"Streetnoise" by JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY (November 2013 JAPAN-Only Vivid Sound/Ghostown SHM-CD In Mini LP Repro Artwork with 2004 Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 1 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Rock-Fusion, Psychedelic and Underground

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"...In Search Of The Sun..."

I've always had a 'thing' for double-albums - studio or live. There's more to listen too obviously but also there's always more to deal with. There’s loads to gawk at – minutiae to ponder as you pour over the indecipherable artwork, script writing, cool types on the inner sleeve looking like models and art-school dropouts and those pseudo-noodle-gazing statements across four labels about 'Tribal Love Rock' and 'Eye Of The World' and all that oneness Devadip word cabbage. I love it.

Bob Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde" (1966), Zappa & The Mothers "Freak Out" (1966), "The Beatles" (1968), The Who’s "Tommy" (1969), Fleetwood Mac’s "Blues Jam At Chess" (1969), Muddy Waters "Fathers And Sons" (1969), Beefheart's “Trout Mask Replica” (1969), "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1970), Eric Burdon & War’s "Black Man's Burdon" (1970), The Byrds "Untitled" (1970), The Allman Brothers Band "At Fillmore East" (1971), The Rolling Stones "Exile On Main St." (1972), Stephen Stills "Manassas" (1972), Deep Purple's "Made In Japan" (1972), Todd Rundgren's "Something/Anything?" (1972), The Who's "Quadrophenia" (1973), Genesis "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" (1974), Thin Lizzy's "Live And Dangerous"  (1978) – 2LP magic the whole damn lot. Which brings us to the fab-and-funky plug-my-moog-in-baby "Streetnoise" from May 1969 – a forgotten and underrated gem in that long pantheon of cool twofers.

Apparently there was discord in the fledgling British group come album number three. But despite having no tunes when they went into to record the beast - Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger simply whacked out eight of their favourite cover versions and then conjured up seven originals between them with "In Search Of The Sun" provided by The Trinity’s Bassist David Ambrose. Working well under pressure - something brill was born - a 16-track double-album that stills sounds ludicrously fresh to this day over 50 years after the event. And with the Soul/Dance orientated 'yuth' of 2018 digging those Hammond Organ grooves and neck-jerking funky instrumental workouts – "Streetnoise" is an album's that become more in demand than ever. But what version to buy...

Loving the original Marmalade Records gatefold cover (British release) - I wanted the best visuals and sound. So I've plumbed for this wonderful sounding 2013 Japan-Only SHM-CD reissue that affords you full repro artwork and the latest remaster on a better format CD. Here are the Indian Rope Men...

Japan-Released 23 November 2013 - "Streetnoise" by JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY on Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4218 (Barcode 4540399260884) is a Japan-Only SHM-CD Reissue in Mini LP Repro Card Artwork and plays out as follows (74:09 minutes): 

1. Tropic Of Capricorn [Side 1 "How Good It Would Be To Feel Free"]

2. Czechoslovakia 

3. Medley: Take Me To The Water/I'm Going Back Home

4. A Word About Colour

5. Light My Fire [Side 2 "Kiss Me Quick, He Has To Part"]

6. Indian Rope Man

7. When I Was A Young Girl

8. Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)

9. Ellis Island [Side 3 "Looking In The Eye Of The World"]

10. In Search Of The Sun

11. Finally Found You Out

12. Looking In The Eye Of The World

13. Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge [Side 4 "Save The Country"]

14. All Blues

15. I've Got Life

16. Save The Country

Tracks 1 to 16 are the double-album "Streetnoise" – released May 1969 in the UK on Marmalade 608005/6 and June 1969 in the USA on Atco SD 2-701.

The two-sided colour foldout is a copy of the Castle Music/Sanctuary inlay put out in 2004 with LOIS WILSON liner notes (a noted writer for Mojo magazine). It has great photos of Jules and Brian, rare foreign 7" picture sleeves, trade adverts, Melody Maker covers etc. And although it doesn't give any mastering credits – I’m pretty sure this is the Sanctuary Records Remaster done at The Town House in the UK in 2004. The repro Mini LP Artwork is gorgeous - gatefold stippled card sleeve with that cool inner spread (the original British issue) – there’s an OBI and separate foldout white page with Japanese writing (blank on the other side – shame I can’t read it) and this release is part of the 'Brian Auger's Straight Ahead Collection' SHM-CD Reissue Series by Vivid Sound/Ghostown (see full 17-Title list below). Let’s get to the music...

As the high-hats open Side 1's "Tropic Of Capricorn" and those funked-up Brian Auger keyboards kick in (he sounds like Keith Emerson whose swallowed a Rotary Connection Cadet Records pill) – the Audio is superb – kicking with all the hedonistic punch you would want. Chris Thacker gets his drummer's moment too as the Hammond Organ grooves and flies. "Tropic Of Capricorn" is the first of four Auger originals on the 2LP set – the other three are "Ellis Island", "Finally Found You Out" and "Looking In The Eye Of The World".

