"Santana: The Woodstock Experience" by SANTANA (2009 Columbia/Legacy 2CD with Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Go Out And Make It Better…"

Sometimes you forget how good an album is. Always trumped by the artistic and commercial leap forward "Abraxas" their 2nd LP made in 1970 - Santana's self-titled debut is that astonishing thing - a great record that also introduces an entirely different kind of music - Latin Rock. And this clever tie-in with the iconic "Woodstock Festival" in 1969 gives me a good excuse to indulge yet again...

Released July 2009 - "Santana: The Woodstock Experience" by SANTANA on Columbia/Legacy 88697 48242 2 (Barcode 886974824220) is a 2CD set that lumps together the band's September 1969 debut album "Santana" (37:10 minutes) with a new disc - "Recorded Live At The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, Saturday, August 16, 1969". Both are in 5" oversized card repro sleeves - each with a different sepia-feel inner bag containing recorded details and reissue credits. There is also a gorgeous two-sided foldout poster with Santana live at the 1969 event on one side and a colour crowd shot on the other. It's all housed in an equally pretty card slipcase (see PS below for a list of all releases in this excellent commemorative series).

Disc 1 (37:10 minutes):

1. Waiting

2. Evil Ways

3. Shades Of Time

4. Savor

5. Jingo

6. Persuasion

7. Treat

8. You Just Don’t Care

9. Soul Sacrifice

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album “Santana” – released August 1969 in the USA on Columbia CS 9781 and November 1969 in the UK on CBS Records S 63015. The CD uses a VIC ANESINI remaster (he also mastered Disc 2 from 8-track tapes).

Disc 2 – "Recorded Live At The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, Saturday, August 16, 1969" (45:39 minutes):

1. Waiting

2. Evil Ways

3. You Just Don't Care

4. Savor

5. Jingo

6. Persuasion

7. Soul Sacrifice

8. Fried Neck Bones And Some Home Fries

The sexy and wild opening rhythms of "Waiting" sounds like music from another world - even now - while Carlos Santana's hair-raising guitar prowess soars over everything. It's followed by the hooky "Evil Ways" with Gregg Rolie giving it some vocal prowess. "Shades Of Time" and "Savor" allow Percussionists Jose Areas and Mike Carabello let rip while I've always thought "Treat" with its languid piano beginnings - guitar speed-up in the centre - back to Rolie's cool keyboard vibes to finish - is a masterpiece. The Funk-Rock of "You Just Don't Care" is great (love that guitar break at the end) while the LP finisher "Soul Sacrifice" has rightly been on countless "Best Of" CD anthologies across the decades.

Given its age and the circumstances in which it was recorded - the previously unreleased 'live set' from 16 August 1969 is fantastically good - way past crappy bootlegs of old. A month 'before' their debut album will hit the record shops and with ace fresh material in the bag - the band is on fire (even if the crowd seem stunned or tired). "Waiting", "Evil" and a screaming version of "Soul Sacrifice" - it's all so good. You also get to savour a song that is rarely if ever heard - "Fried Neck Bones And Some Home Fries" - very cool indeed. The whole thing is superb and Anesini has done a masterful job in the transfers.

You could obviously say that Sony has spotted yet another way to crassly milk a cultural event - but this release doesn't feel like that to me. It's beautifully done and a set of hip-shakers you need in your muddy living room real soon...

The 5 titles "The Woodstock Experience" Series from July 2009 are:

1. Jefferson Airplane - uses the "Volunteers" album and has an 8-track live album recorded 17 Aug 1969 Catalogue No: RCA/Legacy 88697 48240 2 (Barcode 886974824022)

2. Janis Joplin - uses the "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!" debut album and has a 10-track live album recorded 17 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48243 2 (Barcode 886974824329)

3. Santana - uses the "Santana" debut album and has an 8-track live album recorded Saturday 16 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48242 2 (Barcode 886974824220)

4. Sly & The Family Stone - uses the "Stand!" album and has a 9-track live disc recorded 17 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Epic/Legacy 88697 48241 2 (Barcode 886974824121)

5. Johnny Winter - uses the "Johnny Winter" album and has an 8-track live disc recorded 17 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48244 2 (Barcode 886974824428)

"Caravanserai" by SANTANA (2003 Columbia/Legacy CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Just In Time To See The Sun..."

