"I Just Can't Help Myself" by TERRY CALLIER (2013 Japan 'Chess Best Collection' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 333 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2024 Update)

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=B00MTCDTWS&asins=B00MTCDTWS&linkId=f95dca2244c8856012cccc3c6c25fff6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Cant-Myself-Chess-Collection/dp/B00F64TUXI?crid=XBDIAK2TAV8I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EC6ztfuVRe7BWrZMdd5Jow.NXJhJS_Sia77uI1H0U5E5HtgjiPDrgc9Lbq7sk9tfyY&dib_tag=se&keywords=4988005792747&qid=1709685160&sprefix=4988005792747%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=8a11276502adbfc8e3ff0e8b3e7703d6&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Lead Me To The Bridge Of Bright Tomorrows…”

Hailing out of Chicago and a childhood pal of Curtis Mayfield, Terry Callier had put out his debut album "The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier" on Prestige in July 1965 and then did 2 albums on the Cadet Concept label prior to this - "Occasional Rain" in 1972 and "What Color Is Love" in early 1973.

The third and final album for the famous Chicago label "I Just Can't Help Myself" (October 1973) has been missing on CD for decades. Bootleg copies of the vinyl LP have been in London shops for over 15 years now because the US original is so rare. Which brings us to this welcome digital release - part of a 2013 Japanese-only CD series called 'Chess Best Collection'. Here are the helpful details...

Japan released 12 Dec 2013 - "I Just Can't Help Myself" by TERRY CALLIER on Universal Japan/Chess UICY-75986 (Barcode 4988005792747) is a new CD remaster with glorious sound that plays out as follows (40:54 minutes):

1. (I Just Can't Help Myself) I Don't Want Nobody Else

2. Brown-Eyed-Lady

3. Gotta Get Closer To You

4. Satin Doll

5. Until Tomorrow

6. Alley-Wind Song

7. Can't Catch The Trane

8. Bolwin' Green

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "I Just Can't Help Myself" – released October 1973 in the USA on Cadet Records CA 50041.

You may see this CD reissue called 'Chess 1000 Collection' in some quarters which refers to the price code - 1000 Yen or less. Depending on exchange rates this translates into 7 to 9 dollars, 5 to 7 pounds and a similar amount in Euros. Even with P&P costs - this weighs in at less than nine pounds for UK customers - which is very cheap for quality Japanese releases. It's in a jewel case - the foldout inlay sandwiched between a paper repro of the sleeve (back and front). Typical of these Japanese reissues - the inlay has an essay you can't read - and a decent stab at printing the English lyrics for all the songs. It doesn't say who or where this was remastered but the sound is GORGEOUS.

This album is firmly in the FOLK-SOUL category and for me is very much a tale of two Sides - Side 1 being not that great - while Side 2 is magical. Tracks 1 to 5 make up Side 1 which features three of the songs co-written with LARRY WADE - "(I Just Can't Help Myself) I Don't Want Nobody Else", "Brown-Eyed Lady" and "Gotta Get Close To You". Unfortunately they're trying too hard to be commercial - like Barry White but not in a good way. Things get better as they slow down considerably on his cover of Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll" which is lovely. And Charles Stepney's arrangement of "Until Tomorrow" (closes Side 1) give it a sweeping feel with strings vying with the acoustic rhythms.

But for me Side 2 is incredible. It's like Callier suddenly changed tack and realised that less is more. Less production - more Soul. It has only 3 tracks - two of which "Alley-Wind Song" is nine minutes long while "Bowlin' Green" (co-written with Holmes Daley) is nearly eight. They are very much in the Folky Soul tradition - acoustic guitars with the occasional Bongo flourish and scat vocals. "Alley-Wind Song" is just so good (lyrics from it title this review). It's an acquired taste - but a stunning one if you get bitten. "Can't Catch The Trane" sees him scat faster and faster to a point where he almost vocally loses it towards the song end (great Alto Sax by DON MYRICK sails in at the song reaches its climax). "Bowlin' Green" is masterful - building all the time - but never getting out of control - oboes and strings softly introduced as his vocals become ever more impassioned. Personally the three simpler tracks on Side 2 (all Callier originals) makes for much satisfying and genuinely Soulful listen.

