“Third Star”. A Review Of The 2011 Film Now On DVD.

"...Third Star On The Left...Straight On 'Til Morning..."

The affection afforded this British movie by other UK reviewers is absolutely on the money - "Third Star" is a superbly realised little film with a huge beating heart. I was very moved...

The story goes like this - James' lifelong but hapless pals decide that one last adventure will be a hoot and morale booster for their mate who is dying from an incurable disease - so they drag his three-wheeler chair loaded up with tents, drug suplies and a potted tree they will plant at journey's end - across fields, forest and coastal terrain. Their destination is Barafundle Bay - a stunning, secluded inlet in Wales that James adores. And you can see it in James' face too. He thinks that if he can just get there 'intact' - everything will be all right somehow. But of course nothing goes to plan and despite the odd belly-laugh along the way, the journey tests their friendship and loyalties to the absolute limit...

First up - praise has to go to HATTIE DALTON for her warmth and steady Direction in what could have been awfully cheesy material that's been done to bits too many times before. She's given this buddy-buddy story a lightness of touch that feels real and isn't forced. In fact, the constant wit and pranks reflect just how guys are when they're in real emotional turmoil - downright childish even. Kudos should also go to the four male leads who had to gel together convincingly, muck in on the arduous trek and physically brave the coastal weather - none of which can have been easy - or in the case of the freezing Irish sea - deeply unpleasant. And when the reality of their friend's terminal illness slowly begins to kick in and intrude on their 'fun' - they're skills as good actors make you 'feel' the heaviness of what their characters are all trying to block out.

Principal lead Benedict Cumberbatch has many fans - and on the strength of his acting chops both here and on "Sherlock" (the UK TV series) - it's easy to see why. His James is a demanding lead-role - a frustrated 29-year old who is being eaten-alive by cancer. His longing to live - to have more time - to realise at least some of his dreams - are always at the surface - and you ache for him as he slips in and out of a morphine-induced stupor that is numbing his escalating physical agony. As well as the pain - James has to also contend with his squabbling, tetchy pals - who are trying to be cool about it all but are freaked out inside and increasingly awkward with his now impending loss.

His fellow travellers consist of Adam Robertson as the witty and yet dependable Bill, Tom Burke as the needy but sincere Davy and JJ Feild as the handsome devil-may-care Miles (surely a new Jude Law in the making). They will even encounter Hugh Bonneville (of Downton Abbey fame) as a nutty Beachcomber looking for rare Star Wars toys. The dialogue is playful, smart and confrontational when it's needed. And then they're faced with the ultimate true-friendship decision - but can any or all of them - actually go through with it? Even with this much sadness at its core and end, "Third Star" remains hopeful - a sign of a great film rather than just a good one.

EXTRAS include a brief 'Making Of' and two shorts by Hattie Dalton called "The Banker" and "One Of Those Days". The only real let down for me is that it's on DVD only - and not BLU RAY - where all that great camera work would surely shine even more.

There are moments in "Third Star" when you genuinely ache for James' loss - when you hurt at the arbitrary cruelty of life - snubbing out one person, but letting another live. This is a very good movie - one that celebrates life and makes you think about it too.

Put it high on your rental/to buy list...

"Smokestack Lightning – The Complete Chess Masters 1951-9160" by HOWLIN' WOLF (2011 Hip-O Select 4CD Book Set - Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Well Don't You Hear Me Cryin’…"

This rather lovely 'book-shaped' set is the first in a series of CD retrospectives documenting Chester Arthur Burnette (his real name) and his stay at the legendary Blues label 'Chess'. There's an awful lot of Howlin' Wolf to document here, so let's get to the details...

Released Monday 21 November 2011 in the UK (September 2011 in the USA) on Hip-O Select/Geffen/Universal B0015309-2 (Barcode 602527627342) - "Smokestack Lightning - The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960" by HOWLIN’ WOLF is a 97-Track 4CD Book Set and breaks down as follows (Discography follows):

Disc 1, 26 Tracks, 1951 to 1953 (73:08 minutes):