The Latin-Rock of SANTANA took the world by storm back in the day - aided and abetted by a soaring appearance at the legendary Woodstock festival mere weeks before their debut appeared in September 1969 on Columbia Records in the USA and CBS Records in good old Blighty (see my review for "Santana: The Woodstock Experience"). September 1970's magisterial "Abraxas" soared to No. 1 in September 1970 and "Santana III" hit the top stop too in October of 1971.

But after patience stretching wig-outs with John McLaughlin and Buddy Miles in-between proper Santana studio albums - somehow the 'fizz' had gone off their sales by the time this deeply gorgeous and swirling Jazz Fusion LP arrived in October 1972. Even its eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing gatefold cover of far-away deserts and sun-drenched landscapes failed to get the public into a buying tizzy and it managed a more humble No. 8 on the US charts (No. 6 in the UK) compared to the genre-busting heights of its two predecessors.

But over the decades it's become a stone flower 'classic'. The trippy and largely instrumental "Caravanserai" has always been a fan's album – a less commercial affair than before and a sign of Carlos not wanting to rest of his laurels and stretch out musically – even if it meant fracturing his hugely successful band and the formula that won them those gold-discs. In fact I'd argue that in a long and amazing career that still clocks up huge sales to this day (2016) – their fourth studio set is something of an 'overlooked' nugget. And more importantly Bob Irwin and Vic Anesini's stunning remaster of it for Columbia has only made me slaver all over "Caravanserai" yet again. Here are the waves within (man)...

UK released October 2003 - "Caravanserai" by SANTANA on Columbia/Legacy 511128 2 (Barcode 5099751112822) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1972 album and plays out as follows (51:33 minutes):

1. Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation

2. Waves Within

3. Look Up (To See What's Coming Down)

4. Just In Time To See The Sun

5. Song Of The Wind

6. All The Love In The Universe

7. Future Primitive [Side 2]

8. Stone Flower

9. La Fuente Del Ritmo

10. Every Step Of The Way

Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Caravanserai" - released October 1972 in the USA on Columbia KC 31610 and November 1972 in the UK on CBS Records S 65299. Produced by CARLOS SANTANA and MICHAEL SHRIEVE - it peaked at No. 8 in the USA and No. 6 in the UK LP charts.

The 10-leaf foldout inlay has excellent liner notes from HAL MILLER with quotes from original Producer Michael Shrieve – the 'Metaphysical Meditations' quotation that was on the inner gatefold of original vinyl LPs as well as track-by-track musician credits and a half decent colour representation of that gorgeous artwork. Even the Columbia CD matches the original LP label and there’s a picture of that distant camel train beneath the see-through CD tray.

But the big news is a new BOB IRWIN and VIC ANESINI CD Remaster. These guys did the transfers at Sony’s Studios in New York and ANESINI in particular is a name I've sung the praises of before. He’s handled very prestigious SONY catalogue – Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Nilsson, Paul Simon, Mountain, Lou Reed, Roy Orbison, Santana, Mott The Hoople and The Jayhawks to name but a few. Clean – full of presence and warmth – this thing is a joy to listen too – and after years of clicking through quite passages of tinkling cymbals and rattling congas on my trusty old vinyl original – the audio here is a welcome revelation...

"Caravanserai" opens with a crickets-chirping fade in – Percussion provided by James Mango Lewis and Carlos Santana as Hadley Caliman does those strangulated but Sahara-atmospheric Saxophone notes – Neal Schon (later with Journey) handling the Guitar. Then suddenly we get Tom Rutley on Acoustic Bass and Wendy Haas giving it some echoing electric Piano and we’re off into a different set of Santana waters. That segues into "Waves Within" where Carlos takes over the Lead Guitar and we become immediately aware of another integral hero of the band - Gregg Rolie's presence on Organ anchoring the whole soaring fusion piece. Things Funk Up big time with "Look Up (To See What's Coming Down)" - like Carlos has discovered his inner Sly Stone - a fantastic groove with the whole band cooking. Introducing unconvincing vocals into "Just In Time To See The Sun" kind of ruins an otherwise great groove - but all that is that is flattened by what has to be an all-time fave-crave for Santana fans - the magical "Song Of The Wind". Rolie's organ fades in six-minutes of sublime guitar work by the duo of Santana and Schon with stunning rhythm section support coming off James Lewis and Mike Shrieve. Even now it makes me weepy and reminds me of why I love Santana so much - that 'sound' he gets when he plays and really lets go. Side 1 ends with the Carlos Santana/Neil Schon penned "All The Love Of The Universe" where they and Mingo Lewis share vocals on probably the most 'boppy' number on the album (not the best in my opinion).