Driscoll now kicks in with her first original – her voice striking and unique. The subtitle to Side 1 "How Good It Would Be To Feel Free" turns up in the lyrics to the diverse and at times chillingly beautiful "Czechoslovakia". Fighters in close formation – ready for the invasion – she sings as the Funk slows to an Acoustic Guitar amble – but then descends into an unwise clatter of percussion trying to ape that country’s horrible political turmoil. And although "Czechoslovakia" returns to the Acoustic and Voice for its final coda that aggressive and hard-to-listen-to portion beforehand ruins the song for me. But all is redeemed by a seriously soulful moment - "Take Me To The Water". On the original album it’s simply credited as one song but it’s actually a two-track medley – Nina Simone’s "Take Me To The Water" followed by Rudy Stevenson’s Gospel stormer "I’m Going Back Home" – the later taking the bopping number to a preacher finish. Marmalade tried it as the album's lead off 45 in the UK in September 1969 on Marmalade 598018 with the far better "Indian Rope Man" on the B-side - a cover of a Richie Havens song from his "Richard P. Havens, 1969" double-album on Verve. Mods and R&B dancers have regularly wet themselves with excitement when that fantastic dancer hits the turntables. The acoustic and austere "A Word About Colour" ends Side 1 - smart lady Julie speaking about race and breaking down barriers.

Side 2 opens with a rather lame version of The Doors classic "Light My Fire" but that's quickly forgotten when you're hit with the seriously groovy "Indian Rope Man" - up there as the best B-side ever surely (The Beatles "Don't Let Me Down" is another). A Traditional "When I Was A Young Girl" gets the boozy drunkard treatment by Driscoll - all public alehouses and early graves - an ominous set of Hammond notes plonking away for seven minutes as she sings and eventually wails of aching heads and broken hearts (go send for the Preacher boys while we’ve time). Sounding utterly amazing (great Remasters) we get the first of tw covers from the "Hair" Musical - Galt McDermott's Love Tribe People giving it some "Let The Sunshine In". Knowing the Musical was huge - ATCO Records in the USA used it as their lead-off 45 on Atco 45-6685 in June 1969 with "Save The Country" as the flip-side but to no joy.

Side 3 opens with a tribute to one of Auger's musical heroes - the Trumpeter Don Ellis - and man does Brian deliver. The instrumental "Ellis Island" is four-minutes of driving Funky Organ Fury where BA just lets rip - racing up and down those keys - an amazing dancer and boogaloo tune. In fact I can't help thinking that "Ellis Island" must be one of 'the' great 7" single 'lost opportunities'. This sucker might have done a "Frankenstein" - taken the pop world by storm as an instrumental - capturing the Mod sound. I love this track and after "Indian Rope Man" - one I play most often. That's followed by the album's sleeper - "In Search Of The Sun" where Dave "Lobs" Ambrose who penned the truth (the Bass player) gets a rare vocal turn. Side 3 ends with two more from Auger - the groovy instrumental "Finally Found You Out" (get your Talcum Powder out lads) and the wistful piano vocals of "Looking In The Eye Of The World" - a lonesome nation-for-nation plea for peace.

Side 4 is probably the most introspective and Jazzy-Soulful. Opening with Julie's "Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge" - London's coolest gives us six and half minutes of Acoustic sight-seeing - walking down by the Thames River as Big Ben winks his eye at the hot chick with the short hair (tonight the old clock is feeling lonely too). Now we go full-on Jazz with "All Blues" - an Oscar Brown, Jr. and Miles Davis homage - fabulously languid like the best parts of "Kind Of Blue" (some Blues are glad, some Blues are sad). Two covers end Side 4 - the second of the "Hair" tracks "I've Got Life" where the singer has no smokes, no job, no coins - but has life (and at least that's free). We finish on Laura Nyro's piano-upbeat "Save The Country" where Jules urges people and children to come on down to the river and wash themselves in the glory streams singing "we shall overcome".

Re-listening to "Streetnoise" has been a joyful experience - I've played it so many times before but on this reissue I feel like it's my new best pal - a face from the past welcomed back and hugged with real affection. And ain't that the best...

Covering the years 1967 to 1977 - titles in the 2013 and 2014 

'Brian Auger's Straight Ahead Collection' 

SHM-CD Reissue Series from Japan are:

STEAMPACKET

1. "The Definitive Recordings" - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4211/2 [2-Discs] (Barcode 4540399260785) - released 13 Nov 2013

BRIAN AUGER

2. "Language Of The Heart" - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4213 (Barcode 4540399260792) - released 13 Nov 2013

BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY

3. "The Mod Years" (1965-1969: Complete Singles, B-Sides And Rare Tracks) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4214 (Barcode 4 540399 260808) - released 13 Nov 2013

BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY featuring SAVANNAH GRACE

4. "Mod Party" - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4215 (Barcode 4540399260853) - released 13 Nov 2013

BRIAN AUGER, JULIE DRISCOLL & THE TRINITY

5. "Open" (1967) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4216 (Barcode 4540399260860) - released 4 Dec 2013

BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY

6. "Definitely What" (1968) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4217 (Barcode 4540399260877) - released 4 Dec 2013

JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY

7. "Streetnoise" (1969) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4218 (Barcode 4540399260884) - released 23 Nov 2013

BRIAN AUGER'S OBLIVION EXPRESS

8. "Befour" (1970) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4219 (Barcode 454039926089) - released 4 Dec 2013

9. "Brain Auger's Oblivion Express" (1971) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4220 (Barcode 4540399260914) - released 18 Dec 2013

10. "A Better Land" (1971) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4221 (Barcode 4540399260921) - 18 Dec 2013

11. "Second Wind" (1972) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4222 (Barcode 4540399260938) - released 18 Dec 2013

12. "Closer To It" (1973) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4223 (Barcode 4540399260945) - released 18 Dec 2013

13. "Straight Ahead" (1974) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4224 (Barcode 4540399260952) - released 29 Jan 2014

14. "Live Oblivion - Volume 1" (1974) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4225 (Barcode 4540399260976) - released 29 Jan 2014

15. "Live Oblivion - Volume 2" (1976) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4226 (Barcode 4540399260983) - released 29 Jan 2014

16. "Reinforcements" (1975) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4227 (Barcode 4540399260990) - released 29 Jan 2014

17. "Happiness Heartaches" (1977) - Vivid Sound Corporation/Ghostown VSCD4228 (Barcode 4540399261003) - released 26 March 2014

"Sleeping For Years: The Studio Recordings 1970-1974" by ATOMIC ROOSTER (December 2017 UK Esoteric Recordings 4CD Box Set - Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CADENCE /CASCADE 

PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
And Others Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

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"...Clue To The Answer..."

