"Electric Shocks" by ROGER RUSKIN SPEAR [of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band] (September 2014 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…A Cup And A Half Of Sunbeams…"

The word eccentric comes to mind - as well as pantomime - and well as oddball, bonkers and raving loony (two words I know). Just how ex BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND main man ROGER RUSKIN SPEAR got this thoroughly mad album made is anybody's guess? But I'm thinking a serious amount of drugs was involved (never mind tranquilisers for United Artist record company executives). Having said that - I'd also argue that the world (and middle England) is a richer place for it. No one does send up and lampoon quite like The British. So here are the Mad Dogs and Englishmen (and a few details too)...

UK released on CD September 2014 - "Electric Shocks" by ROGER RUSKIN SPEAR is on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2463 (Barcode 5013929456341) and is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters with Four Bonus Tracks that breaks down as follows (48:48 minutes):

1. All By Yourself In The Moonlight

2. I'm A Fly

3. Mattress Man

4. Blue Baboon (or "I Know A Rhino")

5. The Liberty Laughing Song

6. Doctor Rock

7. Patrick Moore

8. Make Yourself A Happiness Pie

9. Living Doll

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut solo album "Electric Shocks" - originally released on vinyl LP October 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29381

10. Trouser Freak

11. Trouser Press

12. Release Me

13. Drop Out

Bonus Tracks 10 to 14 are the "Rebel Trouser" EP - original released May 1971 as a 4-track 7" single Extended Play on United Artists UP 35221 - it's credited to ROGER RUSKIN SPEAR and his giant orchestral wardrobe. The 16-page colour booklet features outtakes from the cover shoot, a facsimile of the rare EP released before the album, photos of the musicians, a repro of in the inner gatefold sleeve and superb liner notes from noted writer MALCOLM DOME.

Quite apart from the sheer craziness of the proceedings - the first thing that hits you is the great remaster carried out to perfection by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving. The dense multi-tracked original tapes have been given a right polish and all the trombones, funny voices, grunts and gasps are here in fabulous sound quality. PETER BANKS - the original guitarist with YES puts in an appearance on the quirky "Blue Baboon...", THUNDERCLAP "Something In The Air" NEWMAN plays Bass Saxophone on several tracks, B.J. COLE contributes Pedal Steel, CHRIS WELCH and AARON ROWE shared Drums and visiting American Rock'n'Roll band THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES feature on "Mattress Man". There's even a snare drum on loan from Pete Townshend (apparently).

Carrying on in much the same tradition as the Bonzo albums on Liberty - the songs are full of madcap rhythms while Ruskin talks like he's auditioning for Monty Python's "Lumberjack Song", singing in a strangulated voice, choruses that have phrases like "Shi Bardi Bardi Boom" in them. It's very funny (if not a tiny bit dated in places) and when he does a live cover of Engelbert Humperdinck's "Please Release Me" - it's hard not to wet yourself (but in a good way).

All tracks on the album are Spear originals except for "All By Yourself In The Moonlight" and "Make Yourself A Happiness Pie" (lyrics from it title this review) which both date back to 1929 and 1930 respectively. These Vaudeville show tunes are upbeat devil-may-care Charleston dances with stunningly witty lyrics. Both conjure up images of bankrobbers in natty zoot suits - arm-in-arm in some nightclub with their ample molls who carry a diamond-encrusted Dillinger in their garters - partying all night while the country goes into the Depression crapper outside. But the third cover version on the album is the best literally kept ‘til last (final song on Side 2) - a truly hilarious pisstake on the Cliff Richard & The Shadows 1959 hit "Living Doll" on Columbia which is bound to make for a chucklefest in any home. Genius and then some...

In truth - "Electric Shocks" won't be everyone's glass of Babycham and that's for sure. But if you're willing to succumb to its bubbly English charm - you'll be more happily tipsy than stomach queasy. Well done to all the good people in Cherry Red and Esoteric for getting this forgotten nugget back out there...

PS: Esoteric have also been game enough to release his other album on United Artists from 1973 called "Unusual" (Esoteric ECLEC 2464) - which pleasingly displays even more insanity than the debut.

