"The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection" by BURT BACHARACH (1998 USA and UK Rhino 3CD Remasters - Original 'Long Book' Version) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Let The Music Play..."

A veritable feast on the ears and eyes – this original US and UK 'long book' version from 1998 with 3CDs was superseded by the much cheaper 2010 card-slipcase reissue/variant – and has subsequently become something of a collector's item. It's especially difficult finding one without the notoriously easy-to-scuff outer plastic slipcase scraped to bits or even cracked on the sides. There's a mountain of stuff on here - so let's get to the Alfie cocktails, San Jose shimmy-shakers and Casino Royale suburban heartaches...

USA released November 1998 (December 1998 in the UK) – "The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection" by BURT BACHARACH (featuring Various Artists) on Rhino R2 75339 (Barcode 081227533922) is a 75-track 3-CD 'Long Book' Set of Remasters and plays out as follows:

All catalogue numbers listed below are US 7" singles unless otherwise stated - preceded by the US release date:

Disc 1, 26-Tracks  (70:55 minutes):
1. The Story Of My Life – MARTY ROBBINS (November 1957, Columbia 41013)
2. Magic Moments – PERRY COMO (January 1958, RCA Victor 7128)
3. The Blob – THE FIVE BLOBS (September 1958, Columbia 41250)
4. Please Stay – THE DRIFTERS (May 1961, Atlantic 2105)
5. I Wake Up Crying – CHUCK JACKSON (August 1961, Wand 110)
6. Tower Of Strength – GENE McDANIELS (September 1961, Liberty 55371)
7. Baby It's You – THE SHIRELLES (December 1961, Scepter 1227)
8. Mexican Divorce – THE DRIFTERS (February 1962, Atlantic 2134)
9. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – GENE PITNEY (April 1962, Musicor 1020)
10. Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) – CHUCK JACKSON (April 1962, Wand 122)
11. Make It Easy On Yourself – JERRY BUTLER (June 1962, Vee Jay 451)
12. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself – TOMMY HUNT (August 1962, Scepter 1236)
13. It's Love That Really Counts (In The Long Run) – THE SHIRELLES (August 1962, Scepter 1237)
14. Only Love Can Break Your Heart – GENE PITNEY (August 1962, Musicor 1022)
15. (There Goes) The Forgotten Man – JIMMY RADCLIFFE (September 1962, Musicor 1024)
16. Don't Make Me Over – DIONNE WARWICK (November 1962, Scepter 1239)
17. Let The Music Play – THE DRIFTERS (March 1963, Atlantic 2182)
18. Blue On Blue – BOBBY VINTON (May 1963, Epic 9593)
19. True Love Never Runs Smooth – GENE PITNEY (June 1963, Musicor 66063)
20. Blue Guitar – RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN (September 1963, MGM 13170)
21. Reach Out For Me – LOU JOHNSON (July 1963, Big Top 3153)
22. Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa – GENE PITNEY (October 1963, Musicor 66067)
23. Anyone Who Had A Heart – DIONNE WARWICK (November 1963, Scepter 1262)
24. A House Is Not A Home – BROOK BENTON (July 1964, Mercury 72303)
25. Wives And Lovers – JACK JONES (September 1963, Kapp 551)
26. Wishin' And Hopin' – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (June 1964, Philips 40207)

Disc 2, 27-Tracks (75:32 minutes):
1. Walk On By – DIONNE WARWICK (April 1964, Scepter 1274)
2. (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me – LOU JOHNSON (July 1964, Big Hill 552)
3. Me Japanese Boy I Love You – BOBBY GOLDSBORO (June 1964, United Artists 742)
4. To Wait For Love – TONY ORLANDO (September 1964, Epic 9715)
5. Kentucky Bluebird (Send A Message To Martha) – LOU JOHNSON (October 1964, Big Hill 553, A)
6. Land Of Make Believe – DIONNE WARWICK (from the August 1964 album "Make Way For Dionne Warwick" on Scepter SPS-523)
7. The Last One To Be Loved – LOU JOHNSON (October 1964, Big Hill 553, B-side to "Kentucky Bluebird...")
8. Fool Killer – GENE PITNEY (from the 1965 album "Gene Pitney's More Big Sixteen/Volume Two" on Musicor MS-3043)
9. Don't Go Breaking My Heart – BURT BACHARACH (May 1965, Kapp 657, A – also appeared on the May 1965 Stereo album "Hit Maker!" on Kapp KLS-3428)
10. What The World Needs Now Is Love – JACKIE DeSHANNON (April 1965, Imperial 66110)
11. Trains And Boats And Planes – BURT BACHARACH (May 1965, Kapp 657, B-side of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – also appeared on the May 1965 Stereo album "Hit Maker!" on Kapp KS-3428)
12. What's New Pussycat? – TOM JONES (June 1965, Parrot 9765 – also appeared on the July 1965 Stereo LP to the Soundtrack for "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists UAS 5128)
13. My Little Red Book – MANFRED MANN (appeared on the July 1965 Stereo LP to the Soundtrack for "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists UAS 5128)
14. Here I Am – DIONNE WARWICK (June 1965, Scepter 12104 – also appeared on the July 1965 Stereo LP to the Soundtrack for "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists UAS 5128)
15. A Lifetime Of Loneliness – JACKIE DeSHANNON (September 1965, Imperial 66132)
16. Made In Paris – TRINI LOPEZ (January 1966, Reprise 0435)
17. Promise Her Anything – TOM JONES (February 1966, Parrot 9809)
18. Are You There (With Another Girl) – DIONNE WARWICK (December 1965, Scepter 12122)
19. Come And Get Me – JACKIE DeSHANNON (April 1966, Imperial 66171)
20. Alfie – CILLA BLACK (August 1966, Capitol 5674)
21. In Between The Heartache – DIONNE WARWICK (September 1966, Scepter 12167)
22. Nikki – THE BURT BACHARACH ORCHESTRA & CHORUS (December 1966, Liberty 55934)
23. So Long Johnny – JACKIE DeSHANNON (July 1966, Imperial 66196)
24. The Windows Of The World – DIONNE WARWICK (July 1967, Scepter 12196)
25. Take A Broken Heart – RICK NELSON (December 1966, Decca 32055 – also appeared on the March 1967 original cast album for "On The Flip Side" on Decca 74826)
26. I Say A Little Prayer – DIONNE WARWICK (October 1967, Scepter 12203)
27. Casino Royale – HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS (March 1967, A&M 850 – also appeared on the April 1967 original motion picture soundtrack LP to "Casino Royale" on Colgems 5505)