1. Moanin' At Midnight (1951 78”, Chess 1479, A-side)

2. How Many More Years (Alternate)

3. How Many More Years (1951 78”, Chess 1479, B-side)

4. The Wolf's At Your Door (Howlin' For My Baby) (1952 78”, Chess 1497, B-side)

5. California Boogie

6. Smile At Me

7. Howlin’ Wolf Boogie (1952 78”, Chess 1497, A-side)

8. California Blues No. 1

9. Look-A-Here Baby

10. Worried All The Time (1952 78”, Chess 1515, B-side)

11. Getting’ Old And Grey (1952 78”, Chess 1510, B-side)

12. Mr. Highway Man (1952 78”, Chess 1510, A-side)

13. Everybody’s In The Mood

14. Color And Kind

15. Bluebird (Blues)

16. Saddle My Pony (1952 78”, Chess 1515, A-side)

17. Dorothy Mae (Alternate Take)

18. Dorothy Mae

19. Sweet Woman (a/k/a I Got A Woman)

20. Well That’s All Right

21. Decoration Day (Blues)

22. Oh Red (1952 78” and 7” [1st release on 45], Chess 1528, A-side)

23. My Last Affair (1952 78” and 7”, Chess 1528, B-side)

24. I’ve Got A Woman

25. Just My Kind

26. Work For Your Money

[Notes: Tracks 2, 5, 6, 17, Previously Unreleased In The USA

Tracks 8, 9, 13, 14, 18 and 21 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog” on Chess CD2-9349

Tracks 15 and 20 first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set “Howlin’ Wolf – The Chess Box” on Chess CD3-9332

Tracks 24 to 26 are 1953 Mono recordings 1st released on the 1966 USA LP “More Real Folk Blues” on Chess LP 1512]

Disc 2, 25 Tracks, 1953 to 1956 (73:42 minutes):

1. I’m Not Joking

2. Mama Died And Left Me

3. All Night Boogie (All Night Long) (1953 78” and 7”, Chess 1557, A-side)

4. I Love My Baby (1953 78” and 7”, Chess 1557, B-side)

5. Highway My Friend

6. Hold Your Money

7. Streamline Woman

8. California Blues No. 2

9. Stay Here Til My Baby Comes Back

10. Crazy About You Baby

11. No Place To Go (You Gonna Wreck My Life) (1954 78” and 7”, Chess 1566, A-side)

12. You Gonna Wreck My Life (No Place To Go) (Alternate Take) (1959 7”, Chess 1744, B-side)

13. Neighbors

14. I’m The Wolf

15. Rockin’ Daddy (1954 78” and 7”, Chess 1566, B-side)

16. Baby How Long (1954 78” and 7”, Chess 1575, A-side)

17. Evil (Is Goin’ On) (1954 78” and 7”, Chess 1575, B-side)

18. I’ll Be Around (1955 78” and 7”, Chess 1584, A-side)

19. Forty Four (1955 78” and 7”, Chess 1584, B-side)

20. Who Will Be Next (1955 78” and 7”, Chess 1593, A-side)

21. I Have A Little Girl (1955 78” and 7”, Chess 1593, B-side)

22. Come To Me Baby (1955 78” and 7”, Chess 1607, A-side)

23. Don’t Mess With My Baby (1955 78” and 7”, Chess 1607, B-side)

24. Smokestack Lightning (1956 78” and 7”, Chess 1618, A-side)

25. You Can’t Be Beat (1956 78” and 7”, Chess 1618, B-side)

26. I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) (1956 78" and 7", Chess 1632, A-side)

27. So Glad (1956 78" and 7", Chess 1632, B-side)

[Notes: Tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog” on Chess CD2-9349

Tracks 2, 7, 10, and first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set “Howlin’ Wolf – The Chess Box” on Chess CD3-9332

Tracks 13, 14 and are 1954 Mono recordings 1st released on the 1966 USA LP “More Real Folk Blues” on Chess LP 1512]

Disc 3, 25 Tracks, 1956 to 1958 (76:41 minutes):

1. Break Of Day

2. The Natchez Burning (1959 7”, Chess 1744, A-side)

3. Going Back Home (1957 78” and 7”, Chess 1648, A-side)

4. Bluebird

5. My Life

6. You Ought To Know

7. Who’s Been Talkin (1960 7”, Chess 1750, A-side)

8. Tell Me (1960 7”, Chess 1750, B-side)

9. Somebody In My Home (Alternate Take)

10. Somebody In My Home (1957 78” and 7”, Chess 1668, A-side)

11. Nature (Takes 1/4/6)

12. Nature (Alternate Take)

13. Nature (1957 78” and 7”, Chess 1668, B-side)

14. Walk To Camp Hall

15. Poor Boy (Alternate Take)

16. Poor Boy (1958 78” and 7” [Last 78” on Chess], Chess 1679, B-side)

17. My Baby Told Me

18. Sittin’ On The Top Of The World (1958 78” and 7” [Last 78” on Chess], Chess 1679, A-side)

19. I Didn’t Know

20. I Better Go Now (Howlin’ Blues) (Alternate)

21. Howlin’ Blues (I’m Going Away) (1959 7”, Chess 1726, A-side)

22. I Better Go Now (Multiple Takes) (1959 7”, Chess 1726, B-side)

23. I Didn’t Know (1958 7” [1st 7” only release], Chess 1695, B-side)

24. Moaning For My Baby (Midnight Blues) (1958 7” [1st 7” only release], Chess 1695, A-side)

25. Moaning For My Baby (Midnight Blues) (Takes 3 & 4)

[Notes: Tracks 1 first released on the 1993 US 4CD Box Set by Various Artists called “Chess Blues” on Chess CHD4-9340