"The Original Mono Recordings" by BOB DYLAN (2010 Columbia/Legacy 9-Disc CD Box Set of Remasters In Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100's Of Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC 1960s MUSIC On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Once Was A True Love Of Mine…" 

A hairs-breath away from perfection (where's those missing 7" single sides?) - nonetheless this exceptional Columbia Box Set along with EMI's stellar work on The Beatles In Mono has set standards for presentation and quality remastering. There's a lot to get through - so onwards to the tambourines and Memphis mobiles...

Released October 2010 in the USA on Columbia/Legacy MONO-88697761042 (Barcode is the same no) - "The Original Mono Recordings" by BOB DYLAN offers you 8 studio albums (one a double) onto 9CDs in their original MONO mixes and breaks down as follows...

1. "Bob Dylan" - debut LP released 19 March 1962 in the USA on Columbia CL 1779 (Mono) and July 1962 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 62022 (Mono) - 13 tracks, CD playing time 37:07 minutes

2. "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" - 2nd album released 27 May 1963 in the USA on Columbia CL 1986 (Mono) and November 1963 in the UK on CBS Records BGP 62193 (Mono) - 13 tracks, CD playing time 50:18 minutes

3. The Times They Are A-Changin'" - 3rd album released 13 January 1964 in the USA on Columbia CL 2105 (Mono) and May 1964 in the UK on CBS BPG 62251 (Mono) - 10 tracks, CD playing time 45:48 minutes

4. "Another Side Of Bob Dylan" - 4th album released 10 August 1964 in the USA on Columbia CL 2193 (Mono) and November 1964 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 62429 (Mono) - 11 tracks, CD playing time 51:20 minutes

5. "Bringing It All Back Home" - 5th studio album released 27 March 1965 in the USA on Columbia CL 2328 (Mono) and May 1965 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 62515 (mono) - 11 tracks, CD playing time 47:25 minutes

6. "Highway 61 Revisited" - 6th studio album released 30 August 1965 in the USA on Columbia CL 2389 (Mono) and September 1965 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 62572 (Mono) - 9 tracks, CD playing time 49:19 minutes

7. "Blonde On Blonde" - 7th studio album (a double) released 16 May 1966 in the USA on Columbia C2L 41 (Mono) and August 1966 in the UK on CBS Records DDP 66012 (Mono) Disc 1 has 8 tracks, 40:07 minutes - Disc 2 has 6 tracks, 33:09 minutes

8. "John Wesley Harding" - 8th studio album released 17 December 1967 in the USA on Columbia CL 2804 and February 1968 in the UK on CBS Records BGP 63252 (Mono) - 12 tracks, CD playing time 38:24 minutes

Because all of his Sixties 45's were issued in MONO - this set will allow fans to sequence 'most' of his 7" singles for the entire decade as follows (1/2 = Track 1 on Disc 2 - 2/5 = Track 2 on Disc 5 etc):

1. Mixed Up Confusion b/w Corrina, Corrina

Released 14 December 1962 in the USA but then withdrawn

[Note: the mix on "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" album is not the version on the 7" single]

2. Blowin' In The Wind [1/2] b/w Don't Think Twice, It's Alright [7/2]

Released 13 August 1963 in the USA on Columbia 4- 42856

3. Subterranean Homesick Blues [1/5] b/w She Belongs To Me [2/5]

Released 8 March 1965 in the USA on Columbia 4-43242

4. Like A Rolling Stone [1/6] b/w Gates Of Eden [9/5]

Released 28 June 1965 in the USA on Columbia 4-43346

5. Positively 4th Street b/w From A Buick 6 [4/6]

Released 7 September 1965 in the USA on Columbia 4-43389. The A-side was non-album at the time and isn't included on this box set.

6. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window b/w Highway 61 Revisited [7/6]

Released 12 June 1965 in the USA on Columbia 4-43477

Note: the A-side was non-album at the time and unfortunately isn't included on this compilation

7. One Of Us Must Know [4/Disc 1 of 7] b/w Queen Jane Approximately [6/6]

Released 14 February 1966 in the USA on Columbia 4-43541

8. Rainy day Women No. 12 & 35 [1/Disc 1 of 7] b/w Pledging My Time [2/Disc 1 of 7]

Released 22 March 1966 in the USA on Columbia 4-43592

9. I Want You [5/Disc 1 of 7] b/w Just Like Tom Thumb Blues

Released 10 June 1966 in the USA on Columbia 4-43683

Note: the B-side is different to the album version on "Highway 61 Revisited" and is unfortunately not included on this box

10. Just Like A Woman [8/Disc 1 of 7] b/w Obviously 5 Believers [5/Disc 2 of 7]

Released 18 August 1966 in the USA on Columbia 4-43792

11. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat 7/Disc 1 of 7] b/w Most Likely You Go Your Way [1/Disc 2 of 7]

Released 27 March 1967 in the USA on Columbia 4-44069

The packaging is classily done. Each of the oversized card facsimiles of the album covers all have pasted-on back sleeves and MONO artwork aping the American originals. The debut "Bob Dylan" even has its 'Columbia Records' advert inner bag reproduced. The 'two women' photographs on the inner gatefold of original copies of the 1966 "Blonde On Blonde" double that was withdrawn is unfortunately AWOL probably due to licensing (Columbia have used the more commonly seen replacements). The 56-page booklet is visually and thoughtfully put together too - gorgeous black and white photos of Dylan in bookshops, in the studio, having a cigarette, at his typewriter, chatting to tea-ladies - there's full track-by-track info, an American Discography and extensive reissue credits. STEVE BERKOWITZ produced the reissue and MARK WILDER did the superlative remastering from original first generation master tapes.

As the GREIL MARCUS liner-notes exhaustively tell you - STEREO through the early to late Sixties was something of an afterthought. The MONO mixes were where it was at for the artists and the producers (and they claim the public too). But for those of us who have grown up from the Seventies onwards on the STEREO versions - hearing these `overplayed' recordings in such stark one-channel force is a revelation. You also forget how pretty and touching some of the songs were/are - the brilliance of his lone original on the cover-heavy debut album - "Song For Woody" - the sweet longing of "Girl From The North Country" (lyrics from it title this review). There's the gorgeous amble of "Corrina. Corrina" and "She Belongs To Me" - with the B-side cool of "From A Buick 6". The sheer aural kick that comes off "Pledging My Time" from 1966 still whacks me sideways - same goes for the electric and acidic wit of "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat". And the side long "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" has more genius lyrics in it than most people know what to do with. It's also cool to see that Columbia followed the SACD route by splitting the "Blonde On Blonde" album into its two CDs so you get the original album experience of flipping Sides. Having grown so used to the 2003 STEREO SACD of John Wesley Harding - the mono of "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" comes as a visceral shock to me - now so much starker and raw. And don't get me started on the sheer genius of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" - even now it's combo of rollicking rhythm and rhyming brilliance floors me. And in MONO - it's even punchier (watch those parking meters). Niggles: it's a shame the missing single sides weren't put onto a separate Disc 9 so that fans could have gotten the FULL Mono picture - but the brief was always the albums. Apart from that - an exemplary release - and one that reeks of pride.

Was Bob Dylan really that good? Did he deserve the Godlike status he was held in? Does he still warrant that crown of glory to this day? You bet your subterranean rainy day women he does! 

Good on ye Mister Zimmerman. 

Extraordinary stuff...

"Hello" by MARC BRIERLEY (September 2014 Cherry Tree UK CD 'Expanded Edition' Reissue and Remaster) - A Review By Mark Barry...

"…The Presence I Am Seeking…"

UK folky MARC BRIERLEY and his rare debut album - 1968's "Welcome To The Citadel" on CBS Records - has been treated to a luxurious and expanded CD remaster by Cherry Tree in September 2014 (Cherry Tree is part of Cherry Red Records). "Hello" is his second album from the summer of 1969 and again it's received a genuinely great upgrade. Here are the dewdrops and dodgy beards...

