"Yesterday’s Sunshine: The Complete 1967-1968 London Sessions" by GRAPEFRUIT (2016 RPM CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Elevator Going High..." 

Famously associated with Apple Publishing and therefore the orbit of Paul McCartney and John Lennon (they produced "Lullaby") – London's swinging Pop-Psych kids GRAPEFRUIT had the wickedly good songwriter George Alexander at its four-piece core and should have been big. But instead they managed a cluster of largely failed 7" singles and one posthumous LP before going Hard Rock with their second platter "Deep Water" in 1969 (outside the remit of this CD). Well along comes quality reissue label RPM and they’re determined to reassess and re-define. And after decades of fruitless searching for mastertapes (they located them in 2015) - I think they have more than a point. Here are bittersweet details...

UK released 20 May 2016 – "Yesterday's Sunshine: The Complete 1967-1968 London Sessions" by GRAPEFRUIT on RPM Retro 977 (Barcode 5013929599772) is a 20-track CD compilation of Remasters and plays out as follows (57:21 minutes):

1. Dear Delilah

2. Dead Boot

3. Breaking Up A Dream *

4. Lullaby (Sped-Up Stereo Version) **

5. Another Game

6. Elevator **

7. Yes **

8. Ain't It Good **

9. Sweet Little Miss No Name */**

10. Round Going Round (aka "Round And Round")

11. Someday (Alternate Version) **

12. Somebody's Turning On The People */**

13. Trying To Make It To Monday

14. C'mon Marianne **

15. Theme For Twiggy (aka "Theme For A Lonely Queen")

16. This Little Man

17. Do What You want To (aka "Learn To Love Me") */**

18. Yesterday's Sunshine **

19. Someday Soon

20. One More Try */**

NOTES:

* = Previously Unreleased in Any Form

** = New Tape Transfer/Multi-Track Mix

GRAPEFRUIT was:

GEORGE ALEXANDER, JOHN PERRY, PETE SWETTENHAM and GEOFF SWETTENHAM (ex The Sugarbeats who had two 45s on Polydor)

Produced by MARK STRATFORD and STEFAN GRANADOS - the 16-page booklet has superlative and informative liner notes from band expert STEFAN GRANADOS that includes input from surviving band members, pictures of Advision Tape Boxes, trade adverts for RCA (one with a photo of McCartney) and Stateside/Dunhill, several EMI Apple Acetates, Sheet Music for "Dear Delilah", UK Press reviews and various publicity photos. It's well done and very detailed. Much is made of the only-recently located master tapes - and rightly so. The experienced SIMON MURPHY did the Transfers and remasters at FX Sound and Another Planet and the Audio is superb - very clean yet full of atmosphere and presence (only "Trying To Make It To Monday" is from a restored Acetate as the master tape couldn't be located).

This CD compilation will allow fans to sequence their first five 45s as follows:

1. Dear Delilah [1] b/w Dead Boot [2]

January 1968 UK 7" single on RCA Records RCA 1656 - USA 7" single on Equinox 70000

2. Elevator [6] b/w Yes [7]

April 1968 UK 7" single on RCA Records RCA 1677 - USA 7" single on Equinox 70005

3. C'mon Marianne [14] b/w Ain't It Good [8]

July 1968 UK 7" single on RCA Records RCA 1716 - USA 7" single on Equinox 70008

4. Someday Soon [19] b/w Theme For Twiggy [15]

December 1968 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 8005 (no US release)

5. Round Going Round [10] b/w This Little Man [16]

March 1969 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 8011 - USA 7" single on ABC Dunhill 4178

Stateside in the UK and ABC/Dunhill in the USA issued a posthumous debut album in April 1969 called "Around Grapefruit" that took nine of the ten single sides and threw in three new songs recorded in 1968 ("Another Game", "Yesterday's Sunshine" and "Lullaby"). This CD will allow fans to sequence the LP as follows [5] = Track 5 etc...

Side 1:

1. Another Game [5]

2. Yesterday's Sunshine [18]

3. Elevator [6]

4. Yes [7]

5. C'mon Marianne

6. Lullaby

Side 2:

1. Round Going Around [10]

2. Dear Delilah [1]

3. This Little Man [16]

4. Ain't It Good [8]

5. Give It One More Try [20] * see Notes

6. Someday [19]

Tracks 1 to 12 is the debut LP “Around Grapefruit” – released April 1969 in the UK in Stereo on Stateside SSL 5008 and in the USA on ABC/Dunhill DS- 50050. The song “Give It One More Try” is “One More Try” renamed and makes its CD debut here.

