"Fairytale" by DONOVAN (2002 Sanctuary 'Expanded Deluxe Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Songs For Sunshine People..."

Released in October 1965 – "Fairytale" was Donovan's 2nd album for Pye Records - and in 2016 is a very hard-to-find 60ts Folk-Rock classic on original vinyl. The British version was MONO-only on release while the Hickory Records US edition came in both MONO and STEREO with a slightly altered track configuration (drops the Bert Jansch song "Oh Deed I Do" and adds on a hit single – his cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier"). To confuse matters more – the UK budget label Marble Arch Records reissued the vinyl album as a 10-tracker in 1969 by dropping two key tracks – "Colours" and "The Little Tin Soldier". Luckily this superb Sanctuary Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue/Remaster from 2002 will allow fans to sequence all three 'Mono' variants. Here are the breezy details...

UK released February 2002 (reissued April 2010) – "Fairytale" by DONOVAN on Castle Music/Sanctuary CMRCD 360 (Barcode 5050159136025) is an 'Expanded Deluxe Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (53:52 minutes):

1. Colours

2. I'll Try For The Sun

3. Sunny Goodge Street

4. Oh Deed I Do

5. Circus Of Sour

6. The Summer Day Reflection Song

7. Candy Man

8. Jersey Thursday

9. Belated Forgiveness Plea

10. The Ballad Of A Crystal Man

11. The Little Tin Soldier

12. The Ballad Of Geraldine

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 2nd album "Fairytale" – released June 1965 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18128 in Mono Only. All songs are Donovan originals except "Universal Soldier" by Buffy Sainte-Marie, "Oh Deed I Do" by Bert Jansch, "The Little Tin Soldier" by Shawn Phillips, "Candy Man" by Mississippi John Hurt and "Circus Of Sour" by Paul Bernath.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Universal Soldier

14. The Ballad Of A Crystal Man

15. The War Drags On

16. Do You Hear Me Now

17. Turquoise

18. Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)

To sequence the US 1965 Mono LP variant of "Fairytale" (Hickory LPM-127) use the following tracks:

Side One: 13, 2, 3, 1, 5 and 6

Side Two: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

To sequence the UK 1969 Mono 10-track version of "Fairytale" (Marble Arch MAL 867) use the following tracks:

Side One: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Side Two: 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12

The very cool card slipcase repro’s the original 1965 UK album sleeve with DONOVAN bowing his head on the rear photo surrounded by Folk-groovy types. The LP's liner notes on the simulated flip-back cover declared that the contents within were "Songs For Sunshine People" – and in this particular case - the hype was right. STEPHEN HAMMONDS and ANTHONY AMOS co-ordinated the project for Sanctuary, LORNE MURDOCH does the in-depth liner notes (he handled the first 1991 CD reissue) and long-time and much-respected Audio Engineer ANDY PEARCE did the Remaster at Masterpiece Studios in London. The audio is great – very clear and clean and full of presence and not too hissy in that way some Sixties recordings can be.

The album's opener "Colours" is a balls-to-the-wall 60's classic - it truly is. "Fairytale" features a lot of tracks like that - just Donovan and his acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica  - more Folk than Pop really. In fact when you hear almost any track on this very hard-to-find LP - it's easy to see why Donovan was often referred to as Britain's Bob Dylan. And it wasn't just because of the similar vocal styles - they were both such good songwriters and commentators on their times. There are great lyrics in here as well as tunes.

Highlights include "The Ballad Of A Crystal Man" which is represented on this disc twice - the full album version (track 10) and the edited EP version (track 14) - it's a fantastically strong and emotive anti-Vietnam piece equal to anything his Bobness put out on the other side of the pond. Lyrically the other songs are equally clever and even witty too. There's a "...violent hash smoker..." in "Sunny Goodge Street" - while a quietly sinister "Jersey Thursday" gives us sly white powder references like "...on a tiny piece of coloured glass, my love was born...and reds, and golds and yellows were the colours of the dawn..." A very Nick Drake vibe oozes out off "Sunny Goodge Street" with its cello and brass and complimentary flute (flute by Harold McNair). "Oh Deed I Do" is a Bert Jansch original exclusive to the album (never appeared on one of his own albums to my knowledge) and it's easy to hear why Donovan loved it – a gorgeous acoustic strum that would make John Renbourn envious. Shawn Phillips provides 12-string guitar on the lovely "Jersey Thursday" and wrote "The Little Tin Soldier" which Pye put on the flipside of "Josie" – his fourth British 45 on Pye 7N 17067 in February 1966.