I should also mention that CHARLES STEPNEY freaks will need to own this. Stepney is another big name in small circles - a hero of sorts for soul lovers. He was involved in The Rotary Connection with Minnie Riperton, produced four albums with The Dells and even twiddled the knobs on the iconic and now much-vaulted psych-blues-fusion album "Electric Mud" by Muddy Waters. I'd personally scour down anything he had a hand in...a genius...

In the end - Terry Callier had morphed (like Richie Havens) into a sort of elder statesman of Soul - still spreading his gospel of love and understanding right up his sad passing in 2012. His "Lean On Me" song with Beth Orton on the "Best Bit EP" in 1997 is truly beautiful. Also check out his "Timepeace" set from 1998 - unbelievably good and relevant to the now and not just past glories.

Like Donny Hathaway's Atlantic output - it's hard for me to be rational about Terry Callier's fabulous run of albums with Charles Stepney on the cool Cadet Concept label. And even though "I Just Can't Help Myself" isn't the best of the three (a three-star album given a four-star CD reissue) - try to find a way to buy this CD album before it gets deleted in mid 2014. RIP Terry Callier you lovely journeyman...

PS: I've also reviewed "The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier”, "Occasional Rain" and "What Color Is Love"

"Classic Album Selection" by J.J. CALE. A Review by Mark Barry Of The March 2013 Universal 5CD Box Set Which 'Isn't' Remastered...

"...Devil In Disguise..."

Since his tragic loss in July 2013 renewed interest in J.J. Cale and his wonderfully laid-back songwriting magic has never been higher - so this box set 'claiming' to be 2013 remasters is a very tempting deal indeed (and for newcomers it is a good buy). But as usual with so many major label reissues these days - fans replacing old discs for new remasters need to know that there's snakes in the grass...

I recently bought and reviewed two of the truly amazing Japanese SHM-CD reissues of his first 8 albums ("Troubadour" and "5"). The titles released in Japan are "Naturally" (1972), "Really" (1973), "Okie" (1974), "Troubadour" (1976), "5" (1979), "Shades" (1981), "Grasshopper" (1982) and No. 8" (1983) - all of which ARE REMASTERED to superlative effect.

As you can see from the list below - 5 of those 8 titles are in this mini box set "Classic Album Selection" (Barcode 600753418918) - but this UK/European March 2013 Universal mini box set absolutely IS NOT REMASTERED despite what Amazon UK and USA claim. Here's a breakdown and I hope an explanation:

1. Naturally - 32:13 minutes, cata no 0600753418949

2. Troubadour - 36:27 minutes, cata no. 06000753418956

3. Shades - 33:20 minutes, cata no. 060075348925

4. Grasshopper - 35:09 minutes, cata no 0600753418963

5. No. 8 - 29:59 minutes, cata no. 0600753418932

There is an outer hard-card box with five gatefold digipaks contained within (no booklet). The CDs look exactly like the old Eighties and Nineties issues except for the longer catalogue number listed above - the old Mercury designed labels of silver and orange lines. My Mac even remembered the old track references I'd personally put on tracks when I put the discs in to read them. I tried an outside source - like a desktop CD player - same thing - same old discs - absolutely not new. So where does this '2013 Remaster' claim come from? I suspect from the Japanese SHM-CD reissues that seem to exclusively have remasters.

The point is that the sound difference between the SHM-CD issues and the ordinary 'digitally mastered' discs in this 2013 "Classic" box is literally like chalk and cheese. Don't get me wrong - the discs in the "Classic" box set sound good - they do - especially the 3 criminally underrated Eighties LPs "Shades", "Grasshopper" and "No. 8" which were beautifully produced anyway. And the box is cheap too. But it's his classy first five albums from the Seventies that need the remastering most. And if you're a real fan - once you get an earful of the SHM-CD of "Troubadour" (which actually has extended playing times too) or "Naturally" for that matter - you'll have to own the lot because the sound upgrade is so great.

To sum up - if you're a newcomer to the great man then "Classic" will suffice and is properly good value for money. But if you're a real fan - then you need the real remasters - the Japanese SHM-CD reissues (list below).

J.J. Cale was one of my audio heroes growing up - and his influence on Eric Clapton, Dire Straits and even John Mayer is undeniable.

What a loss and what an artist.

