"The Gap Band/The Gap Band II/The Gap Band III" by THE GAP BAND (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Oops, Up Side Your Head..."

Three huge Soul/Funk albums from the trio of brothers Charlie, Robert and Ronnie Wilson collectively known as THE GAP BAND – a churning-burning dancing machine from Tulsa in Oklahoma (of all places). These LPs peaked at 10, 3 and 1 on the American R&B album charts respectively back in the day and lay out in graphic gap-toothed family funkiness their dominance of the airwaves and dancefloors in 1979, 1980 and 1981. Three LPs onto 2CDs - and the Remasters sound brill too. Here are the Oops, Up Side Your Heads...

UK released August 2015 in the UK (September 2015 in the USA) – "The Gap Band/The Gap Band II/The Gap Band III" by THE GAP BAND on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1219 (Barcode 5017261212191) offers 3 LPs onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (61:21 minutes):

1. Shake

2. You Can Count On Me

3. Open Up Your Mind (Wide)

4. Messin' With My Mind

5. Baba Baba Boogie [Side 2]

6. I'm In Love

7. Got To Get Away

8. I Can Sing

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd studio album "The Gap Band" – released April 1979 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-3758 and 1980 in Europe on Mercury 9111 052

9. Steppin' (Out)

10. No Hiding Place

11. I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops!)

Tracks 9 to 10 are Side 1 of their 4th studio album "The Gap Band II" – released December 1979 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-3804 and October 1980 in the UK on Mercury 9111 062

Disc 2 (65:19 minutes):

1. Who Do You Call

2. You Are My High

3. Party Lights

4. The Boys Are Back In Town

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of their 4th studio album "The Gap Band II" – released December 1979 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-3804 and October 1980 in the UK on Mercury 9111 062

5. When I Look In Your Eyes

6. Yearning For Your Love

7. Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)

8. Nothin’ Comes To Sleepers

9. Are You Living [Side 2]

10. Sweet Caroline

11. Humpin’

12. The Way

13. Gash Gash Gash

Tracks 5 to 13 are their 5th studio album "The Gap Band III" – released January 1981 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-4003 and in the UK on Mercury 6377 110

There is a card slipcase that lends the whole release a classiness – a 16-page booklet with full album credits and new liner notes from Mojo's Jazz columnist CHARLES WARING and new 2015 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters (done at Sound Mastering in London) that blast all that polished Soul and Funk out into your living room with renewed flairs. These CDs sound amazing – great presence and will almost certainly make you want to do a Soul Train on your living room floor as you chant "Oops, Up Side Your Head" like a loon.

After their first two studio albums failed to ignite ("Magician's Holiday" in 1974 on Shelter and "The Gap Band" in 1977 on MCA) – they signed to Mercury Records with material that was bound to cook (and it did). Their Mercury Label debut in 1979 opens with the irresistible stepper "Shake" – a five-minute Funky call to arms to 'shake your booty' down at the local club. The Gap Band released it on Mercury 74053 as a 7" single and it was an immediate winner giving them a No. 4 placing on the R&B charts in May 1979. Things slow into smooch-city with "You Can Count On Me" while "Open Up Your Mind (Wide)" gave them their 2nd hit in August 1979 on Mercury 74080 (peaked at 13). "Messin' With My Mind" could easily have been another winning single ala Rufus with Chaka Khan. "I'm In Love" is a pretty ballad (just about) but far better is the album's hidden nugget "Got To Get Away" where the boys want to be shown 'the way to the future'...their next album did just that...

"The Gap Band II" hit Top Ten paydirt with the crowd-shouters "Steppin' Out" and especially "I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)". With its repeated chant "Oops, Up Side Your Head" throughout (probably should have been the name of the song) – I can remember entire dancehalls descending into rowing lines on the floor as people sang along to the lines and the singer's giggles. The song was played everywhere - a phenomenon - and caught the party mood of the early 80ts. They tried one of the album's boppers "Party Lights" on Mercury 76037 in July 1980 but it stalled at No. 36. It wasn't "Gap Band III" finally took the top slot on the album charts in January 1981 that its lead off single “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” did the same. Other wicked steppers include “When I Look In Your Eyes” while the mid-tempo “Yearning For Your Love” ticked the punters in April 1981 so they gave it’s Isley Brothers guitar-Soul at No. 5 placing on the R&B charts. “Is that what it is!” the boys shout on the party-party finisher "Gash Gash Gash" while "Humpin’" tries it hardest and just about pulls it off.