The 6 Bonus Tracks are clever inclusions that make the purchase so worthwhile for fans. "Turquoise" and "Hey GYP (Dig The Slowness)" are the A&B-sides of his 3rd UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N 15984 released November 1965 - both tracks being non-album at the time of release. It’s arguable that “Turquoise” and its Folk-Funky flipside are equal to and better than some of the album tracks. The other four songs - "Universal Soldier", "Do You Hear Me Now", "Ballad Of A Crystal Man" and "The War Drags On" are again non-album and make up the 4-tracks of the rare UK-only "Universal Soldier EP" on Pye NEP 24219 from September 1965. Hickory Records in the USA released "Universal Soldier" as a 7" single with the Bert Jansch cover "Do You Hear Me Now" on the flipside (Hickory 1338 in September 1965).

So - a good 60ts Folk-Rock album bolstered up with relevant bonuses, liner notes worth reading and quality mastering. After this you will need to buy the "Breezes Of Patchouli..." 3CD set from April 2013 on EMI with stunning Peter Mew Remasters. It offers his studio output between the halcyon period of 1966 to 1969 and much more (see separate review).

For the uninitiated and brave - "Fairytale" is a great way of discovering the wildly underrated Donovan and his great songs - especially those who want to veer away from his better-known hits. Sanctuary also reissued his 1965 debut album "What's Bin Did And What's Bin Hid" with the same packaging, mastering and equally cool added bonus-tracks too.

There's just something wonderful about this album as a stand-alone - and for that matter its straight up and simple predecessor is the same. Highly recommended...the both of them...

"Abbey Road" by THE BEATLES (2014 and 2015 Japan SHM-CD 5" Mini LP Repro Sleeve – 2009 Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Here Comes The Sun..." 

You have to say that the attention to detail on this December 2014 Japanese SHM-CD reissue is impressive (2nd press reissued April 2015 as an 'Encore' version). Beatles nerds like me know that first state British pressings of the vinyl album had a glossy laminate sleeve on both sides, the Apple logo 'misaligned' under the track list for Side 1 on the rear (they straightened it for re-pressings) and the final 17th track - the cheeky-buggers "Her Majesty" - is listed only on the Apple label of the actual LP and not the rear of the sleeve. The Japanese get all these piddly details right.

On top of that you get the rather gorgeous 16-page booklet Apple provided with the 09/09/09 digipak when it first came out with photos of the boys looking groovy and all grown up at Twickenham and Tittenhurst Park and historical notes by KEVIN HOWLETT and MIKE HEATLEY. There's their usual separate 20-page white booklet for UICY-76978 – lyrics in Japanese and English and a page illustrating all 16 titles in this hugely desirable Beatles series. There's an 'Apple' obi-band wrapped around the "Abbey Road" oversized glossy sleeve - again with the whole series pictured but this time in colour. My god they've even repro'd the matt textured black inner bag that came with original British albums. The 5" card sleeve repro itself is beautiful to look at - but you'd have to say that the track titles on the rear are a teensy weeny bit lost in the background – not perfectly focused. But they do provide a plastic protective within the black inner sleeve – a very nice touch. Here are the Volkswagen number plates (Paul is very much alive)...

Released 17 December 2014 (reissued 15 April 2015) and using the 2009 Remaster done at Abbey Road Studios - this Japan-only SHM-CD on Universal/Apple UICY-76978 (Barcode 4988005867605) is a straightforward transfer of the album presented in limited edition 5” card repro Mini LP artwork (47:29 minutes). It will be deleted in June 2016.

1. Come Together

2. Something

3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer

4. Oh! Darling

5. Octopus's Garden

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)

7. Here Comes The Sun – Side 2

8. Because

9. You Never Give Me Your Money

10. Sun King

11. Mean Mr. Mustard

12. Polythene Pam

13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

14. Golden Slumbers

15. Carry That Weight

16. The End

17. Her Majesty

Tracks 1 to 17 make up their 11th studio album "Abbey Road" – released 26 September 1969 in the UK on Apple PCS 7088 and 1 October 1969 in the USA on Capitol/Apple SO 383 (both Stereo only). It hit No. 1 on both the UK and USA LP charts.

GUY MASSEY, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE - Grammy nominees for their beautiful and sensitive handing of such a precious catalogue - carried out the remasters at Abbey Road from original master tapes - and what a job they've done. You add a Japanese-pressed Super High Materials CD (will play on all devices – it's a better form of disc with better retrieval details) and suddenly this beauty is singing like the very proverbial happy bird. The audio on this sucker through my Marantz CD/AMP combo (paired up with Tannoy Mercury V4 speakers) is just beautiful. The accumulative effect is to have even the most jaundiced ear sit up and take notice.

