"Surrender To The Rhythm: The London Pub Rock Scene Of The Seventies" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Legend with Mickey Jupp, Eggs Over Easy, Steve Ellis, Brinsley Schwarz, Deep Feeling, Roogalator, Mott The Hoople, Status Quo, Ducks Deluxe, Bees Make Honey, Brewers Droop featuring Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers of Dire Straits, Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, Ace, Writing On The Wall, Dr. Feelgood, Fumble, Stray, Kursaal Flyers, Byzantium, Stretch, Fox, Sean Tyla & His Gang, Kilburn & The High Roads (featuring Ian Dury), Strapps, Thin Lizzy, Heavy Metal Kids, Supercharge, The Gorillas, Chris Spedding, Cado Belle, Dave Edmunds, The Jam, Darts, Clover, Jess Roden, Philip Rambow, Billy Bremner, Matchbox, The Pirates, Sniff 'N' The Tears, Meal Ticket, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, The Inmates, The Merton Parkas and many more (July 2022 UK Grapefruit 71-Track 3CD Compilation in a Capacity Wallet with Three Individual Card Sleeves, a 48-Page Booklet and Simon Murphy Masters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surrender-Rhythm-London-Seventies-Capacity/dp/B0882LQZ8R?crid=P7XSNHEPNUXU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HXgBUpYMesnGJn3Wik4YpQ.7OwwWxNZRyhYDXhybiYT8cYHRH1oNLFLXUZ6NoFoHp0&dib_tag=se&keywords=5013929187429&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733754330&sprefix=5013929187429%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUK_IHI_3M_AUTOMATED&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=b40d99d23309a4b48df3d1468774b97a&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATINGS:

Overall **** to *****

Audio ****

Presentation *****

"…Billy Bentley (Promenades Himself In London)…"

Knickers in a knot and warm beer. Ah the good old days. I was looking forward to this 71-track 3CD beast from those terribly with-it chaps over at Grapefruit Records. And in part – their musical benevolence has delivered once again – even if some of the entries left me a little chilly in the arsenal aperture (so to speak). Nonetheless, so much great stuff to unpack and deeply imbedded good times to rekindle – once more to the Gassy Kegs and Brylcreem Boys…

UK released 17 July 2022 - "Surrender To The Rhythm: The London Pub Rock Scene Of The Seventies" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Grapefruit CRSEG074T (Barcode 5013929187429) is a 3CD 71-Track Remastered Compilation in a Capacity Wallet with Three Mini LP Card Sleeves, a 48-Page Booklet and Sixteen Previously Unreleased Tracks plus Other Rarities. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (78:58 minutes): 

