"Strong In The Sun" by TIR na n’OG (November 2012 UK Esoteric Recordings ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Reissue - Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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US AND THEM - 1973
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"...Most Magical…"

Being a Dubliner I instantly knew what "Tir na n'Og" referred to. Translated it's Gaelic for "Land Of The Young" (locally pronounced Tier Nah Nogue). We had the old stories rammed down our willing throats in History class in school. It comes from the ancient Irish tales of warrior king Ossian (or Oisin in Gaelic).

I've had this Prog-Folk duo's third and final studio album "Strong In The Sun" (issued October 1973) on original UK vinyl for decades now as well as the other two they did - "Tir na n'Og" from May 1971 and "A Tear And A Smile" from April 1972 (see separate reviews) and loved them all to bits. Formed in Dublin in 1970 - guitarists and singers Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly made a lovely racket and gathered fans far and wide very quickly – supporting Jethro Tull on high profile tours. I even followed Sonny Condell (one part of the duo) when he teamed up with Phillip King and Greg Bolland to form SCULLION in Ireland in the late Seventies – a fantastically eclectic and musical band who put out about five albums – the second of which "Balance And Control" was produced by none other than John Martyn in 1980 on WEA Ireland.

Speaking of Island Records connections – originally recorded by Tony Cox at Sound Techniques Studios in London – the spiritual home of other Island Records Folk-Rock luminaries like John Martyn, Fairport Convention and Nick Drake – Tir na n’Og’s "Strong In The Sun" even opened with a rare Nick Drake cover version - "Free Ride" from ND’s third and last album "Pink Moon" in 1972 (the booklet incorrectly states that the Irish Duo were the first to cover any of his material while he was alive – but it was Alexis Korner who did "Saturday Sun" on his “Alexis Korner” debut album for RAK Records in July 1971 (SRAK 501)). As it turned out neither of the Chrysalis bosses Chris Wright and Terry Ellis (their names combined gave us the soundalike Chrysalis label) were enamoured with what they heard and ordered the album to be completely re-recorded – roping in Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum and EMI’s legendary Beatles Engineer Geoff Emerick to do the re-record deed. You can sure hear the polish on this Remastered CD – gorgeous Audio quality throughout. To the music at hand...

UK released November 2012 - "Strong In The Sun" by TIR na n'OG on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2351 (Barcode 5013929435148) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with One Bonus Track that plays out as follows (42:49 minutes):

1. Free Ride [Side 1]

2. Whitestone Bridge

3. Teeside

4. Cinema

5. Strong In The Sun

6. The Wind Was High [Side 2]

7. In The Morning

8. Love Lost

9. Most Magical

10. Fall Of Day

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd and final studio album “Strong In The Sun” - released 26 October 1973 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1047 (CHR 1047 in the USA also). Produced by MATTHEW FISHER (of Procol Harum) – it didn’t chart in either country.

BONUS TRACK:

11. The Mountain And I

Track 11 is the Non-Album B-side of the September 1973 UK 7" single for “Strong In The Sun” on Chrysalis CHS 2016

TIR na n’OG was:

SONNY CONDELL – Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Jew’s harp and Pottery Drums

LEO O’KELLY – Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Dulcimer and Violin

Guests:

Matthew Fisher (of Procol Harum) – Keyboards (also Producer)

Brian Ogders (of Sweet Thursday and Apollo 100) – Bass

Dave Markee (of Centipede) – Bass

Jim Ryan – Bass

Jeff Jones (of Wild Turkey), Barry De Souza and Ace Follington– Drums 

The 8-page booklet features liner notes by noted writer and music-biz legend TREVOR BOYD reproducing a trade newspaper advert (probably the New Musical Express) for a tour with Bridget St. John (she was doing early promotion her forthcoming “Jumble Queen” LP) as well as a Chrysalis Records black and white promo photo of the hairy duo.

The new remaster has been handled by PASCHAL BYRNE at The Audio Archiving Company in London using original master tapes and is truly gorgeous - crystal clear acoustic instruments with warmth and clarity on every track. It really is a fantastic job done.