Then of course there's the album – the music. And Holy Crap! Wow! Yowsah! is the only appropriate response. Right from the opening bass and bars of "Come Together" – you're blown away. After the sloppy and personally critical debacle of the "Get Back" sessions that would be truncated and eventually released as "Let It Be" in May 1970 (after "Abbey Road") – Producer and helmsman George Martin was having no more crap from the four warring parties. He argued that he'd only go back into the studio if they approached the new album properly – no jamming – no hangers on – just tunes played well and recorded with polish. And he/they got what they wanted. By the time you rehear the beautiful "Something" by George Harrison, Ringo's witty and whimsical "Octopus's Garden", McCartney's blistering blues boogie vocal on "Oh! Darling" and Lennon's in-yer-face menace on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" – it's hard not to be awestruck at the sheer brilliance of it all.

But then you have to negotiate the 'suite' that is Side 2. Opening with George Harrison's penultimate moment "Here Comes The Sun " (probably his greatest song) - your launched into a roller-coaster ride of different themes and rhythms in "Sun King", the genuine hurt in "You Never Gave Me Your Money" and the melodic pathos of "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" (covered so well by Joe Cocker on his second album - 1970's "Joe Cocker!"). It all ends on that "Carry The Weight" riffage and of course those few moments of jab at the monarchy. Wonderful stuff...

Reputedly the first CD reissue of "Abbey Road" was put by Toshiba in Japan in May 1983 right at the beginning of the format's infancy and a full four years before most of us mere mortals got a CD stab at it in the West (October 1987).

I know you could argue that you just spend six quid on the 9 Sep 2009 digipak CD remaster/reissue – but this is The Beatles and I want the best. If you do too – then settle for no less. But be prepared for your wallet to bleed because once you hear this SHM-CD of that most brilliant BEATLES album – you’ll want the rest of their catalogue with the same audio kick in the gonads (ouch)...

PS: For info purposes - there are 16 STEREO titles in THE BEATLES Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series. The first wave came in December 2014 and then a repress in April 2015. Purchasers should note that both issues have the same catalogue numbers and barcodes – the way to recognise the difference is the sticker colour. 

1st Issues come with Red Stickers on the front plastic and were released 17 December 2014 - 2nd 'Encore' Reissues come with Blue Stickers and were released 15 April 2015. 

I’ve provided Barcodes but to locate the right pressings on Amazon...but you will need to check with your seller to see 'which' pressing they're selling (most sellers will identify them as either 1st or Encore - but if you want a specific issue - check).

1. Please Please Me (Universal/Apple UICY-76966) – Barcode 4988005867438

2. With The Beatles (Universal/Apple UICY-76967) – Barcode 4988005867455

3. A Hard Day’s Night (Universal/Apple UICY-76968) – Barcode 4988005867452

4. Beatles For Sale (Universal/Apple UICY-76969) – Barcode 4988005867469

5. Help! (Universal/Apple UICY-76970) – Barcode 4988005867476

6. Rubber Soul (Universal/Apple UICY-76971) – Barcode 4988005867483

7. Revolver (Universal/Apple UICY-76972) – Barcode 4988005867490

8. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Universal/Apple UICY-76973) – Barcode 4988005867506

9. Magical Mystery Tour (Universal/Apple UICY-76974) – Barcode 4988005867513

10. The Beatles [aka The White Album] (Universal/Apple UICY-76975 & 6) - Barcode 4988005867520

11. Yellow Submarine (Universal/Apple UICY-76977) – Barcode 4988005867599

12. Abbey Road (Universal/Apple UICY-76978) – Barcode 4988005867605

13. Let It Be (Universal/Apple UICY-76979) – Barcode 4988005867612

14. Past Masters (Universal/Apple UICY-76980 & 1) – Barcode 4988005867629

15. 1962-1966 (Red Album) (Universal/Apple UICY-76982/3) – Barcode 4988005867636
16. 1967-1970 (Blue Album) – (Universal/Apple UICY-76984/5) - Barcode 4988005867643

"Joy Of A Toy" by KEVIN AYERS (2003 EMI/Harvest 'Expanded' CD - Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Making Love...Taking Love…" 

Ex Wilde Flowers and Soft Machine Bassist and Songwriter KEVIN AYERS would pump eight eclectic and often utterly brilliant albums between 1969 and 1978 – six on EMI’s Harvest and the other two on Island Records. Time now for digital variants and you have to say that EMI/Harvest have done a totally sterling job reissuing the lot on CD. The first batch of four came in June 2003 and the remainder in September 2009 – all bolstered with great bonus tracks and quality Peter Mew Remasters. December 1969's "Joy Of A Toy" is the start of that journey and here are the childhood memories...

