"To The Limit" by JOAN ARMATRADING - Album from October 1978 on A&M Records (April 2016 UK Music On CD Reissue with a 1997 Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Music of 1975 to 1979

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 
For Music from 1975 to 1979

Almost 2,000 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
309 Reviews from the discs themselves...

"...In Your Loving Arms Again..."

Brummie lass Joan Armatrading (born in the West Indies but moved to the UK when she was 8) had been building a steady stream of classy British LP releases by the time she reached "To The Limit" in October 1978 - her sixth platter.

After her November 1972 debut "Whatever’s For Us" on Fly Records went largely unnoticed - her UK signing to A&M Records brought "Back To The Night" in April 1975 – an equally unsuccessful chart attempt but the first real indication of the monumental talent that would eventually unleash "Joan Armatrading" in August 1976 with the huge global hit "Love And Affection". That chart breakthrough was followed with the equally lovely "Show Some Emotion" album in September 1977 featuring the title track and "Willow".

I recall "To The Limit" at the time - the kind of album that bubbled under in 1978 rather than exploded. In fact since the tectonic impact of "Joan Armatrading" in late 1976 - it had seemed she was on a visible downward slide. "To The Limit" peaked at a respectable No. 13 in the UK - less than "Show Some Emotion" at No. 6 - but tellingly it stalled at No. 125 in the USA after it entered the charts there in November 1978. This feels like a shame to me because I've always thought "To The Limit" to be a wee bit of an overlooked gem in her long and impressive catalogue.

And that's where this 'Music On CD' reissue comes stomping in. As far as I recall the last remaster of the whole album was 2004 (quickly deleted) with some of the songs turning up on the 1996 "Love And Affection" 2CD anthology that had Roger Wake Remasters. The album has been notoriously difficult to find on CD at anything other than exorbitant prices – so this rather tasty looking reissue is a godsend for fans and the plain curious. And it sounds utterly fantastic too. Here are the unlimited details...

UK released April 2016 - "To The Limit" by JOAN ARMATRADING on Music On CD MOCCD13291 (Barcode 0600753605165) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the 10-track 1978 LP that plays out as follows (41:20 minutes):

1. Barefoot And Pregnant [Side 1]

2. Your Letter

3. Am I Blue For You

4. You Rope You Tie Me

5. Baby I

6. Bottom To The Top [Side 2]

7. Taking My Baby To Town

8. What Do You Want

9. Wishing

10. Let It Last

Tracks 1 to 10 are her sixth studio album "To The Limit" - released October 1978 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64732 and November 1978 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4732. Produced by GLYN JOHNS - it peaked at No. 13 in the UK and No. 123 in the USA.

JOAN ARMATRADING - Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

PHIL PALMER - Lead Electric Guitar

RED YOUNG - Piano

DICK SIMMS - Organ & Accordion

QUITMAN DAVIS - Lyricon

DAVE MARKEE - Bass

HENRY SPINETTI - Drums 

The 'Music On CD' label is a bit of a strange one. They started out as I recall being 'Music On Vinyl' - the go-to reissue label for all of the Sony product on VINYL - quality 180-gram represses with remasters. But in 2014 the Europe-Pressed CD label began reissuing albums from a huge array of labels and now have over 220 titles in their canon (most are under the Universal umbrella of labels). All their releases come in those natty-looking rounded-corner 'super jewel cases' and for "To The Limit" you also get an 8-page booklet that essentially reproduces the inner sleeve of the 1978 LP - lyrics to the songs - a couple of photos and musician credits - but nothing else - no new liner notes nor any mention of mastering and from what. Credit or no - the audio on this CD is truly glorious - Glyn Johns' original production values shining through - "What Do You Want" sounding audiophile good and stupendously moving for it. 