While the debut album was Half-Folk/Half Prog (with Tyrannosaurus Rex hippy overtones) - this 2nd LP showed a huge improvement in the song-writing department and was accompanied by a really beautiful TONY COX production. It also saw a definite Tir na n'Og sound emerging too (like an older version of Glen Hansard of The Frames or music from the film "Once"). Album three only progressed that further – though in my opinion it’s the less adorned tracks that work best and not the highly polished ones like "Whitestone Bridge" where the ‘bigger band’ vibe feels ever so slightly forced. Not so for the absolutely mesmerizing Sonny Condell acoustic ballad "Teeside" – simple and beautiful – ebb-tide carrying his love away – leaning into the North wind...

"Cinema" (Leo O’Kelly tune) features an early use of samples – dialogue from some Henry Fonda western – the acoustic and piano strum sounding like The La's a full decade before the event – while it's easy to see why Chrysalis chose his "Strong In The Sun" as the lead-off 45 a month before the album hit the shops in October 1973 (Chrysalis CHS 2016) – pretty 'coming to stay with me' melody and a catchy 'we're gonna be free' chorus. Actually I think the Condell non-album B-side "The Mountain And I" is equally cool if not even better.

One of the album’s highlights is undoubtedly the Side 2 opener "The Wind Was High" – a typically light-as-a-feather love song by Leo O’Kelly - TIR na n'OG weaving their vocal/acoustic magic – a tune imbibed with a kind of Irish longing that feels both joyful and sad at one and the same time. The very Leonard Cohen sounding "In The Morning" started out as an October 1969 Irish 7" single on Song Records SO 0004 - the non-album B-side to "Like" by the oddly-named 'Tramcarr 88'  – a band that featured Condell and his cousin John Roberts (Roberts wrote the A – while Condell wrote the flip). TIR na n'OG upgrade the song to better production values thereby bring out its pretty melody. Although it feels like an early run for the sound Scullion made - I never really liked "Lost Love" – too forced. Far better is the two Condell finishers - "Most Magical" and "Fall Of Day" where TIR na n'OG begin to sound like a force to be reckoned with – the first a rapid acoustic romp with the second a mid-tempo number with fantastic harmony vocals.

After they split in 1974 – Condell of TIR na n'OG morphed in the late Seventies in the affectionately remembered three-piece SCULLION (Sonny Condell, Phillip King and Greg Bolland) who made 5 albums in Ireland including the fab "Balance And Control" in 1980 produced by the mighty JOHN MARTYN (only recently reissued on CD by Prog Temple). There was a CD issued October 2001 in the UK called "Spotlight" on Hux Records HUX 021 (Barcode 682970000213) that contained April 1972 to October 1973 live BBC Recordings featuring roughly half of the songs from "Strong In The Sun" and more. Condell even made a CD album in 2013 - whilst the fondly remembered TIR na n'OG sport their own rather good Prog Folk website for deeper diving.

TIR na n'OG would definitely be an acquired taste for some. This 3rd outing is not all genius for sure - but for me there was always something magical in those hooks and songs – tunes like "Teeside" and "Fall Of Day".

And now their (land of the young) albums have the properly beautiful sounding remasters their catalogue has always deserved. Dig in – I envy you the journey...

"All In Your Mind: The Transatlantic Years 1970-1974" by STRAY (October 2017 Esoteric Recordings 4CD Box Set - Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3

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"...Time Machine..."

For such a prolific British band - Acton’s finest never once saw the fruits of their LP labours chart in any meaningful way. West London's hard-rockers STRAY put out a whopping eight studio albums on two huge record labels between 1970 and 1976 (Transatlantic Records first and then Dawn) and all of it made up of almost entirely original material (the only cover version is one of Cliff Richard’s 50ts classic "Move It"). And yet despite a passionate and loyal college circuit following and years of relentless gigging – not a snifter. Welsh three-piece Budgie placed loads – Space Rock mavericks Hawkwind the same - Ireland's Skid Row with a very young Gary Moore and their weird variant of Speed Rock even nabbed one in 1970 against all the musical odds - but not STRAY.

Hindsight however has seen a growing-warmth towards our head-banging heroes that has transcended decades. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden and Neil Peart of Rush have sung their praises and name-checked Stray's more Prog elements as a seminal influence. The respected and artist-orientated Angel Air Records of the UK put out a live set of the classic line-up in 2014 and fans of hard-hitting Blues Rock mixed with a tinge of Psych and complicated time-phrases have been discovering their forgotten albums for decades.