1. Cheque Book – LEGEND (from the January 1971 UK LP "Legend" on Vertigo 6360 019 – band featured Mickey Jupp)
2. Funky But Clean – EGGS OVER EASY (Not Originally Issued, Recorded January 1971)
3. Time To Kill – WILD ANGELS (April 1971 UK 45-Single on B&C Records CB 145, A-side)
4. You Said It Would Be – SMOOTH LOSER (Previously Unreleased, recorded April 1971)
5. Have You Seen My Baby – STEVE ELLIS (August 1971 UK 45-single on CBS Records 7411, A-side)
6. Nanana – STATUS QUO (from the November 1971 UK LP "Dog Of Two Head" on Pye NSPL 18371)
7. Surrender To The Rhythm – BRINSLEY SCHWARZ (from the October 1972 UK LP "Nervous On The Road" on United Artists UAS 29374)
8. Why, Lady, Why? – DEEP FEELING (October 1972 UK 45-single on Philips 6006 346, A-side)
9. Ride With The Roogalator – ROOGALATOR (Previously Unreleased, recorded February 1971)
10. I Wish I Was Your Mother – MOTT THE HOOPLE (from the April 1974 UK LP "Mott" on CBS Records S 69038)
11. Heart's On My Sleeve (Early Mix) – DUCKS DELUXE (Not Originally Issued, recorded October 1973 – featuring Martin Belmont and Sean Tyla on Guitars)
12. Madman – G.T. MOORE & THE REGGAE GUITARS (Not Originally Issued, recorded November 1973)
13. Where Are You Tonight? – BREWERS DROOP (Nort Originally Issued, recorded November 1973 – band featured Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers later of Dire Straits)
14. Tripsy Lady – WRITING ON THE WALL (Not Originally Issued, recorded December 1973)
15. Sergeant Fury – THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND (August 1974 UK 45-single on Vertigo 6059 106, A-side)
16. My Funny Valentine – BEES MAKE HONEY (Previously Unissued, recorded July 1974)
17. Piggy Back Sue – JONA LEWIE (September 1974 UK 45-single on Sonet SON 2048, A-side – ex Brett Marvin & The Thunderbolts)
18. Money Is No Friend Of Mine – STARRY EYED And LAUGHING (October 1974 UK 45-singkle on CBS Records 2686, A-side)
19. You Kept Me Waiting – DAVE EDMUNDS (from the October 1974 2LP Soundtrack Album "Stardust" on Ronco RG 2009/10)
20. We Get Along – CHILLI WILLI & THE RED HOT PEPPERS (from the November 1974 UK LP "Bongos Over Balham" on Mooncrest CREST 21)
21. Rock And Roll Runaway – ACE (from the November 1974 UK Debut LP "Five-A-Side" on Anchor ANCL 2001)
22. Billy Bentley (Promenades Himself In London) – KILBURN & THE HIGH ROADS (November 1974 UK 45-single on Dawn DNS 1090, A-side – featuring Ian Dury and Members of The Blockheads)
23. Nervous – NATIONAL FLAG (November 1974 recording first issued December 1976 on the UK privately pressed LP "Thank You & Goodnight" – no catalogue number)
NOTES on CD1:
Tracks 2, 4, 9, 11 to 14 and 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD2 (79:44 minutes) 
1. She Does It Right – DR. FEELGOOD (from the January 1975 UK Debut LP "Down By The Jetty" on United Artists UAS 29727 in Mono – Band featuring Wilko Johnson on Guitar and Lee Brilleaux on Vocals)
2. Love Me Real – CHARLIE & THE WIDEBOYS (January 1975 UK 45-Single on Anchor ANCE 1002, A-side)
3. Free The Kids – FUMBLE (from the January 1975 UK LP "Poetry In Lotion" on RCA Victor SF 8403)
4. Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver) – FLIP CITY (Not Originally Issued, recorded January 1975)
5. Blow Me Down – BRENT MARVIN & THE THUNDERBOLTS (April 1975 UK 45-single on Sonet SON 2053, A-side)
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do – JO-ANN KELLY (Not Originally Issued, recorded 1975)
7. As Long As You Feel Good – STRAY (from the May 1975 UK LP "Stand Up And Be Counted" on Dawn DNLS 3066)
8. Yellow Sox – KURSAAL FLYERS (from their July 1975 UK Debut LP "Chocs Away" on UK Records 2330 101)
9. It Could Be Better – BYZANTIUM (Previously Unreleased, recorded July 1975)
10. Midnight Flight – BEARDED LADY (Not Originally Issued, recorded 1975)
11. Jailbreaker – RAZORBACKS (Previously Unreleased, recorded August 1975)
12. One Fing 'n' Anuvver – CHAS & DAVE (from the September 1975 UK LP "One Fing 'n' Anuvver" on Retreat Records RTL 6004)
13. Why Did You Do It – STRETCH (October 1975 UK 45-single on Anchor ANC 1021, A-side)
14. Whatever It's Worth – FOX (from the October 1975 Debut LP "Tales Of Illusion" on GTO Records GTLP 006)
15. I Ain't Got You – THE COUNT BISHOPS (November 1975 UK 45-single on Chiswick SW1, A-side)
16. Midnight Moon – SEAN TYLA & HIS GANG (Recorded 1975, November 1976 Dutch 45-single on Dutch Dynamo DYR 45002, A-side)
17. Writing On The Wall – EDDIE & THE HOT RODS (February 1976 UK 45-single on Island WIP 6270, A-side)
18. You Can Leave Your Hat On – THE JESS RODEN BAND (March 1976 UK 45-single on island WIP 6286, A-side)
19. Schoolgirl Funk – STRAPPS (from the March 1976 UK Debut LP "Strapps" on Harvest SHSP 4055)
20. Romeo And The Lonely Girl – THIN LIZZY (from the March 1976 UK LP "Jailbreak" on Vertigo 9102 008)
21. She's No Angel – HEAVY METAL KIDS (May 1976 UK 45-single on RAK Records RAK 234, A-side)
22. You've Gotta Get Up And Dance – SUPERCHARGE (from the May 1976 UK Debut LP "Local Lads Make Good" on Virgin V 2053)
23. Keys To Your Heart – THE 101'ERS (May 1976 UK 45-single on Chiswick S 3, A-side – featuring Joe Strummer who went on to form The Clash)
24. She's My Gal – THE GORILLAS (July 1976 UK 45-single on Chiswick S 4, A-side)
NOTES on CD2:
Tracks 4, 6, 9, 10 and 11 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD3 (79:43 minutes):
1. Don't Wear It – MOON (from the July 1976 UK Debut LP "Too Close For Comfort" on Epic EPC 81456 – pre-Sniff 'N' The Tears)
2. Bedsit Girl – CHRIS SPEDDING (from the April 1976 UK LP "Chris Spedding" on RAK Records SRAK 519)
3. Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) – GONZALEZ (September 1976 UK 45-Single on EMI Records EMI 2521, A-side - a Looking Glass cover version)
4. Stone's Throw From Nowhere – CADO BELLE (from the October 1976 UK Debut LP "Cado Belle" on Anchor Records ANCL 2015 - featuring Maggie Reilly)
5. Radio Sweetheart – ELVIS COSTELLO (March 1977 UK 45-single on Stiff BUY 11, B-side of "Less Than Zero" – features Nick Lowe of Brinsley Schwarz on Bass and Backing Vocals and two members of Clover – John McFee and Mickey Shore)
6. Back To Schooldays (Live) – GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR (Not Originally Issued, recorded March 1977)
7. Get It – DAVE EDMUNDS (from the April 1977 UK LP "Get It" on Swan Song SSK 59404)
8. Slow Down – THE JAM (from the May 1977 UK Debut LP "In The City" on Polydor 2383 447 – a Larry Williams cover version – band featured Paul Weller)
9. Daddy Cool/The Girl Can't Help It – DARTS (October 1977 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 100, A-side – a Medley of early Vocal Groups and Rock & Roll cover versions originally done by The Rays and Little Richard)
10. Ain't Nobody Own Nobody's Soul – CLOVER (from the November 1977 UK LP "Love On The Wire" on Vertigo 6360 155 – band featured Huey Lewis on Vocals)
11. Rock 'n' Roll Radio – THE PLEASERS (Recorded late 1977, Not Originally Issued)
12. Young Lust – PHILIP RAMBOW (Recorded December 1977, Previously Unissued)
13. Fool (If You Think It's Over) – CHRIS REA (March 1978 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 111, A-side)
14. Come On – IAN GOMM (March 1978 UK 45-single on Albion ION 1, A-side)
15. The Creature From The Black lagoon – BILLY BREMNER (Not Originally Issued, recorded 1978)
16. Gunning For The Dog – MATCHBOX (from the August 1978 UK LP "Setting The Woods On Fire" on Chiswick WIK 10)
17. Shakin' All Right (1978 Studio Version) – THE PIRATES (October 1978 UK 45-single on Warner Brothers K 17231, A-side)
18. Driver's Seat – SNIFF 'N' THE TEARS (October 1978 UK 45-single on Chiswick CHIS 105, A-side)
19. Mirror Star – THE FABULOUS POODLES (October 1978 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 46118, A-side)
20. The Shape I'm In – MEAL TICKET (from the November 1978 UK LP "Take Away" on Logo Records LOGO 1008 – The Band cover version)
21. Goodbye Girl – SQUEEZE (November 1978 UK 45-single on A&M Records AMS 7398, A-side)
22. Loud Music – STREETBAND (from the November 1978 UK LP "London" on Logo Records LOGO 1012)
23. You Need Wheels – THE MERTON PARKS (July 1979 UK 45-single on Beggars Banquet BEG 22, A-side)
24. Dirty Water – THE INMATES (June 1979 UK 45-single on Soho SH 7, A-side)
NOTES ON CD3:
Tracks 6, 11, 12 and 15 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Compiled and Annotated by Grapefruit's resident brainbox and enthusiast DAVID WELLS - the Capacity Wallet for "Surrender To The Rhythm..." houses three individual card sleeves (as pictured above) sat snuggly alongside a superb 48-page booklet. You get song-by-song info that digs deep - photos for each act and of course Discography details too. I've pictured some of the inside two-page spreads to give you an indication of the efforts put in here. Fab stuff. Mastered by long-standing Cherry Red associate SIMON MURPHY - the Audio (as you can imagine) varies from Top Notch through Great to Acceptable across such a huge range of dates and (in some cases) home-cooked Productions. Mostly though, you're just marvelling at so much music that has been largely forgotten and shouldn't be. To the beer stains...

Unexpected nuggets turn up everywhere on CD1 – try "Have You Seen My Baby" – a Randy Newman cover done by Steve Ellis of Love Affair. Roped into the rollicking tune is Zoot Money on Keyboards, Jimmy McCulloch of Thunderclap Newman on Guitar with ex-Animals John Steel on Drums. And just when you sit prepared for 12-Bar Boogie when you see the name Status Quo next – this compilation pulls a fast one over your eyes by picking the so Chas and Dave piano-and-acoustic barroom amble that is "Nanana" from their second Pye Album "Dog Of Two Head". Clever. Better however is Nick Lowe fronting the deeply popular Brinsley Schwarz and their compilation title song "Surrender To The Rhythm" – the prominent organ and bopping seaside beat very reminiscent of what Springsteen would do on his first two albums in 1973 and 1974 - "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. " and "The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle".

The Deep Feeling 45 "Why, Lady, Why?" is good rather than great – better is the early Punk of Roogalator - a heavy-and-rough Iggy Pop & The Stooges-type guitar trashing brute (Danny Adler on the axe) called "Ride With The Roogalator" – a great previously unreleased find (even if it doesn't feel too much like Pub Rock per se). Equally impressive is the fabulous vocals of Ian Hunter fronting the mighty Mott The Hoople on their "I Wish I Was Your Mother" – Ian channelling his inner Ronnie Lane melody – all acoustics and mandolin until the very English Rock & Roll chorus comes a dolloping up to the old Johanna in the pub corner. Very cool is the Ron Watts fronted Brewers Droop discovery "Where Are You Tonight" – an ambling, wistful and rather lovely ballad where you can so hear both Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers (pre-Dire Straits) and their playing. Back to rough and ready Rock & Roll with "Tripsy Lady" by Writing On The Wall – lead singer and guitarist Willy Finlayson and Saxophonist Alan Greenhaigh both featured on this boogieing 1973 find. Time for Vaudeville with a Scottish Rock & Roll tuning – up steps the judge and jury of "Sergeant Fury" – Alex Harvey and his Sensational boys having a laugh (not my fave SAHB track it must be said, but I can hear why its boozy-vibe was included here). 

