"Then And Now: The Definitive..." by HERBIE HANCOCK (November 2008 UK Universal/Verve CD + DVD Remaster With 2 Previously Unreleased - One Of Which Feats JONI MITCHELL) - A Review by Mark Barry

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"…Wiggle Waggle…" 

This November 2008 compilation finally gives an all-eras single-disc "Best Of" to Herbie Hancock - one of America's finest jazz pianists - and long overdue it is too. It features two Previously Unreleased tracks and a rare JONI MITCHELL appearance with other top-name guests like Wayne Shorter, Harvey Mason, Bobby McFerrin, Marcus Miller, Larry Klein and John Scofield. 

Unlike the US CD issue - some of the UK and European copies come as a DELUXE EDITION in a card wrap that has a 3-track DVD (use the catalogue number/barcode provided below to get the right issue). 

Here's a detailed breakdown of "Then And Now: The Definitive..." by HERBIE HANCOCK on Universal/Verve 0602517809710 (Barcode 602517809710) - what track is from what and who played on them (68:45 minutes):

1. Maiden Voyage (from "Maiden Voyage", 1965 LP on Blue Note BST-84195)

2. Cantaloupe Island (from "Empyrean Isles", 1964 LP on Blue Note BST-84175)

[1 and 2 feature Freddie Hubbard on Trumpet, Ron Carter on Bass and Tony Williams on Drums]

3. Wiggle Waggle (from "Fat Albert Rotunda", 1970 LP on Warner Brothers 1834)

4. Chameleon (Edit, 7:35 minutes) (from "Head Hunters" by Head Hunters featuring Herbie Hancock, 1973 LP on Columbia 32731)

[Features Bernie Maupin on Saxophones, Paul Jackson on Bass and Harvey Mason on Drums]

5. St. Louis Blues (from "Gershwin's World", 1998 CD on Verve 557 797-2)

[a W.C. Handy cover version featuring Stevie Wonder on Vocals and Harmonica]

6. Chan's Song (Never Said) (from "'Round Midnight", 1986 LP on Columbia 40464)

[Co-written with Stevie Wonder and featuring Bobby McFerrin on Vocals, Ron Carter on Bass and Tony Williams on drums]

7. River (on "River: The Joni Letters", 2007 CD on Verve 9791)

[Features UK soul singer Corrine Bailey Ray on Vocals with Wayne Shorter on Tenor and Soprano Saxophones. All tracks on the "River..." album are Joni Mitchell cover versions]

8. Don't Explain (from "Possibilities", 2005 on Vector 70013)

[Features Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan on Vocals]

9. All Apologies (from "The New Standard", 1996 CD on Verve 527 715-2)

[Nirvana/Kurt Cobain cover version featuring John Scofield on Electric Sitar]

10. Watermelon Man (as per 4)

[10 features the same musicians as 4, but this track also has John Scofield on Electric Sitar] 

11. Rockit (Live) (from "Future 2 Future", 2002 DVD release, previously unreleased on CD)

BONUS TRACK:

12.  River (Live) (from "Nissan Live Sets On Yahoo! Music" recorded in March 2006, previously unreleased on CD) 

[12 features JONI MITCHELL covering her own song, she sings Lead Vocals. The band is Bob Sheppard on Sax, Lionel Loueke on Guitar, Marcus Miller on bass and Vinnie Colaluta on Drums]

DVD EDITION:

1. Cantaloupe Island [6:32 minutes]

2. River (featuring Joni Mitchell) [8:24 minutes] 

3. Hana (featuring Joni Mitchell and Sonya Kitchell) [5:03 minutes]

Tracks 2 and 3 from "Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music" (2008) 

The track choices in some cases are obvious "Maiden Voyage" and "Cantaloupe" - but the clever sequencing and the vocal duets break up the listen from being entirely instrumental. Also despite the songs jumping from decade to decade - the KEVIN REEVES remastered sound on all of them is superb - very clean and muscular. The only slightly superfluous song is a live version of his 1983 hit "Rockit!" rather than the preferred studio version, but that's easily forgotten when you hear what follows it - a lovely and unexpected appearance of Joni's "River" featuring the great lady herself. Although Mitchell's voice has been cracking in these last few years (please stop smoking Joni - you're too valuable to your loved ones to be lost to that crap) - she stills manages a really tender performance. 

