"Greenhouse" by LEO KOTTKE (1990, 1997 and 2008 Beat Goes On CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...A Tiny Island Floating In The Sea..."

I always find it astonishing that Leo Kottke's fifth album "Greenhouse" from the spring of 1972 is not lauded from on high nor held in as much reverence as its predecessors by critics - because the ace guitarist dares to 'sing' on some tracks.

Frankly I find all-instrumental LPs hard work at the best of times - but with 1972's "Greenhouse" - the virtuoso picker waxes lyrical on four of the tunes while the other seven are 6 and 12-string acoustic instrumentals. And for my money I can't get enough of his deep toned voice. I've got the magical live album follow up "My Feet Are Smiling" from 1973 and "Mudlark" that preceded them in 1971 - but its the gorgeous studio set "Greenhouse" that I return to most - an 'overlooked album' masterpiece if ever there was one. 

OK - titles like "From The Cradle To The Grave" and "You Don't Have To Need Me" may not indicate a '...I'd like to buy the world a Coke and sing in perfect harmony...' cheery-man's persona - but there is undeniable beauty in these Kottke songs. And this is before we even get to how ridiculously good his fingerpicking is - his slide work up and down those acoustic necks that would make Bert Jansch and Jimmy Page nervous. Throw in the warmth of his melodies - even when he's doing someone else's song (his beautiful cover of Paul Siebel's "Louise") – the overall impact is one of 'musical peace' if that makes any sense. Here are the 'don't throw stones' details...

UK released October 1990 (reissued September 1997 and December 2008) - "Greenhouse" by LEO KOTTKE on Beat Goes On BGOCD 50 (Barcode 5017261200501) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 11-track 1972 LP and plays out as follows (36:39 minutes)

1. Bean Time

2. Tiny Island

3. The Song Of The Swamp

4. In Christ There Is No East Or West

5. Last Steam Engine Train

6. From The Cradle To The Grave

7. Louise [Side 2]

8. The Spanish Entomologist

9. Owls

10. You Don't Have To Need Me

11. Lost John

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 5th studio album "Greenhouse" - released February 1972 in the USA on Capitol ST-11000 and delayed to March 1973 in the UK on Capitol E-ST 11000. Produced by DENNY BRUCE - the LP peaked at No. 127 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

"Tiny Island", "Louise", "From The Cradle To The Grave" and "You Don't Have To Need Me" are the four vocal songs on the LP sung by Kottke - the other seven are instrumentals. "Louise" is a Paul Siebel cover, "In Christ There Is No East Or West" and "Last Steam Engine Train" are John Fahey covers and "Tiny Island" is by Al Gaylor. "From The Cradle To The Grave" has music by Kottke and lyrics by Ron Nagle - "Lost John" is a Traditional adapted from a version by Doc Watson - all others are Kottke originals. Leo plays all 6 and 12-string Acoustic guitars on every track except "Lost John" where he's joined by Steve Gammell on second guitar.

England's Beat Goes On Records have had a 'thing' for LEO KOTTKE from the beginning of their near 30-year reissue service (see list below). CD number 50 in their back catalogue first appeared in October 1990 - was reissued September 1997 with the 1990 CD inside even though it has a 1997 copyright date on the artwork (new JOHN TOBLER liner notes in 1997) - and remains reissued on their catalogue since December 2008 (with the 1990 CD inside). In short this CD transfer and remaster has been on their books 26 years - hell I've a son that's almost that old. But why fix what isn't broken. The audio on this CD transfer is gorgeous to my ears - beautifully crisp and clean. Sound engineer SHORTY MARTINSON who did the original Acoustic recordings at Sound Eighty Studios in Minneapolis caught his performances so sweetly. Except to say that BGO licensed this from 'EMI Records Ltd' at the time - it doesn't say who remastered this or where - but I'm not fussing because the Audio is wonderful.

The 8-page inlay with John Tobler liner notes give a potted history of his 20 or so albums to the late Nineties - his enigma even to his fans - his staggering playing skills – and despite the wildly un-commercial nature of his music – how he charted 9 albums in the USA over the years. But you do wish he'd have elaborated more on the actual "Greenhouse" album that gets a bunch of sentences that are over too soon.

Born in Athens, Georgia in September 1945 (REM's spiritual home) - Kottke once cheerfully describing his singing voice as "...geese farts on a muggy day..." I think he's playing down his talents way too much - a cross between the nasal whine of Michael Chapman but the warmth of say Don McLean - I find his rich deep voice incredibly welcoming. That's what makes "Greenhouse" such a great LP. It opens with "Bean Time" - written for his grandfather who got him his first job doing the dread 'bean picking' out in the hot fields - "Bean Time" is a typical speedy instrumental where he attacks those frets like a wasp homing in its prey. Portland's Al Gaylor wrote the lovely "Tiny Island" and is the first of four vocals on the album (lyrics from it title this review). It's just Kottke and Guitar - a simple song filled with deep longing for peace - and it fits in with that image of him on the back cover of the LP - his head just visible - bobbing - peeping up just above the foliage in the greenhouse.

We then get his staggering combination of melody and playing technique in "The Song Of The Swamp" - a slide acoustic instrumental that wows even now on several fronts (beautiful transfer on CD too) that he describes in his original LP liner notes as 'a slithery tune concerning the pitfalls of real estate'. Two John Fahey covers follow - the instrumental spiritual "In Christ There Is No East Or West" and the 'catch that mother' pace of "Last Steam Engine Train" where you can see that loco puffing down the line like a giddy child. "...Running for my life at every moment...never having time to catch my breath..." he sings on Ron Nagle's cheery life assessment "From The Cradle To The Grave".

