“The Complete Chess Masters (1950 – 1967)” by LITTLE WATER. A Review of the USA-Only 2009 Hip-O Select Label 5CD Mini Box Set.

"…I Hear That Man Blow!"

Released March 2009 in the USA-only, “The Complete Chess Masters (1950 – 1967)” is a non-numbered limited edition of 5000 copies - and 41 years after his death in 1968 - is 'the' definitive retrospective for his entire output on the Chess offshoot label Checker.

Hip-O Select/Geffen B0012636-02 is a 5CD mini box set with 126 tracks (10 previously unreleased, 8 previously unreleased in the USA) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1: has a 'Checker Records Co.' Red Label Design, 25 Tracks, 74:52 minutes
[Tracks 12, 13 and 17 are Previously Unreleased]

Disc 2: has a 'Checker' Plain Red Label Design, 25 Tracks, 72:11 minutes
[Track 21 is Previously Unreleased]

Disc 3: has a 'Checker' Plain White Label Design, 26 Tracks, 74:33 minutes
[Tracks 22 is Previously Unreleased while Tracks 18, 23 and 24 are Previously Unreleased in the USA]
NOTE: Tracks 12, 19 and 20 are mistakenly missing their track info in the booklet

Disc 4: has a 'Checker' Light Blue Label Design, 27 Tracks, 71:59 minutes
[Tracks 3, 11 and 14 are Previously Unreleased; Tracks 22 and 24 are Alternate Takes 1 and 2 and are Previously Unreleased in the USA]

Disc 5: has a 'Checker' Multi-Colour Label Design, 23 Tracks, 68:01 minutes
[Tracks 21 and 22 are Previously Unreleased while Tracks 17, 18 and 19 are Previously Unreleased in the USA]
NOTE: Tracks 21 and 22 “Feel So Bad” and “Make It Alright” (from January 1964) feature DO DIDDLEY

PACKAGING:
When you take off the “Little Walter” Obi that wraps around the outside, you get a chunky gatefold card sleeve that folds out into three flaps on either side – the first 5 flaps contain a label-themed CD in each (as listed above the colour is appropriate to the years involved) and the last flap to the right houses a 36-page booklet by noted biographers TONY GLOVER, SCOTT DIRKS and WARD GAINES who co-authored the 2002 book “Blues With A Feeling – The Little Walter Story”.

AUDIO:
The sound is GLORIOUS throughout, the original master tapes remastered by tape expert ERICK LABSON (has over 850 restoration and mastering credits to his name - including most of the Chess catalogue). Each track has extraordinary power and presence – his amplified harmonica blasting out through your speakers. Apart from the totality of the package, the really great sound quality is for me one of the best reasons to buy this set.

CONTENT:
Three major USA Chess retrospectives are all here in their Little Walter entirety (including their previously unreleased tracks at the time) – the 2CD set “The Essential Little Walter” and tracks from the 4CD Box Set “Chess Blues” (both from 1993) and the 2CD set “Blues With A Feeling: Chess Collectibles, Vol.3” from 1995. In between those songs are the A & B sides of every one of his Checker singles, exclusive LP cuts and the Previously Unreleased Versions listed above.

The sessions also featured Chess legends WILLIE DIXON, OTIS SPANN and BO DIDDLEY along with other great session men like Jimmy Rogers on Guitar and Fred Bellows on drums. The mighty MUDDY WATERS turns up here and there too - the opening track on CD1 is “Evan’s Shuffle” (pictured below), the B-side of Muddy’s "Louisiana Blues" 78 on Chess 1441 which first charted in January 1951 – it’s Little Walter’s first appearance and it’s a blast (the title to this review is Muddy shouting enthusiastically during the track).

In truth of course it’s hard to take this amount of harmonica blues on one CD let alone five, but just when you think you can take no more, he hits you on CD2 with “Rocker” - a 1954 single on Checker 793 – it’s a raucous instrumental with his trademark warbling harmonica technique that is absolute mind-blowing. I played it on a shuffle play in our shop and I could see customers foot-tapping and boogieing along to it as they browsed through our record racks…

Downsides – for customers outside of the USA, “Complete…” is a very expensive import – the track info missing on some songs is sloppy (something Hip-O Select has been accused off before), there’s some nice colour photos in the booklet and on the some of the flaps, but 5 are blank when they could have been filled with ‘something’. There’s no album sleeves pictured, the track-by-track annotation doesn’t tell you what’s the A or B of a single, its year of release, chart position attained if any - so from an informational standpoint, the whole thing feels a little too lightweight for such an important release. Having said all of that – the musical content is a genuine thrill. And yet despite booklet and packaging niggles, this is a huge Blues release – and at last gives respect to one of the genre’s most mercurial and brilliant of musicians.

