"Nick Drake" by NICK DRAKE [August 1971 USA-Only LP Compilation on Island Records SMAS-9307 - Compiled From Inside 2013's 5CD "Tuck Box" on Universal) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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August 1971 US-Only 8-Track LP "Nick Drake" on Island SMAS-9307

"...You're A Very Rare Find..."

A bloody rare find indeed!

The first mention of this staggeringly hard-to-find album is the 31 July 1971 publication of Billboard in the USA – amazingly given a whole page heralding the immanent coming of Nick Drake's debut American LP "Nick Drake" on Island Records SMAS-9307 (Island was then distributed Stateside by Capitol Records hence the SMAS prefix on the catalogue number). Even now in 2017 – this expensive full-page confidence seems amazing - nestled amongst sizeable adverts for Humble Pie's "Rock On", AMPEX Tape Machines and how many Rock Bands had used SHURE microphones to get down their shtick – there it sits - a stark full-page advert for Island SMAS-9307. But who outside of industry insiders noticed?

Using the rear cover photo of September 1969's "Five Leaves Left" as its front aspect (the blurred man running past Nick who is stood up against a wall) – that snap is centred on a gatefold cover that bears no title on the front. The advert advises that he's had two albums in Blighty and that this is a compilation of songs from both. It also tells us that American punters have called in after hearing DJs play UK imports of his first two records – asking for such a release on their turf (oh yeah).

The cold commercial truth was probably a lot less generous and not so grass roots. In the same 31 July 1971 Billboard publication is another full-page advert without any words at all – just a photo of a beaming James Taylor standing beside an equally elated Carole King. Carole’s magisterial "Tapestry" had been released in February on Ode 70 Records and Taylor's second LP "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon" on Warner Brothers in June of 1971. With both albums slaughtering all in their Grammy-winning singer-songwriter path (LPs and 45s) – someone at Island USA was more likely trying to tap into that same burgeoning market when they compiled the 8-song "Nick Drake".

They even went as far as giving the LP a rather lovely inner gatefold with a smiling carefree Nick reclining in green English grass - the track credits printed tastefully over to the right of the double-spread photo. Technically - the 1971 American LP "Nick Drake" featured 3 tracks from "Five Leaves Left" (1 on Side 1 and 1 and 2 on Side 2) with the five remaining being from "Bryter Layter". It can be sequenced as follows:

Side 1:

1. 'Cello Song

2. Poor Boy

3. At The Chime Of A City Clock

4. Northern Star

Side 2:

1. River Man

2. Three Hours

3. One Of These Things First

4. Fly

The following week – 8 August 1971 – it gets a single line entry in the New Releases section and is never heard of again. In a final act of superstar cult recognition – it was repressed using the year 2000 John Wood Remasters onto a vinyl LP with a poster for Record Store Day 2013. No longer a Poor Boy thank God. On to the music...

You can digitally sequence this 8-track LP by buying the two stand-alone CD Remasters from June 2000 – his September 1969 debut "Five Leaves Left" and his second LP – November 1970’s "Bryter Layter". But you can absolutely never have enough of ND – so I’d advise taking the immersive plunge and plum for the 5CD "Tuck Box" from December 2013 - a treasure trove of beautiful music presented in a really lovely way.

"Tuck Box" by NICK DRAKE is a 5CD Box Set on Universal/Island 0602537538546 (Barcode 602537538546) that consists of 5CDs in repro card digipaks with 5 accompanying foldout colour posters - the press-released full-page adverts for each album. As you can see from the photo – Universal have used his N. R. Drake '69 schoolroom Tuck Box as the Box set’s artwork.

The first 3 CDs in this Box Set are his officially released catalogue before his tragic loss in 1974 – the 28 June 2000 CD remasters done by SIMON HEYWORTH and JOHN WOOD (the albums original engineer). The sound quality on all three sets is absolutely exceptional - carefully and beautifully transferred. And of course his music is magical Singer-Songwriter Folk-Rock of the highest quality – songs imbibed with joy, sadness and a rare pathos that reaches out across the decades even now.

To sequence the American LP - the two CDs you'll need are...

Disc 1 "Five Leaves Left" (41:45 minutes):

1. Time Has Told Me [Side 1]

2. River Man

3. Three Hours

4. Way To Blue

5. Day Is Done

6. ‘Cello Song [Side 2]

7. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane

8. Man In A Shed

9. Fruit Tree

10. Saturday Sun

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut UK album "Five Leaves Left" - released 1 November 1969 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9105 - reissued on Remaster CD in June 2000.

