"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...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6: 1954" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Earth Angel…" 

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. Their "1954" instalment feels to me like a good place to start. 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 shoop-shoop-shoops, doobie shang-a-langs and sh-sh-sh-sh-booms...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6: 1954" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17284 AR (Barcode 4000127172846) breaks down as follows (89:04 minutes):

1. Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - THE PENGUINS (DooTone 348, B-side of "Hey Senorita")

2. Work With Me Annie - THE ROYALS (Federal 12169, A)

3. Gloria - THE CADILLACS (Josie 765, A)

4. Ling, Ting, Tong (Capitol 2945, A)

5. The Wind - THE DIABLOS featuring Nolan Strong (Fortune 511, A)

6. Lovey Dovey - THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 1022, A)

7. My Memories Of You - THE HARP-TONES (Bruce 102, A)

8. Hearts Of Stone - THE CHARMS (DeLuxe 6062, A)

9. Darling Dear - THE COUNTS (Dot 1188, A)

10. I'm Slippin' In - THE SPIDERS (Imperial 5291, A)

11. Sincerely - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1581, A)

12. Honey Love - THE DRIFTERS featuring CLYDE McPHATTER (Atlantic 1029, A)

13. A Thousand Stars - THE RIVILEERS (Baton 200, A)

14. Boot 'Em Up - THE DU DROPPERS (Groove 0036, A)

15. Dear One - THE SCARLETS (Red Robin 128, A)

16. Oop Shoop - SHIRLEY GUNTER and THE QUEENS (Flair 1050, A)

17. God Only Knows - THE CAPRIS (Gotham 304, A)

18. Sh-Boom - THE CHORDS (Cat 104, A)

19. Tryin' To Get To You - THE EAGLES (Mercury 70391, B-side to "Please, Please")

20. I Used To Cry Mercy, Mercy - THE LAMPLIGHTERS (Federal 12176, A)

21. Dream Of A Lifetime - THE FLAMINGOS (Parrot 808, A)

22. Mary Lee - THE RAINBOWS (Red Robin 134, A)

23. Please Remember My Heart - THE SOLITAIRES (Old Town 1006, A)

24. It Ain't That Way - THE HAWKS (Imperial 5292, A)

25. I "Do" - THE "5" ROYALES with Charlie 'Little Jazz' Ferguson and His Orchestra (Apollo 452, A)

26. House With No Windows - THE CHECKERS (King 4710, A)

27. My Daddy Stole My Chippie - THE PLAYBOYS

(unissued December 1954 Atlantic/Cat Records recording, first appeared on the US 1995 2CD set "Don't It Sound Good: The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups" on Rhino/Collector's Choice R2 7160)

28. Maybe You'll Be There - LEE ANDREWS and THE HEARTS (Rainbow 252, A)

29. Oh Yes I Know - THE JEWELS (R and B 1303, A)

30. The Letter - THE MEDALLIONS (DooTone 347, A)

31. Riot In Cell Block No. 9 - THE ROBINS (Spark 103, A)

32. Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite - THE SPANIELS (Vee-Jay 107, A)

The 82-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 1954 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Atlantic, Baton, Mercury and Robin). The CD repros the uber-rare "Tryin' To Get To You" 45 on Mercury that Elvis covered on his 1956 debut album (a Sun Records cut) and the spine eventually makes up a single photograph 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 anything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity.

When you get past the big guns you've heard too often like "Earth Angel" and "Gloria" - you get the lesser-heard gems like "The Wind" from September 1954 by The Diablos (delicate and pure Vocal Group magic) and the lovely "My Memories Of You" by The Harp-Tones. November saw "Hearts Of Stone" by The Charms take their cover of a hit by The Jewels up to 15 in the charts. And "Sincerely" by The Moonglows is one of my all-time favourites of the genre - genius. "Dream Of A Lifetime" by The Flamingos shows what a class act they always were - and why they hold such a place in the hearts of Vocal Group collectors.

