"Unpentangled: The Sixties Albums" by JOHN RENBOURN of Pentangle featuring Duet Albums with DORRIS HENDERSON and BERT JANSCH – Including "There You Go!" with Dorris Henderson (February 1966), "John Renbourn" (November 1965), "Bert And John" with Bert Jansch (September 1966), "Another Monday" (November 1966), "Watch The Stars" with Dorris Henderson (February 1967) and "Sir John Alot Of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng & Ye Grene Knyghte" (June 1968). Includes Bonus Album Outtakes and Non-Album Single Sides. Guest Musicians include Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox of Pentangle (May 2019 UK Cherry Tree Records 6CD Mini Clamshell Box Set with Six Albums and Eleven Bonus Tracks Featuring Various Remasters from 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2005 Further Mastered In 2019) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

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"...The Time Has Come... "

In July 2020, it's easy to be blasé about these British John Renbourn 60ts albums (originally on Transatlantic and Fontana Records) and their digital availability (most of his Solo LPs outside of Pentangle have been in the CD marketplace as Remasters since 2001 and 2002).

But I worked as a Rarities Buyer and Mail Order Manager at Reckless Records in Soho for near 20 years servitude and while you would occasionally see "Bert And John" or "Another Monday" or maybe even "Sir John Alot..." – the two Dorris Henderson album collaborations never ever showed up. Both are listed in the Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide at high three-figure sums – if you can find copies. His first album debut too from March 1966 has always been legendarily hard to find.

So this dinky little mother load from Cherry Tree of the UK (part of the Cherry Red Group of labels - Cherry Tree deals mostly with Folk) that rounds up six-albums plus eleven bonuses is astonishingly good value for money for any newcomer to this giant of British Acoustic Folk. And it sounds the biz-snitz too. So once more ye Grene-horns unto the Merrie Knyghte and his Musyk Thyng...

UK released 31 May 2019 - "Unpentangled: The Sixties Albums" by JOHN RENBOURN (with Bert Jansch of Pentangle and Dorris Henderson) on Cherry Tree CRTREEBOX023 (Barcode 5013929692305) is a 6CD Mini Clamshell Box Set with Six Albums, Eleven Bonus Tracks, Mini LP Card Sleeves and A 24-Page Booklet. Featuring First Generation Master Tape Remasters from 1999, 2001 and 2005 Mastered in 2019 by OLI HEMINGWAY - it plays out as follows:

CD1 (49:42 minutes): Doris Henderson and John Renbourn – "There You Go!"

February 1966 UK LP on Columbia SX 6001 in Mono (Tracks 1 to 17)

1. Sally Free And Easy [Side 1]

2. Single Girl

3. Ribbon Bow

4. Cotton Eyed Joe

5. Mr. Tambourine Man

6. Mist On The Mountain

7. The Lag's Song

8. American Jail Song

9. The Water Is Wide

10. Something Lonesome [Side 2]

11. Song (Falling Star)

12. Winter Is Gone

13. Strange Lullaby

14. You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond

15. One Morning In May

16. A Banjo Tune

17. Going To Memphis

BONUS TRACKS:

18. The Leaves Are Green

19. The Hangman

Tracks 18 and 19 are the non-album A&B-sides of a May 1965 UK 45 Single on Columbia DB 7567. It was first issued digitally January 1999 in the UK for the CD reissue of "There You Go!" on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 186 (Barcode 029667418621). The 1999 Remaster for this whole album is licensed from Ace Records.

CD2 (54:20 minutes): John Renbourn – "John Renbourn"

March 1966 UK LP on Transatlantic TRA 135 in Mono (Tracks 1-15)

1. Judy [Side 1]

2. Beth's Blues

3. Song

4. Down On The Barge

5. John Henry

6. Plainsong

7. Louisiana Blues

8. Blue Bones

9. Train Tune [Side 2]

10. Candy Man

11. The Wildest Pig In Captivity

12. National Seven

13. Motherless Children

14. Winter Is Gone

15. Nosh And Rabbit

BONUS TRACKS:

16. The Wildest Pig In Captivity (Alternate Version)

17. Can't Keep From Crying

18. Blues Run The Game

19. Lucky Thirteen

Tracks 16 to 19 first issued November 2001 in the UK as Bonus Tracks for the CD reissue of "John Renbourn" on Castle Music CMRCD 359 (Barcode 5050159135929). Track 19 "Lucky Thirteen" also from the Bert Jansch UK album, "It Don't Bother Me" – December 1965 on Transatlantic TRA 132 in Mono (it's written by Renbourn and he plays second guitar on it too). The Remaster from 2001 is used for this CD.

CD3 (30:15 minutes): Bert Jansch and John Renbourn - "Bert And John"

September 1966 UK LP on Transatlantic TRA 144 in Stereo (Tracks 1-12)

1. East Wind [Side 1]

2. Piano Tune

3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

4. Soho

5. Tic-Tocative

6. Orlando

7. Red's Favourite [Side 2]

8. No Exit

9. Along The Way

10. The Time Has Come

11. Stepping Stones

12. After The Dance

BONUS TRACK:

13. The Waggoner's Lad - from the September 1966 Bert Jansch UK LP "Jack Orion" on Transatlantic TRA 143 – John Renbourn plays Second Guitar on this album opener. 