UK and Europe released June 2003 – "Joy Of A Toy" by KEVIN AYERS on EMI/Harvest 07243-582776-2-3 (Barcode 724358277623) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (67:15 minutes):

1. Joy Of A Toy Continued

2. Town Feeling

3. The Clarietta Rag

4. Girl On A Swing

5. Song For Insane Times

6. Stop This Train (Again Doing It) – Side 2

7. Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her)

8. The Lady Rachel (Lullaby For Children)

9. Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong

10. All This Crazy Gift Of Time

Tracks 1 to 10 make up the album "Joy Of A Toy" issued November 1969 on Harvest SHVL 736 in the UK and Harvest SKAO 421 in the USA (all tracks are Ayers originals).

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Religious Experience (Singing A Song In The Morning)

Take 9 recorded 28 Nov 1969 - featuring SYD BARRETT – Previously Unreleased

12. The Lady Rachel (Extended First Mix)

Recorded February 1972 – Previously Unreleased

13. Soon Soon Soon

Recorded September 1969 – first released as an album outtake on the "Odd Ditties" LP from February 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2005

14. Religious Experience (Singing A Song In The Morning)

Recorded and mixed 18 December 1969. Take 103 – Previously Unreleased

15. The Lady Rachel (Single Version)

Recorded 1972 - first released on the "Odd Ditties" LP from February 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2005

16. Singing A Song In The Morning (Single Version)

Debut UK 7" single released 13 February 1970 on Harvest HAR 5011, A

The Band:

KEVIN AYERS – Lead Vocals, Rhythm & Lead Guitars and Bass

DAVID BEFORD – Keyboards and Arrangements

THE SOFT MACHINE featuring Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt on "Song For Insane Times"

HUGH HOPPER – Bass on "Joy Of A Toy Continued"

ROBERT WYATT – Drums on all tracks except "Stop This Train (Again Doing It)" and "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong"

ROB TAIT – Drums on "Stop This Train (Again Doing It)" and "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong"

Compiled, researched and produced by noted Canterbury Scene genre expert MARK POWELL (of Esoteric Recordings) – the 16-page booklet is festooned with rare photos and a detailed history of the album's genesis and fruition. The British and American album's inner gatefold is reproduced on the two-page centre spread with the lyrics to "The Lady Rachel (Lullaby For Children)" and "Song For Insane Times" moved to Page 15 to be readable on their own. A label repro of The Soft Machine's rare debut US 45 for "Joy Of A Toy" on Probe 452 graces Page 4 (an Ayers song that originally turned up on their US-only self-titled debut album in December 1968). This is complimented by cool colour photos of Kevin busking in what appears to be Carnaby Street with unnamed pal. A demo of the only UK 7" single surrounding the LP "Singing A Song In The Morning" is repro'd on Page 12 (Harvest HAR 5011 from 13 February 1970) and there's even an original Harvest Records trade advert for the platter penned by the album's Producer Peter Jenner. Both Peter Jenner and Andrew King were part of the management team 'Blackhill Enterprises' (took care of Pink Floyd) who along with Roy Featherstone of EMI signed the young Ayers to EMI's new progressive rock label – Harvest Records. The album's striking front-cover yellow artwork is reproduced on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the CD label has the famous Harvest logo. All very tasteful indeed...but that's nothing to the superb Audio...

PETER MEW (who originally engineered the record back in the day) has remastered the first generation tapes at Abbey Road Studios (February 2003) and has done a typically stunning job – really beautiful Sound Quality. Mew has handled hundreds of CD reissues including Dr. Feelgood, Davie Bowie, Deep Purple, Donovan, Blodwyn Pig, Electric Light Orchestra, Free, Jethro Tull, Duncan Browne, Horslips, Man, Robin Trower (and many more) – I've reviewed all of the ones mentioned. His work here is amongst his best and Ayers specifically asked for Mew to carry out the transfers.