Disc 2 "Bryter Layter" (39:26 minutes):

1. Introduction [Side 1]

2. Hazey Jane II

3. At The Chime Of A City Clock

4. One Of These Things First

5. Hazey Jane I

6. Bryter Layter [Side 2]

7. Fly

8. Poor Boy

9. Northern Sky

10. Sunday

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd UK studio album "Bryter Layter" - released 1 November 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9134 - reissued on Remaster CD in June 2000.

The compilers of the 8-track American LP clearly saw the pattern across his first two British albums - acoustic based tunes with the double-bass acting as a rhythm section - providing each with that lovely shuffle his best music has.

The irrepressible "'Cello Song" opens proceedings – a stunner that gets me every time. The hiss levels increase a tad unfortunately on "At The Chime Of A City Clock" but not enough to detract - while "Northern Sky" still exudes romantic 'magic' every time I hear it and has been used in movies for just such a purpose (that ice-rink scene with Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack at the end of "Serendipity"). Another huge favourite is the gorgeous "One Of These Things First" and the jazzy "Poor Boy" – both sounding like a male-fronted Fairground Attraction decades before their time.

In a 'starry, starry night' kind of way - you just can't help thinking that someone as beautiful as Nick Drake deserved glory – but received so little of it on either side of the pond. And when you sequence these eight songs together – you wonder how so many simply didn’t get it back then.

A gorgeous reminder and perhaps the coolest vinyl rarity you can now have in your digital home for a CD pittance.

"...Please give me a second grace..." – he sang on the "Bryter Layter" ballad "Fly". 

I couldn’t agree more... 

"Cahoots" by THE BAND (2000 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Five Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Life Is A Carnival...Take Another Look..."

Forever the ugly child to its older siblings (1968's "Music From Big Pink", 1969's "The Band" and 1970’s "Stage Fright") - on American release in October 1971 The Band’s fourth studio outing "Cahoots" lumbered up to No. 21 on the US charts and was gone by the end of the year. Dismissed by many in the Press at the time as a 'band' already showing signs of being past it and except for sporadic moments of that old magic - running on empty - "Cahoots" was considered by tastemakers as one of those five-out-of-ten LPs that you buy anyway because you’re such a nerdy fan – nay even sucker.

In fact in Blighty - where The Band and their musings had reached almost mythical levels amongst musicians and certain parts of the public - the LP managed a staggeringly bad one single week on the UK LP charts in November when it was released there – unceremoniously excluded from Christmas stockings by Scrooge-faced punters humming and hawing at the mere sight of it. Robbie Robertson would later describe some of the songs as 'bizarre' and not even the presence of Van Morrison (riding high at the time) and Southern Soul gentleman Allen Toussaint on two different tracks (both courtesy of Warner Brothers) funked-up sales or persuaded otherwise.

But time is a healer - and 46 years after the event I feel we should reappraise this awkward and clumsy baby No. 4 – dancing about my living room to "Life Is A Carnival" just wanting to be loved like the other three. Here are the Take Another Look details...

UK released September 2000 (August 2000 in the USA) - "Cahoots" by THE BAND on Capitol 525 3912 (Barcode 724352539123) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Remaster with Five Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (60:44 minutes):

1. Life Is A Carnival [Side 1]

2. When I Paint My Masterpiece

3. Last Of The Blacksmiths

4. Where Do We Go From Here

5. 4% Pantomime

6. Shoot Out In Chinatown [Side 2]

7. The Moon Struck One

8. Thinkin' Out Loud

9. Smoke Signal

10. Volcano

11. The River Hymn

Tracks 1 to 11 are their fourth studio album "Cahoots" - released October 1971 in the USA on Capitol SMAS 651 and November 1971 in the UK on Capitol EA-ST 651 in a Gatefold Sleeve. Produced by THE BAND - it peaked at No. 21 in the US LP charts and No. 41 in the UK. 