CD4 (27:59 minutes): John Renbourn – "Another Monday"

November 1966 UK LP on Transatlantic TRA 149 (Tracks 1 to 12)

1. Another Monday

2. Ladye Nothinge's Toye Puffe

3. I Know My Babe

4. Waltz

5. Lost Lover Blues

6. One For William

7. Buffalo [Side 2]

8. Sugar Babe

9. Debbie Anne

10. Can't Help From Crying

11. Day At The Seaside

12. Nobody's Fault But Mine

All tracks written by Renbourn except 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 which are Traditional Songs and Blues covers.

Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11 are instrumentals

Renbourn sings Lead Vocals on Tracks 3 and 8 and duet vocals with Jacqui McShee [later with Pentangle] on Tracks 5, 10 and 12

CD5 (41:16 minutes): Dorris Henderson with John Renbourn – "Watch The Stars"

February 1967 UK LP on Fontana STL 5385 in Stereo (Tracks 1-15)

1. When You Hear Them Cuckoos Hollerin' [Side 1]

2. It's Been A Long Time

3. 30 Days In Jail

4. No More My Lord

5. Watch The Stars

6. There's Anger In This Land

7. Mosaic Patterns

8. Tomorrow Is A Long Time

9. For Lovin' Me [Side 2]

10. Come Up Horsey

11. God Bless The Child

12. The Time Has Come

13. Poems Of Solitude: Poems Of My Heart/Eighteen Tedious Ways/Magic String

14. Lonely Mood

15. Gonna Tell My Lord

BONUS TRACK:

16. Message To Pretty - March 1967 Non-Album A-side of a UK 45 on Fontana TF 811 ("Watch The Stars" album track was the B-side). "Message To Pretty" first issued as a Bonus Track in September 2005 for the CD reissue of "Watch The Stars" on Fledg'ling Records FLED 3055 (Barcode 5020393305525). The 2005 Remaster is used for all of this CD.

CD6 (37:47 minutes): John Renbourn - "Sir John Alot Of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng & Ye Grene Knyghte"

June 1968 UK LP on Transatlantic TRA 167 in Stereo (Tracks 1-10)

1. The Earle Of Salisbury [Side 1]

2. The Trees They Do Grow High

3. Lady Goes To Church

4. Morgana

5. Transfusion [Side 2]

6. Forty-Eight

7. My Dear Boy

8. White Fishes

9. Sweet Potato

10. Seven Up

BONUS TRACKS:

11. The Earle Of Salisbury (Alternative Version)

12. Transfusion (Alternative Version)

13. Forty-Eight (Alternative Version)

Tracks 11 to 13 are Album Outtakes first UK released digitally in November 2002 for the CD reissue of "Sir John Alot..." on Castle Music CMRCD 597 (Barcode 5050159159727). Terry Cox of Pentangle plays percussion instruments on the album and outtakes. The 2002 Remaster is used for this CD.

As you can see from the detailed list provide above – all six have been out on CD before with Remasters licensed from Ace, BMG (who handled Sanctuary) and Fledg'ling Records. Dating from 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2005 – all are newly mastered in 2019 by OLI HEMINGWAY for Cherry Tree. The Sanctuary, Ace and Fledg'ling reissues were all remastered from original Mono and Stereo tapes and as fans will have known for years – the audio is gorgeous – Bill Leader and his original production values shining through. Each of these albums is filled with a mixture of Sixties UK Folk, Acoustic Folk, Acoustic Blues, World Music, Acoustic Old Timey Country, Ancient Instrumentals and Traditionals of all sorts. This is lovely music to listen to on CD and at about four-quid an album – amazing value for money too. 

You know you're in the presence of class when the 24-page booklet features the Royal Festival Hall poster for 27 May 1967 where Marquee Productions invite you to an evening of the Blues with the first appearance from 'The Pentangle' – Bert Jansch and John Renbourn on Guitars, Jacqui McShee on Vocals, Danny Thompson on Bass and Terry Cox on Drums. Many of these band-mate troubadours would of course join Renbourn on these solo albums. With an essay by DAVID WELLS that acknowledges COLIN HARPER (a world authority on Pentangle and Solo releases) – the booklet compliments the text with double-page spreads of period stuff - trade adverts for gigs, the Sir John A lot LP release, pictures of the beautiful Dorris Henderson and a smiling Jacqui McShee, LP labels on Transatlantic and Fontana, demo copies of the rare 45s and so on. The CD label designs reflect the original Transatlantic and Fontana British LP colourings where relevant and the Singular Mini LP sleeves give full track lists (including bonuses) and discography info on the rear. It's all very tasty and thoughtfully done...

It opens on the very Joan Baez meets Judy Henske meets Doris Troy vocals of Dorris Henderson as she goes booms her way through "Sally Free And Easy" - a Cyril Tawney cover accompanied by the quiet Simon & Garfunkel acoustic guitar of Renbourn. They then go after three Traditionals - "Single Girl" (with leaking shoes), "Ribbon Bow" (own true love) and "Cotton Eyed Joe" (came for to show you my diamond ring) - before hitting the American Folk Man of the moment - Dylan and his hey "Mr. Tambourine Man". Other goodies include the beautiful Traditional "The Water Is Wide", a welcome acoustic Blues of Robert Johnson's "You're Need Somebody On Your Bond" while a convict sitting in the buck house playing guitar dreams of "Going To Memphis" - Renbourn's playing fabulous.

