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Thursday 5 July 2018

"Make Mine Mondo! From The Eccentric Dore Label" by VARIOUS (June 2018 Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...




This Review Along With Almost 300 Others Is Available In My
SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3
- Exceptional CD Remasters
As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On
Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Psych, Avant Garde, Underground
Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Country Rock and more
Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95
Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs
(No Cut and Paste Crap)



"...Everybody Movin' Tonight..."

I've found the 'Dore' label to be a weird one. I bought and intensely disliked the 3CD set "The Dore Story: Postcards From Los Angeles 1958-1964" which Ace issued in January 2013. It looked and sounded the part for sure and Ace had a well-earned rep for rarely ever putting their reissue foot wrong - but to me the music was almost all awful despite presentation.

But then I bought and absolutely adored another Various Artists Ace compilation called "Dore L.A. Soul 2" on Kent CDKEND 433 that came out in June 2015 - a fabulous collection of Soul Sides, Northern Dancers and other shape-shifting goodies (see separate review).

So I approached June 2018's frankly mad as a wine-drinking Euro bureaucrat "Make Mine Mondo!" with a sense of caution mixed with a liberal dose of quiet panic/optimism. I needn't have fretted. Across nearly 68-minutes of wildly adventurous styles and largely unknown names (part genius, part yes-master nuttiness) – you’re lambasted with Sixties Pop, Garage, Rockabilly, Instrumentals, Fuzz Guitar Psych, Doomy Girl Groups and much more - nearly all of which works and entertains like the beautifully presented liner notes promises it will. "Make Mine Mondo!" indeed says the drunk on the barroom floor of the cover art. Here are Les Corvets trying to get satisfacto...

UK released 29 June 2018 (6 July 2018 in the USA) - "Make Mine Mondo! From The Eccentric Dore Label" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Records CDTOP 1521 (Barcode 029667088527) is a 28-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (67:23 minutes):

1. Gorilla Hunt - THE ALTECS (September 1962 US 7" single on Dore 649, A-side)
2. I'll Blow My Mind - SPENCER'S VAN DYKES [Vocal by Eddie Zarate] (December 1966 US 7" single on Dore 779, A-side)
3. The Mad Scientist - THE ZANIES (December 1958 US 7" single on Dore 515, A-side)
4. Satisfaction - LOS CORVETS (Ecuador Language Rolling Stones cover, 1968 US 7" single on Dore 818, A-side)
5. Meet The Bongo Man - JOHNNY O (April 1959 US 7" single on Dore 519, B-side to "Don't Run Johnny O")
6. Everybody's Movin' - THE DEBONAIRS (June 1964 US 7" single on Dore 712, A-side)
7. The Day Is Hard - THE WRENCH (June 1969 US 7" single on Dore 824, B-side of "You'll Understand")
8. Grandchus - BOBBY FRY (2018, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
9. TNT In A T-Shirt - THE REBELS (2018, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
10. Camel Walk - DAVID ALLAN & ARROWS [Issued as THE ZANIES] (1964 US 7" single on Dore 705, B-side of "Slinky")
11. Midnight Star - THE BRENTWOODS [aka The Misfits] (June 1960 US 7" single on Dore 559, B-side of "As I Live From Day To Day")
12. Yes, Master! - THE WHIPS (1958 US 7" single on Dore 45-502, A-side)
13. Shang-Dang-Doo - JOHNNY DURAIN and THE CYTONES (1962 US 7" single on Dore 624, B-side of "My Last Love")
14. My Baby's Barefoot - THE SYNDICATE (September 1965 US 7" single on Dore 743, A-side - see Track 26 for B-side)
15. Boogie Woogie Feeling - TONY CASANOVA (December 1959 US 7" single on Dore 535, B-side of "Showdown")
16. The Blob - THE ZANIES (October 1958 US 7" single on Dore 45-509, A-side)
17. Rock That Boogie - CHUCK MILES and THE STYLES (2018, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
18. You'll Understand - THE WRENCH (June 1969 US 7" single on Dore 824, A-side)
19. The Thief - MOTION (1967 US 7" single on Dore 781, A-side)
20. Leave Me Behind - THE SOUTH HAMPTON STORY (1968 US 7" single on Dore 811, A-side)
21. Midnight Beach Party - JOHNNY "Z" (April 1963 US 7" single on Dore 667, A-side)
22. She Touched My Soul - JOHN WINFIELD JR. (1966 US 7" single on Dore 765, A-side)
23. Seventh Son - BOBBY TROUP (1960 US 7" single on Dore 568, A-side)
24. Rockin' Round The Mountain - THE CAPERS (1960 US 7" single on Dore 587, A-side)
25. It's No Use - BASIL and THE BAROQUES (October 1965 US 7" single on Dore 745, B-side of "We'll Meet Again")
26. Love Will Take Away - THE SYNDICATE (September 1965 US 7" single on Dore 743, B-side of "My Baby's Barefoot" - see Track 14 for A-side)
27. Haight (In Haight-Ashbury) Street - OPUS FIVE (April 1967 US 7" single on Dore 787, A-side)
28. Russian Roulette - THE ZANIES (January 1963 US 7" single on Dore 658, A-side)
NOTES:
All Tracks MONO - Tracks 8, 9, and 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The jam-packed 26-page booklet is the usual glorious affair from Ace - US Dore 45 label repros galore, a 'Certificate of Business' for The Zanies as well as a Trade Advert for their 'two-sided smash' "Mad Scientist" and "She's A Winner" (the A-side is Track 3), a repro poster of the Steve McQueen horror blockbuster "The Blob" which informs us that the said goo is '...Indescribable! Indestructible! Nothing Can Stop It!' (it looks like Stevie's got his work cut out for him eh), gorgeous and rare colour EP sleeves for Los Corvets and Bobby Troup, instrumentalist Bobby Fry looking pleased with his solid body Fender while the wonderfully named Tony Casanova leans smirking into shot with his Shakin' Stevens suit, Eddie Cochran geetar and his open-shirted beady eyes on your teenage daughter (come to Daddy my dearie). 