Hardly surprising then that here comes Cherry Red's much-praised Esoteric Recordings with another overhaul - a 4CD Mini Box Set covering the first period of their output on Transatlantic Records – five albums and a heap of rarities (thirteen to be exact). Although the outer clamshell looks the part – the inner card sleeves decidedly let the side down with no original artwork and albums split across discs. But even despite these iffy presentation choices (not something I ever say of Esoteric Recordings who along with Ace Records are amongst my favourite British reissue labels) - there's much to be praised here – especially the new Ben Wiseman Remastering. So once more my hirsute hobbit-obsessed friends unto the suicidal past, mind trips, moving on Mudanzas and flicks on a Saturday morning...

UK released 20 October 2017 - "All In Your Mind: The Transatlantic Years 1970-1974" by STRAY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42607 (Barcode 5013929470743) is a 4CD Mini Clamshell Box Set containing five albums plus rarities that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:30 minutes):

1. All In Your Mind [Side 1]

2. Taking All The Good Things

3. Around The World In 80 Days

4. Time Machine

5. Only What You Can Make It [Side 2]

6. Yesterday's Promise

7. Move On

8. In Reverse/Some Say

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Stray" - released June 1970 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 216 (no USA release) - Produced by HUGH MURPHY

9. Son Of The Father [Side 1]

10. Nature's Way

11. Where Do Our Children Belong

12. Jericho

13. Run Mister Run [Side 2]

14. Dearest Eloise

15. Do You Miss Me?

Tracks 9 to 15 on Disc 1 and Track 1 on Disc 2 are their 2nd studio album "Suicide" - released March 1971 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 233 and September 1971 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-611 with the same track list but different artwork

Disc 2 (70:05 minutes):

1. Suicide (as per Tracks 9 to 15 on Disc 1)

2. Our Song [Side 1]

3. After The Storm

4. Sister Mary

5. Move That Wigwam

6. Leave It Out [Side 2]

7. How Could I Forget You?

8. Mr. Hobo

9. Queen Of The Sea

Tracks 2 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "Saturday Morning Pictures" - released February 1972 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 248 and in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-624 - Produced by MARTIN BIRCH and STRAY

10. Changes [Side 1]

11. Come On Over

12. Alright Ma!

13. Oil Fumes And Sea Air

14. Gambler

15. Hallelujah

Tracks 10 to 15 are Side 1 of their 4th studio album "Mudanzas" - released May 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 268 (no USA release) - Produced by WILF PINE

Disc 3 (64:08 minutes):

1. I Believe It [Side 2]

2. Pretty Things

3. Soon As You've Grown

4. Leave It To Us

Tracks 1 to 5 as Side 2 of "Mudanzas" (as per Tracks 10 to 15 on Disc 2)

5. Tap [Side 1]

6. Move It

7. Hey Domino

8. Customs Man

9. Mystic Lady

10. Somebody Called You

11. Give It Up [Side 2]

12. Like A Dream

13. Don't Look Back

14. Right From The Start

15. Our Plea

Tracks 5 to 15 are their 5th studio album "Move It" - released May 1974 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 281 (no USA issue) - Produced by WILF PINE

Disc 4 (43:17 minutes):

Demos & Rarities

1. Change Your Mind

2. The Man Who Paints The Pictures

3. In The Night

4. Outcast

Tracks 1 to 4 are Pye Studio Demos recorded November 1968 and Produced by JOHN SCHROEDER

5. All In Your Mind (Single Version) - released 1971 in Italy as a 7"single on Transatlantic TN 111

6. Encore - recorded during the sessions for "Suicide"

7. Our Song (Single Version)

8. Mama's Coming Home

Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of a January 1972 UK 7" single on Big T Records BIG 141 in a picture sleeve

9. Georgia

10. Get Out Right Away

Tracks 9 and 10 were featured on and exclusive to the Stray compilation LP "Tracks" released September 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA SAM 33

11. Brand New Day - non-album B-side to the UK 7" single of "Hallelujah" released 1973 on Transatlantic/Big T Records BIG 512

12. Move It (Single Version)

13. Crazy People

Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a 1973 UK 7" single on Transatlantic/Big T Records BIG 512

STRAY was (same four-piece line-up for all five LPs):

STEVE GADD - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and Percussion

DEL BROMHAM - Lead Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica, Percussion and Second Vocals