Funky and fun one moment ("Wiggle Waggle") then tender and even sad the next ("Don't Explain") - this CD compilation is a blindingly good listen that lasts all the way through to the end. Hopefully "Then & Now" will bring more music lovers to Herbie's four-decade long contribution to both jazz and the mainstream. His brand of Funky Funky can wiggle my waggle any day of the week...(and its dirt-cheap too)…

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“Greatest Hits Vol. Two – The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings” by BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND. A 1998 CD Compilation…

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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 “…Someone Will Chase The Clouds Away…” - Greatest Hits Vol. Two – The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings by BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND (1998 CD Remaster)

Subtitled “The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings” this 16-track 1998 USA-only CD compilation is a deceptive little bugger that packs a whole lot more punch than it’s naff title and sleeve would suggest. It covers the period 1973 to 1982 and therefore gives us some great-sounding remasters from a criminally under-represented part of Bland’s extraordinary career. 

Here’s the breakdown for MCAD-11809 (69:33 minutes):

1. This Time I’m Gone For Good

2. Goin Down Slow 

3. I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)

4. Ain’t No Love In the Heart Of The City

5. Yolanda

6. I Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry 

7. Today I Started Loving You Again

8. I Hate You 

9. The Soul Of A Man 

10. It Ain’t The Real Thing

11. Sittin’ On A Poor Man’s Throne

12. Let The Good Times Roll [Live] with B.B. KING

13.You’d Be A Millionaire

14. Love To See You Smile

15.Recess In Heaven

16. Soon As The Weather Breaks

(US Album catalogue numbers)

Tracks 1 and 2 are from the LP “His California Album”, 1973 on Dunhill 50163

Tracks 3 to 6 are from “Dreamer”, 1974 on Dunhill 50169

Tracks 7 and 8 are from “Get Down With”, 1975 on ABC 895

Tracks 9 to 11 are from “Reflections In Blue”, 1978 on ABC 1018

Track 12 is from Together Again…Live”, 1976 on ABC-Impulse 9317

Track 13 is from “Sweet Vibrations”, 1980 on MCA 5142

Track 14 is from “Come Fly With Me”, 1978 on ABC 1075

Track 15 is from “Here We Go Again”, 1982 on MCA 5297

Track 16 is from “I Feel Good, I Feel Fine”, 1979 on MCA 3157

His 50s and 60’s tracks have been done to death in the USA – and fabulous they are too – but I adore his Seventies Soul/Funk stuff more – and especially the two masterpieces that turned up on Probe Records in the UK in 1973 and 1974 - “His California Album” and “Dreamer”. I’ve had OK-only reissues of these for years just to have the music and have dreamed of the day that either or both receive the DELUXE EDITION 2CD treatment - or even a Hip-O Select Box Set covering the full ABC/Probe years where I know the sound will be the business. 

Well this compilation goes a bit of a way towards that because it’s remastered by one of Universal’s top engineers ERICK LABSON (over 1000 audio restoration and remaster credits to his name) and the sound quality is gorgeous - really clean, muscular and a revelation on every track. The 12-page booklet has liner notes by long-time Blues and R’n’B historian and hero BILL DAHL whose done tons of work for Bear Family on their “Sweet Soul Music” series 1961 to 1975 (see reviews for all 15 Volumes). 

The slinky Steely Dan Funk-Soul of “I Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry” (lyrics from it title this review) is a joy – every instrument impressive – and of course that voice. “Today I Started Loving You Again” is another gem and the bluesy cover of Louis Jordan’s “Let The Good Times Roll” with B.B. KING (live) is a welcome reminder of his illustrious R’n’B past. 

Sure it tapers off a bit towards the end and it could easily have had 2 more tracks - but as it stands - this overlooked superb-sounding MCA CD compilation is about ten dollars for US buyers and £5 for UK – and as such represents amazing value for money – a top Soul bargain. 

Discover Bobby “Blue” Bland superb Soul period through “Greatest Hits Vol. Two” – and watch that phone dial light up as the bank manager begs you to stop spending money on his catalogue. 