Time to mellow down easy – Barry Richardson of Ireland’s Bees Make Honey pouring on the strings and pain in their cover version of the pining classic "My Funny Valentine" – good but you hear why it was left in the 1974 can. Both the Jona Lewis and Starry Eyed And Laughing cuts complement each other – English Jerry Lee Lewis type Rock & Roll vs. The Byrds. Dave Edmunds channels his Beach Boys fixation for "You Kept Me Waiting" – a stand-alone cut from the Ronco Soundtrack LP to "Stardust" (another clever inclusion aimed at fans looking for those straggler songs). Straight into Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Poco Pedal Steel Guitar territory with Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers giving us the jaunty love-is-a-burning-flame "We Get Along" (two nights are never the same). You can literally feel the well-cor-blimey-guv move-along-sunshine fun as Ian Dury fronts Kilburn & The High Roads for "Billy Bentley" – the precursor and template for Ian Dury & The Blockheads that would storm the charts from 1977 onwards. And CD1 rocks out with the Foghat-like baby you make me "Nervous" – National Flag employing Danny Edwardson on Guitar and Seamus Sell on Drums (another clever inclusion).

CD2 opens with a Pub Rock barnstormer by one of my favourite bands in the whole word – Dr. Feelgood making us all feel good with the fabulous "She Does It Right". Taken from their explosive debut "Down By The Jetty" (January 1975) – Wilko Johnson goes manic-man on his axe while one of the truly great leading men Lee Brilleaux snarls into the mike about his best baby. The Feelgoods would give us a 2nd LP in November of 1975 with "Malpractice" and then score big with their first live set in 1976 "Stupidity" which slammed its way to No.1 Fun and teenage memories come fast and furious for me with Charlie & The Wideboys and Fumble – the Fumble cut especially memorable (shame this comp didn't include "Keep On Knockin'" from their second LP "Poetry In Lotion" – a great rocker). The first of three superb unreleased in now unleashed. Flip City were fronted by a young Elvis Costello and his aching vocal is probably the best thing about the ballad "Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver)" – the kind of tune that might have sided say "Alison" on his 1977 "My Aim Is True" Debut LP on Stiff. Another smart inclusion is the slide-guitar bop of "Blow Me Down" – future New Waver Jona Lewie fronting Brent Martin & The Thunderbolts. But then we are hit with genuine class and another Previously Unreleased coup for "Surrender To The Rhythm" – the Bessie Smith meets Karen Dalton vocals of British female Blues Hero Jo-Ann Kelly going all Fats Domino rolling piano R&B on "Baby What You Want Me To Do" – great stuff. 

Stray ape the melodiousness of Brinsley Schwarz on their "As Long As You Feel Good" which is in turn followed by the pretty lilt of "Yellow Sox" – the Kursaal Flyers advising a pretty girl to not be so eager to give it away so fast to some schmuck who ain't worth it. Down and dirty and surprisingly tight – Razorback go all Joe Jackson energetic with their live "Jailbreaker" – a very New Wave bopper – shame the recording is obviously rougher that Grapefruit might have wanted – but I think it adds real urgency to the delivery (neat unreleased inclusion). The law has been around again to see me little brother – Chas & Dave laying into Cockney rhyming slang with their tale of a wayward cow-son in "One Fing 'n' Anuvver" (had a bleedin nuff of it). Tremendous, unexpected inclusion comes in the very Average White Band-funk of Stretch doing the superb "Why Did You Do It" – an actual British 45 chart hit about a misunderstanding with Mick Fleetwood. England's Fox were channelling their best America circa-72 on their lovely and hugely commercial "Whatever It's Worth" – an obvious identikit take on "A Horse With No Name" – fronted by Kenny Young instead of Noosha.

Creeping out of Pub Rock and inching towards British New Wave – The Count Bishops, Sean Tyla and Eddie & The Hot Rods start getting grittier with their rhythms – the guitar-and-harmonica manic-side of Dr. Feelgood influencing the lot of them. Salacious and even questionable is what you might call the leery "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (a ribald Randy Newman cover) – The Jess Roden Band letting rip with slide guitar and brass backing (Tom Jones, are you listening). Very much leaning into Funk with a little Punk on the side – Strapps hit us with jive and groove in the brilliant "Schoolgirl Funk" – although the naff lyrics would raise more than eyebrows in 2024. We race to the finish of CD2 with the mighty Phil Lynott and the Thin Lizzy Classic Rock masterpiece "Jailbreak" (March 1976 on Vertigo) – the first of two great LPs for 1976 ("Johnny The Fox" would be the other in November). Always with his way of penning a melody inside the riffage – the lovely and cool "Romeo And The Lonely Boy" features great solos too from Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham. 

Always loved the amazing Rock & Roll larynx of Gary Holton fronting the snot-nosed Boogie Band Heavy Metal Kids – once considered a replacement for Bon Scott after his loss for AC/DC - but drug dependency would eventually get the better of Holton. The Heavies and their "She's No Angel" will not win political-correctness awards any day soon for its less than enlightened lyrical content – but a worthy inclusion it is still. Not so sure though that I need the get-up-and-dance of Supercharge who come on sounding like some horrible hybrid of Kool & The Gang and Boney M (oh dear). Better finishers are the potence of what is to come – two 45s from Chiswick Records – Joe Strummer of The Clash inside The 101'ers (named after the house-number squat they lived in at Walterton Road in Maida Vale) and the hairy-assed boogie of The Gorillas – Pub Rock evolving into something deeper and more effecting than any of us could have known.

CD3 opens with the swagger brass of Moon lusting after a lady who is not leaving much to the poor boy and his imagination in "Don't Wear It". Chris Spedding was an ace axeman and long-time session-player but his "Bedsit Girl" is hardly gripping stuff. Time to go Soulful Rock - twice – Gonzalez doing a smooth cover of the Looking Glass hit "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" from 1972 and Scotland's Cado Belle fronted by the fabulous vocals of Maggie Reilly impressing with their wrong-side-of-despair "Stone's Throw From Nowhere". Cado Belle made only one self-titled album on Anchor Records (1976) and a 4-track EP in 1977 (see my separate review for a Cherry Red CD Remaster of that nugget). Cado Belle were a very popular band in Dublin at the time – the tune and LP sounding not unlike Boz Scaggs meets Average White Band balladry – impressive stuff. But for heart-pounding bliss – I am lost to Graham Parker with The Rumour – represented here with a revved-up Previously Unreleased live version of the fab "Back To Schoolboys" – oh yes baby.

Even after all these decades, I'm still seriously impressed by Paul Weller inside The Jam trashing their three-piece way through the Larry Williams mod R&B dancer "Slow Down" – God damn but The Jam were amazing right from the get-go - unbelievable energy and commitment. Unfortunately, even with the powerhouse vocals of Huey Lewis fronting Clover their contribution "Ain't Nobody Own Nobody's Soul" is weaker than I would like - while the Darts medley of The Rays (1957) and Little Richard (1956) Vocal Group and Rock & Roll hits "Daddy Cool/The Girl Can't Help It" is an inspired choice - not just as cover versions - but placed here to liven up proceedings. We hit a very cool run of boppers - The Pleasers with their wickedly good "Rock 'n Roll" (what a great Unreleased inclusion) and a never-heard-it-before Demo version of "Young Lust" from Philip Rambow – the Canadian sounding like a anger-shaking Graham Parker (I loved that 1979 "Shooting Gallery" album from Rambow on EMI back in the day). Surprisingly smooth and even a tad out of place, I still nonetheless adore Chris Rea's debut 45 on Magnet "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" – his knack with a great melody screaming through the string-laden smooch. 