It’s not all Soul-Funk genius for sure – but those great grooves and fun tunes still bring back memories - and this superb-sounding 2CD set is bound to tickle many pink and white and yellow and orange (and that’s just the shirts)...

"Live: Stompin' At The Savoy" by RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (2015 Big Break Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Ain't Nobody Does It Better..."

After one whole decade of superb Soul/Funk hits including no less than four US R&B No.1's ("You Got The Love", "Sweet Thing", "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" and "Do You Love What You Feel" – all of which are included on this reissue in live form) – Rufus and Chaka Khan decided to bury the hatchet on their acrimonious split and get together for one more Funky hurrah in 1982. Out of three incendiary shows came this legendary double album released in the summer of 1983 (three sides live – the fourth studio – four brand new tracks). The 2LP set even produced a fifth number one in the monster smash in "Ain't Nobody" - a song now considered their 'anthem'.

In truth I'd forgotten just how good Rufus was as a functioning live band and just how complete this release is. What an utter barnstormer – whether they're slap-bassing the Hell out of Soulful tunes or just harmonizing on those gorgeous and sexy ballads – Rufus was a formidable machine on stage with two hugely talented voices out front – Chaka Khan and Tony Maiden. These guys were tight - almost uncannily so. And now with superlative new Audio and Presentation – once again England's Big Break Records (BBR are part of the much respected Cherry Red) have stepped up to the Reissue/Remaster plate and stumped up a classy CD that will have fans dancing in the aisles (the whole double album is fitted onto one disc). Here are the sweet things...

UK released August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) – "Live: Stompin' At The Savoy" by RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN on Big Break Records WCDBBRX 0313 (Barcode 5013929061330) offers fans the full double-album onto 1CD (no bonus tracks) and plays out as follows (77:59 minutes):

1. You Got The Love

2. Once You Get Started

3. Dance With Me

4. Sweet Thing

5. Tell Me Something Good [Side 2]

6. Stop On By

7. Pack'd My Bags

8. I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone)

9. At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)

10. Ain't That Peculiar [Side 3]

11. Stay

12. What'cha Gonna Do For Me

13. Do You Love What You Feel

14. Ain't Nobody [Side 4 – Studio Recordings]

15. One Million Kisses

16. Try A Little Understanding

17. Don't Go To Strangers

Tracks 1 to 17 are the double-album "Live: Stompin' At The Savoy" – released August 1983 in the USA and UK on Warner Brothers 9-23679-1. Sides 1, 2 and 3 were recorded live February 12, 13 and 14 of 1982 at the Savoy Theatre in New York City and Produced by Russ Titelman. Side 4 is four new studio recordings (recorded digitally) – two of which were released as singles "Ain't Nobody" and "One Million Kisses". The 2LP set peaked at number 4 on the US R&B Album Charts and No. 50 in the UK Rock & Pop Charts.

RUFUS was:

CHAKA KHAN – Lead Vocals

TONY MAIDEN – Lead Vocals and Guitar

KEVIN MURPHY – Keyboards

DAVID "Hawk" WOLINSKI – Keyboards

BOBBY WATSON – Bass

JOHN ROBINSON – Drums

Addition Musicians Live:

Lenny Castro – Percussion

David Williams – Rhythm Guitar

Jerry Hay – Trumpet

Ernie Watts – Tenor Saxophone, Flute and All Saxophone Solo’s

Larry Williams – Alto Saxophone and Flute

Greg Herbig – Tenor Saxophone and Flute

Stephanie Sprull – Tambourine and Backing Vocals

Lee Maiden and Julia Tillman – Backing Vocals

Additional Musicians for the four Studio cuts on Side 4:

Joe Sample (of The Crusaders) plays piano on "Don't Go To Strangers"

James Newton Howard – Additional Synthesizer

Greg Phillinganes – Synthesizer Bass on "Try A Little Understanding"

