"Love & Affection" by JOAN ARMATRADING - Album and Single Tracks from November 1972 to June 1992 – Guest Musicians Include Ray Cooper and Davey Johnstone of Elton John's Band, Graham Lyle of Gallagher & Lyle, Bryn Haworth of Fleur De Lys, Jake Jewell of Jake & The Family Jewels, Jerry Donahue of Fairport Convention, Georgie Fame, John 'Rabbit' Bundrick of Free, Tim Hinkley of The Bo Street Runners, Jody Grind and Snafu, Kenney Jones of Faces and The Who, Mel Collins of King Crimson and Kokomo with Henry Spinetti of The Herd and Chris Stainton's Tundra, Phil Palmer and more (September 1996 UK A&M Records 2CD Anthology with Roger Wake Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry....

 

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**** 

 

"...Clear The Deck...Let Me Touch Your Soul..."

 

What sets this twofer apart from so many compilations covering the career of British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading - is its bold jumping from period to period that literally takes no chronological prisoners.

 

1996's "Love & Affection" stretches from her November 1972 UK debut album "Whatever's For Us" on Cube Records and then deep dives into fifteen further studio albums, Mini LPs and Singles all the way up to her June 1992 set "Square The Circle" on A&M Records. In fact Herb Albert's world-famous label A&M Records has being her spiritual home for decades (her self-titled album from 1976 contained the huge song "Love & Affection" - a eureka moment which titles this comp).

 

So musically you get 1992 one moment, then 1986, itself followed by 1977. And yet it works. Couple that with some gorgeous not-overdone Remasters by Roger Wake and this forgotten and frankly dirt-cheap (in 2023) 2CD 39-Track Anthology starts to look like one of those bargains you need in your life. And it is. Time to show some emotion, details Maestro please...

 

UK released September 1996 - "Love & Affection" by JOAN ARMATRADING on A&M Records 540 405-2 (Barcode 731454040525) is a 2CD 39-Track Career Anthology (to 1995) that breaks down as follows:

 

CD1 (79:22 minutes):

1. Down To Zero

2. True Love

3. Talking To The Wall

4. Show Some Emotion

5. I'm Lucky

6. One More Chance

7. Did I Make You Up

8. All A Woman Needs

9. Square The Circle

10. Somebody Who Loves You

11. It Could Have Been Better

12. Alice

13. No Love

14. Tall In The Saddle

15. Turn Out The Light

16. The Shouting Stage

17. One Night

18. Save Me

NOTES for CD1

Tracks 1, 10, 14 and 18 from her third studio album "Joan Armatrading", August 1976

Tracks 2 and 9 from the album "Square The Circle", June 1992

Tracks 3 and 17 from the album "Secret Secrets", February 1985

Tracks 4 and from her fourth UK studio album "Show Some Emotion", September 1977

Tracks 5 and 13 are from "Walk Under Ladders", May 1981

Track 6 from the album "Sleight Of Hand", May 1986

Tracks 7, 8 and 16 from the album "The Shouting Stage", July 1988

Tracks 11 and 12 from her UK debut album "Whatever's For Us", November 1972

Track 15 is from the album "Me Myself I", May 1980

 

CD2 (77:58 minutes):

1. My Family

2. City Girl

3. Warm Love

4. The Power Of Dreams

5. Love By You

6. The Weakness In Me

7. More Than One Kind Of Love

8. Love And Affection

9. Rosie

10. Bottom To The Top

11. Drop The Pilot

12. Me Myself I

13. Cool Blue Stole My Heart

14. Water With The Wine

15. Flight Of The Wild Geese

16. Dry Land

17. Always

18. Promise Land

19. Can't Get Over (How I Broke Your Heart)

20. All The Way From America

21. Willow

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1 and 2 from her UK debut album "Whatever's For Us", November 1972

Tracks 3 and 21 from her fourth UK studio album "Show Some Emotion", September 1977