Ayers gathered his musician pals around him for his debut and it turned out to be a smart move. He opens proceedings with a follow on song "Joy Of A Toy Continued" – a continuation nod to the November 1968 US 45 for "Joy Of A Toy" by The Soft Machine. It's a jaunty sing-along shanty that probably seemed like fun at the time but hasn't travelled well across the decades. Things start to really become noticeably 'Ayers' with the brilliant "Town Feeling" – an oddly likeable ditty with Oboe by Paul Minns underpinning their weird sound and acoustic breaks. "The Clarietta Rag" feels like some Psych band's bid for a half-danceable single with lyrics like "...please send her a great big shining star to show her where you are..." This tale about a queen of mountain magic has one of the weirdest and weediest guitar solos I've ever heard. But all that pales against the truly gorgeous "Girl On A Swing" – a piano lullaby underpinned by a clavinet and treated guitar. At 2:50 minutes it's short but I'm always playing it – sticking the tune of CD-Rs to bolster up the contents and cool quotient. Side 1 ends with The Soft Machine backing up Ayers on the Jazz-Rock swing of "Song For Insane Times" – a wickedly groovy little tune where knowing lyrics like "...Alice is wearing her sexist gown...but she don't want you to look at her..." assault you as the keyboards give it bite.

Side 2 opens with the 'difficult' and menacing slow chug of "Stop This Train (Again Doing It)" until it suddenly punches into a fast train-like rhythm and stays that way for its brilliant 6:06 minutes. With its deliberately 'distant' vocals and cross-speaker keyboard fading and wild moog soloing - you're aware of a new kind of music emerging here – part Avant Garde – part Rock – part Kraut rhythms. And those brilliant lyrics only add to the heady stew – smart words that would serve him so well in the albums to come. Probably most people's fave tune on the album "The Lady Rachel (Lullaby For Children)" is another 5:18 minutes of strangely beautiful soundscapes you can't quite pigeonhole. But its evocative atmosphere means you can see the child with a candle climbing the big house stairs as Ayers sings "...now she's safe from the darkness...she's safe from its clutch..." Of the two finishers – the silly "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong" and "All This Crazy Gift Of Time" – the harmonica jug band vibe to "All This..." comes off best.

After a thorough search of the archives – the legendary tapes to the non-album side "Singing A Song In The Morning" with Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd on Guitar turned up (the first bonus track). Take 9 of what was initially called "Religious Experience" has been partially worth the wait - Barrett's jangle on Guitar can be heard throughout (4:47 minutes as opposed to the eventual single mix at 2:53 minutes). What's noticeable is the bass intro and the acoustic guitars are largely missing – replaced by Syd chugging away on an electric guitar. In truth I'd have to say that the more polished and commercially viable 7" single mix (Track 16) was the better choice at the time (even though it didn't chart) – but how fascinating is it to hear this rarity after all these years. If you're looking for the truly gorgeous non-LP B-side to the "Singing A Song In The Morning" single - "Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her)" is one of the bonus tracks on the second LP "Shooting At The Moon" CD Remaster. The other Previously Unreleased variant of "Religious Experience" on here (Track 14) was done 18 December 1969 and is apparently as high as Take 103 running to a much shorter 2:47 minutes – closer to the single cut. A genuine prize for fans is the 6:43 minutes of the 'Extended First Version' of "The Lady Rachel" – heavy on the organ and flute and big instruments. It's fantastic stuff but you can so hear why Ayers went with the simpler version – this take lost in too much busyness. And the fuzzed-up Psych of "Soon Soon Soon" is wickedly good too.

For his next album "Shooting At The Moon" released October 1970 – Ayers would form his group THE WHOLE WORLD with David Bedford on Keyboards, Mike Oldfield on Guitars, Lol Coxhill on Saxophone and Mick Fincher on Drums. His second platter would be the only one in his catalogue credited to Kevin Ayers and The Whole World.

So there you have it – "Joy Of A Toy" is nutty, tuneful and actually beautiful in places. It's not all masterful for sure - but this is where Kevin Ayers began carving his name into the hearts of music fans everywhere and songs from the album like "Girl On A Swing" and "The Lady Rachel" are being covered by contemporary acts to this day (2016). A fantastic reissue of a rarity you never see on original vinyl LP. Start your love affair here...

PS: see also my reviews for his other EMI/Harvest 'expanded' CD remasters - "Whatevershebringswesing" (1972), "Bananamour" (1973), "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" (1974), "Sweet Deceiver" (1975) and "Yes We Have No Mananas, Get Your Mananas Today" (1976)

"Kongos" by JOHN KONGOS (2014 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…He's Gonna Step On You Again…"

This is a clever CD reissue by Britain's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red). After years of faffing around on varying CD versions most of which sported dodgy sources (deleted quickly afterwards followed by extortionate price tags later) - at last fans of this wicked Seventies LP by South African multi-instrumentalist JOHN KONGOS get to hear his superb "Kongos" album in properly brill sound quality. And this reissue/remaster is bolstered up with a whopping 9 extra tracks too. Here are the good and bad Tokoloshe Man details...

