“Fargo” on BLU RAY. A Review of the 1996 Film Now Transferred to BLU RAY in 2009.

“…You Should See The Other Guy!…”

Rewatching 1996's "Fargo" on Blu Ray is an odd experience - a bit like the film itself. It's both better and worse...

First - the Blu Ray print - I'd estimate that about 50% of the time, the picture is much, much better and the close-up shots in police cars in particular are beautifully clear. But unfortunately it's worse in other areas - there's a lot of blocking in the blizzard scenes, fuzziness indoors and the feeling of a low-budget Indie film is now accentuated rather than subdued...and although people will argue that's the nature of this independent movie, I'm not so sure it's such a good thing with the merciless exposure Blu Ray gives film stock.

The Special Features is a lone commentary by cameraman and photographer ROGER DEAKINS and it's funny and informative, but there was surely room for so much more...cast interviews?

Speaking of which...the casting is inspired. Both Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare (turned up as Satan in Constantine) are fabulous as the hapless and deranged kidnappers - a perfect foil to the bumbling William H Macy character Jerry. Macy is astonishing in Fargo - so brilliant that mere adjectives fail me. But he's matched in subtlety by Frances McDormand who plays the lovely, decent and upbeat highway copper Marge - pottering about in her huge comfy coat saying "Ya" and "Jeez" all the time, threatening to barf and chomping away on burgers and huge meals to keep herself and her advanced pregnancy stoked up... The dialogue is ball-breakingly funny, the slightly oddball characters surely drawn from real life and the violence arbitrary and a lot more ugly than you remember it. You have to love the Coens - you really do!

If you have affection for this grotesque, compelling and strangely human film - then the Blu Ray with it's improved depiction of sheet of paper attached to Steve Buscemi's gunshot cheek - is a good buy. And that look on Marge's face at the end as she tries to comprehend what psycho in the back seat did to his partner in the famous woodchopper scene...is priceless.

A good Blu Ray release then - but docked a star for not putting more extras on here (which will undoubtedly turn up on the "Ultimate" Edition a few years down the line)...

“I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.” by SINEAD O’CONNOR. A Review of the Limited Edition April 2009 2CD Reissue of her 1990 Number 1 Album.

"…God Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change…Courage To Change The Things I Can…"

There's a lot on here - and not on here - so let's get to the details...

The 10 tracks of Disc 1 (51:13 minutes) are the LP "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got." originally released on Ensign Records CHEN 14 in March 1990 in the UK and Ensign 21759 in the USA (it reached Number 1 on the charts in both countries). Produced by Sinead and Nellie Hooper and Engineered by Chris Birkett, unfortunately the original CD was always a lacklustre affair sound-wise - but this April 2009 Limited Edition 2CD remaster by ADAM NUNN at Abbey Road Studios is 'so' much better - warm and clear - and huge in places.

Listening to the now upfront drums and bass of "I Am Stretched On Your Grave" is wonderful (Steve Wickham of The Waterboys plays Fiddle on it). The very quiet "Three Babies" is now beautiful too - the strings arranged by Sinead and Nick Ingman acting as a powerful backdrop to the melody - her vocals emotional and real. "The Emperor's New Clothes" features ANDY ROURKE of THE SMITHS on Bass (he's also on "You Cause As Much Sorrow") with blistering guitar work from MARCO PIRRONI of Adam Ant's backing band - it's a punky little number that still rocks. "Black Boys On Mopeds" was arranged by KARL WALLINGER of WORLD PARTY (ex Waterboys) and ends Side 1 of the original LP in acoustic style - the remaster bringing out its quiet power and heartfelt lyrics about "...police who kill black boys on mopeds..."

The opener of Side 2 - Prince's stunning "Nothing Compares 2 U" changed her life. I remember the video to this day - like a fist in the solar plexus - and here it still has that same visceral punch - great stuff and an undeniable masterpiece. Pirroni co-wrote "Jump In The River" and while it rocks, it suffers a little from too much clever-clever production that now sounds a little dated. No such problems though with the spiked "You Cause As Much Sorrow" - it sounds fantastic now - huge when the band kicks in after the acoustic opening - and the album finisher is the same - drenched echoed vocals...