Born Walter Jacobs in Louisiana in 1930, he’d formed his first band at age 11 and was a star by 1951. He died of a head injury from a fight in February 1968 – a lifetime of drinking, gambling, womanizing and gun toting having finally caught up with him…

Little Walter literally dragged the blues harmonica kicking and screaming into play and there will always be millions of people around the world who will love him forever for it.

Nobody blew the blues harp like him and “The Complete Chess Masters” is a fabulous celebration of that. Big time recommended.

“Do It Again” by EUMIR DEODATO. A Review of the Universal CD compilation.

After he left the CTI label - and just before his "Night Cruiser" stuff on Warner Brothers - Brazilian multi-keyboardist EUMIR DEODATO punched out a string of jazz-funk albums for MCA in the mid Seventies - and that's where this 2007 European CD comes in.

Digitally remastered and at mid-price, Universal Verve Jazz Club 06007 5300715 breaks downs as follows (76:15 minutes):

1. Do It Again
2. Peter Gunn
3. Amani
4. Moonlight Serenade
5. Havana Strut
6. Whirlwinds
7. Juanita
8. Theme From Star Trek
9. Adam's Hotel
10. Funk Yourself
11. Speak Low
12. Black Widow
13. St. Louis Blues
14. Super Strut

1, 4, 5 and 6 are from "Whirlwinds" (1974)
2, 3, 7, 8 and 12 are from "Very Together" (1976)
9, 10 and 11 are from "First Cuckoo" (1975)
13 and 14 are live tracks from "Artistry" (1974)

His covers of Steely Dan's "Do It Again" and Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" open the jazz-funk proceedings very nicely, followed soon afterwards by a particular favourite of mine - the speedy synth funk of "Whirlwinds" - and it pretty much continues like that all the way to the enthusiastic crowd on the live "Super Strut" track that ends the disc. The smooth lurch of "Adam's Hotel" may be a little too elevator music for some, but it's soon redeemed by the brilliantly foot-tapping "Funk Yourself" and slinky almost Steely Dan's "Aja" feel of "Black Widow". Very nice stuff indeed.

The remastered sound is fabulous throughout - really clean and muscular - which in turn brings out the great musicianship contained within - guitarist John Tropea, drummer Billy Cobham, Tony Levin on bass - and many, many others.

Disregard the naff 'luscious lips' artwork - this dinky little compilation delivers where it matters - great track choices coupled with top sound - and it's a steal at less than four pounds/six dollars.

“Deutsche Elektronische Musik – Experimental German Rock And Electronic Musik 1972-83” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review of the Soul Jazz 2CD Set from 2010

This review is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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

Working in a second-hand record shop in the West End of London, one of the questions we’re most frequently asked is to be pointed in the right direction of a decent KRAUTROCK vinyl or CD compilation - with perhaps a little bit of Electronic, Experimental, Avant Garde and Trippy Soundtrack stuff thrown in for good measure. Well look no further music lovers, because this little sensation from Soul Jazz Records of London is the answer.

Details first - originally credited as “Elektronische Music” on 2CD card promos that circulated in March 2010, it was scheduled for Monday, 5 April 2010 release, but then delayed to 12 April and the word “Deutsche” added on at the beginning. For this review I’ve included track timings, the original vinyl LP each song is taken from and the year of release.

Soul Jazz SJR CD213 breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (77:31 minutes):
1. A Spectacle by CAN [5:39 minutes] (from “Can”, 1978)
2. Devotion by BETWEEN [3:46 minutes] (from “And The Waters Opened”, 1973)
3. Dino by HARMONIA [features Michael Rother of Neu! and Hans-Joachim Roedelius of Cluster] [3:29 minutes] (from “Musik Von Harmonia”, 1974)
4. This Morning by GILA [5:45 minutes] (from “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee”, 1973)
5. Rambo Zambo by KOLLECTIV [11:39 minutes] (from “Kollectiv”, 1973)
6. La Chasse Aux Microbes by MICHAEL BUNDT [8:30 minutes] (from “Just Landed Cosmic Kid”, 1977)
7. Filmmuzik by E.M.A.K. [Elektronische Musik Aus Koeln] [3:15 minutes] (from “E.M.A.K.”, 1982)
8. Morgengruss by POPOL VUH [2:57 minutes] (from “Einsjager Und Siebenjager”, 1974)
9. Auf Dem Schwarzen Canal by CONRAD SCHNITZLER [3:12 minutes] (on a German-only RCA Records 12” single of the same name, 1980)
10. Rheinita by LA DUSSELDORF [7:37 minutes – Full Version] (from “Viva”, 1978)
11. Veterano by HARMONIA [3:55 minutes] (as per 3)
12. It’s A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl by FAUST [7:26 minutes – Full Version] (from “So Far”, 1972)
13. Hellogallo by NEU! [10:03 minutes] (from their debut “Neu!”, 1972)

