“The Solo Albums: Volume 4 – Love Breeze & Where There’s Smoke…” by SMOKEY ROBINSON (2011 Hip-O Select/Motown CD Reissue - Ellen Fitton Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Baby Let's Cruise…Away From Here..."

This is the 4th of 6 volumes by Hip-O Select chronicling Smokey Robinson's solo albums for Motown. It was initially available from their US website from 28 Jan 2011 and then commercially released 15 Feb 2011. Now it’s the UK’s turn - let’s get to the details…

UK released 21 February 2011 (28 January 2011 in the USA) - "The Solo Albums: Volume 4 – Love Breeze & Where There's Smoke…" by SMOKEY ROBINSON on Hip-O Select/Motown B0015163-02 (Barcode 602527586359) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD plus 1 Bonus Track and breaks down as follows (78:15 minutes):

1. Why You Wanna See My Bad Side

2. Love So Fine

3. Feeling You, Feeling Me

4. Madam X

5. Shoe Soul [Side 2]

6. Trying It Again

7. Daylight & Darkness

8. I'm Loving You Softley

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 6th solo album "Love Breeze" - released February 1978 in the USA on Tamla T7-359R1 and in May 1978 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12081.

9. It's A Good Night

10. I Love The Nearness Of You

11. The Hurt's On You

12. Ever Had A Dream

13. Get Ready [Side 2]

14. Share It

15. Cruisin'

Tracks 9 to 15 are his 7th solo album "Where There’s Smoke…" - released May 1979 in the USA on Tamla T7-366R1 and August 1979 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12115. Side 1 is called 'Smoke' (tracks 9 to 12) and Side 2 is called 'Fire' (tracks 13 to 15).

BONUS TRACK:

16. Get Ready (12-Inch Instrumental) - June 1979 non-album B-side to the US 12" single of "Get Ready" on Motown M 000027D1

The gatefold card-digipak has the same generic look and feel of the Volumes 1 to 3 and 5. This edition (Vol. 4) has a 28-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 sleeves, the lyrics to all the songs and detailed recording and release credits. It’s very tastefully done…

Remastered by ELLEN FITTON from the original Stereo tapes - the sound quality is superb (she did an equally great job on Volumes 1 and 3). 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 she’s been involved in that are worth noting.

Unfortunately, like Volume 3, the really great sound quality helps you to swallow the huge amount of saccharine pap that Motown produced in those disintegrating years – and these 1978 and 1979 offerings are guilty of the same. Both have been (and will probably always remain) absolute dollar-bin fodder on both sides of the pond. But – and this is the big but – there’s rediscoveries on here absolutely worth making…

The smoochy "Feeling You, Feeling Me" would do a night in a Theopolis P. Wilderbeast shagpad proud - while "Madame X" is a sort of "Cruisin'" variant that talks about 'faces in discotheques' and is excellent. "Shoe Soul" is a terrible song about sneakers, but the lovely slink of "Daylight & Darkness" is much better. And again the sound quality is ace. The slap-bass, strings and hooky beat of "It’s A Good Night" reflect the club sound of 1979 and it’s a good opener for the "Where There’s Smoke…" album. "Share It" is an uptempo love song – the kind of infectious Summer-feeling hit that Smokey is so good at. Then of course there’s the huge and sexily wonderful "Cruisin'" (lyrics above) which is represented here in its full six-minute glory. It was issued as an edit on 7” single and is wicked - I’ve had it on CD for a few years now just to have the track – shame there wasn’t room for that unique version of it on here.

There's one bonus track, but it’s a peach and a genuinely sought-after rarity. "Get Ready" was originally done by RARE EARTH back in 1970 (Smokey wrote the song) – his new version is a funked-up one. But the reason DJs love the B-side so much is because it removes the lyrics, peppers it with a girly chorus every now and then and concentrates instead on the funky guitar…and man what a groove it is – fabulous stuff.

To sum up – like Volume 3 – it’s not all genius of course and there’s cringingly awful stuff on both albums. But there’s also the good gear - that cracking bonus track and the warm and funky sound that make it another enjoyable purchase in this ongoing series…

“Not Fade Away – The Complete Studio Recordings And More” by BUDDY HOLLY - A Breakdown Of Each CD Followed By An Album Discography Referencing The Box

“Not Fade Away – The Complete Studio Recordings And More” by BUDDY HOLLY.
Released 23 November 2009 on Geffen/Hip-O Select B0012875-02 in the USA.
A Non-Numbered 6CD 203-Track Book-Shaped Box Set - Limited to 7000 Worldwide.
(Available via Hip-O Select's Mail-Order Website from 30 October 2009)