Pleasant surprise comes in the shape of ex-Brinsley Schwarz songwriter Ian Gomm doing a shiftily moody re-run of a Chuck Berry Chess Records classic "Come On". Smart audio follow-on comes from Rockpile mainman Billy Bremner doing "Creature From The Black Lagoon" – a very Dave Edmunds song because most of us lads know it from the Edmunds Swan Song Records LP "Repeat When Necessary". Time for some Stray Cats-type Rockabilly as Matchbox go "Gunning For The Dog" – pistol in hand – and revenge on their minds cause some fool ran their baby down. But good as Matchbox are – they get pummelled into the dust by an incendiary studio version of The Pirates doing Mick Green's "Shakin' All Over". I had honestly forgotten just how Punk this rocker was from the autumn of 1978 – wow! Despite their great band names – neither Sniff 'N' The Tears nor The Fabulous Poodles impress that much with two neither-here-nor-there 45s. Meal Ticket take a classic by The Band from 1970 and do a half-decent boogie version of "The Shape I'm In". Back to English eccentricity and musical innovation – Squeeze popping yet another great 45 – sunlight on the lino waking up our hero in the morning – but the "Goodbye Girl" in the hotel room from the night before is gone. Unfortunately, CD3 kind of limps home with two so-so singles from Streetband and The Meron Parkas – saved by a perfect finisher – a snotty head-jerking Dr. Feelgood-type Rocker from The Inmates singing the praises of late Seventies London.

If I am completely honest – I was expecting to be scorched by "Surrender To The Rhythm: The London Pub Rock Scene Of The Seventies" - but instead I got burned in some places then only mildly singed in others. But you must hand it to Grapefruit for assembling what I think is some of the best unreleased material on a threesome CD compilation I have ever heard. Throw in the myriad discoveries and fond remembrances of bands long forgotten – and you can understand why so many purchasers have loved this jaunt down dirty streets and into dank and sweaty bars with a stage smaller than a postage stamp. Pub Rock was cheap - it was cheerful and at times – it was fucking magnificent.

For a liberal dose of the vice that's nice – a squeeze or two in the lush backrooms of The Hope & Anchor with Nancy Naturals & Her Nighty Lesses – then "Surrender To The Rhythm: The London Pub Rock Scene Of The Seventies" is the saucy barmaid for you. Recommended…

"Desolation Angels" by BAD COMPANY – March 1979 Fifth Studio Album on Atlantic Records featuring Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell and Simon Kirke (January 2020 UK Swan Song/Rhino 40th Anniversary '2-CD Expanded Edition' Reissue with 19 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks and New Jon Astley Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desolation-Angels-40th-Anniversary-Company/dp/B081WW8RKT?crid=1AH4NWA5WQ7ZF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p3TYHuX9KAbYlXM5JIHRTg.Bh40EbMokb8X17EhVaxrm21oUWaDMawWGY9bgRzga7A&dib_tag=se&keywords=603497849345&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733487207&sprefix=603497849345%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=0b7cc5fa189454dbf1c4e38c4c772783&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 269 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

RATINGS:

Overall **** to *****

Presentation *****

Audio *****

"…Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy…"

45-years ago (in March 1979 when this album was released) - I was a dapper 20-year-old Hippie/New Wave musical hybrid. I would be 21 in September 1979 and much partying was had and hangovers acquired.

Picture the scene. Me and my head-shaking teen-tribe had grown-up on 1970 to 1974 sounds - and at heart were Rock Band enthusiasts. Sure, we got into Prog and Reggae and Soul and even Jazz Funk and we embraced the hedonistic explosion of ideas and sounds and Two-Tone genres that took place across 1977, 1978 and 1979 with hair-flying gusto. But deep down inside our Desert Boots, Scandi Clogs, Cheese Cloth Shirts and patch-sewn Wranglers (thanks gals) - I remained (like many) a Zep, Deep Purple, Free, Status Quo, Montrose kind of guy with some Doobie Brothers, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Jethro Tull, Cockney Rebel and Lou Reed thrown in to spice up the stew. And of course, we worshiped at the babe-laden feet of the no-nonsense crotch-stroking feel-like-making-lurve Rawk of England's Bad Company - a band millions loved back in the day and for good reason. 

So, after two initial wham-bam-thank-you-mam corkers in "Bad Co." and "Straight Shooter" in 1974 and 1975 followed unfortunately by two dismissible efforts in "Run With The Pack" and "Burnin' Sky" in 1976 and 1977 – the flash very-with-it Hipgnosis gatefold artwork of "Desolation Angels" caught my ravenous eye in March 1979. For most of us rockers, Bad Co. had been away and not in a good way. So, maybe this one would return us to the party-faithful – even be good in places – God forbid! And lo – in parts at least - "Desolation Angels" was a peach.

But what makes these '2-CD Extended Edition' reissues so damn good (this is No.5 in the series – see list below) is that you are not just getting the album raw as a new Remaster – you get the process that led to it. And man are some of these Outtakes and Alternate Versions good. The band is looser, the Rock rawks and Hell – it's even fun in places. And the final let down of the "Rough Diamonds" last LP in 1982 was years away and not yet in our minds. Bad Company were back and sounding snotty. To the details and the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasies…

UK released 10 January 2020 - "Desolation Angels" by BAD COMPANY on Swan Song/Rhino R2 607224 – 603497849345 (Barcode 603497849345) is a '40th Anniversary 2-CD Expanded Edition' Reissue and Remaster of their 5th studio Album from March 1979 on Swan Song Records. It comes with upgraded Digipak packaging, a 16-page colour booklet with new interviews, 19 Previously Unreleased Tracks and it plays out as follows:

CD1 Original Album Remastered (69:44 minutes): 
1. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy [Side 1]
2. Crazy Circles
3. Gone, Gone, Gone
4. Evil Wind
5. Early In The Morning
6. Lonely For Your Love [Side 2]
7. Oh, Atlanta
8. Take The Time
9. Rhythm Machine
10. She Brings Me Love
Tracks 1 to 10 are their fifth studio album "Desolation Angels" – released March 1979 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59408 and March 1979 in the USA on Swan Song SS 8506. Produced by BAD COMPANY – it peaked at No.10 in the UK and No.3 in the USA on the LP charts

Bonus Tracks, Outtakes and Alternative Takes
11. Smokin' 45 (Alternative Version 1)
12. Smokin' 45 (Alternative Version 2)
13. Rock Fever (Outtake)
14. Oh, Atlanta (Slow Version with Fender Rhodes)
15. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 1)
16. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 2)
17. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 3)
18. Crazy Circles (Alternative Version)

CD2 Bonus Tracks (45:16 minutes):
1. Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternative Version)
2. Early In The Morning (Alternative Version)
3. Lonely For Your Love (Alternative Version 1)
4. Take The Time (Alternative Version 1)
5. Evil Wind (Alternative Version)
6. Take The Time (Alternative Version 2)
7. Lonely For Your Love (Alternative Version 2)
8. She Brings Me Love (Alternative Version)
9. What Does It Matter (Blues Jam)
10. Rhythm Machine (Alternative Version)
11. Amen (A Capella)

The foldout card Digipak is pretty enough using those bleached white Hipgnosis photos the original LP gatefold did. But fans will prefer the four inside flaps all used to show rare 45-Single Picture Sleeves ("Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" and "Gone, Gone, Gone" from the USA and Japan) while the 16-page colour booklet has outtake photos, a two-page period-memorabilia collage shot plus 2019 liner-notes from fan and band-admirer DAVID CLAYTON who co-authored the book 'Heavy Load: The Story Of Free'. Drummer Kirke and Guitarist Ralphs contribute memories of the mammoth 86-show American Tour that began in April 1979 where the album and its two singles were well received. And even though Bad Co. had done only four shows in years in the UK – new gigs to support the 1979 album were met with Sold Out concerts and a huge resurgence in interest. Clayton also rightly praises the quality of the work-in-progress unreleased stuff that bolster up both CDs.