Disc 2 (59:56 minutes):
1. Heisse Lippen by CLUSTER [2:21 minutes] (from “Zuckerzeit”, 1974)
2. High Life by IBLISS [13:01 minutes – Full LP Version] (from “Supernova”, 1972)
3. Hasenheide by DIETER MOEBIUS [of Cluster] [2:36 minutes] (from “Tonspuren”, 1983)
4. Fly United by AMON DUUL II [3:29 minutes] (from “Vive La Trance”, 1973)
5. Aguirre 1 by POPOL VUH [6:13 minutes] (from “Aguirre”, 1975)
6. Daydream by ASH RA TEMPLE starring ROSI [5:22 minutes] (from “Ash Ra Temple starring Rosi”, 1973)
7. No Man’s Land by TANGERINE DREAM [9:05 minutes] (from “Hyperborea”, 1983)
8. Wie Der Wind Am Ende Einer Strasse by AMON DUUL II [5:43 minutes] (from “Wolf City”, 1972)
9. Geradewohl by [Hans-Joachim] ROEDELIUS [of Cluster] [3:31 minutes] (from “Selbstportrait Vol.III – “Reise Durch Arcadien””)
10. I Want More by CAN [3:30 minutes] (from a 7” single on Virgin, 1976)
11. Soham by [Georg] DEUTER [4:55 minutes – edit version] (from “Aum”, 1972)

The outer card wrap houses an inner 2CD plastic holder which looks like a mini-DVD case and sitting alongside that is an over-sized 38-page booklet jam-packed with knowledgeable details on the artists and the scene by STUART BAKER and ADRIAN SELF. All the great labels of Krautrock are represented here – Germany’s Brain, Metronome, Sky, Ohr, Kuckuck, EMI Electrola etc – and of course Britain’s Virgin and United Artists. The set was mastered by DUNCAN POWELL and PETE REILLY at Sound Mastering in London and despite the varying dates and tape sources; the audio quality is uniformly excellent.

The track choices are diverse and clever too – much of it very rare and hugely expensive on original vinyl – and while the usual suspects like CAN, POPOP VUL, TANGERINE DREAM and AMON DUUL II are to be expected, it’s nice to see the piano and synth groove of Conrad Schnitzer’s ultra-rare 12” single featured and the slightly cheesy but utterly hypnotic Kollectiv track in its entirety (SJ have gone for the more desirable full album versions in most cases). And Popol Vuh’s short instrumental “Morgengruss” is shockingly beautiful.

Downsides – there’s none of those gorgeous and weird LP sleeves pictured which is a shame – and the outer artwork of the compilation itself is genuinely garish (does itself no favours) and doesn’t really give you any indication of the rare goodies contained within. Also - as you can see from the playing time above, the 2nd disc is a good 20-minutes short and both CDs are lessened by the huge absence of Kraut-monsters Kraftwerk - but I suspect that this has had more to do with licensing difficulties than Soul Jazz not wanting to cram both discs to the rafters.

For vinyl junkies the other good news is that CD 1 and 2 have been issued as 2LP sets on Soul Jazz SJR LP213 Vol.1 and SJR LP213 Vol.2 respectively with no tracks omitted. Each is a tasty gatefold sleeve and the full CD booklet is spread across the inner gatefold of one and continued onto the other. Also, because each is a double album, the tracks get the space they need to breath (I’ve acquired both because they’re future collectables for sure).

So there you have it - very rare and hugely desirable music made available to a panting public via a great British reissue label. I can’t stop playing it – and our discerning punters are absolutely loving it (I’ve not seen a reaction like this by the public in years). Genius stuff boys and well done.

For me, “Deutsche Elektronische Musik – Experimental German Rock And Electronic Musik 1972-83” is already one of THE reissues of 2010.

"Michael Clayton". A Review of the UK's 2010 BLU RAY Reissue.

MICHAEL CLAYTON: “I’m Not The Enemy!”
ARTHUR EDENS: “Then Who Are You?”

Late at night on the one-millionth floor of a city skyscraper, a trolley chock full of legal papers is being wheeled through the immaculate corridors of a huge US Law firm. A voice-over is having a full-on meltdown as the big wheels of this little cog roll ever forward.
The educated tones are that of a man in his late 50’s; he’s obviously hugely intelligent, yet there’s only half-coherence in his lengthy fast-spoken sentences. The voice babbles on and on about morals and death and epiphanies. He talks of searing personal clarity, of monsters, of ordinary people being screwed by the system.
He’s drowning in a river of shit that he’s been swimming in for years and can stand it no more. This man is clearly unhinged. Or is he?

The voice you vaguely recognise is that of the superlative British actor TOM WILKINSON (an inspired piece of casting) and he’s playing top Personal Injury lawyer Arthur Edens. Arthur is a man who got into the law for the right reasons when he started out as a young man, but now, in the twilight of his long and acknowledged career, finds that his brilliance is being used. It seems that he has finally been driven mad by 12 long years of evasion and counter tactics in what he knows to his very marrow is an indefensible lawsuit.