This post is a breakdown of each CD - followed afterwards by an
Album-by-Album Discography referencing the entire box:

Disc 1:
1. My Two-Timin’ Woman
2. I’ll Just Pretend
3. Take These Shackles From My Heart
4. Footprints In the Snow
5. Flower Of My Heart
6. Door To My Heart
7. Soft Place In My Heart
8. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
9. I Gambled My Heart
10. You And I Are Through
11. Down The Line
12. Baby, Let’s Play House
13. Down The Line
14. You And I Are Through
15. Baby, It’s Love
16. Memories
17. Queen Of The Ballroom
18. Memories
19. Moonlight Baby a/k/a Baby, Won’t You Come Out Tonight
20. I Guess I Was Just A Fool
21. Don’t Come Back Knockin’
22. Love Me
23. Midnight Shift
24. Midnight Shift (false start/alternate)
25. Don’t Come Back Knockin’ (alternate)
26. Don’t Come Back Knockin’
27. Blue Days, Black Nights
28. Love Me
29. Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight
30. I Guess I Was Just A Fool
31. It’s Not My Fault
32. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down
33. Changin’ All Those Changes
34. Rock-A-Bye Rock
35. Because I Love You

Disc 1 features 1949-1956, 35 Tracks, 76:22 minutes:
Tracks 1, 4-12 and 19-22 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 2, 3, 14, 16, 24 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Tracks 13, 15, 17 and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Tracks 23, 26, 27 and 28 are from the LP “That’ll Be The Day” (April 1958)
Tracks 29, and 31-35 are from the LP “For The First Time Anywhere” (February 1983)
Track 30 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)

Disc 2:
1. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
2. I’m Changin’ All Those Changes
3. That’ll Be The Day
4. Girl On My Mind
5. Ting-A-Ling
6. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
7. Modern Don Juan
8. You Are My One Desire (false start)
9. You Are My One Desire
10. Gone (incomplete)
11. Gone
12. Gone (alternate take)
13. Have You Ever Been Lonely (incomplete alternate)
14. Have You Ever Been Lonely (alternate)
15. Have You Ever Been Lonely
16. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
17. Good Rockin’ Tonight
18. Rip It Up
19. Blue Monday
20. Honky Tonk
21. Blue Suede Shoes
22. Shake Rattle And Roll (partial)
23. Bo Diddley
24. Ain’t Got No Home
25. Holly Hop
26. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
27. Bo Diddley
28. I’m Looking For Someone To Love
29. That’ll Be The Day
30. Last Night (undubbed)
31. Maybe Baby (first version)
32. Words Of Love
33. Mailman Bring Me No More Blues
34. Not Fade Away (alternate overdub)
35. Not Fade Away
36. Everyday

Disc 2 features 1956-1957, 36 Tracks, 70:52 minutes:
Tracks 1-5, 7 and 9 are from the LP “That’ll Be The Day” (April 1958)
Track 6 is from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Tracks 8, 10 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Tracks 11-13, 16-25, 30 and 34 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 26-27 and 31 are from the LP “For The First Time Anywhere” (February 1983)
Tracks 28, 29 and 35 are from the LP “The Chirping Crickets” (November 1957)
Tracks 32, 33 and 36 are from the LP “Buddy Holly” (February 1958)
[NOTE: Track 15 “Have You Ever Been Lonely” is miscredited in the booklet as Track 13 and has no LP reference, but recording details make it from the

Disc 3:
1. Ready Teddy
2. Valley Of Tears
3. That’ll Be The Day (greetings to Bob Thiele)
4. That’ll Be The Day (greetings to Murray Deutsch)
5. That’ll Be The Day (greetings to Bill Randle)
6. Peggy Sue (alternate take)
7. Peggy Sue
8. Listen To Me
9. Oh Boy (undubbed)
10. I’m Gonna Love You Too
11. Send Me Some Lovin’ (undubbed)
12. It’s Too Late (undubbed)
13. Oh Boy
14. An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date)
15. Rock Me My Baby
15. Rock Me My Baby
16. You’ve Got Love
17. Maybe Baby
18. Send Me Some Lovin’
19. It’s Too Late
20. Tell Me How
21. Little Baby
22. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care
23. Look At Me
24. Mona (rehearsal)
25. Mona (version 1)
26. Mona (version 2)
27. Mona (version 3)
28. Rave On
29. That’s My Desire (two false starts plus undubbed master)
30. Well…All Right Well…All Right
31. Fool’s Paradise (alternate take 1)
32. Fool’s Paradise (alternate take 2)
33. Fool’s Paradise (undubbed master)