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Endless Highway (Early Studio Take)

13. When I Paint My Masterpiece (Alternate Take)

14. Bessie Smith (Outtake)

15. Don't Do It (Outtake-Studio Version)

16. Radio Commercial

THE BAND is: 

Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko

Guests include Van Morrison on "4% Pantomime" and Allen Toussaint on "Life Is A Carnival"

As with each of these September 2000 Capitol CDs (Produced and Compiled by CHERYL PAWELSKI and ANDREW SANDOVAL) - the 16-page booklet is a pleasingly in-depth affair and has new pictorial elements. ROB BOWMAN provides the new liner notes accompanied by photos of the studio, tracking sheets for "When I Paint My Masterpiece" and "Endless Highway", lyrics, reissue credits (the whole issue is 'In Memory of Richard Manuel and Rick Danko') and even a repro of the lone American 45 lifted off the album - September 1971's "Life Is A Carnival" b/w "The Moon Struck One" on Capitol 3199 ("When I Paint My Masterpiece" b/w "Where Do Go From Here" was to be Capitol 3249 in December 1971 but was cancelled and withdrawn).

But the big news is the Audio. "Cahoots" had a more polished and some say 'brittle' sound that the ramshackle Americana feel to the preceding albums - and many have complained that commercialism and radio-friendly needs practically ruined their chemistry-sound - and that rot started in full force here. I don't agree - the Audio here by ROB McMASTER and ANDREW SANDOVAL is very punchy all of a sudden and for all the right reasons. Sandoval was involved in all The Kinks and Small Faces 'Deluxe Editions' on Universal - so he knows his way around a master-tape or two. The only real glitch is the Audio Quality on the Marvin Gaye cover version of "Don't Do It" which they admit has been taken from 'best possible sources' because there are problems with the quality of the original masters on the 'Studio Version' (there's a storming live take of the song on the August 1972 live-double "Rock Of Ages"). Given what they had to work with overall – the team has done well and it all sounds great to me. Let's get to the music... 

I've always been partial to a Rock Band finding its inner Funk and Allen Toussaint's Meters-Brass is all over "Life Is A Carnival" - a tune that's stood more than the test of time for me. I find it a shimmering cool-aid - a wicked rare groove - inspired even - although I can understand how it's Pointer Sisters/Sly & The Family Stone rhythms freaked out hardcore Band fans wanting more tales of Appalachian Mountain Men wailing about their hardships with a dignified wince at on the oncoming winter winds. Bob Dylan's wonderful "When I Paint My Masterpiece" gives us that - a great Americana accordion melody sung with fantastic world-weary pathos by Levon Helm sounding scarily like he's Bob Dylan's older and wiser brother. The Remaster continues to sound fantastic on Robertson's "Last Of The Blacksmiths" - Richard Manuel doing well to remain soulful as those weird 'crying horns' punctuate the tune. The biggest enemy being 'man' - "Where Do We Go From Here" sings the plight of wildlife and railroads - all disappearing under the boot of progress. The liner notes tell us The Band weren't particularly fond of the song - but I've always like it and Rick Danko's great vocal. Van Morrison drops into the sessions - hears Robbie Robertson at the piano doodling on a chord - and suddenly the two are co-writing "4% Pantomime". Apparently done in one take at Bearsville Studios the next day - the lyrics are apparently loosely about the difference between Johnny Walker Black and Johnny Walker Red whiskies. It ends Side 1 on a cool duet vocal of Soulful men enjoying themselves.

I’d admit that the LP starts to suddenly feel ordinary with the wimpy guitar pings in "Shootout In Chinatown" - a song that's trying to be something and not quite getting there. But things improve big time with one of the LP's undeniable highlights - "The Moon Struck One" - a Robbie Robertson song directly inspired by Julie and Little John Tyler - characters Robbie had gleaned from 'Jules Et Jim' - the classic 1962 Francois Truffaut film. Richard Manuel's vocals are so damn good on "The Moon Struck One" as are Rick Danko's on the Piano/Dobro romp that is "Thinkin' Out Loud" - another stunning transfer and a hugely underrated song on the LP. The lyrics "...when they're torn out by the roots...young brothers join in cahoots...' in "Smoke Signal" give the album its name - a funky Robertson piano roller again with great sound and cool Stones guitar strumming. "Volcano" and "The River Hymn" bring the album to a finish - the first a brass funker that's part Little Feat part Stoneground - while the echoed piano of the finisher is classic big-picture Band.

