to-basics mood whilst reaching for the commerciality of yesteryear. "Cocaine Charlie" immediately hits you with that familiar ARS sound – their Southern-Rock Country-Pop swagger – strong and muscular – a tale of a fool chasing ecstasy but now a slave to sniffing fairy dust. The audio is superb. More than a passing nod to their sound of old follows - "Next Year's Rock & Roll" commenting on Disco and New Wave with a slight smirk. "I Ain't Much" is a bopper but it feels old and not particularly fresh nor does "Putting My Faith In Love". The cowboy hero Joe Bob Kinsey and Satin Ladies of Saturday Night get mixed up into "Rough At The Edges" but again it feels like reaching for fun instead of feeling it. Pure Eagles-sung-by Glenn Frey territory shows up in the shape of "Silver Eagle" – carry me away from endless Holiday Inns. The guitar-chug of "Try My Love" and the play-too-loud piano-boogie of "Strictly R&R" feel like the best two tunes on a strangely deflating album. And on it goes with all those edits and single sides hammering home their sound. 

You wouldn't call any of these albums 'masterpieces' - hardly anything ARS ever did could hold a candle to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat or even The Allmans - bands with real chops and tunes that moved. Having said that - if you're a fan or even partial to Southern Rock – then this superb-sounding ARS Clamshell love-fest is an absolute 8CD must-own...

Atlanta Rhythm Section's brand of Country Rock won't be everyone's cup of Horlicks nowadays and a lot of it feels lightweight with the passing of time (they had neither the integrity of Skynyrd or the sheer balls-to-the-wall Blues Boogie of Foghat) - but those slinky moments in between are worth the purchase (and that top audio quality). 

"...Captured by your style..." Hammond sings on "So In To You". You may feel the same...

"Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie 1969-1979" by DOBIE GRAY – Eighty-Track Four-Disc Book Set featuring Six US 45-Single Sides from 1969 to 1972 on White Whale and Anthem Records - plus Seven US Albums and a Further Four 45-Single Sides and One Unreleased Outtake from 1973 to 1979 on Decca, MCA, Capricorn and Infinity Records – Albums include "Drift Away" (January 1973), "Loving Arms" (October 1973), "Hey Dixie" (October 1974), "New Ray Of Sunshine" (December 1975 US, January 1976 UK), "Let Go" (February 1977), "Midnight Diamond" (December 1978) and "Dobie Gray" (October 1979) – Guest Musicians Include Guitarists Troy Seals, Reggie Young, Mentor Williams, Lonnie Mack, Pete Carr with Keyboards from David Briggs, Harmonica by Charlie McCoy, The Muscle Shoals Horns and many more (December 2004 US-Only Hip-O Select 4CD 80-track Card Book Set featuring Seven Albums Plus Ten 45-Single Sides and one Previously Unreleased Outtake – Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

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Material *** to ****

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Audo *****

"…Give Me The Music That Frees My Soul…"

Timber-voiced singer Lawrence Darrow Brown (Dobie Gray to you and me) can be viewed as a one-hit wonder in Soul/Country-Soul circles - and even that was someone else's great song.

"Drift Away" – a Mentor Williams written-tune that originated in 1970 - was picked up by 60ts Brit star Mike Berry in 1972 for his "Drift Away" LP on the obscure York Records label (York FYK 409). Produced by Mentor Williams and playing guitar in the band for Dobie Gray, DB then seized on the song as well and had a huge hit with the music-moving emotional tune in early 1973 when it was released Stateside on Decca Records 33057 with the equally cool LP cut "City Stars" on the flipside. Its lyrics and melody are classic nostalgia, but in a Soul-Rock kind of way that gave the tune huge crossover appeal. Even Rod Stewart joined in on the Rock Soulful tip when he covered "Drift Away" for his mega "Atlantic Crossing" album in 1975. Not to be outdone by others on his own song, Mentor Williams released his debut album "Feelings" with his version of "Drift Away" on it (June 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2549). There was also a US 7" single with "Feelings" leading the charge on the A-side and "Drift Away" on the flip – but it went unnoticed.

The other six Dobie Gray albums on here and straggler seven-inch singles did marginal business and, in the UK, meant less than naught. In fact, Dobie would have to wait until February of 1979 to see his "Midnight Diamond" LP (released in December 1978) finally become the first album of his to register on the US Billboard R&B charts albeit peaking at a modest No.73. 