The case is a class-action suit pending against a huge agro-chemical company called U-NORTH whose ‘odourless/tasteless’ weed product may/may not have killed 450 unwitting US farmers - despite U-North’s glossy ‘for the people’ TV advertisements. Billions of dollars are at stake here and the very soul of the law firm itself.
And that is of course one of the problems – unlike some of the other lawyers in Kenner, Back & Ledeen - Arthur still has a soul - and now – maybe even documentary evidence to settle the case once and for all. But the truth - like him - has become a liability - and Arthur may need ‘to be dealt with’…

The opening dialogue is stunning and it should be. “Micheal Clayton” is written and directed by TONY GILROY who penned all three of the “Bourne” scripts, “Dolores Claiborne” and the well-underrated “Proof Of Life”. You couple really great material like this with a stunning cast and you get a film that’s firing on all sixes. Even the minor roles are a sensation. But it’s the principal lead GEORGE CLOONEY who drives the movie forward; he is utterly compelling as the law firms floating fixer “Michael Clayton” dispatched pronto to ‘get a grip’ on the situation and his friend, Arthur.

Clayton has arrived at 45 years of age with no real life other than his job, his wife is with another man and his kids are something he gets visiting rights to rather than actual parenting of. Clayton’s previous bad habits include reckless gambling - and now - he has an expensive failed restaurant to deal with (a hoped-for alternate life). As the firm’s ‘janitor’ he spends most of his working day on the phone calling in favours or flying in private planes to places in the middle of the country in the dead of night to sort out messes made by other odious rich people. Clayton’s every action is filed in a corporate drawer marked ‘necessary evil’. Worse, because of his restaurant shambles and card-table losses, he now needs $75,000 dollars in a week or debt people will come to ‘fix’ him.

But the real lose of course is his humanity - his very soul. Clooney’s character is morally disintegrating like his friend Arthur Edens and just doesn’t know it yet. There’s a fantastic sequence in an alleyway when Clayton finally catches up with the AWOL Edens, and while the conversation begins with Clayton saying to his friend that he’s acting like a madman who doesn’t know what he’s saying, Arthur turns it around… Clayton shouts “I’m not the enemy!” But Arthur says softly in reply, “Then, who are you?” Clayton’s jaw drops open, because (a) he doesn’t know anymore, and (b) he does know, but just can’t bring himself to say it, let alone do something about it…either way he’s screwed.

Now we throw into this heady mix the Oscar winning talents of TILDA SWINTON, who is a ruthless corporate player prepared to stoop to any deed to get her job done and it’s not too difficult to see what will happen to Arthur and his new found enlightenment…

There’s also a deliciously ambiguous SYDNEY POLLOCK playing one of law firms Senior Partners Marty Bach, who on hearing of Arthur’s filmed meltdown in a deposition meeting (he strips down to his socks in front of a teenage girl) - simply frowns. Immediately you get from his scrunched up eyebrows that Arthur’s mental health doesn’t really concern Mister Bach, but the consequences to their law firm and therefore by extension to their rich and comfortable lives…does. The level of writing is like this all the way through – rich, deep and filled out.

And now – at last - it arrives on the High Definition format of BLU RAY (it was only available on an American HD DVD up until now) and it looks fabulous - a lot more defined and rich to the eye. Even in the dark night scenes, the clarity is glorious. It’s a classy looking film.

Disappointingly, the extras are only good rather than great. You get three deleted scenes (one contains the English actress Jennifer Ehle of TV''s "Pride & Prejudice" fame) and then three commentaries on those scenes by Tony and John Gilroy as a separate feature. But there’s no “making of”, no feature-length commentary, no input from the actors - when all would have been truly fascinating things to watch. Subtitles are English and English for the Hard-of-Hearing.

Still – with the hugely enhanced picture quality - “Michael Clayton” is a superb movie and a career best for all the leads. A superlative BLU RAY reissue I urge you to seek out.

“Message From The Country” by THE MOVE (September 2005 EMI/Harvest 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue with a Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…And The Message From The Country Rises Higher…”

The 2000's have been good to The Move. Their first three albums "The Move" (April 1968), "Shazam" (March 1970) and "Looking On" (December 1970) all received 2008 CD upgrades by Salvo of the UK (their debut is a 2CD set) with great sound and half-decent extras. There are also superlative 'Esoteric Recordings' reissues from 2016 (see reviews). 