I'm fast thinking that Cherry Red's 'Esoteric Recording' could soon pip 'Ace Records' as being the best re-issue label England has (traitor you say). They've gotten frightfully good at this sort of thing - they really have. And 2017's "Sleeping For Years..." is adding even more fuel to that retrospective fire.

ATOMIC ROOSTER came out of the ashes of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown when VINCENT CRANE and ELP master-drummer CARL PALMER formed the band in early 1970. Palmer left of course for bigger more Proggy pastures becoming EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on Island Records scoring number one albums galore whilst AR had to settle for two hit singles (the fondly remembered "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer") and low placed albums - the first of which lasted one whole week on the British LP charts. But that's not to say that those who dig their Rock with a bit of Head in the Sky Prog, Friday the 13th Doom and screeching men in unfeasibly tight-trousers don't remember Vincent Crane's rocking Atomic Rooster with huge affection. They do. Hell they even went AWB-Funky for the Chris Farlowe albums on Dawn Records – overlooked little nuggets in my books.

So what do you get - five hard-to-find British vinyl albums in full from 1970 to 1973 (the bank won't thank if you're looking for Mint originals), alternate takes for an American debut LP that never materialised and different versions put on German, French and US albums, two Demos as well as five non-album single-sides - and all of it newly remastered into one clamshell box for under an apple core. Made in England indeed. Let's get in hearing of...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2017 (8 December 2017 in the USA)- "Sleeping For Years: The Studio Recordings 1970-1974" by ATOMIC ROOSTER on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42612 (Barcode 5013929471207) is a 4CD clamshell-shaped Box Set containing five newly remastered studio albums, single sides and other rarities. It plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (66:44 minutes):

1. Friday The 13th

2. And So To Bed

3. Winter

4. Decline And Fall

5. Banstead

6. S.L.Y.

7. Broken Wings

8. Before Tomorrow

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Atomic Rooster" - released February 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1010 (no US release).

The original British album running order can be sequenced as follows:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 7 and 8

Side 2: Tracks 5, 6, 3 and 4

Three tracks had guitars overdubbed for a planned US-album variant but it was never released (see Bonus tracks 9, 10 and 11)

9. Friday The 13th (US Album Version)

10. S.L.Y. (US Album Version)

11. Beyond Tomorrow (US Album Version)

12. VUG (1970 Demo with Carl Palmer)

13. Devil's Answer (1970 Demo Version) - see also Track 10 on CD2 for Single Version

14. Tomorrow Night (Single Version) - released September 1970 as a UK 7" single on B&C Records CB 131 with "Play The Game" as the B-side (see Disc 2, Track 9). Charted February 1971 and rose to No. 11

Disc 2 (73:22 minutes):

1. Death Walks Behind You [Side 1]

2. VUG

3. Tomorrow Night (Album Version) - see Track 14 on Disc 1 for Single Version

4. 7 Streets

5. Sleeping For Years [Side 2]

6. I Can't take No More

7. Nobody Else

8. Gerschatzer

Tracks 1 to 8 are their second studio album "Death Walks Behind You" - released September 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1026 and June 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS-74094 in a different sleeve

9. Play The Game - non-album B-side of "Tomorrow Night" - see Track 14 on Disc 1

10. Devil's Answer (Single Version) - A-side of a May 1971 UK 7" single on B&C Records CB 157 ("The Rock" was its B-side, see Track 3 on Disc 3)

11. Breakthrough

12. Break The Ice

13. Decision/Indecision

14. A Spoonful Of Bromide Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down

Tracks 11 to 14 are Side 1 of the album "In Hearing Of" - released August 1971 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 1 and November 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 74109 (see also Track 5 on Disc 2 - an extra on the American LP)

Disc 3 (65:47 minutes):

1. Black Snake

2. Head In The Sky

3. The Rock

4. The Price

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of the album "In Hearing Of" - released August 1971 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 1 and November 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 74109 (see also Track 5 below)

5. Devil's Answer (Pete French Vocal Version) - appeared as Track 5 on Side 1 of the US LP for "In Hearing Of" on Elektra EKS 74109

6. Take Your Time [Side 1]

7. Stand By Me

8. Little Bit Of Inner Air

9. Don't Know What Went Wrong

10. Never To Lose

11. Introduction /Breathless [Side 2]

12. Space Cowboy

13. People You Can't Trust

14. All In Satan's Name

15. Close Your Eyes

Tracks 6 to 15 are their fourth studio album "Made In England" - released October 1972 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3038 and October 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 75039. Initial copies of the UK LP came in a stitched denim sleeve hiding an insert and the LP inside (no cover art). The 1972 US LP has cover art, which was eventually used in 1973 in the UK also to replace the limited edition denim sleeve.