Rhythm `n' Blues boppers pops up more than once - the fantastic and witty "I'm Slippin' In" by The Spiders has our hero trying to sneak into his home at the three o'clock in the morning without the wife noticing. I bought a reissue album by The Du Droppers at the end of the Eighties (I think it was on De-Tour Records) and it contained the swinging brassy dancer "Boot 'Em Up" with Sam 'The Man' Taylor and Budd Johnson on Saxes with wicked guitar from Riff Ruffin. Another boppin' winner is the Rudolph Toombs Jiver "I Used To Cry Mercy, Mercy" by The Lamplighters with Thurston Harris on throaty Lead Vocals (wicked Sax solo too) as who doesn't dig the R'n'B of The "5" Royales

Rarities come in the shape of "God Only Knows" by The Capris which is a four-piece male group fronted by a lady - Savannah Churchill on Lead Vocals. It's just them and a piano - haunting stuff and a brilliant choice for inclusion. Fans of Elvis Presley will flip for the brilliant "Tryin' To Get To You" by The Eagles. Penned by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton (the same team who brought us "Boot 'Em Up" by The Du Droppers) - it's the Bluesy rendition that Elvis copied almost note for note for his 1956 explosive debut "Elvis". How cool is to have the original rarity (apparently a B-side to "Please, Please"). And although it's hissy the brilliant bopper "Mary Lee" by The Rainbows is new to me ands frankly a find. But a genuine sensation is the $500.00 listed "House With no Windows" by The Checkers - a Bluesy number with Little David Baughan on Lead Vocal (an absolute deadringer for Clyde McPhatter). It's just brilliant and comes at you in stunning audio quality.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have large swathes of this already. Bear 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...

"Lord Offaly" by DAVID McWILLIAMS (2016 Esoteric Recordings CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Silken Thomas Is My Name..."

Sandwiched between the Hard Rock of Atomic Rooster's "Made In England" (with Chris Farlowe on Vocals) in June 1972 and the Jug Band Kazoo Shuffle of the King Earl Boogie Band's "Trouble At Mill" in July 1972 (an off offshoot of Mungo Jerry) – Pye Records Prog Rock label imprint DAWN released David McWilliams' singer-songwriter Folk-Rock LP "Lord Offaly" in July 1972 as well - and it was of course promptly lost in the musical mishmash of that mixed-up summer.

In my twenty-plus years of rarity buying for Reckless Records in London – I've seen maybe three or four copies in people's collections resplendent in its lovely textured gatefold sleeve. In fact – despite charting his first three albums on Major Minor Records in the Top 40 LP charts of 1967 and 1968 – Belfast Folky David McWilliams is all but forgotten now (the Atomic Rooster album from June 1972 is three times the rarity value...yet much easier to find).

But in 2016 - up steps reissue heroes Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) to put our wee historical oversight right. Here are the details for this lovingly presented CD reissue...

UK released Friday, 29 July 2016 (August 2016 in the USA) – "Lord Offaly" by DAVID McWILLIAMS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2559 (Barcode 5013929465947) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 10-track 1972 LP and plays out as follows (43:23 minutes):

1. Go On Back To Momma (From The Film "Gold")

2. She Was A Lady

3. I Will Always Be Your Friend

4. Heart Of The Roll

5. I Would Be Confessed

6. Spanish Hope [Side 2]

7. Blind Men’s Stepping Stones

8. Lord Offaly

9. The Prisoner

10. The Gypsy

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th studio album "Lord Offaly" – released July 1972 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3039 and 1973 in the USA on Pye Records PYE 3302 (distributed by Bell Records). Produced by DAVID McWILLIAMS and DAVE HUNT with all songs written by McWilliams – the LP didn’t chart in either country.

The 20-page booklet is pleasingly detailed featuring typically in-depth liner notes from noted writer MALCOLM DOME. The black and white photo that adorned the inner gatefold of the rare original 1972 British LP is reproduced (so to that gorgeous Gil McWilliams artwork), as are the lyrics that sat beneath the photo. It's a damn shame no one has found out who plays what on what (still a mystery) – but all of that pales once you clap your lugs on the actual remaster. Done by BEN WISEMAN at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire – the 24-bit bit digital transfer from original Dawn Records mastertapes is gorgeous – all that beautifully recorded acoustic instrumentation now shining like a sixpence dipped in Coke – layers of dirt removed. This is a fabulous-sounding remaster – and fans of the record will be thrilled with it...

