“Breakfast In America” by SUPERTRAMP. A Review Of The 2010 Single CD Remaster (Also Released As A 2CD Deluxe Edition).

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:

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"...I Really Have Enjoyed My Stay..."

When the 2CD Deluxe Edition of Supertramp’s mega-hit album "Breakfast In America" appeared in early October 2010 with a sticker on its front packaging declaring that it contained a superb new remaster by GREG CALBI within – I must admit I was tempted. 

But I thought to myself - I don’t really want (nor need) a bunch of superfluous live tracks on Disc 2 – and pay for the privilege of it too. So I left it be…

But I recently noticed the cheaper 'single' CD version (released at the same time) of "Breakfast In America" by SUPERTRAMP on A&M/Universal 0600753304372 (Barcode 600753304372) retailing in some places for as little as a fiver (a few more bucks in the USA). And it’s a bit of a bargain frankly. 

The 8-page booklet is the same as the previous basic issue (lyrics, a few photos) - but the 'sound' is a brilliantly realised August 2010 remaster that really makes you sit up and take notice (46:21 minutes).

1. Gone Hollywood

2. The Logical Song

3. Goodbye Stranger

4. Breakfast In America

5. Oh Darling

6. Take The Long Way Home [Side 2]

7. Lord Is It Mine

8. Just Another Nervous Wreck

9. Casual Conversations

10. Child Of Vision

GREG CALBI is important to Supertramp’s highly polished audiophile sound because he mastered the original 1979 A&M Records LP (as well as their “Crime Of The Century” gem from 1974) – and therefore has an intimate knowledge of the tapes. And with a staggering 2,300 mastering and remastering credits to his name across four decades – he knows his way around a console and a tape box or two.

The sound quality is just fantastic - standout tracks like “Goodbye Stranger” (lyrics above), the lesser heard “Oh Darling” and the stunning album finisher “Child Of Vision” with its extended keyboard workouts now sound huge – but without being overblown or over trebled. They’re warmer and clearer – and the layers of the original meticulous production unravel on almost every track. I can even forgive the truly dreadful “Logical Song” and its cringing lyrics. “Gone Hollywood” and “Just Another Nervous Wreck” are good too – top-notch audio.

If you’ve been on the fence about this album - then this dirt-cheap brilliant sounding remaster is where to dive in…

“Tomorrow The Green Grass” by THE JAYHAWKS (2011 American 2CD 'Legacy Edition' Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Deeper Yellow On The Corn…"

February 1995's "Tomorrow The Green Grass" showed that after two accomplished Indie albums (1986 and 1989) and their stunning 1992 breakthrough effort "Hollywood Town Hall" - THE JAYHAWKS was a truly great Americana band finally hitting their stride. 

It received Universal acclaim and has been beloved ever since. 

This January 2011 Reissue/Remaster of "Tomorrow The Green Grass" is a massive overhaul of their revered 4th album - a 2CD 'Legacy Edition' - and American 88697 72732 2 (Barcode 886977273223) breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (68:20 minutes):

1. Blue

2. I'd Run Away

3. Miss Williams' Guitar

4. Two Hearts 

5. Real Light 

6. Over My Shoulder 

7. Bad Time 

8. See Him On The Street 

9. Nothing Left To Borrow

10. Ann Jane

11. Pray For Me

12. Red's Song

13. Ten Little Kids

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Tomorrow The Green Grass" released February 1995 on American Recordings 43006 

BONUS TRACKS:

Track 14 is "Tomorrow The Green Grass", a studio recording, non-album B-side from the 1995 single "Blue"

Tracks 15, 16 and 18 are "You And I (Ba Ba Ba)", "Sweet Hobo Self" and "Sleep While You Can" and are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Track 17 is "Last Cigarette", a studio recording, non-album B-side from the 1995 single "Bad Time" which features Karen Grotberg on Lead Vocals 

Disc 2 (72:17 minutes):