The superlative ROB FINNIS liner notes do well to illuminate on so many virtual unknowns - while Ace's trusted Audio Engineer NICK ROBBINS delivers on a huge variety of Mono 7" singles. To the music...

There's a fantastic Ecuadorian language cover of the Stones "Satisfaction", a killer Previously Unreleased Rockabilly instrumental in the shape of "Grandchus" from Bobby Fry that will have dancers flip their wig and a Beach Boys upbeat warning from the suitably monikered 'Zanies' about avoiding the slithery slime that is “The Blob” (I'll keep an eye out boys). That's before we get to the truly superb instrumental "Midnight Beach Party" by Johnny "Z" – a fabulous mix of fuzzed-up surf guitar and bopping saxophone that would make the dead reconsider re-joining the land of the living (look out for it in a Tarantino movie near you right soon). Hell there’s even a song called (wait for it) “Yes, Master!” by The Whips and its sung by a girl (yikes). Sounding not unlike Nico in a bad mood on a Monday morning before her latte - The Wrench are a girl group who deliver the most amazing sound - the kind of doomy melodrama you would imagine Lee Hazlewood would love and kick himself for not writing. And on it goes...

I had thought "Make Mine Mondo!" was going to be a chore and some of it is too mad and poppy to be truly great - but don't let that put you off. There's more than enough on here that's fantastically good and period whacky (like those Rhino LP compilations by Dr. Demento you used to see in Tower Records, Piccadilly Circus in the 80ts and 90ts) - and isn't that exactly what California's Dore Records were striving for in the first place.

Subtitled 'Fuzzed Out Garage Bands, Manic Instrumentals and Wayward Rockabillies From The Eccentric Dore Label' – Ace Records CDTOP 1521 does what it says on a very mixed-up musical biscuit tin. It’s a whole heap of hip-shaking tequila, barmy 50ts and 60ts moments and genre cool discoveries with the added bonus of three cuts being new to CD – and not just filler either.

In short - another wee nugget from the worryingly disturbed minds of men who should know better over at Steele Road, London NW10...

Wednesday 4 July 2018

"One More Song/Randy Meisner" by RANDY MEISNER [ex Poco/Eagles] (June 2018 Beat Goes On Reissue - 2LPs onto 1CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...






"...Trouble Ahead..."