He wowed the live audience with his playing on the "My Feet Are Smiling" album in 1973 - but of the two tracks he featured from "Greenhouse" (the other was the instrumental "Bean Time") - it was Paul Siebel's lament for "Louise" - a lady of the night who died in a hotel room - that moved the audience. And it's easy to hear why - the beauty of the song having been picked up since by Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and Willy DeVille. "The Spanish Entomologist" is a combo of his favourite childhood melodies done on rapid slide (you'll hear 'Jambalaya' and 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds' in their amongst others). But that leads into my crave - the five minutes of "Owls" - a simply beautiful acoustic instrumental that speeds then slows then speeds again - his playing sublime - a sort of bluegrass ballad that oozes beauty - I love it to bits. "...I can't take all your love...while you take none of mine..." he pines on the downbeat "You Don't Have To Need Me" - but things cheer up on the unbelievable slide 12-string madness that is "Lost John". Apparently Kottke based his interpretation on Doc Watson's harmonica solo in his Country version of the Traditional.

Unique - majestical – at peace with itself. 

"Greenhouse" is the bomb and damn the torpedoes but keep on singing Leo...

Beat Goes On CD Remasters for LEO KOTTKE

1. Mudlark (1971) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 101

2. Greenhouse (1972) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 50

3. My Feet Are Smiling (Live, 1973) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 134

4. Ice Water (1974) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 146

5. Dreams And All That Stuff (1974) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 132

6. Chewing Pine (1975) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 148

7. Leo Kottke (1977) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 257

8. Burnt Lips (1978) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 259

9. Balance (1979) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 263

10. Live In Europe (1980) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 265

11. Guitar Music (1981) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 261

12. Time Step (1983) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 255
13. Leo Kottke 1971-1976 (1977 compilation) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 362

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 8: 1956" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…In Paradise…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the Church Bells, In The Still Of The Nite on The Woo Woo Train...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 8: 1956" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17286 AR (Barcode 4000127172860) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 85:47 minutes):

1. In The Still Of The Nite - THE FIVE SATINS (Standord 6106 and Ember 1005, A)

2. Stranded In The Jungle - THE CADETS (Modern 994, A)

3. On What A Nite - THE DELLS (Vee-Jay 204, A)

4. I Want You To Be My Girl - FRANKIE LYMON and THE TEENAGERS (Gee 1012, A)

5. I'll Be Home - THE FLAMINGOS (Checker 830, A)

6. Ruby Baby - THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 45-1089, A)

7. My Prayer - THE PLATTERS (Mercury 70893, A)

8. Come Go With Me - THE DELL-VIKINGS (Fee Bee FB-205 and Dot 15538, A)

9. A Thousand Miles Away - THE HEARTBEATS (Hull 720 and Rama 216, A)

10. Up On The Mountain - THE MAGNIFICENTS (Vee-Jay 83, A)

11. The Way You Look Tonight - THE JAGUARS (R-Dell 11, A)

12. Church Bells Will Ring - THE WILLOWS (Melba 102, A)

13. The Closer You Are - THE CHANNELS (Whirlin Disc 100, A)

14. I Promise - JIMMY CASTOR and THE JUNIORS (Wing 90078, A)

15. In Paradise - THE COOKIES (Atlantic 45-1084, A)

16. Zoom - THE CADILLACS with Jesse Powell's Orchestra (Josie 792, A)

17. A Casual Look - THE SIX TEENS (Flip 315, A)

18. Little Girl Of Mine - THE CLEFTONES with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Gee 1011, A)

19. Bad Boy - THE JIVE BOMBERS featuring Clarence Palmer (Savoy 1508, A)

20. Down In Mexico - THE COASTERS (Atlantic 6064, A)

21. Castle In The Sky - THE BOP CHORDS featuring Ernest Harriston (Holiday 2601, A)

22. You Gave Me Peace Of Mind - THE SPANIELS with Al Smith's Orchestra (Vee-Jay 229, B-side of "Please Don't Tease")

23. Ka-Ding-Dong - THE G-CLEFS (Pilgrim 715, A)

24. Devil Or Angel - THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 45-1083, A)

25. I'm So Happy (Tra-La-La-La-La-La) - LEWIS LYMON and THE TEENCHORDS (Fury 1000, A)

26. Bacon Fat - ANDRE WILLIAMS (Mr. Rhythm) & His New Group (Fortune 831 and Epic 9196, A)

27. Rubber Biscuit - THE CHIPS (Josie 803, A)

28. See Saw - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1629, A)

29. Lover - JIMMY JONES & THE PRENTENDERS with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Rama 210, A)

30. Let's You And I Go Steady - THE PEARLS with SAMMY LOWE & ORCHESTRA (Onxy 503, A)

31. The Woo Woo Train - THE VALENTINES with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Rama 196, B-side of "Why")

32. Please, Please, Please - JAMES BROWN & His Famous Flames (Federal 12258, A)

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1956 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Gee, Mercury, Savoy, Atlantic, Holiday, Josie). The CD repros the rare "Rubber Biscuit" 45 on Josie by The Chips and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but the sound quality to my ears is improved on everything that I've heard before. The audio and presentation are top-class here - and the listen is fab...

1956 was a pivotal year in Vocal Group history hitting something of a pinnacle - and this disc shows that. But what makes it such a fabulous listen is the mixture of paces - slow smoochers - bopping dancers - mid-tempo lurches - and all of it in top audio quality. While The Cadets "Stranded In The Jungle" has always been a funny tune ("meanwhile back in the States...") - the magic really kicks in with the truly gorgeous "Oh What A Nite" by The Dells - as lovely and as romantic a tune as ever penned (and a $120.00 rarity). The same applies to The Heartbeats beautiful "A Thousand Miles Away" where Arthur Crump's Tenor soars as he bemoans distance between him and his girl (they later became Shep and The Limelites) while equally sweet is the lesser-heard cover version of the standard "The Way You Look Tonight" by The Jaguars - a $300 rarity on R-Dell Records (great audio too on the backing singers and accompanying piano).