The packaging is only ok. As you open the digipak your met with the photo and the "God's place..." quote that centred the inner sleeve of the original LP - it was of the Roach family standing by a photo placard of their murdered son Colin, but some twat has reversed the way it faced so now spells their boy's name backwards - sloppy. The booklet isn't any great shakes either - it's a paltry 8-pages - there is new notes by JOHN REYNOLDS her drummer and flatmate of the time - his reminiscences are interesting and informative. There are session details for the album and the extras - and on the rear page there's reproductions of the pictures sleeves from the six singles that came off and surrounded the album. Better is the truly lovely photos of Sinead - the one that fronts the inlay in particular is a contender for the most beautiful woman in the world category - exquisite. There's more under the see-through trays that house each CD. But neither the digipak nor the inlay reproduce the lyrics that came with the original LP inner and CD booklet, which is again really slapdash because her words have always been brave and true and sometimes uncomfortable - they should be here, but they're not...

The "Bonus Disc" (46:23 minutes) opens with a genuine sensation - one of two album outtakes and they're both cover versions. "Night Nurse" is a Gregory Isaacs song - it's a funky reggae version given a Sly and Robbie groove - it had customers come to the counter in our shop asking who it was... The second is a big-guitars version of John Lennon's underrated "Mind Games" from his album of the same name (1974). It's excellent. Speaking of womanly excellence, Etta James had put out a great return-to-form album on Island Records in 1989 called "Seven Year Itch" - from it Sinead took "Damn Your Eyes" written by Steve Bogard and Barbara Wyrick and it became a non-album B-side to "Three Babies" in October 1990 - it's rare on CD and is a genuine bonus in remastered sound here.

"My Special Child" was released as a stand-alone single around the album in May 1991 (it was in aid of "The Simple Truth" foundation trying to help Kurdish refugees) - it's gorgeous and features LIAM O'FLYNN of THE CHIEFTAINS on Uillean Pipes with DONAL LUNNY of PLANXTY and THE BOTHY BAND arranging the strings of THE IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. But even more lovely is the non-album "Silent Night" - it was released as a single in December 1991, but this is the "Long Version" from "The Ghosts Of Oxford Street" soundtrack of the same year - it's also produced by and features PETER GABRIEL on Keyboards. Previously unreleased or not, the two final live tracks are badly recorded and are disappointing - and as you can see from the playing time, there were plenty of room for other 12"/CD single tracks - the "Live Video Version" of "Nothing Compares 2 U" - or the "Night Until Morning Dub/Earthapella" mix of "I Am Stretched..." with the sample of The Smiths "How Soon Is Now" guitar part - or the excellent "Value Of Ignorance" non-album track from the CD single of "Three Babies"...

So there you have it - an album that still stands the test of time - now given a great sonic upgrade and a bonus disc with some half-decent nuggets on it. And even if the packaging is a little lacklustre and the bonuses not fleshed out enough - it's still a thoroughly recommended purchase.

Sinead O'Connor has always been beautiful and brave - inside and out - and here's where that searcher of spirit really started her journey...

“The Complete Reprise Recordings 1971-’73” by CRAZY HORSE featuring Nils Lofgren, Danny Whitten and Jack Nitzsche (2006 Warner Brothers/Rhino 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Can Tell From Your Eyes That You've Probably Been Crying Forever…"

UK released May 2006 - “The Complete Reprise Recordings 1971-’73” by CRAZY HORSE on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122-70144-2 (Barcode 081227014421) contains the 1st two albums of Neil Young's backing band CRAZY HORSE along with some excellent session outtakes (it was originally released as "Scratchy" in the USA). Here's a detailed breakdown...

Disc 1 (79:52 minutes):

1. Gone Dead Train [Side 1]

2. Dance, Dance, Dance

3. Look At The Things

4. Beggars Day

5. I Don’t Want To Talk About It

6. Downtown [Side 2]

7. Carolay

8. Dirty, Dirty

9. Nobody

10. I’ll Get By

11. Crow Jane Lady

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Crazy Horse" issued on Reprise Records RS 6438 in the USA in February 1971 and Reprise RSLP 6438 in the UK in early 1972.