At the heart of the group was prolific melody songwriter George Alexander who apart from "Yes" by John Perry and a cover of The Four Seasons "C'mon Marianne" - penned all 18 of the other songs. There's Psych in the swirl of "Dear Delilah" and the mellotron-drenched "Someday Soon" (a slowed down re-write of "Someday") - but stuff like "Round Going Round" is more Kinks-pop. They go Move-pop for the catchy "Elevator" which features Status Quo's "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" type-guitar. Of the unreleased tracks - "Breaking Up A Dream" is a well-recorded instrumental that feels like it badly needs lyrics - better is the bopper "Sweet Little Miss No Name" where the band could be 1966 Monkees chalking up another Top Ten smash. One of the unreleased gems is surely "Somebody's Turning On The People" where they sound like embryonic Badfinger.

It's not all genius by any means - and the lack of out and out killer singles probably did for the band in the end - but when you sequence that album as I've done above - it's a very cool and impressive listen. Well done to RPM and all involved...

"Live At San Quentin" by B.B. KING (2001 MCA 'Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited' CD - Erick Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Thrill Is Back..."

Originally released 1990 on MCA Records – "Live At San Quentin" was a 13-track B.B. KING barnstormer recorded live Sunday, 25 May on the lawns of the American Prison with hundreds of convicts whopping it right from the get go.

Reissued here as part of MCA's "Blues Classics – Remastered & Revisited" CD Series (see list below) – this 2001 American disc boasts great sound courtesy of Audio Engineer ERICK LABSON. Labson has over 1000 credits to his name including most of the vast Chess, Checker and Cadet catalogue as well as rock names like Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Neil Diamond, The Who and Wishbone Ash (to name but a few). I actively seek out his remasters. Here are the bluesy jailhouse details...

US released March 2001 - "Live at San Quentin" by B.B. KING on MCA America 088 412 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727) is a CD Remaster and pans out as follows (64:09 minutes):

1. B.B. King Intro

2. Let The Good Times Roll

3. Every Day I Have The Blues

4. Whole Lotta Loving

5. Sweet Little Angel

6. Never Make A Move Too Soon

7. Into The Night

8. Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness

9. The Thrill Is Gone

10. Peace To The World

11. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother

12. Sweet Sixteen

13. Rock Me Baby

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Live At San Quentin" – released September 1990 in the USA on MCA Records MCA 6103 and in the UK on MCA Records MCG 6103.

The three-way fold inlay offers a few paragraphs from Dennis Jones and reissue details. His 7-piece band consisted of Walter King on Saxophone, James Bolden on Trumpet, Eugene Carrier on Keyboards, Michael Doster on Bass, Leon Warren on Rhythm Guitar, Edgar Synigal on Saxophone, Calep Emphrey on Drums with B.B. King on Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar.

His set is full of standards – fun R&B like "Let The Good Times Roll" where he encourages the men to holler to their hearts content and witty chat between numbers – like on "Never Make A Move To Soon" where he talks of being a catfish because then he might reel in women from the bay area (much to the delight of the men). "The Thrill Is Gone" elicits whoops too. He hopes that we'll all get together for "Peace To The World" (not the best of all the recordings even if it was apparently done in the studio). Better is the eight-minute slow blues of "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" where he tells the audience "...this is for whatever ails you..." – a Blues cure-all. It ends with a crowd-pleasing boogie ("...before we get off...") where he splits the crowd in two – the right side sings, "Rock Me" and the left follows with, "All Night Long". You can hear the crowd digging it...even if it does end a tad too soon.

A lovely CD reissue and one that serves his musical legacy well...

PS: 

Titles in the US-only "Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited" CD Series are:

(1 and 2 are SUHA GUR remasters, 3 to 11 are ERICK LABSON, I've reviewed most)

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 CD Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

(1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)

MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:09 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:41 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (with Paul Butterfield, Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Buddy Miles)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

"Ladies & Gentlemen…Mr. B.B. King" by B.B. KING (2012 Universal 4CD and 10CD Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Everyday I Have The Blues..." 

Considering his iconic status - a properly decent box set chronicling Mississippi's B.B. King has been a long time coming (his Blues career has now reached the staggering longevity of 66 years). But at least you can say that Universal have finally done the great man proud (especially on the mammoth 10-disc set). Here are Woke Up This Morning details...

