"Baby Ain’t That Love: Texas & Tennessee Sessions 1964-1974" by CLARENCE "Frogman" HENRY (April 2015 Ace Records Limited Edition CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...It Went To My Head..."

Sometimes it's the artists you think of as lightweights that surprise you the most. And Louisiana's Clarence "Frogman" Henry is a case in point.

His earlier sides on Argo have been done on the "Ain’t Got No Home – Original Chess Masters" CD from 1994 (see review) - this British reissue CD (a limited edition of 1,500 copies) gives us almost all of his post-period decade (1964 to 1974) and for lovers of New Orleans R'n'B will be a big draw. Amidst the 28-cuts are nine Previously Unreleased, Rarities from a long out-of-print 1999 British CD on Edsel and the remainder make up American single-sides on Parrot, Dial and American Pla-boy. Here are the details for this fabulous CD...

UK released Monday 27 April 2015 – "Baby Ain’t That Love: Texas & Tennessee Sessions 1964-1974" by CLARENCE "Frogman" HENRY on Ace Records CDLUX 016 (Barcode 029667071628) is a LIMITED EDITION CD of 1500 and pans out as follows (70:59 minutes):

1. Ain’t Got No Home (1964 USA 7" single on Parrot 10822, A – a re-recording of his 1956 hit on Argo)

2. The Glory Of Love (Previously Unreleased cover of The Monotones hit)

3. Savin’ My Love For You (Previously Unreleased)

4. Think It Over (1966 USA 7” single on Parrot PAR 45-309, B-side of “Cajun Honey”)

5. Baby Ain’t That Love (1964 USA 7” single on Parrot 10822, B-side of “Ain’t Got No Home”)

6. You Made Me Love You (Previously Unreleased)

7. Looking Back (Previously Unreleased)

8. Cajun Honey [aka Lovin' Cajun Style] (1966 USA 7” single on Parrot PAR 45-309, A)

9. Cheatin' Traces (first appeared on the May 1999 UK CD compilation “I Like That Alligator, Baby: The Crazy Cajun Recordings” on Edsel EDCD 605)

10. You've Got A Lot To Learn (Previously Unreleased)

11. Sea Cruise (as per 9 – Frankie Ford cover)

12. Long Lost And Worried (Previously Unreleased)

13. You Darling You (Previously Unreleased)

14. I Can’t Take Another Heartache (as per 9)

15. Heartaches By The Number (Previously Unreleased)

16. Hummin' A Heartache (1967 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4057, A)

17. That’s When I Guessed (1968 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4072, B-side to “Shake Your Money Maker”)

18. This Time (1967 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4057, B-side to “Hummin’ A Heartache”)

19. Shake Your Money Maker (1968 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4072, A)

20. It Went To My Head (as per 9)

21. We’ll Take Our Last Walk Tonight (1974 USA 7” single on America Pla-Boy AP-1986, A)

22. You Can Have Her (1974 USA 7” single on American Pla-boy AP-1990, A)

23. Mathilda (as per 9)

24. Rock Down In My Shoe (as per 9)

25. In The Jailhouse Now (1974 USA 7” single on American Pla-boy 1986, B)

26. A Certain Girl (as per 9)

27. Hurt Control (Backing Track) (Previously Unreleased)

28. Sock-A-Dilly Alabam (as per 9)

Tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 27 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Collectors will notice that three Parrot 45s are conspicuous by their absence but the liner notes explain they weren’t available for license; they are 1964’s “Have You Ever Been Lonely” b/w “Little Green Frog” on Parrot 45-PAR 45004 and “I Told My Pillow” b/w “Can’t Hide My Tears” on Parrot 45-PAR 45009 and 1965’s “I Might As Well” b/w “Tore Up Over You” on Parrot 45-PAR 45015.

The 12-page booklet pictures label repros of American Dial, Parrot and American Pla-Boy 45s as well as rare UK issues on London along with some colour photos, trade adverts and UK tour reviews with Canon & Ball. The TONY ROUNCE liner notes are typically brilliant – a feast of factoids and heart – his enthusiasm for what he clearly knows is an underappreciated groover is palatable. And once again NICK ROBBINS does a blasting job on the remasters – fabulous sound throughout even on the slightly rougher cuts that turned up on the 1999 Edsel compilation “I Like That Alligator, Baby: The Crazy Cajun Recordings”.