While the compilations always go for the catchy jaunt of "Barefoot And Pregnant" and the hip Reggae rhythms of "Bottom To The Top" – the hidden album gems of "Baby I" and "What Do You Want" are fantastic songs – full of truth and yes – hurting – a relationship on the rocks – slipping away – even lost. Throw in the sexy acoustic guitar and strangulated synth soloing of "Am I Blue For You", the deceptive groove of "Wishing" and the "Love And Affection" acoustic vibe of "Let It Last" bolstered up with gorgeous accordion and piano notes that compliment rather than intrude as it builds towards a triumphant conclusion (let it last until we die) – and the whole record starts to feel like an overlooked nugget. "To The Limit" is not a masterpiece - but it is chock-full of great songs that still stand up and crucially still get to you.

She would go slightly pop with "Me Myself I" in May 1980 - an album that would storm up No. 5 in the UK and return her to the radio and real chart success Stateside (it peaked at No. 28 – her best showing their). But for many her trio of "Joan Armatrading", "Show Some Emotion" and "To The Limit" from 1976, 1977 and 1978 represent an artistic and emotional high that stings, swoons and ultimately elevates.

I'm off now to check out the first "Outlaws" album (originally 1975 on Arista) and "Blood, Sweat & Tears 3" (originally 1969 and 1970 on Columbia and CBS Records) - both of which have been recently reissued by Music On CD with Remasters.

In the meantime go back in time forty years to 1978 again and take this excellent Joan Armatrading album back 'in your loving arms again'...   

"PROVE IT ALL NIGHT" - Music From 1977 to 1979" - Your All-Genres Guide to Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters by Mark Barry...

The SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK Series...

1977 to 1979

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 
For Music from 1977 to 1979

Over  1,795 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
235-Plus Reviews from the discs themselves...

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* CONTENT: Over 1,795 E-pages, 235-Plus In-depth reviews

* CD reissues and remasters from 1990 to 2023
* PRICE RANGE: Vast majority of these reviews are for standard CDs ranging from £3 to £20 - most under £10 - some box sets up to £100
* FORMATS: Apart from standard CD other formats include 

SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and Japan Platinum SHM-CD  [Super High Materials]

* MAJOR LABELS: All major record companies covered Sony/Legacy, Universal, WEA, EMI etc. including Major Box Set Retrospectives

* INDIE LABELS: Best Independent Reissue Labels highlighted...

– Ace, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beats Goes On, Big Break Records, Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Lemon, Light In The Attic, Mobile Fidelity, Raven, Repertoire, Revola, Rhino, RPM, Salvo, Sundazed and Panegyric

* DATA: Technical data from the discs themselves (total playing times and more), Release Date, Catalogue No and Barcode to locate the correct issue

* DETAILS: Track lists and Details on Bonus material (if any)

* DISCOGRAPHIES: Vinyl Discographies referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the discs), UK and US catalogue numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7" singles and EPs within each review

* AUDIO DETAILS: Remaster/Tape Transfer Engineers highlighted

* PACKAGING: Packaging description

RECORD LABELS covered by the book include:

ABC, ABC/Dunhill, A&M, Anchor, Apple, Ardent, Asylum, Atlantic/Atco, Bearsville, Blue Horizon, Capitol, Capricorn, CBS, Charisma, Chrysalis, Columbia, Dandelion, Dawn, Decca, Deram (Nova), DJM, Elektra, EMI, Epic, Fantasy, Fly, Fontana, Harvest, Immediate, Island, Kapp, Liberty, London, Marmalade, MCA, Mercury, MGM, Monument, Mooncrest, Parlophone, Parrot, Polydor, Probe, Purple, Pye International, RAK, Rare Earth, RCA Victor, Reaction, Reprise, Rolling Stones, RSO, Shelter, Sire, Smash, Straight, Sussex, Track, Trojan, Uni, Vanguard, Vertigo, Verve, Virgin, United Artists and Warner Brothers

Having worked for RECKLESS RECORDS in London's Soho for over 20 years as one of their principal Vinyl and CD buyers (one of the best secondhand record shops in the West End) and having over 4180 posts on Amazon (CDs, DVDs, BLU RAYs) - as you can imagine I come across a huge number of reissues - some far more worthy than others.