Released September 2012 - "Ladies & Gentlemen...Mr. B.B. King" by B. B. KING comes in 2 forms - a 4CD Box Set and a 10CD version - and to confuse matters both are rather lazily given the same title. The 10-disc Box Set is catalogue number Universal 0600753384992 (Barcode 600753384992) - while this review is for the 4CD version on Universal 0600753390863 (Barcode 600753390863) and that 4-disc set breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (1949-1964) - 77:67 minutes:

1. Miss Martha King (1949 USA 78" on Bullet 309, A)

2. When You Baby Packs Up And Goes (1949 USA 78" on Bullet 309, B-side to "Miss Martha King")

3. B.B. Boogie (1950 USA 78" on RPM 304, A)

4. She's Dynamite (1951 USA 78" on RPM 323, A)

5. Three O'Clock Blues (1951, USA 7" single on RPM 349, A)

6. Woke Up This Morning (1953, RPM 380, A)

7. Blind Love (1953, RPM 395, A)

8 When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer (1954, RPM 412, A)

9. You Upset Me Baby (1954, RPM 416, A)

10. Ten Long Years (1955, RPM 437, A)

11. Bad Luck (1956, RPM 468, A)

12. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles (1957, RPM 492, A)

13. Early In The Morning (1957, RPM 492, A)

14. Everyday I Have The Blues (1959, Kent 327, A)

15. (I've) Got A Right To Love My Baby (1960, Kent 333, A)

16. It's My Own Fault (1960, Kent 333, B-side to "(I've) Got A Right To Love My Baby")

17. Walking Dr. Bill (1960, Kent 350, A)

18. Rock Me Baby (1964, Kent 393, A)

19. You Ask Me (1962, ABC-Paramount 10316, A - and the US LP "Mr. Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-456)

20. Blues At Midnight (1962, ABC-Paramount 10334, A - and the US LP "Mr. Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-456)

21. Sneakin' Around (1963, ABC-Paramount 10361, A - and the US LP "Mr. Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-456)

22. How Blue Can You Get? (1964, ABC-Paramount 10527, A)

23. I Wonder Why - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED September 1963 Recording

24. Please Accept My Love (1964, ABC-Paramount 10527, B-side of "How Blue Can You Get?")

25. Help The Poor (1964, ABC-Paramount 10552, A)

26. Never Trust A Woman (1964, ABC-Paramount 10599, A)

Disc 2 (1964-1969) - 76:53 minutes:

1. Everyday I Have The Blues (Live)

2. Sweet Little Angel (Live)

3. Please Love Me (Live) - Tracks 1 to 3 from the 1965 USA LP "Live At The Regal" on ABC-Paramount ABC-509

4. All Over Again (1965, ABC-Paramount 10724, A - also on the 1968 US LP "His Best/The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS 6022)

5. Tired On Your Jive (1965, ABC-Paramount 10675, A - also on the 1968 US LP "His Best/The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS 6022)

6. Cherry Red (from the 1966 US LP "Confessin' The Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-528)

7. Don't Answer The Door, Parts 1&2 (1966, ABC 10856, A - also on the 1968 US LP "His Best/The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS 6022)

8. Night Life (1966, ABC 10889, A)

9. Gambler's Blues (Live) (from the 1967 US LP "Blues Is King" on Bluesway BLS 6001)

10. Sweet Sixteen, Parts 1&2 (1967, Bluesway 61012, A&B-sides)

11. Worried Dream (1967, Bluesway 61007, A)

12. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss (1968, Bluesway 61015, A - also on the US LP "Blues On Top Of Blues" on Bluesway BLS 6011)

13. Watch Yourself

14. Lucille - tracks 13 and 14 are both from the 1968 US LP "Lucille" on Bluesway BLS 6016)

15. Why I Sing The Blues (1969, Bluesway 61024, A - also on the 1969 US LP "Live And Well" on Bluesway BLS 6031)

16. Confessin' The Blues (1969, Bluesway 61035, B-side of "So Excited" - also on the 1969 US LP "Completely Well" on Bluesway BLS 6037)

17. The Thrill Is Gone (1969, Bluesway 61032, A - also on the 1969 US LP "Completely Well" on Bluesway BLS 6037)

Disc 3 (1970-1983) - 73:57 minutes:

1. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother (1970, ABC 11290, A - also on the LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" on ABC Records ABC-713)

2. Chains And Things (1970, ABC 11280, A - also on the LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" on ABC Records ABC-713)

3. Hummingbird (1970, ABC 11268, A - also on the LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" on ABC Records ABC-713)

4. Worry, Worry (Live) (from the 1971 LP "Live At Cook County Jail" on ABC Records ABC 723)

5. Ghetto Woman (1971, ABC 11310, A - also on the 1971 LP "In London" on ABC Records ABC-730)

6. Ain't Nobody Home (1971, ABC 11316, A - also on the 1971 LP "In London" on ABC Records ABC-730)

7. Guess Who (1972, ABC 11330, A - also on the 1972 LP "Guess Who" on ABC Records ABC 759)

8. I Like To Live The Love (1973, ABC 11406, A - also on the 1973 LP "To Know You Is To Love You" on ABC Records ABCX-794)