Disc 3 features 1957-1958, 34 Tracks, 72:45 minutes:
Tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 22-24 and 29 are from the LP “Buddy Holly” (February 1958)
Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 30 and 32-34 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (Jan2009)
Tracks 5, 11 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Tracks 13-21 are from the LP “The Chirping Crickets” (November 1957)
Tracks 25-28 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Track 31 is from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. II” (March 1960)

Disc 4:
1. Think It Over (false start & rehearsal take)
2. Think It Over (undubbed alternate)
3. Think It Over (undubbed master)
4. Take Your Time (false start & alternate take)
5. Take Your Time
6. Fool’s Paradise
7. Think It Over
8. Lonesome Tears
9. It’s So Easy
10. Heartbeat
11. Love’s Made A Fool Of You (undubbed)
12. Early In The Morning
13. Now We’re One (fragment)
14. Now We’re One
15. Come Back Baby
16. Reminiscing (undubbed)
17. True Love Ways (mono mix)
18. True Love Ways (stereo mix)
19. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore (mono)
20. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore (stereo)
21. Raining In My Heart (mono)
22. Raining In My Heart (stereo)
23. Moondreams (mono)
24. Moondreams (stereo)
25. You’re The One
26. That’s What They Say (w/fragment)
27. What To Do
28. Peggy Sue Got Married
29. That Makes It Tough
30. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
31. Learning The Game
32. Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie

Disc 4 features 1958, 32 Tracks, 67:17 minutes:
Tracks 1-4, 11, 26-27, 30 and 32 are from 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (Jan 2009)
Tracks 5, 14, 17 (Mono “True Love Ways”) and 23 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol.11” (March 1960)
Track 6 and 8 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Track 7, 9-10, 12, 19 and 21 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story” (March 1959)
Track 13 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Track 15 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
Tracks 16, 18 (Stereo “True Love Ways”), 20 (Stereo “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”), 24 (Stereo “Moondreams”) and 28-29 and 31 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Track 22 is from the LP “The Best Of Buddy Holly” (April 1966)
*** Track 25 is the 1958 original of “You’re The One” and is miscredited as being from the 1968 overdubbed LP “Giant” (January 1969) ***

Disc 5:
1. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (slow version #1)
2. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (slow version #2)
3. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (fast version)
4. Drown In My Own Tears
(fragment)/Buddy & Maria Elena talking in apartment
5. Dearest (alternate take)
6. Dearest
7. Untitled Instrumental
(a/k/a Buddy’s Guitar/listed as “Tremolo Instrumental”)
8. Love Is Strange
9. Smokey Joe’s Café
10. Peggy Sue Got Married
11. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
12. That’s What They Say (version 2)
13. What To Do
14. Learning The Game
15. That Makes It Tough
16. Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight
17. Because I Love You
18. Changin’ All Those Changes
19. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down
20. It’s Not My Fault
21. Rock-A-Bye Rock
22. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
23. Bo Diddley
24. What To Do
25. Peggy Sue Got Married
26. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
27. That Makes It Tough
28. That’s What They Say
29. Learning The Game
30. Reminiscing
31. Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie
32. Dearest (version 2)
33. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (slow version 2)

Disc 5 features 1958-1963, 33 Tracks, 72:40 minutes:
Tracks 1-9 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 10-15 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol.11” (March 1960)
Tracks 16-23 and 33 are from the LP “Reminiscing” (February 1963)
Track 24 is from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Track 25 is from the 2LP set “Buddy Holly – A Rock & Roll Collection” (August 1972)
Tracks 26-30 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Track 32 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
[NOTE: Track 31 is “Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie” and is uncredited to an LP]

Disc 6:
1. Baby Let’s Play House (I Wanna Play House With You)
2. Down The Line
3. Wait Til’ The Sun Shines Nellie (overdub version 2)
4. Reminiscing
5. Flower Of My Heart
6. Door To My Heart
7. Soft Place In My Heart
8. I Gambled My Heart
9. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
10. Gone (version 3)
11. Rip It Up
12. Honky Tonk
13. Blue Suede Shoes
14. Shake Rattle And Roll
15. You And I Are Through
16. Baby It’s Love
17. Memories
18. Queen Of The Ballroom
19. Love’s Made A Fool Of You
20. Wishing (mono)
21. Wishing (stereo)
22. Maybe Baby
23. That’s My Desire
24. Have You Ever Been Lonely (version 1)
25. Good Rockin’ Tonight
26. Blue Monday
27. Ain’t Got No Home
28. Holly Hop
29. Slippin’ And Slidin’
30. You’re The One
31. Love Is Strange
32. (Ummm, Oh Yeah) Dearest
33. Smokey Joe’s Café