Originally to be UK released 2 Dec 2016 but delayed 'indefinitely' - "One More Song/Randy Meisner" featuring two of the ex Poco/Eagles songwriter's LPs from 1980 and 1982 finally gets Remastered onto 1CD and an airing in 2018. Here come the Hearts On Fire...

UK released 8 June 2018 - "One More Song/Randy Meisner" by RANDY MEISNER on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1265 (Barcode 5017261212658) offers two albums Remastered onto 1 CD and plays out as follows (72:43 minutes):

1. Hearts On Fire [Side 1]
2. Gotta Get Away
3. Come Back To Me
4. Deep Inside My Heart
5. I Need You Bad [Side 2]
6. One More Song
7. Trouble Ahead
8. White Shoes
9. Anyway Bye Bye
Tracks 1 to 9 are his 2nd solo album "One More Song" - released November 1980 in the USA on Epic JE 36748 and in the UK on Epic EPC 84531. Produced by VAL GARAY - it peaked at No. 50 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

10. Never Been In Love [Side 1]
11. Darkness Of The Heart
12. Jealousy
13. Tonight
14. Playin' In The Deep End [Side 2]
15. Strangers
16. Still Runnin'
17. Nothing Is Said ('Til The Artist Is Dead)
18. Doin' It For Delilah
Tracks 10 to 18 are his 3rd solo album "Randy Meisner" - released August 1982 in the USA on Epic FE 38121 and in the UK on Epic EPC 85913. Produced by MIKE FLICKER - it peaked at No. 94 in the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

The outer card slipcase and 24-page inlay (with lyrics, photos and new notes from noted writer JOHN TOBLER) lend this reissue the usual BGO classy look - while the new 2018 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters amp up those Eighties sounds (licensed from Sony).

I had these vinyl albums back on Epic Records in the day (during my Eagles obsessions) and remember them as being patchy. Some famous guests include Kim Carnes singing backing vocals on "Deep Inside My Heart" - Don Henley and Glenn Frey of The Eagles sing backing vocals on "One More Song" – Craig Hull of The Hate Boys plays all guitars.

On the self-titled third LP there are even more - Brian Smith of Trooper who plays Guitar on "Never Been In Love", "Darkness Of The Heart" and "Tonight" - Dixon House of The Dixon House Band plays Piano, Organ and Backing Vocals on all songs - Nicky Hopkins plays Piano on "Jealousy", "Doin' It For Delilah" and "Still Runnin'" - Ann Wilson of Heart sings Lead Duet Vocals on "Strangers" while Nancy Wilson of Heart sings Backing Vocals on "Strangers", "Tonight", "Never Been In Love" and "Playin' In The Deep End" - Tower Of Power horns on "Jealousy", "Playin' In The Deep End" and "Doin' It For Delilah".

So not a lot's changed musically (some good, some badly dated) - but the Audio offered here is a winner and fans who've been waiting years for affordable versions of these forgotten platters will love this CD...

Monday 2 July 2018

"Planet Beat: From The Shel Talmy Vaults" by VARIOUS (June 2018 Ace/Big Beat Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...





This Review Along With Almost 300 Others Is Available In My
SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3
- Exceptional CD Remasters
As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On
Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Psych, Avant Garde, Underground
Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Country Rock and more
Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95
Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs
(No Cut and Paste Crap)



"...Gotta Have You..."

This is the third release from Ace Records and their 'Big Beat' label imprint for SHEL TALMY Productions and something fans of The Who's "My Generation" first album Producer are going to get very excited about.

Amidst the non-album A&B-sides and other uber rarities are a whopping fourteen Previously Unreleased 60ts cuts - whilst seven of the 24-sides boast a young 'guitar-slinger' called Jimmy Page who would of course go on to form some no-mark band in 1968 that never amounted to anything...anywhere (well, maybe some places). Most of these Planet sessions also included ace sessionmen Nicky Hopkins on Piano and legendary Drummer Bobby Graham who is said to have played on over 15,000 recordings...

The first Talmy CD compilation instalment came in May 2017 - "Making Time: A SHEL TALMY Production" on Ace Records CDCHD 1497 (Barcode 029667079020) and then Volume 2 in April 2018 - "Planet Mod: Brit Soul, R&B And Freakbeat From The SHEL TALMY Vaults" on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 336 (Barcode 029667085120). I've loved and reviewed both and this latest wad of mid-60ts Beat Group goodies is the same – a heady mix of the amazing and the poppy with room in your life for both. Here are the fuzzbox shakers and makers...