9. Lucille Talks Back

10. Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes - tracks 9 and 10 from the 1975 LP "Lucille Talks Back" on ABC Records ABCD 898

11. Let The Good Times Roll (Live) (1976, ABC-Impulse 31006, A - also on the 1976 2LP Bobby Bland and B.B. King set "Together Again...Live" on ABC Records ASD 9317)

12. Mother Fuyer (from the 1977 LP "King Size" on ABC Records AB 977)

13. When It All Comes Down (I'll Still Be Around) (from the 1978 LP "Midnight Believer" on ABC Records AA 1061)

14. Better Not Look Down (1979, MCA 41062, A - also on the 1979 LP "Take It Home" on MCA Records MCA 3151)

15. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere (1981, MCA 51101, A - also on the 1981 LP "There Must Be A Better World Somewhere" on MCA Records MCA 5162)

16. Nightlife/Please Send Me Someone To Love (from the 1982 LP "Love Me Tender" on MCA Records MCA 5307)

17. Make Love To Me (from the 1983 LP "Blues `N' Jazz" on MCA Records MCA 27119)

Disc 4 (1984-2008) - 79:20 minutes:

1. Into The Night (1985, MCA 52530, A - also on the 1985 LP "Six Silver Strings" on MCA Records MCA 5616)

2. When Love Comes To Town [credited as U2 with B.B. KING] (1988, Island 7-99225, A - also on the U2 1988 double-album "Rattle And Hum" on Island 91003)

3. Take Off Your Shoes (from the 1989 LP "King Of The Blues: 1989" on MCA Records MCAD 42183)

4. I'm Moving On

5. There Is Always One More Time - tracks 4 and 5 from 1991 album "There Is Always One More Time" on MCA Records MCAD 10295)

6. Monday Morning Blues (Blues For Mr. G) (from the 1991 album "Garfield: Am I Cool Or What?" on GRP Records GRD 9641)

7. Playin' With My Friends [with ROBERT CRAY] (from the 1993 album "Blues Summit" on MCA Records MCA 10710)

8. Confessin' The Blues (from the 1997 album "Deuces Wild" on MCA Records MCA 11711)

9. Blues Man

10. I'll Survive - tracks 9 and 10 from the 1998 album "Blues On The Bayou" on MCA Records MCA 11879)

11. Caldonia

12. Ain't That Just Like A Woman - tracks 11 and 12 from the 1999 album "Let The Good Times Roll: The Music Of Louis Jordan" on MCA Records 088 112 042)

13. Monday Woman (from the 1999 album "Makin' Love Is Good For You" on MCA Records 088 112 241)

14. Ten Long Years [ERIC CLAPTON with B.B. KING] (from the 2000 album "Riding With The King" on Reprise 9 47612-2)

15. Early In The Morning [with VAN MORRISON] (from the 2005 album "80" on Geffen B0005263-02)

16. Key To The Highway (Live) (from the 2006 album "Live" on Geffen B0009770-02)

17. See That Grave Is Kept Clean (from the 2008 album "One Kind Favor" on Geffen B0011791-02)

The 8 x 10" shaped Black Box Set cuts a classy dash as does the 64-page Hardback Book on the inside. ASHLEY KAHN (Music Journalist and author of a book on "Kind Of Blue" by Miles Davis) provides us with an affectionate and informative introduction to the Blues Legend on Pages 1 to 13 while Pages 14 to 40 are taken up with a "B.B. King Recording Career" assessment by DICK SHURMAN (Grammy-Winning Producer and Blues Historian). The text is peppered throughout with beautifully rendered black and white and colour photos from varying stages in his life, concert tickets, American concert posters, there's a shot of an enamoured Bono of U2 on stage with our Hero and there's even a repro photo of that rare 78" on Bullet from 1949. Pages 42 through to the end give a very detailed track-by-track breakdown - musicians, writers, times, vinyl and CD credits etc. Each of the CDs is housed in a period photo card sleeve with all four sitting in a centre hollow.

The entire set has been compiled by two experienced names in quality reissues - BILL LEVENSON and ANDY McKAIE. The audio rocks too. ELIOT KISSILEFF carried out the tape transfers while SETH FOSTER did the mastering - and the remasters as you can imagine are superb throughout (Disc 4 features beautifully recorded tracks anyway). The first few sides are dubbed from 78" so have crackle - but much of the RPM, Kent and ABC-Paramount tapes are clearly in great shape.