It opens with a rather excellent remake of his 1956 Argo Records smash “Ain’t Got No Home” which is followed by a lovely keyboard rolling version of The Monotones Vocal Group classic “The Glory Of Love” (the first of nine Previously Unreleased cuts). The audio is fantastic on his cover of Huey Meaux’s R’n’B stroller “Think It Over” (originally a B-side for Jimmy Donley on Chess 1843). Rounce is right to highlight how good the New Orleans flavoured B-side “This Time” is (written by Chip Moman). The funky “Shake Your Money Maker” is a wicked Sixties neck-jerker with the Fats Domino sounding stroller “That’s When I Guessed” as its flipside. The dancefloor boogie continues with “It Went To Your Head” which sounds like John Lee Hooker guitar meets Fats Domino piano with a dollop of Soulful Funk thrown in – shockingly good.

The Jimmie Rogers classic “In The Jailhouse Now” is excellent. In fact the 1974 American Pla-Boy cuts sound like Fats Domino again only with an updated backing track and on tunes like “We’ll Take Our Last Walk Tonight” Henry just about pulls it off. Far better is the more Soulful Clarence Carter keyboard Soul-Funk of “You Can Have Her” originally a 1961 hit for Roy Hamilton. Even towards the end the pleasant surprises keep coming at you – Dave Edmunds may indeed have nicked his entire Seventies sound from Henry’s slinky version of Ernie K Doe’s “A Certain Girl” – very cool indeed. “Mathilda” is lovely too.

This CDLUX Series has produced some properly beautiful and thoroughly tasty releases for artists that a major label wouldn’t touch with a bargepole - compilations that are aimed at both the head and the heart. Both lovers of New Orleans R'n'B and Soul will have to own it. Ace Records do it again – a Reissue Of The Year 2015 - dig in folks while stocks last...

PS: Titles in this Ace Records Series so far are (each is a Limited Edition of 1500):

1. Detroit Rock 'n' Roll Began Here! – THE ROYALTONES (Ace Records CDLUX 001)

2. The Satintones Sing! The Complete Tamla And Motown Singles Plus – THE SATINTONES (Ace CDLUX 002)

3. Just A Little Bit: Federal's Queens Of New Breed R&B – TINY TOPSY & LULA REED (Ace CDLUX 003)

4. Exotic Guitars From The Clovis Vaults (Norman Petty Masters) – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Ace Records CDLUX 004)

5. Bandera Doo Wop – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Ace Records CDLUX 005)

6. Outer Space, Hot Rods & Superheroes – THE MARKETTS (Ace Records CDLUX 006)

7. Big Sixties Frat Party!!! – SANDY NELSON (Ace Records CDLUX 007)

8. A-Ooga!!! Stamp & Shake With The Routers – THE ROUTERS (Ace Records CDLUX 008)

9. We're The Soul Girls! The Complete Volt Recordings – JEANNE AND THE DARLINGS and THE CHARMELS (Ace Records CDLUX 009)

10. Mannish Boys: The Stax, Volt & Truth Recordings 1969-1974 – THE NEWCOMERS (Ace Records CDLUX 010) [See REVIEW]

11. Classic Innocents: The Reprise, Decca, Warner Bros and A&M Recordings...Plus More – THE INNOCENTS (Ace Records CDLUX 011)

12. Sweet Sweetheart: The American Studios Sessions And More – CARLA THOMAS (Ace Records CDLUX 012)

13. Long-Lost Honkers & Twangers: Unreleased 60s Gems From The Ventures, Fireballs, Rondels, Titans and Reveliers And Many Other Instrumental Rarities – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Ace Records CDLUX 013)

14. A Scene In-Between 1965-1967 – THE STAINED GLASS (Ace CDLUX 014)

15. Hurricane Force! Rare & Unissued – JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES (Ace Records CDLUX 015 [2-disc set with 20 Unreleased])

16. Baby Ain't That Love: Texas & Tennessee Sessions 1964-1974 – CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY (Ace CDLUX 016)

"A Salty Dog: 40th Anniversary Edition" by PROCOL HARUM featuring Gary Brooker, Robin Trower, Matthew Fisher and Keith Reid (Lyrics) (May 2009 Salvo Expanded CD Reissue – Rob Keyloch and Nick Robbins Audio Restoration and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...All This...And More..."