UK released October 2014 - "Kongos" by JOHN KONGOS on Esoteric ECLEC 2466 (Barcode 5013929456648) breaks down as follows (79:52 minutes):

1. Tokoloshe Man (Album Version - 5:13 minutes)

2. Jubilee Cloud

3. Gold

4. Lift Me From The Ground

5. Tomorrow I'll Go

6. Try To Touch Just One [Side 2]

7. Weekend Lady

8. I Would Have Had A Good Time

9. Come On Down Jesus

10. He's Gonna Step On You Again

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd solo album "Kongos" - released November 1971 in the UK on Fly Records HIFLY 7 and January 1972 in the USA on Elektra EKS 75019. It charted in the UK at No 29 in January 1972 (didn't chart USA). The UK artwork sported a lovely gatefold sleeve and lyric insert while the US single-sleeve artwork was entirely different - both are featured in the 16-page booklet along with photographs of many foreign 7" picture sleeves, studio photos and trade adverts. The American LP also had a 9-track configuration (dropped "Weekend Lady") and the tracks were placed differently too. From this CD the US album sequences as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 (Side 1) whilst 8, 6, 5 and 10 are Side 2.

Tracks 11 to 19 are BONUS singles:

11. Sometimes It's Not Enough

Non-album B-side of "He's Gonna Step On You Again" 7" single  - released April 1971 in the UK on Fly Records BUG 8. Reached No. 4 in the UK charts.

12. Tokoloshe Man (Single Version - 3:59 minutes)

13. Can Someone Please Direct Me Back To Earth

The A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released November 1971 on Fly Records BUG 14.

Rose to No. 4 in the UK charts.

14. Great White Lady

15. Shamarack

The A&B-sides of a 1972 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 22 (both tracks were non-album)

16. Higher Than God's Hat

17. Would You Follow Me

The A&B-sides of a 1973 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 32 (both tracks were non-album)

18. Ride The Lightning

19. I Won't Ask You Where You've Been

The A&B-sides of a 1975 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 58 (both tracks were non-album)

The first thing that hits you (apart from the classy presentation) is the fabulous audio - 24-bit remastered from original master tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE (a name I've praised before) - the sound quality is wonderful. This is actually not surprising - the record was professionally Produced by Elton John's main man GUS DUDGEON  -while the whiz-bang Sound Engineer was none other than RAY THOMAS BAKER who would lend so much to QUEEN's sound a few years later (he produced "Bohemian Rhapsody").

The other aspect is the quality musicianship - much of Elton's backing band HOOKFOOT provides the basis for most tracks with superb guests spots in-between. RAY COOPER was on Percussion, CALEB QUAYE [Finlay's Dad] on Guitars and Keyboards, DAVE GLOVER on Bass and ROGER POPE on Drums. LOL COXHILL plays Soprano Sax on the mighty "Tokoloshe Man", Mike Moran plugs the ARP Synthesiser on "Jubilee Cloud", both RALPH McTELL and RICK WAKEMAN guest on "Tomorrow I'll Go" on Guitar and Piano respectively - while folky duo SUE & SUNNY provide backing vocals on 6 of the 10 tracks. The massive "He's Gonna Step On You Again" lays claim to being the first record with a `sample' on it - an African Tribe playing drums that was looped for the recording while the band played over it. England's HAPPY MONDAYS of course revived it as "Step On" on Factory Records - taking it to Number 5 in the UK charts in April 1990.

The booklet I mentioned above is fantastically well done - superb liner notes from noted writer MICHAEL HEATLEY - great photos of the recording sessions - reminiscences with the man himself - quotes from GUS DUDGEON - badges, sleeves, Kongos in his trademark Lennon glasses and even a photo of the very rare British Picture Sleeve to "Tokoloshe Man" (5000 copies only).

Those hoping for a whole album of "Tokoloshe" and "Step" rhythm-fests will be disappointed - but that doesn't mean there aren't other-tempo nuggets on here. I love the pretty and anthemic "Gold" with its beautiful string arrangements by ROBERT KIRBY and the very British Rock `n' Roll Boogie of "Jubilee Cloud" was cool enough to entice JOHN BALDRY to cover it on his 1972 "Everything Stops For Tea" album (on Warner Brothers). "Tomorrow I'll Go" is admittedly sappy by today's standards and the hippy lyrics of "Try To Touch Just One" and its frantic piano beat feels like David Cassidy but in a bad way. Better are "Weekend Lady" and the catchy almost George Harrison feel to "Come On Down Jesus" is a great lead in to the album closer - the amazing "He's Gonna Step On You Again" - sounding incredible.