GARY GILES - Bass

RITCHIE COLE - Drums and Percussion

Guests: 

Mike Evans - Violin, Andy Bearne – Harmonica, Keith Bleasy – Congas - all on the "Suicide" LP 

Barry St. John, Kay Gardner, Lisa Strike and P.P. Arnold - all Backing Vocals on the "Suicide" LP

Jimmie Helms - Brass on "Hey Domino" and Backing Vocals on "Customs Man" on the "Move It" LP

Castle Music/Sanctuary first issued these five rare albums onto CD in Remastered form in 2005, 2006 and 2007 with the first four as Expanded Edition single CDs whilst the fifth album "Move It" became a double. Disc 4 of this 2017 reissue gathers up 13 of the Bonus Tracks from those Castle reissues but misses out on eleven BBC Sessions – one on the "Mudanzas" issue in 2006 and ten on the "Move It" double from 2007. With the total playing time on Disc 4 clocking in at 43:17 minutes - there was clearly room for some – but probably licensing rights have disallowed their inclusion here – which is a damn shame. 

Another problem (if you can call it that) is that with five LP covers to represent and only four CD card sleeves to use – Esoteric have decided to do themed artwork for all four cards with background images of the original LPs. They’re black and white and are quite awful really (see photos provided). You lose the impact of the die-cut debut gatefold "Stray" – the gatefold for the hugely popular "Saturday Morning Pictures" – the die-cut van sleeve for "Move It" and so on. Worse – as you can see from the Disc listings provided above – the second LP "Suicide" has its last song on Disc 2 with the bulk of the album on Disc 1 (others are similar). Hardly the greatest way to listen to or look at the albums as they were issued. It would of course have been far better to have had five card sleeves with all the original artwork and the bonuses spread out evenly across them – but alas.

So what do you get? The 20-page booklet has new liner notes from noted writer and rocker extraordinaire MALCOLM DOME that illuminate the band’s hurried and prolific output - whilst principal songwriter and Stray stalwart throughout the decades DAVE BROMHAM provides insider details that are both informative and witty. There are reproductions of Marquee posters, trade adverts for various albums, live shots of the four piece in full flow, snaps of the five album sleeves, a Country Club poster where they shared the venue with an eclectic choice of different-genre bands like Dando Shaft, Osibisa, Mike Westbrook and the Faces. But what I do really like is the BEN WISEMAN Remasters – 24-Bit Digital Versions done at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire – full of piss and vinegar – rocking out like the music does but without being overly bombastic. To the music...

Stray had been rehearsing, gigging and writing since 1968 so when they signed to Transatlantic in late 1969 (the label by then looking to expand their predominately Folk and Blues roster into the latest trends) - their self-titled debut was ready to rock. Recorded across only four days of first and second takes - "Stray" carries this Box Set's title track "All In Your Mind" - a huge fan fave and a Del Bromham song that was given prominence on the much-praised "I'm A Freak, Baby" 3CD Mini Box Set on the Grapefruit label in 2016 (goodies galore for fans of Underground Heavies). Barely into their twenties – the songs and playing belie their youth and inexperience with Bromham especially way past his Hank Marvin fixation judging by the heavy-heavy wah-wah "Time Machine". The slow and brooding "Yesterday’s Promise" sounds like Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig meets Black Sabbath getting mellow with their surprisingly trippy "Planet Caravan". The manic guitar pyrotechnics of "Move On" feels like Procol Harum letting Robin Trower out of his amplifier cage. It’s pretty remarkable stuff for such youngsters.

By the time of the second LP "Suicide" in 1971 – founder member Dave Bromham had added an increasing array of instruments to his Electric and Acoustic Guitars of the debut - Mellotron, Organ, Piano, Harpsichord and Harmony Vocals - whilst simultaneously supplying all the songs except "Dearest Eloise" which was a Steve Gadd tune. His songwriting prowess was taking leaps as both the lovely and lonely "Where Do Our Children Belong" and the Stranglers-hooky guitar-chug of "Run Mister Run" testify. At just under 2:20 minutes "Dearest Eloise" has both Harpsichord and Mellotron at its quietly pretty core – more Moody Blues than Stray. And finally things go Funky with the near seven-minute "Do You Miss Me?" – a song I’d swear The Jam’s Paul Weller was listening to as he tried on long trousers for the first time. A doomy feeding-back guitar opens the album’s coolest and yet most dated rocking moment – the Side 2 finisher "Suicide" – 7:42 minutes of very 70ts angst.