As is the case with so many reissues - you hope for the best with 'Bonus' material - but as others have excitedly noticed - the four extra songs on "Cahoots" offer up some truly great outtake Band numbers - way better than they had any right to be. First up is an early studio take of "Endless Highway" that is all piano and vocals – free and swinging and sounding so fresh (what a great Remaster). We get a more acoustic-based alternate of "When I Paint My Masterpiece" and holy rollers but I must just prefer this to the finished article as I’ve been playing instead for years now. The audio dips admittedly for the Danko/Robertson session outtake "Bessie Smith" – but what a melody this is – full of real Band soul and character and way better than some of the lesser material on the released LP. The Funk of “Don’t Do It” was considered as an album track for ages but eventually dropped in favour of "Life Is A Carnival". Oh man what I would give to hear this is genuinely better studio sound – but there’s at least the live cut on "Rock Of Ages" which is also in this 2000 CD Series.

What we have here is a 5-star CD reissue of a 3 to 4-star album and I for one think "Cahoots" is a bit of an overlooked nugget that deserves serious reappraisal on this superlative reissue/remaster.  

"...We walked back to the house...while the moon struck one..."

Strike two for your household and give this baby-out-of-bathwater album a dry towel and another hug...

"Classic Album Collection (1972-1976)" by STEVIE WONDER (June 2011 Motown 5CD Mini Box Set - 4 x 2000 CD Album Remasters In Repro Card Digipaks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Sunshine Of My Life…" 

Here's one that seems to have slipped by the tired eyes of over-stimulated music lovers. Four bona-fide STEVIE WONDER Seventies masterpieces lumped together in a glossy hard card outer box - each in an oversized gatefold card sleeve with individual booklets ("Songs In The Key Of Life" is split across two card sleeves hence the total of five spines).

It's hardly original I know and there's no new remastering in this 2011 reissue (they're the KEVIN REEVES remasters from 2000 repackaged) - but man what a listen. And if you don't own the 2000 remasters - the box is nicely presented and a truly stunning reminder as to why Stevie Wonder is so beloved. These albums are just unbelievably good. Here are the Inner Visions, Superstitions and Sir Dukes...

Released June 2011 - "Classic Album Collection (1972-1976)" by STEVIE WONDER on Motown/Universal 0600753366226 (Barcode 600753366226) breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (43:30 minutes):

1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

2. Maybe Your Baby

3. You And I

4. Tuesday Heartbreak

5. You've Got It Bad Girl

6. Superstition - [Side 2]

7. Big Brother

8. Blame It On The Sun

9. Lookin' For Another Pure Love

10. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Talking Book" - released October 1972 in the USA on Tamla T-319L and January 1973 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8002. It has a 12-page colour booklet with lyrics and recording credits (same as the 2000 remaster). JEFF BECK and BUZZY FEITON play guitar on "Lookin' For Another Pure Love" while RAY PARKER, JR. plays guitar on "Maybe Your Baby". Both SHIRLEY BREWER and DENISE WILLIAMS put in backing vocals on "Tuesday's Heartbreak" while TREVOR LAURENCE (Sax) and STEVE MADALO (Trumpet) are the fantastic Brass Section on the uber funky "Superstition".

Disc 2 (44:15 minutes):

1. Too High

2. Visions

3. Living For The City

4. Golden Lady

5. Higher Ground - [Side 2]

6. Jesus Children Of America

7. All In Love Is Fair

8. Don't You Worry 'Bout A thing

9. He's Misstra-Know-It-All

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Innervisions" - released August 1973 in the USA on Tamla T 326L and October 1973 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8011. It has a 12-page colour booklet with lyrics and musical credits (same as the 2000 remaster). LANI GROVES sings Backing Vocals on "Too High" while DEAN PARKS (Acoustic) and DAVID "T" WALKER (Electric) plays Guitars on "Visions" with most other instrumentation played by SW.

Disc 3 (42:36 minutes):

1. Smile Please

2. Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away

3. Too Shy To Say

4. Boogie On Reggae Woman

5. Creepin'

6. You Haven't Done Nothin' - [Side 2]

7. It Ain't No Use

8. They Won't Go When I Go

9. Bird Of Beauty

10. Please Don't Go

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Fulfillingness' First Finale" - released July 1974 in the USA on Tamla T6-332S1 and September 1974 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8019. It has a 12-page colour booklet with lyrics and recording credits (same as the 2000 remaster). DENISE WILLIAMS sings backing vocals on "Smile Please", PAUL ANKA, SYREETA WRIGHT SHIRLEY BREWER and LARRY "Nastyee" LATIMER sing Backing Vocals on "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away", SNEAKY PETE plays Pedal Steel on "To Shy To Say", MINNIE RIPERTON sings Backing Vocals on "Boogie On Reggae Woman", THE JACKSON 5 sing Backing Vocals on "You Haven't Done Nothin'", LANI GROVES, MINNIE RIPERTON and DENISE WILLIAMS sing backing Vocals on "It Ain't No Use", SHIRLEY BREWER, LANI GROVES and DENISE WILLIAMS sing Backing Vocals on "Bird Of Beauty" while MICHAEL SEMBELLO plays Guitar on "Please Don't Go" and THE PERSUASIONS sing Backing Vocals with SHIRLEY BREWER and DENISE WILLIAMS on "Please Don't Go".