Six album tracks were issued as 7" singles:

1. "Downtown" b/w "Crow Jane Lady" on Reprise 1007 in the USA in March 1971

2. "Dance, Dance, Dance" b/w "Look At All The Things" on Reprise RS 23503 in the UK and Reprise 1025 in the USA in July 1971

3. "Dirty, Dirty" b/w " "Beggars Day" on Reprise 1046 in the USA in October 1971 

The Band for "Crazy Horse" was:

DANNY WHITTEN - Guitar, Lead & Backing Vocals

NILS LOFGREN - Lead Guitar, Background Vocals, Lead on "Beggars Day"

JACK NITZSCHE - Piano, Backing Vocals, Lead on "Crow Jane Lady"

BILLY TALBOT - Bass, Backing Vocals

RALPH MOLINA - Drums, Backing Vocals, Lead on "Dance, Dance, Dance"

RY COODER plays slide guitar on "Dirty, Dirty", "Crow Jane Lady" and "I Don't Want To Talk About It"

GIL GILBEAU plays Fiddle on "Dance, Dance, Dance"

12. Hit And Run

13. Try

14. One Thing I Love

15. Move

16. All Alone Now

17. All The Little Things

18. Fair Weather Friend [Side 2]

19. You Won’t Miss Me

20. Going Home

21. I Don’t Believe It

22. Kind Of Woman

23. One Sided Love

24. And She Won’t Even Blow Smoke In My Direction

Tracks 12 to 24 are their 2nd album "Loose" issued on Reprise MS 2059 in the USA in January 1972 and Reprise K 44171 in the UK. "All Alone Now" b/w "One Thing I Love" was issued as a lone 7" single on Warner Brothers K 14159 in the UK and 1075 in the USA in February 1972.

The Band for "Loose" was:

GEORGE WHITSELL - Vocals, Guitars & Conga

GREG LEROY - Vocals, Guitars

JOHN BLANTON - Vocals, Keyboards, Cello, Harmonica

BILLY TALBOT - Bass & Vocals

RALPH MOLINA - Drums & Percussion, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Disc 2 (40:15 minutes):

1. Dirty Dirty (Alternate Version)

2. Scratchy (Takes 1 to 3)

3. Dear Song Singer

4. Downtown(Unedited Long version)

5. Susie’s Song (Takes 1 to 5)

6. When You Dance You Can Really Love

7. Radio Spot

The above 7 tracks include 5 outtakes from the 1st album, a previously unreleased 1973 version of Neil Young's "When You Dance You Can Really Love" (off his 1970 "After The Gold Rush" album) and a 1971 Promo-Only Radio Spot advertising their debut LP.

The reason I've listed both band line-ups is because it goes a long way to explaining why the first album was so good and the follow up so mediocre. On their debut Crazy Horse had three mercurial song-writing talents in Whitten, Nitzsche and Lofgren and even gleaned exclusive song contributions from Neil Young on "Dance, Dance, Dance" and a co-write on "Downtown". The album was rock one minute, folk the next, soulful also in places - in fact you felt that anything could happen with the different styles and talent - a little like the first 2 CSNY albums - mixed up styles yet somehow all slotting together as one cohesive whole. Rod Stewart famously covered the beautiful "I Don't Want To Talk About It" in 1977 and made it a Number 1 (lyrics above), while Dan McCafferty's raspy vocals delivered a stunning rocking cover of Jack Nitzsche's "Gone Dead Train" for Nazareth in 1978. But with the departure of the three powerhouse players and writers, the 2nd LP had seven of its 14 songs written by newcomer Whitsell and came across as very ordinary country rock LP with little or none of its predecessor's flourish.

The compilation was produced by ANDY SAX, the 28-page booklet has great band photos by JOEL BERNSTEIN, a superlative essay by BARRY ALFONSO which features contributions from co-producer BRUCE BOTNICK and band members for both albums, Molina and Talbot. The remastering has been handled by long-time Rhino tape engineer DAN HERSCH and is typically great - warm and clear - better than the Warner Archives CD of the first album put out in 1994.