Future Pentangle cohort Bert Jansch plays on two tracks of John Renbourn's self-titled solo LP issued in March 1966 - "Blue Bones" and "Noah And Rabbit". Produced by Transatlantic's main man Nathan Joseph – the styles are mixed and genre cool. We go from Blind Boy Fuller's sugar woman in "Beth's Blues" through a John Donne poem put to music in "Song" – the American lonesome cry "John Henry" ballad done in bottleneck style - while Iain Matthews of Matthews Southern Comfort (after he left Fairport Convention) would name his 1972/1973 band after the gorgeous instrumental "Plainsong". The two Jansch collaborations feel so much better for the duelling guitars especially "Noah And Rabbit" and amongst the Bonus cuts is the truly gorgeous early Paul Simon song "Blues Run The Game"  - a tune Jackson C. Frank would cover of his Paul Simon-produced debut album in 1965 on Columbia Records. It never featured on an officially released S&G LP but an outtake of this fab little acoustic roller turned up on the Simon and Garfunkel "Old Friends" and subsequent "The Collection" Box Sets (Frank and S&G are both reviewed in this e-book). Hell even the collaboration instrumental "Lucky Thirteen" from the Bert Jansch December 1965 album "It Doesn't Bother Me" tagged on to Disc 2 as a Bonus is exactly that - an actual worthy extra.

"East Wind" opens with rattling strings as acoustic guitars do battle – the instrumental actually feeling like the ebb and flow of its title. But there is lay a problem. Reviewers had heard this type of short strummers album before and had deemed that neither Jansch nor Renbourn possessed a voice decent enough to carry a tune (I'd disagree). But, despite its mainly instrumental pieces being described at the time as "...a pleasant unmemorable record... " by some such reporter – softly-softly melodies contained within tunes like "Song" and "Along The Way" and their September 1966 simplicity - feels like a breath of acoustic Folk air in the clutter of July 2020. In much the same way, "Stepping Stones" string-pings out of your speakers with a subtle muscularity – great playing that is still musical. I love it. And how cool is it to hear the lovely Anne Briggs ballad "The Time Has Come" be given such a sympathetic rendering. The singular bonus is a genuine gem – "The Waggoner's Lad". The opening cut to the Bert Jansch solo album "Jack Orion" is a banjo-driven strummer like say 1970's "Gallows Pole" that I'm sure Jimmy Page 'borrowed' (instrument and all) for some Zeppelin song somewhere down the line. Simple, sweet and subtle - "Bert And John" is an album worth rediscovering in my book.

At a piddly twenty-eight minutes, Renbourn's official second solo album "Another Monday" is hardly guilty of Prog excess when it comes to playing time, but it does '...throw its arms around you like a circle around the sun...' as the great man sings in "I Know My Babe". Platter no. 2 "Another Monday" is a beautifully even-handed album - a cool breeze listen all the way through and I for one love his voice even though there were those at the time that slagged it off and would have paid him good money to never open his gob again (one went ballistic generous, taking all of his might to describe JR as a 'pleasant enough singer'). That cruel assessment was balls IMO because when you listen to his three duets with future Pentangle leading light Jacqui McShee on "Lost Lover Blues", "Can't Keep From Crying" and "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - the combo of their voices produced magic to my ears. Throw in the instrumental "One For William" where he accompanies himself on Oboe of all things using the ponderous pseudonym 'Jennifer d0e Montforte-Jones' and you get some trippy Acid Folk moments that also touch on a slight Jazz vibe.

It opens with two short instrumental originals - "Another Monday" and "Ladye Nothinge's Toye Puffe" - loveliness that flows over you sweetly (he revisited "Ladye..." on "The Nine Maidens" album in 1985). Renbourn sings "I Know My Babe" - a Blues Traditional that James Taylor based "Circle 'Round The Sun" on when he covered it too on his 1968 Apple Records debut "James Taylor". Renbourn's picking, his warm-toned vocal delivery and the "...sun's gonna shine..." lyrics all combine to make a fast-paced Acoustic mini masterpiece out of "I Know My Babe". But of all the instrumentals on the LP - his own "Waltz" is by far the most hair-raisingly brilliant - feeling like some lost Blues Speeder on some forgotten Folkways LP of the early Fifties (and you can so hear where Page nicked a few licks for Zeppelin). A cover of Blind Boy Fuller's "Lost Lover Blues" becomes the first of three featuring Jacqui McShee on duet vocals with Renbourn - sure ain't got no lovin' baby now. Combined with Renbourn moonlighting as the po-faced pseudonym Jennifer de Montforte-Jones the 'Oboe' player - the Acid Folk instrumental of "One For William" ends Side 1 on a high.

"Watch The Stars" is even harder to locate than their first Henderson & Renbourn LP outing but is a much better album, so consequently listed for more (£200 and higher). Henderson still had the Judy Henske stomping-woman power in her vocal range but had wisely paired it back and the unplugged feel to the songs comes courtesy of Danny Thompson of Pentangle being the only other musician on the LP (playing his Double-Bass). Rod Stewart would cover the gorgeous Bob Dylan song "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" on his 1971 masterpiece "Every Picture Tells A Story" – maybe he heard the delicate Henderson and Renbourn rendition on this February 1967 LP. The pretty continues with Henderson's own "Lonely Mood" – a hugely accomplished ballad (why hasn't someone covered this?). Amongst the covers she tackles Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" – her tremulous voice sweetly controlled. She lets it rip a tad with the Gordon Lightfoot cut "For Lovin’ Me" while she slurs drunk and dirty on the incarceration tune "30 Days In Jail". Her beliefs get her most passionate vocal for the Side 2 finisher "Gonna Tell My Lord" – wake the dead – while the stand-alone single "Message To Pretty" sounds like a Mamas & Papas pop-song outtake with harmonica fills from a different time. Don't need you to help me find my way...sounds great too.