Which brings us to this obscure but fantastic-sounding 4CD compilation on the US Mail-Order Label Hip-O Select (via Universal) with its quality ERICK LABSON Remasters from original tapes. LABSON has over 1,200 mastering credits to his name across 30 to 40 years – almost all of the gargantuan Chess Records Catalogue including large swathes of Motown acts, Rock Bands and Artists like The Who, Wishbone Ash, The Mamas & The Papas, The Jayhawks, Neil Diamond, The Dells, Steppenwolf, Buddy Holly, Three Dog Night and loads more. I actively seek out any CD he has had a hand in because the Audio is always a huge improvement on what went before. And this Dobie Gray US-only compilation is no different. To the details because there is a lot…

USA-only released December 2004 - "Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie Gray 1969-1979" by DOBIE GRAY on Hip-O Select B0003621-02 (No Barcode) is an 80-Track Limited Edition Compilation Remastered onto 4CDs in a Book-Sized Card Sleeve. It contains 7 full-albums, 10 x Non-LP 45-single sides and 1 Previously Unreleased Session Outtake that plays outs as follows:

CD1 "The White Whale & Decca Years" (50:17 minutes):
1. Rose Garden
2. Where's The Girl Gone
Tracks 1 & 2 are the Non-LP A&B-sides of a March 1969 US 45-single on White Whale WW-300, A-side is a Joe South cover version made famous by Country singer Lynn Anderson

3. Do You Really Have A Heart
4. What A Way To Go
Tracks 3 & 4 are the Non-LP A&B-sides of a September 1969 US 45-single on White Whale WW-339, A-side is a Paul Williams and Roger Nicholls cover version

5. Guess Who
6. Honey, You Can't Take It Back
Track 5 is the Non-LP A-side of a December 1972 US 45-single on Anthem AN-200, B-side was "Bits And Pieces" – not on this set. Track 6 is the Non-LP A-side of a March 1970 US 45-single on White Whale WW-342, B-side was "Hallelujah" – not on this set

7. Drift Away [Side 1]
8. The Time I Loved You The Most
9. L.A. Lady
10. We Had It All
11. Now That I'm Without You
12. Rockin' Chair [Side 2]
13. Lay Back
14. City Stars
15. Street Lovin' Woman
16. Caddo Queen
17. Eddie's Song
Tracks 7 to 17 are his third album "Drift Away" – released January 1973 in the USA on Decca DL7-5397 and MCA MUPS 489 in the UK (reissued February 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2520). 

CD2 "The MCA Years" (67:20 minutes):
1. Good Old Song [Side 1]
2. You And Me
3. I Never Had It So Good
4. Lovin' The Easy Way
5. Loving Arms
6. Reachin' For The Feeling [Side 2]
7. There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me In)
8. Mississippi Rolling Stone
9. Love Is On The Line
10. Rose
Tracks 1 to 10 are his fourth album "Loving Arms" – released October 1973 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-371 and March 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2528. 

11. Hey Dixie [Side 1]
12. How Can You Live All Alone
13. So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)
14. Watch Out For Lucy
15. Old Time Feeling
16. Turning on You [Side 2]
17. Roll On Sweet Mississippi
18. Can You Feel It
19. Performance
20. The Music's Real (Mentor's Song)
Tracks 11 to 20 are his fifth album "Hey Dixie" – released October 1974 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-449 and November 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2578.

21. Watch Out For Lucy (Single Version) – July 1974 US 45-single on MCA Records MCA-40268, A-side, B-side is the LP track "Turning On You" – January 1975 UK 45-single on MCA Records MCA 171 – same flipside as the US issue

CD3 "The Capricorn Years" (73:44 minutes):
1. Harold And The Swinging Rocks [Side 1]
2. Drive On, Ride On
3. If Love Must Go
4. Lover's Sweat
5. A New Ray Of Sunshine
6. I'll Take You Down To Mexico [side 2]
7. Easy Loving Lady
8. Comfort And Please You
9. What A Lady
10. Easy Come, Easy Go
Tracks 1 to 10 are his sixth album "New Ray Of Sunshine" – released December 1975 in the USA on Capricorn Records CP 0163 and January 1976 in the UK on Capricorn Records 2429 132

11. Let Go [Side 1]
12. Do It (aka Do Me)
13. Mellow Man
14. Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Forget 'Em
15. The Best Of My Love
16. Country Love [Side 2]
17. When A Man Loves A Woman
18. But I Do
19. Moonlight Trippin'
20. Can't Stop A Man In Love
Tracks 11 to 20 are his seventh album "Let Go" – released February 1977 in the USA only Capricorn Records ML 1040 (no UK issue). It was released 1978 in Germany and France retitled as "Mellow Man" with the same 10-tracks but with the running order slightly altered. 

21. Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Forget 'Em (Single Version) – August 1976 US 45-single on Capricorn CPS 0259 with the LP track "Mellow Man" as its flipside
22. The Christmas Song – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD4 "The Infinity Years" (79:16 minutes):
1. You Can Do It [Side 1]
2. We've Got To Get It On Again
3. Let This Man Take Hold On Your Life
4. Weekend Friend
5. Miss You Nights
6. I Can See Clearly Now [Side 2]
7. Starting The Night Together
8. Who's Lovin' You
9. I'll Be Your Hold Me Tight
10. Thank You For Tonight
Tracks 1 to 10 are his eight album "Midnight Diamond" – released December 1978 in the USA on Infinity Records INF 9001 and February 1979 in the UK on Infinity Records INS 2001. Produced by RICK HALL. 

11. The "In" Crowd [Side 1]
12. Stumblin' Rock To You
13. Sunny Day To Rain
14. Spending Time, Making Love And Going Crazy
15. You Can't Keep A Good Man Down [Side 2]
16. Fool, Fool
17. All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
18. We Had It All
19. Bridge Of Silence
Tracks 11 to 19 are his ninth album "Dobie Gray" – released October 1979 in the USA on Infinity Records INF 9016 (no UK issue). Produced by RICK HALL and featuring The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Horns

20. The "In" Crowd (Single Version) – November 1979 US 45-single on Infinity Records INF 50,043, A-side (B-side was "Let This Man Take Hold On Your Life" from the previous album "Midnight Diamond" of 1978). With the LP track "Spending Time, Making Love And Going Crazy" chosen as the A-side, the British 45 of September 1979 on Infinity INF 115 put the remake of "The "In" Crowd" on the B-side.

Specialising to a large degree in Classic 60ts and 70ts Soul and Rhythm & Blues and able to access the truly massive Universal Music Company (UMC) umbrella of labels like Motown, Chess, James Brown Single Series on King and Polydor etc - Hip-O Select releases of this nature (multiple disc sets) tended to go for the matt almost sepia-tinted card sleeve look. As far as I know (here in Nov 2024), Hip-O no longer issues material so all are deleted and costly on the open market. But when they did reissue stuff (see my reviews for Muddy Waters, Buddy Holly, Little Walter, Burt Bacharach, James Brown, Bo Diddley, Joe Walsh, Stephen Bishop, Nils Lofgren, Junior Parker and many more) - Hip-O Select releases always looked different, felt classy too and even special. And "Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie 1969-1979" by Dobie Gray is no different.

Shaped and sized akin to a small paperback book - the gold Limited Edition logo on the rear doesn't indicate a numbered edition though I would imagine as little as 2,000 or less copies were pressed (nor does it even have a Barcode). The front cover, two inners flaps and rear cover hold the four CDs and 20-page colour paperback-sized booklet in card slots. Each flap lists the tracks for CD1, CD2 etc while the lovely-looking booklet features an essay on his career (for this period) by SCOTT SCHINDER dated August 2004, New York City (Pages 2 to 12). Page 13 has a signed note from the singer with a picture of DB above it (also August 2004). Pages 14 to 19 lay out album-by-album production credits, players, writers, single catalogue numbers beneath titles when necessary. Mike Ragogna is the Compilation Producer with Pat Lawrence and Thane Tierney for Hip-O Select. 

Between the text (which confirms his name is Lawrence Darrow Brown and not Leonard Ainsworth as some sources have acclaimed) are some photos and his long-haul story from a Fifties Baptist-Gospel upbringing to and early/mid Sixties singles until his version of "The "In" Crowd" in 1965 broke him through to National attention. There are stories of his time on the "Hair" musical in the early Seventies, acting on US TV's Beverly Hillbillies, his fortuitous connection to songwriters Paul Williams and his brother Mentor Williams – the latter of the two being the author of the magnificent "Drift Away" written apparently during a period of intense self-doubt.