Audio Engineer JON ASTLEY of Who-fame has done the Remasters from original tapes and like all his transfers – muscle and clarity emanates from even the hookiest of things like the Gospel chant of Amen. Particularly digging the Smokin' 45 and Rock Fever outtakes and the Rough and Ready Blues Jam on CD2. To the bad boys and their mirror shades…

"Desolation Angels" opens with a treated guitar of "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" rolling across your speakers and here comes the jesters (one-two-three). It's a good start if not quite a great one. The Remaster pumps out that great guitar solo - all economy and doing the business. Acoustic guitars introduces the merry-go-round of life in 
"Crazy Circles" - a surprisingly uplifting song with more than a touch of Gordon Giltarp's 'Heartsong' in its structure. But proper riffage swagger arrives with the wickedly catchy "Gone, Gone, Gone" (better get the boys around and do some drinkin' fast). "Evil Wind" sounds amazingly clear and as it goes into that neck-jerking rhythm when the lyrics start - the extra oomph in the Remaster has upped its game - so Very Bad Co. The big ballad "Early In The Morning" ends Side 1 - sounding good if not entirely convincing - "Shooting Star" it ain't. 

Side 2 opens with "Lonely For Your Love" - an album highlight - a rollicking tune that could be AC/Dc-lite as Paul Rodgers stretches those high notes with his fantastic croaking voice. A hugely enjoyable tune. Harmonica and Rhythm combine for "Oh, Atlanta" - Rodgers an old hound dog roaming around Georgia's finest city. "Take The Time" is the kind of Bad Co. melody song I love - not rocking by any means - but just so good on the ear and head - the kind of hooky catchall that Free used to do so often. "Rhythm Machine" punches the Bass and Keyboards above a Funky Rock beat - the music man playing the Blues in his own fat-man way. Side 2 closes with what could have been single number three - the excellent mid-tempo ballad "She Brings Me Love" - another Paul Rodgers winner. The Remaster on this is gorgeous - warm and powerful. 

We now start in on the Alternates and Unreleased – and for me anyway - "Smokin' 45" is way better than some on the actual album. I like the lighter Take 1 but also dig the grittier Take 2 – very cool inclusions. Then comes another great outtake that I feel is better than "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" – I would have opened the album on "Rock Fever" – Ralphs doing the guitar parts with precision and heart while the organ gives it a joy that could be Humble Pie on a good day. Rodgers starts a Harmonica Blues with a shimmering electric piano note – the alternate version of "Oh, Atlanta" coming as a shock and a treat after being used the more rocking version on the released album. Then comes Takes 1, 2 and 3 of "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" which alter the finished version in small ways. CD1 ends with Supertramp-type walls of Acoustic Guitars on an Alternate of the rather good "Crazy Circles" (lovely gut-string guitar solo). 

For my own amusement, I programmed a new "Desolation Angels" running order for Side 1 & 2 that incorporates Album Tracks, Outtakes and Alternates and it rocks for me:

Side 1 Alternate

1. Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternate Version)

2. Smokin' 45 (Alternate Version 1)

3. Rock Fever (Outtake)

4. Evil Wind 

5. Crazy Circles

6. Early In The Morning  

Side 2 Alternate

1. Lonely For Your Love

2. Oh, Atlanta

3. Take The Time

4. Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy 

5. She Brings Me Love

CD2 gives you a real feel of the evolvement process - an 11-track 45-minute romp through the riffs and melodies. Not surprisingly it opens with the 'stealing all my booze' swagger of "Gone, Gone, Gone" - the piano boogie up there with the guitars and harmony vocals to mighty effect. The melodious Side 1 closer "Early In The Morning" gets a softer approach on the 'Alternate Version' - cool to hear but the LP cut is better. "Lonely For Your Love" is a lot heavier on Version 1 - a bit ham-fisted and you can so hear why they settled on the warmer approach of the released version. There are two Alternates for "Take The Time" where it feels that Ralphs is working out what's best for his guitar approach - Rock with a Funky flick - I like both and their raw feel. The Alternate "Evil Wind" seems to have a recording fuzzy glitch as it starts which is a shame because it grooves with real power when it gets going. 

But my faves here are the very Free-meets Bad Co of "Lonely For Your Love" and the ballad "She Brings Me Love". I never really liked "Rhythm Machine" on the album - but I dig the rawness and great Production values of 'Alternative' on CD2 (Fats Domino got our boy interested - not The Beach Boys). The Blues Jam "What Does It Matter" is a studio goof where the band are having fun - working out ideas and grooves - and yet you can hear Bad Co. magic in their even when they're goofing around. "Amen" is what you think it is - an all-vocal A Capella version of the Gospel Traditional - interesting but slightly out of place really. 

I have enjoyed these Bad Company '2-CD Expanded Edition' splurges because like Free or The Faces or Humble Pie - they are a British band that fill me with joy and great memories. 

I know that not everything on the twofer "Desolation Angels" is Primo or Grade A - but man when Bad Company were good - they were the best and that's good enough for me to press the Basket Purchase button. Recommended...

Albums in the BAD COMPANY 2-CD Expanded Edition Series

1. Bad. Co [June 1974 Debut] 
April 2015 UK Swan Song/Rhino 081227955540 (Barcode is the same number)
13 Bonus Tracks – 10 Previously Unreleased Tracks Plus 3 Others First Issued in March 1999

2. Straight Shooter [April 1975 Second Album]
April 2015 UK on Swan Song/Rhino 081227955533 (Barcode is the same)
14 Bonus Tracks including Alternative Takes and Unreleased

3. Run With The Pack [January 1976 Third Studio Album]
May 2017 UK on Swan Song/Rhino 081227953645 (Barcode is the same)
14 Bonus Tracks including Alternative Takes, Demos and Previously Unreleased Outtakes

4. Burnin' Sky [March 1977 Fourth Studio Album]
May 2017 UK on Swan Song/Rhino 081227953676 (Barcode is the same)
14 Bonus Tracks including Alternative Versions, Outtakes, Rough Mixes

5. Desolation Angels [March 1979 Fifth Studio Album]
January 2020 UK Swan Song/Rhino R2 607224 – 603497849345 (Barcode 603497849345) 
19 Bonus Tracks including Previously Unreleased (all), Outtakes, Alternative Versions

NOTE:
Issued 2 August 2019 in the UK-EU - Bad Company's 'The Swan Song Years 1974-1982' on Swan Song/Rhino R2 584500 - 603497854592 (Barcode 603497854592) is a 6CD Box Set that contains 2015, 2017 and 2019 Remasters of their first five studio albums (as listed above) - but also has a new 2019 Remaster of their final studio album "Rough Diamonds" originally issued August 1982. 

There was/is a September 1994 UK CD Reissue of "Rough Diamonds" on Swan Song 7567-92452-2 (Barcode 075679245229) available singularly with a Ted Jensen Remaster – but the new 2019 Jon Astley Remaster version is only available in this Box Set.  