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "queen of my throne" song "Church Bells Will Ring" by The Willows complete with church-like chimes (another $300 rarity). Soul man Jimmy Castor (Jimmy Castor Bunch) started his career on a R 'n' B dancer - the obscure "I Promise" where he does his best Lymon "Juvenile Delinquent" impression. I've always loved The Cookies "In Paradise" - a little slice of Atlantic Records mid-tempo class (it's on the "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1949-1974" 8CD box set) while bopping returns with handclaps and saxophone on the happy "Zoom" by The Cadillacs. A soldier boy's face freezes when he proposes in "A Casual Look" by The Six Teens while the happy-teen theme continues on "Little Girl Of Mine".

We slow to the "la, la, la..." chorus on the wonderfully smooth "Bad Boy" by The Jive Bombers where our love-smitten hero tells us that life is "just a bowl of cherries..." (more gorgeous audio too). We then go "Down In Mexico" with The Coasters where a man with a black moustache plays a piano in a Honky Tonk with dodgy consequences South of the Border. A rare and clever inclusion is the upbeat "Castle In The Sky" on the obscure Holiday label by The Bop Chords - top vocal R'n'B with a wicked Sax solo. We're then back to proper Vocal Group territory with The Spaniels on "You Gave Me Peace Of Mind" where you can literally see the group swaying beneath a streetlight. Another Atlantic Records gem is "Devil Or Angel" by the wonderful Clovers - a Number 3 Billboard R'n'B hit in January 1956. Finger-clicking cool kicks in with the impossibly smooth Andre Williams - "it's sweeping the South...that thing called Bacon Fat..." We then go back to dancing with the rare "Rubber Biscuit" by The Chips - a fun and funny song with almost impenetrable rhyming Cab Calloway lyrics - and the utterly infectious and brill "See Saw" by The Moonglows. Happy days... And the whole Disc ends with James Brown giving a nod to the Soul years to come with the incomparably brilliant "Please, Please, Please"

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them. Another gold standard from Bear...

"Romany" 1972 LP by THE HOLLIES (Inside 'Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies January 1969 - March 1973' - 2015 Parlophone 5CD Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

The 1972 "Romany" LP by THE HOLLIES On CD Inside The "Changin' Times..." 5CD Set

"...Cast You Spell Over me One More Time..." 

The 1972 album "Romany" by The Hollies can be found on CD in two places – the now deleted 2007 EMI singular CD reissue with 8 Bonus Tracks (has become very pricey since deletion) – or inside "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973". I'd suggest getting "Romany" inside the 5CD set because its easily accessible and offers so much more on top of that great album (five other LPs worth as well as non-album 7" singles, outtakes and rarities). "Romany" was also issued with different track lists in the UK and USA and the "Changin' Time..." set will allow fans to sequence both. Here are the finite details...

UK and USA released July 2015 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" by THE HOLLIES on Parlophone 0825646336111 (Barcode 0825646336111) is a 5CD Set in a multiple-layer double-sized jewel case. The "Romany" album had different tracks lists in the UK (12) and USA (11) and either can be sequenced from this 5-disc set as follows (3/5 = Track 3 on Disc 5 - 6/4 = Track 6 on Disc 4 etc.):

"Romany" - November 1972 UK 12-Track LP on Polydor 2383 144

Side 1:

1. Won't You Feel Good That Morning [3/5]

2. Touch [6/4]

3. Words Don't Come Easy [17/4]

4. Magic Woman Touch [13/4]

5. Lizzy And The Rainman [15/4]

6. Down River [12/4]

Side 2:

1. Slow Down [2/5]

2. Delaware Taggett And The Outlaw Boys [15/4]

3. Jesus Was A Crossmaker [11/4]

4. Romany [7/4]

5. Blue In The Morning [10/4]

6. Courage Of Your Convictions [18/4]

"Romany" - November 1972 USA 11-Track LP on Epic E 31992

Side 1:

1. Magic Woman Touch [13/4]

2. Touch [6/4]

3. Words Don't Come Easy [17/4]

4. Won’t We Feel Good [aka Won’t You Feel Good That Morning] [3/5]

5. Down River [12/4]

Side 2:

1. Slow Down [2/5]

2. Delaware Taggett And The Outlaw Boys [15/4]

3. Jesus Was A Crossmaker [11/4]

4. Romany [7/4]

5. Blue In The Morning [10/4]

6. Courage Of Your Convictions [18/4]

BONUS TRACKS:

The eight Bonus Tracks on the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD of "Romany" are:

13. The Baby - a non-album UK 7” single A-side released 4 February 1972 on Polydor 2058 199 (Track 5 on Disc 4). For the non-album B-side "Oh Granny" see Track 4 on Disc 4

14. Magic Woman Touch (Acoustic Version) – Track 14 on Disc 4

15. Indian Girl – non-album B-side of "Magic Woman Touch" – a UK 7” single released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289 – Track 9 on Disc 3

16. If It Wasn’t For The Reason – recorded between the sessions for “Romany” and “Out On The Road” – Track 4 on Disc 5

17. Papa Rain – Previously Unreleased until 2007 on the 'Expanded Edition' – Track 8 on Disc 4

18. Witchy Woman - Previously Unreleased until 2007 on the 'Expanded Edition' (Eagles cover version) – Track 1 on Disc 5

19. Oh Granny (Terry Sylvester Vocal Version) - a non-album UK 7” single B-side to "The Baby" released 4 February 1972 on Polydor 2058 199 - Track 4 on Disc 4

20. I Had A Dream - non-album B-side to the US 7" single of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" (Judee Sill cover) release May 1973 on Epic Records 5-10989 - June 1973 German 7" single (in picture sleeve) of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" on Hansa 12 728 AT – Track 16 on Disc 5

OUTTAKE:

If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You – recorded September 1972 after the "Romany" sessions - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311 – Track 4 on Disc 5

THE HOLLIES (December 1971 to March 1973)

Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert, Terry Sylvester and Mikael Rickfors

The 24-page booklet features a witty and clever introduction called 'Elucidating Observations' by the band's long-standing drummer BOBBY ELLIOTT (reminiscences of Graham being rescued from the beer-swilling Hollies by David Crosby to join him on the CSNY odyssey) - a UK Discography for the singles and LP – pages of rare European, US and Japanese 7” single picture sleeves – album covers – and track by track recording details. It's well done - the colour centre pages photo sees the boys staring out of set of broken windows somewhere in Nuremberg - and for such a huge haul of music is priced cheaply too.