I also wish I could say that the rare singles provide a treasure trove of unheard funky nirvana - they don't. Of the lot the B-side "Sometimes It's Not Enough" is excellent while the synth intro to "Higher Than God's Hat" followed by Rock swagger guitars was an obvious attempt to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle "Tokoloshe Man" magic (and it succeeds in its own right). But the rest are not great and easy to see why they faded into obscurity.

Still - I come back to the core album - now absolutely rocking with this new remaster. And I'm reminded of those singles on Fly with their script lettering and cool logo - and I'm a very happy (stepped on) bunny indeed...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 260 entries and 2450 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"Bad Co." by BAD COMPANY (2015 Swan Song/Rhino 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Yeah That’s The One!"

Rhino used to be a force in the reissue world – a label genuinely worth getting excited about. Then they seemed to lose the WEA contract that gave them so many superb reissue sets and for the last decade have treaded water with reissues of 'what they can do'. But since their excellent multiple issue of Van Morrison's "Moondance" and the equally brilliant Captain Beefheart 4CD Box Set "Sun Zoom Spark" – they’re back. This time we get two superb 2015 2CD 'Deluxe Editions' of classic rock gems from the Free/Mott The Hoople offshoot band BAD COMPANY - their "Bad Co." debut from 1974 and the equally brill follow-up "Straight Shooter" from 1975. And both are hoisted up by their tight pants with genuinely exciting Remasters and lots of Previously Unreleased outtakes actually worth owning. Here are the bad boy details…

UK released April 2015 – "Bad Co." by BAD COMPANY on Swan Song/Rhino 081227955540 (Barcode is the same number) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remaster and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (34:58 minutes):

1. Can't Get Enough

2. Rock Steady

3. Ready For Love

4. Don't Let Me Down

5. Bad Company [Side 2]

6. The Way I Choose

7. Movin' On

8. Seagull

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut LP "Bad. Co." – released June 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9279 and Swan Song SS 8410. It went to No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 in the USA.

Disc 2 (61:49 minutes):

1. Can't Get Enough (Take 8)

2. Little Miss Fortune (Demo Reel 1)

3. The Way I Choose (Demo Reel 1)

4. Bad Company (Session Reel 2)

5. The Way I Choose (Version 1 including False Start)

6. Easy On My Soul (Long Version)

7. Bad Company (Session Reel 8, Take 2)

8. Studio Chat/Dialogue

9. Superstar Woman (Long Version)

10. Can't Get Enough (7" Single Edit) (Non-Album Version - UK 7" single released May 1974 on Island WIP 6191)

11. Little Miss Fortune (Non-Album B-side to "Can't Get Enough" - UK 7" single released May 1974 on Island WIP 6191)

12. Easy On My Soul (Non-album B-side to "Movin' On" - US 7" single released January 1975 on Swan Song SS-70101)

13. Can't Get Enough (Hammond Version)

NOTES: all tracks on Disc 2 are Previously Unreleased except 10, 11 and 12 that first appeared in March 1999 on the 2CD set "The 'Original' Bad Co. Anthology" on Elektra.

The 20-page booklet is excellent – liner notes from Free expert DAVID CLAYTON that fill in all the blanks about Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke from Free, Mick Ralphs from Mott The Hoople and Boz Burrell from King Crimson. The two-page centrespread features trade adverts for the album's launch, the UK debut single "Can't Get Enough" and 1974 British tour dates. There's Spanish, Dutch, French, German and Japanese pictures sleeves for "Can't Get Enough" (all different) as well as the US debut 45 "Movin' On" on Swan Song. The British inner gatefold of Hipgnosis photos (live shots with their names beneath) and American inner gatefold artwork (a head shot of the band – no names) are featured on Pages 2 and 3 and Pages 18 and 19 respectively (they differed). There are song-by-song explanations of the 13 Bonus Tracks - 10 are Previously Unissued outtakes – the other three non-album B-sides that first showed on CD in 1999. The potted history goes into meeting Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant, how the band's seeds were sown as early as 1971, their conquering on America right from the outset. Even the see-through CD trays have master tapes beneath them and the flaps are covered in cool memorabilia. It's very tastefully done…

JON ASTLEY has handled the Remasters and RICHARD DIGBY SMITH the mixes from for Disc 2 (done at Close To The Edge in November 2014). They’ve had access to the original multi-track production tapes and does it show – always a slightly odd sounding album – like it could have been better – here we get real muscle and power. Tracks like "Rock Steady" is startling and the utterly infectious - "Movin' On" is the same.