Tracks 4, 7, 17 and 18 are from the album "Hearts And Flowers", June 1990

Track 5 from the album "Secret Secrets", May 1986

Track 6 is from "Walk Under Ladders", May 1981

Tracks 8 and 14 from her third studio album "Joan Armatrading", August 1976

Track 9 is from the 4-Track Mini-LP "How Cruel", December 1979

Tracks 10 from the album "To The Limit", September 1978

Track 11 from the album "The Key", March 1983

Tracks 12 and 20 are from the album "Me Myself I", May 1980

Track 13 is from the Live Album " Steppin' Out", August 1979

Track 15 is the Non-LP A-side to a June 1978 UK 45-single on A&M Records AMS 7365 (Theme Music to the film "Flight Of The Wild Geese")

Track 16 is from her second studio album "Back To The Night", April 1975

Tracks 19 from the album "Square The Circle", June 1992

 

ROGER WAKE did the Remasters (as he has for other A&M artists – Joe Jackson and The Strawbs jump to mind) and the sound is uniformly lovely and clear. The Seventies stuff is fabulous with much of the 80ts and 90s not needing too much to Remaster. But as I said earlier, the song-by-song feel is excellent so when you get to the later material like "Square The Circle" (Track 9 on CD1), her music in 1992 just sounds like a more updated classy reading of her songs of old. The 12-page booklet with liner notes by noted journalist CHRIS WHITE does her career proud describing Joan Armatrading as one of Rock's unsung superstars.

 

Across fifteen to sixteen studio albums, EPs and Singles, as you can imagine the (largely uncredited) guest musicians list is huge – they include Ray Cooper and Davey Johnstone of Elton John's Band, Graham Lyle of Gallagher & Lyle, Bryn Haworth of Fleur De Lys, Jake Jewell of Jake & The Family Jewels, Jerry Donahue of Fairport Convention, Georgie Fame, John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick of Free, Tim Hinkley of The Bo Street Runners, Jody Grind and Snafu, Kenney Jones of Faces and The Who, Mel Collins of King Crimson and Kokomo with Henry Spinetti of The Herd and Chris Stainton’s Tundra, Guitarist Phil Palmer and loads more (too many to mention).

 

But what a compilation like this allows listeners and fans alike is those deep dive discoveries - tracks like the Soulful take on "Cold Blue Stole My Heart" from the forgotten "Stepping Out" live LP (Richard Hirsh of Wet Willie doing a stunner on Guitar) - or the lovely Waterboys-sounding acoustic guitars of "Promise Land" and "All The Way From America" – the compilation neatly mixing in 1990 with 1980 as if they made for each other. CD1 opens with "Down to Zero" from the 1976 breakthrough album "Joan Armatrading" and it's hardly surprising to find that six of its 10 tracks are represented across both discs.

 

I would admit that the big synth sound of "I'm Lucky" from the "Walk Under Ladders" album might grate some ears in 2023 – but it allows the bombastic "One More Change" to sit comfortably after it as a follow through. Far better is the pick-me-up Soulful Dire Straits-type guitar flicking of "Did I Make You Up" where our Joan sounds like Beverley Knight meeting Tracy Chapman on some warm night dance-floor for a shimmy. How gorgeous is "Somebody Who Loves You" with its 'I-want-to-see-you-fan-the-fire' lyrics underpinned by Mandolin from Bryn Haworth (such a great sessionman). Sadness permeates "It Could Have Been Better" whereas a strange defiant joy fills "No Love" – surely one of her best songs and a bit of a 1981 masterpiece (that floating guitar and the song build – great – I used to play this to death back in the turntable days of yore).

 

I would agree that not everything here has stood the test of time and it's disappointing that their never seems to be enough from the rather excellent "To The Limit" LP from 1978 (so a four-star rating then) - but it would be a hard-heart indeed that wasn't impressed or even moved by three-quarters of what's on here - and that's 39 tracks only up to 1992. 

 

Joan Armatrading has always been a class act and 1996's "Love & Affection" brings that home to our cabbage patches with aplomb. Joan's showed some emotion to us and I for one would like to return the favour (as long as I don't have to walk under any ladders). Buy this, discover and enjoy...

"Chanter's Tune" by NA FILÍ [Gaelic for The Poets] – November 1977 UK LP on Transatlantic Records featuring Tomás Ó Canainn, Tom Barry and Matt Cranitch (August 2023 UK Beat Goes Records (BGO) CD Reissue – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review And 225 Others Is Available In My AMAZON E-Book 

BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

And Genres Thereabouts

Your Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

For the 1960s and 1970s

All Reviews In-Depth and from the Discs Themselves

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

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RATING: ****

 

"...The Music Of The Piper..."