To that end I've collated together these SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOKS Series as guides to Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters offering up in-depth reviews on a wide range of titles. And it doesn't have to cost the earth to Sound Good either – you just need to know which CD is the right issue to buy. 

Many entries in this large and unique book cost less than £10 while others are under a fiver. And even if some Box Sets/Deletions have acquired a price tag - because they're the best I've included them along with artists/titles that deserve your attention…

Hope you enjoy the reads – Mark Barry (2023)

"Inside The Glass House/Thanks I Needed That" by THE GLASS HOUSE – US Albums from 1971 and 1972 on Invictus Records Plus Singles (March 2010 Edsel 2CD Reissue and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION 
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

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

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"…Just As Long As You And I Are Together…”

This superlative mid-priced set gathers together two very rare albums by US soul group THE GLASS HOUSE issued on Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Invictus Records" label in 1971 and 1972. 

Unlike the more commercially successful Chairmen Of The Board, Freda Payne, The 8th Day, General Johnson and so on - The Glass House never received British releases for either of their albums - so this twofer CD sert from England's Edsel Records is a wee bit of a HDH /Soulful treat. The 6 bonus tracks (non-album single sides) are just icing on an already very tasty cake. And the remastered sound quality is fabulous too. Here are the shattering details...

Released March 2010 in the UK as a 2CD set - "Inside The Glass House/Thanks I Needed That...Plus" by THE GLASS HOUSE on Edsel EDSD 2057 (Barcode 740155205737) offers Two Seventies US Albums on Invictus Records Remastered onto 2CDs with Five Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (38:25 minutes):

1. Look What We've Done To Love

2. You Ain't Livin' Unless You're Lovin'

3. I Surrendered

4. Hey There Lonely Girl

5. If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)

6. Hotel

7. Touch Me Jesus

8. Heaven Is There To Guide Us

9. Crumbs Off The Table

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut US album "Inside The Glass House" issued June 1971 on Invictus Records ST-7305 (no UK release)

BONUS TRACKS (10 to 12 are single sides - see below):

10. He's In My Life

11. Bad Bill Of Goods

12. I Can't Be You (You Can't Be Me)

Disc 2 (46:37 minutes):

1. V.I.P.

2. A House Is Not A Home

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

4. Horse And Rider

5. The Man I'll Never Have

6. Thanks I Needed That

7. Giving Up The Ring

8. Don't Let It Rain On Me

9. Stealing Moments From Another Woman's Life

10. Let It Flow

11. Don't Go Looking For Something (You Don't Want To See)

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second and last US album "Thanks I Needed That" issued October 1972 on Invictus ST-9810 (no UK release)

BONUS TRACKS (12 to 14 are single sides - see lists below)

12. Playing Games

13. It Ain't The World (It's The People In It)

14. Let It Flow (Single Version)

Using the album cuts and the six bonus tracks across the 2CDs - you can sequence their entire US 7" singles output as follows...

1. "Crumbs Off The Table" b/w "Bad Bill Of Goods", Invictus IS 9071, September 1969 (B-side is non-album)

2. "I Can't Be You (You Can't Be Me)" b/w "He's In My Life", Invictus IS 9076, June 1970 (both tracks are non-album)

3. "Stealing Moments From Another Woman's Life" b/w "If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)", 1971, Invictus IS 9082

4. "Touch Me Jesus" b/w "If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)", June 1971, Invictus IS 9090

5. "Look What We've Done To Love" b/w "Heaven Is There To Guide Us", September 1971, Invictus IS 9097

6. "Playing Games" b/w "Let It Flow", January 1972, Invictus IS 9111 (Note: the B-side is Track 14 on Disc 2 - the "Single Version" - track 12 is the "Album" version)

7. "V.I.P." b/w "It Ain't The World (It's The People In It)", a solo single credited to SCHERRIE PAYNE, 1972, Invictus IS 9114 (B-side is non-album)

8. "Giving Up The Ring" b/w "Let It Flow", 1972, Invictus IS 9118 (Note: 2nd issue of the "Single Version" of "Let It Flow")

9. "Thanks I Needed That" b/w "I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore", October 1972, Invictus IS 9129

Remastered by PETER RYNSTON at TALL ORDER, the sound quality is blisteringly good - alive and jumping out of your speakers with no real compression. The 20-page booklet has very detailed liner notes by soul expert TONY ROUNCE who also provides photos of those rare 7" singles - it's brilliantly informative and researched with both affection and care (his top class work features on most of Edsel's soul releases).