Disc 4 (58:48 minutes):

1. All Across The Country [Side 1]

2. Save Me

3. Voodoo To You

4. Goodbye Planet Earth

5. Take One Toke [Side 2]

6. Can't Find A Reason

7. Ear In The Snow

8. Satan's Wheel

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fifth studio album "Nice 'n' Greasy" - released September 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3049 and December 1973 in the USA as "IV" on Elektra Records EKS 75074. The American LP replaced "Goodbye Planet Earth" with "Moods" as fourth and last track on Side 1 whilst "Satan's Wheel" was replaced with "What You Gonna Do?" as fourth and last track on Side 2

9. What You Gonna Do?

10. Moods

The American LP of "Nice 'n' Greasy" was called "IV" and replaced "Goodbye Planet Earth" with "Moods" as the fourth and last track on Side 1 – with "What You Gonna Do?" replacing "Satan's Wheel" as the fourth and last track on Side 2

11. Tell Your Story (Sing your Song)

12. O.D.

Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-album A&B-sides of a March 1974 UK 7" single on Decca FR 13503 credited to Vincent Crane's Atomic Rooster

I dig these clamshell box sets - they allow a label to spread out and Esoteric has done so here. The four card sleeves reflect the artwork of four albums - the exception being the denim cover of "Made In England" which is pictured in German and US forms on Pages 21 and 22. The whole 32-page booklet is a feast of colour photos of the band in its many incarnations whilst rare Euro, US and Japanese 7" single picture sleeves pepper the text. The band's long and tangled history is tackled in September 2017 liner notes from noted writer MALCOLM DOME - where he describes Vincent Crane (the band's backbone for all five albums and after that too) as a 'troubled genius' - sadly succumbing to his mental demons in February 1989 when he took his own life. Particularly good is the albums pictured and discussed towards the end where Dome calls on previous Crane interviews to explain almost every song. It's properly in-depth and you feel Dome's enthusiasm as he makes the case for this unfairly sidelined British band.

Compiled and co-ordinated by Mark and Vicky Powell - the big news is new 24-bit digital remasters from original tapes by an experienced Audio Engineer - BEN WISEMAN. Ben has handled wads of reissues - The Flock, Audience, Help Yourself, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Patto, Unicorn, Spooky Tooth and many more. I had the "Heavy Soul" 2CD Atomic Rooster set from 2002 and to my ears these masters are meatier - more bang for your buck. The sound is really great.

The "Atomic Rooster" debut felt like the three-piece band was a variant of Focus vs. ELP - way more Prog Fusion than Hard Rock. And with Carl Palmer's involvement and Crane's ever-looming organ and piano (no guitars) - songs like "Before Tomorrow" could easily have been outtakes from ELP's self-titled first outing on Island Records (also in 1970). In amongst the Vincent Crane, Carl Palmer and Nick Graham originals - I love the cover of John Mayall's "Broken Wings" (from his 1967 set "The Blues Alone" on Decca's Ace Of Clubs label) where ex Skin Alley frontman Nick Graham lets rip on throaty vocals while Crane gets all soulful come the solo. You get the pretty 'flute' version of "Winter" and I actually prefer the overdubbed guitars of ex Andromeda axeman John Cann on the 'US Version' of "S.L.Y." (his guitars replace Crane's piano parts). The demo of "Devil's Answer" is a fascinating slice - the grungy guitar on this rough cut rightly replaced with a more direct axe attack and that slide-intro sharpened up. The "Tomorrow Night" single version is fab too - what a Rock winner. And I’m a complete sucker for a cool B-side - the wickedly Funky instrumental "The Rock" delivering my crave.

The second platter is a massive jump forward - "Death Walks Behind You" - where a recognisable 'Atomic Rooster sound' emerges. As the seven minute title track opens you might be forgiven for thinking you've stumbled on a Hammer Horror haunted parlour scene where someone's gonna get a knife in the back (or some other unpleasant part of their anatomy) - but it soon settles down into a great Rock groove (new drummer Paul Hammond playing up a storm while John Cann makes his guitar presence known). The instrumental "VUG" is very Colosseum - a Prog jaunt dominated by Crane and Cann battling it out on Keyboards and Guitars. The full four-minute album cut of "Tomorrow Night" has amazing punch here - and 45-seconds more than the single edit is alright by me. The near seven-minutes of "Seven Streets" features Crane getting an almost church-like sound out of his Hammond while John Cann slashes away on an array of riffs. Love that faded guitar opening of the box set's namesake "Sleeping For Years" - how very Led Zeppelin - before it turns into a dirty gritty rocking monster. Some vocal madness precedes the clear-as-a-bell piano of "Nobody Else" - a surprisingly mellow and pretty offering for such a heavy album (Crane already finding his whole world is going away). Although a tad hissy in places - Drummer Paul Hammond gets his magnificent Bonzo moment on the lengthy but strangely beautiful "Gerschatzer" - a song you just know will have slaughtered 'live' as each member of the band gets to show what they can do during their solos (and it did).

Newly signed to Pegasus Records – the three piece of Crane, Cann and Hammond took on body number four - the ex Leafhound vocalist Pete French and quickly produced what many feel is their best moment – 1971's "In Hearing Of". It would be their last album to chart in the UK reaching No. 18 in August of that mercurial year. Sat nestling alongside The Who’s mighty “Who’s Next” and Vertigo Spiral Prog obscuros like Ben and Gravy Train in shop racks – the third Atomic Rooster album seemed to capture British Rock in all its grungy, snot-nosed swagger and came complete with 'an old dear' cover courtesy of Roger Dean - artwork man of the moment for those special years. Both "Breakthrough" and "Break The Ice" are excellent with the crushed-and-broken piano melody of "Decision/Indecision" sealing the album's greatness. Piano vs. Organ vs. Gee-tar Prog Rock comes roaring out of your speakers on the fantastic conclusion to Side 1 - the instrumental "A Spoonful Of Bromide Helps The Pulse Go Down" - an album highlight for me where everyone in the band plays a blinder.