UK released September 2014 - "Hello" by MARC BRIERLEY on Cherry Tree CDTREE014 (Barcode 5013929691421) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows (79:08 minutes):

1. Sunny Weather [Side 1]

2. Lady Of The Light

3. Today I Feel Like Leaving You

4. O Honey

5. A Presence (I Am Seeking)

6. The Room [Side 2]

7. Byrd Lives

8. Hello

9. Lookin' Around The Room

10. When Mother Comes

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Hello" - released August 1969 in the UK on CBS Records S 63835

11. Be My Brother

12. If You Took The Bandages Off Your Head (You Wouldn't Be So Blind)

Tracks 11 and 12 are A&B-sides of a November 1970 UK 7" single on CBS Records S 5266

13. The Best Part Of The Night

14. In This Hour Of Love

15. One Fine Morning (You Will Wake Up)

16. Screaming Schizophrenia Blues

17. Abide With You

18. Brown Ships

19. For People Who Are Parted

20. Sweet Summer

Tracks 13 to 20 are 'Island Records Demos' recorded in 1973

21. Be My Brother

Track 21 is a 'Rehearsal Demo'; Tracks 13 to 21 are all Previously Unreleased

The 12-page booklet combines his own recollections on the recording of the album with cool photos of Demo CBS 7" singles, a trade advert, a facsimile CBS Press release, period photos, outtakes from the album shoot and a Discography at the rear. Simon Murphy's CD Remaster at Another Planet Music is superb - very clear and at times - breathtaking. Players included Graham Todd on Organ, Dudley Moore guesting on Piano, Harold McNair provided Flute while the rhythm section consisted of John Fiddle on Bass with Tony Carr and Dougie Wright on Percussion and Drums respectively.

Musically his debut "Welcome To The Citadel" was a Folk record with Nick Drake, Al Stewart and Mick Greenwood leanings (hence its £400 Price Guide cost) - "Hello" at a mere £100 is far more poppy (seeking hits) and the lesser for it in truth. It opens with the irrepressibly cheery "Sunny Weather" which is almost vaudeville and not great. "Lady Of The Night" was coupled with "Sunny Weather" in October 1969 as a Uk 7" single on CBS Records S 4632 bit it tanked. Far better is the gorgeous acoustic/strings of "Today I Feel Like Leaving You" where you feel he was finding his own sound. "O Honey" is more slapstick with lyrics like "it could be so groovy..." but Side 1 ends with the album's masterpiece - the near seven-minute "A Presence (I Am Seeking)". It's gorgeous with Nair's flute complimenting the acoustic strum and spiritual lyrics - it's surely ripe for a cover version by someone with taste...

Side 2 opens with "The Room" - another quietly lovely tune while "Lookin' Around The Room" gets all zippy for all the wrong reasons. But "When Martha Comes" rescues your faith. The single "Be My Brother" is excellent - very much in keeping with the love and peace of the time (should have been on the album).

But as with the "Welcome To The Citadel" CD - there comes a shocker - a flurry of Previously Unreleased Demos made for Island Records in 1973 that show amazing songwriting maturity. They're hissy for sure but shockingly good. Songs like the lovely "In This Hour of Love" and "Screaming Schizophrenia Blues" are brilliant - but it's "One Fine Morning (You Will Wake Up)" that impresses most. Someone needs to make this tune famous too...

Robin Lent (who was involved in the original recording) writes in the liner notes that Marc Brierley deserves to be held up like RODRIGUEZ as a lost artist worthy of major reassessment and rediscovery. Is it a Sixto Rodriguez type situation - not really - but at times I tell you he gets damn close...

"Welcome To The Citadel" by MARC BRIERLEY (September 2014 Cherry Tree 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Solstice Of The Heart…" 

With a voice similar to Roy Harper and songs in the Folk Rock tradition of Nick Drake meets Simon & Garfunkel meets Al Stewart - it's a mystery as to why Marc Brierley's debut LP on the giant CBS Records did so little business in 1968? Maybe it was the concert-poster lettering of his name/title or Ron Hendersen's stunning oil painting on the cover that led people to believe it was some kind of "Odyssey & Oracle" Psych masterpiece when it was really a good old Folkie record? It sold zip and consequently it's booked at £400 in 2014 Price Guides - but often sells for much more on Auction sites. And on the strength of this fabulous Cherry Tree Expanded CD remaster (part of Cherry Red Records) - it's easy to see why collectors want it. Here are the keys to the Citadel...