With a name loosely based around a Burmese Blue Cat - Procol Harum and their droning melodrama has always been something of an acquired taste - beloved and derided in equal measure. But there's no doubting that there's properly great tunes on their 3rd album for EMI's Regal Zonophone Records. "A Salty Dog" saw the three songwriters in the band all step up with the moody goodies - singer Gary Brooker, keyboard player Matthew Fisher and ace-axeman Robin Trower. There are also six worthy bonuses on this 40th Anniversary Celebration CD chosen by Gary Brooker (mostly the LP-line-up band in fine form on an American Tour in April 1969). Here are the squint-eyed seafaring details...

UK released May 2009 - "A Salty Dog: 40th Anniversary Edition" by PROCOL HARUM on Salvo SALVOCD 020 (Barcode 698458812025) breaks down as follows (67:52 minutes):

1. A Salty Dog [Side 1]

2. The Milk Of Human Kindness

3. Too Much Between Us

4. The Devil Came From Kansas

5. Boredom

6. Juicy John Pink [Side 2]

7. Wreck Of The Hesperus

8. All This And More

9. Crucifiction Lane

10. Pilgrim's Progress

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3nd album "A Salty Dog" - released June 1969 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1009 (Stereo) and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4179. It peaked on the UK charts at 27 and 32 in America.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Lone Gone Geek - non-album track, B-side to "A Salty Dog" released May 1969 in the UK as a 7" single on Regal Zonophone RZ 3019

12. Goin' Down Slow (Live In The USA, April 1969)

13. Juicy John Pink (Live In The USA, April 1969)

14. Crucifiction Lane (Live In The USA, April 1969)

15. Skip Softly (My Moonbeams)/Also Sprach Zarathustra (Live In The USA, April 1969)

16. The Milk Of Human Kindness (Take 1; Raw Track)

PROCOL HARUM was:

GARY BROOKER - Lead Vocals, Piano, Celeste Three Stringed Guitar, Harmonica Recorder and Woods

MATTHEW FISHER - Organ, Vocals, Marimba, Acoustic Guitar, Piano Recorder and Rhythm Guitar

ROBIN TROWER - Lead Guitar, Vocal, Acoustic Guitar and Sleigh Tambourine

DAVID KNIGHTS - Bass Guitar

BARRIE WILSON - Drums, Conga Drums and Tabla

KEITH REID - Lyrics on all 10 tracks

Along with Lyricist Keith Reid - Gary Brooker provided "A Salty Dog", "The Milk Of Human Kindness", "The Devil Came From Kansas" and "All This And More" - while Robin Trower penned "Too Much Between Us" and "Juicy John Pink" with Matthew Fisher writing the remaining three - "Boredom" (a co-write with Brooker), "Wreck Of The Hesperus" and the album finisher "Pilgrim's Progress". The fold-out three-way oversized card sleeve has tasty black and white photos of band members (taken by Peter Sanders) and a reproduced letter by Alan White of Northumberland to the Melody Maker newspaper of 26 July 1969 bemoaning the lack of public interest in "A Salty Dog" and urging said punters to "...go out and buy it!"

The 20-page booklet is a sophisticated affair - liner notes by HENRY SCOTT-IRVINE that go into each track - there's trade adverts from various musical newspapers, a Regal Zonophone British label bag that actually advertises the December 1968 "Shine On Brightly" LP (along with the Move's latest), superb pictures of the 7" single for "A Salty Dog" from Germany, Spain, France, Holland and Japan, posters for their concerts at Bill Graham's Fillmore East in San Francisco (gorgeous artwork) and even a photo of the road sign for Crucifix Lane in London's SE 1 on which the song is based (deliberately misspelt as Crucifiction). There are recent recollections on certain songs by band members Robin Trower and Matthew Fisher along with the original LP Engineer Ken Scott. It's all very tastefully done actually (a bit of care taken)...