Tracks 4, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 25 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog” on Chess CD2-9349

Tracks 9, 11, 19, 20, 22* and 25* Previously Unreleased In The USA

[Tracks 22 except includes Chess single 1726; Track 25 except includes Alternate Take on “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog” 2CD set on Chess CHD2-9349]]

Disc 4, 19 Tracks, 1958 to 1960 (68:50 minutes):

1. I’m Leaving You (Alternate Take)

2. I’m Leaving You (Takes 7-10)

3. I’m Leaving You (1959 7”, Chess 1712, A-side)

4. Can’t Put Me Out (Alternate)

5. Can’t Put Me Out (Alternate)

6. (You) Can’t Put Me Out (Includes Additional Dialogue)

7. Change My Way (1959 7”, Chess 1712, B-side)

8. Getting Late

9. I’ve Been Abused (Takes 4-12)

10. I’ve Been Abused (1959 7”, Chess 1735, B-side)

11. Howlin’ For My Baby (Takes 1-7)

12. Howlin’ For My Darling (Or Baby) (1960 7”, Chess 1762, B-side)

13. Wolf In The Mood (Instrumental) [Includes Outtakes & Dialogue]

14. My People’s Gone

15. Mr. Airplane Man (Takes 1-2) [Plus Outtakes & Dialogue]

16. Mr. Airplane Man (1959 7”, Chess 1735, A-side)

17. Wang-Dang-Doodle (1961 7”, Chess 1777, A-side)

18. Back Door Man (1961 7” (recorded 1960), Chess 1777, B-side)

19. Spoonful (1960 7”, Chess 1762, A-side)

[Notes: Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11 Previously Unreleased In The USA

Track 4 first released on the 1982 US 2LP set “Chess Blues Rarities” on Chess CH2-9230

Track 15 first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set “Howlin’ Wolf – The Chess Box” on Chess CD3-9332

Tracks 6, 8, 13 (with Outtakes Dialogue) and 14 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog” on Chess CD2-9349]

The hardback book packaging matches the look and feel of the MUDDY WATERS "Hoochie Coochie Man..." Hip-O Select 2CD set of 2004 (not as wide, but it's taller). "Smokestack Lightning..." has an embossed matt cardboard effect on the front cover with similarly textured pages within and is a non-numbered worldwide Limited Edition of 5000 copies. The 42-page booklet inside has an essay on Wolf (Pages 3 to 9) by PETER GURALNICK who is the award-winning Author of 2 books on Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley - with a forthcoming Biography on Sam Phillips. In fact Guralnick's entry here is a highly personal interview with SAM PHILLIPS on how the legendary and visionary Producer of Sun Records first tried to record the great bluesman and his band in 1951. Phillips warmly remembers the sheer impact of Wolf's powerhouse of a voice and physical presence (6' 3", 275 Pounds). Sam is full of passion and awe for the man who sang "...with his damn soul..." - bowled over even now - some 60 years after the event.

Not to be outdone, the liner notes on the project itself by DICK SHUMAN on Pages 11 to 19 are equally entertaining as they concentrate on the key musicians and recording dates. I particularly love the page that pictures "The New 708 Club" card invite for the Chicago Blues Club that tells you - you can see Muddy Waters on Mon, Wed and Thurs with Otis Rush on Fri, Sat and Sun but Howlin' Wolf is only available on Tues! Now there's a week of Blues gigs I want to attend! Pages 20 to 42 picture Trade Adverts, Black & White photos of his group, photos of his rare "Moanin' In The Moonlight" album from 1958 (front and rear) and end on a full track-by-track Discography. The 4CDs are held in individual leaves at the back - each disc colour scheme reflecting the original shellac and vinyl labels (Blue and White for the 78's - Blue and Silver for the famous Chess 45's).