UK released September 2014 - "Welcome To The Citadel" by MARC BRIERLEY on Cherry Tree CDTREE013 (Barcode 5013929691421) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows (79:08 minutes):

1. The Answer Is
2. Vagabond Of Sleep
3. Matchbox Men
4. Over The Hills
5. Symphony
6. Take Me For A ride On Your Aeroplane
7. Welcome To The Citadel
8. Hold On, Hold On, The Garden Sure Looks Good Spread On The Floor
9. Autograph Of Time (After All The Heat Was Hung)
10. Sunlight Sleeper's Song
11. Making Love
12. Time Itself
13. And Who Would But Think
14. My Thoughts & Sounds
Tracks 1 to 14 are the album "Welcome To The Citadel" - released November 1968 in the UK on CBS Records S 63478

BONUS TRACKS: 
15. A Time For Love
16. Dragonfly
17. Arctic City
18. Rel's Song
19. If You Leave Me Now
Tracks 15 to 19 are the "Marc Brierley EP" - released 1966 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA EP 147

20. Stay A Little Longer Merry Ann
21. Flaxen Hair
Tracks 20 and 21 are the A&B-sides of a May 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 4191

22 Godspeed
23. Phoenix
24. Powers Of Glory
25. Hear Me Calling
26. Don't Let The Bugs Bite
Tracks 22 to 26 are 'Rehearsal Demos' and are Previously Unreleased

The 12-page booklet combines his own recollections on the recording of the album with cool photos of Demo CBS 7" singles, label facsimiles, period photos and a Discography at the rear. The album was recorded across 5 days without Dolby tape hiss reduction - so Simon Murphy's CD Remaster at Another Planet Music is superb - very clear and at times - breathtaking. The artist seems pleased with the results.

Musically "Welcome To The Citadel" has the almost demo-in-the-studio feel of Jackson C. Frank's 1966 self-titled debut album on Columbia Records famously produced by PAUL SIMON and featuring Simon's gorgeous "Blues Run The Game". Mix that up with a little Al Stewart/Roy Harper vocals and you get the picture.

The album opens with the gentle acoustic "The Answer Is" and you feel like you've stumbled on a great, lost Nick Drake situation. "Vagabond Of Sleep" cements the feeling and the violin on "Matchbox Men" gives it a sort of English Folk feel. But of course you never get `that' lucky. His voice isn't the greatest by any stretch of the imagination and his songs lack the sheer delicacy of Drake - and the poppy "Making Love" is so hippy dated it's awful. But in-between are lovely songs like the title "Welcome To The Citadel" track where Henry Lowther provides superb harmonizing Trumpet accompaniment to the acoustic guitar.
"Time Itself" features Sixties Idealism where he sounds a little like the Irish Folk duo Tir na N'Og on Chrysalis (lyrics above). And the last song is an absolute nugget - the six-minute "Thoughts & Sounds" is almost entirely instrumental except for some vocal refrains on the title towards the end of the song. Beautiful and accomplished acoustic guitar harmonics - ala Bert Jansch and John Renbourn - side with gentle percussion and echoed vocals. It's almost Prog and now remastered to superb quality...

A real prize for collectors is the 1966 EP - listed at £50 in the guides - I've never seen a copy in 45 years. Its rightly pictured on Page 4 with our hero wearing shades and a beard and looking oh so Sixties Troubadour. The instrumental "Dragonfly" is absolutely gorgeous. And then comes a real shock - five rehearsal demos (in acceptable sound) with three cracking new tunes "Phoenix", "Powers Of Glory" and "Hear Me calling" where he even sounds a little Ronnie Lane circa 1972 or 1974.

He would go on to produce another LP for CBS called "Hello" in the Summer of 1969 (which I've also reviewed). A superb reissue then and well done to all the good people involved...