 

England's Beat Goes on Records (BGO to us in the know) have been going at Irish, English and Scottish Traditional Folk Music (and huge swathes of Country too) for much of the Naughties – and often with blinding results.

 

As well as obvious touch-points like Steeleye Span, The Dubliners, Finbar and Eddie Furey, Dave Swarbrick (of Fairport) and The Incredible String Band - they have reissued deep dive stuff like Sweeney's Men, The McCalmans, Hamish Imlach, Dave Cartwright, Mr. Fox, The Young Tradition, Mike Cooper, Bob and Carolanne Pegg (with Nick Strutt), David McWilliams and The Johnstons (featuring Paul Brady) to name but a few (I have reviewed most all of them) – not exactly artist names that trip off the Sainsbury's Top 50 chart tongue.

 

But there has been a part of me that wants BGO to go at the likes of The Bothy Band or Planxty or even the early Clannad and Chieftains albums. Well maybe we can get near them and their sound because blow my Uilleann Pipe up the wrong trouser leg, but they have only dug down deep and gone for The Poets – or NA FILÍ to you and I (roughly pronounced - Naw Philly). It's first time on CD too.

 

So, once more unto the jigs and reels my finger-in-the-ear lowbrow people of the wastelands (well North of Skegness anyway)...

 

UK released 4 August 2023 (delayed from July) - "Chanter's Tune" by NA FILÍ on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1497 (Barcode 5017261214973) is a straightforward Remaster and Reissue of a November 1977 Traditional Irish Folk LP onto CD. It plays out follows (40:29 minutes):

 

1. The Maid At The Spinning Wheel [Side 1]

2. Ceol An Phíobaire (The Music Of The Piper) /Michael Murphy's Slide

3. Mo Mhuirnín Ban (My Fair-Haired Darling)

4. Give Us A Drink Of Water / Hunting The Hare

5. Na Connerys (The Connerys)

6. Chanter's Tune / An Samhradh Crua (The Hard Summer) / The Green Fields Of Rossbeigh / Murphy's Reel Medley

7. Inis Dhún Ramha (Inis Doon Rawa) / Paidin Ó Raifeartaigh [Side 2]

8. Maidin Ró-Mhoch (Early One Morning)

9. The Trip To Athlone / Pat McGillarney

10. Sweet Williamstown

11. Cait Ní Dhuibhir (Kate O'Dwyer) / The Flannel Jacket / John Dwyer's Reel

12. The Top Of Maol / Dan Coakley's Polka / The Ballydesmond Polka

Tracks 1 to 12 are their fifth studio album "Chanter's Tune" – released November 1977 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 353.

 

NA FILÍ (Gaelic for The Poets) are:

TOMAS Ó CANAINN – Uilleann Pipes and Vocals

TOM BARRY – Whistles and Flute

MATT CRANITCH - Fiddle

 

Producer VICTOR GAMM had roots in Folk and Folk Rock stretching back to the Jethro Tull 1968 debut album "This Was" on Island, the Tom Paxton 1971 album on Reprise Records called "How Come The Sun", the second Stackridge album "Friendliness" from 1972 on MCA Records, the Folk-Prog sound of Magna Carta on their 1973 LP for Vertigo "Lord Of The Ages" and onwards to Mick Greenwood (much of Fotheringay were on his 1971 debut) and his third album in 1974 - "Midnight Dreamer" on Warner Brothers. I say all this because this is a gorgeous recording – his work here is clean and clear but not dampened down – beautifully present. When the trio go into the four parts of the title track that ends Side 1 – it’s near seven-minutes of piping, fiddling and whistling is practically audiophile as far as Traditional Irish Music goes.