But "Message From The Country" - their 4th and last studio album reissued on an expanded EMI CD some years back - seems to have become a bit of a forgotten gem. Time to rectify this oversight on your part…

Released September 2005 - "Message From The Country" by THE MOVE on EMI/Harvest 0946 3 30342 2 8 is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (76:19 minutes):

1. Message From The Country [by Jeff Lynne]

2. Ella James [by Roy Wood]

3. No Time [by Jeff Lynne]

4. Don't Mess Me Up [by Bev Bevan]

5. Until Your Moma's Gone

[Tracks 1 to 5 made up Side 1 of the original LP]

6. It Wasn't My Idea To Dance [by Roy Wood]

7. The Minister [by Jeff Lynne]

8. Ben Crawley Steel Company [by Roy Wood]

9. The Words Of Aaron [by Jeff Lynne]

10. My Marge [by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood]

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Message From The Country" released October 1971 in the UK on Harvest Records SHSP 4013 (a gatefold sleeve) and in the USA with different artwork in a single sleeve on Capitol Records ST-811

Track 11 is "Tonight" [by Roy Wood], a non-album song released as a UK 7" single in June 1971 on Harvest HAR 5038 [it's B-side was the album track "Don't Mess Me Up"]

Track 12 is "Chinatown" [by Roy Wood]; a non-album song released as a UK 7" single in October 1971 on Harvest HAR 5043 [A]

Track 13 is "Down On The Bay" [by Jeff Lynne]; a non-album song, it's the B-side of "Chinatown"

Track 14 is "Do Ya" [by Jeff Lynne], a non-album song; it was the first of two B-sides to "California Man", a non-album track issued as a 7" single in May 1972 in the UK on Harvest HAR 5050. Its second B-side was the album track "Ella James". "Do Ya" was also re-issued in September 1974 in the UK as an A-side in its own right on Harvest HAR 5086 (it's B-side was the album track "No Time").

Track 15 is "California Man" (see 14)

Tracks 16 to 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED STUDIO SESSIONS - "Don't Mess Me Up" is a stripped down version newly found at Abbey Road Studios, "The Words Of Aaron" is an extended version with additional woodwind (also newly found at Abbey Road Studios) and last is "Do Ya" - a different mix prepared in Philips Studios in 1972 and originally intended for broadcast as a BBC session (see below about this one).

PETER MEW has remastered the first generation original master tapes at Abbey Road for this release and the sound quality is glorious - really clean and muscular - another great job done by him. The 20-page booklet is superbly laid out - detailed liner notes by noted band expert JOHN VAN DER KISTE, rare worldwide 7" picture sleeves reproduced for the non-album single releases, NME reviews and adverts - even snaps of the tape boxes.

“Message” has often been rated by MOVE fans as one of their best albums - in fact the opening song "Message From The Country" still sounds amazingly fresh to this day - sort of like a follow up to Thunderclap Newman's "Something In The Air" (lyrics above). But what gets me is the stunning quality of the 7" singles and their B-sides - equal to any of the better album tracks - "Down On The Day" and "Tonight" jump to mind. And then there's the three unreleased sessions which are unexpectedly cool - the first two are almost Acapella backing tracks which give fascinating insights into the quality of their great vocal harmonies, while the seven-minute "Do Ya" stops at about 4:51 minutes into the song and there's suddenly an unannounced version of "My Marge" [last track on the album and a B-side in the States] complete with studio chatter - great stuff!

To sum up - this is another blindingly good reissue from EMI for a band that deserved the accolades. Top stuff all round really…

“Original Album Series” by THE DRIFTERS [featuring CLYDE McPHATTER]. A Review of the 2010 5CD Mini Box Set on Atlantic/Rhino.

"…It Really Was…Such A Night…”

Aping the success of Sony's similarly packaged 5CD box sets, WEA/Rhino has released over FORTY x 5CD "Original Album Series" mini box sets of their own. Issued in the UK and Europe only, the artists featured stretch from rhythm 'n' blues and soul icons of the 1950s and 1960s (Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin) all the way through to Metal And Indie bands of the 2000s (Dokken and Echo & The Bunnymen). For those interested, I've compiled a full listing of titles in the series below (some are superb, some are not).

Here's the fine-detail for THE DRIFTERS set - released Monday 1 March 2010 in the UK on Atlantic/Rhino 8122 79837 3, "Original Album Series" 5CD box set breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 is "Rock & Rock" [aka “Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters”], 14-tracks, released 1956 on Atlantic LP 8003 in the USA (37:05 minutes, MONO)

Disc 2 is "Rockin’ & Driftin’", 14-tracks, released 1958 on Atlantic LP 8022 in the USA (33:23 minutes, MONO)

Disc 3 is "Save The Last Dance For Me", 12-tracks, released 1962 on Atlantic SD-8059 in the USA (30:13 minutes, STEREO, Produced by Leiber & Stoller)

Disc 4 is "Under The Boardwalk", 12-tracks, released 1964 on Atlantic SD-8099 in the USA (30:50 minutes, STEREO)

Disc 5 is "I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing", 12-tracks, released 1966 on Atlantic SD-8113 in the USA (32:59 minutes, STEREO)

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:
All five single card sleeves reflect the 'original' front and rear US LP artwork and as you can see from the track numbers above, there are no bonuses, just straightforward Repros of the original American albums. Also each front sleeve is also now 'bordered' with a colour and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code (so no original label artwork reproduced). The outer card box is lightweight and therefore a little bit flimsy (unlike the glossy hard-card Sony issues) and there's no downloadable track details either. Once out of the box though, those cool Atlantic rear sleeves are just so lovely to look at - and even though the type is very small given the 5” size - the original liner notes are readable too. Very tastily done.