Across 92 tracks are the A&B-sides of eight British 7" singles, six full albums (five British on Parlophone and one European on Hansa), six LP and CD compilation exclusives, non-album European/USA single releases and the bonus tracks that came with the ‘Extended Version’ CD of “Romany”. The six albums are: "Hollies Sing Dylan" (May 1969), "Hollies Sing Hollies" (November 1969), "Confessions Of The Mind" (November 1970), "Distant Light" (October 1971), "Romany" (November 1972) and "Out On The Road" (Germany-Only, June 1973).

By all accounts the "Romany" LP shouldn’t work. The band’s mentor and one of their principal songwriters Allan Clarke had jumped ship for a solo career and that other great tune contributor and original member Tony Hicks coughed up only one song  - "Blue In The Morning" – a co-write with fellow Englishman Kenny Lynch. Swedish singer Mikael Rickfors gave them the gorgeous "Touch" whilst "Down River" and "Jesus Was A Crossmaker" were covers of David Ackles and Judee Sill songs. The remainder were primarily from the pen of Colin Horton-Jennings – the Vocalist and Guitarist with obscure Harvest Records act The Greatest Show On Earth. It shouldn’t work but it does...

Instead of feeling like an LP of disparate songs written by other people – it feels like a grown up Hollies album – gorgeous harmony vocals allied with superb Abbey Road production values (Produced by The Hollies but engineered by Pink Floyd men Alan Parsons (The Dark Side Of The Moon) and Peter Bown (The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn). In fact I’d argue that if "Romany" had been the next Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young after 1970’s "Deja Vu" – they’d have even more garlands laid at their holy CSNY feet than they already do.

The UK LP opens with "Won’t You Feel Good That Morning" – the first of two songs written by the Trio of Cy Crane, Herbert Weiner and John Gluck Jr. – the other is "Slow Down" – both still mysteriously credited to M. Leslie and B. Day in the booklet (whoever they are). After the semi-rocker of "Won’t You Feel Good That Morning" – the beautiful "Touch" establishes the true tone of the album – melodious ballads. I love the understated guitar playing on this track and that ever present comfort organ. "Words Don’t Come Easy" is the first Colin Horton-Jennings song – a crying Spanish lady song with the shadow of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young lingering over the entire melodious production.

He also contributed the winner of "Magic Woman Touch" – a co-write by Horton-Jennings with his fellow Greatest Show On Earth band member Norman Watt-Roy (who also did a stint with Deram Prog Rockers East Of Eden). Worlds away from Prog or complicated overtures - "Magic Woman Touch" is pure Hollies pop brilliance and why the November 1972 UK 7” single on Polydor 2058 289 wasn’t a Top 5 smash is an absolute mystery (it didn’t make the Top 40). Americans Kenny O’Dell and Larry Henley penned "Lizzy And The Rainman" and even put it out as a US 45 on Kapp K-2178 in July 1972 (as "Lizzie And The Rain Man"). Both it and David Ackle’s "Down River" feel right – piano ballads that work.

The rocker "Slow Down" feels like bad Status Quo at times and slightly out of place. Better is another Colin Horton-Jennings tale of dodgy cowboys "Delaware Taggett And The Outlaw Boys" that has more than a passing musical resemblance to the slick guitar chug of "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress". May 1973 saw The Hollies release their sublime cover of Judee Sill’s "Jesus Was A Crossmaker" in the USA on Epic 5-10989 with the non-album "I Had A Dream" on the flipside (Track 16 on Disc 5). But that’s trumped by the final Colin Horton-Jennings composition – the superb title track "Romany" – The Hollies sounding so damn good. It ends of "Blue In The Morning" – a ‘as soon as I saw the look in her eyes I knew it was over’ song penned by Tony Hicks and Kenny Lynch – while the poppy guitar of "Courage Of Your Convictions" is from Alan Rush and Randy Cullers both of whom have contributed songs to Kris Kristofferson, David Linde and Elvis Presley in his final years.

Further glory would follow for The Hollies on Polydor with Alan Clarke taking the song-writing ascendancy ("The Air That I Breathe") - while Graham Nash went on of course to conquer the West Coast of America and then the entire world with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young and all of the CSNY off-shoots.

"…Cast your spell upon me one more time..." - THE HOLLIES sang on the wonderful "Magic Woman Touch".