Perhaps it seemed like a good idea in 1972 but the gimmick 'denim' sleeve for Rooster's fourth LP "Made In England" probably did for sales rather than encouraged them. Listed in the 2018 RC Price Guide at a cool £100 - I can honestly say I've seen a UK original maybe twice in my collecting/rarities manager life - which is a shame because I thought it was a worthy follow-up. Ex Colosseum lead vocalist Chris Farlowe joined Vincent along with Steve Bolton on Guitars and Ric Parnell on Drums. Two of Elton John’s fave backing singers Doris Troy and Liza Strike bolster up "Stand By Me" and "People You Can't Trust". I'm amazed Dawn didn't try the fabulous Soul-Rock of "Time Take My Life" as a lead-off 45 – not surprisingly they went instead for the hookier and just as Funky "Stand By Me" in May 1972 (Dawn DNS 1027 with "Never To Lose" on the B-side). Not to be confused with the Percy Sledge classic – Crane’s own "Stand By Me" was a Crane go by him at a Rotary Connection-type groove. Farlowe then goes Dr. John on the vocal to the R&B shuffler "Little Bit Of Inner Air" while he takes the false-preacher Michael on the introduction to the furious "Breathless". Said to be one of Crane's faves on the album (probably because his piano playing is on fire throughout) - "Breathless" also has Steve Bolton let fly with an amazing guitar solo worthy of Tommy Bolin. I also love the very American Rock Funk of "People You Can’t Trust" – another sleeper with the ladies giving it some Labelle in the background. Maybe because the LP seemed like a complete turnaround in sound - Fun to Funky and away from Prog – perhaps that saw "Made In England" fail. Their fourth is all but forgotten now when I'd argue that it shouldn't be.

Farlowe stayed for album number five "Nice ‘n’ Greasy" with Johnny Mandala replacing Steve Bolton on Guitar (Crane and Parnell made up the other two). Farlowe’s vocals now sounded like Bobby Harrison of Snafu as did the band’s sound – a sort of Blues, Funky, Rock-Soul combo. If "Made In England" is forgotten then so too is "Nice ‘n’ Greasy" – an album that feels like the cigarette butt in the friend egg on the cover. I like "Voodoo In You" and the impossibly funky "Take One Toke" – an encore number at gigs for years.

For sure Atomic Rooster are not going to be everyone’s idea of bliss on a Sunday morning – but this box set brings a Hell of lot of great Prog Rock and Funk-Rock-Soul into my home and I’m down with both. Well done to all involved...

"The Trojan Albums Collection (1971-1973)" by LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY & THE UPSETTERS (September 2017 Trojan/BMG Reissue - 4LPs onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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"...Rhythm Shower..."

What a cool little reissue this is.

Having worked in Reckless Records for nigh on 20 years (most spent in the busy Berwick Street shop in Soho) - I can confidently say that these four early Seventies albums were not exactly growing on Woolworth’s trees. In the 2018 issue of 'The Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide' – sloppily only "Africa's Blood" from 1971 gets mentioned at a paltry £25 and the other three are ignored. Secondhand Scratch albums not listed in Reggae Mad Britain - what a crock!

Original Lee Perry albums are gold dust and hugely prized by collectors, always shifting for money. And when you think that the "Rhythm Shower" album (the 3rd LP here) was only ever a White Label on Trojan in the UK and Upsetter in Jamaica - at a retail price of fewer than six quid for 4LPs onto 2CDs (53 Tracks) - this fully-loaded Trojan double-disc reissue offers up some seriously amazing value for money. Throw in some better-than-before Andy Pearce mastering and I-and-I is sorted. Ras Skanking indeed. Here are the Easy Snapping details...

UK and USA released Friday, 29 September 2017 - "The Trojan Albums Collection (1971-1973)" by LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY & THE UPSETTERS on Trojan/BMG TJDCD565 (Barcode 4050538305111) offers 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (78:17 minutes):

1. Do Your Thing - DAVE BARKER [Side 1]

2. Dream Land - THE UPSETTERS

3. Long Sentence - THE UPSETTERS

4. Not Guilty - THE UPSETTERS

5. Cool And Easy - THE UPSETTERS

6. Well Dread Version 3 - ADDIS ABABA CHILDREN

7. My Girl - THE UPSETTERS

8. Saw Dust - THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

9. Place Called Africa Version 3 - WINSTON PRINCE

10. Isn't It Wrong - THE HURRICANES

11. Go Slow - THE UPSETTERS

12. Bad Luck - THE UPSETTERS

13. Move Me - THE UPSETTERS

14. Surplus

Tracks 1 to 14 are the album "Africa's Blood" - released December 1971 in the UK on Trojan Records TBL 166

15. Battle Axe - THE UPSETTERS [Side 1]

16. A Place Called Africa - JUNIOR BYLES

17. Cheerio - THE UPSETTERS

18. Picture On The Wall - RAS DARKINS

19. Cool Operator - DELROY WILSON

20. Knock Three Times - THE UPSETTERS

21. Pop A Pop - ANDY CAPP

22. Earthquake - THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

23. Don't Cross The Nation - MARK & LUKE

24. Dark Moon - THE UPSETTERS

25. Rough And Smooth - THE UPSETTERS

26. Groove Me - THE UPSETTERS

27. Easy Snapping - THE UPSETTERS

28. I'm Yours - DELROY WILSON

Tracks 15 to 28 are the album "Battle Axe" - released January 1972 in the UK on Trojan Records TBL 167

Disc 2 (74:51 minutes):