The historic 78"s cease crackling by the time the mournful "Three O'Clock Blues" kicks in on Track 5, Disc 1. "Woke Up This Morning" gives us some excellent bopping R'n'B - followed by two more RPM nuggets "Blind Love" and the mooching "When My Heart Beat Like A Hammer". Up next is surely one of the fan's faves - the witty "You Upset My Baby" with its "twenty eight in the waist...forty-four in the hips..." lyrics - and it still sounds cool a full sixty years after the event. By the time you get the Sixties ABC-Paramount material like "Blues At Midnight" and "Sneakin' Around" - the Production values go through the roof - these tracks sounding just amazing even if his guitar style is a tad drowned out by huge amounts of brass-band backing.

Disc 2 opens with a trio from the legendary "Live At The Regal Theatre" set which Mobile Fidelity once give the Gold CD treatment too ("Sweet Little Angel" sounds particularly awesome as do the screams of the little girls eager to get at B.B. when he saucily sings about "spreading her wings..."). One of the great things about Box sets like this is the discoveries - and one of them is the Stereo take of "All Over Again" - a forgotten mid-tempo piece about "letters in the morning" and "being better off dead" - the audio quality on this track alone is fabulous (lovely guitar licks too). He goes deep Blues on his cover of Joe Turner's "Cherry Red" and Britain's Fleetwood Mac must surely have had the slow shuffle-cymbals-and-echoed-guitar Blues of "Don't Answer The Door Parts 1 & 2" on repeat play in some London bedsit.

Disc 3 starts with the Seventies and it's easy to hear why three tracks appear from the wickedly good "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" LP (on Probe Records in the UK). One of my all time craves is "Chains And Things" - picked off the album as a 7" single in the UK on Probe PRO 516 in February 1971 (with "King's Special" on the B-side).  The A is a slinky almost Steely Dan "Do It Again" vibe which features no less than Carole King on Piano - it's brilliant. The other choice is "Hummingbird" written by Leon Russell and featuring its creator on Piano with Joe Walsh on Rhythm Guitar (James Gang, Eagles). Other interesting cuts include the Instrumental "Lucille Talks Back" and his stab at Funk in "Mother Fuyer". The Soulful strings of "Ghetto Woman" and brassy swagger of Jerry Ragovoy's "Ain't Nobody Home" come from the "In London" album which featured a huge array of talent - Gary Wright of Spooky Tooth on Keyboards, Dr. John on Piano, Bobby Keys (of The Rolling Stones) on saxophone with Klaus Voorman on bass (of "Revolver" fame") and Ringo Starr (of some Liverpool band) on Drums. "When It All Comes Down (I'll Still Be Around)" features Joe sample of The Crusaders with "Make Love To Me" ending Disc 3 in a shuffling Jazz/R'n'B fashion (sensational Production and the band cooking).

What I wasn't expecting was the quality of Disc 4 - the later stuff. Excluding a terrible Eighties production on "Into The Night" (opening track) - from "When Love Comes To Town" onwards its good all the way with an array of famous names contributing excellence - Robert Cray, Marty Stewart, Dr. John, Arthur Adam, Joe Sample, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and of course Ireland's U2. "Confessin' The Blues" is particularly chunky (Marty Stewart on Guitar and Vocals with Bill Payne of Little Feat on Keyboards) while Van Morrison puts in a spirited performance on the Traditional "Early In The Morning". Joe Sample of The Crusaders (sadly passed away recently) contributed "I'm Moving On" to that album while Arthur Adam plays guitar on the cut. One of the best true Blues tunes on the whole box is "There Is Always One More Time" - beautifully produced by Stewart Levine. Dr. John plays piano on the two Louis Jordan cover versions and turns up again on the Blind Lemon Jefferson/Furry Lewis CD finisher "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean". It's an impressive way to end the Box - still doing it after all these years and endless decades...

Some consider him a lightweight in terms of playing technique - some feel his live stuff far outweighs the recorded - but whatever you look at B.B. King - this is a lovingly crafted Box Set that deserves several listens in order to appreciate the sheer breath of his recording career.

Aged 89 in 2015 - B.B. King is still with us - still doing it - still playing the Blues. And that itself is a testament to his incredible musical career.

"...I'll survive..." - he sang all those years ago. And his music has...

"Sweet Harmony/Southern Winds/Open Your Eyes" by MARIA MULDAUR (2016 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC ROCK & POP 1970 to 1974 - Exceptional 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)

"...Make Love To The Music..."

Giving you her three forgotten Yacht Rock albums from the mid to late 70ts - "Sweet Harmony" (March 1976), "Southern Winds" (April 1978) and "Open Your Eyes" (August 1979) - this gorgeous-sounding Beat Goes On 2CD reissue remasters those three albums to absolute high-definition perfection.