Side 2 opens with the spacey "Future Primitive" - floating keyboard notes are soon joined by a frantic Bongo and Conga combination from Jose "Chepito" Areas and James Mingo Lewis - whacking those percussion instruments like they're playing live at a festival and the crowd are cheering them on. Latin superstar Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote "Stone Flower" - the most overtly Latin song on the LP and a fabulous groove of guitars and keyboards. James Mango Lewis penned another fave of mine - the frenzied Salsa and Latin rhythms of "La Fuente Del Ritmo" - all musicians mixing perfectly with Carlos and Neal on dual guitars as James Mingo Lewis keeps it anchored with Acoustic Piano while Tom Coster solos on the Electric Piano - bit of a showstopper this. It ends with "Every Step Of The Way" - eight and half minutes of the Santana Band building up and then letting rip on everything - Guitars, Keyboards, Flute and Percussion. It's sexy and slightly dangerous rhythms are a perfect way to finish the LP...and along with "Song Of The Wind" is another instrumental highlight on an album that contains many...

In some respects it's kind of impossible to categorize "Caravanserai" - but isn't that cool – I loved it then for that and I love it still.

In the eternal caravan of repackaging (if you'll forgive the pun) - I'm quite certain we'll get yet another format in the future - another way to squeeze even more nuances out of this tasty desert-dish. But in the meantime - Legacy's superb CD Remaster of "Caravanserai" is available online for peanuts - cheaper than a camel train nosebag and highly unlikely to spit on you when things get a little hot under the collar as you air-guitar around your living room with a tennis racquet.

Enter here for the 'bosom of infinite joy' people...and as my wife well knows... I’m up for the 'bosom of infinite' anything...

"Neu!" by NEU! [featuring MICHAEL ROTHER and KLAUS DINGER ex Kraftwerk] (2001 Gronland CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ich Mein Berliner...Em Sorry...Dusseldorfer..."

Back in the M&S Cream Cakes calorie haze blizzard of 2010 (a pre heart attack fat-git in-joke for the boys at Reckless) - I was duly blown away by a VARIOUS ARTISTS compilation called "Deutsche Elektronische Musik: Experimental German Rock and Electronic Musik 1972-1983" put out by the mighty Soul Jazz Records of Soho's Broadwick Street (links Berwick Street and Wardour Street in the West End of London).

Soul Jazz had done probably hundreds of 2LP compilations covering a multitude of genres – Reggae (Studio 1 specialists), Soul, Latin, Salsa, Dance, New Age, Avant Garde and even the Funky side of Country Rock. But they were impressively the first to nail a decent representative 2CD and 2 x Vinyl Doubles for that most sought-after of genres 'KRAUT ROCK'.

Having worked in Reckless Records (round the corner from them on Berwick Street) for near on 20 years - in the last ten of those two decades we'd become inundated on a weekly basis with Dance and Funk 'young uns' interested in a decent 'Kraut Rock' compilation - with most being amazed that prior to 2010 there really wasn't anything we could point a finger at. And with German and British Spoon, Brain and United Artists label LPs increasingly impossible to find in any condition - "Deutsche Elektronische Musik: Experimental German Rock and Electronic Musik 1972-1983" turned up just in the nick of time (they even did a second volume of it to just as much acclaim). In my endearing and yet magnificent benevolence – I promptly awarded this genius and beautifully presented compilation with a ‘Reissue Of The Year’ 2010 award (the Queen called me shortly afterwards to congratulate me on my kindness and Irish good taste).

Pride of place on Disc 1 of that iconic Volume 1 was "Hallogallo" by NEU in all its droning ten-minute glory – a band formed after MICHAEL ROTHER and KLAUS DINGER left Florian Schneider and KRAFTWERK to their own devices in 1971. And that's where this frightfully cool 2001 CD reissue comes in. Once more my musical travellers unto the 'sonderangebot' (if you know what I'm saying)...