SOUND:
Unlike many other titles in this series (repackaging of crappy Eighties titles that have been in the marketplace for years) these titles ARE the Atlantic/Rhino remasters of old and therefore their sound is just GORGEOUS - really lovely to listen to. Also – stripped of their bonus tracks – you really get the ‘feel’ of the original album as first produced – combined with the original art on both sides of the card sleeve, they’re very evocative of the period.

This box is really a tale of two worlds – the first two albums “Rock & Roll” and “Rockin’ & Driftin’” are Fifties Rhythm ‘n’ Blues (Clyde McPhatter period) while the next three are really early Sixties soul – so you essentially get great listens on two musical fronts

This little box set is a gem – one of my favourites in the series so far – and an awful lot of great music for not a whole lot of money.

Recommended.

PS: With regard to sound - so far the Little Feat, Bread, Los Lobos, Chris Rea, Dr. John, Echo & The Bunnymen and Rickie Lee Jones sets are disappointingly reported as NON REMASTERS. Rhino have been contacted about this – and Rhino say they are simply repackaging of discs that are already out there – hence some are remasters – some are not.

PPS: I've also done The Cars, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Spinners and Little Feat sets in this series - see separate reviews.

“Ain’t No Saint” by JOHN MARTYN. A Review of the 2008 Universal 4CD Box Set.

"…It’s All For The Love Of You…”

September 2008’s “Ain’t No Saint” 4CD box set offers up 61 tracks across a 40-year career (over 30 are previously unreleased). The 36-page booklet is a bit slapdash with regard to exacting details – so I’ve deciphered all the info contained within and without - and can now provide the following detailed breakdown for Universal-Island 530 798-7:

Disc 1 (75:51 minutes):

1. Fairy Tale Lullaby (from “London Conversation”, 1967)
2. Sing A Song Of Summer (from “The Tumbler”, 1968)
3. Stormbringer (from “Stormbringer”, 1970) John and Beverley Martyn
4. Tree Green (from “The Road To Ruin”, 1970) John and Beverley Martyn
5. Head And Heart (from “Solid Air”, 1973)
6. In The Evening (a “Solid Air outtake, also on the 2009 2CD DELUXE EDITION)
7. Solid Air (an Alternate version, also on the 2009 2CD DELUXE EDITION)
8. Keep On (a “Solid Air outtake, also on the 2009 2CD DELUXE EDITION)
9. The Glory Of Love (a “Solid Air outtake, also on the 2009 2CD DELUXE EDITION)
10. Go Down Easy (from “Solid Air”, 1973)
11. Ain’t No Saint (an “Inside Out” outtake, an instrumental)
12. Fine Lines (from “Inside Out”, 1973)
13. Eight More Miles (a “Sunday’s Child” outtake)
14. Call Me Crazy (from “Sunday’s Child”, 1975)
15. Black Man At The Shoulder (a “One World” outtake)
16. All For The Love Of You (a “One World” outtake)
17. Working It Out (a “One World” outtake)
18. Couldn’t Love You More (from “One World”, 1977)
6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15 to 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Disc 2 (79:29 minutes):

1. Advertisement (30-second Radio Spot for the March 1977 ‘Best Of’ Island Records compilation “So Far So Good”)
2. Small Hours – Instrumental [originally known as “Space Peace”] (a 10:18 minutes Alternate version, also on the 2004 2CD DELUXE EDITION of “One World”]
3. In Search Of Anna [credited on the box as “Anna”] (a 1979 Australian-only 7” single on Island Records K7450. Theme to a movie of the same name)
4. Lookin’ On (from “Grace And Danger”, 1980)
5. Amsterdam (from “Glorious Fool”, 1981)
6. Hung Up (from “Well Kept Secret”, 1982)
7. Acid Rain (from “Sapphire”, 1984)
8. Who Believes In Angels (from “Piece By Piece”, 1986)
9. The Apprentice (from “The Apprentice”, 1990)
10. Hole In The Rain (from “Cooltide”, 1991)
11. One World (alternate version from the re-recordings compilation “Couldn’t Love You More”, 1992)
12. Sunday’s Child (a 1992 re-recording, an Alternate version)
13. Carmine (from “And.”, 1996)
14. The Sky Is Crying (an Elmore James cover from “The Church With One Bell”, 1998)
15. So Sweet (from “Glasgow Walker”, 2000)
16. Back To Marseilles (from “On The Cobbles”, 2004)
1 to 3 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Disc 3 (77:37 minutes):