 

There is a pleasingly in-depth 16-page booklet by noted writer and Folk Enthusiast JOHN O'REGAN where his history lesson on the three lads includes their early years in Fifties and Sixties Southern Ireland where the Fleadh and the Guinness blended and blurred into one. They disbanded in 1979 but are remembered with deep affection (his liner notes are exemplary, researched and imparted with heart and savvy). O'Regan also says that this reissue restores the album to its former glory and dropping a weary lughole on the stunning Remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON from original Transatlantic master tapes indeed confirms this. "Chanter's Tune" is a gorgeous sounding CD with a clarity and warmth that is bound to thrill those who have held on to this rare late 70s vinyl artifact for fear of never getting a clean copy again. Well fear no more, because BGO's resident Audio Engineer genius has pulled off a goodun. The card slipcase too of course lends it an air of class. To the mostly instrumental music...

 

This most Traditional of Irish Music LPs opens with 2:15 minutes called "The Maid At The Spinning Wheel" – a lovely but short Pipes and Whistles jaunt. Tomás Ó Canainn takes us into Gaelic Story territory with his distinct lilt on "Ceol An Phíobaire (The Music Of The Piper) / Michael Murphy's Slide" – the first part sung about money and piping whilst the jog plays it out. "Mo Mhuirnín Ban (My Fair-Haired Darling)" is a beautiful 2:15 minutes Penny Whistle instrumental where you can literally hear Tom Barry drawing breath – just him and the melody. That's quickly followed by a Fiddle and Whistle doubling up for "Give Us A Drink Of Water / Hunting The Hare" which is soon joined by Tomás Ó Canainn with his Uilleann Pipes drone (another instrumental).

 

Plaintive would describe the "Na Connerys (The Connerys)" – a gorgeous double Uilleann Pipes melody that is layered with Whistle and Flute – the kind of instrumental that would filled Braveheart with even more soul. Tomás Ó Canainn sings for the second time on Side 2's combo of song and reel - "Inis Dhún Ramha (Inis Doon Rawa) / Paidin Ó Raifeartaigh" featuring all instruments and a sweet jaunt to its happy ending. A tonal dark fiddle note plays in "Maidin Ró-Mhoch (Early One Morning)" and its lone instrument unaccompanied sadness stays that way throughout – beautiful and haunting as its subject matter no doubt was.

 

The 'chanter' (as the liner notes inform us) is part of the Uilleann Pipes instrument that wavers and alters its sound and tone. 

 

Well this "Chanter's Tune" is a sweetheart of a reissue. Top marks to Beat Goes On of England (BGO), Music Historian John O'Regan and Engineer Andrew Thompson for seeing it presented beautifully and sounding sexier than a buxom maid at a spinning wheel with a glint in her eye and a big yarn on her knee (you go girl)...

"Playin' My Thang/Night After Night" by STEVE CROPPER [of Booker T & The MG's and The Stax In-House Band] - 1981 and 1982 US Albums Originally on MCA Records with Guests David Paich and Bobby Kimball of Toto, Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and Eagles, Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, Bill Payne of Little Feat with The Memphis Horns, Members of The Bar Kays and The Isaac Hayes Movement and more (May 2023 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Ya Da Ya Da..."

**

There are reasons why so many albums from the Eighties are forgotten in 2023 - they were shite. And unfortunately with this BGO twofer - that's what you get here. And given the name on the card slipcase, you rather wish it was not so. To the details...

 

UK released 5 May 2023 - "Playin' My Thang/Night After Night" by STEVE CROPPER on Beat Goes On Records (BGO) BGOCD1495 (Barcode 5017261214959) is a compilation that offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1 CD (75:12 minutes). 

 

There is a card slipcase on the outside, a 20-page booklet that reproduces all the credits and lyrics and new 2023 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that make everything sing. There are also new liner notes from noted music writer CHARLES WARING where he makes a brave attempt to justify the reissue. Audio-wise, these are highly produced albums of the day done at MCA Records - so they sound great - but that's where the good news ends.

 

Already a legend as the guitarist with Booker T & The MG's and a stalwart at Stax Records - Steve Cropper bagged a two-record deal with MCA Records after his appearance in 'The Blues Brothers' movie of 1980 had reminded so many of Rhythm 'n' Blues and Sixties Soul - of which Cropper, the Stax House Band and the Memphis Horns had been such a big part. He even revisited songs he'd been involved in like Wilson Pickett's "634-5789" (one of the few highlights on the second LP).