UK released May 2001 - "Neu!" by NEU! on Gronland CDGRON 1 (Barcode 5024545344929) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1972 album and plays out as follows (45:44 minutes):

1. Hallogallo (10:07 minutes)

2. Sonderangebot (4:50 minutes)

3. Weissensee (6:42 minutes)

Side 2 is called "Jahresuberblick"

4. Im Gluck (6:52 minutes)

5. Negativland (9:46 minutes)

6. Lieber Honig (7:15 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 6 are their debut LP "Neu!" - released summer of 1972 in Germany on Brain/Metronome Records BRAIN 1004 and October 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29396. All songs written by and all instruments played by MICHAEL ROTHER and KLAUS DINGER.

The 16-square foldout inlay is a dreadfully disappointing affair - reproducing the hand-written inner gatefold of the original LP and the pink 'Neu!" logo - and nothing else. In fact you can't even read the hand-written details because they're done in a semi-faded fashion. We're told the CD is Remastered in London in 2001 - but not by whom or where. The audio is very good overall but on tracks like "Lieber Honig" – it has to be pointed out that the hiss levels are unfortunately very prevalent. I suppose in keeping with the ‘mystery’ surrounding this most influential of German bands – we get no details - but I can't help feel that this is a lazy reissue when it would have been so much better to have Rother and Dinger cough up some juicy Dusseldorf freudenberger facts about themselves and their musical processes thereby enlightening us all after ‘our’ four decades of subliminal hero worship...

"Neu!" opens its Kraut Rock account with a winner in "Hallogallo" (apparently no one seems to know what it means). You get ten minutes of droning brilliance that builds and builds into a sort of trance-like groove – the kind of hooky foot-tapping chug that sends Trance and Dance Kids into ecstasy. The band acknowledged the importance of the track when they reformed in 2010 to do gigs under the name 'Hallogallo 2010'. The go-to Remaster Wizard and Ace Audio Engineer for all things Prog (Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Tull) – Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson recorded a short but sweet cover version of "Hallogallo" during PT's 1996 sessions for their "Signify" LP which eventually saw the light of day the following year on the B-sides/Demos compilation "Insignificance". But after the prolonged high point of the opener - the near five-minute sound effects noodle that is "Sonderangebot" comes as a disappointing piece of filler - swirling drum symbols and warbling synth notes that emulate winds in the Sahara - but just not as refreshing.

Things are immediately brought back into superstar focus with the drums and guitar treatment brilliance of "Weissensee" - seven minutes of what feels like German Blues with a Kraftwerk tinge. "Weissensee" is the album's other masterpiece - a sort of slow head-nodding drone that's incredibly musical - guitars floating in and out in - distorted but controlled fuzz tones - the kind of thing that would turn up on a mix tape and have punters asking after it.

Like Side 1 - Side 2 offers us a mixture of the great and the dated. "Im Gluck" (which I think means 'I'm happy') opens with sloshing water like some Tangerine Dream album on Virgin Records. Voices then mumble and giggle as if on some punt on the river when the droning guitar starts to creep in and take over. It's hissy for sure throughout - but once those guitar notes that to become musical as the song moves forward - it feels weirdly magical. "Negativland" is probably the most challenging track on the LP - mad guitar sounds wailing and panning across your speakers - it's also the best-sounding track on the CD (Californian band Negativland took their name from this track). "Lieber Honig" is hiss-laden and features rather silly and forced vocals that sound like the man needs a good cry and be done with it.

So there you have - half genius - half waffle - but man the good stuff is so damn cool. And you can feel the album's seminal influence on everyone from U2 to Radiohead a full 44-years after the event - which is truly impressive. They went on to release only two other albums in the UK (both in gatefolds) - "Neu! 2" in September 1973 on United Artists UAG 29500 and "Neu '75" in May 1975 on United Artists UAG 29782 - but like The Stooges first two LPs (1969's "Stooges" and 1970's "Fun House" on original Elektra 'EKS' labels) - I've seen British-pressed copies of these records maybe two or three times in 45 years of collecting. Hell - United Artists UK even tried "Super" b/w "Neuschnee" from "Neu 2" as a UK 7" single in a 'Picture Sleeve' - but I've 'never' seen a copy of it and its £25+ Record Collector Price Guide rating is well underrated in my book...

In 2016 - Germany's NEU! retain their allure and mystery and engender ever-growing amounts of 'Godlike' analogies.