Disc 3, 22-Tracks (79:11 minutes):
1. The Look Of Love – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (appeared on the April 1967 original motion picture soundtrack LP to "Casino Royale" on Colgems 5505 - later re-recorded and issued July 1967 as a 7" single on Philips 40465)
2. Do You Know The Way To San Jose – DIONNE WARWICK (April 1968, Scepter 12216)
3. This Guy's In Love With You – HERB ALPERT (May 1968, A&M 929)
4. Knowing When To Leave – JILL O'HARA (from the December 1968 original Broadway cast album "Promises, Promises" on United Artists 9902)
5. Promises, Promises – DIONNE WARWICK (October 1968, Scepter 12231)
6. Pacific Coast Highway – BURT BACHARACH (May 1969, A&M 1064 – also appeared on the June 1969 album "Make It Easy On Yourself" on A&M 4188)
7. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head – B.J. THOMAS (October 1969, Scepter 12265 – also appeared on the November 1969 original soundtrack album to "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" on A&M SP-4227)
8. Odds And Ends (July 1969, Scepter 12256)
9. Everybody's Out Of Town – B.J. THOMAS (March 1970, Scepter 12277)
10. I'll Never Fall In Love Again – DIONNE WARWICK (December 1969, Scepter 12273)
11. (They Long To Be) Close To You – THE CARPENTERS (June 1970, A&M 1183)
12. Paper Mache – DIONNE WARWICK (June 1970, Scepter 12285)
13. One Less Bell To Answer – THE 5th DIMENSION (October 1970, Bell 940)
14. Check Out Time – DIONNE WARWICK (November 1970, Scepter 587)
15. Hasbrook Heights – BURT BACHARACH (from the May 1971 album "Burt Bacharach" on A&M SP-3501)
16. The Balance Of Nature – DIONNE WARWICK (from the January 1972 album "Dionne" on Warner Brothers BS 2585)
17. Living Together Growing Together – THE 5th DIMENSION (December 1972, Bell 310)
18. You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – THE STYLISTICS (May 1973, Avco 4618)
19. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) – CHRISTOPHER CROSS (July 1981, Warner Brothers 49787 – also appeared on August 1981 original soundtrack album "Arthur (The Album)" on Warner Brothers 3582)
20. On My Own – PATTI LaBELLE & MICHAEL McDONALD (March 1986, MCA 52770)
21. That’s What Friends Are You – DIONNE & FRIENDS (October 1985, Arista 9422)
22. God Give Me Strength – BUT BACHARACH & ELVIS COSTELLO (from the September 1996 original motion picture soundtrack "Grace Of My Heart" on MCA 15102)

Beautifully produced by PATRICK MULLIGAN and ALEX CUMMING – only 6 of the 75 songs on "The Look Of Love" contain an actual Burt Bacharach credit as an artist – the remainder are of course songs he wrote with his lyric writing partner Hal David for other players – almost all them considerable chart hits.

PACKAGING:
This 1998 original American 3CD set comes in a 'long hardback book' form with an outer plastic slipcase (artists names embossed on the slipcase) and a drop-dead gorgeous 90-page booklet attached to the centre. From Page 32 to 81 each song is given a full on appraisal by ALAN CUMMING with further chapters by BILL DeMAIN on 'The Burt Bacharach Story', PAUL GREIN on 'The Lyricist Hal David' and 'The Voice of Dionne Warwick' as well as Production credits, recording details and Discography info. There's copious amounts of artist photos peppered throughout the text, a colour LP discography page for Bacharach's own releases towards the end - and so much more. You really do get a feel for the period and his creative/collaborative brilliance. It's exemplary stuff and much of it not available on the reissues.

To confuse matters further - 2001 saw Universal/Warners reissue "The Look Of Love" using the exact same cover artwork and title - but this time as a sort of 2CD 50-track 'Best Of' with a dropped-down 16-page booklet (to locate that cheaper option use Barcode 095483962457). On top of that - there's subsequently been another Rhino 3CD release in 2006 called "Magic Moments" with much of what's on the original "Look Of Love" 3CD set but with many other rarities included too (true fans will need both). Price-wise the 2006 3CD "Magic Moments" release is available for less than seven quid from most retailers and the 2CD "Look Of Love" reissue for as little as three quid in places (or even less) - so why pay £10 to £50 or more for the 1998 American original long book version? The answer is the stunning presentation (not present in the reissues) and the equally marvellous BILL INGLOT and ADAM GARVER Audio remasters...

AUDIO:
The SOUND will knock your socks off. The AUDIO by BILL INGLOT with help from ADAM GARVER is simply stupendous – quite possibly the best work Inglot has ever done – and that's really saying something considering the vast WEA catalogue he's handled for Rhino and everything else in between (three decades of work). The notes say that in the main STEREO masters were used except for early singles where only the MONO tapes exist. The results are a listen that amazes at every twist or turn. Let's get to the music...

Disc 1 - after the Fifties bubblegum pop of Marty Robbins and Perry Como followed by the part-naff, part-genius novelty winner that is "The Blob" – we settle into some truly great Soul sides. Atlantic's The Drifters were never far from Bacharach's heart (they appear twice in the guise of "Please Stay" and "Let The Music Play") while Chuck Jackson pleads mercy on the truly gorgeous "I Wake Up Crying". Gene McDaniels employs the croaking and yelping gestures of Jackie Wilson for his melodramatic "Tower Of Strength". Jackson returns with the epic production of "Any Day Now..." – while the remaster audio on Jerry Butler's exquisite "Make It Easy On Yourself" simply blows you away. And on tracks like "It's Love That Really Counts..." by The Shirelles and Bobby Vinton's admittedly cheesy "Blue On Blue" – the stunning audio once again hammers you. Both Lou Johnson ("Reach Out For Me") and Tommy Hunt ("I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself") straddle the border of 60ts Pop and 60ts Soul with their Bacharach weepies – and his fabulous association with the expressive larynx of Dionne Warwick still tingles as you listen to pristine transfers of "Don't Make Me Over" and "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (check out that left speaker Sax solo). Disc 1 ends on a triple domestic whammy – the wonderful deep tone of "A Home Is Not A Home" by Brook Benton – the suburban shagging song "Wives And Lovers" by Mister Smiley himself Jack Jones – finishing with Dusty's "...won't get you into his arms..." wistful longing in the innocent "Wishin' & Hopin'" (somebody help this woman).

Disc 2 sees the dominance and wonder of his collaborations with female singers like Jackie DeShannon and in particular Dionne Warwick. The audio on Dionne's "Walk On By", "Land Of Make Believe" and "Are You There (With Another Girl)" is the stuff of dreams – warm, vibrant and sounding like they were recorded yesterday. Burt's own "Hit Maker!" solo songs begin to make their presence known as does all that madcap soundtrack stuff from "What's New Pussycat?" and the pseudo-Bond "Casino Royale". Disc 3 opens with Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick – but Herb Alpert, The Carpenters and that monster hit from the "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" soundtrack "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" by B.J. Thomas sail out of your speakers with warmth and well-remembered affection. Nice to see lesser heard songs like the lovely "One Less Bell To Answer" by The 5th Dimension get an airing along with Jill O'Hara's rare "Knowing When To Leave" from the film "Promises, Promises". It ends with a flurry of 80s chart presence in the shape of Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Patti LaBelle and of course a reunion for charity with Dionne Warwick (& Friends). The last track is a wonderful modern-day collaboration between two consummate songwriters – Elvis Costello and Burt. And throughout the three discs – you feel Hal David's uncanny knack at tapping into the human condition – words about love, longing, loss, sex and domestic appliances. What a duo...

Sure there are cheaper options - and with that plastic slipcase being so easy to scuff – I’ve seen sealed American originals go for £60 to £70 because collectors want it pristine – but I blagged my copy with a scuffed-up outer slipcase for a ten spot and love every second of it.

Rhino have produced some extraordinary reissues over the decades - especially in their more lavish box sets of the 90s - "Beg, Scream & Shout: The Big Ol' Box Of 60ts Soul" in its 7" Single-Sized Box and "Girl Group Sounds" in its Round Hat Box - both jump to mind. I consider this peach amongst them. They took time, love and care on this baby and "The Look Of Love" shows and sounds for it.

Compiler and writer Alan Cumming entitles one of his chapters in the liner notes as 'The Big, Astonishing, Gloriously Human Bacharach Sound' – and on the Audio and Visual evidence presented in "The Look Of Love" - the canny man's right...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those reference source titles is COOL 1960s MUSIC - an E-Book with over 220 entries and 2200 e-Pages on Exceptional CD Remasters you need to know about. Purchase it on Amazon at the link below and search any artist or song - label - catalogue number - huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"The Amazing Charlatans" by THE CHARLATANS (1996 Ace/Big Beat CD - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...See The Undertaker Man..." 