"Better Days Are Coming: The A&M Years 1969-1971" by JIMMY CLIFF (October 2005 US Hip-O Select Label 4CD Hardback Book Set with GAVIN LURSSEN Rasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Many Rivers To Cross..."

Reggae superstar JIMMY CLIFF was released on A&M Records in the USA and Island and Trojan Records in the UK. This set deal with his breakout three-year period in the late 60s and early 70s.

Beautifully presented in an elongated tactile book - "Better Days Are Coming/The A&M Years 1969-1971" by JIMMY CLIFF on Hip-O Select straddles both of those complex arrangements - trying to untangle music that has also remained obscured for far too long. Details...

US released October 2005 - "Better Days Are Coming: The A&M Years 1969-1971" by JIMMY CLIFF on Hip-O Select B0005362-02 (Barcode 602498322994) is a 4CD Book Set Limited Edition that requires some detailed explanation because of the country-duality. Here's a breakdown...

Disc 1 (36:47 minutes):

1. Time Will Tell 

2. Many Rivers To Cross

3. Viet Nam

4. Use What I Got 

5. Hard Road To Travel

6. Wonderful World, Beautiful People

7. Sufferin' In The Land

8. Hello Sunshine

9. My Ancestors 

10. That's The Way Life Goes

11. Come Into My Life

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Jimmy Cliff" – released 5 December 1969 in the UK on Trojan Records TRLS 16 and with the same tracklist but different artwork and title in January 1970 in the USA as "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" on A&M SP-4251. 

BONUS TRACK:

Track 12 is "Waterfall" - the non-album B-side of the US 7" single "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" released in November 1969 on A&M AM 1146. It was a cover version of a song written by Alex Spyropoulos and Patrick Campbell Lyons of the 60s Island Records act Nirvana. Cliff’s version of "Waterfall" had in fact originated on his 1967 UK Mono Debut LP "Hard Road To Travel" on Island Records ILP 962 and was issued in the UK as a 45 in July 1968 on Island WIP-6039 with "The Reward" as its B-side (a song from the "Hard Road To Travel" LP – not included here unfortunately). 

Disc 2 (36:48 minutes):

1. Wild World 

2. The Song We Used To Sing

3. Aim And Ambition

4. Better Days Are Coming

5. Hey Mr. Yesterday

6. Be Aware

7. You Can Get It If You Really Want 

8. Pride And Passion

9. Honey Hush

10. Give And Take

11. Let Your Yeah Be Yeah

12. I’ve Got A Feeling (And I Can’t Stop)

Tracks 1 to 12 are an unreleased and untitled USA-only album compiled in Island's London studios by Bob Porter - it was slated for release in September 1970 and even allocated a USA A&M Records LP catalogue number - SP-4286

 

Disc 3 (40:30 minutes):

1. Take A Look At Yourself 

2. Please Tell Me Why

3. Rap

4. Opportunity Knocks Only Once

5. My Friend’s Wife

6. Another Cycle

7. Sitting In Limbo 

8. Oh, How I Miss You

9. Inside Out, Upside Down

10. Our Thing Is Over 

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Another Cycle" released in June 1971 on Island ILPS 9159 in the UK.

Disc 4 (47:27 minutes):

1. Those Good Good Old Days

2. Sooner Or Later

3. When You're Young

4. Struggling Man (Original Version)

5. Let's Seize The Time

6. Goodbye Yesterday

7. The Bigger They Come The Harder They Fall

8. I Can't Live Without You 

Tracks 1 to 8 are an unreleased and untitled USA-only album compiled in Island's London studios by John Burns - it was slated for release in December 1971 in the USA and was allocated an A&M LP catalogue number - SP-4334

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Going Back West

10. Struggling Man (Horn Version)

11. Can’t Stop Worrying, Can’t Stop Living You

12. Come On People 

Tracks 9 to 12 are 4 songs are from the "Struggling Man" album released in June 1974 on Island/Mango SW-9343 in the USA

His UK albums on Island Records either entirely or partially covered by this set are:

1. ”Hard Road To Travel" (1968 on Island ILP 962, Mono)