UK released Friday, 29 June 2018 (6 July 2018 in the USA) - "Planet Beat: From The SHEL TALMY Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 341 (Barcode 029667089128) is a 24-Track CD compilation of rarities (14 are Previously Unreleased) that plays out as follows (55:06 minutes):

1. My Baby Is Gone - THE UNTAMED (June 1965 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 431, Non-Album B-side of "I'll Go Crazy")
2. Leave My Kitten Alone (Alternate Take, Take 1, July 1964) - THE FIRST GEAR (2018, Previously Unreleased)
3. Why - THE PATHFINDERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
4. There's Something About You - THE ZEPHYRS (February 1965 UK 7"single on Columbia DB 7481, Non-Album B-side to "She's Lost You")
5. Lucy (You Sure Did It This Time) - THE DENNISONS (October 1964 UK 7" single on Decca F. 11990, Non-Album B-side to "Nobody Like My Babe")
6. Everybody Knows (Alternate Version, February 1965) - SEAN BUCKLEY & THE BREADCRUMBS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
7. Lonely Man - THE LANCASTRIANS (September 1965 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 15927, A-side)
8. It's Superman - THE IMP-ACTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
9. She Said Yeah - THE PRESIDENTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
10. She You Later Alligator (Alternate Take) - WAYNE GIBSON (2018, Previously Unreleased)
11. I'm Leaving - THE TRIBE (February 1966 UK 7" single n Planet PLF 108, B-side to "The Gamma Goochie" - the A-side is on "Planet Mod...")
12. Gotta Have You - THE LIBERATORS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
13. Casting My Spell - THE TALISMEN (April 1965 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 408, Non-Album B-side to "Masters Of War")
14. How Do They Know - THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN (February 1966 UK 7" single on Planet PLF 109, Non-Album B-side to "How Can You Tell")
15. Black Eyes (Alternate Take) - THE HEARTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
16. Our Love Is Gone - THE IMP-ACTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
17. What'd I Say - JOHNNY B GREAT & THE ORCHIDS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
18. Please Go - THE TREKKAS (February 1966 UK 7" single on Planet PLF 105, A-side)
19. Was She Tall (Demo, August 1964 without JP) - THE LANCASTRIANS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
20. Love Love Love - THE PATHFINDERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)
21. Talk To Me Baby - THE RISING SONS (July 1965 US 7" single on Amy 931, A-side)
22. Kids Take Over - THE UNTAMED (first issued 2001 on the CD compilation "Gimme Gimme: The Singles And Unissued Rarities 1965-1966" on RPM Records RPM 223 - Barcode 5013929522329)
23. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead (Alternate Version, August 1964) - WAYNE GIBSON (2018, Previously Unreleased)
24. Just Can't Keep A Good Man Down - THE TALISMEN (2018, Previously Unreleased)
NOTES:
All Tracks are MONO except Track 10
Tracks 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 23 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (14 in Total)
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 10, 13, 23 and 24 features Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitar
Tracks 10 and 23 also feature Nicky Hopkins on Piano

The info-packed 20-page booklet with new ALEC PALAO liner notes is the usual classy Ace Records affair - Planet Records trade adverts, publicity cards, promotional band photos in black and white and colour, IBC Studios Acetates, Tape Boxes, label repros for Planet, Stateside, Pye and Amy and so on. It's a brilliant and hugely informative read.

Audio – the NICK ROBBINS remastered sound is amazingly good – like the tapes have been kept well. Listening to the fabulous fuzzed-up guitar track, crazed solo and shimmering exit provided by Zeppelin’s Page on the Alternate Take of "Everybody Knows" or his equally wild contributions with Nicky Hopkins to the alternate take of "See You Alligator" will be suitably impressed. The harmonica to The Tribe and their Them-cool R&B growler "I’m Leaving" is superb too – keyboardist Martin Lee, Guitarist Frank Torpey and singer John Neighbor all kicking up a 60ts-groovy storm.

Another winner in the series - and for Page and Zep fans and lovers of the cult Planet Records label - a must buy...

INDEX - Entries and Artist Posts in Alphabetical Order