Forever missing the proverbial timing boat and not managing an album until it was too late and most of the music buying public simply didn’t care – THE CHARLATANS nonetheless hold a special place in the hearts of 60ts lovers – an LSD-popping rag-tag bunch of musically brilliant San Francisco dandies who deserved superstardom but have posthumously had to settle for cult status. They were reputedly first with the 'San Francisco Sound'...

Their lone self-titled American album "The Charlatans" issued by Philips in 1969 is not covered by this release - but what "The Amazing Charlatans" does offer is the first legal and decent reissue of 'all' the years that led up to that ignominious one-LP exit. Here are the acidic details for 1965 to 1968...

UK released September 1996 – "The Amazing Charlatans" by THE CHARLATANS on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 138 (Barcode 029667413824) is a 23-track CD-only compilation and plays out as follows (67:27 minutes):

1. Codine Blues

2. Alabama Bound [1967 Demo Version, Extended]

3. I Always Wanted A Girl Like You

4. I Saw Her

5. How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away

6. 32-20

7. We're Not On The Same Trip

8. Wallkin'

9. Sweet Sue, Just You

10. East Virginia

11. The Shadow Knows

12. I Got Mine

13. Sleepin' In Society

14. Devil Got My Man

15. By Hook Or By Crook

16. 'Long Come A Viper

17. Sidetrack

18. Alabama Bound (1966 Version)

19. Number One

20. Baby Won't You Tell Me

21. Jack Of Diamonds

22. The Blues Ain't Nothin'

23. Groom 'N' Clean Advert

NOTES:

All tracks Remastered from Original Analogue Tapes except Tracks 14 to 18 and 22 - which have been dubbed from acetate

All tracks are STEREO except tracks 1, 6, 11 and 14 to 18 – which are MONO

Tracks 1, 4, 6, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are from the Kama Sutra Sessions, Recorded Early 1966 in San Francisco

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are from the Golden State Recorders Sessions, Demos recorded July 1967 in San Francisco

Tracks 10, 12 and 13 are from the Pacific High Recorders Sessions, Early 1968 Demos recorded in Sausalito

Tracks 19 to 22 are from the Coast Recorders Sessions, August 1965 Demos recorded in San Francisco

THE CHARLATANS featured:

MIKE "Slim Pickens" WILHELM – Guitars and Vocals

GEORGE HUNTER – Keyboards

PAT FERGUSON – Keyboards

DARRELL De VORE – Keyboards, Bass, Vocals & Percussion

BYRON "Mike" FERGUSON – Keyboards

RICHARD "Baby Face" OLSEN – Bass, Woodwind & Vocals

TERRY WILSON – Drums

DAN HICKS – Drums and Vocals

The chunky 28-page booklet is a veritable feast for fans – featuring compiler ALEC PALAO stunningly indepth analysis of what happened and to whom. Its peppered with very cool photos from the band’s archives – the aborted first 45 single "Codine" that even got to advert stage in 1966 before Kama Sutra worked out its naughty subject matter – there's stunning colour photos of the boys in their dandy outfits and boater hats looking like a cross between the Eagles playing outlaws and the Byrds wearing rim-hats and round specs. The Remasters are from NICK ROBBINS transferred at London’s Sound Mastering from original tapes. Given their demo and practice nature – the audio is fab – even the Mono cuts sound punchy – especially goodies like the rare B-side "32-20"...

This CD represents the first legitimate reissue of this material and as you can imagine being demos and sessions – it veers from genius - their B-side cover of Robert Johnson's "32-20" (the flip to "The Shadow Knows" which features stunning slide from Wilhelm sounding not unlike Beefheart's Band on a roll) and Dan Hicks jaunty "How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away") to vaudeville crap like "Sweet Sue" and the rather brutal embarrassment of their one released 7" single "The Shadow Knows" with its cod vocals (an admitted embarrassment to the band). Their cowboy-hatted, barroom brawl, dandy inclinations come screaming through on the jiggy "I Got Mine" and "Steppin' In Society".

But better for me is the Byrds-edge to their cover of Skip James classic "Devil Got My Man" and "Sidetrack" both of which feature part-time band-member Lynne Hughes on Lead Vocals. Sounding not unlike Britain’s Jo Ann Kelly in her vocal range - I can't help feel that her great Bluesy feel was what the band really needed? Who knows – perhaps a folksier version of Jefferson Airplane might have emerged? The 1966 version of the Traditional "Alabama Bound" features Dan Hicks on Lead Vocals – who would of course form The Hot Licks Band in the Seventies and go on to considerable success (Wilhelm went on to be with Loose Gravel and The Flamin' Groovies for many years). It ends on a 42-second advert that uses their music for a 'grooming product' – a comb...

It’s not all genius - as some would have you believe – but with that killer look they had (a gang rides into town and takes over) – a couple of better tunes to side the goodies they already had and some half-decent management – San Francisco's THE CHARLATANS might have been so much more that a curious footnote in musical history. Still – there’s this wicked CD to savour...and I find myself playing their melodious jangle more often these days and wondering...

"Hot Hits & Hot Ones: Is This The Way That You Get Your High?" By THE STANDELLS (1993 Ace/Big Beat CD - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Young Barracudas..." 

Los Angelinos hipsters THE STANDELLS pioneered 60ts Garage and Punk (although they probably didn't see it as such) - and this old (1993) but wickedly to-the-point CD compilation from England's Ace Records (using their Big Beat label imprint) is a near-perfect stab/reminder of that 'so cool' frenzied brilliance. This little sucker rocks - it really does. Here are the White Guys painting it black...

UK released June 1993 – "Hot Hits & Hot Ones: Is This The Way You Get Your High?" by THE STANDELLS is a 21-track CD compilation on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 114 (Barcode 029667411424) and plays out as follows (62:49 minutes):

1. Dirty Water (1965 US 7" single on Tower 185, A)

2. Rari (1965 US 7" single on Tower 185, B-side of “Dirty Water”)

3. Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White (1966 US 7" single on Tower 257, A)

4. Medication (from their June 1966 debut LP "Dirty Water" on Tower ST 5027, Stereo)

5. There Is A Storm Comin' (from their June 1966 debut LP "Dirty Water" on Tower ST 5027, Stereo)

6. 19th Nervous Breakdown (from their June 1966 debut LP "Dirty Water" on Tower ST 5027, Stereo)

7. Why Did You Hurt Me (1966 US 7” single on Tower 257, B-side of "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White")

8. Why Pick On Me? (1966 US 7" single on Tower 282, A)

9. Paint It Black (from their December 1966 2nd LP "Why Pick On Me – Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" on Tower ST 5044, Stereo)

10. Black Hearted Woman (1967 US 7" single on Tower 314, B-side of "Riot On Sunset Strip")

11. Mainline (from their December 1966 2nd LP "Why Pick On Me – Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" on Tower ST 5044, Stereo)

12. Mr. Nobody (1966 US 7" single on Tower 282, B-side of "Why Pick On Me?")

13. Wild Thing (from their 3rd LP "The Hot Ones" on Tower ST 5049, Stereo)

14. Riot On Sunset Strip (1967 US 7" single on Tower 314, A)

15. Try It (1967 US 7" single on Tower 310, A)

16. Barracuda (from their 4th and final LP "Try It" in 1967 on Tower ST 5098, Stereo)

17. Poor Shell Of A Man (1967 US 7” single on Tower 310, B-side of "Try It")

18. Can't Help But Love You (1967 US 7" single on Tower 348, A)

19. Ninety-Nine & A Half (1967 US 7" single on Tower 348, B-side of "Can't Help But Love You")

20. Animal Girl (1967 US 7” single on Tower 398, A)

21. Soul Drippin' (1967 US 7” single on Tower 398, B-side to "Animal Girl")

Bar 2-sides (entry No. 4) - the rest of THE STANDELLS US 45s on Tower Records can be sequenced from this CD as follows [8] = Track 8 etc:

1. Dirty Water [1] b/w Rari [2] – December 1965, Tower 185

2. Sometimes Good Guys Wear White [3] b/w Why Did You Hurt Me [7] – August 1966, Tower 257

3. Why Pick On Me [8] b/w Mr. Nobody [12] – October 1966, Tower 282

4. Don't Tell Me What To Do b/w When I Was A Cowboy – January 1967, Tower 312

5. Riot On Sunset Strip [14] b/w Black Hearted Woman [10] – February 1967, Tower 314

6. Try It [15] b/w Poor Shell Of A Man [17] – May 1967, Tower 310

7. Can't Help But Love You [18] b/w Ninety-Nine & A Half [19] – October 1967, Tower 348

8. Animal Girl [20] b/w Soul Drippin' [21] – February 1968, Tower 398

The 8-page inlay features liner notes from noted writer and long-time Ace Records associate and CD compiler ALEC PALAO. There are photos of the four band members Dick Dodd, Tony Valentino, Larry Tamblyn and Dave Burke alongside snaps of them with The Rolling Stones (acted as their opening act). The potted history goes into their formation in the bars of Los Angeles and break-up after album No.4 "Try It" appeared in late 1967 (Lowell George of Little Feat joined them for a brief period as their live guitarist but they never recorded with this line up and he soon split after differences). The snap of the Standells on the rear of the booklet looking dapper with Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman at an airport somewhere is the epitome of 60ts cool but it's a real shame that none of the three gorgeous and rare US pic sleeves to "Riot On Sunset Strip", "Try It" and "Can't Help But Love" aren't reproduced (a booklet upgrade is due methinks)...

The DUNCAN COWELL Stereo Remasters are from original tapes and sound ballsy and full of menace and life. Each of the four Tower Records albums was issued in both MONO and STEREO – Ace has used the STEREO versions. If you wanted the first album "Dirty Water" in its gritty Mono entirety – buy the CD Ace CDWIKD 110 which gives you "Dirty Water" in Mono and the follow up "Why Pick On Me..." in Stereo lumped together onto 1CD (52:15 minutes).

Essentially "Hot Hits & Hot Ones..." offers you the A & B-sides of their eight Tower Records 45s frantically issued between late 1965 and early 1968 (only "Don't Tell Me What To Do" b/w "When I Was A Cowboy" is missing) – along with a smattering of seven LP sides in Stereo. For me every track is a blast - fresh still. The lyrics for the brilliant "Some Times Good Guys Don't Wear White" are radical and articulate - reflecting the changing and turbulent times - "...good guys, bad guys, which is which...the white-collar worker or the digger in the ditch..." Not surprisingly you get sly druggy references in "Medication" – a kind of 1966 love song that is back-dropped by the sinister fuzz-guitar of Tony Valentino. That edgy stabbing nature permeates "There's A Storm Comin'" too – and their cover version of "Paint It Black" may as well be The Stones its so faithful to the sound of the original.

The hard-hitting Standells trademark sound is never far away - the bright lights, the pretty girls, the long-haired dudes and scared parents all clashing with the 'heat' make "Riot On Sunset Strip" feel well - riotous. The thrashing drums of Dick Dodd, that Doors organ of Larry Tamblyn lingering in the background and the raging vocals in "Black Hearted Woman" still thrills as does the irresistible 'get my kicks' on the old "Mainline" (stunning sound quality). But my crave on here is the brilliant "Barracuda" where we were told that our excitable boy is "...a mean Barracuda...don't you mess with me...I'm lonely and I'm starved for some of your love...ah sweet thing...you're just what I've been thinking of..." (look out ladies). Even their cover of "Wild Thing" by The Troggs from the much derided "Hot Ones" album has the groovy edge of the original and pre-dates Hendrix's incendiary version. I also love those brilliant B-sides like "Poor Shell Of A Man" and "Ninety-Nine & A Half" (great brass fills) - both rocking like The Stones and melodic like The Byrds...

A fantastic sounding CD with uber-cool 60ts music...genius baby yeah...and that’s just the left leg...

"Here’s One You Didn’t Know About: From The RPM & Kent Vaults" by B.B. KING (2015 Ace CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...You May Want To Release It..." 

Hardly surprising that following Blues Boy’s passing in May 2015 aged 89 - the market was flooded with myriad compilations of material out of copyright. But typical of Ace Records – they honour the great Bluesman memory with an absolute stormer! 25-tracks, 23 of which are Previously Unreleased, a near 80-minute playing time, properly copious and intelligent liner notes and 12 of these suckers in glorious STEREO! Here are the Bluesy details...

UK released 27 November 2015 (December 2015 in the USA) – "Here's One You Didn't Know About: From The RPM & Kent Vaults" by B.B. KING on Ace Records CDTOP 1457 (Barcode 029667074322) is a 25-track CD compilation of mainly Previously Unreleased material and plays out as follows (79:52 minutes):

1. Catfish Blues (aka Fishin' After Me) – Alternate Version of Kent 351

2. Be Careful Baby

3. Growing Old – Take 2 of Kent 470

4. Gotta Find My Baby (aka They Call The Blues) – 1960s Version, Take 8

5. Long Nights (The Feeling They Call The Blues) – Take 4 of Kent 389

6. Loving you In Vain (aka Heartache And Pain) – Alternate Take To a version That First speared on the UK CD compilation "Blues In My Heart" by B.B. KING released 2004 on Ace CDCHM 966

7. Shut Your Mouth – Take 1 of RPM 430

8. Sweet Little Angel – Version 1 – Alternate of RMP 468

9. Sweet Little Angel – Version 2 – Take 1 of a track on 1957's "Singin' The Blues" LP on RPM 3005

10. Bad Case Of Love – Take 6 of Kent 362

11. Talkin' The Blues – Take 2 of RPM 435

12. Whole Lot Of Lovin' (1963 Re-Record) – Take 1 of Kent 388

13. You Know I Go For You – Alternate of Kent 301

14. You’ve Been An Angel – Take 1 of Kent 315

15. Be Careful With A Fool – Take 1 of RPM 494

16. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer – Take 1 of RPM 412

17. Don't You Want A Man Like Me – Take 3 of RPM 411

18. Early In The Morning – Take 2 of RPM 486

19. I Wonder Why – Take 4 of Kent 447

20. Partin' Time – Take 3 of Kent 346

21. Soul Beat (aka Powerhouse) – Take 1 of Kent 475

22. Why Not – Take 8-A of a track that first appeared on the 2002 4CD Box Set "The Vintage Years" by B.B. KING on Ace ABOXCD 8

23. The Woman I Love (Copper Colored Mama) – Take 3 of RPM 408

24. Whole Lotta Meat (aka Hey Little Girl) – Take 10 of a Track that first appeared on the 1987 UK LP "One Nighter Blues" on Ace CHD 201

25. Going Down Slow (1959 Version) – Take 2 of a track on the 1963 US LP "16 Of The Best Of B.B. King" on Galaxy G-8202

NOTES:

All Tracks are 2015 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Except Tracks 9 and 17 which appeared in 2014 on "Speak Easy: The R.P.M. Records Story Volume 2 – 1954-57" on Ace CDTOP 1421

Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25 are STEREO

Tracks 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 23 are MONO

Compiled and researched by ROGER ARMSTRONG and DICK SHURMAN - the 16-page booklet features wonderfully detailed new liner notes by DICK SHURMAN whose knowledge and affection for B.B. seems to know no bounds. And on the audio evidence presented here – his joy is hardly surprising. This is a quality release for King fans and Shurman knows it. In between the text are wickedly evocative pictures of Scotch Magnetic Tape Master Boxes along with some snaps of his backing band in the studio.