Depicting far out hippy life and 'free love' to a musical backdrop of MC5 whilst 'the man' establishment tries to oppress all of the aforementioned rumpy-pumpy and good times - the film "Gold" was finally released in 1972 (filmed in 1968) - opening with "Go On Back To Mamma" - its theme song supplied by David McWilliams. It immediately feels 'American' in its Emitt Rhodes structures - a better produced Elton John. It turned up as the B-side to the March 1973 UK 7" single to "Gold" on Mother Records MOT 101. Quite why Dawn didn't use one of the album tracks like "Heart Of The Roll" or even "Go On Back To Momma" as a lead-off single is a mystery - the album could have benefitted from such a plug. The pretty "She Was A Lady" feels very Phillip Goodhand-Tate or even Colin Blunstone - sweet piano and vocals from McWilliams. His philosophy of love and comradeship flows out of the overly busy "I Will Always Be Your Friend" while "Heart Of The Roll" is undoubtedly one of the LP's highlights. It feels like Help Yourself or even McGuinness Flint - McWilliams' vocals like the Eggs Over Easy debut album. Beautiful remaster quality on the Side 1 finisher "I Would Be Confessed" - a 'wondering days are through' confessional which sees David delivery a warm song with sincerity.

My personal fave is the beautiful instrumental "Spanish Hope" which opens the more-overtly Folky Side 2 - a ballad where Acoustic Guitars strums are soon joined by a wailing penny-whistle lament - as deeply Celtic as Simple Minds and just as reminiscent. That same Folk Jaunt follows with "Blind Men's Stepping Stones" where the historical chap Emon Lynott 'curses his fate' as he mandolins his way over the Giant's Causeway.  Sounds like a Bouzouki at the opening of "Lord Offaly" - another undoubted highlight on the LP - a very warm melody from McWilliams that chronicles the distrust of England's King Henry by locals in Ireland's Maynooth. Even at 6:33 minutes - it doesn't overstay its welcome and feels like great Fairport Convention or even Sandy Denny. It ends on more history lessons in the plaintive and hurting "The Prisoner" and "The Gypsy" - tales of hungry ordinary folk paying the price for stealing bread and wine and thereafter transformed into rebels at the hands of their heartless landlords...

McWilliams made two more platters for Dawn Records in the shape of "The Beggar And The Priest" in 1973 (Dawn DNLS 3047) and "Living's Just A State Of Mind" in 1974 (Dawn DNLS 3059) and hopefully Esoteric Recordings have those obscurities also in their reissue sights.

"Lord Offaly" is a wonderful album that's way too obscure and shouldn't be. Silken indeed...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 5: 1953" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Crying In The Chapel…"

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 in clumps of five (May and October) 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 boys Crying In The Chapel...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 5: 1953" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17283 AR (Barcode 4000127172839) breaks down as follows (87:52 minutes):

1. Money Honey - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 45-1006, A)

2. Crying In The Chapel - THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 45-5122, A)

3. Baby, It's You - THE SPANIELS (Chance 1141, A)

4. White Cliffs Of Dover - THE CHECKERS (King 4675, A)

5. Baby Please - THE MOONGLOWS with the Red Holloway Orchestra (Chance CH-1147, A)

6. Is It A Dream - THE VOCALEERS (Red Robin 114, A)

7. Gee - THE CROWS (Rama 5, A)

8. Nadine - THE CORONETS (Chess 1549, A)

9. You're Mine - THE CRICKETS (MGM 11428, A) [Not Buddy Holly's group]

10. Too Much Lovin' (Much Too Much) - THE "5" ROYALES with CHARLIE "LITTLE JAZZ" FERGUSON & His Orchestra (Apollo 448, A)

11. A Sunday Kind Of Love - THE HARP-TONES featuring Willie Winfield (Bruce 101, A)

12. Golden Teardrops - THE FLAMINGOS with Red Holloway's Orchestra (Chance CH-1145, A)

13. Good Lovin' - CLOVERS (Atlantic 45-1000, A)

14. (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I - THE ROBINS (RCA Victor 47-5175, A)

15. My Girl Awaits Me - THE CASTELLES (Grand 101, A)

16. Marie - THE FOUR TUNES with Sid Bass Orchestra (Jubilee 5128, A)

17. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You - BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES (Federal 12129, A)