The CD itself sports the FLY label on which it was reissued in 1972 as part of a Twofer LP deal because I think that's who now own the licensing rights - while the Transfers and Remasters have been carried out by ROB KEYLOCH (at Church Walk Studios) and NICK ROBBINS (at Sound Mastering in London). Track 16 was transferred and mixed by NICK WATSON in 1998. Beautifully produced by Matthew Fisher and Ken Scott in the first place - the 2009 remaster is warm and very clear. Even when Trower's guitar gets a bit wild in places (and grungy for that matter) - the stereo imaging isn't too harsh - still reflecting the original Production values. Those big vocals and church-sombre organs sound suitably 'Procol Harum' - there's minimal hiss and where there is - it's not going to detract...

It opens with the Classical-meets-Rock fusion of "A Salty Dog" and immediately the arrangements and melody feel epic - a single you feel should have done better. I've always felt though that the albums two masterpieces come from Trower and Fisher. Trower gives us the unexpectedly lovely acoustic vibes of "Too Much Between Us" - I can't help thinking it should have been single number two off the album with Fisher's equally pretty "Pilgrim's Progress" on the flip (Fisher does the vocal rather than Brooker). A&M Records put out "The Devil Came from Kansas" b/w "Boredom" in the USA on a 45 (A&M 1111) in July of 1969 - but it failed to chart. The British 45 of "A Salty Dog" b/w "Lone Gone Geek" on Regal Zonophone RZ 3019 managed a respectable placing of 44 in the UK - especially given how awkward the track was to pigeonhole in a Pop context. The sleigh bells of "Boredom" make the tune sound like Quintessence or Dr. Strangely Strange or some such hippy happiness. Side 2's grungy guitar vs. harmonica opener "Juicy John Pink" puts an end to that pronto - sounding like its recorded in a garage to get that gritty sound. The best Audio on the disc goes to "All This And More" where the piano, guitar and Brooker's vocals all sound with new clarity.

The Bonus Track B-side "Long Gone Geek" is a fabulous addition to any CD - the Procol Harum going all Small Faces with Reid nicking Bob Dylan lyrics. There then begins a similarly heavy set of live cuts from April 1969 with the band giving it what for to some of the album's heavier cuts (Trower lovers will lap this up).

I bought this Salvo CD when it was first reissued in 2009 but since its deletion it's acquired a nasty top-end price tag. If you can get it at a reasonable cost - seek it out and enjoy. If not there has also been a 2015 updated Anniversary issue on Esoteric Recordings (see review also)...

"Original Album Series" by THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (March 2010 UK Elektra/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Blues With A Feeling…"

Quite possibly one of the best Blues-Rock CD Mini Box Sets I have in my fine household (can’t tell the wife how many there are lest I suffer serious physical injury – after the mental torture that is) – Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band is a very definite jewel in the erratic crown of WEA’s “Original Album Series” reissues. When the 5-disc series began in 2009  – ‘some’ of the first vanguard of 40 or so titles featured remasters (many unfortunately didn’t). This beauty is one that does – and from the second the opening track “Born In Chicago” on their incendiary debut hits your speakers – it rocks like a madman on Blues Boogie acid and doesn’t let up. Here are the harmonica wails, guitar licks and chooglin’ white boys doing the blues details…

Released March 2010 in the UK - "Original Album Series" by THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND on Elektra/Rhino 8122 79834 0 (Barcode 081227983406) is a 5CD Mini Box Set and breaks down as follows (all are Stereo mixes):

Disc 1 (38:09 minutes):

1. Born In Chicago

2. Shake Your Money-Maker

3. Blues With A Feeling

4. Thank You Mr. Poobah

5. I Got My Mojo Working

6. Mellow Down Easy

7. Screamin’

8. Our Love Is Drifting

9. Mystery Train

10. Last Night

11. Look Over Yonders Wall

Tracks 1 to 11 are the LP "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" - their debut album released December 1965 on Elektra EKS 7294 in the USA (May 1966 in the UK same no.)

Disc 2 (44:47 minutes):

1. Walkin’ Blues

2. Get Out Of My Life, Woman

3. I Got A Mind To Give Up Everything

4. All These Blues

5. Work Song

6. Mary, Mary

7. Two Trains Running

8. Never say No

9. East-West

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "East-West" - released September 1966 on Elektra EKS 7315 in the USA (December 1966 in the UK same no.)