"Right Now!/That's What Friends Are For/Closing The Gap" by GEORGIE FAME – April 1979, October 1979 and September 1980 UK Albums on Pye and Piccadilly Records – Guest Musicians included Alan Parker, Bernie Holland, Jim Mullen and Terry Smith on Guitars, Ray Warleigh, Bernie Holland, Steve Gregory, Malcolm Griffiths, Dick Morrissey and Henry Lowther on Horns, Brian Odgers on Bass with Barry Morgan and Henry Spinetti on Drums – Collaboration with Elvis Costello on the Title Song of 'That's What Friends Are For' and Jamaican Reggae Legend Lloyd Charmers on the 1980 album 'Closing The Gap' (September 2024 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 3LPs onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

As you can see from the above BGO website photo

It appears Beat Goes On made an earlier cover which mistakenly places the

'That's What Friends Are For' LP as the first with the 'Right Now!' LP as 2nd

But the Release Date Order of these albums is the other way around 

The physical copy I have shows the correct comp title and running order

See photos below

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thats-What-Friends-Right-Closing/dp/B0D9C3ZD74?crid=1S5EGEJJP30X8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8ozSMfS2Q59k0C64ZSYMpA.QSWtjOOzJ6YCU5hVeIrBo9vALazUJ7ckqTfOIyaRQyg&dib_tag=se&keywords=5017261215338&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733336170&sprefix=5017261215338%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=07553fbaa6ae2d2cc220829fc63361e7&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 269 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

RATINGS: 

Music: ***

Audio **** to *****

Presentation *****

"…Warm And Soft As Sin…"

At a sprightly 81-years of age in December 2024 (26 June was his birthday) – the mighty Georgie Fame is a five-to-six decades survivor and purveyor of Pop, R&B, Latin, Jazz, Samba, Soul, Funk, Reggae and a few hundred other music genres in-between. He's been around hit tunes and GF's chart history can prove it.

But what you get here in this September 2024 UK-issued 2CD compilation is three forgotten LP platters originally on Pye and Piccadilly Records – two from 1979 (April and October) and one from September 1980. Forgotten now (and in some cases for good reason) - you would have to go a very long distance down the biggest dictionary in the world to describe any of them as classic. However, excepting limited and expensive Japanese imports in the 2000s – this trio has been off the British digital radar for almost as many decades as George has been around.

So along comes England's Beat Goes On Records (BGO to you and I) and they have lumped all three into one handy 2CD compilation bundle – remastered the lot to superb results and presented the garish clump to us hipsters in their usual stylish card slipcase and value-for-money manner. To the sins of the past, warm and soft…

UK released Friday, 12 September 2024 - "Right Now!/That's What Friends Are For/Closing The Gap" by GEORGIE FAME on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1533 (Barcode 5017261215338) is a Compilation with 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs (April 1979, October 1979 and September 1980). It plays out as follows:

CD1 (80:23 minutes):
1. A Different Dream [Side 1]
2. Funny How Time Slips Away
3. Little Samba
4. I'm In Love With Ya Baby
5. Ollie's Party
6. Eros Hotel 
7. 'Cross A Lazy Afternoon [Side 2]
8. Country Girl
9. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
10. Too Shy To Say
11. Zulu
12. Last Song
Tracks 1 to 12 are his 14th Album "Right Now!" – released April 1979 in the UK on Pye Records NSPH 18600 (no US issue). Produced by JAMES PARSONS and KARL JENKINS – it didn't chart.

13. Maybe Tomorrow [Side 1]
14. Lovely Day
15. L. In L.A.
16. You
17. I Don't Care Who I Dance With
18. That's What Friends Are For [Side 2]
19. Don't Hit When I'm Down
20. Sitting In The Park
21. If I Didn't Mean You Well
22. Cat's Eyes
Tracks 13 to 22 are his 15th Album "That's What Friends Are For" – released October 1979 on Pye Records N 119. Produced by GEORGIE FAME and TERRY EVENNETT - didn't chart. Title track written by Elvis Costello, Tracks 14 and 21 are Bill Withers cover versions, Track 20 is a Billy Stewart cover. 

CD2 (43:13 minutes):
1. Give A Little More [Side 1]
2. Run Away With Me
3. I Love Jamaica
4. Eros Hotel
5. Everything I Own [Side 2]
6. Lean On Me
7. Uptight (Everything Is Alright)
8. Bring Back My Love
9. Give A Little More (Dub Version)
Tracks 1 to 9 are his 16th Album "Closing The Gap" – released September 1980 in the UK on Piccadilly N 137 (no US issue). Collaboration with Jamaican Reggae Legend Lloyd Charmers who Produced, Arranged and Conducted across the whole LP. 

The card slipcase for BGOCD1533 is a classy looking item (as all these Beat Goes On reissues are) and houses a 16-page booklet with new CHARLES WARING liner notes on this 'comeback' period in Fame's career. The front and rear artwork is there as are the musician credits - Guest Musicians like Alan Parker, Bernie Holland, Jim Mullen and Terry Smith on Guitars, Ray Warleigh, Bernie Holland, Steve Gregory, Malcolm Griffiths, Dick Morrissey and Henry Lowther on Horns, Brian Odgers on Bass with Barry Morgan and Henry Spinetti on Drums. 

There's a collaboration with Elvis Costello on the Title Song of 'That's What Friends Are For' (Fame commissioned him specifically to do so - the first artist to ask Costello to do this) and Jamaican Reggae Legend Lloyd Charmers Arranged, Produced and Conducted the 1980 album 'Closing The Gap'. Waring does a brief prenup on Fame's illustrious Sixties to early Seventies musical career (up to the 'Georgie Fame' album for Island in 1975 and the aborted 1976 LP 'Daylight') before going into a deep dive on all three LPs. Long-time Beat Goes On Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON has done the Remasters from original tapes and the transfers are uniformly brilliant even when the material is seriously dated and letting the side down. 

Released into a Disco and Soul and Punk and New Wave world in April 1979 - Georgie Fame's "Right Now!" feels out-of-place to the landscape - even if an impressively healthy number of the tunes are his own compositions. The Willie Nelson ballad classic "Funny How Time Slips Away" and two Stevie Wonder Motown Funks - "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" and "Too Shy To Say" - get Famed but not in any particularly great way. The side 1 ender is probably the best offering here - "Eros Hotel" - a six-minute strings and melody London-love epic that feels adventurous and accomplished - Fame doing the music to the poetry of Fran Landesman. 

The second 1979 platter 'That's What Friends Are For' LP opens with an attempt at Hitsville - "Maybe Tomorrow" trying hard but again feeling like 80s Gilbert O'Sullivan going Pop - just not in a good way. And like every other songster on the late Seventies scene - Georgie was digging Bill Withers big-time. Bill's gorgeous "Lovely Day" and the softer "If I Didn't Mean You Well" both getting excellent GF makeovers that don't drift too far from the Soulful originals. Another highlight is Fame's cover of the 60ts Billy Stewart R&B classic "Sitting In The Park". But overall, you end this LP listen with too-few-thrills and far-to-many fills. 

All CD2 takes up the third offering - a Georgie Fame nine-track collaborative album with Jamaican Reggae Legend Lloyd Charmers on the September 1980 LP "Closing The Gap". Right from the Chalmers opener "Give A Little More" you are aware of the Aswad-sounding Reggae Pop vibe - high production values on the brass, girly answer vocals and in-the-pocket rhythm. But George's vocal trying to ape Bob Marley grates a little and has not dated well at all. Songwriter Charmers also contributed "Run Away With Me", "I Love Jamaica" and "Bring Back My Love". Cover versions include Bread and Ken Booth's "Everything I Own", Bill Withers ballad "Lean On Me" and Stevie Wonder's 60ts Motown hit "Uptight (Everything Is Alright)". Don't know if I like the reggae-fied version of "Eros Hotel" (appeared to great effect on the "Right Now!" LP. The production values are gorgeous - but this is not The Clash doing Reggae and Georgie doesn't cut it. 