Disc 6 features 1962-1968, 33 Tracks, 69:57 minutes:
Tracks 1-2 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Tracks 3-4 is from the LP “Reminiscing” (February 1963)
Tracks 5-9, 15 and 21 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Tracks 10-14 and 19 are from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
Tracks 16-18, 20 and 22-23 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Tracks 24-33 are from the LP “Giant” (January 1969)

*************************************************************************************

An Album-By-Album DISCOGRAPHY referencing all 6 CDs of
"Not Fade Away The Complete Studio Recordings And More"
A 2010 Hip-O Select BUDDY HOLLY Box Set.

THIRTEEN of his album releases name-checked and pictured in the Hip-O Select booklet have been referenced using an alphabetical system – from his debut LP “The Chirping Crickets” in November 1957 (A) through to the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” issued in January 2009 (N). I’ve kept to this.

Also - as you can imagine - there have been countless compilations for the years inbetween - so huge amounts of track-duplication has taken place. I have not attempted to fill in the gaps (used only the Box Set references).

Last - while the Hip-O Box set doesn't provide a 'proper' Discography (as say a Bear Family Box set would) - it does at least tell us where each track is from - and I've found only 3 errors in it to date.

(A) “The Chirping Crickets”
November 1957 USA LP on Brunswick LP 54038 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Oh, Boy! [Disc 3/Track 13]
2. Not Fade Away [Disc 2/Track 35]
3. You’ve Got Love [Disc 3/Track 16]
4. Maybe Baby [Disc 3/Track 17]
5. It’s Too Late [Disc 3/Track 20]
6. Tell Me How [Disc 3/Track 21]

Side 2:
1. That’s Be The Day [Disc 2/Track 29]
2. I’m Looking For Someone To Love [Disc 2/Track 28]
3. And Empty Cup (And A Broken Date) [Disc 3/Track 14]
4. Send Me Some Lovin’ [Disc 3/Track 19]
5. Last Night [Disc 3/Track 18]
6. Rock Me My Baby [Disc 3/Track 15]

(B) “Buddy Holly”
February 1958 USA LP on Coral CRL 57210 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. I’m Gonna Love You Too [Disc 3, Track 10]
2. Peggy Sue [Disc 3, Track 7]
3. Look At Me [Disc 3, Track 24]
4. Listen To Me [Disc 3, Track 8]
5. Valley Of Tears [Disc 3, Track 2]
6. Ready Teddy [Disc 3, Track 1]

Side 2:
1. Everyday [Disc 2, Track 36]
2. Mailman Bring Me No More Blues [Disc 2, Track 33]
3. Words Of Love [Disc 2, Track 32]
4. (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care [Disc 3, Track 23]
5. Rave On [Disc 3, Track 29]
6. Little Baby [Disc 3, Track 22]

© “That’ll Be The Day”
April 1958 USA LP on Decca DL 8707 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. You’re Are My One Desire [Disc 2/Track 9]
2. Blue Days, Black Nights [Disc 1/Track 27]
3. Modern Don Juan [Disc 2/Track 7]
4. Rock Around With Ollie Vee [Disc 2/Track 1]
5. Ting-A-Ling [Disc 2/Track 5]
6. Girl On A Mind [Disc 2/Track 4]

Side 2:
1. That’ll Be The Day [Disc 2/Track 3]
2. Love Me [Disc 1/Track 28]
3. I’m Changing All Those Changes [Disc 2/Track 2]
4. Don’t Come Back Knockin’ [Disc 1/Track 26]
5. Midnight Shift [Disc 1/Track 23]

(D) “The Buddy Holly Story”
March 1959 USA LP on Coral CRL 57279 [Mono] and Coral CRL 757279 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Raining In My Heart [Disc 4/Track 21 – Mono Version]
2. Early In The Morning [Disc 4/Track 12]
3. Peggy Sue
4. Maybe Baby
5. Everyday
6. Rave On

Side 2:
1. That’ll Be The Day
2. Heartbeat [Disc 4/Track 10]
3. Think It Over [Disc 4/Track 7]
4. Oh Boy!
5. It’s So Easy [Disc 4/Track 9]
6. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore [Disc 4/Track 19 – Mono Version]