The song "Drift Away" is one of those tunes that screams cover me – especially to Pop and Rock singers looking for that elusive Soul-feel that gives their variant surefire Hitsville crossover appeal ("…gimme the beat boys and free my soul...I wanna get lost in your Rock 'n' Roll..."). John Kay of Steppenwolf covered it on his second solo album "My Sportin' Life" (July 1973 on ABC/Dunhill DSX-50147 in the USA and July 1973 on Probe SPBA 6274 in the UK) while John Henry Kurtz of obscuro band Country Coalition did a version on his debut solo album "Reunion" (November 1972 on ABC Records ABCX-742 in the USA, February 1973 in the UK on Probe SPB 1068). The Kurtz album featured interesting guests like Jeff Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers fame, future Foot Loose singer Kenny Loggins and Doug Dillard of The Dillards on Banjo. When Rhino Handmade reissued the Jackie DeShannon album "Jackie" in 2003 as "Jackie…Plus" (the LP was originally on Atlantic Records in 1972) – they too found an unreleased recording of "Drift Away" and included it on that CD. Hardly surprising then when Dobie Gray talks about the song in the liner notes that he was desperate to record a version of what he and many others knew was a winner. I would argue (as I'm sure many aficionados would to) that Dobie Gray did the definitive version of "Drift Away" (it became his signature song) – a less-is-more approach to the arrangement that let the lyrics breath, the instruments be heard and his naturally Soulful vocals towards the end soar – moving you and not just impressing (comparisons to Bill Withers and Luther Ingram jump to mind). 

To the long-player that carries its name. The audio across the whole "Drift Away" album (which will be many people's fave here) is exceptionally clean and full of warmth – the piano fills at the end of "Eddie's Song" that closes out the LP, the slow acoustic start to "Sweet Lovin' Woman" and those double-upped vocals matching the guitar lines, the funky clavinet of the gambler-come-lover (Ruby and Billy) song "Caddo Queen" and that clever passage after the chorus. The only moment I take umbrage with is the ever-so-slightly Neil Diamond schlock feel to "We Had It All" – but if that is your bag or your song – the audio is fabulous. The bass too of Mike Leach on "Drift Away" (with Reggie Young on Guitar) is so sweet – punchy but not overdone. And as I said earlier, the flipside cut "City Stars" also excellent, making the "Drift Away" 45-single (in any country) a bit of a double-whammy class in my book.

CD2 throws up the "Loving Arms" and "Hey Dixie" albums from October 1973 and October 1974 with a Non-LP A-side tagged on a Bonus (Track 21). As with the "Drift Away" LP, songwriter Mentor Williams is once again at the Producer helm for both records. The "Hey Dixie" album features Country-Rock types like guitarists Lonnie Mack, Troy Seals and Reggie Young backing up by The Muscle Shoals Horns and other cool session dudes. Many Soul fans rate the "Loving Arms" LP as much as they do "Drift Away". Realigning himself with songwriters like Mentor Williams and Ron Davies (a re-run of the same ideas for "Drift Away" in "Good Old Song"), Troy Seals and Will Jennings (a Staples Singers meets Country Rock vibe for "You And Me"), Paul Williams and Roger Nichols (the lovely and mellow never had much money song but I got love of "I Never Had It Good"), the 45-single of "Lovin' The Easy Way" (MCA 40188 with "Rose" from the "Loving Arms" LP as its flipside)coming at you with crystal clear production values. Brit power-vocalist Tom Jones provides a highlight on the album, the title track of "Loving Arms". Personal fave comes in the shape of the gee-tar plucking of "Mississippi Rolling Stone" (a Troy Seals and Don Goodman song). 

The "Hey Dixie" album sounds like its title, Country Soul meets Pop and R&B. Lonnie Mack and Troy Seals provide the title track and the mellower "How Can You Live All Alone". Another Mentor Williams song (a co-write with Jack Conrad) comes in the shape of "So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)" – a tad cheesy in the lyrics and overdone strings department. Lonnie Mack wrote the Country Soul boogie of "Watch Out For Lucy" where the waitress is more dangerous than the band (there is a Single Version of the song at the end of CD2 as a Bonus). "Roll On Sweet Mississippi", "Can You Feel It" and a cover version of the Allen Toussaint song "Performance" continue the honky-tonk-ified schtick but it all feels a tad too ordinary to impress. But again, if these albums are your big dish of prime ribs, then you have never heard them sound or taste this good. 