It’s the usual classy presentation from a label that’s been doing this for 40 years – but you have to say that Sound Engineer DUNCAN COWELL has excelled himself here. The audio on this baby is awesome – and never more so that on the 12 cuts that come at in glorious STEREO – each version filled with a huge in-your-living- room vibe to the sound and genuine excitement to the listen. Not only is B.B.'s playing fluid and impressively cool – the band is cooking and you can literally feel they know it. We’ll done to all involved...

The title of the compilation comes from dialogue B.B. speaks at the beginning of "Catfish Blues" – clearly enjoying his mojo and the band's company in the studio. The Version 1 of "Sweet Little Angel" on here shows his best playing too. Some great "...pulse is weak..." studio patter at the beginning of the infectious "Bad Case Of Love" – boogie-woogie in fabulous Stereo. We get a tad Elmore James slasher side for "Whole Lot Of Lovin'" where B.B. tells us of his gal's "dreamy eyes" which are clearly affecting the man's mental stability and other parts of his manly frame (fab Stereo too). Gutsy Blues comes at you for the Mono "When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer" – and even though its Take 1 – it seems finished to me (gorgeous piano playing too). It ends on the near eight minutes of "Going Down Slow" where the vocal is a tiny bit rough – but the power of the playing and the sympatico band more than win the day. 

A wonderful reissue for B.B. KING fans and surely one of the 'Blues CD Reissues Of 2015'...nice one boys...

"Visions Of A New World" by LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (2015 Ace/Beat Goes Public CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Soul Flow..." 

Jazz Funk and Fusion has a bedrock of superstar albums like Donald Byrd's "Spaces And Places", Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters", The Crusaders "Free As The Wind", George Benson's "Breezin'" and even Grover Washington Jr.'s "Winelight" from 1980. High on that list has to be Lonnie Liston Smith's April 1975 masterpiece "Expansions" which preceded "Visions Of A New World" by only five months ("Visions..." was released Stateside in October 1975). The tendency then is to overlook the albums after and before those smashes and Lonnie's wonderful follow up to "Expansions" is a case in point. "Visions Of A New World" is a melodic, mellow and Soulful Jazz Funk and Fusion gem and has had the heart of genre lovers for four decades since its release. And now Ace Records of the UK (through their Beat Goes Public label imprint) has given it a new 2015 CD remaster and reissue and the bugger only sounds gorgeous - properly ripe for rediscovery by a new generation. Here are the stellar details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) - "Visions Of A New World" by LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 294 (Barcode 029667529426) is a straightforward mid-price CD transfer in their 'Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics' Reissue Series and breaks down as follows (33:57 minutes):

1. A Chance For Peace

2. Love Beams

3. Colors Of The Rainbow

4. Devika (Goddess)

5. Sunset [Side 2]

6. Visions Of A New World (Phase I)

7. Visions Of A New World (Phase II)

8. Summer Nights

The 8-track album was originally released October 1975 in the USA on Flying Dutchman Records BDL1-1196 and January 1976 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8461.

Lonnie Liston Smith plays keyboards on every track, Donald Smith puts in vocals on three – "A Chance For Peace", "Colors Of The Rainbow" and "Visions Of A New World (Phase I)" and also contributes Flute and Horns on "Love Beams", "Sunset", "Visions Of A New World (Phase II)" and "Summer Nights". The band includes Clifford Adams on Trombone, Cecil Bridgewater on Trumpet, Reggie Lucas on Guitar, Greg Maker on Bass, Wilby Fletcher on Drums with Ray Armando, Angel Allende and Lawrence Killan on Percussion.

NICK ROBBINS has carried the CD Remaster at Sound Mastering in London (an Engineer of long-standing and skill) and it sounds beautiful – bringing out the superb Bob Thiele Production values applied to all his Flying Dutchman releases (LLS co-produced this LP with him). The inlay is a four-part foldout – with new liner notes by noted writer DEAN RUDLAND, label repros, trade advert and the original LP credits. Its functional but highly informative.

It opens with the sublime "A Chance For Peace" – a track beloved by adventurous DJs, Funk lovers and CD compilation compliers. But what gets me is that I'd forgotten how perfect the 'whole' LP is - giving you moods and rare grooves – funky one moment – Soulful and smoochy the next – all Cosmic and peaceful thereafter. In fact its even commercial if you think about it (it charted at a healthy 14 in the USA). RCA Victor in the UK gave "A Chance For Peace" an airing in March 1976 on a British 45 (RCA 2668) but amazingly it sank without a trace (the LP was deleted in early 1977 too). We get all trippy on "Colors Of The Rainbow" as Donald Smith sings with abandon about Mother Nature smiling tears of joy. But we then get hit with the other mellow masterpiece on here "Devika (Goddess)" written by Soprano Saxophone player David Hubbard (with Sarina Grant). It grooves along to his lovely flourishes and is 5:16 minutes of pure Jazz Funk sexiness. Side 2 opens with a sensual piano intro to the wonderful "Sunset" – the track sounding and feeling like you’re witnessing the title – a Sunset. The two parts of “Visions” are piano-heavy Fusion with Donald Smith handling the spacy vocal on Phase I until it goes into George Duke Funk territory for Phase II. The LP ends on a swirling "Summer Nights" – again with cool Audio as its bedtime sexiness caresses your speakers...

A fabulous Reissue then - and if you don’t have the album – waste no time – it’s a steal at twice its mid-price...

PS: Titles in the 'Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics' Series of CD Reissues by Ace/Beat Goes Public of the UK include:

1. Fenix - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 268)

2. The Third World - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 272)

3. El Pampero – GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 283)

4. Cesar 830 – CESAR (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 261)

5. Friends And Neighbors: Ornette Live At Prince Street – ORNETTE COLEMAN (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 266)

6. Afrique – COUNT BASIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 271)

7. Barefoot Boy - LARRY CORYELL (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 269)

8. George Russell Presents… - THE ESOTERIC CIRCLE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 284)

9. Small Talk At 125th & Lenox - GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 290) - see REVIEW

10. Pieces Of A Man – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 274)

11. Free Will – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 281)

12. Astral Traveling – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 273)

13. Cosmic Funk - LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 278)

14. Expansions – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 263)

15. Visions Of A New World – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 294)

16. Reflections Of A Golden Dream – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 296)

17. Cosmic Funk And Spiritual Sounds; The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Years – LONNIE LISTON SMITH (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 254)

18. Newport News, Virginia – ESTHER MARROW (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 264)

19. Swiss Suite: Recorded Live At The Montreaux Jazz Festival - OLIVER NELSON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 279)

20. Soul Is… - PRETTY PURDIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 282)

21. Head Start – BOB THIELE EMERGENCY (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 265)

22. Spirits Known And Unknown – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 262)

23. The Leon Thomas Album - LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 270)

24. Blues And The Soulful Truth – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 277)

25. The Creator: The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Masters – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPD 257) 

"Reflections Of A Golden Dream" by LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (2015 Ace/Beat Goes Public CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD 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)

"...Journey Into Space..."

Using their Beat Goes Public imprint (BGP) - Ace Records of the UK continue their wonderful reissue of Lonnie Liston Smith's trio of Jazz-Funk meisterworks with his 'Cosmic Echoes' band on Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman Records back in the mid Seventies – albums that collectors and lovers of the genre have lusted after on more than a few Funky occasions.

April 2013 saw Smith’s hugely popular "Expansions" album from May 1975 get a 5-star CD reissue – while the second LP "Visions Of A New World" from October of that same year came our CD way in July of 2015. And now in November 2015 – the third and forgotten nugget in his initial cannon – April 1976's "Reflections Of A Golden Dream" with the massively popular Soul-Funk smash "Get Down Everybody (It's Time For World Peace)". All three reissues are part of Ace's 'Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics' CD Remasters Series. Here are the dreamscapes for Volume 3...