Paulinho da Costa – Percussion

You get one of those cute round-corner jewel cases, a 16-page colour booklet with fantastically detailed liner notes from the noted American writer CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE which includes interviews several members of the band – Tony Maiden and John Robinson and the legendary Warner Brothers Producer RUSS TITELMAN whose credits include James Taylor, Little Feat, Ry Cooder, Randy Newman, Captain Beefheart, Dion, The B-52's and many more. The centre pages features a collage of the band in full flow at The Savoy, there's repros of the two big American 7" singles "Ain't Nobody" on Warner Brothers 7-29555 (with the live version of "Sweet Thing" on the flipside) and "One Million Kisses" on Warner Brothers 7-29406 with "Stay (Live)" on the flipside - as well as other snaps of Chaka smiling alongside her band.

But the big news is new NICK ROBBINS Remasters carried out at Sound Mastering in London that are just fantastic – the whole soundstage alive and beautifully rendered. I can't express enough just how tight this band was – these are not just workmanlike renditions – they're cooking and as he says in the liner notes – Producer Titelman is rightly proud of what he captured on those three nights in February 1982. Fans are going to love this.

"Stompin' At The Savoy" opens with a razor-sharp guitar-funky performance and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser – the first Rufus number 1 single from February 1974 "You Got The Love". Both it and "Once You Get Started" elicit deserved whoops from a clearly 'loving it' audience – and as the brass section and her huge voice kick in – it’s already a done deal. I’m reminded of the AWB’s live double "Person To Person" from 1977 on Atlantic Records – a band on fire and in the groove. "Once You Get Started" is also the first to feature Tony Maiden's great second vocals – the combo of him and Chaka pretty much defining what wicked Soul/Funk should be. The irresistible Funk Boogie of "Dance With Me" hit No. 5 in April 1976 – here the band get 'the hands going' while the gorgeous ballad "Sweet Thing" ends Side 1 with howls of pleasure from the crowd (for me one of their best moments).

Side 2 opens with voicebox guitar on "Tell Me Something Good" – the real breakthrough hit for Rufus in 1974 on ABC Records – a nasty slice of street Funk that has the backing singers, Chaka and that voicebox working it like pros. "Stop On By" (written by Bobby Womack and Truman Thomas) is truly stunning – Tony and Chaka working that duet vocal thing while the brass section anchor it with a sophistication and polish that's lasted 35 years. Things slow down into sweet smooch and then defiance with Chaka and the girls so damn good on "Pack'd My Bags" - while the Lalomie Washington stand-up-for-yourself anthem "I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone)" strikes a guitar groove – the band so perfectly at one as that guitar solos. "At Midnight (My Love With Lift You Up)" brought them their third No.1 R&B smash in February 1977 on ABC Records – here it gets seriously funked-out.

They open Side 3 with a Funkified reworking of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" which acted as reminder of the mighty Tamla Motown singer and predated Marvin's return to glory later in 1983 with "Sexual Healing". You wouldn't think something "Stay" would work live but the harmonising vocals and sweet playing makes it another mid-tempo nugget hidden deep inside this double. "...Everybody join in and clap your hands..." Tony urges on "What'cha Gonna Do For Me" which always reminds me of the Average White band who co-wrote it with another unsung 70s hero – Ned Doheny (see my review for his "Hard Candy" and "Prone" albums on a 2011 SuperBird CD Remaster). The live set and Side 3 ends on another David "Hawk" Wolinski winner (he wrote "Ain't Nobody") – the seven minutes of "Do You Love What You Feel" – their 4th No.1 in October 1979 on MCA Records.