1. Pray For Me

2. Won't Be Coming Home

3. No Place

4. Precious Time

5. Poor Michael's Boat 

6. Ranch House In Phoenix

7. Cotton Dress

8. She Picks The Violets

9. Bloody Hands

10. Up Above The River

11. Over My Shoulder

12. Blue From Now On (Take 2)

13. Hold Me Close 

14. Turn Your Pretty Name Around 

15. You And I (Ba-Ba-Ba)

16. Red's Song

17. Nothing Left To Borrow

18. While Shell Road

Tracks 1 to 18 are called "The Mystery Demos" and are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1 to 10 are Mark Olson and Gary Louris ‘Demos’ recorded 6 February 1992 in Minneapolis with Mike "Razz" Russell on Violin  

11 to 18 are Mark Olson and Gary Louris ‘Acoustic Demos’ recorded October 1992 in Los Angeles with the album's producer George Drakoulias overseeing the session 

The album produced 3 singles - "Bad Time" (backing vocals by Sharleen Spiteri of Texas), "Blue" and "I'd Run Away" which featuring a plethora of outtakes and previously unreleased tracks across worldwide releases. I mention this because the eagle-eyed fan will notice that there are 3 B-sides NOT featured here (and there was room for them) - they're on the superlative "Music From The North Country" American Recordings 2CD/1DVD compilation from 2009. The band probably didn't want to duplicate what fans have already bought - but it's worth mentioning that if you want a fuller picture, you'll need ‘both’ releases despite this being a supposed all-encompassing ‘Legacy Edition’. 

The 3-way card digipak features a 24-page booklet with liner notes by band-archivist PD LARSON - photos of the boys in the studio - out on the road, pictures beneath the 2 see-through plastic trays etc. It's very nicely done and in keeping with the original black and white artwork. 

The original tapes have been remastered by VIC ANESINI (he also did the "Music From The North Country" set - see separate review) and the sound quality is BEAUTIFUL - so sweet and warm. Tracks like "Blue" and "Two Hearts" were standouts anyway on the original CD, but here they sound just gorgeous. The Remaster also makes you rehear a lot of the lesser-lauded gems on the record like "Pray For Me" (with Victoria Williams on Backing Vocals - lyrics above) and the pretty "Ann Jane" - they now sound 'so' good. 

As you can imagine - the previously unreleased stuff is a mixture of the great and the ordinary. The 2 B-sides on Disc 1 are only OK, but the 3 outtakes are surprisingly good - especially "Sweet Hobo Self". The plaintive "You And I (Ba Ba Ba)" could have been a great lost classic - it starts out so well, but then seems to get lost in a lyrical mess that the band forgot to come back to - to sort out. 

Disc 2 offers up a whopping 18 demo versions. With so many songs recording in one gulp - and being demos - mistakes and glitches are left in and the production is basic (a lot of hiss on the Oct 1992 sessions) - but it actually imbibes the songs that didn't make the final cut like "Won't Be Coming Home" and "Poor Michael's Boat" with a stripped down intimacy that will thrill hardcore fans.  The "Blue From Now On" demo for instance is as gorgeous in rough-cut as is the finished version (eventually just called "Blue"). Some are dull though like "Red's Song" and "Bloody Hands" - some surprise you like the excellent "Ranch House In Phoenix" while "Nothing Left To Borrow" is as lovely as The Jayhawks get. While it’s not quite the wow the Deluxe Edition of Whiskeytown's "Strangers Almanac" is (see separate review) - it's still very good indeed.  

To sum up - the Remaster is superlative, the packaging is excellent and the 'works-in-progress' extras give us a 'deeper' feel for the album and are often shockingly good. Go for it and enjoy...

"Bish" by STEPHEN BISHOP (December 2006 Hip-O Select CD Reissue in Mini LP Hard Card Gatefold Repro Artwork - Numbered Limited Edition of 5000) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Your All-Genres Guide To The Music Of 1975 to 1979 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

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"…What Should I Do…I'm Losing Myself In You…" 

Following on from his hugely popular debut album "Careless" (released December 1976 on ABC Records in the both the States and UK) – 1978’s "Bish" was a classy follow-through – an audiophile-sounding vinyl LP featuring a glittering array of top West Coast session players that is beloved by Stephen Bishop fans to this day.