The Glass House had two uniquely great lead singers, Tyrone "Ty" Hunter and Scherrie Payne (sister of Freda Payne and later a member of The Supremes) who often shared duet vocals. The music is catchy H-D-H soul, bright, poppy and aimed squarely at the charts and your feet. Highlights are many as one infectious tune follows another - the lovely "If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)" is typical - misery in an upbeat way (lyrics above). Even the religious message songs are excellent especially "Heaven Is There To Guide Us" which sounds not unlike The Chi-Lites at their best.

It's an embarrassment of Soul riches really - Edsel are to be praised for releasing it and presenting it in such a top way. Ace stuff and heartily recommended...

"Turnin' On" by HIGH INERGY - Album from 1977 on Gordy (USA) and Tamla Motown (UK) (August 2014 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION 
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…In The Middle Of Turning Me On…"

The four all-singing, all-dancing Mitchell sisters from Pasadena in California that made up HIGH INERGY were touted at the time by none other than Motown Head Honcho himself Berry Gordy as America's 'new' Supremes. And with songwriters like James Ingram, Bobby Womack, Al Willis and Clay Drayton lining up the catchy tunes – they certainly had what it took to put their debut album to the No. 6 slot in the American R&B charts (No. 28 in Pop).

And this typically superb sounding CD reissue by Britain’s BBR (Big Break Records) of their 1977 Motown debut will give fans the perfect excuse to indulge one more time. Here are the hi steppin' details…

Released 25 August 2014 in the UK (7 October in the USA) – "Turnin' On" by HIGH INERGY on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0304 (Barcode 5013929060432) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (43:05 minutes):

1. Love Is All You Need [Side 1]

2. You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)

3. Some Kinda Magic

4. Searchin' (I've Got To Find My Love)

5. Ain't No Love Left (In My Heart For You) [Side 2]

6. Let Me Get Close To You 

7. Save It For A Rainy Day

8. Could This Be Love

9. High School

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Turnin' On" – released October 1977 in the USA on Gordy G6-978S1 and December 1977 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12074

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) (Single Version)

10. Love Is All You Need (Single Version)

SINGLES: Using the two bonuses and Tracks 7 and 3 - this BBR CD release will allow fans to sequence High Inergy's two US and UK 7" singles from the album as follows:

1. "You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)" b/w "Let Me Get Close To You" - August 1977 on Gordy G-7155F in the USA and October 1977 on Tamla Motown TMG 1087 in the UK

2. "Love Is All You Need" b/w "Some Kinda Magic" - January 1978 on Gordy G-7157F in the USA and March 1978 on Tamla Motown TMG 1103 in the UK

The 12-page booklet has colour photos of the sisters, rare American picture sleeves, label facsimiles and liner notes by RICO 'Superbizzee' WASHINGTON (as well as album credits). But the big news as always with BBR is a KEVIN REEVES and NICK ROBBINS remaster from Universal tapes and it sounds just amazing – clear, punchy and full of life.

Highlights include steppers like "Love Is All You Need" and the sexy slink of "You Can't Turn Me Off…" - while "Let Me Get Close To You" is a Supremes-type smoocher (written by Faye Usher). James Ingram makes his songwriting presence known on both "Save It For A Rainy Day" and "Could This Be Love" – mid-tempo funkers. They went on to make a whopping further 7 albums for Gordy - but their debut album is now remembered more as a beginning of High Energy Disco and Soul.

Another superb reissue from BBR and kicking where it matters – sound and presentation…

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I've reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD & SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)