UK released 27 November 2015 (December 2015 in the USA) - "Reflections Of A Golden Dream" by LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 296 (Barcode 029667529624) is a straightforward mid-price CD transfer in their ‘Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics’ Reissue Series and plays out as follows (38:57 minutes):

1. Get Down Everybody (It’s Time For World Peace)

2. Quiet Dawn

3. Sunbeams

4. Meditations

5. Peace And Love

6. Beautiful Woman [Side 2]

7. Goddess Of Love

8. Inner Beauty

9. Golden Dreams

10. Journey Into Space

The 10-track album was originally released April 1976 in the USA on Flying Dutchman Records BDL1-1460 and July 1976 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1053.

Lonnie Liston Smith plays keyboards and 'funky electronic textures' on every track while singing lead on "Get Down Everybody (It's Time For World Peace)". As was the case on the "Visions Of New Worlds" LP earlier that year (1975) - Donald Smith puts in lead vocals on three songs – "Peace And Love", "Beautiful Woman" and "Inner Beauty" and also contributes Flute on three more - "Quiet Dawn", "Sunbeams" and "Golden Dreams". The band includes David Hubbard and Arthur Kaplin on Saxophones, Joe Shepley and Jon Faddis on Trumpets, Al Anderson on Bass, Wilby Fletcher on Drums with Guilherme Franco and Leopoldo Fleming on Percussion - while Maeretha Stewart, Patti Austin and Vivian Cherry sang Backing Vocals on tracks 1 and 5.

NICK ROBBINS has carried out the CD Remaster at Sound Mastering in London (an Engineer of long-standing and skill) and it sounds beautiful – bringing out the superb Bob Thiele Production values applied to all his Flying Dutchman releases (LLS co-produced this LP with him). The 8-page inlay features new liner notes by noted writer DEAN RUDLAND, label repros of Side 1 and 2 of the original Flying Dutchman LP and the US 7" single for "Get Down Everybody..." with "Goddess Of Love" on the B-side (Flying Dutchman JB 10616). There's also a two-page spread which repros the musician credits from the gatefold sleeve. It’s functional but highly informative.

It opens with the album’s most famous track – Lonnie Liston Smith giving it some rare vocals on the Jazz-Funk Rare Groove monster "Get Down Everybody (It's Time For World Peace)" – an anthem in clubs that pumps out the Brass and Rotary Connection vocals with a rapid backbeat. And again like "Visions Of A New World" from 1975 which I reviewed a few months back (also reissued by Ace’s BGP) - I'd forgotten how good the 'whole' LP is - giving you bedroom moods like the beautiful piano instrumental "Quiet Dawn" and then zither-slick grooves like the funky "Sunbeams" which feels like Dexter Wansel or Donald Byrd at their Philly International/Blue Note best. Swirling keyboard and vibe beauty follows once again with the gorgeous textures of "Meditations" - while the side ends on the Acoustic Bill Withers funk of "Peace & Love" – another stab at the vocal commercial hit of "Get Down Everybody" that even has a slightly Brazilian sway to it. It’s a winner and the label put it out as a 45 on Flying Dutchman DB-10702 with the wicked "Quiet Dawn" as its B-side. 

Side 2 opens with the good but slightly less convincing shuffle of "Beautiful Woman" which I always skipped for the far better chunky-funk of “Goddess Of Love” – a flute-driven mid-tempo number that sounds sexy and sweet. The swirling “Inner Beauty" is the kind of ethereal Fusion I love – all spacey and magical somehow yet you can’t quite define why. I personally would have followed with "Golden Dreams" as another slick 45 – the spoken vocals and that slinky rhythm would surely have had some DJ spinning that bad mother. It ends on “Journey Into Space” – a trippy instrumental that sounds like our Lonnie has been listening to the percussion opening parts in Santana's "Caravanserai" just once too often...

Another fabulous reissue then by Ace’s BGP of Lonnie Liston Smith's Cosmic Echoes trio of albums - and if you don’t have the album "Reflections Of A Golden Dream" – then waste no time – it’s a steal at twice the mid-price...

PS: Titles in the "Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics" Series of CDs includes:

1. Fenix - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 268)

2. The Third World - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 272)

3. El Pampero – GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 283)

4. Cesar 830 – CESAR (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 261)

5. Friends And Neighbors: Ornette Live At Prince Street – ORNETTE COLEMAN (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 266)

6. Afrique – COUNT BASIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 271)

7. Barefoot Boy - LARRY CORYELL (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 269)

8. George Russell Presents… - THE ESOTERIC CIRCLE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 284)

9. Small Talk At 125th & Lenox - GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 290) - see REVIEW

10. Pieces Of A Man – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 274)

11. Free Will – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 281)

12. Astral Traveling – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 273)

13. Cosmic Funk - LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 278)

14. Expansions – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 263)

15. Visions Of A New World – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 294)

16. Reflections Of A Golden Dream – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 296)

17. Cosmic Funk And Spiritual Sounds; The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Years – LONNIE LISTON SMITH (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 254)

18. Newport News, Virginia – ESTHER MARROW (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 264)

19. Swiss Suite: Recorded Live At The Montreaux Jazz Festival - OLIVER NELSON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 279)

20. Soul Is… - PRETTY PURDIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 282)

21. Head Start – BOB THIELE EMERGENCY (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 265)

22. Spirits Known And Unknown – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 262)

23. The Leon Thomas Album - LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 270)

24. Blues And The Soulful Truth – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 277)
25. The Creator: The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Masters – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPD 257)

The Revenant on BLU RAY - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...You Speak Of Honour When You Don't Know What It Is..." 

The Revenant on BLU RAY

Balls-to-the-wall, visceral, epic filmmaking - I haven't seen an audience glued to the screen and engaged both mentally and physically with a movie since the halcyon days of "Gladiator" way back in 2000. Make no mistake - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "The Revenant" will make you bleed-baby-bleed and more than earns it mighty 12 Oscar nominations by way of sheer bravura and the amazing visual feast your presented with from the first frame to the last. All this and you sit there thinking - I know they're only piddly nancy-boy ‘actors’ in the real world - but the cast must have gone through physical Hell to get this level of ‘real’ in the can...

Having said that – 2015’s “The Revenant” from the Oscar-winning Director of last year's "Birdman..." has its minor problems for sure. At 2 hours 40 minutes it’s overly long (feels more like three hours) – and in a bid to make you feel like you're in the moment - the dialogue comes at you off-screen at times as characters shout and scuffle - but I'm not sure if that trick works. Plus you could argue that you spend 70% of the movie watching Leonardo DiCaprio crawling around in mud and on icy ground (a lot) and Tom Hardy's Jeff Bridges "True Grit" mouth-full-of-marbles mumbling can be very difficult to decipher at times too. And that last shot stills puzzles. But overall - these are trivial things given that I noticed many people holding in wee-wee because they couldn't bear to miss twenty seconds of it.

And then there's the scenery brought to you by Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki – a malevolent beast one moment - soul-stirring the next. You get 1820’s fur-trading British Columbia in the fall and winter – a relentless snowy wilderness with muck and more muck – creaking bare trees – icy breathes broken up by life-giving campfires – arrows in the neck – muskets blasting... Scene after scene seers its way into your brain - DiCaprio plunging into the icy waters of a river where he’s built a rock nook to trap fish swimming upstream – grabbing one of them with his bare hands and proceeding to munch into with ravenous teeth and starvation gusto – removing the innards and squatting naked inside of a felled horse to survive the night - buried in a clay grave dug for him by the greedy trapper John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) and left for dead – an Indian he befriends that builds a tepee of branches and furs as the blizzard rages so that the wounded and collapsed Glass can let his wounds recover - and the final knife battle with Hardy’s curmudgeon character as the snow turns a different colour than white.