The studio side opens with a monster – a song that probably defined them "Ain't Nobody". It was issued in July 1983 (a month before the album) and quickly slaughtered all in its Radio-friendly path rising to No. 1 in the USA and No. 8 in the UK (it was a global hit in fact). "Ain't Nobody" sounds fabulous here - as does the 2nd single off the album in January 1984 - the less inspiring "One Million Kisses" penned by the band's Keyboardist Kevin Murphy as a co-write with Jeffrey Osbourne. Fantastic audio comes into play with the uber-slick Funk of "Try A Little Understanding" written by Chaka and Tony Maiden. But for me the side ends in the best possible way – an inspired cover of Al Martino's 1954 hit "Don't Go To Strangers" (also popularised by Etta Jones in 1960). They apparently recorded it 'live' in the studio with an orchestral arrangement – and after only a few takes of the Jazzy interpretation - Joe Sample of The Crusaders was so moved by the spookily good performance that he said. "The holy ghost stepped into the room on that one!" The combo of Chaka letting rip vocally, Joe plinking away so classily on the keys and the lush melody and strings – it’s beautiful stuff and makes you wish they'd attempted a whole album of standards in this way, but alas...

"Live: Stompin' At The Savoy" by Rufus and Chaka Khan is a prestigious CD release for Big Break Records who have been steadily winning over Soul, Funk, Disco and Fusion fans for years now. Well done to all involved and for me a 'Soul Reissue of 2015' without any hesitation...

Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed to October 2015:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

11. I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

12. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

13. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

14. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

15. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

16. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

17. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

18. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

29. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

30. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

31. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

32. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

33. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

34. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)
35. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"The Incredible String Band/The 5000 Spirits.../The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" by THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Gently Tender..."

Finishing off their reissue campaign for THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND in real style – Beat Goes On of the UK give fans their revered first three albums – a Folky beginning in 1966 followed by two genuinely masterful, mind-expanding Acid-Folk-Rock platters from the Lava Lamp glory days of 1967 and 1968. Here are the hangman’s beautiful details...

UK released 25 September 2015 (October 2015 in the USA) – "The Incredible String Band/The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion/The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" by THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1205 (Barcode 5017261212054) offers fans 3LPs onto 2CD Remasters and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (70:07 minutes):

1. Maybe Someday

2. October Song

3. When The Music Starts To Play

4. Shaeffer's Jig

5. Womankind

6. The Tree

7. Whistle Tune

8. Dandelion Blues

9. How Happy I Am [Side 2]

10. Empty Pocket Blues

11. Smoke Shovelling Song

12. Can't Keep Me Here

13. Good As Gone

14. Footsteps Of The Heron

15. Niggertown

16. Everything's Fine Right

Tracks 1 to 16 are their debut album "The Incredible String Band" – released June 1966 in the UK on Elektra Records EUK 254 and in the USA on Elektra EKM 322 – both in Mono Only. The Stereo mix was released on Elektra EKS 7322 in the USA in 1969. The Stereo mix is used for this CD.

17. Chinese White

18. No Sleep Blues

19. Painting Box

20. The Mad Hatter's Song

21. Little Cloud

22. The Eyes Of Fate

Tracks 17 to 22 are Side 1 of their 2nd album "The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion" – released July 1967 in the UK on Elektra EUK 257 (Mono) and EUKS 7257 (Stereo) and in the USA on Elektra EKS 74010 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 2 (74:30 minutes):

1. Blues For The Muse

2. The Hedgehog's Song

3. First Girl I Loved

4. You Know What You Could Be

5. My Name Is Death

6. Gently Tender

7. Way Back In The 1960s

Tracks 1 to 7 are Side 2 of their 2nd album "The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion" – released July 1967 in the UK on Elektra EUK 257 (Mono) and EUKS 7257 (Stereo) and in the USA on Elektra EKS 74010 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

8. Koeeoaddi There

9. The Minotaur's Song

10. Witches Hat

11. A Very Cellular Song

12. 'Mercy', I Cry, 'City' [Side 2]

13. Waltz Of The New Moon

14. The Water Song

15. Three Is A Green Crown

16. Swift As The Wind

17. Nightfall

Tracks 8 to 17 are their 3rd album "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" – released March 1968 in the UK on Elektra EUK 258 (Mono) and EKS 7258 (Stereo) and June 1968 in the USA on Elektra EKS 74021 (Stereo only). The Stereo mix is used.