For many their 3^rd album from February 1972 "Saturday Morning Pictures" was like discovering "Argus" by Wishbone Ash – a band hitting a creative stride with the gatefold visuals to go along with the thrill. You can hear the Soulful Backing Vocals of Lisa Strike and Immediate’s P.P. "First Cut Is The Deepest" Arnold on the opener "Our Song" – a much more melodic Stray suddenly sounding like their bursting with confidence and the tunes to match the braggadocio. As if discovering Prog by Track 2 - "After The Storm" opens with rain and other ethereal soundscapes only to slip niftily into a wicked Ten Years After strut-fest for the rest of its seven-minutes (Bromham giving it some Tony McPhee on his axe). "Sister Mary" could be Focus, The Moody Blues, The Strawbs or even a speeding Groundhogs – it’s a frantic acoustic-guitar strummer that encompasses all manner of styles whilst at the same time remaining a cute little rocker at heart. Another fave of mine is the loose-lips swagger of "Move That Wigwam" sounding not unlike the Faces rehearsing circa “Long Player” – brill little rocker with clever changes and a catchy doubled-vocal. They go a tad yee-haw Country-Rock with the Terry Stamp sounding "Leave It Out" – better is the fuzzed up blitz of guitars that is "How Could I Forget You" – flanged plucking and vocals ahoy. Both "Mr. Hobo" and "Queen Of The Sea" bring the melodic Rock proceedings to a very satisfying close.

Album four from the spring of 1973 "Mudanzas" (the title comes from a Spanish word for moving on/changing) opens with gorgeous string arrangements from Andrew Powell on the one-minute "Changes" only to return to Rocking business with "Come On Over" – a grungy rocker with some uncomfortable string passages thrown over the top that sound both right and wrong at one and the same time. Clearly listening to The Who - "Alright Ma!" starts our kerranging before settling down into a melodic chorus and cute tune. Going all Ronnie Lane vs. Lindisfarne - "Oil Fumes And Sea Air" is a song about freedom, ships in the bay and the sound of the water going away somewhere new. "Gambler" features some Harmonica warbling and brass jabs but both "Hallelujah" and "I Believe It" have Brass and Strings powered over them to a point where it feels they’re trying too hard.

Album five from May 1974 saw them shake it and groove it – opening with a Drum Solo called "Tap" only to segue into an almost unrecognisable but cleverly boogiefied cover of the Cliff Richard and The Drifters 1958 hit – "Move It" (let me tell you baby it’s called Rock ‘n’ Roll). But after four albums stuff like "Hey Domino" sounds like second-rate Man looking for a hit and failing. Neither here nor there rhythms and badly recorded vocals on "Customs Man" only add to the ordinariness. "Mystic Lady" also tries to be a hit single and actually gets there in a Byrds jangly guitar way.

After signing to Pye Records (covered by another Esoteric Recordings CD compilation called "Fire & Glass: The Pye Recordings 1975-1976" issued November 2017) - Transatlantic Records dragged two compilations out of the band - "Tracks" in September 1975 with two exclusive tracks that appear as Bonuses on Disc 4 and a final comp called “Reflecting & Generation” in July 1977 on Transatlantic TRA SAM 44 that sampled the five albums.

So – a lot of rare 70ts music on offer and despite the presentation carps - there is a lot to savour here and more than a niggling feeling that the British LP charts (and by extension, the British public) lost out to STRAY and not the other way around...

"The Story Of TROJAN RECORDS" by LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT (August 2018 Eye Books HARDBACK) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"THE STORY OF TROJAN RECORDS"

August 2018 Eye Books Hardback Edition

by LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT

Truly Beautiful History of a Great British Reggae Label "Trojan" 

Sets A Standard For Record Label Biogs too...

Back in the day I reviewed "The Story Of Trojan Records" 6CD Box Set from 2011, Deluxe Editions of "Tighten Up Volumes 1 and 2" - even Cane Honeysett's groundbreaking book "Young, Gifted And Black" on Trojan (2003, Sanctuary Books) which published the first decent Discography on all of its output - a Herculean work if ever there was one. The booklet in the 6CD Box Set is gorgeous - but little (and I mean little) will prepare lifetime fans of this fantastic English Reggae, Ska and Dub label for 2018's Hardback extravaganza "The Story Of Trojan Records" (Eye Books - ISBN 9781785630781) - its properly gorgeous.