Apart from a slew of originals, Renbourn tackles Booker T. & The MG's and their "Sweet Potato" on his wittily titled "Sir John Alot..." - the name of the album actually all run into one word on original Transatlantic LP labels. He co-writes the excellent "Forty-Eight" and "Seven Up" with Drummer Terry Cox of Pentangle while "The Trees They Do Grow High" is a ye-olde Traditional. Amidst the Bonus cuts my fave 'Alternative Version' is that of the Side 1 opener "The Earle Of Salisbury" – clever playing.

Dorris Henderson would join Eclection while both Jansch and Renbourn would enjoy long and prosperous solo careers outside of Pentangle into the Naughties. 

True Renbourn loons will already have all six of the previously issued CDs, but those wanting to know why British Folk created so much excitement back in the day (and dare we say it, was even cool) should look no further than this ample bosom of Merrie Acoustic John-tasticness - one of only a handful of artists to release four albums in one year (1966). Brilliant and then some... 

"Rock Of Age: The Band In Concert" by THE BAND – August 1972 US 2LP Live Set on Capitol Records (November 1972 in the UK) – Featuring Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson with guests Bob Dylan, Snooky Young, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell, Earl McIntyre, J.D. Parson and Horn Arrangements by Allen Toussaint (May 2001 UK Capitol Records Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue – Ron McMaster and Andrew Sandoval Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review And Over 300 More Like It 

Are Available In my e-Book on AMAZON 

TUMBLING DICE - 1972

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s...

All Detailed Reviews Taken From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap) 

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"...Sweeter Than Ever..."

You were nowhere in Rock if you hadn't had a double live album by 1972 - and debuted since 1968 - The Band struck on a cool idea to make their first foray into the obligatory 2LP arena circuit souvenir stand out.

Fresh from an invigorating recording experience with New Orleans Soul Man and Brass Arranger Allen Toussaint on their September 1971 "Cahoots" album with the Little Feat-funky "Life Is A Carnival" – the much-respected Toussaint prepped horn charts for their forthcoming end of year concerts in 1971 at the Academy Of Music in New York. The Band did four nights with the shows split in two. So after the intermission, the five-piece group of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson would come back on stage – but this time bolstered up by a five-strong brass section consisting of Snooky Young, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell, Earl McIntyre and J.D. Parson. And so along with a smattering of cleverly re-arranged cover versions, old tunes and familiar melodies were made new again and that collaborative magic was captured on "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" finally issued August 1972.

This 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and Remaster only compounds that triumph with 10 Previously Unreleased tracks - the final four of which feature special guest and musical soulmate Bob Dylan. To the lighted candles...

UK released 8 May 2001 - "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" by THE BAND on Capitol Records 530 1812 (Barcode 724353018122) is an Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1972 2LP Live Album with 10 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:53 minutes):

1. Introduction [Side 1]

2. Don't Do It

3. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

4. Caledonia Mission

5. Get Up Jake

6. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

7. Stage Fright [Side 2]

8. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

9. Across The Great Divide

10. This Wheel's On Fire

11. Rag Mama Rag

12. The Weight [Side 3]

13. The Shape I'm In

14. Unfaithful Servant

15. Life Is A Carnival

16. The Genetic Method [Side 4]

17. Chest Fever

18. (I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes

Tracks 1 to 18 are the double-album "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" - released August 1972 in the USA on Capitol SABB 11045 and November 1972 in the UK on Capitol E-STSP 11. Peaked at No. 6 in the US LP charts (didn’t chart UK)

CD2 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks (45:14 minutes):

1. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

2. I Shall Be Released

3. Up On Cripple Creek

4. The Rumor

5. Rockin' Chair

6. Time To Kill

7. Down In The Flood - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

8. When I Paint My Masterpiece - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

9. Don't Ya Tell Henry - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

10. Like A Rolling Stone - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

With liner notes penned by ROB BOWMAN in January 2001 - the 20-page booklet reproduces all the artwork of the original tri-gatefold double album as well as providing new interviews with key players (Toussaint still alive when the reissue was being compiled). It's a superbly detailed read – guest musician backgrounds, song choices discussed etc - and also shows repro promo labels of the two US 45s issued from the 2LP set - September 1972's "Don't Do It" b/w "Rag Mama Rag" on Capitol 3433 and December 1972's "(I Don't Want To Hang Up) My Rock And Roll Shoes" b/w "Caledonia Mission" on Capitol 3500. There is even a Tracking Sheet for "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" as well as the usual in-depth reissue compilation credits (Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval). This set of liner notes actually deals with the item in hand and doesn’t fill 75% of its pages with a history of the group.

All Tracks are 24-Bit Digital Remasters by RON McMASTER and ANDREW SANDOVAL - both names familiar Audio Engineers on both The Band and The Kinks catalogues. The Audio is stunning, lifting up material I once thought I knew too well. To the shows and the music...  