So he popped out these two turkeys in 1981 and 1982 and despite some stellar hands on board to help with the songs - both albums are such a hard-work listen. Part of the problem was his insistence on singing every song when he had a weedy voice at best - a sort of poor man's Christopher Cross attempting that new fangled highly produced slick Yacht Rock the charts of the early Eighties was so loving at the time. His vocals are doubled to hide their weakness, but little hides the cheesy lyrics and the dual combo does for the listen despite the high productions values.

David Paich and Bobby Kimball of Toto help out on the first LP, Donald 'Duck' Dunn of Booker T & The MG's is in there too, Bill Payne of Little Feat on piano, Brass provided by The Memphis Horns, Willy Hall on Drums who had been with The Bar Kays and The Isaac Hayes Movement and so on. The second album upped the count even more - Wayne Perkins of Smith Perkins Smith with Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and The Eagles on Backing Vocals, Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers on Guitar, Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney & Bonnie on Backing Vocals, Jim Horn and Chuck Findlay on Horns with Roger Hawkins on Drums. But none of these impressive names save the music which is mostly awful Pop meets Pseudo Soul - the worst offenders being "Ya Da Ya Da" and "Give 'Em What They Want" among many. "Make You Feel Love Again" on the second LP is more of the same. 

If you're a fan, then purchase is mandatory - great presentation, tasteful annotation and top quality Remasters. Anyone else, I would strongly advise a listen first...

"The Ultimate Collection" by BILLY JOEL – Featuring Album and Compilation Tracks from 1973 to 1993 – Guests Include Danny Kortchmar, Ray Charles, Mick Jones (of Spooky Tooth and Foreigner), The Memphis Horns, Producer Phil Ramone, Arranger Arif Mardin and many more (March 2001 UK Columbia/Sony TV 2CD 36-Track Compilation with 1998 Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Don't Go Thinking We're Too Familiar..."

 

The worldwide winner that is "The Ultimate Collection" by Billy Joel was first issued as a twofer in Japan just days before Christmas 2000. That variant also had 2CDs and 36-Tracks, but ended CD1 with "The Stranger".

 

I mention this, because when "The Ultimate Collection" was finally issued in the last week of March 2001 in the UK and Europe – that song was swapped out on CD1 for the lovely but largely forgotten "You're My Home" from the "Piano Man" album of 1973 (his second solo LP). In my opinion that was a genius move – it makes the play on CD1 almost perfect in terms of mood and tempo.

 

Sporting newly minted Ted Jensen Remasters from 1998, all the lyrics (albeit in tiny writing in the booklet) and with total playing times of 75:32 and 78:43 minutes on each CD – you were essentially getting four LPs worth of fantastic songwriting for not a whole lotta dosh. It was also issued on Columbia's SONY TV imprint, with adverts making certain the public who had forgotten his songwriting genius knew it was out there – sounding and looking good.

 

So not surprisingly the double-set charted immediately (31 March 2001) and soon rose to an impressive No. 4 after only a few weeks. It was issued in April in Australia, but not in the USA oddly. Fast-forward twelve years and in 2023, it can easily be found online for under three-quid – and that's a stash of the Dogs Bollox for a Catnip Cheapo cost. Here are the tender moments/serenading details...

 

UK released March 2001 -"The Ultimate Collection" by BILLY JOEL on Columbia/Sony TV SONYTV98CD (Barcode 5099749790827) is a 2CD 36-Track career-spanning Compilation using 1998 Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (75:32 minutes):

1. Just The Way You Are

2. My Life

3. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me

4. An Innocent Man

5. Piano Man

6. You're My Home

7. Everybody Love You Now (Live Version)

8. The Entertainer

9. Streetlife Serenader

10. New York State Of Mind

11. Say Goodbye To Hollywood

12. She's Got A Way (Live Version)

13. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

14. She's Always A Woman

15. Honesty

16. You May Be Right

17. Don't Ask Me Why

18. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (Live Version)

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 1, 13 and 14 are from the album "The Stranger" (September 1977)

Tracks 2 and 15 are from the album "52^nd Street" (October 1978)

Tracks 3, 16 and 17 are from the album "Glass Houses" (March 1980)

Track 4 is from the album "An Innocent Man" (August 1983)

Tracks 5 and 6 are from the album "Piano Man" (November 1973)

Tracks 7, 12 and 18 are from the live album "Songs In The Attic" (Sept 1981)