As with so much of the enormous Chess catalogue - the remastering has been carried out by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON - a man with over 900 mastering and audio restoration credits to his name. This stuff is ROUGH - brutal even in places - and the remaster brings out that raw power. Some of the alternate takes are very crackly - but he has allowed them to breath and there's huge presence in every track.  Most of the songs on Disc 1 to 3 are self-penned like the staggering "Smoke Stack Lightning" (lyrics above), but by the time we get to the tail end of Disc 4 the catalyst of WILLIE DIXON arrives - sending everything into the stratosphere ("Spoonful" and "Wang Dang Doodle"). The combo of Wolf's voice and Dixon's witty tunes will undoubtedly dominate Volume 2.

Niggles - the packaging is lovely, but it's over too soon. Very few 78's or 45's are pictured and you can't help thinking that if Bear Family or Ace had handled this - it would be twice the size and truly beautiful in every way. And musically - the repetition of tracks and takes is hard to take - so a "Best Of" would suffice for the merely curious (or even a Willie Dixon set with HW tracks on it). Die-hard fans, however, of Howlin' Wolf, Chess Records and the Blues in general will have to own this.

To sum up - despite the slightly disappointing packaging - this is lovely evocation of a genuine force of nature - a singer who shaped so much of what we listen to and adore to this day. And if you want to know why so many white rock guys worshipped at his feet and regularly tried to kiss the hem of his garment - here is the place to start...

Like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Muddy Waters - how I wished I'd seen this giant live...

HOWLIN' WOLF DISCOGRAPHY referencing 

"Smokestack Lightning - The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960"

2011 4CD Book Set on Hip-O Select/Geffen/Universal B0015309-2

Layout: [1/7] = Disc 1, Track 7 - [2/1] = Disc 2, Track 1 etc

(Year Of Release, Label & Catalogue Number)

HOWLIN' WOLF CHESS 78"s ONLY:

1. Moanin' At Midnight [1/1] b/w How Many More Years [1/3] (1951, Chess 1479)

2. Howlin' Wolf Boogie [1/7] b/w The Wolf Is At Your Door [1/4] (1952, Chess 1497)

3. Mr. Highway Man [1/12] b/w Getting' Old And Grey [1/11] (1952, Chess 1510)

4. Saddle My Pony [1/16] b/w Worried All The Time [1/10] (1952, Chess 1515)

HOWLING WOLF CHESS 78"s and 7"s:

5. Oh Red [1/22] b/w My Last Affair [1/23] (1952, Chess 1528) – his first US 7” single on Chess

6. All Night Boogie (All Night Long) [2/3] b/w I Love My Baby [2/4] (1953, Chess 1557)

7. No Place To Go (You Gonna Wreck My Life) [2/11] b/w Rockin' Daddy [2/15] (1954, Chess 1566)

8. Baby How Long [2/16] b/w Evil (Is Goin' On) [2/17] (1954, Chess 1575)

9. I'll Be Around [2/18] b/w Forty Four [2/19] (1955, Chess 1584)

10. Who Will Be Next [2/20] b/w I Have A Little Girl [2/21] (1955, Chess 1593)

11. Come To Me Baby [2/22] b/w Don't Mess With My Baby [2/23] (1955, Chess 1607)

12. Smoke Stack Lightning [2/24] b/w You Can't Be Beat [2/25] (1956, Chess 1618)

13. I Asked For Water [2/26] b/w So Glad (1956, Chess 1632) [2/27]

14. Going Back Home [3/3] b/w My Life [3/5] (1957, Chess 1648)

15. Somebody In My Home [3/10] b/w Nature [3/13] (1957, Chess 1668)

16. Sittin' On Top Of The World [3/18] b/w Poor Boy [3/16] (1958, Chess 1679)

HOWLIN' WOLF CHESS 7"s ONLY:

17. Moaning For My Baby [3/24] b/w I Didn't Know [3/23] (1958, Chess 1695)

18. I'm Leavin' You [4/3] b/w Change My Way [4/7] (1959, Chess 1712)

19. Howlin' Blues (I'm Going Away) [3/21] b/w I Better Go Now [3/22] (1959, Chess 1726)

20. Mr. Airplane Man [4/16] b/w I've Been Abused [4/10] (1959, Chess 1735)

21. The Natchez Burning [3/2] b/w You Gonna Wreck My Life (No Place To Go) (Alternate Take) [2/12] (1959, Chess 1744)

22. Spoonful [4/19] b/w Howlin' For My Darling (Or Baby) [4/12] (1960, Chess 1762)

23. Wang-Dang-Doodle [4/17] b/w Back Door Man [4/18] (1961, Chess 1777)

HOWLIN' WOLF CHESS LPs:

"Moanin' In The Moonlight" - 1958 USA MONO album on Chess LP-1434

Side 1:

1. Moanin' At Midnight [1/1]

2. How Many More Years [1/3]

3. Smokestack Lightning [2/24]

4. Baby How Long [2/15]

5. No Place To Go [2/11]

6. All Night Boogie [2/3]

Side 2:

1. Evil [2/17]

2. I'm Leavin' You [4/3]

3. Moanin' For My Baby [3/24]

4.  I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) [2/26]

5. Forty-Four [2/19]

6. Somebody In My Home [3/10]

"Howlin' Wolf" – January 1962 USA MONO LP on Chess LP 1469

Side 1:

1. Shake For Me

2. The Red Rooster

3. You'll Be Mine

4. Who's Been Talkin' [3/7]

5. Wang Dang Doodle

6. Little Baby

Side 2:

1. Spoonful

2. Goin’ Down Slow

3. Down In The Bottom

4. Back Door Man

5. Howlin’ For My Baby [4/12]

6. Tell Me [3/8]

Tracks 5 on Side 1 and Tracks 1 and 4 on Side 2 recorded June 1960

Tracks 1, 2 and 6 on Side 1 and Track 3 on Side 2 recorded May 1961

Tracks 3 on Side 1 and Track 2 on Side 2 recorded December 1961

The other three cuts are from Fifties sessions as covered by Discs 3 and 4 of this Book Set

"The Real Folk Blues" - January 1966 USA MONO album on Chess LP 1502

Side 1:

1. Killing Floor

2. Louise

3. Poor Boy [3/16]

4. Sittin' On Top Of The World [3/18]

5. Nature [3/13]

6. My Country Sugar Mama

Side 2:

1. Tail Dragger

2. Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy

3. The Natchez Burnin' [3/2]

4. Build For Comfort

5. Ooh Baby Hold Me

6. Tell Me What I've Done

Tracks 1, 2 and 6 on Side 1 were recorded August 1964

Track 1 on Side 2 recorded September 1962

Tracks 2 and 4 on Side2 recorded August 1963

Tracks 5 and 6 on Side 2 recorded August 1965 – the other four songs on the LP are Fifties recordings covered by Disc 3 of this 4CD set as noted above.

"More Real Folk Blues" – January 1967 USA MONO LP on Chess LP 1512

Side 1:

1. Just My Kind [1/25]

2. I've Got A Woman [1/24]

3. Work For Your Money [1/26]

4. I'll Be Around [2/18]

5. You Can't Be Beat [2/25]

6. No Place To Go (You Gonna Wreck My Life) [2/11]

Side 2:

1. I Love My Baby [2/4]

2. Neighbors [2/13]

3. I'm The Wolf [2/14]

4. Rockin' Daddy [2/15]

5. Who Will Be Next [2/20]

6. I Have A Little Girl [2/21]

See also my review for the March 2002 CD reissue that combines the two Real Folk LPs onto 1CD Remaster - "The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues" by HOWLIN’ WOLF on Universal/MCA/Chess 088 122 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028).

"Slim Harpo Rocks" by SLIM HARPO. A Review Of The 2011 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…I'm A King Bee…Buzzin' 'Round Your Hive…"

Saying that Slim Harpo 'rocks' is probably pushing it a tad – but that doesn’t stop this CD compilation from being another winner in a series that is fast becoming definitive. There’s a lot on here - so let’s the details out of the way first…

Released November 2011, Bear Family BCD 17129 AR breaks down as follows (75:41 minutes):