1. Tighten Up - DILLINGER & THE UPSETTERS [Side 1]

2. Django Shoots First - SIR LORD COMIC& THE UPSETTERS

3. Uncle Charley - THE UPSETTERS

4. Sokup - THE UPSETTERS

5. Double Power - THE UPSETTERS

6. Lover Version - THE UPSETTERS

7. Rumpelsteelskin - THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

8. Skanking - DILLINGER

9. Kuchy Skank - THE UPSETTERS

10. Connection - DILLINGER & THE UPSETTERS

11. Operation - THE UPSETTERS

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Rhythm Shower" - issued 1973 as a WHITE LABEL ONLY TEST-PRESSING LP in Jamaica on Upsetter IBL 135 and in the UK as Trojan TBL 195. First officially released in "The Upsetter Box Set" on Trojan PERRY 1 in July 1985 (3LP Box Set)

12. Kentucky Skank - LEE PERRY & THE UPSETTERS [Side 1]

13. Double Six - U ROY & THE UPSETTERS

14. Just Enough - DAVID ISAACS & THE UPSETTERS

15. In The Iaah - THE UPSETTERS

16. Jungle Lion - THE UPSETTERS

17. We Are Neighbours - DAVID ISAACS & THE UPSETTERS

18. Soul Man - LEE PERRY & THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

19. Stick Together - U ROY & THE UPSETTERS

20. High Fashion - I ROY & THE UPSETTERS

21. Long Sentence - THE UPSETTERS

22. Hail Stones - THE UPSETTERS

23. Ironside - THE UPSETTERS

24. Cold Weather - THE UPSETTERS

25. Waap You Waa - THE UPSETTERS

Tracks 12 to 25 are the album "Double Seven" - released January 1974 in the UK on Trojan Records TRLS 70

The 16-page booklet is nicely laid out - the three official album sleeves and the Promo-Only "Rhythm Shower" from 1973 all given a page each to shine. There are photos of the key players – singers David Isaacs, Dave Barker and Junior Byles, singer, producer and DJ Doctor Alimantado, Carl Dawkins, U Roy and I Roy, The Righteous Flames, Dillinger and of course a couple for our hero – Lee Perry. In-between the text you get colour shots of those gorgeous 45 repros - rare Jamaican labels like Justice League and the plain white Upsetter variant – stippled British labels like Jackpot, Upsetter, Bullet and Down Town.

Co-author of the fantastic 2003 Sanctuary/MPG book "Young, Gifted And Black: The Story Of Trojan Records" (see review) - LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT provides the entertaining, affectionate and hugely informative liner notes. As anyone will tell you info on Reggae is a rare beast and writers/musicologists like Laurence Cane-Honeysett, Marc Griffiths and Michael de Koningh (Griffiths and De Koningh wrote "Tighten Up: The History Of Reggae In The UK") have brought swaths of that hitherto unknown knowledge into the public domain. Hell people don't even know when or where Rainford Hugh Perry (Lee Scratch to you and I) was born except that he has made claims to have been a champion Domino player growing up in a bustling Forties/Fifties Kingston. Perhaps a little bit of mystery only adds to his legend. Anyway the booklet is a sweet read and for the most part rightly praises the young Producers quartet of albums on Trojan.

ANDY PEARCE is a fave-rave Audio Engineer to me. More well known for his Rock stuff (Rory Gallagher, Free, Spooky Tooth, Wishbone Ash, ELP, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, John Renbourn, Pentangle, Budgie, Black Sabbath and more) - he's a dab hand at this master-tape malarkey. And as anyone who knows their Reggae - much of this was recorded in Aunty Flo's scullery with a broom and a borrowed microphone from Butlins - so Pearce has done well to get more out of these sonically challenging recordings. Let’s get to the rough and smooth...

Although the four albums are credited here to Lee Perry (the Producer) - all are actually Various Artist compilations with Upsetters involvement. Highlights on "Africa's Blood" include Dave Barker's sung opener "Do Your Thing" - a chipper little dancer. Organ instrumentals follow (loving that Bass punch) of which "Long Sentence" is a standout while the brassy "Not Guilty" feels more Rocksteady. Disguised as the Addis Ababa Children - The Upsetters give it some spoken Ras at the beginning of "Well Dread Version" - a Perry composition that unfortunately threatens more than it delivers. It's followed by a lively instrumental go at The Temptations classic "My Girl" - much better however is Perry's own "Saw Dust". Winston Prince explains about the 'great place' in "Place Called Africa Version 3" - but my heart goes instead to the Rocksteady wickedness of a killer trio - "Go Slow", "Bad Luck" and especially "Move Me" – fab bopping instrumentals you want to impress your friends with.

Released within weeks of each other - 1972's "Battle Axe" followed the same 14-track layout of its end-of-year predecessor - a smattering of vocal cuts nestling beside driving Upsetter instrumentals. Trojan had tried the excellent organ groover "Earthquake" as a 45 A-side as far back as May 1971 on Upsetter US 365 in the UK with Junior Byles singing a version of "A Place Called Africa" on the flipside. Delroy Wilson gives it some girly-walking-admiration on the short buy nice "Cool Operator" while Tony Orlando's Dawn sees "Knock Three Times" get a welcome if not cheesy instrumental makeover by a clearly unenthusiastic Upsetters. Better is the-monkey-speaks-his-mind "Pop A Top" with Andy Capp. Another instrumental highlight similar to "Earthquake" was also given a UK 7" single release in August 1971 - Rogers & Hart's "Blue Moon" done up as "Dark Moon" on Upsetter US 370 - another great trombone neck-jerking groover. Sexy guitar flicks accompany an in-the-pocket Upsetters rhythm section on the sneakily cool "Groove Me" while an underrated Delroy Wilson gets to shine vocally on the pretty oh-baby "I'm Yours"