"Romany" is a blindingly good album and you want it in your home. Let this 'Elucidating Observation' touch your life and roam over your undulating hills (if that’s not too fruity for 2016)...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 7: 1955" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Adorable…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the Fools in Love down at Smokey Joe's Café...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 7: 1955" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17285 AR (Barcode 4000127172853) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 88:26 minutes):

1. Why Do Fools Fall In Love - THE TEENAGERS featuring FRANKIE LYMON (Gee GG-1002)

2. Most Of All - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1589)

3. Speedo - THE CADILLACS/JESSE POWELL ORCHESTRA (Josie 785)

4. Close Your Eyes - THE FIVE KEYS (Capitol F 3032)

5. At My Front Door - THE EL DORADOS (Vee Jay VJ-147)

6. Adorable - THE COLTS (Vita V-112)

7. What'Cha Gonna Do - CLYDE McPHATTER and THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 1055)

8. Story Untold - THE NUTMEGS (Herald H-452)

9. Only You (And You Alone) - THE PLATTERS (Mercury 70633)

10. Don't Change Your Pretty Ways - THE MIDNIGHTERS (Federal 12243)

11. Lonely Nights - THE HEARTS with AL SEARS ORCHESTRA (Baton 208)

12. When You Dance - THE TURBANS (Herald H-458)

13. Got The Water Boiling - THE REGALS (Atlantic 1062)

14. The Way You Dog Me Around - THE DIABLOS featuring NOLAN STRONG (Fortune 518)

15. Chop Chop Boom - THE DANDELIERS/DALLAS TAYLOR Vocalist (States S-147)

16. Soldier Boy - THE FOUR FELLOWS/ABIE BAKER ORCHESTRA (Glory 234)

17. Come Back My Love - THE WRENS (Rama 65)

18. Why Don't You Write Me - THE JACKS (RPM 428)

19. Witchcraft - THE SPIDERS (Imperial X 5366, B-side of "Is It True?")

20. Life Is But A Dream - THE HARPTONES (Paradise 101)

21. Smokey's Joe Café - THE ROBINS (Spark 122 and Atco 6059)

22. Smoke From Your Cigarette - THE MELLOWS featuring LILLIAN LEACH (Jay-Dee 797)

23. You Tickle Me Baby - THE ROYAL JOKERS with Orchestra (Atco 6052)

24. Heaven And Paradise - DON JULIAN and THE MEADOWLARKS  (DooTone 359)

25. You Baby You - THE CLEFTONES/JIMMY WRIGHT & His Orchestra (Gee GG-1000)

26. Burn That Candle - THE CUES (Capitol F 3245)

27. It Wasn't A Lie - THE FI-TONES QUINTETTE (Atlas 1051)

28. Rollin' Stone - THE MARIGOLDS (Excello 2057)

29. Newly Wed - THE ORCHIDS (Parrot 815)

30. Zindy Lou - THE CHIMES (Specialty 555, B-side of "Tears On My Pillow")

31. Lily Maebelle - THE VALENTINES (Rama RR-171)

32. The Door Is Still Open - THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 1054)

33. Red Hots And Chili Mac - THE MOROCCOS/Vocal by Ralph Vernon (United U-193)

[Note: Track 10 by THE MIDNIGHTERS is co-written by and features Hank Ballard]

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1955 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Rama, Vita, Mercury, Parrot, Imperial, States, Atco, Specialty and Herald). The CD repros the rare "The Door is Open" 45 on Atlantic by The Cardinals (a Chuck Willis song) and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly and can at times be crude - but the sound quality to my ears is improved on everything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity - especially the Atlantic and DooTone sides. Rarities include The Orchids ($400.00), Don Julian and The Meadowlarks ($200.00), The Valentines ($200.00), The Wrens ($150.00), The Harptones ($150.00, The Fi-Tones Quintette ($100.00) and many more.

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "cooking your goose" song by The Regals ("Got The Water Boiling") and "the spell's on me now" tune by The Spiders ("Witchcraft"). Another dancer is the guitar-driven "Don't Change Your Pretty Ways" with Hank Ballard giving it some "baby please" vocals out front. I've never heard the zippy "Red Hots And Chili Mac" or the frantic "At My Front Door" by The Moroccos and The El Dorados but they're tight. Mid-tempo tunes include "Chop Chop Boom" by The Dandeliers and The Colts accurate cover of "Adorable" (originally a hit for The Drifters) while vocal group magic comes in the shape of The Moonglows, The Diablos, The Cardinals (what a tune) and the lovely Lillian Leach vocal on "Smoke From Your Cigarette" - a bluesy lounge lizard. Purists will love the gorgeous and classy "It Wasn't A lie" by the obscure Fi-Tones Quintette - as good as example as you can get of a Street Corner Symphony. Even the overly familiar "Only You (And You Alone" sounds fresh - very nicely done.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point. Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them. Gold standard as always from Bear...

"Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies January 1969 to March 1973" by THE HOLLIES (2015 Parlophone 5CD Set with Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Cast You Spell Over me One More Time..." 

Following on from the May 2011 six-disc clump of early HOLLIES that was "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" - we now get Volume 2 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" - which weighs in at a paltry 5 discs.

But for my money - this second motherlode of HOLLIES melody is even more amazing that its much-praised predecessor. There's a veritable avalanche of detail to get through - so once more unto those Romany hills...

UK and USA released July 2015 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" by THE HOLLIES on Parlophone 0825646336111 (Barcode 0825646336111) is a 5CD Set in a multiple-layer double-sized jewel case that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (66:53 minutes, 21 tracks):

1. Sorry Suzanne

2. Not That Way At All

Tracks 1 & 2 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 28 February 1969 on Parlophone R 5765

3. Blowin' In The Wind

4. I Shall Be Released

5. The Mighty Quinn

6. This Wheel’s On Fire

7. The Times They Are A-Changin'

8. Quit Your Lowdown Ways

9. I Want You

10. Just Like A Woman

11. When The Ship Comes In

12. My Back Pages

13. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

14. All I Really Want To Do

Tracks 3 to 14 are the album "Hollies Sing Dylan" - released May 1969 in the UK on Parlophone PMC 7079 (Mono) and Parlophone PCS 7079 (Stereo) and as "Words And Music By Bob Dylan" in the USA on Epic BN 26447 (Stereo only) - the STEREO mix is used (same Tracks both LPs). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence either LP as released - use the following songs (all on Disc 1):