The album opens with a total winner and obvious single "Can't Get Enough" – it made 15 in the UK but like the album went top five with a bullet in the USA (no 1 on Cashbox's chart). In fact as the liner notes state – five of the eight tracks here still get played on American FM – "Rock Steady", "Bad Company" and "Movin' On" being amongst them. The "Ready For Love" track has huge punch now and Rodgers plays all instruments on "Seagull". Mel Collins plays Saxophone on "The Way I Choose" while 60ts gals Sue and Sunny provide backing vocals to the hurting "Don't Let Me Down". Mick Ralph's axework throughout all eight numbers is the business – economic and to the point (he adds  keyboard work to "Ready For Love") while Rodgers has one of the best voices in the business and that rhythm section gels like a well-oiled machine. What a winner for a raw debut LP – and 1975's "Straight Shooter" was even better in my book...

You get a true sense of what a great band they were from Track 1 of Disc 2 – a rollicking Take 8 of "Can't Get Enough" that has wicked studio chatter and a slightly different vocal to the finished item (this is thrilling stuff and feels like a real discovery). The demo reel of the B-side "Little Miss Fortune" is an early version and is therefore only o.k. – a band searching for something but not quite there yet. Still when you hear the finished article (Track 11 on Disc 2) – you realise how much they polished that thing to make it swing (very impressive). I actually prefer the Demo Reel 1 of "The Way I Choose" which extends the polished album cut from 5:06 to 6:40 minutes. There's just something more soulful in its raw delivery – his simply vocals and those wicked guitars give it a mini epic feel. Mick Ralphs also gets to solo more as it fades out which is tremendous stuff (someone excitedly shouts "...that was great man!" at the end of the take).

"Bad Company" from Session Reel 2 features more piano up front and again I can't stop playing the sucker over the LP cut. FREE fans will know "Easy On My Soul" from their last studio album "Heartbreaker" when it first appeared on Side 2 in late 1972 (another great Paul Rodgers song). Here we get a thrilling Bad Co 'long version' of the single B-side version recorded during the "Straight Shooter" sessions in November 1974 (it's the flip of the second single "Movin' On"). Because it stretches to 6:15 minutes as opposed to the single version at 4:41 minutes (single version is Track 12) – Rodgers gets to vamp it up with his vocals. What's also noticeable is the huge improvement in sound quality that came with the 'Shooter' sessions – this thing sounds amazing. That melodic change where he sings "...I want to tell you my story…I want to tell you I’m flying…" is just so damn good and Ralphs plays a guitar blinder on it (this outtake is undoubtedly a real highlight on here). "Bad Company" is Take 2 and with the next version being the one used for the album – the band is in full swing – and at 5:33 minutes swaggers along in that sexy Bad Co way. "Studio Chat/Dialogue" clocks in at just 23 seconds and is a discussion about high-hats and dogs!

"Superstar Woman" originally appeared as a Previously Unreleased album outtake (recorded Nov 1973) on the 1999 2CD Set "The 'Original' Bad Co Anthology" on Elektra Records. That version was cut to fit - here we get the unedited 'Long Version' at 6:11 minutes. It has a duet vocal between Rodgers and Ralphs in portions and is another winner. The 7" single edit of "Can't Get Enough" cuts the LP version down from 4:15 to 3:30 minutes with an early fade. It was issued May 1974 in the UK on Island WIP 6191 and on Swan Song SS-70015 in the USA - announcing the album with a ballsy kick. Both "Little Miss Fortune" and "Easy On My Soul" are non-album B-sides ("Easy On My Soul" was the flip of "Movin' On" in the USA on Swan Song SS 70101) and easily as good as anything on the album – and in my not so humble opinion actually better (they sound brill too). It ends on a great curio – a Hammond Organ version of "Can't Get Enough" which runs to 4:41 minutes. They've taken the final album master and mixed in a Hammond Organ into the background for our delectation (mostly to the right of the speakers) and I'm digging it big time.

"...Yeah that's the one..." – Bad Company are heard to shout at the end of that 'Hammond Organ' version of "Can’t Get Enough" on Disc 2. Too damn right. Along with "Straight Shooter" (see separate review) – these are the best Rhino Deluxe Editions I've had the pleasure of hearing in years. Way to go boys…and more please...