Disc 3 (45:45 minutes):

1. One More Heartache

2. Driftin’ And Driftin’

3. Pity The Fool

4. Born Under A Bad Sign

5. Run Out Of Time

6. Double Trouble

7. Drivin’ Wheel

8. Droppin’ Out

9. Tollin’ Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw" - released January 1968 on Elektra EKS 74015 in the USA (February 1968 in the UK same no.)

Disc 4 (34:30 minutes):

1. Last Hope’s Gone

2. Mine To Love

3. Get Yourself Together

4. Just To Be With You

5. Morning Blues

6. Drunk Again

7. In My Own Dream

Tracks 1 to 7 are the LP "In My Own Dream" - released August 1968 on Elektra EKS 74025 in the USA (September 1968 in the UK same no.)

Disc 5 (42:11 minutes):

1. Love March

2. No Amount Of Loving

3. Morning Sunrise

4. Losing Hand

5. Walking By Myself

6. Except You

7. Love Disease

8. Where Did My Baby Go

9. All In A Day

10. So Far So Good

11. Buddy’s Advice

12. Keep Moving

Tracks 1 to 12 is the LP "Keep On Moving" - released October 1969 on Elektra EKS 74053 in the USA (November 1969 in the UK same no.)

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:

The five single card sleeves reflect the 'original' front and rear US LP artwork (the gatefolds are unfortunately not reproduced). Also each front sleeve is now 'bordered' with a colour and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code - Green for Disc 1, Light Blue for 2, Orange for 3, Dark Blue for 4 and Brown for 5. It would have been more appropriate to have the original label colour configurations - maybe even the Elektra inner bags (like they did on the Doors albums in the Complete Studio Recordings box set), but alas... The track list is to the left on the CD label with band members with recording credits listed on the right (as there's no booklet nor site to download details from - as there is on the Sony issues - this is some compensation to the lack of readable details).

It has to be said that the outer card box is lightweight and therefore disappointingly flimsy (unlike the glossy hard-card Sony issues). Having said that the card sleeves still look cool once out of the box and it's nice to see the original artwork used - which in these cases are very sweet to look at (it really makes such a big difference on the Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Drifters and Clyde McPhatter rear sleeves too - beautiful original album artwork). As you can see from the timings - there are no bonus tracks.

SOUND:

The music is incredibly bluesy and ballsy –truly stunning Paul Rothchild Sixties Production values coming at you on every disc. The instrumental “Thank You Mr. Poobah” for instance will probably have your speakers for breakfast. The opening guitars on “Walkin’ Blues” are the same – back in the mix – but still powerful. Don’t get me wrong – these CDs aren’t amped up for effect – they’re just beautifully handled – and it’s sonically obvious that the original master tapes are in tip-top condition. And throughout the records - you get Butterfield’s deep and muscular harmonica slaying all in its path.

Highlights are many and varied – their Soulful and Brassy cover of Marvin Gaye’s “One More Headache”, the wailing Blues of Otis Rush’s “Double Trouble” and the huge Albert King power of “Born Under A Bad Sign”. I love the slinky “Come Together” (Beatles) bass line that opens the slightly jazzy “Last Hope’s Gone” – a sort of precursor to Blood, Sweat & Tears debut album “Child Is The Father To The Man:”. Elvin Bishop provides the witty “Drunk Again” (“ain’t got a dime and smellin’ like a brewery…”) while “No Amount Of Loving” on “Keep On Moving” is a tremendous chugger.

If you want a slice of Sixties Blues-Rock - then you can't go much wrong with these albums (although for me the quality really tapers off on Disc 5). Fans who already own these treasured LPs on previous CD incarnations may balk at acquiring this box set just to have those dinky little card sleeves – but everyone else should just get with the beat, crank up that stereo and annoy the neighbours right away...



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"Beyond Nothingness And Eternity/Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" by MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA – Albums from 1973, 1974 and 1975 on Columbia Records (USA) and CBS Records (UK) - Featuring John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird, Billy Cobham and Narada Michael Walden (September 2014 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE 

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"…Now And Zen Will Do…"

Back in the day I can remember being fascinated by the Eastern mysticism of Mediation Guru SRI CHINMOY whose name began to appear with almost Godlike reverence on Santana, Robert Flack and Mahavishnu Orchestra albums around about 1972 and 1973 (with his followers having a penchant for dressing in heavenly white). Rock-Jazz-Fusion had been gaining ground on CTI, Atlantic, Douglas and Columbia/CBS since 1970 and instrumental in this was England's fusion guitar sensation JOHN McLAUGHLIN and his band THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA (Maha the Creator - Vishnu the Preserver).