Disc 4 (42:47 minutes):

1. Love's In Need Of Love Today [Side 1]

2. Have A Talk With God

3. Village Ghetto Land

4. Contusion

5. Sir Duke

6. I Wish  - [Side 2]

7. Knocks Me Off My Feet

8. Pastime Paradise

9. Summer Soft

10. Ordinary Pain

Tracks 1 to 10 are Sides 1 and 2 of the double-album "Songs In The Key Of Life" - released October 1976 in the USA on Tamla T13-340C2 and October 1976 in the UK on Tamla Motown TMSP 6002. It has a 28-page booklet with complete album credits (same as the 2000 remaster) with the "A Something's Extra" 4-track EP tagged onto the end of Disc 5.

Disc 5 (62:15 minutes):

1. Isn't She Lovely [Side 3]

2. Joy Inside My Tears

3. Black Man

4. Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing [Side 4]

5. If It's Magic

6. As

7. Another Star

A Something's Extra Bonus:

8. Saturn

9. Ebony Eyes

10. All Day Sucker

11. Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)

Tracks 1 to 7 are Sides 3 and 4 of the double-album "Songs In The Key Of Life" - Tracks 8 to 11 are the 4-track EP that came with original copies of the vinyl 2LP set (has no booklet, 2000 remaster).

I love the KEVIN REEVES remasters (done in 2000 at Universal using original tapes ) - warm and full of presence - bringing songs like "You've Got It Bad Girl", "He's Misstra Know-It-All" and "Isn't She Lovely" to life. The only title I find slightly sonically disappointing is "Songs In The Key Of Life" which seems to lack real sparkle on some tracks (the way it was recorded?).

For many Stevie's true musical journey begins with March 1972's "Music Of My Mind" and his new found Seventies sound and songwriting voice - so it's a shame it isn't here. But opening with the gorgeous "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" works for me. You also forget how good tracks like the slow funk of "Maybe Your Baby" and the ballad "You & I" are - "Tuesday Heartbreak" the same. And who can resist the fabulous ARP boogie of "Superstition".

We then of course step up into unmitigated genius with "Innervisions" - second only to "Songs" as a fan fave. Listening again to the beautifully remastered "Too High", "Visions" and "Living For The City" in a row is a thrill - even after 40 years. The album nuggets "All In Love Is Fair" and "Jesus Children Of America" still have that cool and warmth that amazes. It ends on the superb "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" which would surely have been another Top 5 hit.

After the magnificence of "Innervisions" - I can remember that "Fulfillingness First Finale" felt like a bit of a disappointment - but again a rehear and a reappraisal are in order. "Too Shy To Say" is as lovely a tune as he's ever penned and the double-whammy of "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "You Haven't Done Nuthin'" (with The Jackson 5) are funky moog workouts that still thrill. The Latin-scat of "Bird Of Beauty" is cool too as is the slink of "Creepin'" (great vocal work from Minnie Riperton) and the Smokey Robinson vibe to the finisher "Please Don't Go".

What can you say about "Songs In The Key Of Life" - it feels like "Blonde On Blonde", "The Beatles", "Exile On Main St." and "Physical Graffiti" - a double album you'll never tire off and can dip into for years to come and still seemingly find something new. It opens with the truly gorgeous "Love's In Need Of Love Today" and the brilliance (and social conscience) rarely lets up. I love the instrumental "Contusion" and Minnie Riperton and Denise Williams in the Backing Vocals of the acidic "Ordinary Pain' - with Shirley Brewer singing the angry 'response' lyrics with such conviction as to be positively unnerving. Album nuggets include "Joy Inside My Tears", "Pastime Paradise" and his soaring vocals in "Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing" brings tears to my eyes. Yet it has to be said that sonically this remaster lets the side down somehow - it feels strangely dull - you'd expect it to deliver - but it's good rather than great. I had the Japanese SHM-CD but I think it's based on the same remaster so that was an expensive waste of money on my part...