Tracks 8 and 9 are from the album "Streetlife Serenade" (October 1974)

Tracks 10 and 11 are from the album "Turnstiles" (May 1976)

 

CD2 (78:43 minutes):

1. Uptown Girl

2. Tell Her About It

3. The River Of Dreams

4. The Longest Time

5. We Didn't Start The Fire

6. Goodnight Saigon

7. Allentown

8. All For Lenya

9. This Is The Time

10. Leave A Tender Moment Alone

11. A Matter Of Trust

12. Modern Woman

13. Baby Grand (Duet with Ray Charles)

14. I Go To Extremes

15. Leningrad

16. The Downeaster 'Alexa'

17. You're Only Human (Second Wind)

18. All About Soul (Remix)

NOTES ON CD2:

Tracks 1, 2, 4 and 10 are from the album "An Innocent Man" (August 1983)

Track 3 is from the album "River Of Dreams" (August 1993)

Tracks 5, 14, 15 and 16 are from the album "Storm Front" (October 1989)

Tracks 6 and 7 are from the album "The Nylon Curtain" (September 1982)

Track 8 is from the album "Glass Houses" (March 1980)

Tracks 9, 11, 12 and 13 are from the album "The Bridge" (July 1986)

Track 17 is from 2LP Compilation "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" (August 1985) which had two new songs – this is one of them

Track 18 is from the CD compilation "Greatest Hits – Volume III" (August 1997); it initially appeared on the October 1993 CD single to "All About Soul" and was an exclusive version at 6:01 minutes

 

The 16-page booklet has all the lyrics in tiny print and a small 2-page history on Joel and his amazing singer-songwriter career by PATRICK HUMPHRIES. It's a functional affair, but the Remastered Audio is truly fab – very clean and amped in just the right way. To the listens...

 

I could probably go another ten years without ever having to hear the now slightly irritating Motown throwback chipper nature of "Uptown Girl" or "Tell Her About It" and the "Glass Houses" album felt like a dip when I bought it. But the ballad opener "Just The Way You Are" (lyrics above) and his magnificent 'Yesterday' moment (as far as I'm concerned) in the equally gorgeous "She's Always A Woman" never really get old. "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" is the same – so damn sweet (harmonica complimenting). I love the three live tracks from "Songs In The Attic" because that album was such a smart move at the time – reintroducing deep LP cuts that had gotten lost in the numbers swallowing behemoths that were "The Stranger" in 1977 and "52^nd Street" in 1978.

 

Serious smarts have also included lovelies like the early song genius of "You're My Home" right up to the synth-plinking vs. drumming warmth inherent in "This Is The Time" on "The Bridge" album from 1986. Two forgotten but fan remembered moments tail-end CD2 with the popular jaunt of "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" (a great Bonus on the first Greatest Hits Volumes) and that Remix exclusive to the CD Single for "All About Soul". But I have to say that "Goodbye Saigon" (his Vietnam song for Vets still struggling with the aftereffects) and the workingman's meeting-his-bills dilemma in "Allentown" woke many up to the less delicate side of the US economy ("The Nylon Curtain" album is considered a forgotten classic among Joel devotees like moi).

 

"New York State Of Mind" too from years earlier – nostalgic but profound - a tune about that most famous of cities you can't help thinking only Joel could have articulated so well (the audience pride-roar when he sings the word Brooklyn in the live version of "Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)" is another huge moment). A stunning Pepsi vs. Coke set of rapid-fire hammerhead lyrics took the world by storm when he released "We Didn't Start The Fire" (Monroe and Studebakers ahoy). I'd admit though that CD2 feels at times (as the years progressed and the albums came further apart) like it wanes far more than CD1 does. But there is still sexy bombast galore in "I Go To Extremes" and touches of the old magic in "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" - while his crooner styled duet "Baby Grand" with Ray Charles is a big old dollop of piano-schmoozing class.

 

Having sold over 100-million albums but also having been musically inactive for decades – you could argue that Billy Joel is a spent force. Well - all I know is that I spent a lot of time loving his deeply moving songs of angst and triumph and poured over his erudite lyrics on many's a long winter evening - an intelligent impassioned Yank who seemed to speak to ordinary men and women alike with a lyrical honesty that both warmed and stung.