Beat Goes On put out these albums in the Eighties, Sony's own Legacy CD reissues then turned up in 1991 and there's been others since. Well along comes BGO again to whet your appetite once more with a brand new 2014 remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON - and stompingly good it is too. Here's the Devadip inner oneness direct from the fountain of babbling knobosity...

UK released September 2014 - "Between Nothing & Eternity/Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" by THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1161 (Barcode 5017261211613) gives us two straightforward albums remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (42:07 minutes):

1. Trilogy: The Sunlit Path, La Mere De La Mer, Tomorrow’s Story Not The Same

2. Sister Andrea [Side 2]

3. Dream

Tracks 1 to 3 are their 3rd album "Beyond Nothingness And Eternity" - released December 1973 in the USA on Columbia Records KC 32766 and January 1974 in the UK on CBS Records S 69046 (42:07 minutes). The LP was recorded 'live' in August 1973 in New York's Central Park and featured JOHN McLAUGHLIN on Lead Guitar, JAN HAMMER on Piano and Moog, JERRY GOODMAN on Violin, RICK LAIRD on Bass with BILLY COBHAM on Drums. It rose to Number 43 on the American album charts.

Disc 2 (40:17 minutes):

1. Eternity’s Breath Part 1

2. Eternity’s Breath Part 2

3. Lila’s Dance

4. Can’t Stand Your Funk

5. Pastoral

6. Faith

7. Cosmic Strut

8. If I Could See

9. Be Happy

10. Earth Ship

11. Pegasus

12. Opus

13. On The Way Home To earth

Tracks 1 to 13 are their 5^th album "Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" - released January 1975 in the USA on Columbia PC 33411 and CBS Records 69108 in the UK. It made Number 68 in the US Albums chart. Many more musicians supplemented the band - namely JEAN-LUC PONTY- who brought his electric violin to the proceedings. All songs on Disc 1 and 2 written by JOHN McLAUGHLIN except “Cosmic Strut” by NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN

There's a classy card wrap/slipcase on the outside and equally superb liner notes by noted Jazz writer CHARLES WARING (Mojo, Record Collector) in the substantial 20-page booklet. ANDREW THOMPSON did the new 2014 Remasters and they’re typically clear and full of presence – the dense instrumental passages now breathing anew...

Taking its name from the last lines in a 1972 Sri Chinmoy poem called "My Flute" - the live "Between Nothingness & Eternity" LP was amazingly consistent despite the crazy the length of the three tracks (one taking up a whole side). The opener "Trilogy" (The Sunlit Path/La Mere De La Mere/Tomorrow's Story Not The Same) has beautiful guitar passages - a melodic trippy opening seguing into Fusion and back again. "Sister Andrea" is the same while the sidelong "Dream" sees McLaughlin trade licks and keys with Hammer in a wonderfully musical dance of virtuoso playing. Even now its impressive stuff and given the venue - so well recorded by Engineer TIM GEELAN.

By the time they reached album number five "Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" in mid 1975 - JEAN-LUC PONTY (ex Zappa's Mothers) brought his distinctive electric violin playing to the cosmic stew. The opening duo of Parts 1 and 2 of "Eternal Breath" are amazing Jazz Rock with Keyboardist GAYLE MORAN and Violinist CAROL SHRIVE adding suitably wailing backing vocals. You're also hit once again with the gorgeous production values - the swirling guitar treatments of "Lila's Dance" and the Jeff Beck "Blow By Blow" choppy rhythms in "Can't Stand Your Funk". Thompson is to be praised for a really fantastic sounding remaster. It all gets a bit hippy-dip with the vocal on "If I Could See" but comes back strong with the mellow keyboard and flute vibe of "Earth Ship". Again Jeff Beck's nasty Rock Funk is in evidence on the stabbing rhythms of "Cosmic Strut" - the only non John McLaughlin song on the album  - penned by the then 22-year old drummer Michael Walden (soon to become funk's Narada on Atlantic Records).

It's been decades since I played these albums and while you could do without the metaphysical waffling - the playing is still striking, innovative and at times downright extraordinary. A superb little CD Reissue and recommended...