UK and USA 12-Track LP "Hollies Sing Dylan"/"Words And Music By Bob Dylan"

Side 1: 11, 13, 9, 6, 4 and 3

Side 2: 8, 10, 7, 14, 12 and 5

15. Do You Believe In Love

16. Please Sign Your Letters

17. Cos You Like To Love Me

18. Please Let Me Please

19. Goodbye Tomorrow

20. She Looked My Way

21. My Life Is Over With You (see Disc 2)

Disc 2 (61:29 minutes, 19 tracks):

1. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

Track 1 is the A-side to a UK 7" single released 19 September 1969 on Parlophone R 5806 (the album-cut "'Cos You Like To Love Me" was the B-side)

2. Soldier's Dilemma

3. Marigold/Gloria Swansong

4. You Love 'Cos You Like It

5. Why Didn't You Believe

6. Look At Life

7. Louisiana Man (from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311)

8. Don't Give Up Easily

9. Reflections Of A Long Time Past

Tracks 15 to 21 on Disc 1 and Tracks 2 to 6 and 8 and 9 on Disc 2 is the LP "Hollies Sing Hollies" - released November 1969 in the UK on Parlophone PCS 7092 and in the USA as "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" on Epic BN 26538 with a different track list (both Stereo only). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence the actual "Hollies Sing Hollies" UK 12-track LP or the US 11-track variant as released - use the following songs (5/2 = Track 5 on Disc 2 etc.):

UK 12-Track LP "Hollies Sing Hollies"

Side 1: 5/2, 8/2, 6/2, 16/1, 21/1 and 18/1

Side 2: 15/1, 2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 9/2 and 19/1

US 11-Track LP "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (different on Side 2 only)

Side 1: 5/2, 8/2, 6/2, 16/1, 21/1 and 18/1

Side 2: 15/1, 1/2, 4/2, 9/2 and 19/1

10. I Wanna Shout

11. Lady Please

12. Sign Of The Times (from the 1998 CD compilation "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" on EMI 7243 4 93450 2 7)

13. Separated

14. Little Girl

15. Eleanors Castle - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

16. Confessions Of A Mind

17. Mad Professor Blyth

18. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top

Tracks 17 and 18 are the B and A-side of a UK 7" single released 10 April 1970 on Parlophone R 5837

19. Dandelion Wine

Track 19 on Disc 2 is the non-album B-side to "Gasoline Alley Bred" - released as a UK 7" single 18 September 1970 on Parlophone R 5862 (the A-side is Track 7 on Disc 3)

Disc 3 68:03 minutes, 18 tracks):

1. Survival Of The Fittest

2. Perfect Lady Housewife

3. Isn't It Nice

4. Too Young To Be Married

5. Frightened Lady

6. Man Without A Heart

7. Gasoline Alley Bred

Track 7 is the non-album A-side of a UK 7" single released 18 September 1970 on Parlophone R 5862 (the non-album B-side "Dandelion Wine" is Track 19 on Disc 2)

Tracks 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16 on Disc 2 with Tracks 1 to 6 on Disc 3 make up the album "Confessions Of The Mind" - released November 1970 in the UK as an 11-track LP on Parlophone PCS 7116 and as "Moving Finger" in the USA on Epic E 30255 (both Stereo only). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence the actual "Confessions Of The Mind" and "Moving Finger" LPs as released (for both countries) - use the following tracks (10/2 = Track 5 on Disc 2 - 2/3 = Track 2 on Disc 3 etc.):

UK LP "Confessions Of The Mind"

Side 1: 1/3, 6/3, 14/2, 3/3, 2/3 and 16/2

Side 2: 11/2, 5/3, 4/3, 13/2 and 10/2

US LP "Moving Finger" (different configuration on both sides)

Side 1: 1/3, 16/2, 11/2, 14/2, 4/3 and 6/3

Side 2: 3/3, 5/3, 3/2, 2/3 and 7/3

8. Hey Willy

9. Row The Boat Together

Tracks 8 and 9 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 14 May 1971 on Parlophone R 5905

10. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)

11. You Know The Score

12. Pull Down The Blind

13. Promised Land

14. What A Life I've Led

15. Cable Car

16. Hold On

17. To Do With Love

18. Look What You've Got

Disc 4 (67:45 minutes, 18 tracks):

1. Long Dark Road

2. A Little Thing Like Love

Tracks 10 to 18 on Disc 3 and Tracks 1 and 2 on Disc 4 make up the album "Distant Light" - released October 1971 in the UK on Parlophone PAS 10005 and in the USA on Epic KE 30958 (same track list both countries). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order - to sequence the actual "Distant Light" LP as released use the following tracks (10/3 = Track 10 on Disc 3 - 1/4 = Track 1 on Disc 4 etc.):

Side 1: 14/3, 18/3, 16/3, 12/3, 17/3 and 13/3

Side 2: 10/3, 11/3, 15/3, 2/4 and 1/4

3. Oh Granny (Allan Clarke Vocal Version) - from the 1993 UK CD compilation "Singles A's & B's" on EMI/Music For Pleasure CDMFP 5980

4. Oh Granny (Terry Sylvester Vocal Version)

5. The Baby

Tracks 5 and 4 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 4 February 1972 on Polydor 2058 199

6. Touch

7. Romany (see Disc 5)

8. Papa Rain - a Previously Unreleased track from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

9. Indian Girl - non-album B-side to the UK single of "Magic Woman Touch" released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289

10. Blue In The Morning

11. Jesus Was A Crossmaker

12. Down River

13. Magic Woman Touch (see Disc 5 - also A-side to UK 7" single released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289)

14. Magic Woman Touch (Acoustic Version) - one of the eight bonus tracks from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