(E) “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. II”
March 1960 USA LP on Coral CRL 57326 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Peggy Sue Got Married [Disc 5, Track 10]
2. Well…All Right [Disc 3/Track 31]
3. What To Do [Disc 5, Track 13]
4. That Makes It Tough [Disc 5, Track 15]
5. Now We’re One [Disc 4/Track 14]
6. Take Your Time [Disc 4/Track 5]

Side 2:
1. Crying, Waiting, Hoping [Disc 5, Track 11]
2. True Love Ways [Disc 4/Track 17 – Mono Version]
3. Learning The Game [Disc 5, Track 14]
4. Little Baby
5. Moondreams [Disc 4/Track 23 - Mono Version]
6. That’s What They Say [Disc 5, Track 12 – Version 2]

(F) “Reminiscing”
February 1963 USA LP on Coral CRL 57426 [Mono] and CRL 757426 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Reminiscing [Disc 6, Track 4]
2. Slippin’ And Slidin’ [Disc 6. Track 33 – Slow Version 2]
3. Bo Diddley [Disc 5. Track 23]
4. Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie [Disc 6, Track 3 – Overdub Version 2]
5. Baby, Won’t You Come Out Tonight [Disc 5. Track 16]

Side 2:
1. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man [Disc 5. Track 22]
2. Because I Love You [Disc 5. Track 17]
3. It’s Not My Fault [Disc 5. Track 20]
4. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down [Disc 5. Track 19]
5. Changin’ All Those Changes [Disc 5. Track 18]
6. Rock-A-Bye-Rock [Disc 5. Track 21]

(G) “Showcase”
May 1964 USA LP on Coral CRL 57450 [Mono] and CRL 757450 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Shake, Rattle & Roll [Disc 6, Track 14]
2. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
3. Honky Tonk [Disc 6, Track 12]
4. I Guess I Was Just A Fool [Disc 1, Track 30]
5. Ummm, Oh Yeah [Disc 5, Track 32 – Version 2 - aka "Dearest"]
6. You’re The One

Side 2:
1. Blue Suede Shoes [Disc 6, Track 13]
2. Come Back Baby [Disc 4, Track 15]
3. Rip It Up [Disc 6, Track 11]
4. Love’s Made A Fool Of You [Disc 6, Track 19]
5. Gone [Disc 6, Track 10 – Version 3]
6. Girl On My Mind

(H) “Holly In The Hills”
January 1965 USA LP on Coral CRL 57463 [Mono] and CRL 757463 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. I Wanna Play House With You [Disc 6, Track 1]
2. Door To My Heart
3. Fool’s Paradise [Disc 4, Track 6]
4. I Gambled My Heart
5. What To Do [Disc 5, Track 24]
6. Wishing

Side 2:
1. Down The Line [Disc 6, Track 2]
2. Soft Place In My Heart
3. Lonesome Tears [Disc 4, Track 8]
4. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
5. Flower Of My Heart
6. You And I Are Through

(I) “The Best Of Buddy Holly”
April 1966 USA 24-Track 2LP set on Coral CXB-8 [Mono] and Coral 7CXSB-8 [Stereo]

Disc 4, Track 22 - “Raining In My Heart” [Stereo] (Side 3, Track 5)

(J) “Giant”
January 1969 USA LP on Coral CRL 757504 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Love Is Strange [Disc 6, Track 31]
2. Good Rockin’ Tonight [Disc 6, Track 25]
3. Blue Monday [Disc 6, Track 26]
4. Have You Ever Been Lonely [Disc 6, Track 24 – Version 1]
5. Slippin’ And Slidin’ [Disc 6, Track 29]

Side 2:
1. You’re The One [Disc 6, Track 30]
2. (Ummm, Oh Yeah) Dearest [Disc 6, Track 32]
3. Smokey Joe’s Café [Disc 6, Track 33]
4. Ain’t Got No Home [Disc 6, Track 27]
5. Holly Hop [Disc 6, Track 28]

(K) “Buddy Holly: A Rock & Roll Collection”
August 1972 USA 2LP set on Decca DXSE7-207 [Stereo]

Disc 5, Track 25 – “Peggy Sue Got Married” (Side 1, Track 3)

(L) “The Complete Buddy Holly”
March 1979 UK 6LP/6MC 122-Track BOX SET with light blue cover, six card inner sleeves and a 64-page booklet on MCA Coral Records CDSP 807. It was later issued February 1981 in the USA with a darker blue coloured outer box, 6 paper inner sleeves, a single page track sheet and a 64-page booklet on MCA Records MCA6-80, 00. It’s been reissued a few times since (again with different front artwork, but using essentially the same inners and booklet inside). It was NEVER issued on any official CD and from what I can glean - “Not Fade Away” represents the first time you can sequence all 120 songs (the last 2 tracks are interviews) on CD…
(I’m working on a separate listing for this Box Set to be posted later – June 2011).