Stevie Wonder would annoy everyone with the indulgent 1979 2LP extravaganza "Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants" and then regain his crown with the slimmer "Hotter Than July" in 1980 - but these Seventies marvels are the bedrock of his reputation - and rightly so.

"Classic Album Collection (1972-1976)" by Stevie Wonder is a lovely thing to own or gift to someone you love - joyful and life affirming...like all great music is...

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"From The Witchwood" by STRAWBS (1998 A&M 'ReMasterPieces' Expanded Edition CD Remaster with One Bonus Track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...A Glimpse Of Heaven..."

After four albums of increasing musical strength and sophistication – England's STRAWBS (shortened from Strawberry Hill Boys) finally rewarded the patience of A&M Records A&R men with a big fat hit album in February 1972 - the fondly remembered "Grave New World". It peaked at No. 11 on the UK charts and following year's "Bursting At The Seams" did even better by going all the way to No. 2 in February 1973.

All of that chart-payoff was laid down in those now forgotten first four LPs – their Folk-Rock period as opposed to the more Prog leanings of 1972 and 1973. And speaking of overlooked musical goodies and masterpieces - I've already reviewed the criminally ignored "Dragonfly" album from 1970 and now want to turn my ranting on to 1971's equally beautiful "From The Witchwood" - a sweetheart of an album given a dinky digital dust off on this superb 1998 CD reissue (it even has a tasty Bonus Track actually worth owning). Here are the Glimpses of Heaven...

UK released July 1998 - "From The Witchwood" by STRAWBS on A&M 540 939-2 (Barcode 731454093927) is an 'A&M ReMasterPieces' Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with One Bonus Track that plays out as follows (41:39 minutes):

1. A Glimpse Of Heaven [Side 1]

2. Witchwood

3. Thirty Days

4. Flight

5. The Hangman And The Papist

6. Sheep

7. Cannondale

8. The Shepherd's Song

9. In Amongst The Roses

10. I'll Carry On Beside You

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th album (3rd studio) "From The Witchwood" - released July 1971 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64304 and July 1971 in the USA on A&M Records SP 4304. Produced by TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 39 on the UK charts (didn't chart in the USA)

BONUS TRACK:

11. Keep The Devil Outside

An Hudson-Ford song outtake left over from the "From The Witchwood" sessions - it was originally slated for release as the non-album B-side to the March 1971 UK 7" single for "Witchwood" on A&M Records AMS 874. The single got as far as being pressed up on Demo but then withdrawn (a £30 rarity in the Record Collector Price Guide for 2018). The song eventually showed as the non-album B-side to the UK 7" single for "Benedictus" released December 1971 on A&M Records AMS 874. "Benedictus" was from their next album "Grave New World" – itself eventually arriving in 1972.

The 8-page booklet for this 'A&M ReMasterPieces' reissue gives us a very detailed and smart overview of their career and the album by noted writer JOHN TOBLER with new contributions from Strawbs founder member Dave Cousins. Recorded at Air Studios in London between February and march 1971 - there's a track-by-track playlist for the album with full musician credits and the beautiful 'Vision Of St. Jerome' tapestry from the Spanish Royal Collection that adorned the whole left side of the inner gatefold is also reproduced on Page 2. A bit of a bummer though and a let down is the lyrics which were on the left side of the inner gatefold on original copies - they're not reproduced here when there was obviously plenty of room (and perhaps a photo of the "Benedictus" 45). However what you do get is more than enough to get a lay of the land...

But the big news is of course the Audio - a new ROGER WAKE Remaster carried out at Bourbery-Wake Studios from real tapes with input from one of the group’s principal songwriters - Dave Cousins. This CD Remaster sounds glorious - the album itself awash with acoustic playing and instruments (dulcimer, autoharp, guitars) - all of it layered with Wakeman's piano and Moog flourishes. To my ears each song is improved and even more moving for it somehow - a compliment you want to pay to many a Remaster.

The Strawbs fourth outing was a case of Prog Rock leanings in the band line-up facing off against their Folk-Rock roots. This kind of direction confusion is very evident in the listen - Side 1 all Folky and trippy nice while Side 2's opener "Sheep" feels like Yes and King Crimson had an ugly baby they couldn't bring themselves to give up for adoption. From the opener "A Glimpse Of Heaven" - you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled on the new Incredible String Band LP complete with made-up fairy lore lyrics (Cousins had met Marc Bolan through Producer Tony Visconti and discussed made-up words/lyrics with the mighty dawn dart from T. Rex). Whatever way you hear it - there's great ideas going on here - least not of all from Rick Wakeman's keyboard touches that add so much (something he'd done on the "Hunky Dory" sessions with David Bowie).