1. Wild About My Baby (1960 recording 1st issued on a 1978 USA 45 on Blues Unlimited 2015, A-side)
2. I Got Love If You Want It (1957 USA 45 on Excello 2113, B-side)
3. I'm A King Bee (1957 USA 45 on Excello 2113, A-side)
4. You'll Be Sorry One Day (1959 USA 45 on Excello 2162, B-side)
5. That Ain't Your Business (1957 recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
6. Buzz Me Babe (1960 USA 45 on Excello 2171, A-side)
7. My Little Queen Bee (Got A Brand New King) (1964 USA 45 on Excello 2246, A-side)
8. I’m Waiting On You Baby (1964 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
9. Something Inside Me (1961 recording 1st issued in 1969 on a US LP called "Rural Blues Vol.2 – Saturday Night Function" on Imperial 94001)
10. Bobby-Sox Baby (from Slim Harpo's 1961 USA LP "Raining In My Heart" on Excello LP 8003)
11. I Need Money (Keep Your Alibis) (1964 USA 45 on Excello 2246, B-side)
12. Yeah Yeah Baby (1960 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
13. Shake Your Hips (1966 USA 45 on Excello 2278, B-side)
14. Harpo's Blues (1965 USA 45 on Excello 2265, B-side)
15. Don't Start Cryin’ Now (1961 USA 45 on Excello 2194, B-side)
16. Boogie Chillun (1964 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
17. Baby, Scratch My Back (1965 USA 45 on Excello 2273, A-side)
18. Buzzin' [Instrumental] (1963 USA 45 on Excello 2239, A-side)
19. Hey Little Lee (1968 USA LP called "Tip On In" on Excello LPS-8008)
20. The Music's Hot (1970 USA LP called "Slim Harpo Knew The Blues" on Excello LPS-8013)
21. Wondering And Worryin' (1958 USA 45 on Excello 2138, A-side)
22. Late Last Night (1959 recording 1st issued on the 1996 CD compilation "The Scratch – Rare And Unissued, Volume 1" on AV/Excello CD 3015)
23. That's Alright (aka "You'll Be Sorry One Day") (1959 recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
24. That's Alright Baby (aka "Don't Start Cryin' Now") (1960 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
25. Cigarettes (1959 alternate version 1st issued on a 1986 UK LP called "Baton Rouge Blues – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 42" on Flyright 607)
26. Buzz Me Babe (1959 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
27. I'm A King Bee (1957 alternate recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
28. You Ain't Never Had To Cry (1959 recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
29. I Got Love If You Want It (1957 recording 1st issued in 1980 on the UK LP called "Got Love If You Want It – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 20" on Flyright 558)
30. Wondering And Worryin' (1957 recording 1st issued on the 1996 CD compilation "The Scratch – Rare And Unissued, Volume 1" on AV/Excello CD 3015)
31. Rainin' In My Heart (1961 USA 45 on Excello 2194, A-side)

[Note: As you can see from the track list above - there were many unreleased recordings put out on reissue vinyl albums by revered labels like Flyright, Imperial and England’s Ace Records – many of which (not all) are featured here on CD for the first time. Most songs however are Excello Recordings from 1957 to 1970 – American 7" singles and key album tracks.]

"Slim Harpo Rocks" comes in Bear's now standard packaging for this series – a 3-way foldout card digipak containing a detachable oversized booklet inside (32 pages for this issue). Pages 5 to 18 feature an in-depth essay on James Moore (his real name) by noted writer and musicologist JEFF HANNUSCH and Pages 19 to 29 have a full Discography on all 31 recordings by archivist BILL MILLAR. The text is peppered with trade adverts, black and white and colour photos of the great man with his guitar in hand and harmonica in mouth - as well as lovely repros of 3 rare album sleeves. It’s the usual classy act from Bear. And then of course is the great sound courtesy of JURGEN CRASSER. I’ve raved about his work before (see my TAG for him and reviews for the astonishing "Blowing The Fuse" series (16 compilations) and the "Sweet Soul Music" series (10 discs). It's old Blues and R'n'B for sure, but it sounds great - full of atmosphere, echo and life.

Second only to Jimmy Reed, Slim was the most successful Blues and R'n'B artist on the Excello label and a product of JAY MILLER'S legendary studio in Crawley, Louisiana. One of Slim's most famous and beloved songs "I'm A King Bee" defined his witty languid style for decades (lyrics above) – yet as his debut single - it never charted. "King Bee" would later however take on a life of its own – to a point where like Elmore James who found a riff and stuck with it – Slim would repeat the style again and again (both the CD and the inlay beneath the see-through tray picture the 7" of "I'm A King Bee" on Excello 2113). Slim pumped out more soundalikes for years (both Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones covered it).

Highlights include "I Got Love If You Want It" (another signature hit for him) and the rockin' harmonica-driven of "That Ain't Your Business" where sauciness is always close to the surface ("…when I pulled down the shade…and turned out the light…"). The huge drum sound of "Buzz Me Babe" is irresistible foot-tapping stuff – in fact – there’s a great fun vibe about so many of the songs on here. "I'm Waiting On You Baby" first turned up on an Ace CD in 1993 and it's a "did me wrong girl" bopper – misery with a beat. "Shake Your Hips" was famously covered by the Stones on their 1972 2LP masterpiece "Exile On Main St." – it shuffles along like his cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillun". But best of all is the slinky "Baby, Scratch My Back" which I've been featuring on R'n'B compilations for years in the shop shuffle – it now sounds just HUGE. And it all ends on the lovely "Rainin' In My Heart" - a winner from 1961.