But the big surprise is the quality of the outtakes - "Dirty, Dirty" is an excellent alternate version, while "Scratchy" features Takes 1 to 3 and lasts nearly 12 minutes - and although the vocals are lost in the mix for a couple of takes, it's still a great listen. "Dear Song Singer" features Whitten on Lead vocals at first with Nils following - it's very pretty.  But the big one is the near eleven-minute unedited long version of "Downtown" which feels like a Neil Yong guitar workout - fabulous stuff. "Susie's Song" is Nils Lofgren at the piano unaccompanied and it's a peach too - like eavesdropping on the formation of a lovely melody. You could probably live without the one minute Radio Spot though...

So there you have it - a rather excellent reissue really and even if it is a bit pricey and that 2^nd album a tad patchy - it's highly recommended... 

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Book Series - Exceptional CD Remasters...
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“The Band Played On” by BACK STREET CRAWLER. A Review of the 2004 USA-Only Wounded Bird CD (Reissue of a 1975 Album).

Free are part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" 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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"...The Thing I Didn't Realise...Was The Price I'd Have To Pay..."

"The Band Played On" was issued in the UK in October 1975 on Atlantic K 50173 and Atco SD36-125 in the USA - this 2004 USA-only Wounded Bird label CD (WOU 125) is a bare-bones reissue of that long-forgotten Free/Paul Kossoff related album.

Typical of Wounded Bird releases, the inlay is a gatefold slip of paper which barely reproduces the albums credits - there's no added liner notes, no interviews, no history of the album, no outtakes, no demos...bugger all.

While there's no mention of master tapes or even a remaster, the sound quality is good throughout - not great - but good. Give it enough muscle on the volume control and you'll get a decent punch out of it.

Musically its very mid Seventies rock - some songs are great - some are mediocre. I love the slow blues of "It's A Long Way Down To The Top" with its prophetic lyrics (above) and Mike Montgomery's piano playing working off Koss's fantastic guitar work. The funkier rock tracks like "Jason Blue" and "Hoo Doo Woman" also remind me of "The Don Harrison Band" album (another 1975 LP on Atlantic) - a record that's a little Free meets a little Creedence meets a little Bad Co. Nice!

My personal fave is "Train Song" where Kossoff is ably supported by a great band - it funks along with Koss soloing away as only he could - so Free sounding...so funky...a criminally forgotten gem.

It's a shame WB didn't dig deeper and put up some bonus tracks, but as this is the only way you can get the album - I'd say it's still a worthy buy.

Docked a star for the less than stellar presentation though.

PS: the band's second album "2nd Street" from 1976 is also available on Wounded Bird (WOU 138) - it features John 'Rabbit' Bundrick on Keyboards with Terry Wilson-Slesser again on Lead Vocals

"Solid Air" by JOHN MARTYN - February 1972 Seventh Studio Album (May 2009 UK Universal/Island 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Reissue and Remaster with Previously Unreleased Studio Outtakes and Live Versions - Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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"…Easy Blues…"

Beloved by fans and constantly rediscovered by the listening public - John Martyn's 7th album for the mighty Island Records - the lovely and ethereal "Solid Air" (February 1972) - was always going to be a candidate for the 2CD DELUXE EDITION Series from Universal. 

 

In fact they would do "Live At Leeds" (1975), "One World" (1977) and "Grace And Danger" (1980) too. But Martyn's musical nod to Island Records Folk-Rock hero Nick Drake (the 'Solid Air' in the title) has always been the touchstone for fans. 

But few of us could have hoped that this 2009 2-Disc overhaul would turn out to be this good. I'm blown away - I really am. Let’s go down easy on the details...