18. We Could Find Happiness - THE WANDERERS (Savoy 1109, A)

19. I Wanna Know - THE DU DROPPERS (RCA Victor 47-5229, A)

20. Dear Ruth - THE BUCCANEERS with The Joe Whelan Trio (Southern 101, A)

21. Just Walkin' In The Rain - THE PRISONAIRES (Sun 186, A)

22. Get It - THE ROYALS (Federal 12133, A)

23. Lovie Darling - THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 45-995, B-side of "You Are My Only Love")

24. I Had A Love - THE FLAIRS (Flair 1012, A)

25. My Saddest Hour - THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3214, A)

26. Hey Now - TONY WILLIAMS and THE PLATTERS (Federal 12153, B-side of "Give Thanks")

27. I - THE VELVETS (Red Robin 122, A)

28. Baby, Come Back To Me - THE FIVE ECHOES with Fat Cole's Band (Sabre SA-102, A)

29. Nobody's Lovin' Me - THE SWALLOWS (King 4632, A)

30. Big Leg Mama - VANN WALLS and THE ROCKETS (Atlantic 45-988, A)

31. I Can't Believe - THE HORNETS (States S-127, A)

32. You're The One - THE SPIDERS (Imperial 5265, B-side of "I Didn't Want To Do It")

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 1953 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Atlantic, Baton, Mercury and Robin). The CD repros the "Good Lovin’" 45 on Atlantic by The Clovers and the spine eventually makes up a single photograph 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 anything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity (Atlantic tracks especially).

What a difference a year makes - 1953 Vocal Group 7" singles are incredibly hard to find hence the rarities quotient goes through the roof - check out these prices: The Hornets $8000.00, The Buccaneers $4000.00, The Castelles $2000, The Flamingos $1000 (black vinyl), $3000 (red vinyl), The Five Echoes $600 (black vinyl), $1500.00 (red vinyl), The Spaniels $500.00 (black vinyl), $2000.00 (red vinyl), The Moonglows $1000 (black vinyl) and $3000 (red vinyl). Or you can buy The Swallows, The Checkers, The Wanderers and The Prisonaires for a paltry $500.00 each with The Flairs, The Crows, The Five Keys and The Platters putting you back a bargain-basement $400.00 a pop (and so on down The Orioles at a frankly piddly $80.00).

When you get past the big guns you've heard too often like "Crying In The Chapel" and "Gee" - you get the lesser-heard gems like the rare "I" by The Velvets and the gorgeous "You're Mine" by The Crickets (Not Buddy Holly's backing group) - as pure Vocal Group as you can get. "Nadine" (not the Chuck Berry classic) is another slow moody rarity from The Coronets (on Chess). I love the lead vocalist in The Vocaleers "Is It A Dream" - an unusual almost childish ache in his phrasing - so good. And there can't be too many fans who don't have a big place in their hearts for The Harp-Tones and the silky "A Sunday Kind Of Love". The Spaniels and the bluesy Swallows are clever compiler choices too. There’s crackle on the uber-rare “My Girl Awaits Me” by The Castelles for sure but the audio quality on The Robins version of “A Fool Such As I” is utterly stupendous – Bobby Nunn and Grady Chapman sharing the crystal clear audio glories.

Rhythm 'n' Blues boppers pop up more than once - the "my love is yours" saxophone and talking "Get It" by The Royals (the lead singer sounding like Clyde McPhatter) while The Cardinals on Atlantic is that halfway-house mix of R'n'B and Vocal Group. Speaking of great lead vocals "I Wanna Know" by The Du Droppers has our hero pleading, "I wanna know what you do round there?" (not likely to get an answer mate). The Four Tunes go full-on Jackie Wilson "Reet Petite" (complete with warbling vocals) on the fab "Marie" - a great bopping dancer while "Money Honey" by Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters is always worth re-hearing especially in this fabulous sound quality.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have large swathes of this already. Bear 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...

"...You keep on loving somebody...while nobody's loving me..." The Swallows croon on King 4632. Give this superb compilation a go and you may find yourself loving it so much - the others in the set will join it in a jiffy...