"We're gonna try something we've never tried before..." - Robbie Robertson announces as they arrive back on stage and he introduces the pumping newcomers. Horn Section Leader and Flugelhorn player Snooky Young had cut his teeth with some huge big band names – Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Benny Carter – while Baritone Saxophonist Howard Johnson had sessioned and recorded with Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Gil Evans and new kid on the Blues Rock/Americana block - Taj Mahal. So first up is a cover version and what a smart choice it is. Marvin Gaye's barnstorming September 1964 Tamla R&B smash "Baby Don't You Do It" gets reduced in name to "Don't Do It" – the Holland-Dozier-Holland winner (arranged by Allen Toussaint) a standout before we even get to Band material (the single is an edited version). It's clear within seconds that the whole ensemble is tight – Levon Helm whacking the drums and signing with gusto while Rick Danko plucks that Bass with precision. Capitol edited it down for a 45 that made No 34 on the US singles charts.

Next up is a Soulful take on "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" - the bass lovely in the remaster. Their particular Soul-Rock sound emerges again in Robbie's "Caledonia Mission" - can't get to you through your garden gate - him channelling Otis Redding in this great tune. Both "Get Up Jake" and the rocking Side 1 finisher "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" benefit from the oomph the brass section adds them.

Side 2's "Stage Fright" comes from the first half of the show (minus the brass) and acts as perfect lead-in for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - that trumpet adding a sense of history to an already loaded song. The crowd cheers the lyrics "Standing by your window...a pistol in your hand..." as they launch into "Across The Great Divide". More cheers for the Bob Dylan/Rick Danko written "This Wheel's On Fire" while "Rag Mama Rag" explodes out of familiarity into something exciting and new with the brass boys going all New Orleans on its Americana ass.

Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free, and put the load right on me - "The Weight" feeling epic even in 1971. One of my faves is the Little Feat Funk of "The Shape I'm In" – again filled out by a band cooking and enjoying themselves. Things get plaintive with "Unfaithful Servant" – gotta be sent away – left her key – gone to pack. Back to Soul-Rock with the fantastic "Life Is A Carnival" – the Horn Section elevating The Band sound into Little Feat live. We romp to the end with a church organ vs. synth solo for seven minutes of "The Genetic Method" – then go into a lethal one-two pair of enders – the fantastic "Chest Fever" with stunning Toussaint brass jabs and the crowd pleaser "(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes".

For many CD2 will call to them - feel warm and fuzzy like a chance meeting with a friend you haven't seen since collage. Shocking is a word that jumps to mind when you think how good these are. It opens with a cover of the Four Tops Tamla hit penned by Ivy Hunter and Stevie Wonder "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever". Things mellow big time with the Soulful "I Shall Be Released" – that squeaky vocal strangely beautiful and drug-haunted in ways. Funky returns with "Up On Cripple Creek" and so misused song "The Rumor" could easily have been on the album or even a B-side of one of the single. Out comes the Harmonica for the whole-life-at-sea song "Rockin' Chair" - take me home to sooth away the rest of my years. Dylan had just released "Greatest Hits Volume II" (a month before the concerts) with five new cuts on it - one of them was the excellent "Down In The Flood" (a Basement Tapes tune) while a second was the now much-loved "When I Paint My Masterpiece" - both versions given throaty versions his Bobness. Levon Helm duets with Dylan on "Don't Ya Tell Henry" - while Robbie Robertson lets rip too. The crowd get a cracking Band/Dylan version of "Like A Rolling Stone" - huge cheers - the tune still fresh to 1971 ears.

A cracking great live double-album bolstered up with ten Bonus Tracks actually worthy of the moniker - no longer a complete unknown. "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" - ain't that the truth...

THE BAND on Capitol Records 1968 to 1977

UK Series of Expanded Edition CD Reissues and Remasters

(September 2000 and May 2001 Release Dates)

1. Songs From Big Pink (July 1968 Debut Album) – Sept 2000 on Capitol 525 3902 (Barcode 724352539024)

2. The Band (September 1969 USA, January 1970 UK) - Sept 2000 on Capitol 525 3892 (Barcode 724352538928)

3. Stage Fright (August 1970) - Sept 2000 UK CD on Capitol 525 3952 (Barcode 724352539529)

4. Cahoots (October 1971) – Sept 2000 UK CD on Capitol 525 3912 (Barcode 724352539123)

5. Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert (August 1972 2LP Live Set) – May 2001 UK 2CD Set on Capitol 530 1812 (Barcode 724353018122)

6. Moondog Matinee (October 1973) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3932 (Barcode 724352539321)

7. Northern Lights-Southern Cross (November 1975) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3942 (Barcode 724352539420)

8. Islands (March 1977) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3922 (Barcode 724352539222)

"The Sonet Anthology" by BRETT MARVIN AND THE THUNDERBOLTS featuring Terry Dactyl And The Dinosaurs and Jona Lewie – Featuring The Albums "Brett Marvin And The Thunderbolts" (May 1970), "12 Inches Of..." (May 1971), "Ten Legged Friend" (December 1973) as well as May 1970 BBC Sessions and Terry Dactyl And The Dinosaurs Material from 1971 to 1973 with Jona Lewie Solo Material from 1971 to 1977 and more (February 2020 UK Grapefruit Records 6CD Clamshell Box Set – Simon Murphy Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ten Legged Friend..."

When I worked as a Rarities buyer at Reckless Records in Soho, London (a 20-year stretch) - Brett Marvin and The Thunderbolts albums didn't sell. Even in the 2018 Rare Record Price Guide, the first is listed at £15 and the second at £20 - peanuts really for albums spewed forth in 1970 and 1971 - 50 years ago. A strong contender for a top-ten placing in the worst artwork ever issued, the third LP called "Ten Legged Friend" from 1973 isn’t listed at all - even though I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually seen a copy across 40-50 years of collecting on all formats.