Niggles - it’s a shame there isn’t more from the later years – the track "Hey, Little Lee" is from his 1968 LP "Tip On In" and the recording quality is fantastic – chugging along like a cool Sixties R'n'B tune should. "The Music's Hot" from the 1970 LP "Slim Harpo Knows The Blues" is the same – sounding tremendous – and both in STEREO. The song "Tip On In" is excellent too - but again a no-show when there was room. But still, it's a great listen overall and makes you ache for more...as a good compilation should.

The incomparable Bear Family folks – class and quality - they may cost you – but the best always does.

I’m off now to review the Chuck Berry set and hide the bills from the missus…and convince her that the recession is not my fault all in 'her' mind...

SLIM HARPO USA LPs referenced in the Bear Family discography:

"Slim Harpo Sings Raining in My Heart"
USA 1961 LP on Excello LP 8003 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Rainin’ In My Heart [31]
2. Blues Hangover
3. Bobby-Sox Baby [10]
4. I Got Love If You Want It [2]
5. Snoopin’ Around
6. Buzz Me Baby [6]

Side 2:
1. I’m A King Bee [3]
2. What A Dream
3. Don’t Start Cryin’ Now [15]
4. Moody Blues
5. My Home Is A Prison
6. Dream Girl

"Baby Scratch My Back"
USA 1966 on Excello LP 8005 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Shake Your Hips [13]
2. Midnight Blues
3. Harpo’s Blues [14]
4. Buzzin’ [18]
5. My Little Queen Bee [7]
6. I Love The Life (I’m Livin’)

Side 2:
1. Baby, Scratch My Back [17]
2. I’m Gonna Miss You (Like The Devil)
3. Rainin’ In My Heart
4. Wonderin’ Blues
5. We’re Two Of A Kind
6. I Need Money [11]

"Tip On In"
USA 1968 LP on Excello LPS-8008 [Stereo]
Hey Little Lee [19]


"Slim Harpo Knew The Blues"
USA 1970 LP on Excello LPS-8013 [Stereo]
The Music’s Hot [20]

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Chuck Berry [see REVIEW}
2. Pat Boone
3. Johnny Burnette [see REVIEW]
4. The Cadillacs
5. Eddie Cochran
6. Bobby Darin
7. Fats Domino
8. Connie Francis
9. Don Gibson
10. Glen Glenn
11. Bill Haley
12. Roy Hall
13. Slim Harpo [see REVIEW]
14. Dale Hawkins
15. Ronnie Hawkins
16. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
17. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]
18. Sonny James
19. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
20. Sleepy LaBeef
21. Brenda Lee
22. Jerry Lee Lewis
23. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
24. Little Richard
25. Bob Luman
26. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
27. Carl Mann
28. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
29. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]
30. Ricky Nelson
31. Carl Perkins
32. Roy Orbison
33. Lloyd Price
34. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]
35. Charlie Rich [see REVIEW]
36. Jack Scott
37. Shirley & Lee
38. The Treniers
39. Big Joe Turner [see REVIEW]
40. Conway Twitty
41. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
42. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

"The RCA Albums Collection" by SAM COOKE - Including The Stereo Albums "Cooke's Tour" (1960), "Hits Of The 50's" (1960), "Swing Low" (1961), "My Kind Of Blues" (1961), "Twistin' The Night Away" (1962), "Mr. Soul" (1963), "Night Beat" (1963) and more (November 2011 UK Sony/RCA/Legacy 8CD Clamshell Box Set with Vic Anesini Remasters and Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RCA-Albums-Collection-Sam-Cooke/dp/B005APT72M?crid=212UCA4EWDC27&keywords=886978987020&qid=1706874169&sprefix=886978987020%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=f779bfa65ba781b4a6a4318ae6479fbb&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATING: ****

"…You Can Make Me Weep…You Can Make Me Cry…"

I've had this pre-ordered for months - and when it arrived this morning - I ripped off the shrink wrap with an indecent haste. And I'm thrilled to say that Sony/Legacy has done a very tasty job indeed - tracks and albums that are NEW TO CD. And priced at roughly three quid per disc, this wee beauty is also great value for money. 

Unfortunately and given the constraints of the early Sixties regarding musical expression for a coloured man daring to take on the commerciality of the American charts, you must hammer home that these albums are not all Soul genius by a long shot kicking any bucket. There is crooner schlock in here a-plenty hustling to be acceptable to nice white picket-fence USA, but then there is the other stuff – the early Soul stuff – and like Presley – that voice. And that is all any real fan will ever want. And man does it sound good. Here are the night beats for a true singing legend...