This is one of the most accomplished CD transfers I've heard in years (another swelligant effort from BGO’s resident Audio wizard Andrew Thompson). But apart from the first album and bits of the second and some heavy-hitter musical contributions from the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Leon Russell, Michael McDonald, Patrick Henderson of The Doobie Brothers, Bill Payne of Little Feat, Motown’s Stevie Wonder and Jr. Walker and even the 'never guests on anything' guitarist J.J. Cale - you just wish the material (especially the later stuff) as well as the sound deserved such trouser-expanding excitement. But for me there's still enough to warrant purchase - so here are the breezy details anyway...

UK released Friday, 27 May 2016 (June 2016 in the USA) - "Sweet Harmony/Southern Winds/Open Your Eyes" by MARIA MULDAUR on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1232 (Barcode 5017261212320) offers up three full albums remastered onto two CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (57:23 minutes):

1. Sweet Harmony

2. Sad Eyes

3. Lying Song

4. Rockin' Chair

5. I Can't Stand It

6. We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye [Side 2]

7. Back By Fall

8. Jon The Generator

9. Wild Bird

10. As The Eagle Stirreth In Her Nest

Tracks 1 to 10 are her third studio album "Sweet Harmony" - released February 1976 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2235 and in the UK on Reprise K 54059. Produced by LENNY WARONKER and JOE BOYD and Engineered by LEE HERSCHBERG - it peaked at No. 54 on the LP charts.

11. Make Love To The Music

12. Say You Will

13. I'll Keep My Light In My Window

14. I Got A Man

15. Cajun Moon

Tracks 11 to 15 are Side 1 of her fourth studio album "Southern Winds" - released April 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3162 and may 1978 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56463. Produced by CHRISTOPHER BOND and Engineered by JOHN MILLS.

Disc 2 (59:57 minutes):

1. I Can't Say No

2. Here Is Where Your Love Belongs

3. That's The Way Love Is

4. Joyful Noise

5. My Sisters And Brothers

Tracks 1 to 5 are Side 2 of her fourth studio album "Southern Winds" - released April 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3162 and may 1978 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56463.

6. Fall In Love Again

7. Finally Made Love To A Man

8. Birds Fly South (When Winter Comes)

9. Heart Of Fire

10. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)

11. Open Your Eyes [Side 2]

12. (No More) Dancin' In The Street

13. Elona

14. Clean Up Woman

15. Love Is Everything

Tracks 6 to 15 are her fifth studio album "Open Your Eyes" - released August 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3305 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56634. Produced by PATRICK HENDERSON (of The Doobie Brothers) and DAVID NICHTERN (writer of "Midnight At The Oasis").

Housed in their now standard card-slipcase (renders the release a classy feel) - there's a packed 20-page booklet with hugely in-depth JOHN TOBLER liner notes that start on her Folk Days in the early sixties with The Even Dozen Jug Band (see my review for the 5CD set "The Greenwich Village Folk Scene - Original Album Series") and progress onto the three albums concerned. With every song being written by someone else and so many guest contributions - as you can imagine the factoids come fast and furious. There are full album credits and a few repro photos of the artwork.

But the big news is new 2016 High Definition Remasters by ANDREW THOMPSON from Original Master tapes licensed from parent company WEA. The moment you play "Sweet Harmony" for instance which is heavy on harmonising voices - the Audio is truly fab - beautifully clean. The Remasters effortlessly bring out the amazing original Production values of LENNY WARONKER (Randy Newman, James Taylor, Ry Cooder, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie Lee Jones etc) and England's Island Records in-house Engineer JOE BOYD (Incredible String Band, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, John Martyn etc). For the 3rd album CHRISTOPHER BOND of Hall & Oates fame (RCA period) was brought in - and again the results are pure audio dynamite. But let's get to the music...

The Gospel feel to "Sweet Harmony" makes for a very tasty album opener. Written by Motown's Smokey Robinson and with Strings arranged by Nick DeCaro - the Muldaur band consists of ace guitarists Amos Garrett and David Wilcox putting in licks as the voices swirl around them urging peace on the planet. "Sad Eyes" is a Neil Sedaka cover that is given a real boost by the Electric Guitar presence of J.J. Cale not to mention that West Coast mafia sessionmen - Waddy Watchel on Guitar, Willie Weeks on Bass and Russ Kunkel on Drums (because they've been on so many albums they're often referred to as 'The Section'). Kate and Annie McGarrigle provided the Country-ish "Lying Song" - while Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair" and Harry Wood's "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye" (a Harry Bennett and His Seven Aces song from 1933) are two of the old-timer Swing Jazz tunes.