The unreleased album "Rhythm Shower" opens with a weird update on "Tighten Up" followed quickly by a funky organ cut "Django Shoots First" where Sir Lord Comic speaks in his best Dracula vs. Monster Mash voice (actually dates from 1968). The Production values for "Uncle Charley" aren't the greatest but the echoed instruments of the organ-led "Double Power" show Perry moving on. Dillinger gets to shout 'Dread!' on "Skanking" - better is "Kuchy Skank" where at least the Bass and Guitar are more upfront. While "Operation" feels right - the whole album feels disjointed somehow and you hear why it remained unreleased. The final album has cool covers of a lesser-heard Chi-Lites winner "We Are Neighbours" and that old Stax stalwart Sam & Dave's "Soul Man". U Roy gives it some duet echoes on "Stick Together" while I Roy begs for togetherness (I would say) on "High Fashion". The bending notes of synths turn up for a remake of "Long Sentence" pointing to the future.

"The Trojan Albums Collection" by Lee Perry is not all unmitigated genius for certain - but there's enough here to make this an essential purchase. And certainly enough to make your Jah Love for the great man groove and grow...

"Too Many Teardrops: The Complete Groove & RCA Recordings" by CHARLIE RICH (January 2018 Ace 2CD Retrospective - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Loved Everybody But Me..."

The 'Big Boss Man' of 60's cool CHARLIE RICH has always floated my uh-huh boat and since Ace's first two-disc winner covering his 60ts output "It Ain't Gonna Be That Way: The Complete Smash Sessions" from April 2011 - I've been aching to get my grubby paws on some more.

Well it's only taken those equally dapper chappies over at London's Steele Road a piffling seven years to answer my silver fox musical needs. Volume 2 of their Charlie Rich exploration "Too Many Teardrops: The Complete Groove & RCA Recordings" isn’t all knicker-wetting genius for sure - RCA loading too many tunes with strings and girly backing vocals to a point where CR is drowned out in a sea of schlock. But his fabulous voice and songwriting talent still comes shining through so there’s still plenty to savour here - and all of it sounding sonically spiffo in glorious Stereo. There's a lot to sort out - so let's curl our lips and get to the misery and heartache...

UK released Friday, 26 January 2018 (February 2018 in the USA) - "Too Many Teardrops: The Complete Groove & RCA Recordings" by CHARLIE RICH on Ace Records CDTOP2 1509 (Barcode 029667084826) is a 2CD 40-Track retrospective covering recordings made from June 1963 to February 1965 and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (48:59 minutes):

1. Big Boss Man

2. Are You Still My Baby

3. Turn Around And Face Me

4. Big Jack

5. If I Knew Then What I Know Now

6. River, Stay 'Way From My Door

7. She Loved Everybody But Me

8. Share Your Love With Me

9. Let Me Go My Merry Way

10. Like Someone In Love

11. Nice And Easy

12. Lady Love

13. The Ways Of A Woman In Love

14. Rosanna

15. I'm Right Behind You

16. Tomorrow Night

17. No Room To Dance

18. I've Got You Under My Skin

19. Ten Dollars And A Clean White Shirt

20. Tragedy

Disc 2 (48:37 minutes):

1. Too Many Teardrops

2. There Won't Be Anymore

3. One More Mountain (One More River) – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

4. It's All Over Now

5. The Grass Is Always Greener

6. Why, Oh Why

7. I Need A Thing Called Love

8. It Just Goes To Show (You Never Know About Love)

9. My Mountain Dew

10. I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore

11. The Big Build Up

12. She Called Me Baby

13. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

14. Now Everybody Knows

15. Ol' Man River

16. Twelfth Of Never

17. Gentleman Jim

18. Is Goodbye That Easy To Say

19. (My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers

20. Christmas Greetings

All tracks in STEREO except Track 20 on Disc 2 – a 10-second radio greeting in MONO – Track 3 on Disc 2 is PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

LPs: The three principal albums from the 1964 to 1966 period covered by this 2CD retrospective are "Charlie Rich" on Groove (1964), "That's Rich" (1965) and "Big Boss Man!" (1966) on RCA Victor. All were released in both Mono and Stereo - the STEREO mixes ONLY are used here. In order to sequence those LPs - use the following track selections:

"Charlie Rich" US LP from February 1964 on Groove GS-1000 in Stereo

Side 1: Tracks 1, 6, 4 on Disc 1, Track 9 on Disc 2, Tracks 7 and 9 on Disc 1

Side 2: Tracks 15 and 5 on Disc 2, Track 13 on Disc 1, Track 6 on Disc 2, Tracks 14 and 2 on Disc 1

"That's Rich" US LP from March 1965 on RCA Victor LSP-3352 in Stereo

Side 1: Tracks 1, 10 and 14 on Disc 2, Tracks 16, 10 and 17 on Disc 1

Side 2: Track 3 on Disc 1, Tracks 11 and 18 on Disc 2, Track 5 on Disc 1, Tracks 4 and 8 on Disc 2

"Big Boss Man!" US LP from April 1966 on RCA Victor LSP-3537 in Stereo (compilation of singles and hits)

Side 1: Track 16 on Disc 2, Tracks 4, 7, 13, 2 and 9 on Disc 1

Side 2: Track 9 on Disc 2, Track 1 on Disc 1, Tracks 2, 6 and 5 on Disc 2 and Track 11 on Disc 1

Other LPs featured in this set are:

"She Loved Everybody But Me" UK LP from 1970 on RCA Camden CAS-2417

Track 18 on Disc 1 and Track 13 on Disc 2

"She Called Me Baby" UK LP from 1974 on RCA Victor APL 1-0686

Tracks 8, 15, 19 and 20 on Disc 1 and Tracks 7, 10 and 12 on Disc 2

"Now Everybody Knows" UK LP from 1976 on RCA Victor ANL 1-1251

Track 19 on Disc 2

SINGLES: This compilation will also allow the following singles to be sequenced 

                  [7/1] =Track 7 on Disc 1 - [5/2] = Track 5 on Disc 2 etc:

1. She Loved Everybody But Me [7/1] b/w The Grass Is Always Greener [5/2]

August 1963 US 7" single on Groove 58-0022

2. Big Boss Man [1/1] b/w Let Me Go My Merry Way [9/1]

October 1963 US 7" single on Groove 58-0025

3. Lady Love [12/1] b/w Why, Oh Why [6/2]

February 1964 USA 7" single on Groove 58-0032

4. My Mountain Dew [9/2] b/w The Ways Of A Woman in Love [13/1]

April 1964 USA 7" single on Groove 58-0035

5. Nice And Easy [11/1] b/w Turn Around And Face Me [3/1]

July 1964 USA 7" single on Groove 58-0041

6. Too Many Teardrops [1/2] b/w It's All Over Now [4/2]

October 1964 USA 7" single on RCA Victor 47-8468

7. There Won't Be Anymore [2/2] b/w Gentleman Jim [17/2]

March 1965 USA 7" single on RCA Victor 47-8536

The 20-page booklet features in-depth, fact-filled liner notes from admirer, musicologist, St. Etienne main man and all-round good guy BOB STANLEY as well as a Groove/RCA Victor Sessionography by TONY ROUNCE stretching from 24 June 1963 to 5 February 1965. There's the usual plethora of great US 7" single labels, rare picture sleeves, trade adverts, reviews and in-the-studio photos of Charlie doing his smooze-thing at the piano. There's even a snap of CR with his Producer, Mentor and pal CHET ATKINS. As we've come to expect from Ace - it's the business.

But the big deal here is 39-songs in STEREO (Track 40 is a throwaway 10-second radio slot where CR says Merry Christmas then buggers off for a beer and a cry) remastered by one of my fave Audio Engineers DUNCAN COWELL - a long-standing associate with Ace and many other reputable labels. Cowell also handled almost all of the fabulous 'Blue Horizon' CD reissues including Fleetwood Mac. The Audio here is gorgeous - the tunes may not always match it for sure - but this is RCA recorded material (Hawkins Street and 17th Avenue South Studios in Nashville) and the equipment, engineers and musicians are quality all the way. Let's get to the music...

Most of these sessions were Produced by CHET ATKINS and arranged by ANITA KERR and when RCA wasn't trying to make Charlie Rich sound like Elvis' older brother singing Bossa Nova when Elvis sang Bossa Nova (and so on) - he gets to veer away from Cole Porter and Sinatra hits and let rip on some very cool R&B covers and a lot of his own original material. Disc 1 opens on a stone-cold winner - his cover of Jimmy Reed's Bluesy "Big Boss Man" - quite possibly one of my fave mid-60ts tracks and from a distance - impossible now to think that it only achieved a chart placing of No. 107. But along with his debut 45 for Groove "She Loved Everybody But Me" (an obvious soundalike to the better "Lonely Weekends") - they both sold enough to get him his first Long Player for Groove - "Charlie Rich" in February 1964. Amidst its 12-tracks sat goodies like the Mort Dixon shuffler "River, Stay 'Way From My Home" and the done-with-my-baby drama of "Let Me Go My Merry Way". The oh yeah curly-lipped swagger of "Big Jack" with its harmonica fills and cool Saturday Night gonna fight Big Jack for my gal vibe would have made a cracking 45. The very Elvis-sounding "The Ways Of A Woman In Love" and "Rosanna" were co-written with Bill Justis and Harold Bowen and while "Ten Dollars And A Clean White Shirt" and "Tragedy" are good - you can unfortunately hear why these overly sappy outtakes stayed in the can until 1974. His own "Lady Love" feels like a Girl Group melodrama with the ladies giving it some serious b-vox ache - while his "I'm Right Behind You" is virtually indistinguishable to Presley in full-on 60ts lovelorn mode.

Disc 2 opens with the country shuffle of "Too Many Teardrops" - a schmaltzy tune that has great production values but is overdone by strings and backing singers. His own compositions "There Won't Be Anymore" and "It's All Over Now" tell equally heartbroken tales of relationship woe – while the pining "The Grass Is Always Greener" is a co-write with his wife Margaret Ann. But better is his "Why, Oh Why" - a lovely piano-roller beautifully arranged for piano and strings. The new song is a Previously Unissued cover of Eddie Snyder and Paul Vance's "One More Mountain (One More River)" - beautifully recorded but a tad syrupy. Better is his take on Stan Kessler's "The Big Build Up" and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" - an outtake that eventually showed on a budget LP in 1970. His command of a wistful ballad gets full rein in "Is Goodbye That Easy To Say" and "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers"- both nods toward the Silver Fox years to come and eventual chart success.

For sure you hope that there's more of "Big Boss Man" and those looking for such R&B pleasure will be sorely disappointed (this compilation is more schmooze than booze). But if you're interested in more CR - Ace's "It Ain't Gonna Be That Way: The Complete Smash Sessions" from 2011 and Bear Family's 2009 CD compilation "Charlie Rocks" offer a lot also (see reviews for both). In the meantime - "Too Many Teardrops..." is a cool sounding place to start giving this superb singer and stylist his due...