But even more memorable than those is one of the film's centrepieces. Out scouting the woodland one morning - the two-prong attack on DiCaprio's character Glass by a three-ton grizzly bear (defending her two cubs) left the audience breathless and coiled in their seats in genuine horror. How they filmed this sucker I will never know – but if this is CGI's capability in 2015 - then it’s amongst the best I’ve ever seen – period. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto's instrumental music is haunting throughout too – huge string chords that feel as epic as the landscape and pack a mighty punch. Smartly Inarritu also does well to not let the rivers and mountains and forests dominate everything by having scenes of real emotion as DiCaprio's character talks to his Indian wife's ghost in their native tongue – mumbling to his son that everything's going to be all right - love transcending the elements that seem to want to kill you at every moment.

The huge and seriously dedicated ensemble cast is uniformly stunning and must be mentioned. Leonardo DiCaprio plays hunter and trapper Hugh Glass who has married an Indian girl (actress Grace Dove, herself a Shuswap Indian) and fathered a son Hawk (a breakthrough performance from Forest Goodluck). But soldiers raised their village to the ground (as they did much of the indigenous population) and murdered his wife who now comes to him in whispers and dreams. Trapper Glass therefore protects his boy with a near heathen tenaciousness as his half-breed origins and burnt face (from the initial village attack) are ridiculed by another force of nature – Pelt Trader John Fitzgerald (a towering performance from England’s Tom Hardy). Trying to keep all the savagery at bay is Captain Andrew Henry played by Ireland's Domhnall Gleason (Brendan Gleeson's son) – another properly brilliant performance after his superb turns in "About Time", "Ex Machina" and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". But even more impressive is the young British actor Will Poulter who plays the cherub-faced Bridger - a frightened and gullible boy in a cunning man's world - he is magnificent here. The huge array of real Red Indians are cast from varying surviving tribes and are suitably ferocious and giving in their different guises – scalping the devil white man in one scene and trying to negotiate ‘honour’ with a bunch of drunken French trappers in another. The rage of what was done to them and their women and children permeates throughout the entire film.

But its DiCaprio and Hardy who hold the whole thing together – both putting in huge performances that deserve statues. Their warring duo dynamic reminds me of “Jeremiah Johnson” (1972) and “Seraphim Falls” (see reviews) where two frontier men fight it out in the elements with knives and hatchets and anything else that comes to hand. There’s a scene by a night time fire where Hardy’s character talks of his starving father in the wilderness who discovers God in a cluster of trees – Hardy’s chilling survivalist instincts are the stuff of budding actor’s dreams and will surely be used at the Oscar ceremony by way of demonstrating what a powerhouse he’s become. And if Leo doesn’t bag a statue for this film – then someone in the Academy needs to be led to the nearest snowdrift and dropped there in their Sears and Roebuck underpants...

When it’s released - the BLU RAY will be a feast for both the eyes and ears – and I’m pre-ordering that home-cinema monster today.

Besides - as the credits rolled I noticed that two of the real Red Indian Actors used (portraying a Pawnee Prostitute and an Arikara Warrior) were called  'Mariah Old Shoes' and 'Cody Big Tobacco'. This is my kind of movie.

“The Revenant” isn’t Laura Ashley cutesy or Daniel Boone sappy for damn sure – and not everyone will enjoy its hurting storyline and our even darker treatment of the indigenous population of such a breathtaking landscape. But it is an astonishing piece of ‘event’ cinema that demands your attention.

And when you think about the sheer amount of fluff and lazy sequels out there in 2015 (and yet to come in 2016) - that’s an achievement worth supporting with my comfy ass on them there wilderness seats...

"Moonshadows/Yesterday's Dreams/Spellbound" by ALPHONSO JOHNSON (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…To Thine Own Self Be True…"

Philly-born virtuoso ALPHONSO JOHNSON was only 23 when he replaced Weather Report’s Miroslav Vituos on Bass in early 1974 and was soon after to also play with Fusion Giants George Duke and Stanley Clarke on their solo projects. By the time he got to 1976 - and with a little help from Weather Report stalwarts like Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter (Zawinul once described Johnson as "...disciplined…could lay down a groove that hurt…") – Columbia Records gave him a shot and he promptly popped out three Funk-Fusion LPs on their Epic Records imprint – "Moonshadows" and "Yesterday's Dreams" (both from 1976) and "Spellbound" (from 1977). The hugely revered first two were never issued in the UK (the 3rd was) and have been elusive on CD for decades. And that's where this gorgeous-sounding Beat Goes On 2CD Remaster comes in. Here are the funk-that-hurts details…

UK released 27 November 2015 (December 2015 in the USA) – "Moonshadows/Yesterday's Dreams/Spellbound" by ALPHONSO JOHNSON on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1220 (Barcode 5017261212207) offers 3LPs on 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (40:48 minutes):

1. Slump

2. Involuntary Bliss

3. Cosmoba Place

4. Pandora's Box

5. Up From The Cellar [Side 2]

6. Amarteifio

7. On The Case

8. Unto Thine Own Self Be True

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut album "Moonshadows" – released 1976 in the USA on Epic Records PE 34118 (no UK release)

Players included:

ALPHONSO JOHNSON – Basses, Electric Stick and Vocals

DAWILLI GONGA – Keyboards & Vocals

PATRICE RUSHEN – Keyboards

IAN UNDERWOOD – Keyboards & Synth Programming

ALPHONSE MOUZON – Orchestron Voice Choir Keyboard

GARY BARTZ – Soprano Saxophone

DAVID AMARO, LEE RITENOUR, CHRIS BOND and BLACKBIRD McKnight – Guitars

FLORA PURIM – Backing Vocals on "Involuntary Bliss", "Up From The Cellar" and "Upon Thine Own Self Be True" with Lead Vocals on "Amarteifio"

BENNIE MAUPIN – Reeds

ALEJANDRO ACUNA and AIRTO MOREIRA – Percussion

NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN – Drums & Keyboards

NDUGU LEON CHANCLER – Drums

Disc 2 (71:34 minutes):

1. Love's The Way I Feel 'Bout Cha

2. As Little As You

3. Scapegoat

4. Show Us The Way

5. Balls To The Wall [Side 2]

6. Tales Of Barcelona

7. Flight To Hampstead Heath

8. One To One

Tracks 1 to 8 are his second album "Yesterday's Dreams" – released 1976 in the USA on Epic PE 34364 (no UK release)

Players included:

ALPHONSO JOHNSON – Basses, Electric Stick, Acoustic Guitar and Vocals

FLORA PURIM, JON LUCIEN, PHILIP BAILEY & DIANNE REEVES - Vocals

RAY GOMEZ and LEE RITENOUR – Electric & Acoustic Guitars

PATRICE RUSHEN – Keyboards

MARK JORDAN and DAVID FOSTER – Keyboards

IAN UNDERWOOD – Synths

SHEILA ESCOVEDO – Congas & Percussion

RUTH UNDERWOOD - Harpophone, Orchestra Bells, Marimbas & Vibraphone

GROVER WASHINGTON, JR., ERNIE WATTS & ERNIE FIELDS – Saxophones

CHUCK FINDLEY and GARY GRANT – Trumpets

GEORGE BOHANON and GARNETT BROWN – Trombones

CHESTER THOMPSON and MICK CLARK – Drums

9. Summer Solstice (First Movement)

10. Follow Your Heart

11. Bahama Mama

12. Nomads

13. Moonlight Conversations

14. Face Blaster [Side 2]

15. Feelings Are… (The Hardest Words To Say)

16. Earthtales Suite: Intro – Winter Solstice

I - Release From Bondage

II – Why

III – Voice Of Authority

IV Rushing Of The Wind

V – Sword And The Scepter

VI – Summer Solstice (Second Movement)

Tracks 9 to 16 are this third album "Spellbound" – released 1977 in the USA on Epic Records JE 34869 and in the UK on Epic S EPC 82197

The outer card slipcase lends the release a classy feel, the 24-page booklet is packed with album-by-album credits and new liner notes from noted writer CHARLES WARING – a regular contributor to Mojo and Record Collector. ANDREW THOMPSON has carried out the new 2015 Remasters licensed from Sony and the Audio here is stupendous – beautifully clear and reflecting the original top-class production values of Skip Drinkwater (Johnson did the 3rd set himself).