UK released May 2009 – "Solid Air: Deluxe Edition" by JOHN MARTYN on Universal/Island 531 793-3 (Barcode 600753179338) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster and melts into the following…

Disc 1 (34:49 minutes):

1. Solid Air [Side 1]

2. Over The Hill

3. Don't Want To Know

4. I'd Rather Be The Devil

5. Go Down Easy [Side 2]

6. Dreams By The Sea

7. May You Never

8. The Man In The Station

9. The Easy Blues/Gentle Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Solid Air" issued 1 February 1973 on Island ILPS 9226 in the UK and Island SW-9325 in the USA (it didn't chart in either country). It was recorded in November and December of 1972 and engineered by JOHN WOOD. The original album had a gatefold sleeve and a famously designed 'hand through air' shot on the front cover by FABIO NICOLI. The gatefold digipak here recreates this artwork inside and out, has 'palm-tree' label CDs to reflect the original LP design and a 20-page booklet with passionate, informative and detailed liner notes by noted experts and friends JOHN HILLARBY and DARYL EASLEA. The booklet also features trade adverts, the master tapes box, lyrics to the songs, session details - it's superbly done. But the real fireworks lie in the beautiful audio transfer of the album on Disc 1 - and I'm thrilled to say - the staggering quality of the ‘Extras’ on Disc 2...

Disc 2 (80:22 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are fully formed 'Alternate Takes' of all 9 album tracks on Disc 1 above and in that order - All PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

10. Keep On 

11. When It's Dark

12. In The Evening 

Tracks 10 to 12 are 3 song out-takes from the album sessions - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

13. May You Never (Single Version)

Track 13 is the 1st version of "May You Never" issued as 7" single in the UK on Island WIP 6116 in November 1971. It's an entirely different version to the 'acoustic take' released on the "Solid Air" album (the song was famously covered by Eric Clapton on his "Slowhand" album of 1977). The 1971 single mix contains a full band with keyboards by John 'Rabbit' Bundrick and guitar work by Paul Kossoff of Free

 

14. The Easy Blues (Live)

15. May You Never (Live) 

16. I'd Rather Be The Devil (Live)

Tracks 14 to 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live Versions (no details supplied)

PASCHAL BYRNE at Audio Archiving in London has handled the 24-bit digital remaster and he's done a stunning job. Every track sounds alive, warm and in your face - but in a good way. Highlights include the truly gorgeous "Over The Hill" which has Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol of Fairport Convention playing an absolute blinder on Mandolin and Autoharp (respectively) - and every time - and I mean every time - it wells up a tear in my eye. Now it suddenly sounds huge with Byrne's remaster having brought its beauty out - a genuine wow if ever there was one.

While others love it - I've never liked his echo-plexed version of Skip James blues tune "Devil Got My Woman" which he renamed "I'd Rather Be The Devil". But if you do like it - you're in for a treat, because it sounds absolutely enormous here - I just always felt is was kind of out of place in a largely folky setting.  There is hiss at the beginning of Side 2's lovely opener "Go Down Easy", but Byrne's smartly not tried to process it out of the transfer - the result is that Danny Thompson's double-bass sounds like he is standing in the corner of your room. Tony Cox's fantastic sax work on the funky "Dreams By The Sea" is complimented by John "Rabbit" Bundrick's fabulous keyboard work - again astonishingly clear. The final three tracks still sound years ahead of their ambient time - and the remaster is beautiful too...

After the joy of Disc 1, I'd expected Disc 2 to be a let down - it isn't. The 'Alternate' takes are all lovely and something you'll play again rather that treat them as a curio you hear once – and never touch again. And as if that’s not enough - then you're hit with a genuine sensation - 3 Session out-takes never heard before - one of which is a showstopper - the eight and a half minute acoustic bliss of "When It's Dark". I played it in the shop the other day and two Euro customers came to the counter within minutes asking after the new "Nick Drake" recording! Fans will wonder how this peach has remained in the vaults all these years.

So there you have it - a great album beautifully transferred and extra tracks that actually deserve the word 'bonus'. I've enjoyed some superb issues in the Deluxe Edition series in the last few years (Whiskeytown's "Strangers Almanac", "Tighten Up" Volumes 1 and 2 and Free's "Fire And Water" - see reviews) - but this is something really special.

Buy it with confidence - and Rest in Peace you great big gorgeous Scottish beauty...