Disc 2, Track 6 – “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” [1956 Original]
Disc 4, Track 16 – “Reminiscing” (1958 Undubbed Version)
Disc 4, Track 18 - “True Love Ways” (Stereo Mix)
Disc 4, Track 20 - “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” (Stereo)
Disc 4, Track 24 - “Moondreams” (Stereo)
Disc 4, Track 28 – “Peggy Sue Got Married” [Original 1958 ‘Apartment’ Recording]
Disc 4, Track 29 – “That Makes It Tough” [Original 1958 ‘Apartment’ Recording]
Disc 4, Track 31 – “Learning The Game” [Original 1958 ‘Apartment’ Recording]
Disc 5, Track 26 – “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 27 – “That Makes It Tough” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 28 – “Peggy Sue Got Married” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 29 – “Learning The Game” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 30 – “Reminiscing” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 16 – “Baby It’s Love” [1963/1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 17 – “Memories” [1963/1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 18 – “Queen Of The Ballroom” [1963/1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 20 – “Wishing” (Mono) [1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 22 – “Maybe Baby” [1966 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6. Track 23 – “That’s My Desire” [1966 Overdubbed Version]

(M) "For The First Time Anywhere"
February 1983 USA LP on MCA Records MCA-27059

Side 1
1. Rock-A-Bye Rock [Disc 1, Track 34]
2. Maybe Baby (1st Version) [Disc 2, Track 31]
3. Because I Love You [Disc 1, Track 35]
4. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down [Disc 1, Track 32]
5. Changing All Those Changes [Disc 1, Track 33]

Side 2
1. That’s My Desire
2. Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight [Disc 1, Track 29]
3. It’s Not My Fault [Disc 1, Track 31]
4. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man [Disc 2, Track 26]
5. Bo Diddley [Disc 2, Track 27]

(N) “Down The Line Rarities”
January 2009 USA 59-Track 2CD set on Geffen/Decca B0011675-02
DISC 1: Tracks 1, 4-12 and 19-22 (14 Tracks)
DISC 2: Tracks 11-13, 16-25, 30 and 34 (15 Tracks)
DISC 3: Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 30 and 32-34 (8 Tracks)
DISC 4: Tracks 1-4, 11, 26-27, 30 and 32 (9 Tracks)
DISC 5: Tracks 1-9 (9 Tracks) [55 Tracks in Total]

"One Man Dog" by JAMES TAYLOR (2010 Audio Fidelity 24- KT Gold Audiophile CD Reissue - Steve Hoffman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Taking The Breeze…Just As Free As You Please…"

After a shaky start with Apple in 1968 - James Taylor hit the double-whammy with his next two albums on Warner Brothers – "Sweet Baby James" (1970) and "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon" (1971).

It was then something of a bitter disappointment to be presented with the incredibly patchy "One Man Dog" as a follow-up. Originally produced by Peter Asher - his fourth album was released November 1972 on Warner Brothers BS 2660 in the USA and Warner Brothers K 46185 in the UK. The album peaked at Number 4 and featured his much-covered ballad and chart hit "Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight".

Which brings us to this Audio Fidelity 24 KT GOLD CD Reissue on AFZ 101 (Barcode 780014210120) of "One Man Dog" by JAMES TAYLOR - released late November 2010 in the USA. It’s a Limited Edition (numbered on the rear) Audiophile CD and has been mastered by engineering legend STEVE HOFFMAN. It sounds beautiful in the truest sense of the word. All the tracks are acoustic based and have a lovely air about them now.

The outer card-wrap houses the gold CD in a jewel case – the 8-page booklet reproduces the recording info insert that came with first pressings - while Page 7 reproduces the Side 1 and 2 labels of the original US LP. There’s no notes on the album, history etc…it’s a straightforward reissue (37:55 minutes).

1. One Man Parade

2. Nobody But You

3. Chili Dog

4. Fool For You

5. Instrumental 1

6. New Tune

7. Back On The Street Again

8. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

9. Woh, Don’t You Know

10. One Morning In May

11. Instrumental 2

12. Someone

13. Hymn

14. Fanfare

15. Little David

16. Mescalito

17. Dance

18. Jog

Most of the 18 tracks are very short – snippets really – and a lot of it feels too slight by far. Having said that highlights include "One Man Dog" and "One Morning In May" which feature the backing vocals of CAROLE KING and LINDA RONSTADT respectively. "Instrumental II" has superb reproduction on it and the "...holy children..." tune "Hymn" now sounds so sweet too. The Tenor Saxophone solo by Michael Brecker on "Don’t Let Me Lonely Tonight" is gorgeous also.