But here's the point - and it's one that's made in the 36-page booklet that accompanies this surprisingly brill 6CD box set. Although the music rocked and is a discovery many will thoroughly enjoy making in 2020 - the made-up-name of 'Brent Marvin and The Thunderbolts' complete with the cheesy artwork on their debut album that looked like some bad budget calypso compilation (the likes of which you used to see in Woolworth's for 69p) - did for the band. The music was ace - the presentation, a complete misfire. You look at that name and these records and think cheapo Rock 'n' Roll revivalists - when this British five-piece Blues Boom ensemble was one of the best good-time Boogie bands on the scene (and on vinyl records, damn good too). Hell, the first LP even has the magical Jo Ann Kelly giving it some downhome duet vocals - masquerading under the pseudonym of 'Memphis 'Lil'.

So what are we dealing with here musically – for the first three LPs think of the homemade percussion-stick-with-bells Jug Band stomp and fun of Mungo Jerry combined with the chromatic Harmonica of Canned Heat meets the Bluesy slide guitar of Duster Bennett on Blue Horizon records and then add the three-string gutbucket modern-day geetar-sound of Seasick Steve - and you get an idea of what's on offer here. Tony McPhee of The Groundhogs caught them in their natural live habitat, liked what he heard and with an invite (recorded June 1969), both founder members Graham Hine and Jim Pitts and the band all got some first-audio-outing tracks on the Blues Rock Sampler LP "I Asked For Water, She Gave Me GASOLINE" issued in October 1969 (Liberty LBS 83252 is in itself a collectable these days). They then signed to the Blues and Folk orientated Sonet Records of Sweden in early 1970, recorded the debut and it was in the shops by May.

They then morph into a sideshow group called 'Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs' for a one-off novelty track that was issued on Sonet in 1971 and dies. But talent hunter Jonathan King at UK Records smells a hit, licenses it for a July 1972 re-launch on UK R 5 and suddenly they have a huge No. 2 chart smash with "Sea Side Shuffle". From this two-band identity, John Lewis turns into the alter ego of Jona Lewie and goes into a solo career on Sonet until 1977 (he finally has a solo hit with "You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties" on Stiff Records in 1980 - unfortunately outside the remit of this Box Set).

So it's all a bit mad really and actually rather brilliant too. With six discs, there's a boatload of seaside shuffles to wade through, so let's have at it...

UK released 28 February 2020 - "The Sonet Anthology" by BRETT MARVIN and THE THUNDERBOLTS featuring Terry Dactyl and The Dinosaurs and Jona Lewie on Grapefruit CRSEGBOX064 (Barcode 5013929186408) is a 6CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 (50:49 minutes):

1. Dust My Boom [Side 1]

2. Too Many Hot Dogs

3. Haven't Got Any Hay

4. Walking Blues

5. Eyesight To The Blind

6. Shave 'Em Dry

7. Drop Down Mama [Side 2]

8. Calcutta Got Beggar

9. Don't Start Me Talking

10. Cincinnati Cream

11. Highway 61

12. Hairy

13. Bye Bye Baby

Tracks 1 to 13 are their debut album "Brett Marvin And The Thunderbolts" - released May 1970 in the UK on Sonet Records SNTF 616. The album version of "Shave 'Em Dry" is 7:42 minutes and features duet vocals by 'Memphis 'Lil' who is JO ANN KELLY

BONUS TRACKS:

14. Shave 'Em Dry (Single Edit, 3:08 minutes) - 1970 French-Only 45 single on Barclay 061388 ("Too Many Hot Dogs" was the B-side)

15. Standing On The Platform - 1970 UK Non-Album 45 single on Sonet SON 2011 ("Too Many Hot Dogs" was the B-side)  

CD2 (45:15 minutes):

1. Take Your Money [Side 1]

2. I'm Coming

3. Southbound Lane

4. Love In Jest

5. Thoughts Of You

6. I'm Ready

7. Milk Cow Blues [Side 2]

8. County Jail

9. Little Red Caboose

10. Come On In My Kitchen

11. Goin' Back

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "12 Inches Of Brett Marvin And The Thunderbolts" - released May 1971 in the UK on Sonet Records SNTF 619

BONUS TRACK:

12. Coming Back - 1971 UK Non-Album 45 B-side to "Thoughts Of You" on Sonet SON 2015 ("Coming Back" is an Alternative Version of "I'm Coming" on the second album)

CD3 (57:55 minutes):

1. Thunderbolt Rag [Side 1]

2. Bank Holiday

3. Bye Bye Baby

4. Wrong Man

5. Bay Roller

6. Drinking Song

7. She Walked Right Out Of The Blue [Side 2]

8. You Got Me On The Hook

9. Doo-Dah-Doo-Dah

10. The Clown

11. Make It To The Woods

12. Boys In The Band

Tracks 1 to 12 are their and final studio album of the period "Three Legged Friend" - released December 1973 in the UK on Sonet SNTF 651.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Thunderbolt Rag (Alternative Version)

14. Caribbean Zob-Rock

Tracks 13 and 14 are the non-album A&B-sides of a March 1974 UK 45 Single on Sonet SON 2038

15. Blow Me Down

Track 15 is the non-album A-side of a May 1975 UK 45 on Sonet SON 2053 ("Take Your Money" from the 2nd LP was its B-side)