The Strawbs shuffle off the ISB moniker and emerge on the next three songs - the impossibly pretty "Witchwood" and "Thirty Days" and the Fab-Four Acid-Folk of "Flight" - a song on which they sound like The Beatles in 1967 as they've just discovered Magic Mushrooms in a studio full of Acoustic Instruments. I always thought too that the hooky "Thirty Days" would have made a fair stab at a chart single - a sort of McGuinness Flint melody - catchy and warm - especially given the Folk-Rock movement so prevalent in 1971 (the "From The Witchwood" album went to No. 39 where the live set "Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curios" from early 1970 went to No. 27 - so the band's chart presence at this stage wasn't improving). Up next is the musically overwrought and historically loaded Fairport Convention Folk-Rock of "The Hangman And The Papist" - a drum-roll tale of woe of an old English rope-man forced to hang his brother and forever more beg forgiveness for his lack of moral bottle.

For me the Side 2 Prog opener "Sheep" is the worst offender on the album – while lovers of the genre will genuflect in its presence. I like Prog – always have done – but some of it (especially in the indulgences) is hard to take. You can so hear how Wakeman will jump ship for Yes in days - his wild soloing at odds with their sound. There's this strange juxtaposition on "From The Witchwood" with him - he contributes Organ, Piano and Harpsichord to the brilliant "Cannondale" and Mellotron/Moog moments on the pretty "The Shepherd's Song" - and in both cases he adds so much to the overall sound - yet on something like "Sheep" - for me it's out of control. I've always thought the Matthews Southern Comfort vocal beauty of "In Amongst The Roses" is a standout – again Wakeman delivering in the most-subtle way as he tinkles away on a Harpsichord in the background – complimenting exquisite Acoustic playing from Hooper and Cousins. The LP ends on the very Lindisfarne "I'll Carry On Beside You" – another 7" single contender if ever there was one. The convoluted history of the non-album B-side "Keep The Devil Outside" doesn’t stop the fuzzed-up guitar Folk-Rock tune from being a bit of a collector's prize – a nice way to end an excellent CD.

For me the preceding "Dragonfly" from 1970 is a better album – a genuine 5-star masterpiece that deserves rediscovery. But re-listening to 1971's "From The Witchwood" has made me love it again. And in this superb new Audio – like so much of the Strawbs under-appreciated catalogue - another genuine find from those halcyon years...

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"Fearless" by FAMILY (2006 Repertoire 'Limited Edition 4000' Mini LP Artwork Repro CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Daft, I Call It..." 

Family's back catalogue has had its fair share of reissue go-rounds (See For Miles, Essential, Madfish and more). But for me - these dinky Repertoire repro sleeves from 2006 - sporting quality remasters and relevant bonus tracks - are just what I need.

The German reissue label Repertoire re-released just three of these titles in March 2006 - each a limited edition of 4000 non-numbered copies - 1970's "Anyway on Repertoire REPUK 1082 (Barcode 4009910108222) - 1971's "Fearless" on Repertoire REPUK 1083 (Barcode 4009910108321) and 1972's "Bandstand" on Repertoire REPUK 1084 (Barcode 4009910108123). The barcodes were in fact only on the shrink-wrapped stickers that accompanied each reissue - so many got lost once that was ripped open.

As each original FAMILY album (Reprise Records in the UK, United Artists in the USA) came in unique and beautiful packaging - each of these seminal Rock-Prog albums have been ripe for Repro Artwork fiends. Which brings us to one of their best albums - here are the 'daft I call it' details...

UK and Europe released March 2006 (April 2006 in the USA) - "Fearless" by FAMILY on Repertoire REPUK 1083 (Barcode 4009910108321) is a Limited Edition of 4000 Copies with Full Mini LP Repro Artwork (flaps sleeve and red inner) and Four Bonus Tracks (53:46 minutes):

1. Between Blue And Me [Side 1]

2. Sat'd'y Barfly

3. Larf And Sing  

4. Spanish Tide

5. Save Some For Thee

6. Take Your Partners [Side 2]

7. Children

8. Crinkly Grin

9. Blind

10. Burning Bridges

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 6th album "Fearless" - released November 1971 in the UK on Reprise Records K 54003 and February 1972 in the USA on United Artists UAS-5562. Produced by FAMILY and GEORGE CHKIANTZ - it peaked at No. 14 in the UK LP charts and No. 177 in the USA.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. In My own Time