 

There are two four-disc Billy Joel Retrospectives out there that will give you more and flesh out the story with extra layers of quality. But if you want a kick-ass twofer one-stop then "The Ultimate Collection" is comprehensive enough and brilliant sounding into the digital bargain. And in July 2023 - it's available for a pittance that does not reflect its majestic innards. 

 

Get this gift into your seaside palisades and see that the lights don't go down on your Broadway...

"This Is It: The A&M Years 1979-1989" by JOE JACKSON – Featuring Albums Tracks from "Look Sharp!" and "I'm The Man" (both 1979), "Beat Crazy" (1980), "Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive" (1981), "Night And Day" (1982), "Body And Soul" (1984), "Big World" (1986), "Live 1980/1986" (1988), "Blaze Of Glory" (1989) and more (February 1997 UK A&M 2CD 37-Track Artists Chosen Anthology with Roger Wake Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Always Someone Breaking Us In Two..."

 

When you cop the 78-minute-plus playing times for each CD offered in "This Is It: The A&M Years 1979-1989" by JOE JACKSON – you realize that’s TWO double-albums worth of quality songs across both discs – and for often under a fiver in the secondhand market place – six or seven quid at the most. Wow!

 

A bit of a songwriting barnstormer in my book – my pubescent mates and hairy-self fell immediately for Joe Jackson and that stunner debut LP "Look Sharp!" His debut was a razor-tie pinpointed winkelpicker shoes snarling observation on New-Wave England and the dating scene in 1978 and 1979. Sassy lyrics, catchy tunes and angular beats that smacked of Dagenham Dave behind a microphone doing you an emotional favour sunshine. And like Sting with his band The Police, Joe Jackson's albums kept progressing and zigzagging genre wise, so always felt like something to get excited about.

 

And so it is here. This unassuming but stunning 2CD goody two shoes Anthology for his first decade with A&M Records...delivers. You and me against the world...here are the details...

 

UK released February 1997 - "This Is It: The A&M Years 1979-1989" by JOE JACKSON on A&M 540 402-2 (Barcode 731454040228) is a 37-Track 2CD Career Anthology (Tracks Chosen by the Artists) of Remasters that plays out as follows (reissued as "Gold" in 2008):

 

CD1 (78:16 minutes):

1. Is She Really Going Out With Him?

2. Fools In Love

3. One More Time

4. Sunday Papers

5. Look Sharp!

6. Got The Time (Live)

7. On Your Radio

8. It's Different For Girls

9. Don't Wanna Be Like That

10. Amateur Hour

11. I'm The Man

12. Tilt

13. Someone Up There

14. One To One

15. Beat Crazy

16. Biology

17. Jumpin' Jive

18. What's The Use Of Getting Sober, When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again

19. Is She Really Going out With Him? (Live)

20. Another World

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 1 to 6 are from his debut LP "Look Sharp!" released January 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64743

Tracks 7 and 19 are from "Live 1980/1986" released May 1988 in the UK on A&M Records AMA 6706 (2LPs) and A&M Records CDA 6706 (2CDs)

Tracks 8 to 11 are from his 2nd album "I'm The Man" released October 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64794

Track 12 is a Non-LP B-side to "The Harder They Come", a June 1980 UK 45-Single on A&M Records AMS 7536. The A-side is a Jimmy Cliff cover – the B-side (the track featured on this compilation) is a Joe Jackson original

Tracks 13 to 16 are from his 3rd studio album "Beat Crazy" released October 1980 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64837

Tracks 17 and 18 are from 4th studio album "Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive" released June 1981 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 65830. The whole album is cover versions of Forties and Fifties Louis Jordan Rhythm 'n' Blues hits

Track 20 is from his 5th studio album "Night And Day" released June 1982 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64906

 

CD2 (78:18 minutes):

1. Breaking Us In Two

2. Chinatown

3. Real Men

4. Steppin' Out

5. A Slow Song

6. You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)

7. Not Here, Not Now

8. Be My Number Two

9. Happy Ending (Duet with Elaine Caswell)

10. Wild West (Live)

11. Right And Wrong (Live)

12. Home Town (Live)

13. Precious Time (Live)

14. Me And You (Against The World)

15. Down To London (Duet with Joy Askew)

16. Nineteen Forever

17. The Human Touch

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1 to 5 are from his 5th studio album "Night And Day" released June 1982 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64906