16. Hawaiian Honeymoon

17. If You Need Somebody Call On Me 

Tracks 15 and 16 are the non-album A&B-sides of an August 1975 UK 45 Single on Sonet SON 2062

CD4 (62:35 minutes):

1. Roll And Tumble

2. Short Woogie

3. Nervous

4. Walking Blues

5. Don't Start Me talking

6. Cincinnati Underworld Woman

7. Milk Cow Blues

8. Come On In My Kitchen

9. Little Red Caboose

10. Take Your Money And Go Down The Road

11. I'm Ready

12. Hot Weather

13. Too Many Hot Dogs (aka "Chicken A La Blues")

14. Walking Blues

15. Make It To The Woods

16. Spoonful

17. Phonograph Blues

Tracks 1 to 17 issued as the CD compilation "Vintage Thunderbolts" in October 1999 on Mooncrest CRESTCD 041Z (Barcode 766126804129)

BONUS TRACKS:

18. Brian Matthew trailer

19. Brian Matthew intro

20. Goin' Back

21. Too Many Hot Dogs

Tracks 18 to 21 are a May 1970 BBC Radio 1 Session with Brian Matthew – taken from Top Of the Pops Transcription Disc 291 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (2020)

CD5 "Boogie Street" (69:48 minutes):

1. Crossroads

2. No Worries

3. Be Ready When He Comes

4. Hurry Up Train

5. How Many More Years

6. You're Gonna Need Somebody By Your Side 

7. Little Red Rooster

8. Big City Beat

9. Free Again

10. Phonograph Blues

11. Greedy Woman

12. Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

13. Lost Lover Blues

14. Tough Times

15. A Change Is Bound To Come

16. Big City Beat (Remix)

Tracks 1 to 16 are the CD "Boogie Street" released 1993 on Habana HABCD 201 (Barcode 0045395000327)

17. King Bee

18. Hurry Up Train

19. Miss You

20. Dust Me Broom

Tracks 17 to 20 are the 1981 UK 4-Track EP "Brett Marvin And The Thunderbirds" on Sun House EJSP 9586

CD6 (47:26 minutes):

1. Sea Side Shuffle

2. Ball and Chain - TERRY DACTYL AND THE DINOSAURS 

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a 1971 UK 45 Single on Sonet SON 2027 (its rare Picture Sleeve is shown on Page 30 of the booklet). Reissued July 1972 on UK Records UK R 5 in a UK Records label bag - that variant charted and rose to No. 2 in the UK Singles Charts. Originally non-album, both tracks were finally issued on the 1972 LP "Alias Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs" on Sonet SNTF 630. The two sides were reissued again as a single in May 1976 on UK Records UK 133.   

3. On A Saturday Night

4. Going Around The World - TERRY DACTYL AND THE DINOSAURS

Tracks 3 and 4 are the non-album A&B-sides of a November 1972 UK 45 issued on UK Records UK R 20 - it entered the charts in January 1973 and peaked at No. 45 some weeks later

5. She Left I Died

6. Too Self-Centred - TERRY DACTYL AND THE DINOSAURS Featuring JONA LEWI

Tracks 5 and 6 are the non-album A&B-sides is a May 1973 UK 45 on UK Records UK R 39 (it didn't chart)

7. Piggy Back Sue

8. Papa Don't Go - JONA LEWIE

Tracks 7 and 8 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 1974 UK 45 Single on Sonet SON 2048

9. The Swan

10. Custer's Last Stand - JONA LEWIE

Tracks 9 and 10 are the non-album A&B-sides of an October 1975 UK 45 Single on Sonet SON 2056

11. Hallelujah Europe (Parts 1 and 2)

Track 11 is the non-album A&M sides of a July 1976 UK 45 on Sonet SON 2081 (Part 1 is Side 2, Parts 1 & 2 is Side b)

12. Come Away (Bate O Pe)

13. Cherry Ring

Tracks 12 and 13 are the non-album A&B-sides of an October 1977 UK 45 on Sonet SON 2115

14. Rocking Yobs

15. After We Swun

Tracks 14 and 15 are the non-album A&B-sides of a December 1977 UK 45 on Sonet SON 2117

Grapefruit Records is known for their in-depth and chunky booklets and with six CDs to explain, this is no different. Compiled and Annotated by DAVID WELSS with support from reissue specialist JOHN REED – there is new input from the leading BM light and Lead Guitarist GRAHAM HINE as well as the usual slew of rare photos (the boys doing the Abbey Road crossroads shoot) as well as 60ts shots of The Corsairs with John Lewis/Jona Lewie. There is a Sonet Records advert for the debut LP and single whilst a collage shot of concert posters (a double-page spread) shows their legendary support of Derek & The Dominoes (Clapton wanted to buy the National Steel but Hine wouldn’t sell), gigs with Caravan, tours as Terry Dactyl when Sea Side Shuffle became a huge hit - and most famous of all – headlining a 10 December 1975 (Vegetarian Buttery) gig at the City Polytechnic in London with some reprobates third on the bill called The Sex Pistols. The future Anarchists had only been together a month or so and it was their sixth or seventh gig – but their first (I believe) mention on a concert poster is enough to make that 70p admission piece of paper worth a bloody fortune. The Mastering is by SIMON MURPHY for Another Planet and the three studio albums sound great – with Number Two for me – sounding the best. To the music...