I've just come from a 4-day review on "Trojan 50" - the accompanying 4LP/6CD/2x7" Mega Box Set celebrating 1968 to 2018 - and this tome is the companion to that. I'm now sure that had this beautiful book been included in "Trojan 50" as well as the "Art Of The Album" Book - we would be looking at Reissue of the Year in any format.

What you get here is nearly 290 pages in an almost LP-sized hardback book with literally ever page festooned with memorabilia, 7" single labels, LP sleeves, Trade Adverts, Master Tape Boxes, Press Releases, Buttons, Top 50 release sheets shown on the counters of London specialist shops and personal recollections from people who were there (Chris Blackwell of Island Records does the intro) - 70 to 80% of which you haven't seen before. There's a 'picture sleeve' of Wilfred Edwards "I Love You No More" b/w "More Than Words Can Say" on Island (early Sixties, probably promo-only) that I've never seen and I don't think is even catalogued! On Page 55 there's The Ethiopians album "Engine 54 - Go Rock Steady" from 1968 - a British pressing on Doctor Bird in a Jamaican Wirl Records sleeve - set you back £400 - if you could find one! You get Christmas campaigns adverts, Fab 208 playlists, articles on Skinhead culture, Mods, Soul Boys, the famous 14/6d price tag for their TRL series that included the one that started it all - "Tighten Up". Speaking of that iconic album and so many other LP covers - there's even a few pages on the gorgeous and sexy Lucienne Camille - The Beautiful Face Of Reggae whose lovely figure and ample assets thrilled and tempted many a young lad browsing the swirly racks in Woolworths.

There are articles on Trojan's Island LP Revival releases - (the TRLS series with sought-after compilations like "Ride Your Donkey" and "Guns Of Navarone" along with Derrick Morgan's "Forward March!") - the famous red-covered titled sleeves of the Trojan 'Hot Shots' 45s (usually 5000-only picture sleeves for the hottest releases Trojan wanted fans to notice) - a stunning display of rarely seen International Picture Sleeves (stuff like Jimmy Cliff's "Vietnam" and Nicky Thomas' "Love Of The Common People" which of course Paul Young made a hit of in the 80ts) - right up the "This Is Trojan..." series of CD sets in 2018. There are interviews with key players stretching from 1995 to 2017 like Dave Betteridge (former Island and Trojan Managing Director) - Chips Richards (former Marketing Manager) - Graeme Walker (former Label Manager) - Jim Flynn (former Director of B&C and Trojan) - Rob Bell (former Label Manager) – Vic Keary (Sound Engineer at Chalk Farm Studios) – Rob Bell talking about Producers like Lee Perry, Bunny Lee, Clancy Eccles and Leslie Kong working in the famous Music House Studios - Phil Swain (Record Producer and Radio Presenter) and many more. There are biographies of artists towards the end of the text and peppered throughout (Ken Boothe, The Melodians, The Pioneers, Marcia Griffiths, The Maytals and more) - absolutely wonderful stuff full of memories hitherto unheard.

Even though a Discography would have been stunning icing on the cake - you cannot call this 2018 Hardback Edition publication anything other than a balls-to-the-wall triumph. Keeper of the Trojan Catalogue flame now for many years - Author LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT and the huge team that put this together (acknowledged on the last few pages) should receive accolades a-plenty for "The Story Of Trojan Records". I'll be dipping into this shapely peach for years. Well done to all involved...

PS: And for Gawd's sake - can someone in Universal please do the same for Island Records, Polydor Records, Atlantic Records etc. Why aren't these musical cultural giants catalogued in Book Form??

"CLASSIC 1960s MUSIC ON CD" - Exceptional Remasters (a SOUNDS GOOD Music Book) - August 2018 Update

AUGUST 2018 UPDATE 

CLASSIC 1960s MUSIC on CD

- Exceptional Remasters...

by 

MARK BARRY

30+ New Entries

Now Has 326 Reviews

And A Huge 2, 230+ E-Pages for only £3.95

All info from the discs themselves
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Available Through My Author's Page on Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I