The albums in the June 2013 Japanese CD reissue series are (with Barcodes to identify the right issue on Amazon):

1. Naturally (1972 - his debut) on Universal UICY-75627 (Barcode 4988005771582) [SEE REVIEW]

2. Really (1973) on Universal UICY-75628 (Barcode 4988005771599)

3. Okie (1974) on Universal UICY-75629 (Barcode 4988005771605) [SEE REVIEW]

4. Troubadour (1976) on Universal UICY-75630 (Barcode 4988005771612) [SEE REVIEW]

5. "5" (1979) on Universal UICY-75631 (Barcode 4988005771629) [SEE REVIEW]

6. Shades (1981) on Universal UICY-75632 (Barcode 4988005771636)

7. Grasshopper (1982) on Universal UICY-75633 (Barcode 4988005771643)

8. No. 8 (1983) on Universal UICY-75634 (Barcode 4988005771650)

"Rock & Roll" by JOE TURNER. A Review Of His Stunning 1956 Atlantic Album Now Remastered Onto CD In 2012 As Part Of The Japanese "Atlantic 1000:Best R&B Collection" Series.

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Can be Found In My E-BOOK

"BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM & BLUES and ROCK & ROLL

Exceptional CD Remasters"

Available on Amazon for £3.95

"...Give Me One More Kiss...Hold It A Long Long Time..." 

"Rock & Roll" by JOE TURNER 

(2012 Japan-Only CD Remaster - Part of the “Atlantic 1000: Best R&B Collection” Series)

Since October 2012 going through to August 2014 and beyond - Warner Brothers Music Japan has been engaged in a massive reissue campaign covering all the labels under the Atlantic Records umbrella - it's called the "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" series. The 1000 refers to the Yen price - most are about 950 yen and at current exchange rates averages about 8 to 10 dollars or 5 to 6 pounds - with P&P - they can cost as little as 8 to 10 pounds per disc - which is cheap for quality like this. 

The genres covered are Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Soul, Funk, Fusion, Disco, Gospel and some Jazz. Others labels featured are STAX, ELEKTRA and CURTOM as well as tiny Atlantic subsidiaries like Cat. Each release is in a jewel case - the artwork is repro’d in the booklet - there's an Obi strip around the outside and the CD label itself usually mimics the original vinyl album design. The big news however is not just the breath of the titles issued - but that all are 2012 to 2014 DSD remasters from the original tapes. And that's where this wonderful CD reissue for Joe Turner comes in…

1. Shake, Rattle & Roll

2. Flip, Flop & Fly

3. Feeling Happy 

4. Well All Right 

5. The Chicken And The Hawk 

6. Boogie Woogie Country Girl 

7. Honey Rush

8. Corrine Corrina [Side 2]

9. Midnight Special Train

10. Hide And Seek

11. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop

12. Crawdad Hole

13. Sweet Sixteen

14. Chains Of Love

Released 7 November 2012 on Warner Brothers WPCR-27563 (Barcode 4943674126477) - "Joe Turner - Rock & Roll" is an exact repro of his famous 1957 14-track MONO album on Atlantic 8005 (total playing time 38:05 minutes). Page 1 of the 12-page booklet repros the front sleeve while the last page is the rear with all the recording details. In between you get a Japanese essay and the lyrics in English and naught else. The label (like the other 2) is Green. But the big news is the sound...

I've already reviewed Bear Family's superb "Rocks" CD by Joe Turner - and these remasters equal them. The sound quality is truly fantastic here - very clean - the stunning piano playing of PETE JOHNSON jumping out of every track. As for the LP - it's mostly a collection of rocking hit singles and their B-sides stretching back as far as 1951 and 1952 - gems like "The Chicken And The Hawk", "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (with its saucy lyrics not sanitized by Bill Haley's version), "Crawdad Hole" and so on. The hits just keep on coming - "Sweet Sixteen", "Boogie Woogie Country Girl" and the cool "Flip, Flop & Fly" (lyrics from it title this review). The only downer is that the last track "Chains Of Love" (his first 7" single for Atlantic back in 1951) is clearly from a badly corrupted tape or vinyl. But outside of that - fans of Fifties R'n'B will have to own it - "Corrine Corrina" sounding this good has to be heard to be believed.