Muldaur's association with songwriter Wendy Waldman would be long and production - she provides the pretty "Back By Fall" and "Wild Bird". Amongst my faves are two old Spirituals - "Jon The Generator" which is Blind Willy Johnson's "John The Revelator" under another name (Muldaur uses a brassed-up version of the John Herald adaption). Leaning in with a Pops Staples guitar tremble - her cover of Reverend William H. Brewster's "As An Eagle Stirreth In Her Nest" goes the route of those Staple Singers Epic LPs in the mid Sixties - loads of voices sanctifying while your neck jerks to that great guitar back beat. Even Arthur Adams gets an uncredited duet vocal on her Blues Brothers funky cover of The Soul Sisters 1964 Sue 45 "I Can't Stand It" - a dancing winner penned way back by Smokey McAllister.

Yacht Rock lovers will adore the downright sexy "Make Love To The Music" - the first of three songs Leon Russell contributed to the "Southern Winds" album. Clearly trying to ape the seductive success of "Midnight At The Oasis" (a song so pelvicly rhythmic that its apparently resulted in gazillions of Seventies pregnancies - like Santana's "Samba Pa Ti") - its harmony is the closest the LP gets to genuine magic. "Say You Will" is a co-write between Leon Russell and Gary Ogan of Elektra's 'Portland' while Rory Block wrote "I Got A Man". Not quite as good (or radical) as Herbie Mann's cool instrumental cover of J.J Cale's "Cajun Moon" (from his 1974 LP "Okie") - Muldaur's take is nonetheless a genuine highlight on an album that feels like its entering the area of diminishing returns - despite its polished production and player pedigree (slide guitar from Les Dudek).

Produced by Patrick Henderson of The Doobie Brothers and David Nichtern (the man who wrote her huge 1974 hit "Midnight At The Oasis") - the final offering is the least convincing of the three records despite some huge names guesting and providing songs. Michael McDonald fans will know that his "Open Your Eyes" (co-written with Patrick Henderson and Lester Abrams) on their magnificent December 1978 "Minute By Minute" album is an audio and musical joy - here it merely seems good rather than great. Stevie Wonder's trademark high-note harmonica tries to amplify David Nichtern's "Birds Fly South (When Winter Comes)" and Jr. Walker gives it some blasting Saxophone on "Heart Of Fire" - but both feel workmanlike rather than inspired. Her covers of John Hiatt's "(No More) Dancin' In The Street" and an ill-advised version of Betty Wright's 1971 Alston Records Funk classic "Clean Up Woman" do little to better the originals. Best is the confessional sexy love song "Finally Made Love To A Man" (something I've yet to do myself).

Re-listening to these three overlooked Maria Muldaur albums has been a fun and frustrating experience. There's magic in them dar well-produced hills - but there's also a fair share of fool's gold. Absolutely worth the punt - and fans will have to own this for that fabulous Audio...

"Manassas" by STEPHEN STILLS (2013 JAPAN Mini LP Reissue vs. 1993 US/UK/EURO Atlantic HDCD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Gonna Try Anyway..."

For all Stephen Stills fans there are touchstones in his amazing career – Buffalo Springfield at the beginning - followed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and his first two solo albums on Atlantic in 1970 and 1971. But almost all will feel a rush of excitement just clapping their weary eyes on the 1972 double-album sprawl of "Manassas" – for me easily as cool as 1972's "Exile On Main St." or "Quadrophenia" from the following year.

Stunning songs, top players and different musical styles across the four sides – it's a bit of a wow frankly - and Stills himself feels it’s amongst his best work. Not surprising then that eight songs from it turned up on the 2013 Stephen Stills "Carry On" 4CD retrospective (see separate review). Time to get familiar with this wickedly good double-album and its two versions on HDCD. Here are the keys to Johnny's Garden...

The UK/EUROPE/USA issue of "Manassas" by STEPHEN STILLS on Atlantic 7567-82808-2 (Barcode 075678280825) was released February 1993 (reissued October 1995) and is a HDCD reissue (High Definition Compatible Digital) with the full double-album transferred onto 1CD and plays out as follows (71:58 minutes):

Side 1 (called "The Raven"):

1. Song Of Love

2. Rock & Roll Crazies - Cuban Bluegrass (2 songs as 1)

3. Jet Set (Sigh)

4. Anyway

5. Both Of Us (Bound To Lose)

Side 2 (called "The Wilderness"):

6. Fallen Eagle

7. Jesus Gave Love Away For Free

8. Colorado

9. So Begins The Task

10. Hide It So Deep

11. Don't Look At My Shadow

Side 3 (called "Consider"):

12. It Doesn't Matter

13. Johnny's Garden

14. Bound To Fall

15. How Far

16. Move Around

17. The Love Gangster

Side 4 (called "Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay"):

18. What To Do

19. Right Now

20. The Treasure (Take One)

21. Blues Man [Dedicated To Jimi Hendrix, Al Wilson and Duane Allman]

Tracks 1 to 21 are the double-album "Manassas" – released April 1972 in the USA on Atlantic SD2-903 and May 1972 in the UK on Atlantic K 60021. The original vinyl LPs ran the Sides differently - Record 1 had Side 1 and 4 – while Record 2 had Sides 2 and 3. Howard and Ronnie Albert Engineered - Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman and Dallas Taylor Produced. "Manassas" peaked at No. 4 in the USA in late April 1972 and No. 30 in the UK in late May 1972.