Tracks: Reward, Let's Dance, Can't Get Enough Of It, I've Got A Feeling (And I Can't Stop), All I Know About You, Give And Take, Pride And Passion, Searchin' For My Baby, Hard Road To Travel, A Whiter Shade Of Pale, Call On Me, Aim And Ambition 

 (Unfortunately tracks 1, 2, 3 and 5, 8, 10 are not on this set, but you can sequence the remaining 6 using tracks 12, 10 and 8 on Disc 2, 5 on Disc 1 and 3 on Disc 2)

2. ”Another Cycle" (1971 on Island ILPS 9159) (as per Disc 3 on this set)

3. ”The Harder They Come O.S.T." (1972 on Island ILPS 9202) - NOT included in this set. Available separately as a single-disc reissue or a 2CD Universal ‘Deluxe Edition’ 

4. ”Struggling Man" (1973 on Island ILPS 9235 - identical track list to the USA version)

Tracks: Struggling Man, When You Are Young, Better Days Are Coming, Sooner Or later, Those Good Good Old Days, Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving You, Let's Seize The Time, Come On People, I Can't Live Without You, Going Back West

(Sequence is tracks 4 and 3 from disc 4, 4 from disc 3 - and 2, 1, 11, 5, 12, 8 and 9 from disc 4)

The packaging is exceptional - a long hardback book with embossed sleeve in what feels like recycled card and paper, pictured and themed CDs, superb US and UK discographies, detailed liner notes - it's beautiful to hold and look at. But the real goods as ever lie in the sound...

GAVIN LURSSEN has remastered the original master tapes at the Mastering Lab and the sound/audio is gorgeous. One of the complaints about reggae CD reissues is that they always sound muffled and compressed compared to the whack of their original vinyl counterparts - and as a lover of old records - that's actually true. One of the reasons for this is that some small independent reggae labels had to reuse tapes for economy, so the originals don't exist - and their reissues use a copy of a copy. But this is A&M/Island Records - so the tapes are still in tact and as evidenced here - in tip-top shape. Lurssen has restored life into these songs and brought out the lovely musicianship on them, excessive hiss levels are kept to a minimum without loss of feel and track after track is a joy to listen to. The clarity of the bass, piano, drums and backing vocals on "Please Tell Me Why" is just one of many examples - an absolute revelation. 

The downside is of course is the ludicrously short playing times of each disc - and the omissions. Hip-O could easily have been doubled up on each CD and the tally of 46 tracks increased to include all of the "Goodbye Yesterday - The Legendary Lost Album" CD of only 9 tracks which you have to buy separately - and included the 6 missing tracks from the "Hard Road To Travel" UK LP. And then there's the 2CD Hip-O Select DELUXE EDITION of "The Harder They Come" which you also need to get a complete picture of Jimmy Cliff at that time (another CD gem too). A musical upside worth noting however is that there are many tracks on this set that cross over into Sixties and Seventies soul - "I've Got A Feeling (And I Can't Stop)" could easily pass as a 1968 Motown dancer - punchy and brill - while "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving You" could easily have been an Al Green hit in 1972…

To sum up - sure it's expensive and it could have been sequenced to feature more of what we want - but "Better Days Are Coming" is still a peach - a thing of beauty to behold and more importantly to listen too. 

Frankly - cross as many rivers as you can to get this set into your life…

"HIGH FLYIN' BIRD: The Verve Forecast Years" by RICHIE HAVENS (June 2004 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Set containing the albums "Mixed Bag", "Something Else Again" & "Richard P. Havens, 1983" Plus One Bonus Track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Let The River Rock You Like A Cradle..."

Although more famed as a superb interpreter of other people's great songs (Dylan and The Beatles in particular), Richie Havens was possessed (and still is) of one the most beautiful and expressive voices of the late Sixties. He also had a sincerity about the words he sang that moved audiences in their millions. 

This superb USA-Only June 2004 2CD compilation "High Flyin' Bird: The Verve Forecast Years" by RICHIE HAVEN on Hip-O Select B-000256902 (Barcode 602498624074) offers us 3 full albums (one a double) and a single from his stay at the Verve/Forecast label between 1967 and 1969. A tasty 39 Tracks of class and cool. Here's the breakdown...