I don't know if the good Lord herself would agree with all of those assessments - but this overlooked and at times utterly brilliant album should be the place where you start your journey to the 'gluck' side of the force...

"Fun House" by THE STOOGES [featuring IGGY POP] (2005 Elektra/Rhino 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Instant Mayhem..."

Rock has produced its fair share of talented loony bins - wild men born to upset and excite - Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Jim Morrison and Michigan's most famous front man - James Jewel Osterberg - IGGY POP to us mere mortals.

Even now in July 2016 as I write this - I look at the release date of 'December 1970' for "Fun House" by THE STOOGES and my jaw drops to the floor. I mean The Velvets were out there for sure as far back as 1967 - but not like this. Listening to the sheer sonic assault of "L.A. Blues" where the guitars threaten to bleed all over the Laura Ashley bed linen (its only five minutes of feedback but hard to take even now) or the fantastic hammer-down riffage of "Down On The Street" – The Stooges were so friggin’ PUNK before anyone even knew the meaning of the word – a band more likely to wear barbed wire in their hair than a flower.

In fact - if this early Punk jewel had arrived December 1977 in the UK – I’d argue it would have made Top 10 if not Top 5 - hailed as a genre masterpiece - and not suffered the ignominious fate of not even making the Top 200 in the USA on original release. I worked for Reckless Records in London for near 20 years as a Rarities Buyer and Mail Order head honcho – and I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen an actual British-pressed 'EKS' red label Elektra original. It sold nothing and never got promoted. An odd thing considering that you can literally feel the template for four decades of Punk, Grunge, Hardcore and Alternative screaming out of these 1970 grooves – a staggering legacy for such an overlooked album. Let's get to the in-house details and allow some Detroit mayhem into our nice orderly Feng Shui living rooms...

UK and USA released August 2005 - "Fun House" by THE STOOGES on Elektra/Rhino 8122-73175-2 (Barcode 081227317522) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' with a new remaster on CD1 of the album and outakes/singles first issued on the 1999 Rhino Box Set "The Complete Fun House Sessions". It plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (36:40 minutes):

1. Down On The Street

2. Loose

3. T.V. Eye

4. Dirt

5. 1970 [Side 2]

6. Fun House

7. L.A. Blues

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 2nd studio album "Fun House" - released December 1970 in the USA and UK on Elektra Records EKS 74071. Produced by DON GALLUCCI - it didn't chart in either country.

Disc 2 (73:28 minutes):

1. T.V. Eye (Takes 7 & 8)

2. Loose (Demo)

3. Loose (Take 2)

4. Loose (Take 22)

5. Lost In The Future (Take 1)

6. Down On The Street (Take 1)

7. Down On The Street (Take 8)

8. Dirt (Take 4)

9. Slide (Slidin' The Blues) (Take 1)

10. 1970 (Take 3)

11. Fun House (Take 2)

12. Fun House (Take 3)

Bonus Single Mixes:

13. Down On The Street

14. 1970

Tracks 13 and 14 were released December 1970 as the A&B-sides of a USA 7" single on Elektra EKM 45695

THE STOOGES was:

IGGY POP - Lead Vocals

RON ASHETON - Guitar

STEPHAN MACKAY - Tenor Saxophone

DAVE ALEXANDER - Bass

SCOTT ASHETON - Drums

The 20-page booklet is a pleasing affair - an introductory note by Jack White of The White Strips where he famously describes "Fun House" as 'the definitive rock album of America' - a quote they use on the jewel case sticker. PAUL TRYNKA supplies a truncated version of his "Fun House" liner notes from the 1999 six-disc blockbuster that included every take. It's accompanied by trade adverts, a facsimile of the Lester Bangs review in Creem Magazine and fantastic colour photos of Iggy and the band from the period (as well as the usual reissue credits).

DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT - long-time Audio Engineers whose history with Rhino and the vast WEA catalogue stretches back decades – have newly remastered the album onto Disc 1 (different to the 1999 issue) – and what a job they’ve done. The passion and sheer attitude captured by original Producer Don Gallucci (he let Iggy sing live into the mike to capture the energy) is amplified into something akin to The Ramones in your living room. This sucker ROCKS and the 1999 Remasters of the outtakes on Disc 2 perfectly distil the huge Box Set into one usable alternative chunk – giving the listener a cool yin-yang listen. Both CDs have the Elektra Butterfly label logo and beneath the see-through CD tray there’s even a garish colour picture of the band sitting obediently on a carpet as they look like altar boys out at the camera. Apparently Producer Gallucci removed the carpets and mufflers from the Elektra Studios for the song-a-day sessions to properly capture the sheer shock 'n' awe of the band...