Big Joe Turner and his superlative Atlantic sides - are GOD in our house - and this fabulous sounding remaster does him rocking proud…

PS: Here are some of the Blues and R'n'B titles available in this series so far:

1. LaVern Baker [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - LaVERN BAKER

2. The Wildest Guitar (1959) - MICKEY BAKER

3. Ruth Brown [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - RUTH BROWN

4. Late Date With Ruth Brown (1958) - RUTH BROWN

5. Yes Indeed! (1960) - RAY CHARLES

6. The Coasters (1958) - THE COASTERS

7. The Clovers (1956) - THE CLOVERS

8. Dance Party (1959) - THE CLOVERS

9. Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963) - JOHN LEE HOOKER

10. Have Tenor Saxophone Will Blow (1959) - KING CURTIS

11. Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1956) - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS

12 The Boss Of The Blues (1956 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

13. Joe Turner [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

14. Big Joe Rides Again (1959 Stereo) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

15. T-Bone Blues (1959 - includes 4 Bonus Tracks) - T-BONE WALKER

16. The King Of The Stroll (1958) - CHUCK WILLIS

A list of all 250 + titles in the series are on my Blog Site if you want a deeper look.

Google "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" and you’ll find it…

"Big Joe Rides Again" by JOE TURNER. A Review of The 1959 STEREO Atlantic Records Album Now Remastered Onto CD In 2012 In Japan.

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Can be Found In My E-BOOK

"BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM & BLUES and ROCK & ROLL

Exceptional CD Remasters"

Available on Amazon for £3.95

"...Getting Ready For The Party Tonight..."

Since October 2012 going through to February 2014 and beyond - Warner Brothers Music Japan has been engaged in a massive reissue campaign covering all the labels under the Atlantic Records umbrella - it's called the "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" series. The 1000 refers to the Yen price - most are about 950 yen and at current exchange rates averages about 8 to 10 dollars or 5 to 6 pounds - with P&P - they can cost as little as 8 to 10 pounds per disc - which is cheap for quality like this.

The genres covered are Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Soul, Funk, Fusion, Disco, Gospel and some Jazz. Others labels featured are STAX, ELEKTRA and CURTOM as well as tiny Atlantic subsiduaries like Cat. Each release is in a jewel case - the artwork is reproed in the booklet - there's an Obi strip around the outside and the CD label itself ususally mimics the original vinyl album design. The big news however is not just the breath of the titles issued - but that all are 2012 to 2014 DSD remasters from the original tapes.

And that's where this wonderful CD reissue for the fab Joe Turner comes in...

Released 30 March 2013 on Warner Brothers WPCR-27627 (Barcode 4943674136933) - "Big Joe Rides Again" is an exact repro of his 1959 10-track STEREO album on Atlantic SD 1332 (total playing time 41:27 minutes). The front cover of the 12-page booklet repros the front sleeve while the last page is the rear with all the recording details. Inbetween is a Japanese essay and the lyrics in English and naught else. The label (like the other 2) is Green. But the big news is the sound...

I've already reviewed Bear Family's superb "Rocks" CD by Joe Turner - and these remasters surpass them. The STEREO sound quality here is unbelievable. When the Side 1 opener "Switchin' In The Kitchen" kicks in with the brass and ryhthm blasting - it's not just atmospheric - it feels like the entire band is literally in your living room (lyrics from it title this review).  Both "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" and "I Get The Blues When It Rains" are slow shufflers while "Rebecca: is a third re-working of his fabulous "Roll `Em Pete" which he did with Pete Johnson way back in 1938 and then revisited with Atlantic for "The Boss Of The Blues" album in 1956. There's considerable hiss on "When I Was Young" but it still sounds huge in Stereo - slinky piano and crystal clear brass. "Time After Time" is unusually sentimental for him and "Pennies From Heaven" is workmanlike rather than inspired. But the album ends on a wonderful high - the smokey barroom sleaze of "Here Comes Your Iceman". Again the audio quality is an absolute wow.

Big Joe Turner and his Atlantic sides are GOD in our house and this fabulous sounding remaster does him rocking proud.