1. Bless The Weather (Live at the Empire Theatre, Edinburgh, 22 August 1973)
2. Make No Mistake (Live at the Empire Theatre, Edinburgh, 22 August 1973)
3. So Much In Love With You (Live at Leeds University, 13 February 1975)
4. Spencer The Rover (Live at Leeds University, 13 February 1975)
5. My Baby Girl (Live at Leeds University, 13 February 1975)
6. You Can Deliver (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 16 March 1975)
7. Solid Air (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 16 March 1975)
8. I’d Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman) (a Skip James cover, Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 16 March 1975)
9. Outside In (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 16 March 1975)
10. Advertisement (18-second Radio Spot for a Sunday Night concert in Birmingham)
11. Big Muff (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 21 November 1977)
12. One Day Without You (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 21 November 1977)
1 to 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Disc 4 (79:44 minutes):

1. Dealer (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 21 November 1977)
2. Smiling Stranger (Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, 21 November 1977)
3. Johnny Too Bad (Live at BBC Bristol for “A Little Night Music” Television Show, 12 August 1981)
4. Hurt In Your Heart (Live at BBC Bristol for “A Little Night Music” Television Show, 12 August 1981)
5. John Wayne (Live at The Montreaux Jazz Festival, 18 July 1986)
6. Angeline (Live at The Montreaux Jazz Festival, 18 July 1986)
7. Mad Dog Days (Live at The Montreaux Jazz Festival, 18 July 1986)
8. The Moment (Live at The Town & Country Club, London, 12 November 1986)
9. Fisherman’s Dream (Live at The Town & Country Club, London, 12 November 1986)
10. Sweet Little Mystery (Live at BBC Television Show “Later With Jools Holland”, 5 November 1992)
11. May You Never (Live at the BBC Television Show “Later With Jools Holland”, 5 November 1992)
12. Step It Up (Live at the BBC Television Show “Later With Jools Holland”, 1 June 1996)
13. Sunshine’s Better (Live at the “Andy Kershaw Show” for BBC Radio 1, 12 August 1996)
14. On For The Road (Live at BBC Television Show “Later With Jools Holland”, 14 May 2004)
15. Over The Hill (Live at the BBC’s “Radio 2 Folk Awards” Show, 6 February 2008)
1 to 15 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED; 15 features JOHN PAUL JONES of LED ZEPPELIN on Mandolin

The first 2 CDs provide a career retrospective of at least one song from all 22 of his studio albums (1967 to 2004) while Discs 3 and 4 are entirely made up of live and unreleased performances (1973 to 2008). The whole set has been remastered by PASCHAL BYRNE who did such a beautiful job on 2009’s DELUXE EDITION of “Solid Air” (see separate review) – and the audio quality here is equal to that gem – especially on the earlier more folky tunes – warm and airy – just a gorgeous listen.

JOHN HILLARBY, long-time archivist and friend of Martyn has written the liner notes and cherry-picked the tracks. And while some of the choices are inspired (the rarely heard “Hung Up” from Well Kept Secret), others left me cold – even baffled. Why the ordinary “Back To Marseilles” from 2004’s “On The Cobbles” when you could have ended disc 2 with “Goodnight Irene” with Mavis Staples. And do we need yet another 1992 alternate take of “Solid Air” (even if it is previously unreleased) when the live version of it on 1981’s “Philanthropy” trashes it so completely. And why not decent tracks off “Piece By Piece” like “Lonely Love” or the title track or even a remaster of “Tight Connection To My Heart” – a rare non-album Dylan cover version on the “Angeline” CD single from 1986? Box sets are made for these sorts of things.

But there are gobsmacking gems on here to entice even the most hardened cynic; the ultra-rare and excellent “In Search Of Anna” – an Australian-only 7” single from 1979 finally gets a CD release - while “In The Evening” and “All For The Love Of You” (lyrics above) represent truly beautiful outtakes from “Solid Air” and “One World” respectively. And I never tire of “Hole In The Rain”, “Carmine” or “So Sweet”. His Nineties and 2000’s stuff is superlative and never given enough room to shine.

Disc 3 and 4 are a mixed bag of the lovely (deliciously delicate versions of “Angeline” and “Sunshine’s Better”) running alongside the indulgent (13 minutes of “Inside Out”) and the manic, but strangely powerful “John Wayne”. And these live tracks also show a side to Martyn that needed serious acknowledgment – his ability with a full band to morph his older folk-acoustic songs into full-on modernized soulful versions which were often just as good as the originals – just updated in a fashion. It ends with John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin joining him on Mandolin on “Over The Hill” at the BBC’s Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2008 – you can feel the audience’s affection.