As you can see from the 'Players' lists given above – the guest names of talent featured for each record is astonishing – a virtual who's who of Jazz Funk talent with Johnson providing the Funky Bass backdrop. And they’re not just window-dressing either. The debut album opens with "Strump" and "Involuntary Bliss" – Funk workouts on a Jazz-tip that feel amazingly 'now' rather than 1976. Entering the territory of sublime Jazz/Soul/Fusion is the gorgeous sea-and-gulls ballad "Amarteifio" – the only song on the album with lyrics that Flora Purim slays in her path with her Soulful swoops and phrasing (lyrics reproduced in the booklet). It's a true highlight on a great album. It gets seriously funky with the bass-led "On The Case" where Johnson goes all slap stick wild in the first passage followed by Lee Ritenour letting rip on his axe for the second part (wonderful playing). It ends on a piece of joyous fusion that’s so Narada Michael Walden – Flora singing the title as a backing refrain while Dawilli Gonga plays a blinder on various keyboards.

Wisely trying for a more commercial angle - the number of vocalists increased for album number two "Yesterday's Dream" – released at the end of 1976. "Love's The Way I Feel 'Bout Cha" might as well be Con Funk Shun with Dianne Reeves and Philip Bailey on Vocals (lyrics in the booklet). Keyboard genius Patrice Rushen fills up both "As Little as You" and "Scapegoat" with her skills - while Grover Washington Jr. plays his horn. Jon Lucien adds his deep voice to "Show Us The Way" as Ritenour skilfully plucks the Acoustic Guitar. But my fave on here is the beautiful instrumental "Flight To Hampstead Heath" – a mid-tempo builder that feels more Prog Jazz than Fusion.

Prog dominates the opening "Summer Solstice (First Movement)" and for that matter much of the "Spellbound” album - sounding more like Jon Anderson has gone Jazz (but not in a good way). Guitarist Pat Thrall provides the Guitar Solos for "Follow Your Heart", "Bahama Mama", "Face Blaster" and "Feelings Are…" But it was a big mistake to forego the various quality vocalists that made the first two albums so good for his larynx on album number three. Johnson's voice is decidedly ordinary compared to what went before – and this is never more evident than on "Nomads" – a nice tune rendered impotent by his flat delivery. The short but pretty instrumental "Moonlight Conversations" features lovely playing from the other featured guitarist on the album – Kevin Shireve. It ends on the near nine-minute "Earthtales Suite" – a complicated but ultimately boring piece that unfortunately sums up the whole LP – virtuosity without any heart or tunes…

Jazz Fusion and Funk fans will love the first two albums – especially as neither received a UK release – but that third record rather lets the side down. Still – with its superb presentation and gorgeous Audio quality – this is a must buy for fans…and so good to see Johnson be given some well-deserved limelight at last...

"Infatuation: Singles & Demos 1966-1968" by THE SECRETS [featuring Clifford T Ward] (2015 Grapevine CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…See It Through…"

Before schoolteacher CLIFFORD T. WARD went all solemn singer-songwriter in the early Seventies with sensitive album classics like "Mantle Pieces" in 1972 on John Peel's Dandelion Records and especially "Home Thoughts" from 1973 on Charisma which featured his best known songs "Gaye" and "Wherewithal"  – he had a stab at Pop stardom with THE SECRETS in the 60ts. And that's what this feature-packed CD compilation from Grapevine of the UK gathers together – the ten sides of their five 7" single releases (last two credited to SIMON’S SECRETS) - adding on 18 other demos and other rarities from long deleted compilations – five of which see the CD light of day for the first time. Here are the embryonic details…

UK released December 2015 – "Infatuation: Singles And Demos 1966-1968" by THE SECRETS featuring CLIFFORD T. WARD on Grapevine CRSEG031 (Barcode 5013929183124) is a 28-track CD and plays out as follows (76:22 minutes):

SINGLES:

1. Infatuation (A-side of a UK 7" single on CBS 202585, released February 1967)

2. I Think I Need The Cash (B-side of "I Intend To Please" - UK 7" single on CBS 2818, released 23 June 1967)

3. She's Dangerous (B-side of "Infatuation" - a UK 7" single on CBS 202585, released February 1967)

4. Such A Pity (B-side of "I Suppose" – a UK 7" single on CBS 202466, released 2 December 1968)

5. Naughty Boy (A-side of a UK 7" single on CBS 3406, released April 1968)

6. I Know What Her Name Is (A-side of a UK 7" single on CBS 3856, released December 1968)

7. Keeping My Head Above Water (B-side of "I Know What Her Name Is" - a UK 7” single on CBS 3856, released December 1966)

8. I Suppose (A-side of a UK 7" single on CBS 202466, released 2 December 1966)

9. Sympathy (B-side of "Naughty Boy" - a UK 7" single on CBS 3406, released April 1968)

10. I Intend To Please (A-side of a UK 7" single on CBS 2818, released 23 June 1967)

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10 credited to THE SECRETS

Tracks 5, 6, 7 and 9 credited to SIMON'S SECRETS

DEMOS and OUTTAKES

11. Path Through The Forest

12. What A Nice Surprise

13. The Gloria Bosom Show

14. I’ll Keep On Closing My Eyes

15. Looking Down The Glass

16. The Same Applies To You

17. Teacher

18. Coathanger (Demo Version No. 1)

19. Naughty Boy (Demo Version No. 1)

20. The Session Singer (Demo Version)

21. The Mule

22. Poor Johnny

23. Sympathy (Demo Version)

24. I Know What Her Name Is (Demo Version)

25. Keeping My Head Above Water

26. Coathanger (Demo Version)

27. Naughty Boy (Demo Version)

28. Path Through The Forest (Demo Version)

Track 11 first released 2001

Tracks 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24 to 28 were released 2009 on the 2CD compilation "Path Through The Forest: The Secret World Of Clifford T. Ward 1964-1971" on Wooden Hill WHCD028

Tracks 15, 18, 19, 22 and 23 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The 12-page booklet is nicely laid out with new liner notes from noted writer DAVID WELLS – label repro’s of those CBS 7” single demos – trade magazine mentions and even a signed sheet from a dapper-looking Cliff Ward and the Cruisers. The Audio is a very mixed bag indeed (remastered by Simon Murphy) with the liner notes admitting that master tapes (especially for the demo stuff) are 'extant'. But what is on here sounds really good given the limitations of the sources. The singles are in Mono and pack a punch - but the rest of it has to be taken as is...

Those looking for "Gaye" or "Wherewithal" should immediately look elsewhere – this is more 60ts Pop than 70ts singer-songwriter – although you can hear the cleverness of the lyrics already – the intelligence behind them. There's even a few moments of Beatles "I Am The Walrus" madness in the very rough sounding "Path Through The Forest" and rude humour in the ample "Gloria Bosom Show". Of the five 45s – I'm digging the Hollies/Love sounding "Such A Pity" and the Tremeloes pop of "I Suppose". Signs of his mellow future are evident in "Poor Johnny" and "The Same Applies Toy You" – if you can get past the ropey Audio and the slightly lacklustre nature of the material…

Not genius by any means and surely one that's for Clifford T. Ward fans and purists only – but at least Grapevine have presented it to them with real style and class...