"Fun House" storms into your man cave with "Down On The Street" - Iggy grunting, growling and yelping behind a riff that intends to hurt your granny. Things continue on their 'destroy all in our path' mission with the fantastic "Loose" - a properly huge guitar sound blasting away in the slightly echoed distance - a garage band telling you how they 'stick it deep inside' (oh dear tell me we're not talking about those naughty drugs boys). Iggy screams "LORD!" at the beginning of "T.V. Eyes" - another fab riff that The Sex Pistols would have nobbled a close family member to attain. Side 1 of this organised mayhem ends with "Dirt" - seven minutes of slow Doors-like Blues meets a menacing Stooges Rock groove – Ron Asheton's guitar playing a total revelation.

Side 2 offers the genius of the 'I feel alright' riffage of "1970" where Steven Mackay’s wild Saxophone playing finally makes itself known – followed by everyone's crave – the title track "Fun House". The near eight-minutes of "Fun House" was chosen as the LP's representative track on the gorgeous 5CD Elektra Records "Forever Changing" retrospective in 2006 (see my full in-depth review of that amazing set) and it's easy to hear why. More angry guitars and screaming Saxophone take no prisoners as the band wig out like their lives depend on it. But in truth I find the final screaming feedback and general slaughtering of your eardrums of "L.A. Blues" just too much to take (forgive me punk overlords) - but it doesn't stop me from being blown away by the album overall...

As someone who couldn't afford the lavish 1999 Rhino Set "The Complete Fun House Sessions" - Disc 2 offers up a mouth-watering prospect - an edited variant I can actually use - a sort of alternate "Fun House". I immediately went to "Slide" which is essentially a run-through for "Dirt" but with Saxophone thrown into the mix. I'm totally loving the slow groove of "Lost In The Future" even if Iggy's vocals show that he's still grappling with the words. And my God but the 'demo' of "Loose" could easily have been a single there and then - release it - leave it alone mother (love that feeding back guitar). Take 2 of "Fun House" runs to 9:31 minutes while Take 3 goes even longer to 11:30 - both are amazingly good and the Audio Remaster full of punch for all the right reasons.

As the album "Fun House" was released in late 1970 and few wanted to know let alone buy it - Heroin reared its ugly head and everything went to pieces for The Stooges (Bowie would rescue Iggy and some say vice versa). But remember them this way - snotty, raw and doing it for the little guy. Genius and then some...

"Grave New World" by STRAWBS (1998 A&M Remaster Pieces 'Expanded Edition' CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Heavy Disguises..."

After clocking up four albums between May 1969's debut "Strawbs" and July 1971's "Witchwood" (two with Yes Keyboardist Rick Wakeman on board) - the STRAWBS (shortened from Strawberry Hill Boys) finally rewarded the patience of A&M Records A&R men with a big fat hit album - the fondly remembered "Grave New World" from February 1972.

Even without a single to plug it - but armed with a tri-gatefold sleeve and natty booklet within original copies - "Grave New World" climbed up to No. 11 in the UK LP charts and lay the ground for their 'Rock' record breakthrough - "Bursting At The Seams" in February 1973 which went all the way to No. 2.

"Grave New World" is seen as their last overtly 'Folk Rock' LP and features what many feel was the classic Strawbs line-up. Here are the grim (slightly new) details...