The MANASSAS Band was:

STEPHEN STILLS – Guitars, Keyboards and Lead Vocals

CHRIS HILLMAN – Guitars and Backing Vocals

AL PERKINS – Guitars and Backing Vocals (including Steel Guitar)

PAUL HARRIS – Organ, Tack Piano, Piano, Clavinette and Keyboards

CALVIN “FUZZY” SAMUELS - Bass

JOE LALA – Congas, Timbales and Percussion

DALLAS TAYLOR – Drums

Guests:

JERRY AIELLO – Keyboards

BYRON BERLINE – Fiddle

SYDNEY GEORGE - Harmonica

BILL WYMAN – Bass on "The Raven" and "The Wilderness" Sides

ROGER BUSH – Acoustic Bass on "The Raven" and "The Wilderness" Sides

The 8-page booklet is very basic – tracks lists, musician and reissue credits with the inner gatefold of the double-album reproduced on the two centre pages. But fans will know that there was paper inners on American copies for both LPs (same picture on all four sides mind you) and a giant foldout poster with fantastic colour photos of the seven boys on one side and hand-written lyrics to every song on the other –and that's AWOL I'm afraid.

The other variant of "Manassas" by STEPHEN STILLS I have is the 23 September 2013 Japanese MINI LP ARTWORK Reissue on Warner Brothers/Atlantic WPCR-15257 (Barcode 4943674153107) that uses the old JOE GASTWIRT Remaster (there is a reference to the 1995 version on the OBI strip at the rear). At 71:58 minutes the playing time is exactly the same as the widely available HDCD variants and the Orange/Green label also carries the HDCD code. The repro'd artwork is gorgeous – using the American textured hard card gatefold cover. Typical of their attention to detail they've also repro’d the Inner Sleeve with the side profile shot of Stephen Stills (one for one disc - see photos provided) and the fold-out lyric poster that came with both US and UK original vinyl copies. On top of all that is the usual white-pages Japanese language booklet with lyrics (24-pages).

Try as I might – I can't hear any real Audio difference between the Japanese issue and the common Euro/US pressing – except to say that the Japanese issue (which is made and mastered in Japan) has a more pronounced and warmer Bass on some songs  – bottom end. Other than that you're paying a lot of money for what is admittedly gorgeous packaging. So the thing to remember about the Japanese repress is that it's not a SHM-CD and not a new Remaster - so any claims of Audio improvement is very debatable. There is also a 2013 Japanese issue of the follow-up LP "Down The Road" in the same Mini LP packaging.

I mention the Audio a lot because if you play any of the eight tracks from Manassas featured on the 2013 Stephen Stills "Carry On" Box Set – you 'can' hear the improvement big time – beautiful clarity on softer songs like "Colorado" and “It Doesn’t Matter” (which was always a tad muddy on every issue) and more muscle on rockers like "Song Of Love" and "Jet Set (Sigh)". That box set also carries a Previously Unreleased shorter take of "The Treasure" running to 4:20 minutes instead of the released Take 1 version here at over 8-minutes (could have been added on a bonus).

The music is a mishmash of Rock on Side 1 with the fantastic riffage of "Song Of Love" and "Anyway" nestling alongside Acoustic ballads like "Johnny's Garden" and "Bound To Lose". These jostle alongside out-and-out Banjo-picking Country Rockabilly in the shape of "Fallen Angel" and "Don't Look At My Shadow". CSNY's harmony-influence surfaces on shuffling California songs like "So Begins The Task" and the beautiful "Colorado". Hidden nuggets include the wickedly musical Synth and Acoustic soundscape of "Move Around" and the stunning Wah-Wah Guitar Funk of "The Love Gangster" (surely would have made a great 45). "Right Now" is a kind of "Deja Vu" fast-paced boogie - but it's outclassed big time by the album finisher "Blues Man" - easily the coolest tune he's ever penned for a Guitar - a song that tears them up even now 44-years after the event.

The truth is that if I feel there's even a millisecond of improvement on "Manassas" - then I had to own the beautiful Japanese repro. I suspect others will feel exactly the same. 

GENIUS and then some...