15. Lizzy And The Rainman

16. Delaware Taggett And The Outlaw Boys

17. Words Don't Come Easy

18. Courage Of Your Convictions (see Disc 5)

Disc 5 (56:59 minutes, 16 tracks):

1. Witchy Woman - a Previously Unreleased track (an Eagles cover) from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

2. Slow Down

3. Won't You Feel Good That Morning

Tracks 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 on Disc 4 and Tracks 2 and 3 on Disc 5 is the album "Romany" - released November 1972 in the UK on Polydor 2383 144 and Epic E 31992 in the USA (with a different track listing on Side 1). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order - to sequence either the UK or USA "Romany" LP as released - use the following tracks (6/4 = Track 6 on Disc 4 - 2/5 = Track 2 on Disc 5 etc.):

November 1972 UK 12-Track LP on Polydor 2383 144

Side 1: 3/5, 6/4, 17/4, 13/4, 15/4 and 12/4

Side 2: 2/5, 15/4, 11/4, 7/4, 10/4 and 18/4

November 1972 US 11-Track LP on Epic E 31992 (different track list on Side 1 only)

Side 1: 13/4, 6/4, 17/4, 7/4, 3/5 and 12/4

Side 2: 2/5, 15/4, 11/4, 7/4, 10/4 and 18/4

The eight Bonus Tracks on the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD of "Romany" are 5/4, 14/4, 9/3, 4/5, 8/4, 1/5, 4/4 and 16/5

4. If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

5. Don't Leave This Child Alone

6. They Don't Realise I'm Down

7. Transatlantic Westbound Jet

8. Nearer To You

9. Pick Up The Pieces (Terry Sylvester song)

10. Slow Down - Go Down

11. The Last Wind

12. A Better Place

13. Mr. Heartbreaker

14. Out On The Road

15. I Was Born A Man

Tracks 5 to 15 is the album "Out On The Road" - released June 1973 in Germany on Hansa Records 87119 IT

16. I Had A Dream - non-album B-side to the US 7" single of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" (Judee Sill cover) release May 1973 on Epic Records 5-10989 - June 1973 German 7" single (in picture sleeve) of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" on Hansa 12 728 AT

THE HOLLIES (January 1969 to December 1971):

Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert and Terry Sylvester

THE HOLLIES (December 1971 to March 1973)

Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert, Terry Sylvester and Mikael Rickfors

The 24-page booklet features a witty and clever introduction called 'Elucidating Observations' by the band's long-standing drummer BOBBY ELLIOTT (reminiscences of Graham being rescued from the beer-swilling Hollies by David Crosby to join him on the CSNY odyssey) - a UK Discography for the singles and LP – pages of rare European, US and Japanese 7” single picture sleeves – album covers – and track by track recording details. It's well done - the colour centre pages photo sees the boys staring out of set of broken windows somewhere in Nuremberg - and for such a huge haul of music is priced cheaply too.

Across 92 tracks are the A&B-sides of eight British 7" singles, six full albums (five British on Parlophone and one European on Hansa), six LP and CD compilation exclusives, non-album European/USA single releases and all of the bonus tracks that came with the 'Extended Version' CD of "Romany" (noted above). The six albums are: "Hollies Sing Dylan" (May 1969), "Hollies Sing Hollies" (November 1969), "Confessions Of The Mind" (November 1970), "Distant Light" (October 1971), "Romany" (November 1972) and "Out On The Road" (Germany-Only, June 1973).

Like its predecessor 2011's "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" - the CDs for this follow-up volume are sequenced in 'recording-date order' with the album tracks often spread across different discs. In order to sequence the original British LPs (and the one German-only release on Hansa) and all of those UK 7” singles – see track numbers provided above (these details aren’t in the booklet).

Even when you get past huge chart hits like "Sorry Suzanne" (No. 3), "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (No. 3), "I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top" (No. 7) and less successful goodies like "Gasoline Alley Bred" (No. 14), "Hey Willy" (No. 22), "The Baby" (No. 26) and "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" (No. 32) and the criminally forgotten "Magic Woman Touch" (didn't chart) – the album highlights number many. Their version of Dylan's magical "My Back Pages" sticks out as a bright light on a much-derided cluster of corny covers from the "Hollies Sing Dylan" LP (the less said about the banjo-strumming "When The Ship Comes In" the better). The "Hollies Sings Hollies" LP was a welcome return to form - the jangling acoustic guitars and doubled-vocals of Allan Clarke's "Goodbye Tomorrow" and "My Life Is Over With You" both have great harmonies in them - while Side 2 highlights include the 'you ain't having me on a leash' of "Soldiers Dilemma" and the epic double-track "Marigold/Gloria Swansong" compliments the piano and strings 'theme' feel to the instrumental "Reflections Of A Long Time Past" (a Bernie Calvert creation).

Their seemed to be immense maturity in their early Seventies stuff - the Production values going through the roof too. Tony Hicks provided the jaunty "Lady Please" and the 'teardrops' of "Little Girl" on 1970's "Confessions Of The Mind" - while Allan Clarke threw in the accomplished "Separated" (I've always loved that Acoustic/Tabla combo while he shouts words. Fans will love the wickedly good B-sides too you never get to hear like "Not That Way At All" - a song that could easily have been a winning A - and "'Cos You Like To Love Me" (presented here in Mono despite the Stereo logo on the CD). Their cover of Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man" (first appeared on the "Rarities" CD) is good rather than great - and I've always thought 1972's "Romany" LP with "Magic Woman Touch" and their version of Judee Sill's lovely "Jesus Was A Crossmaker" is a bit of an overlooked harmony masterpiece (it can be sequenced from this set in both its 12-track UK guise or the different 11-track US variant - see Disc 5 above).

Further glory would follow for The Hollies on Polydor with Alan Clarke taking the song-writing ascendancy ("The Air That I Breathe") - while Graham Nash went on of course to conquer the West Coast of America and then the entire world with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young and all of the CSNY off-shoots.