Disc 1 (79:54 minutes):

1. High Flyin' Bird

2. I Can't Make It Anymore

3. Morning, Morning

4. Adam

5. Follow

6. Three Day Eternity

7. Sandy

8. Handsome Johnny

9. San Francisco Bay Blues

10. Just Lke A Woman

11. Eleanor Rigby

Tracks 1 to 11 are the entire album "Mixed Bag" released in February 1967 on Verve Forecast 3006 in the USA and in March 1968 on Verve SVLP 6008 in the UK (stereo version used)

Track 12 is "I've Gotta Go", the non-album A-side of a 7" single-only release issued in June 1967 in the USA on Verve 5039 

13. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed

14. Inside Of Him

15. The Klan

16. Sugarplums

17. Don't Listen To Me

18. From The Prison

19. Maggie's Farm

20. Something Else Again

21. New City

Tracks 13 to 21 are all but the last song on the album "Something Else Again" released in February 1968 in the USA on Verve Forecast 3034 and on Verve SVLP 6005 in the UK (stereo version used)

Disc 2 (77:47 minutes):

Track 1 "Run Shaker Life" is the last track on the album "Something Else Again"

2. Stop Pulling And Pushing Me

3. For Heaven's Sake

4. Strawberry Fields Forever

5. What More Can I Say John?

6. I Pity The Poor Immigrant

7. Lady Madonna

8. Priests

9. Indian Rope Man

10. Cautiously

11. Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head

12. She's Leaving Home

13. Putting Out The Vibration, And Hoping It Comes Home

14. The Parable Of Ramon - Live

15. With A Little Help From My Friends - Live

16. Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Live

17. Run Shaker Life - Live

18. Do You Feel Good? - Live

Tracks 2 to 18 are the entire 2LP set "Richard P. Havens, 1983" released January 1969 on Verve Forecast 3034 [2] in the USA and May 1969 on Verve SVLP 6014/5 in the UK (stereo version used)

(Tracks 14 to 18 are Side 4 of the double and were recorded live 12 July 1968 at the Santa Monica Civic Centre in Santa Monica, California)

The original master tapes have been 96k/24 bit remastered by SUHA GUR at Universal Mastering and the sound quality is exceptional - beautifully realized - warm and clean - really great stuff. The gatefold digipak is numbered in gold on the rear - a limited edition of 3000 - it houses a 24-page booklet with an essay by SCOTT SCHNIDER, pictures live photos, album sleeves and ends in a footnote from Havens himself. The booklet is nice, the gatefold digipak is ok - hardly worth writing home about - but what matters for me is the sound quality - and it's an absolute dream. 

The sweetness of the bass and acoustic guitars of the Gerald Merrick cover "Follow" is just one of many examples (lyrics are the title of this review) - warm and lovely - and for me justifies the now costly price of acquiring this set. The Instrumental "Something Else Again" is trippy Sitar heaven as is "Putting Out The Vibration, And Hoping It Comes Home". Even when "The Parable Of Ramon" begins - it's so quiet - you'd swear it was a studio with Tim Buckley goofing off on an acoustic riff. He sings his "favourite song in the Universe" - The Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" by simply miming the lyrics - and the intimacy of the gig takes off - the crowd enjoying the song and knowing the words. His version of Julie Driscoll's "Indian Rope Man" is cool while his Donovan's "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" is intimate and made new somehow by making it acoustic.

Havens put out an album in 2002 called "Wishing Well" - the opening two tracks "Handouts In The Rain" and "The Well" are stupendous - and almost exactly the same style as he used on these Verve recordings - a sort of soulful strumming. This lovely set of songs - starting in 1967 - is where that most mellow and moving of sounds began.

Another genuine gem of a release from Hip-O Select - highly recommended...

PS: collectors and lovers of Soul Music will know that Hip-O Select even when it was trading was something of a cult fave - now that the label is defunct - their issues (often of exclusive content like this one unavailable anywhere else, Rare Earth's catalogue is the the same) have become extortionate in cost. As of November 2019, Amazon UK doesn't even have 1 copy for sale. So try obvious auction sites like EBAY and DISCOGS...