On CD - there's been budget issues of some of its tracks here in the UK on MCA/Half Moon and in the US on the excellent Rhino "Best Of" remaster in 1988 - but this is the first proper sonic doing of the entire album and the result I'm happy to say is just beautiful. The audio quality here is breathtaking - clarity that fans will absolutely delight in - pretty much the same as "Careless" (see separate review in “SOUNDS GOOD: Sixties & Seventies Volume 1”).

1. If I Only Had A Brain

2. Losing Myself In You

3. Looking For The Right One

4. Everybody Needs Love

5. A Fool At Heart

6. What Can Love Do

7. Vagabond From Heaven [Side 2]

8. Bish’s Hideaway

9. Only The Heart Within You

10. Recognized

11. I’ve Never Known A Nite Like This

12. When I Was In Love

Released December 2006 in the USA-only – "Bish" by STEPHEN BISHOP on Hip-O Select/Geffen B000298402 (Barcode 008811837921) is a straightforward CD reissue (in gatefold repro artwork) of his 2nd studio LP released August 1978 in the USA on ABC Records AA-1082 and in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5252 (44:30 minutes total playing time).

It’s a NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION of 5000 issued in an oversized 5" gatefold repro hard-card sleeve (numbered on the rear in gold). There's also a see-through sepia-printed inner sleeve giving re-issue details. The card sleeve has the words LIMITED EDITION boxed in gold on the rear and the detail even stretches to a pasted-on inner gatefold sleeve like US albums of the time. It's a shame though that there is no history to the album, no proper liner note contributed by the man himself, not even an original release date of the LP or singles or photos from the sessions - still, that all pales against the real deal - the stunning sound...

Universal uses several top engineers (Erick Labson, Ellen Fitton, Suha Gur and Kevin Reeves are among the names I've reviewed before) and GAVIN LURSSEN is one of them. His work here is a sensation (as it was on the 2005 Hip-O Select "Careless" CD). The album "Bish" was beautifully produced by Bishop in the first place - but here all that work comes shining through. The mastering is 'so' sweet - it's like a Mobile Fidelity CD - you feel care was taken with it and the result is a genuine thrill.

Like its predecessor, the tracks are top-heavy with contributions from `superstars of the day' - "Losing Myself In You" features David Foster on Piano with brilliantly complimentary Michael McDonald Backing Vocals (lyrics above), "Everybody Needs Love" features Ray Parker on Guitar, "A Fool At Heart" features Bill Payne of Little Feat on Keyboards with Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan on Backing Vocals. The opening double track on Side 2 is called "Prelude/Vagabond From Heaven" and it features a lovely keyboard lead-in by Steve Porcaro of Toto on "Prelude" which is in turn followed by more spine-tingling duet vocals from Michael McDonald on "Vagabond From Heaven". The beautiful and plaintive "Only The Heart Within You" has Art Garfunkel on very subtle Backing Vocals towards the end, while Porcaro turns again on "I've Never Known A Night Like This" but this time with Tom Scott on Saxophone.  Even the opening instrumental cover version of "The Wizard Of Oz" classic "If I Only Had A Brain" is pretty - setting up a sort of whimsical feel to certain tracks on the album. It's a very nice album indeed...

As a US import, the Hip-O Select label isn't cheap (it received no UK release), but like Ace, Bear Family, Rhino and Raven - their issues are the best. For lovers of the album this a no-brainer - it's a must have purchase. This reissue of "Bish" is a superlative job done - and recommended big time.

PS: Lurssen's top-notch mastering work is also featured on the 2CD “Gold" anthology by THE CRUSADERS, another Hip-O Select release via Universal (see my separate review in the download book “SOUNDS GOOD: Soul, Funk and Jazz Fusion”)

“The Solo Albums: Volume 3 - Deep In My Soul and Big Time” by SMOKEY ROBINSON (2011 Hip-O Select/Motown CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

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"…My Mind Went Blank…No Words Came Through…"

The third volume of CD Reissues in a Series of 6 covering Smokey Robinson's Solo Albums on Motown reaches the year of Disco and Funk – 1977. Once again we get two full albums expertly Remastered onto 1 CD and even have Two Rare Bonus Tracks thrown in. Here are the Big Time details...