I’ve found AF releases very hit and miss – I’ve reviewed their superb Joe Walsh issue of “The Smoker You Drink…” but there’s also the dullard Randy Newman, Faces and Rod Stewart issues – all of which have had derision quite rightly thrown at them. Not so here…

To sum up – this is a beautiful remaster - a 5-star presentation of a 3-star album.

If you cant find this now deleted Audio Fidelity item (which will undoubtedly have a price tag to match its rarity) - I’d plum for the Japanese SHM-CD version from October 2010 (reissued 2014) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13821 (use Barcode 4943674097340 on Amazon to find the right issue). For about the same price you get full Mini LP Repro Artwork and the better SHM-CD format inside. The Audio on it is truly gorgeous also and SHM-CDs play on all machines…

“Shake It Up” by THE CARS. A Review Of The 2010 Mobile Fidelity Audiophile CD Reissue.

"…Liquid Whispers…"

By the time "Shake It Up" appeared in November 1981, The Cars had produced a stunning self-titled debut album in 1978 but followed it with two albums "Candy-O" (1979) and "Panorama" (1980) which left some fans feeling cold and cheated. "Shake It Up" restored some of that original faith (it peaked at Number 9 in the USA). I bought it on holiday in New York at the time and have played the thing to buggery ever since.

Which brings us to this expensive and exclusive MFSL Original Master Recording issue. Released late January 2010 in the USA on Mobile Fidelity UDCD 788 (40:53 minutes) – it features mini-LP repro artwork (a hard-card gatefold sleeve) and is a limited numbered edition (numbered in gold lettering on the rear). It’s been mastered from the 1st generation tapes by BOB LoVERDE at Mobile Fidelity’s Sound Labs in Sebastopol in California using their patented GAIN 2 SYSTEM. The disc is a GOLD ULTRADISC II CD - itself housed in a gauze inner sleeve for protection. This is then cleverly wrapped in a black and gold gatefold card-protector (the wording on both sides explain MFSL’s remastering process and the company's 30-year history in Audiophile Pressings). Beside that is an 8-page booklet - which essentially mimics the inner lyric bag of the original Elektra Records LP.

Cars fans will know that only 4 of its 9 tracks have been remastered before – "Shake It Up", "Since You’re Gone", "I’m Not The One" and "Cruiser" on the 1995 “Just What I Needed” 2CD Anthology. The 5CD mini box set issued by Rhino in 2010 didn’t carry a remaster either – this is first time the entire album has been given a sonic overhaul and it sounds fantastic.

I have a real problem (like many listeners) with Eighties over-production, but this MFSL remaster sweeps all that aside – it’s clean, warm and beautifully subtle in its quiet power. My favourite track has always been "A Dream Away" (lyrics above) which had a mastering glitch at the beginning – it’s been fixed by MFSL – and it’s sweeping 'liquid' feel is at last given the reproduction its always deserved. The punch out of "I’m Not The One" is fabulous – when the guitar slides in about 25 seconds in - it’s so clear. It’s not all genius of course ("Cruiser" and "Maybe Baby" are hardly great), but there are others on here that I can’t live without like the frantic "Think It Over" and the opener "Since You’re Gone" (neither sounded this good before). And of course a huge fan favourite is "Victim Of Love" which has a lovely feel to it now - the layers coming at you from every angle. I’ve been disappointed by Audiophile issues before, but this is a superb remaster.

Niggles – some have moaned that the card repro is gimmicky and won’t stand the test of time with regard to wear and tear (once out of the shrinkwrap, there’s no outer plastic sleeve to protect it like Japanese repros have). They argue that MFSL should only use jewel cases with lift-locks to keep these expensive CDs properly protected. It's a good point and one well worth making. Personally I like the repro artwork, but I think Mobile Fidelity must address this issue - make some kind of MFSL outer plastic for protection that could act as a generic outer wrapper for old and future issues. Outside of that minor minus, I’ve loved rehearing this album in such sonic clarity…

"Shake It Up" is never going to be mentioned as a 'masterpiece' in any league table anywhere - but like "Heartbeat City" – I’ve always loved it – and I’ve always had a soft spot for The Cars and their layered slices of pop brilliance. If you love this album (originally produced by Chris Thomas Baker), then expensive or not – you need to own this stunning Limited Edition of it.

Recommended.

“The Music City Story” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review Of 2011 Ace Records Mini Box Set.