In the end it's all too easy to hear why none of these forgotten albums charted and why they are forgotten. Fans will love this September 2024 Georgie Fame 2CD compilation "Right On!/That's What Friends Are For/Closing The Gap" it - great presentation and top-quality audio - but anyone else needs a listen first...

"Birth Right: A Black Roots Music Compendium" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – A 40-Track Themed 2CD Compilation Spanning 1951 Recordings Through to 2021 - Encompassing Acoustic and Electric Blues, Mississippi Hill Country Blues, Old-Time String Band Music, Acapella Gospel, Traditional and Old Timey Jazz, Spoken Word, Sung Historical Recordings, Cajun, Louisiana and more (February 2023 EU-UK Craft Recordings 2CD Compilation of Paul Blakemore Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birthright-Black-Roots-Music-Compendium/dp/B0BF45ZCN6?crid=EDVM9GIJGQDV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TGk0p0HZ-wGrHvWMsawIww.TjLG0wJDq3vRK7_Q05UVAMVNaLNKzxDo10PSCip9_sA&dib_tag=se&keywords=888072424869&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733237956&sprefix=888072424869%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=b5dd982e3a711bf2b139aaf64b2b25e5&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With Over 230 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

RATINGS:

Overall ****

Presentation *** to ****

Audio *****

"…Hard Time Killing Floor Blues…"

Tapping into the vast Rounder Records Roots Catalogue (40 songs across 2CDs straddling 1951 through to 2021) – "Birth Right: A Black Roots Music Compendium" gives you visits to famous collectable labels like Bluesville, Vanguard, Riverside, Smithsonian Folkways, Arhoolie and even Flying Fish Records with the occasional stop off at Specialty and Ron Records along the way. It is roughly a 50/50 split between old and new – the listen encompassing Acoustic and Electric Blues, Mississippi Hill Country Blues, Old-Time String Band Music, A Capella Gospel, Traditional and Old Timey Jazz, Spoken Word, Sung Historical Recordings, Cajun, Louisiana and more.

As you can imagine, the chunky 48-page booklet is a feast of discography info complimented by period photos (from the Concord Archive) and great essays/track-by-track comments from Producer Ted Olsen. This booklet took time and effort – admirable passion invested. 

But with such a huge range of artists and periods represented (compilers SCOTT BILLINGTON and TED OLSEN have spread the genre-net wide) – you might think the Audio is great one moment then seriously comprised the next – no – the whole shooting match is beautifully transferred and shockingly clear. These are PAUL BLAKEMORE Remasters and honestly with my love of the Blues et al and his name attached to the project – I was always going to buy "Birth Right: A Black Roots Music Compendium". I have found his Audio Engineer work exemplary every time.

Downsides - personally, I think it only half works – too many styles and the truly bland cover art and crappy card digipak also do the huge compendium effort a bad one. But (at four stars instead of five) – I am still digging it. Much to sledgehammer – much to lay down and fly – to the details…

EU released 17 February 2023 - "Birth Right: A Black Roots Music Compendium" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Craft Recordings 00888072424869 (Barcode 888072424869) is a 40-Track 2CD Compilation (USA issue is Craft Recordings CR00497) encompassing Acoustic and Electric Blues, Mississippi Hill Country Blues, Old-Time String Band Music, A Capella Gospel, Traditional and Old Timey Jazz, Spoken Word, Sung Historical Recordings, Cajun, Louisiana and more. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (72:19 minutes): 
1. Bourbon Street Parade – PRESEVATION HALL JAZZ BAND (2012 CD "St. Peter And 57th St." on Rounder Records)

2. Station Blues – COREY HARRIS and SHARDÉ THOMAS (2003 CD Album "Mississippi To Mali" on Rounder Records)

3. 61 Highway – MISSISSIPPI FRED McDOWELL (1962 Recording first issue 1995 on the CD "Mississippi Fred McDowell" on Rounder Records)

4. Georgie Buck – CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS featuring JOE THOMPSON (Previously Unreleased October 2006 Recording)

5. Ranky Tanky – RANKY TANKY (2017 CD "Ranky Tanky" on Resilience Music)

6. One Dime Blues – ETTA BAKER (1991 CD "One Dime Blues" on Rounder Records)

7. Eunice Two Step – BOIS SEC ARDOIN and CANRAY FONTENOT (1960s Cajun Recording first issued 1976 on the US LP "Louisianna Cajun Music From The South West Prairies Volume 2" on Rounder Records)

8. Automobile Blues - LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS (1961 US LP "Lightnin'" on Bluesville Records)

9. Grizzly Bear – BENNIE RICHARDSON (1965-1966 Texas chain-gang recording first issued 1975 on the US LP "Wake Up Dead Man: Black Convict Work Songs From Texas Prisons" on Rounder Records)

10. Motherless Children – THE STAPLE SINGERS (1963 US LP "This Land" on Riverside Records)

11. Blues Before Sunrise – BROWNIE McGHEE and SONNY TERRY (161 US LP "Blues And Folk" on Riverside Records)

12. Fox Chase – DINK ROBERTS (1998 CD "Black Banjo Songsters Of North Carolina And Virginia" on Smithsonian Folkways Records)

13. Sweet Georgia Brown – MARTIN, BOGAN and ARMSTRONG [Carl Martin, Ted Bogan and L.C. Armstrong] (1972 US LP "The Barnyard Dance" on Rounder Records)

14. Little Liza Jane – GOLDEN EAGLES (1956 US LP "Jazz In The Classic New Orleans Tradition" on Riverside Records)

15. Ay-Tete Fee – CLIFTON CHENIER And His Band (1955 US 45-Single on Specialty SP-522-45, A-side)

16. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues – SKIP JAMES (1966 US LP "Today!" on Vanguard Records)

17. Weary Blues – GEORGE LEWIS NEW ORLEANS JAZZ BAND (1951 Recording first issued 1956 on the US LP "Jazz In The Classic New Orleans Tradition" on Riverside Records)

18. Yonder Come Day – BESSIE JONES (1973 recording issued 1975 on the US LP "So Glad I'm Here" on Rounder Records)

19. We Will Understand It Better By And By – JOSEPH SPENCE (1978-1980 recording first issued 1991 on the US CD "Glory" on Rounder Records)

20. Best Of All – DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND (2012 US CD "Twenty Dozen" on Savoy Jazz Records)_

NOTES ON CD1:
Tracks 4 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD2 (68:31 minutes): 
1. Step In – CEDRIC BURNSIDE (2021 US CD "I Be Trying" on Single Lock Records)

2. Pretty Polly – AMYTHYST KIAH (2017 US CD "Big Bend Killing: The Appalachian Ballad Tradition" on Great Smokey Mountains Tradition)

3. St. Louis Blues – LONNIE JOHNSON and ELMER SNOWDEN (1960 US LP "Blues And Ballads" on Bluesville Records)

4. Money Is King – LEYLA McCALLA (2018 US CD "The Capitalist Blues" on Jazz Village)

5. Polly Put The Kettle On – DOM FLEMONS (Originally 2015 US CD "Prospect Hill" on Music Maker Records, Reissued 2020 on "Prospect Hill: The American Songster Omnibus" on Omnivore Recordings)

6. Diving Duck Blues – TAJ MAHAL and KEB' MO' (2017 US CD "TajMo" on Concord Records)

7. Crying Blues – BOOZOO CHEVIS (2001 US CD "Down On Dog Hill" on Rounder Records)

8. Morning Trail – CAMPBELL BROTHERS (1997 US CD "Pass Me Not" on Arhoolie Records)

9. When I Lay My Burden Down – JOHN LEE HOOKER (Unreleased 1950s Recording first issued 2017 on the Craft Recordings 5CD Book Set "King Of The Boogie")