PS: Here are some of the Blues and R'n'B titles available in this series so far:

1. LaVern Baker [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - LaVERN BAKER
2. The Wildest Guitar (1959) - MICKEY BAKER
3. Ruth Brown [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - RUTH BROWN
4. Late Date With Ruth Brown (1958) - RUTH BROWN
5. Yes Indeed! (1960) - RAY CHARLES
6. The Coasters (1958) - THE COASTERS
7. The Clovers (1956) - THE CLOVERS
8. Dance Party (1959) - THE CLOVERS
9. Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963) - JOHN LEE HOOKER
10. Have Tenor Saxophone Will Blow (1959) - KING CURTIS
11. Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1956) - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS
12 The Boss Of The Blues (1956 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]
13. Joe Turner [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]
14. Big Joe Rides Again (1959 Stereo) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]
15. T-Bone Blues (1959 - includes 4 Bonus Tracks) - T-BONE WALKER
16. The King Of The Stroll (1958) - CHUCK WILLIS

A list of all 200 + titles in the series are on my Blog Site if you want a deeper look.
Google "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" (too big to fit in the comment section attached to this review).

"Seed Of Memory" by TERRY REID. A Review Of His 4th Album From 1976 Now Remastered Onto CD In 2004 (Reissued 2013) by Beat Goes On.

This review is 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:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

Originally released on CD in May 2004 - this September 2013 reissue (again on the excellent Beat Goes On label) gives me a damn good excuse to review this cool and overlooked nugget of an album.

The vinyl LP was originally released June 1976 in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5162 (ABCD-935 in the USA) and was his 4th label outing. His 1968 US debut LP on Epic "Bang Bang You're Terry Reid" and the UK follow up on Columbia "Terry Reid" from 1969 marked his more rocking side - while the mellow and slinky "River" from 1973 on Atlantic is more akin to what you get here.

Living in the USA at the time - his buddy GRAHAM NASH produced and brought on board an array of West Coast top players for "Seed Of Memory". Names like DAVID LINDLEY, AL PERKINS and TIM WEISBERG give the proceedings a very Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young feel with a little Boz Scaggs "Silk Degrees" and Neil Young's "On The Beach" thrown in for good measure (if that makes sense).

Reid famously turned down the lead vocalist spot in both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple - and why they wanted him is in evidence here - his raspy pipes in full-on Eddie Hinton/Frankie Miller mode. All tracks are self-penned and it's mellow one moment, sexy the next and so on. The languid acoustic strumming of "Brave Awakening" feels like a mid-Seventies CSYN or Graham Nash song while "The Way You Walk" is the lone rocker - feeling like Neil Young let loose in the studio (great stuff). And his ability to pen a moving and plaintive ballad goes all the way back to his first US 45 "Mayday" (off "Terry Reid") on Epic 10498 which is fabulous stuff - that skill reappears on one of the album's undoubted highlights "To Be Treated Rite". Silly spelling of 'right' notwithstanding - it feels huge even now - acoustics and strings swirling around with a lonesome Bob Dylan harmonica refrain too (lyrics from it title this review).

ABC tried a 7" single by issuing the wonderfully funky Rock/Soul/Reggae vibe of "Ooh Baby (Make Me Feel So Young)" backed with "Brave Awakening" on the B in August 1976 on ABC 4137 - but it tanked despite being such a good track and as commercial as anything around at the time. "The Frame" is slinky Steely Dan/Boz Scaggs territory with lovely brass fills. At first the 7:21 minutes of the album finisher "Fooling You" feels overly long and slightly schmoozy but it works it ways into you - especially the gorgeous harmony vocals with Nash and James Brown's main man Fred Wesley floating in on some lovely horn. So why don't you know about this record? ABC ran into financial difficulties soon after the album was released and "Seed" never received the due plug it deserved (the terrible cover artwork didn't help either). And its been kind of underground ever since..

It doesn't say who remastered this Beat Goes On CD on BGOCD619 (43:15 minutes) - but the sound is really great - so well done - full of power and never compressed. It was superbly produced in 1976 anyway - but the remaster has brought that out big time.

Reid made another album for Capitol in 1979 called "Rogue Waves" (also re-issued in 2004 by BGO) and then a WEA album in 1991 called "The Driver" (which features a storming cover of the old Sixties fave "Gimme Some Loving"). Since then its been occasional live appearances to adoring audiences.

A cracking good album that you will return to again and again and make you want to track down everything he's ever done.
This is a good place to start that journey...