"…Didn’t I Do The Best I Could…"

Released January 2011 in the UK, "The Music City Story" on Ace Records ABOXCD 11 is a 3CD mini box set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - “I’m A Working Man - Early To Mid 1950s”, 26 Tracks in Mono. The CD itself is a yellow ‘Delcro’ label, beneath is a repro of the 45 B-side “Keep Me Satisfied, Baby” by CHUCK MORRIS and his BAND on Delcro 102 (66:35 minutes).
Tracks 5, 8 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 21 to 26 are Previously Unreleased.

Disc 2 - “Scheming - Mid 1950’s to Early 1960s”, 26 Tracks in Mono. The CD itself is a brown ‘Music City’ label, beneath is a repro of a Music City Acetate of “I Walk In Circles” by LITTLE LYNN (66:29 minutes).
Tracks 8, 10, 17 and 23 to 26 are Previously Unreleased.

Disc 3 – “Just One More Chance - Early 1960s to Mid 1970s”, 26 Tracks in Stereo. The CD itself is a coloured musical notes version of the Music City label, beneath is a repro of the 45 “Didn’t I” by DORANDO on Music City MC 894 (70:22 minutes).
Tracks 2 to 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 25 and 26 are Previously Unreleased.

This lavishly packaged set chronicles Ray and Jeanne Dobard’s “Music City” Record Label out of Berkeley in California – 78 tracks from 1950 through to 1975. The last track on each disc is a short ‘Radio Ad’ and of the remaining 75 actual songs, a whopping 31 are Previously Unreleased. The first 2 CDs feature mostly Fifties Rhythm ‘n’ Blues and Doo Wop cuts - while half way through Disc 3 it moves into Sixties and Seventies Soul of sorts. The set was compiled and researched by ALEC PALAO with the audio restoration and mastering done by ROB SHREAD and NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London. It’s beautifully done and the exceptional packaging (high even by Ace’s standards) is worth elaborating on…

A colour card-wrap houses a 3-way gatefold foldout digipak. As detailed above, each CD is themed with different period labels with another 45 pictured beneath the see-through clear plastic tray (both visually nice touches) - while the 48-page booklet (sits alongside the digipak) has a 16,000-word essay by ALEX PALAO - which features a full Discography on the last few pages. The over-sized booklet is gorgeous to look at and a properly informative read - trade adverts, archive photos of the family who ran it, rare 45s and acetates, publicity shots, artist contracts, even master cards and tape boxes for the recording sessions.

Disc 1 opens strongly with a jaunty R’n’B tune called “W-P-L-J” by THE 4 DEUCES (short for a cocktail drink featuring White Port and Lemon Juice) – very similar to The Penguins. Track 3 is a gem too – Golden Boy takes Lead Vocals on “Keep Me Satisfied, Baby” which is a very Roy Milton piano-driven R’n’B groove – and the sound quality is stupendous. The Doo Wop starts proper with the lovely “Tell Me, Darling” by THE GAYLARKS from 1955 – while the incredible rare religious vocal workout that is “This Wicked Race” by THE GOLDEN WEST SINGERS is so well produced – and collectors will love both. Jimmy Nelson’s “The Wheel” brings it back to dancing R’n’B.

Previously Unreleased - James Brown collectors will dig “All Around The World” (Track 2 on Disc 3) which features JB’s backing band and is a “Grits & Groceries” belter. Equally nice is the torch ballad “I Can’t Take Any More” by Johnnie Marie Throne (Track 12 on Disc 3) and the Lou Rawls ballad “Too Late To Cry” is a worthy inclusion.

The instrumental B-side “Passing Thru Music City” sounds like crudely recorded Booker T & The Mg’s but it’s a clever choice because it’s cool, while a huge draw for Soul lovers will be Dorando’s gorgeous ballad “Didn’t I” issued on 45 in October 1973 (lyrics above). A rare single which sold about 6000 copies locally, William Pulliam sounded like Al Green on a Soul-Folk tip – it’s possibly worth the price of admission alone (and it’s in top quality sound too).

Downsides - since its release in early 2011, this mini box set has received precious little interest from the public – unusual for a project Ace has put so much time into. Unfortunately, on hearing the actual material itself (especially on Discs 1 and 2), I can understand why. I have to admit that I found a lot of the songs plodding and ordinary and there’s too little decent Soul on Disc 3 (hence the 3 stars).

To sum up – while this is beautifully presented, I would advise hearing it first if you can. Still, for collectors of Doo Wop, R’n’B and rare Soul 45’s – it may be too difficult to resist…