The card slipcase gives this 2CD reissue classiness - as do the new ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters (done at Sound Mastering in London). Elektra/Rhino, Hannibal and Collector’s Choice have all done these albums before to great effect on varying CD remasters down through the years – but these latest 2015 editions have an extra 'oomph' in them. I've had the 5CD "Original Album Series" with its five dinky card sleeves for a few years now to have the music - but have missed proper liner note details and uniformly great sound. Beat Goes On has supplied both in their extensive 2014 and 2015 ISB CD reissues/remasters (see list below) - all of which I've reviewed. The 24-page booklet has full track-by-track credits, the liner notes of each LP (UK and USA on the debut), LP artwork repros (UK and US versions of “5000 Spirits”) and a stormingly good new essay by JOHN O'REGAN discussing the albums and the coloured history of the ISB – the most eclectic of British Folk-Rock bands. But I keep coming back to the gorgeous Audio – especially on my fave "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter".

I've never understood the lesser rating "The Incredible String Band" receives – as if it wasn't somehow a magnificent but simple beginning – I've always thought that its both. And man does this sucker sound good here. If you skip to Track 3 on the debut – the lovely "When The Music Starts To Play" – the clarity of Robin Williamson on Flute with Mike Heron on Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar is startling to say the least – the Remaster as warm as you could hope for. Even if the instrumental "Schaeffer's Jig" is only one minute long - Clive Palmer's Banjo and Williamson's Fiddle fill your speakers with UK Folky joy. Sweet too is a mesmerising "Womankind" – Williamson on his own with a melody, that weirdly lovely voice of his and an Acoustic Guitar (and man can you hear where Led Zeppelin's folk leanings came from in this tune). Mike Heron takes over the solo singing/acoustic reins for the equally pretty "The Tree" – and again in superlative Audio.

While the debut was a purely Folk affair - with the 2nd album came the expansion of instruments and added talent – Richard Thompson on Double Bass (from Pentangle), John Hopkins on Piano and Licorice on Vocals and the occasional finger cymbal (Palmer left - later formed The Famous Jug Band). The combo makes the album feel utterly amazing – unique even – and ahead of its time. Producer JOE BOYD and Engineer JOHN WOOD gave "The 5000 Spirits..." album a real polish and combined with great new material – it saw the LP top Folk lists and even dent the UK Pop & Rock charts by peaking at 26. Along with "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys – ISB received the ultimate Summer Of Love accolade – a nod from Paul McCartney who had released the magical "Sgt. Peppers" with The Beatles only a month earlier (June 1967) as one of his favourite albums of that mercurial year.

As Heron sings and plays Acoutsic on the magical "Chinese White" – what knocks you out is the Bowed Gimbri played by Williamson – because suddenly you're listening to the invention almost of Acid Folk. There is discernable hiss in the background but it's not too distracting. "When I look inside my painting box...I seem to pick the colours of you..." - Heron sings on the lovely "Painting Box" - while "The Mad Hatter's Song" takes in some vaudeville with the added barrelhouse piano of John Hopkins plinking away tastily in the background. There is hiss again but you’re so entranced by that Soma and Sitar playing and the jagged tempo breaks that it doesn’t matter somehow. It has to be said that the 'ta ta ta' hippy nonsense in "Cloud Song" grates a tad nowadays – but Side 1 of "5000 Spirits" ends on the 'lands of no winds blowing' druggy Folk beauty of "The Eyes Of Fate" – their voices combining into an almost monastic chant (brilliant stuff). Side 2 offers the Harmonica of "Blues For The Muse", a foreboding "My Name Is Death" and the sweet acoustic innocence of "First Girl I Loved" and the tabla/flute "Gently Tender" (gorgeous Audio on the lot). The whole record feels like several light years ahead of the debut in terms of playing, song structures and the ‘to Hell with what people think’ honesty of their chosen lifestyles seeping into every song and witty word.