UK released Monday 14 November 2011 - "The RCA Albums Collection" by SAM COOKE on Sony/RCA/Legacy 88697898702 (Barcode 886978987020) has 8 US Stereo albums on 8CDs and breaks down as follows:

1. "Cooke's Tour" - a 12-track LP originally released April 1960 on RCA Victor LSP-2221 (36:59 minutes)

2. "Hits Of The 50's" - a 12-track LP originally released August 1960 on RCA Victor LSP-2236 (33:57 minutes)

3. "Swing Low" - a 12-track LP originally released March 1961 on RCA Victor LSP-2293 (36:31 minutes)

4. "My Kind Of Blues" - a 12-track LP originally released October 1961 on RCA Victor LSP-2392 (32:52 minutes)

5. "Twistin' The Night Away" - a 12-track LP originally released April 1962 on RCA Victor LSP-2555 (29:18 minutes)

6. "Mr. Soul" - a 12-track LP originally released February 1963 on RCA Victor LSP-2673 (36:06 minutes)

7. "Night Beat" - a 12-track LP originally released September 1963 on RCA Victor LSP-2709 (37:45 minutes)

8. "One Night Stand! Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963" - a 10-track show recorded 12 January 1963, but not released until June 1985 on RCA Victor AFL 1-5181 (38:49 minutes) 

I half expected the booklet to be slight and useless but at 24-pages and with full music credits and discography info on all eight albums - it isn't. There's also a short essay by STUART COLEMAN and great black & white snaps of Sam in the studio. As you can see from the Amazon photo provided above - the outer box is as uninspiring as a bowl of cold mashed potatoes on a Monday morning - but the eight individual card repros contained within are LOVELY - faithfully depicting front and rear sleeves in full colour. Very nicely done. But the big news is the SOUND...

Albums 1 to 6 are remastered by VIC ANESINI with 7 and 8 done by BOB LUDWIG - both highly respected and revered names in the business of transferring old master tapes. The audio quality is 'Living Stereo' BEAUTIFUL - clear, warm and full of great feeling. There's air around each track and yet not overbearingly so - no compression and plenty of room to breathe - always a sign of engineers who respect the original sound and source material. 

Musically - and despite his legend as the greatest vocalist - it's a mixed bag of the awful and the great. It starts out badly with "Cooke's Tour" where he sings songs about different cities around the world - it's cheesy lounge music and largely unlistenable now. The 2nd album "Hits Of The 50's" is more on the suave Crooner tip but with better material like Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa", The Platters standard "The Great Pretender" and Doris Day's "Secret Love" - Cooke gets to stretch out vocally and his control is so sweet. "Swing Low" features "Chain Gang" and the brassy 4th album "My Kind Of Blues" features "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and the Big Joe Turner classic "Trouble In Mind". 

Cooke finally starts to hit his Soulful stride with the "Twistin' The Night Away" LP which features "Movin' And A' Groovin'" and the excellent "Somebody Have Mercy". The "Mr. Soul" LP is even better - "Chains Of Love" and "Smoke Rings" are silky smooth and the truly gorgeous "Nothing Can Change This Love" is my all-time favourite by him (lyrics above). The box culminates in two genuine masterpieces - the bluesy "Night Beat" LP which I reviewed a few months back as an 'obscure album you must own' and the posthumously released live set "One Night Stand!" which shows him in magnificent form. 

Niggles - as you can see from the skimpy playing times noted above - the discs are not exactly chockers with music. And as fans will know, albums 1 to 7 were originally issued in both MONO and STEREO, yet only the STEREO versions have been used here, when there was room for both. If it's an 'RCA Albums' box set, then issue them as they were originally released (most of it would have been first time on CD too). And because this set focuses on 1960 onwards - if you're looking for his huge Fifties hits like "You Send Me", "Cupid" and "Only Sixteen" - they're not on here. For those you should go to the single compilation "Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964" - which has superlative track choices and glorious SACD sound quality. Or if you want a broader view of his entire career including his 1950's Gospel stuff with The Sour Stirrers - the 96-track 4CD Box Set from 2000 called "The Man Who Invented Soul" is the place to go. It was reissued in September 2011 as a mini book version at an incredibly cheap price.   

To sum up - "The RCA Albums Collection" by SAM COOKE is a lovely reissue and about time too. OK – the front cover artwork is awful, and it must be said that a lot of the content on the first 4 discs is hardly soulful in the way that we now know it (too many easy-listening covers and cheesy lounge tunes that haven't dated at all well). But the songs in-between the cracks are a nice rediscovery and the wonderful 4 Cooke albums that follow are must-owns. And that makes it four-stars worth of prime five-star Cooke that I need. 

Recommended. And I must grab me a copy of the Nina Simone box set in this series too...