Released January 2011 in the UK (delayed from December 2010) – "The Solo Albums, Volume 3 - Deep In My Soul/Big Time" by SMOKEY ROBINSON on Hip-O Select/Motown B0014909-02 (Barcode 602527518923) breaks down as follows (77:36 minutes):

1. Vitamin U

2. There Will Come A Day (I'm Gonna Happen To You)

3. Let's Do The Dance Of Life Together

4. If You Want My Love

5. You Cannot Laugh Alone

6. In My Corner

8. The Humming Song (Lost For Words)

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 5th solo album "Deep In My Soul" - released January 1977 in the USA on Tamla T6-350S1 and in April 1977 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12055.

9. Theme From Big Time

10. J.J.'s Theme

11. Hip Trip

12. He Is The Light Of The World

13. So Nice To Be With You

14. Shana's Theme (with Dialogue)

15. If We're Gonna Act Like Lovers

16. The Agony And The Ecstasy

17. Theme From Big Time (Reprise)

Tracks 9 to 17 are his 6th solo album - the Soundtrack to the movie "Big Time" - released June 1977 in the USA on Tamla T6-355S1 and September 1977 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12068.

BONUS TRACKS:

18. Mother's Son

19. Pops, We Love You (12-Inch Version)

Tracks 18 and 19 are from the Various Artists tribute LP to Berry Gordy's father called "Pops, We Love You...The Album" (he died at the age of 90 in 1978). It was released December 1978 in the USA on Motown M7 921R1 and June 1979 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12114.

The gatefold card-digipak houses a 20-page colour booklet containing liner notes by PETER DOGGETT (formerly of Record Collector magazine and author of the book "There's A Riot Going On"). It also reproduces the American artwork front and rear for each album (even though in truth they're impossible to read), has photographic outtakes from the album sleeve and detailed recording and release credits.

Remastered by ELLEN FITTON from the original Stereo tapes - the sound quality is superb (she did an equally great job on Volume 1). I've reviewed CDs remastered by Fitton before - she's one of Universal's top engineers (others are Erick Labson, Suha Gur, Gavin Lurssen, Gary Moore and Kevin Reeves). I've created a TAG above (pictorial displays of artwork) for `both' her remasters and Hip-O Select releases worth noting.

Unfortunately, the great sound quality is where the good news ends. It's easy to hear why the album "Deep In My Soul" is dollar-bin fodder - none of the 8 tracks are written by Smokey and most are syrupy late Seventies pap done by in-house writers. Things improve a little with the obvious lead off single "There Will Come A Day (I'm Gonna Happen To You)" put out in January 1977 on Tamla 54279 (it reached 7 on the R&B charts), but it's B-side "The Humming Song" (lyrics above) sum up the whole record - uninspired for the most part - and only ever workmanlike elsewhere.

The rare and largely forgotten "Big Time" soundtrack from 1978 is a strange one. Executive Produced by Smokey, he gave it a whole year of his life and wrote all the music too (yet rarely talks of it). Although most of the shortish tracks are only ok, it opens on an absolutely lengthy blinder - "Theme From Big Time" - a nine and half minute funky workout that has long since been sought after by rare groove aficionados. It was issued as a 7" single in the USA and split across 2 sides (Tamla 54288), but the real prize is a promo-only 12" version of it edited to 8:29 on Tamla PR-29 - it commands big money among DJ's who appreciate the wallop a 12" single. As far as I'm aware, this is its CD debut and it's a welcome reissue. Another nice mid-tempo dancer is "Hip Trip" and the six-minute ballad "So Nice To Be With You" is pretty too.

There's two tribute songs tagged on as 'bonus tracks' at the end that are truly dreadful - awful cloying pap - and painful reminders of just how quickly the company had lost its way and fans in the process.

To sum up - with only a couple of tunes on the first album and a funky workout on the second - this is without doubt the most disappointing release of the Series so far. And even if some of it is rare and the sound quality is superb...it's a 3-star release - and pushing it at that...