With Williamson in the song-writing ascendancy (Heron put up three while he put up seven originals) - the tripping of the light psychedelic continues on the wonderfully adventurous, evocative and (damn it) pretty "Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" which the good people of Great Britain even took to the unlikely placing of 5 on the LP charts in April 1968. This time the album is entirely the duo of Robin Williamson and Mike Heron playing a dizzying array of instruments – Gimbri, pan pipe, piano, mandolin, Jew’s harp, oud, chahanai, water harp, harmonica, organ, hammer dulcimer and harpsichord (as well as all vocals and guitars). The only guests are UK Folk hero Dolly Collins on "Waltz Of The New Moon" and "The Water Song" while Licorice returns for Vocal and Finger Cymbals on "The Minotaur's Song". I love the almost entirely Acapella beginning of "A Very Cellular Song" which then descends into thirteen minutes of flute, harpsichord, Jew's Harp and mandolin hippy happiness. Side 2 opens with two peaches – "'Mercy', I Cry, 'City'" and the accomplished "Waltz Of The New Moon". Williamson waxes lyrical about 'quiet pastures' as a counterpoint to the manic and peopled fumes of cities while Dolly Collins arranged the Harpsichord and Harp on the soaring "Waltz Of The New Moon". Dolly does the Flute Organ on the trickling 'mother of life' ode to nature’s finest ingredient - "The Water Song". Acid Folk probably reached some kind of zenith with the Sitar-beautiful floatation tank of "Three Is A Green Crown" – a near eight-minute trip out that sounds utterly astonishing even to this day. Both "Swift As The Wind" and the short but incredibly beautiful "Nightfall" finish the album off on a peaceful riverflow of Sitar notes...

Once derided by certain quarters of the music press as hippy claptrap given far too much free recording time and leeway - The Incredible String Band’s first three albums feel magical to me now. In fact like the double-album "Wee Tam And The Big Huge" from later in 1968 - they seem to grow in beauty and stature as the decades pass. We are almost certainly never going to see their like again. And you have to say that Beat Goes On have done those pioneering gems a proper knighthood on this brill 2CD reissue/remaster.

"...I remember your long red hair falling in our faces as I kissed you..." - Williamson sang on the confessional love-remembered "First Girl I Loved". How sweet it all was. Peace and Love man and pass us that cauldron of Dandelion Soup with a platter of pink and purple slices of bread...

PS: Beat Goes On CD Remasters for The Incredible String Band are:

1. The Incredible String Band (1966)/The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion (1967)/The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968) – September 2015, Beat Goes On BGOCD 1205, 2CDs

2. Wee Tam And The Big Huge (1968) – July 2015, Beat Goes On BGOCD 1191, 2CDs

3. I Looked Up (April 1970) – September 2014, Beat Goes On BGOCD 1166,1CD

4. "U" (October 1970) – September 2014, Beat Goes On 1164, 2CDs

5. Be Glad The Song Has No Ending (April 1971)/Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air (October 1971) – June 2004, Beat Goes On BGOCD 627, 2CDs)

6. Earthspan (1972)/No Ruinous Feud (1973) – July 2004, Beat Goes BGOCD 628, 2CDs

"Sam Apple Pie" by SAM APPLE PIE (2012 Angel Air CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Some Say I'm A Beast..."

Recorded across 3-days in March 1969 – Walthamstow's SAM APPLE PIE saw their lone album released on the hip Decca Records label in October of 1969. But despite favourable press reviews and some public interest – it effectively disappeared without so much as a howdy-doody into obscurity. Both the Mono and Stereo variants of the original British vinyl album on Decca now stretch to £350 and £250 a pop (if you can find them). Yet on hearing this rather endearing Blues Rock artefact of the late 60ts on this superb little 2012 Angel Air CD Remaster – you can understand why collectors are digging its no nonsense no frills approach the most. Here are the details...

UK released October 2012 (December 2012 in the USA) – "Sam Apple Pie" by SAM APPLE PIE on Angel Air SJPCD 401 (Barcode 5055011704015) is a straightforward transfer of the album and plays out as follows (47:40 minutes):

1. Hawk

2. Winter Of My Love

3. Stranger

4. Swan Song

5. Tiger Man

6. Something Nation [Side 2]

7. Sometime Girl

8. Uncle Sam's Blues

9. Annabelle

10. Moonlight Man

Tracks 1 to 10 are the self-titled debut album of "Sam Apple Pie" – released October 1969 in the UK on Decca LK-R 5005 (Mono) and SKL-R 5005 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

SAM APPLE PIE was:

SAM SAMPSON – Lead Vocals, Harp, Worcester Weasel Whistle

MICK 'TINKERBELL' SMITH – Lead Guitar

ANDY 'SNAKEHIPS' JOHNSON – Slide Guitar

DOG RENNY – Bass

DAVE CHARLES – Drums

Guests:

HARRY KLEIN – Baritone Sax on Tracks 2 and 4

REX MORRIS – Tenor Saxophone on Tracks 2 and 4

STEVE JOLLY – Guitar on Track 10

MALCOLM MORLEY – Electric Harpsichord on Track 3, Piano on Track 9

ANDY CLARK – Piano on Track 8

A UK 7" single was prepped for release 30 May 1969 which featured Mono Single Mixes of "Tiger Man (King Of The Jungle)" b/w "Sometime Girl" on Decca F 22932 – but unfortunately it isn't featured on this release. The 8-page booklet does feature liner notes by JOHN TUCKER that includes interviews with one of the original Producers PETER SHERTSER. Licensed from Red Lightning Records – it doesn’t say who remastered this or where it was done – but it sounds full on – the droning fretwork and bass as clear as day. And when the almost Sabbath-Dark guitars join with the horn players on the seven-minute "Swan Song" – this hybrid of Blues Rock meets Heavy Rock is amazing audiowise.

It's easy to see why the cover of the Joe Hill Lewis R&B swinger "Tiger Man" was chosen as a UK 7" single. Elvis Presley touched on it in his '68 Comeback Special – but Sam Apple Pie take it to another witty rocking level where it sounds like really great Juicy Lucy circa "Who Do You Love" – wild and untamed slide guitar with 'who ha' vocals (there's a demo of Decca F 22932 pictured on Page 5). "...Some say I'm a beast!" Sampson snarls as the boogiethon nears its frantic end – great stuff and definitely going on a 'Wicked Lost Singles' CD-R compilation of mine real soon.

Side 2 opens with the catchy "Something Nation" which has traces of Help Yourself and Wishbone Ash melody – clever guitar runs too. “Sometime Girl” is a Bluesy Guitar moan penned by Johnson and Sampson where the band sounds not unlike Stan Webb's Chicken Shack. Ten Years After meets Paul Butterfield is how I'd describe the wicked "Uncle Sam's Blues" as they have themselves some barroom Boogie - complete with a honky-tonk piano and heavy chromatic harmonica (now this would also have made a good single too). "Uncle Sam's Blues" is so sloppy and almost amateur – and yet so endearing – like much of the album. There's some hiss and tape rumble on the gentle ballad "Annabelle" where the drums attempt that Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" rumbling background vibe - a piano plinking away alongside the rumble as Sampson attempts to be vocally deep.

Side 2 ends on a chugging guitar workout – "Moonlight Man" sounding like seven-minutes of ZZ Top meets Savoy Brown turned up to 13 on a dial of 12. It’s got that dirty guitar cranked up in the mix – as Sampson gives it some backdoor man lyrics (ladies had better look out). And when that gritty harp comes wafting out of the speakers – it's liable to trample your frail Zimmer-framed Aunty Florence in its path. Then just as you think you know where the song is going – suddenly you get a Budgie clever pace break where Flute and Cymbals go all Jazz on your ass before of course it lurches back into those big guitars and mean-mouthed harp. It ends the album on a Rocking high...

Sam Apple Pie went on to make one more album called not surprisingly "East 17" on DJM Records in 1973 (after their London postal code in Walthamstow), which is equally rare – though less in demand for some reason.

It’s not all genius for sure – but parts of "Sam Apple Pie" absolutely smash it and you can 'so' hear why collectors are drawn to its simple balls-to-the-wall Blues Rock meets Heavy Rock soundscapes. It's even kinda cool (lord help us). Check it out...

"Love Wars/Radio M.U.S.C. Man" by WOMACK & WOMACK (2015 Robinsongs Expanded 2CD Remaster) - A Review for Mark Barry...

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"...Good Times..."

A smart CD reissue by Robinsongs of the UK (part of Cherry Red) – two popular Soul/Funk albums by Cecil & Linda Womack from 1983 and 1985 on two Remastered CDs with a duo of bonus versions for the big hit "Love Wars" added on as Bonus Tracks. Here are the Womack friendly details...