Tracks 6 to 9 are from his album "Body And Soul" released March 1984 in the UK on A&M Records AMLX 65000

Tracks 10 to 13 are from his double live set "Big World" released March 1986 in the UK on A&M Records JWA 3 – all new material recorded in front of a live audience

Tracks 14 to 17 are from his album "Blaze Of Glory" released April 1989 on A&M Records AMA 5249

 

The 12-page booklet features new liner notes from RICHARD SMITH and AMY SCHEIBE on his 10-year career with Herb Alpert's record label (highs and lows). A self-professed seeker of better songs and artistic fulfilment – his albums were good but often infuriated fans and critics – one of whom described him as having "...gone completely mad..." And yet song after song shows a songwriter able to move your heart and your hips. There is a Source Discography on the back pages, three photos of our hero and really superb ROGER WAKE Remasters from original tapes. To the music...

 

It will come as no surprise to fans to see that the kick-ass debut album "Look Sharp!" from January 1979 is represented here by five tunes – the big hit of course being "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" - the song that broke him everywhere. But jagged edge social HP Sauce songs like "Fools In Love" and "Sunday Papers" immediately clumped Joe Jackson into the angry-young-man filing cabinet at GCHQ alongside his country compatriots Graham Parker, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello. While the hit "It's Different For Girls" grabbed all the airplay, the second album offered more of what made the debut so smart. And yet I wager most have forgotten how good ballsy stuff like "Don't Wanna Be Like That" is (the Remaster bass is likely to bust your speaker cones) - or the so-New-Wave hurt in "Amateur Hour" where she is moving up and so moving out. Drums whack your living room like a wet kipper – Kung Fu, Skateboards and Hula Hoops all made respectable in "I'm The Man" (wanna buy a watch).

 

A clever inclusion of a live version of "Tilt" means that the listen lines up for a foursome of angry rants from the "Beat Crazy" LP. Sounding amazing, "One On One" comes at you with that Piano and Organ intro all guns blazing – as does The Stranglers-type Bass of "Biology". But at this point, the first three albums are beginning to show songwriting stagnation (and I'm sure he knew it), so it was time for a change. So you immediately go into the Louis Jordan Forties and Fifties Rhythm & Blues of "Jumpin' Jive" – the clarity of the Remaster will make you fell nine foot tall when you're four foot five (I like my eggs on the Jersey side). Blindingly great fun comes in the drunken lurch that is "What's The Use Of Getting Sober, When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again" where dear old pappy is about to blow his wig. There comes something you don't expect – a near Acapella live version of "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" which really works (its Jeannie with her new boyfriend) and breaks up the listen before the drums and keyboard wallop of sophistication that is "Another World" - the opening track on the near audiophile-sounding "Body And Soul" album.  

 

The "Body And Soul" album (complete with natty gatefold sleeve) blew everyone away with its leap into sophistication. We did indeed step into another world. Five tracks from it open CD2 with a fantastic run of songs – the Rock-Funk of "Steppin' Out" catching the ear of American Radio too. Even now songs like "Breaking Us In Two" and "Real Men" have stood the test of songwriting time – forty-one years on and still sounding contemporary to the point of prophetic. When the 2LP set "Big World" was released and both fans and critics realized Jackson had done the entire set of new songs in front of a live audience in order to get freshness into the final performances – most flipped out – and unfortunately not in a good way. 

 

Hearing them now in 2023 – and even though they are so damn clean and polished etc – they are oddly sterile. You can so hear that the fab four presented on here (Tracks 10 to 13 on CD2) would have been so much stronger had they been properly recorded studio cuts with the appropriate Production Values they cried out for. But all is forgiven as we romp home with a fantastic trio from his much praised and beloved "Blaze Of Glory" album – his last for A&M Records in 1989 – the brass, the licks, the catchy choruses that sway – brilliant.

 

A dynamite twofer and proof that quantity and quality can last into two double-album's worth and still leaving you jiving for me. Fools In Love given The Human Touch – and I for one have always been Steppin' Out Down To London for that...