So there you have it – although “Ain’t No Saint” is sometimes sloppy and disappointing in places, it’s utterly captivating and life affirming too. And with his sad passing in early 2009, you’ll be glad you invested in it – and left after the last joyful track with a terrible feeling of true greatness lost...

Rest in peace you lovely man.

“No Little Boy” by JOHN MARTYN. A Review of his 1993 Re-Recordings Compilation Now Given A New Lease Of Life in 2008 by One World Records.

JOHN MARTYN is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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

"…What A Time We Had…”

The 1993 compilation “No Little Boy” has a convoluted history and this 2008 reissue of it requires some explanation too.

After the well-received but relative commercial failure of the “Piece By Piece” album in 1986, John Martyn found himself dropped by Island Records and without a contract. He then signed to a new UK label - Permanent Records - who issued two albums of new material - “The Apprentice” in 1990 and the wonderful “Cooltide” in 1991.

However, away in the USA at the time (and without his knowledge or permission), Permanent took a swathe of in-progress re-recordings of his old Island year’s material and naughtily released it as the compilation “Couldn’t Love You More” in October 1992 on PERM 9. Martyn was understandably furious and denounced it. But in a strange quirk of fate, the public largely embraced it (charted at 65) - and the album even opened up a whole new audience for him.

Back in the UK and determined to do it ‘properly’, he put out this 2nd compilation of re-recordings on PERM 14 in July 1993 and called it “No Little Boy” (a lyric from “Ways To Cry”). Seven of its 13 songs were NOT on the “Couldn’t Love You More” compilation and some of the other ‘duplicate’ titles turned out to be radically different versions too (even though it didn’t say this on the artwork)…

Which brings us to this March 2008 reissue; One World OW128CD is the original 13-track compilation upped by three bonus songs, the music is newly remastered and the booklet expanded and annotated better. It breaks down as follows (78:35 minutes)

1. Solid Air (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)
2. Ways To Cry (originally on "Inside Out", October 1973)
3. Could've Been Me (originally on "Well Kept Secret", 1982)
4. Don’t Want To Know (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)
5. Just Now (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)
6. One Day Without You (originally on "Sunday's Child", 1975)
7. Sweet Little Mystery (originally on "Grace & Danger", 1980)
8. Pascanel (originally on “Glorious Fool”, 1981)
9. Sunday’s Child (originally on "Sunday's Child", 1975)
10. Head & Heart (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)
11. Fine Lines (originally on "Inside Out", October 1973)
12. Bless The Weather (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)
13. Man In The Station (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

BONUS TRACKS
14. One World (originally on “One World”, 1977)
15. Rock, Salt And Nails (see Notes below)
16. Hole In The Rain (a REMIX of a track originally on “Cooltide”, 1991)

Notes: 2, 3 and 7 feature PHIL COLLINS on duet vocals, 2, 3 and 14 feature DAVID GILMOUR of PINK FLOYD on Guitar while LEVON HELM of THE BAND provides duet vocals on “Rock, Salt & Nails” (a cover version written by BRUCE ‘UTAH’ PHILLIPS)

Although the booklet doesn't advise who remastered the tapes, the website seems to say it was done by DALLAS SIMPSON – it’s far better than the 1993 version I’ve had all these years.

As you imagine, some of the re-recordings work and some don't. Some to my ears – are incredible – just as lovely as the originals, but more soulful (even if they are a bit over produced in places). Special mention should also go to PHIL COLLINS for his heartfelt vocal contributions - especially on "Ways To Cry" - it's a track where both their hurting personal lives seem to seep through their voices.

I derided the versions of "Head & Heart" and "Man In The Station" on the “Couldn’t Love You More” compilation, but the versions here are much better. “Fine Lines” is truly beautiful – my personal favorite - a fabulous version, while “Pascanel” gets a superb update with the girly vocals of Shaun Christopher and Rene Stewart and the piano work of Fred Nelson. The bonuses are exceptional too – the new version of “One World” is wicked as is the remix of a song I never tire of - “Hole In The Rain”. But ‘the’ piece is “Rock, Salt & Nails”, a cover version, which sees Martyn duet with Levon Helm of The Band to amazing effect – so, so good.

Both collections have been re-packaged to buggery by other labels since then - which hasn't helped - so fans have all but ignored them or forgotten them entirely. Personally - John Martyn could fart in a bottle - and I'd still want to hear it. Which is one of the reasons for this review - this lovely and muscular 2008 REMASTER of that 2nd set has finally brought out just how good many of these re-recordings were and still are. And I would urge fans and newcomers to give these re-makes another chance.

Recommended.

PS: see also reviews for the 2007 One World remasters of "The Apprentice" (1990) and "Cooltide" (1991), “Couldn't Love You More" (compilation from 1992), “Solid Air” DELUXE EDITION from 2009 and the live set "The Simmer Dim" (2008)