CD3 covers his two albums on Capricorn Records "New Ray Of Sunshine" (December 1975 in the USA, January 1976 in the UK) and "Let Go" from February 1977 (USA, no UK issue) - a label more comfortable with The Allman Brothers Band and The Marshall Ttucker Band Southern boogie. "New Ray Of Sunshine" was produced by Troy Seals and Dobie Gray but for "Let Go" he went to Rick Hall's Fame Label studio and his Muscle Shoals backing band. The "New Ray Of Sunshine" album is a halfway-house between Soul, Funk and the Country Soul of say Eddie Hinton. The audio on tracks like "Harold And The Swinging Rocks" and "Drive On, Ride On" is so damn clear and muscled enough to add to the band's funk. Will Jennings (who would go on to do huge amounts of co-writes with Steve Window of The Spencer David Group, Traffic and Blind Faith in the late Seventies and Eighties for his hugely successful stints on Island Records) wrote the sappy "If Love Must Go" - itself followed by the Clavinet Pop-Funk of "Lover's Sweat". But tracks like "A New Ray Of Sunshine" and "I'll Take You Down To Mexico" have an awkward genre feel - like they don't know what they want to be - Rock - or Rock Soul - when both end up not hitting either spot. The album comes to a big-ballad finish with "Easy Come, Easy Go" - love walking off down the road real slow - too much time for DB to see it disappear over the horizon of bad decisions. 

Rick Hall and his production crew opens the 1977 LP "Let Go" with a sophisticated Soul smoocher - hurts to say her name - gorgeous audio. But as with the album before it poor material like the seriously cheesy "Mellow Man" and the staggeringly incorrect lyrics of the funk work-out "Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em" - not a story I want to hear DB. His cover version of the gorgeous Eagles ballad "The Best Of My Love" from their 1974 album "On The Border" is awful - the bippity-boppity shuffle of Country Love is not a whole lot better. Dobie's stab at Percy Sledge's fabulous 60ts Atlantic Records anthem "When A Man Loves A Woman" tries hard with its strings and guitars but again feels forced and not a patch on the genuinely moving original. Beautiful Bass Notes audio on "But I Do" but like the falsely upbeat schtick of "Midnight Trippin'" and the singalong finisher "Can't Stop A Man In Love" - it all feels like three-stars when you crave five. The final insult comes in the unreleased outtake – a 1977 Hallmark Movie and Greeting Card pour-on-the-syrup version of "The Christmas Song" – the magic of 1973's "Drift Away" drifting off into the distance depressingly fast. 

Straight-up nicking The Bee Gees sound and arrangements - "You Can Do It" is chasing the 'Saturday Night Fever' dollar so hard it's liable to disappear up its open-top silk shirt. Lurve-cack like "Let This Man Take Hold Of Your Life" and a cover of the Cliff Richard hit "Miss You Nights" only add to the falsehood even if they sound amazing. Johnny Nash and his Reggae hit of 1972 "I Can See Clearly Now" gets funked up to little point and saccharin strings drown "Who's Lovin' You" in layers of Soulless fairy dust. At least "Thank You Tonight" ends a very patchy album on a semi-high note. The self-titled "Dobie Gray" opens with a truly dreadful moment where Dobie butchers his Sixties masterpiece "The "In" Crowd" with a heavy-handed Disco take. Once again the Production values are top notch but super-produced ballads like "Sunny Day To Rain" and the cringe-lyrics of "Spending Time, Making Love And Going Crazy" are not tunes I will reach for ever again. 

So there you have it - "Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie 1969-1979" by Soul Man Dobie Gray is the very definition of a musical mixed-bag - the first two albums in spiffing sound quality and actually worth returning too. But the rest is serious hard work if I'm honest. 

Released in December 2004 and like all American Hip-O Select reissues - limited and desirable - it also has the added wallop of costing you should you want a copy. But once you clap your tired lugs on that sweet-as-a-nut remastered sound quality -  fans will have to own it...