The debut is a mix of Blues Rock and Jug Band with a few touch points in-between. Bizarre and almost Beefheart in its nuttiness – imagine the keyboard intro to "Baba O'Riley" by The Who stretched out into a song and given muffled words and strange Indian-esque boogies. You get an idea of what "Calcutta Got Beggar" has in store for you as Jona Lewie almost goes Psych with the synths. We then get the utterly extraordinary Harmonica-nasty Blues Boogie cover of "Don't Start Me Talking" - a near eight-minute tour-de-force for the Sonny Boy Williamson infidelity classic. Like its Side 1 predecessor "Shave 'Em Dry" (minus the decidedly fruity lyrics) - it feels like Canned Heat with The Bear on vocals – but a CH that has gone all Mungo Jerry Jug Band whilst still rocking that piano, guitar and Harmonica. It is either genius or taking the piss and part of me thinks it's both.

Sonet issued the Pete Gibson-penned piano and guitar slow Chicken Shack Blues of "Thoughts On You" in early 1971 as a 45 with the album cut "Coming Home" on the B-side but it unfairly disappeared despite some glowing reviews. Just when you think they're dwelling too much on the Jug Band schtick - they hit you with an Acoustic Blues shuffling gem - "Southbound Lane". I love this track where Gregory Hine shows his playing prowess as he sings of a band at two in the morning travelling down the motorway - "Been playing up north trying to build ourselves a name...seen a hundred miles of cat's eyes in the road...every mile we travelled is a copy of a record we sold..."

By the time we get to album number three, the Jug Band sound has instead overstayed its welcome somewhat. Better than the cover versions are the original goodies like the Graham Hine written "Bank Holiday" and "Wrong Man" and the Pete Gibson lay all your love light on me "Bay Roller". Vaudeville and knees up Mother Brown codology comes in the shape of "Drinking Song", "She Walked Right Out Of The Blue" and "Doo-Dah-Doo-Dah" where they sound like The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band but not in a good way. Pete Gibson channels his inner Satisfaction as he Mick Jagger’s "The Clown" and sounds unconvincing when he sings of touring joy in "Boys In The Band". The singles give us the Scott Joplin entertainer piano romp "Thunderbolt Rag" while "Caribbean Zob-Rock" name-checks the Skiffle-type instrument called the Zob Stick that used to be once known as a lagerphone. Best of the bunch is the Foghat-ish Rock of "Blow Me Down" – slow ride slide guitars over a likeable rhythm. The Graham Hine guitar rocker B-side "If You Need Somebody Call On Me" is a good barroom boogie that redeems an otherwise disappointing Disc 3.

The "Rare Thunderbolts" CD compilation offers unidentified live recordings of Meade Lux Lewis covers alongside Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson - best of which is the muffled-vocals slide-guitar "Walking Blues" and "Come On In My Kitchen". If feels like some semi-bootleg recording for some better than average bar band - but no more. "Hello...do you dig the blues...well dig this!" Brian Matthew gives it some groovy Top Of The Pops intros for 50 and 20 seconds before the boys go into a grungy version of Leadbelly's "Goin' Back" - and actually the sound is excellent as in the fantastic lead-guitar. Bringing back the band for another intro - we get the band's original "Too Many Hot Dogs" which sounds great too.

Being 1993, the upgraded sound quality of the "Boogie Street" CD compilation comes as a blessed relief after much of Disc 3. It kicks off with a superb interpretation of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" - our heroes flagging a raucous ride. The Gospel of the Lord comes sailing in like The Blind Boys Of Alabama on the cool groove that is "Be Ready When He Comes". All seven members of the ensemble wrote "Hurry Up Train" but better is the warbling gritty Harmonica of Howlin' Wolf's "How Many Years" - dogging me around - rather be six feet in the ground - a great boogie rendition. Equally slick is the electric slide menace in "Little Red Rooster" - too lazy to crow for days. The Blues Band comparisons continue with the 4-Track EP that tail ends Disc 5 - Slim Harpo and Elmore James covers doing the business even if the original "Hurry Up Train" doesn't quite work.

After all the Mungo Jerry Jug Band Blues and Seasick Steve slide guitar – the last disc with Terry Dactyl and Jona Lewie feels like a creature from another planet - albeit a welcome one. The big accordion-driven single "Sea Side Shuffle" by Terry Dactyl and The Dinosaurs sounds good in Remastered form as does its boozy 'you are driving me insane' B-side "Ball And Chain". I can't even remember the follow-up "On A Saturday Night" as a single, but its very obvious effort to reproduce what made "Sea Side Shuffle" great feels a little too contrived - Part 2 but not as good as Part 1. Better is the Fats Domino piano-boogie shuffle of the B-side "Going Around The World" where a catchy chorus is doubled with a slide-guitar – great little number and the Remaster rocks. The Jona Lewie solo stuff comes on like Jerry Lee Lewis – a chicken shack pumping piano is soon joined by a New Orleans band on "Piggy Back Sue" – while its B-side "Papa Don't Go" taps into "Going Up The Country" by Canned Heat both musically and vocally (top stuff and a cool Remaster). The rest are a combo of weird and quirky rhythms that kind of amaze and impress in equal quirky measure.

For sure, six discs of some unknown group from the early Seventies that can't decide whether they're Mungo Jerry's uppity younger brother or Canned Heat's mellowed whiskey older uncle will probably not get the knees a-shakin' in 2020. But there is so much to love here and that second album is a wee bit of a lost diamond in my book while the Lewie solo stuff, something of a pleasant discovery. 

Grapefruit Records of the UK go the hog once more for the musical underdogs, and we old bowsers are the ones to benefit...