"…Cast your spell upon me one more time..." - THE HOLLIES sang on the wonderful "Magic Woman Touch". Great sound, top songs and quality presentation – like its predecessor - there's so much to enjoy on here. And even after five discs - a trunk load of admiration into the bargain…

"Music In A Doll's House" by FAMILY (2003 Charly/Pucka 'Super Bit Mapped' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...All Things Remembered..."

I really have a dislike for Charly Records on CD and all its holding companies and side-names - their stuff is always budget-feel with no mastering credits - sounds like other better labels (they've been done in court over this) - and I'm afraid their 'Pucka' label version of Family's debut album "Music In A Doll's House" (1968) is no different. Having said that the audio is undeniably great and given the rarity of the original British vinyl LP (never mind the superior Repertoire CD reissue of a few years ago in Repro artwork and the December 2014 Japanese SHM-CD now both being so expensive) – PUC 701 is the most reasonable way to get this Sixties masterpiece into your home in digital form.

The spine declares that its 'SBM - Super Bit Mapping' without ever saying from what or where. But at least the six-leaf foldout inlay has decent ROGER DEPSON liner notes that outlay the songwriting history behind these audacious Whitney-Chapman creations (they wrote all tracks except "Never Like This" which was penned by Dave Mason of Traffic) and there's a great period photo of the band beneath the see-through CD-tray. Here are the nitty gritty details...

UK released June 2003 - "Music In A Doll's House" by FAMILY on Charly/Pucka PUC 701 (Barcode 827565001026) is a straightforward CD transfer (with Super Bit Mapping) of the 1968 15-track LP in Stereo and plays out as follows (37:06 minutes):

1. The Chase

2. Mellowing Grey

3. Never Like This

4. Me My Friend

5. Variation On A Theme Of Hey Mr. Policeman

6. Winter

7. Old Songs New Songs

8. Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze

9. Hey Mr. Policeman [Side 2]

10. See Through Windows

11. Variations On A Theme Of Me My Friend

12. Peace Of Mind

13. Voyage

14. The Breeze

15. 3 x Time

Tracks 1 to 15 are their debut album "Music In A Doll's House" - released July 1968 in the UK on Reprise RLP 6312 (Mono) and Reprise RSLP 6312 (Stereo) - the STEREO mix is used. Produced by DAVE MASON (of Traffic) - JIMMY MILLER of Rolling Stones fame co-produced "The Breeze" and "Peace Of Mind" - the LP peaked at No. 35 on the UK LP charts.

FAMILY was:

ROGER CHAPMAN - Lead Vocals, Tenor Saxophone and Harmonica

JOHN WHITNEY – Lead and Steel Guitar

JIM KING – Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Harmonica and Vocals

RIC GRECH – Bass, Violin, Cello and Vocals

ROB TOWNSEND – Drums and Percussion

It opens with the utterly extraordinary vocals of Roger Chapman sounding like Joe Cocker on one too many amphetamines - but as the challenging mini-Prog opera of "The Chase" settles down and segues into the undeniably pretty "Mellowing Grey" - a Violin and Cello ballad enveloped in Mellotron - you're reminded of The Zombies "Odyssey And Oracle" and other such musical brilliance (lyrics from it title this review). Dave Mason's "Never Like This" never showed on a Traffic album (or indeed a solo LP) and its "Hole In My Shoe" London-hippy whimsy still stands up as Chapman tells us of the girl with faraway eyes who pours tea and then asks "...how many lumps...is it two...why not make it five..." Reprise tried the flanged and upbeat guitar of the 'so 60ts' melody "Me My Friend" as a 45 on Reprise RS 23270 in July 1968 - but it tanked. With "Hey Mr. Policeman" on the flip-side - the original British issue on one of those wonderful Reprise yellow labels is much harder to find than its £20+ price tag would indicate. For me "Winter" is one the album's highlights and I've always thought should have been the lead-off 45 - it's soaring melody and restrained Chapman vocal and layered production - had Sixties hit written all over it for me.

The harmonica and saxophone boogie of "Old Songs New Songs" would name the June 1971 compilation album "Old Songs New Songs" (Reprise RPM 9007) that remixed older Reprise material for the audience that picked up on the band after the No. 7 chart success of the "Anyway" LP in November 1970. I'd forgotten how good it is and again those unbelievable Chapman vocals still amaze to this day (dig those choir-like interludes as they sing "...Old Songs...New Songs...Keep On Singing..."). The band also gets to stretch out on those Saxophones. Another short (25 seconds) but cute 'interlude' in "Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze" before we get the sinister "Hey Mr. Policeman" where the singer admits that he'd 'kill for that woman' to the backdrop of drunken slide guitars and country violins - the band sounding like Frank Zappa's Mothers with too many whiskey shots. That same menace permeates "See Through Windows" - the lyrics enacted out in Julian Cottrell's photos on the front sleeve (great guitar solo in this tune). A sitar 20-second 'Variation' swirls in and then disappears before we get the brilliant "Peace Of Mind" - another potential 7" single (co-produced by Jimmy Miller of The Rolling Stones fame). "Voyage" tests my patience the most - all mad guitars and Mellotron sinister - but never quite working for me. Better is the stunning melody running through the 'skirts and trousers' tale of English folk in Parks and on beaches in "The Breeze" - for me the album's most ingenious and accessible song. Family's debut album ends on a surprisingly mellow and upbeat note - like The Kinks first being melodious before deciding - to Hell with it - let's get all knees-up and complicated. 

Roger Depson's liner note surmise that the album was probably 'centuries' ahead of its time and for sure it will not be everyone's cup of Darjeeling in 2016. But if you're prepared to open up those miniature windows and take a peekaboo - there's amazing music inside this 1968 doll's house...