10. Titanic – LESLEY RIDDLE (1993 US CD "Step By Step: Lesley Riddle Meets The Carter Family" on Rounder Records)

11. Go To The Mardi Gras – PROFESSOR LONGHAIR (December 1959 US 45-single on Ron Records 329, A-side)

12. Candy Man – MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT (1966 US LP "Today!" on Vanguard Records)

13. San Francisco Bay Blues – JESSE FULLER (1963 US LP "San Francisco Bay Blues" on Good Time Jazz Records)

14. Special Delivery Blues – ODETTA (accompanied by Bill Lee on Double Bass) (1963 US LP "One Grain Of Sand" on Rounder Records)

15. Step It Up And Go – JACK JOHNSON (1979 US LP "Step It Up And Go" on Rounder Records)

16. Arkansas Blues – TUTS WASHINGTON (1984 US LP "New Orleans Piano Professor" on Rounder Records)

17. Lo, I Will Be With You – REV. GARY DAVIS (1960 US LP "Harlem Street Singer" on Bluesville Records)

18. Ups On The Farm – INMATE Named PETER (1976 US LP "Get Your Ass In The Water And Swim Like Me" on Rounder Records – Spoken Poems by Texas Inmates)

19. John Henry – CEPHAS & WIGGINS (1986 US LP "Dog Days Of August" on Flying Fish Records)

20. Study War No More – HONEY IN THE ROCK (1986 US LP "We All…Everyone Of Us" on Flying Fish Records)

Setting the Historical scene – CD1 opens with Preservation Hall Jazz Band giving a bit of "Bourbon Street Parade"  – a ragtime originally released 2012 in the USA. But I must say it is not my idea of live bliss let alone a good starter. On to something only marginally better – a modern-day Roots duet – Shardé Thomas and Corey Harris doing a 2002 version of a 1930 Mississippi Sheiks 78" classic "Sitting On Top Of The World". Good but again not great. But then it happens – the magic you had hoped for – an astonishing Mississippi Fred McDowell 1962 one-man-and-his-slide-acoustic-guitar recording of "61 Highway" that had remained in the can until it was issued in 1995 on Rounder Records. Complete with foot taps and the occasional cough and recorded at McDowell's home – Blakemore has Remastered the relaxed but mighty Blues Man and his strutting lowdown shuffle into your living room. "61 Highway" made me find every Acoustic Blues (or thereabouts) on CD1 and program/sequence it as such – Tracks 3, 8, 6, 10, 11, 16 and 19. What a listen!

The next half-decent track is Etta Baker plucking her acoustic on the self-penned "One Dime Blues" – another gorgeous recording done in 1990. But again, even that is whomped by the real deal – influential Bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins recorded in 1960 – his fantastic voice and menacing shuffle bemoaning the fact that his former lover is now driving around town with her handsome at the wheel. The fabulous "Automobile Blues" literally shuffles around your Stereo with a barely contained jealous rage whilst emoting the kind of cool white guys with guitars would kill for. Way down in Louisiana Bennie Richardson is leading the Chain Gang as they sing to pick-axe rhythms – seriously eerie stuff to hear. Nice then to catch the familiar healing sound of The Staple Singers – Pops and his distinctive shimmering guitar song while the ladies double-up on the vocal responses (hush now baby, don't you cry). Long-time heroes of the Blues Duet format – Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry sound so damn good on their Harmonica and Acoustic Guitar "Blues Before Sunrise" – and such fabulously clean audio that lets it breathe. Other goodies include a rapido Banjo plucking Dink Roberts trying in vain to "Fox Chase" – Accordion Bop with Clifton Chenier on Specialty Records and a truly amazing Skip James oozing pain on "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" with a Guitar and Voice (how many white Rock Bands dug this and turned it into Led Zeppelin and Cream type Rock-Blues). 

CD2 opens with a 2021 muscle-recording barnstormer – Cedric Burnside laying into a ZZ Top-ish slide guitar boogie – a child crying at night asking the Lord to his "Step In". Back to roots-basics with the grim-hardship tale of "Pretty Polly" - Amythyst Kiah and his banjo recalling in gruesome detail the story of a young girl leaving her family and loved ones behind forced by a bad man to endure an abusive pig who eventually kills her (literally a knife in her heart) – but her ghost gets revenge of sorts. Lonnie Johnson gleefully informs that he's got 99-women and only needs one more in his philanthropic "St. Louis Blues"  (we know what you feel Lon – stay strong brother). Leyla McCalls lays out the rules of life in her unnervingly jolly "Money Is King" – if a man has money today – he can commit murder and get off free – her roots band plucking Violas, Banjos and Trumpets adding a menace to the lyrics. The Traditional "Polly Put The Kettle On" gets a Vocals and Harmonica going over by Dom Flemons and his band of Roots players. Better and beautifully recorded – Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' give it some National Steel and Acoustic guitar on a 2017 croaking vocal duet of the Sleepy John Estes Blues Classic "Diving Duck Blues" (Taj is going to love his baby until the Moo Cows come home). 

Incorporating Creole and Cajun lyrics/rhythms – I can't understand a word the wonderfully-named Boozoo Chavis is saying throughout the near six-minutes of "Crying Blues" - but the music is joyous and genuinely uplifting in a Van Morrison at-his-best type of way and destined for a mix tape (a highlight on CD2 for me). Time for some shouting Gospel-type Vocals alongside wild Pedal Steel Guitar – Campbell Brothers giving us an energetic 1997 rendition of the Traditional "Morning Train". John Lee Hooker is gonna wear Holy Slippers when he reaches the Golden Land – all his troubles over "When I Lay My Burden Down" – a fabulous late 50ts unreleased Guitar and Vocals recording first issued on the 2017 Craft Recordings 5CD Book Set "King Of The Boogie". Husbands, Wives and Children all lost their lives in the cold abyss – put in the inescapable belly of the poorly riveted 1912 cruise liner – Lesley Riddle and his lone slide acoustic guitar recounting the maiden-voyage tragedy of the "Titanic". 

Old-timers Mississippi John Hurt and Jesse Fuller impress with their slinky 60ts tunes "Candy Man" and "San Francisco Bay Blues" - but are seriously outgunned by a full-throated Odetta as she her guitar and the Double-Bass of Bill Lee (both are pictured on Page 39 of the booklet) beat "Special Delivery Blues" into submission. The hugely personable John Jackson attacks his Acoustic Guitar for "Step It Up And Go" – a 1979 jolly-Blues foot-tapper from 1979 on Rounder Records. Other old-timey winners include Rev. Gary Davis getting serious about his beliefs with "Lo, I Will Be With You Always" and a fantastic cut from Cephas & Wiggins doing the Traditional "John Henry". And on it goes to Sweet Honey In The Rock overdoing it a bit on the Holy Roller front - it has to be said. 

On the inside flap of CD2 is a 2021 quote from modern Bluesman Corey Harris filling us in on what this sonic 2CD compendium is chronicling – "…where we've been and where we are headed…". I have no doubt about that – but the sheer number of genre hops makes for a disjointed and ragged listen and the dull-as-dishwater artwork on the outside does a major disservice to the audio magic contained within.

I have seen this Craft Recordings twofer for as much as £30 or more – not worth that. But if you see "Birth Right: A Black Roots Music Compendium" for below a ten-spot – dive in and enjoy those gorgeous remasters – especially on the Vanguard and Riverside Records 50ts and 60ts originals. And frankly anything that Paul Blakemore masters – I need to own it...