UK and USA released August 2015 – "Love Wars/Radio M.U.S.C. Man" by WOMACK & WOMACK on Robinsongs WROBIN1CDD (Barcode 5013929950122) offers 2LPs with 2 Bonus Versions onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (56:29 minutes):

1. Love Wars

2. Express Yourself

3. Baby I'm Scared Of You

4. T.K.O.

5. A.P.B. [Side 2]

6. Catch And Don't Look Back

7. Woman

8. Angie

9. Good Times

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Love Wars" – released December 1983 in the USA and UK on LP and CD Elektra Records 960 293-1 and 960 293-2. It peaked at 34 in March 1984 on the American R&B charts.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Love Wars (Extended Vocal)

11. Love Wars (Instrumental Dub)

Tracks 10 and 11 are the A&B-sides of a December 1983 US 12" Single on Elektra 0-66987. Track 10 was issued as UK 12" single in April 1984 on Elektra E 9799 (T) with the album track "Good Times" as its B-side.

Disc 2 (42:53 minutes):

1. No Relief

2. Maze

3. Night Rider

4. Eyes

5. Radio M.U.S.C. Man [Side 2]

6. Love's Calling

7. Strange And Funny

8. Romeo & Juliet (Where You Are?)

9. Here Comes The Sun

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Radio M.U.S.C Man" – released July 1985 in the USA on Elektra Records 60406-1 (LP) and 9 60406-2 (CD). Released June 1985 in the UK on Elektra EKT 6 (LP) and 960 406-2 (CD). Peaked on the US R&B album charts at 51.

The 12-page booklet features detailed liner notes from LOIS WILSON of Mojo Magazine while the ALAN WILSON Remasters were carried out at Western Star Studios. Originally Produced by STEWART LEVINE (Simply Red, The Crusaders and many others) – both albums have huge polish and feature long who’s who of famous session players – Abraham Laboriel and Nathan East on Bass, Neal Larsen and Bobby Lyle on Keyboards, Lennie Castro and Paulinho Da Costa on Percussion while Cecil Womack played Guitars (brother of Bobby Womack) and Linda shared Keyboards and duet vocals (daughter of the legendary Sam Cooke). The Audio on these CDs is sweet and full – tracks like their rather lovely version of "Angie" shine and don't have too much of that awful 80s over-production (on the first album at least).

Their debut album "Love Wars" album has great Womack & Womack originals – "Love Wars", "Baby I'm Scared Of You" (both singles) and "Woman" being amongst the standouts. Cover versions include "Angie" (Rolling Stones) and "Good Times" (Bobby Womack) - while they co-wrote "Love T.K.O" with ace Keyboardist Eddie "Gip" Nobel for Teddy Pendergrass when they were part of the Philadelphia International songwriting teams (Pendergrass had a huge hit with it in1980 – their version is called "T.K.O."). One of the albums hidden nuggets is "Express Myself" – a funky sweetheart of a tune where they found a great groove, message and smash it with gorgeous duet vocals. "Catch And Don't Look Back" is the kind of catchy 80s Soul Funk that hooks you – gives it some slap bass – harmony vocals and 'do's and don'ts' lyrics – and you're quickly won over. And a big prize for collectors and Funk lovers will be the rare B-side "Instrumental" of "Love Wars" which takes that wicked groove and only uses occasional vocal choruses (included her as one of the two Bonus Mixes). At just short of seven minutes – it makes for a very sexy listen indeed.

Their 2nd platter suffers to some degree with that 'drum sound' thing so many mid-80s productions had – that dull thud and whack of a Soulless machine. It kind of undoes good Funk grooves like "Maze" but is actually a good part of the smooth "Night Rider" which we thought was so cool at the time. "Eyes" has a sweet smooch too – loverman in his palace or lurve. There's an ill-advised wishy-washy cover of "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles – but far, far better is the Lionel Richie groove of "Strange And Funny" – probably the best melody on the album.

The first album is a bit of an unsung hero frankly – but platter number two is undone by the times and the need for 'that sound'. Still with the great remasters and those cool bonus tracks and a good price thrown in for a double – it’s recommended - and as a must buy for fans...

This review and hundreds more like it are available in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series available to download (over 2000 e-Pages worth) in my SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION Book at the following link...