12. Seasons

Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released July 1971 on Reprise K 14090 (peaked at No. 4)

13. Between Blue And Me (Live)

14. Sing 'Em The Way I Feel (Live)

Tracks 13 and 14 first appeared on the February 2004 CD Reissue of "Fearless” on Mystic MYS CD 172 (Barcode 604388621729)

FAMILY was:

ROGER CHAPMAN - Lead Vocals, Guitars and Percussion

CHARLIE WHITNEY - Guitars, Mandolin and Percussion

POLI PALMER - Keyboards, Vibes, Flute and Percussion

JOHN WETTON - Guitars, Vocals, Contracts and Keyboards

ROB TOWNSEND - Drums, Paiste Cymbals and Percussion

Guests:

The Ladbroke Horns 

Both the UK and American original vinyl LPs came in an elaborate 'flaps sleeve' with a Red Inner bag – lyrics on one side, the other side blank. Repertoire have cleverly repro'd the four-flap gatefold sleeve into a slightly-oversized 5”Mini LP carefully including the 'daft I call it' bunny rabbit on the rear cover along with the 'this album is dedicated to all the people who have pulled strokes for or against us, for they shall be called fearless' quote. They've put the lyrics on one side of the red four-leaf foldout page with the blank side now filled in with JOHN TRACY and his superlative liner notes (John did many of the booklets on the early Decca and Deram CD reissues in the late 80s and early 90s – Savoy Brown, Thin Lizzy, Them, Keef Hartley, Moody Blues, Cat Stevens etc). The rear cover also states a 'Limited Edition' of 4000 (the barcode is only on the outer shrinkwrap and not on the repro).

It doesn't say which Remaster has been used or who did it – but I've never found any Repertoire CD Reissue to be anything other than banging – and their 2006 version of "Fearless" is no different (see my separate reviews for David Clayton-Thomas, Merry Clayton, CCS and All Kooper/Shuggie Otis on Repertoire). This thing sounds great. Let's get to the music...

It opens with "Between Blue And Me" – a gentle acoustic strum intro soon becoming "...waves of emotion, sea of joy..." as the big guitars dominate and Roger Chapman lets rip with that utterly extraordinary voice of his. Even though I've heard it so many times over the years - somehow it keeps growing on me - the drums and bass are particularly prevalent in this transfer. Downtown cruisin' with a diamond pin and a funky hat sees "Sat'd'y Barfly" get all barroom leery with a barrelhouse piano and brass band (drunk as Hell and the band still playing at 4 a.m.). Again it's another clever little bleeder of a song that's actually better than its boozy beat. "...Losing sometimes means you win...if you let the true you thru..." Chapman sings on the very Colin Blunstone "Larf And Sing" - a strange little song with clever vocal passages. "Spanish Tide" is a typically beguiling Family song - all chopping and changing as it chugs along from its sweet clavinet opening - Wetton's King Crimson influence showing in the complicated yet somehow beautiful structure. Side 1 ends with the very Jethro Tull rhythms of "Save Some For Thee" - and once again those brass moments punchy as a kangaroo on crack...

The decidedly jagged "Take Your Partners" is essentially a six-minute guitar work out occasionally interrupted by a few rapidly sung verses - I've always honestly found it hard work. The impossibly pretty "Children" is the opposite - an all-melody acoustic ditty that feels like the carefree child that inspired the song. Poli Palmer penned the short Colosseum/Greenslade keyboard-and-guitar instrumental "Crinkly Grin" - the kind of Fusion Rock that feel like it should have been allowed to play longer. The slide guitars and eerie background soundscape to "Blind" make Family feel like Beefheart's Magic Band chipping away in the background while the master growls his way through 'pictures of people in pain' on the microphone. It ends on my personal fave - "Burning Bridges" - a guitar builder that features amazing vocal patterns and feels like Kevin Ayers swirling around images and sounds over on Harvest Records. The inclusion of the superb July 1971 UK single "In My Own Time" and its chipper B-side "Sometimes" feels like the words 'Bonus Tracks' actually do apply here.

I'd admit that FAMILY would not be everyone’s idea of musical Nirvana and parts of this lovely CD of "Fearless" only hammers that home. But that doesn't stop this from being a very tasty reissue in every department and there's nowt daft about that...