UK released July 1998 - "Grave New World" by STRAWBS on A&M Records 540 934-2 (Barcode 731454093422) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (42:39 minutes):

1. Benedictus

2. Hey, Little Man...Thursday's Child

3. Queen Of Dreams

4. Heavy Disguise

5. New World

6. Hey Little Man...Wednesday's Child

7. The Flower And The Young Man [Side 2]

8. Tomorrow

9. On Growing Older

10. Ah Me, Ah My

11. Is It Today, Lord?

12. The Journey's End

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 5th album "Grave New World" - released February 1972 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 68078 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4344. Produced by The Strawbs - all songs written by Dave Cousins except "Heavy Disguise" by John Ford. "Ah Me, Ah my" by Tony Hopper and "Is It Today Lord" by Richard Hudson.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Here It Comes - non-album track released as a UK-only 7" single April 1972 on A&M Records AMS 7002 with the album cut "Tomorrow" as its B-side

14. I'm Going Home - a Strawbs track issued in the UK as a DAVE COUSINS solo 7" single in September 1972 on A&M Records AMS 7032 with "Ways And Means" on the B-side. Both songs turned up on the September 1972 first solo LP by Cousins called "Two Weeks Last Summer" on A&M Records AMLS 68118. Neither the single nor the album received US release.

STRAWBS was:

DAVE COUSINS – Lead Vocals, Acoustic and 12-String Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric-Acoustic Dulcimer, Recorders

TONY HOPPER – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Auto Harp

BLUE WEAVER – Organ, Piano, Harmonium, Mellotron and Clavioline

JOHN FORD – Vocals and Bass

RICHARD HUDSON – Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Tablas and Sitar on "Is It Today, Lord?"

GUESTS:

Trevor Lucas and Anne Collins sing backing vocals on "Benedictus"

Robert Kirby Silver Band on "Heavy Disguise"

Tony Visconti Arranged and Provided 'Chorus' Vocals for "Ah Me, Ah My"

The 12-page booklet has typically in-depth liner notes from a great chronicler of music - JOHN TOBLER (with thanks to Dave Cousins) and the centre pages are the 'Paper Tiger' painting that graced the inner tri-gatefold (William Blake's painting is on the front cover and his verse on the last page). Recorded at Morgan Studios in November 1971 with some further work at Island Studios - the tapes are clearly in great shape because the PETER WAKE Remaster (done at Bourbery-Wake Studios) is gorgeous to listen too - all that great original production shining through. But notable and sloppy omissions include "Queen Of Dreams" (track 3) and "On Growing Older" (track 9) - both are missing entirely from the track-by-track session notes on Page 10 (who played what on what) and it appears the booklet has never been corrected.

Supposedly the story of one man's life from cradle to the grave - the album opens with Cousins getting all hymn-like on "Benedictus" - three of the band's vocals joined by Fairport's Trevor Lucas and British Contralto singer Anne Collin. With a heavy-on-the-organ intro and strummed dulcimer strings rattling around the speakers – the songs feels very English Folk-Rock (in a good way). In direct contrast we then get Cousins on his own with his Acoustic Guitar for the one-minute of "Hey Little Man...Thursday's Child" - the kind of pretty ditty that enthrals even after all these years (beautifully produced too).

Things take a decidedly trippy turn with the backwards guitars, dulcimers and Mellotron of "Queen Of Dreams" - while John Ford gets his first look in on the excellent "Heavy Disguise" - a track many fans would have easily issued as a winning 45 (he would of course form Hudson-Ford after they both left the Strawbs in the mid 70ts). But the Mellotron melodrama of "New World" feels leaden and tired – like bad Procol Harum. Thankfully Side 1 ends on the second short but very pretty Cousins melody - "Hey Little Man...Wednesday's Child" – as sweet as first part.

Side 2 opens with echoed Acapella vocals before "The Flower And The Young Man" settles into a sort of Incredible String Band power ballad - Ford's Bass incredibly clear in the mix. "Tomorrow" is another Prog plodder I'm afraid that irritates instead of lifts - far better is the superb "On Growing Older" - a beautifully melodic piece and one of the album's highlights. The 'cor blimey mate' days gone by of "Ah Me, Ah My" (sung by Tony Hopper and originally produced by Gus Dudgeon) is the kind of song they obviously thought was funny and it isn't. But things return to Strawbs form with the finisher "Is It Today, Lord?" - Richard Hudson doing a blinder on the Sitar and tables acting like he's just discovered ISB's "Wee Tam And The Big Huge"...

The two UK 7" single Bonus Tracks turn out to just that - actual bonuses - in fact I'd argue that "Here It Comes" is better than some of the lesser tunes on the GNW LP.

So not all genius - but so much worthy of your hard earned post-Brexit pound. And "Bursting At The Seams" from 1973 was even better in my book...

PS: see also my review for the hugely underrated "Dragonfly" from 1970 by STRAWBS