"Reggatta de Blanc" by THE POLICE [feat Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland] (2003 A&M Records 'Enhanced CD' Bob Ludwig Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…White Reggae…"

November 1978's "Outlandos d'Amour" was a blistering debut album for THE POLICE – but their second platter really threw petrol on the threesome's chart-assaulting bonfire. Never had 'White Reggae" (a rough translation of the album title) sounded so enticing – a bit Punk – a bit New wave – a bit Rock and Pop – a bit bloody-good frankly. And dare we say it but A&M Records probably enjoyed all those hit singles and record sales lining their corporate coffers.

Like its 1978 predecessor - October 1979's "Reggatta de Blanc" was an exciting, fresh and immediate LP and hardly surprising that it improved on the debut's UK peak of No. 6 by going all the way to No. 1. But also like the 2003 barebones CD Remaster of that debut - this woefully ordinary CD Reissue for album number 2 sounds brill for sure - but not much else. These 2003 reissues are hugely disappointing on the presentation front. Gatefold slips of paper for Gawd's sake - thankfully the Audio rocks. Here are the yeah-yo's and cha's and messages in a bottle...

UK released January 2003 (March 2003 in the USA) - "Reggatta de Blanc" by THE POLICE on A&M 493 653-2 (Barcode 606949365325) is an 'Enhanced CD' Remaster that plays out as follows (41:56 minutes):

1. Message In A Bottle

2. Reggatta de Blanc

3. It's Alright For You

4. Bring On The Night

5. Deathwish

6. Walking On The Moon [Side 2]

7. On Any Other Day

8. The Bed's Too Big Without You

9. Contact

10. Does Everyone Stare

11. No Time This Time

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "Reggatta de Blanc" - released October 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64792 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4792. Produced by The Police and Nigel Gray - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 26 in the USA.

BONUS TRACK: Walking On The Moon 'Video'

The gatefold slip of paper that pretends to be an inlay tells us the basics - Remaster by BOB LUDWIG at Gateway Mastering (very good news) - but has nothing else for a so-called 'Enhanced' Edition. There's a ton of fan memorabilia from the period that could have been used - the British singles could have been pictured (where are those non-album B-sides as bonus tracks) - the impact of Sting and the band on the girlies of the world - but nothing is here except a Video "Walking On The Moon" that most won't look at. There's a Police Badge pictured beneath the see-through CD tray but bugger all else apart from the wickedly good audio (docked a star for the 'what we can get away with' approach). To the music and Remaster...

You’re immediately hit with a fabulous punch from the overall soundstage when "Message In A Bottle" launches into that Rock-Bop beat. But if I was to nail one track it's the stunning Side 1 ender "Deathwish" that kicks this Remaster out of the baby's water and then some. When you played the LP back in 1979 – this chugger (where Andy Summers plays an absolute guitar blinder) was always Audio-comprised because of its track position as the needle made its way towards the dead wax and the label. But here it's alive like never before – the Bass and Drums literally rattling your living room while Summers impresses every single second. I'd genuinely forgotten how amazing this album is.

The sonic punch from "Walking on The Moon" is the same – that huge Sting Bass and Stewart Copeland's razor-sharp drumming. The Police were so tight – so utterly in unison as they played. Other sonic whoppers include the manic "It's Alright For You" and the ridiculously catchy "Bring On The Night" – a seriously great single that's approaching 40 years of age in 2019 and still sounds as snotty as a Donald Trump office grope. But then you’re reminded of the album’s real greatness by those forgotten nuggets – like the 'yeah yo's' of "Reggatta de Blanc" and the stunning sexy swing of "The Bed's Too Big Without You" - a song I used to DJ in Dublin and like "Message" would always slaughter the dancing crowd leaving them cheering for more when it faded out.  

Despite my serious misgivings about the lazy-assed presentation - you can't but give this 2003 CD reissue five-stars if only for the brilliance of the musical content and its amazing transformation at the hands of an Ace Sound Engineer - Bob Ludwig. And it's way cheap too…

"...A hundred million bottles...washed up on the shore...seems I'm not alone in being alone...a hundred million castaways looking for a home..." - Sting sang on the wildly infectious "Message In A Bottle". Get this fabulous bottle-of audio bubbly in your home and on your reggatta de CD player right soon...

"Wired" by JEFF BECK [feat Narada Michael Walden and George Martin] (April 2001 Epic CD Reissue - Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Come Dancing..."

A long way from 1968's "Truth" and 1969's "Beck-Ola" with Rod Stewart on gruff vocals and guests like Zeppelin’s axeman Jimmy Page (albums steeped in hard-hitting Rock and Blues) – both 1976’s “Wired” and it’s famous George Martin-Produced predecessor "Blow By Blow" in 1975 were deeply Funky records. They were also seen as a pair – a sort of Part 1 - with “Wired” being viewed an equal Part 2.

Although it didn’t chart in the UK – “Blow By Blow” had been a big deal in the USA - garnishing a chart position of No. 4 – a real feat for an Instrumental Jazz Rock/Fusion album in those days. However Blighty got round to it’s Funky charms over the remaining year. Those great reviews and steady sales led to Phase 2 being hotly anticipated - giving “Wired” a respectable No. 36 placing on the British LP charts in July 1976. Since then its beautifully recorded panorama of sound has been acknowledged as a masterpiece of the Jazz-Fusion-Rock genre (a noted Audiophile wet dream - it was also one of the first Jeff Beck albums to receive the accolade of a Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Gold CD as early as 1990).

Recorded in three places – Air and Trident Studios in London and Cherokee Studios in California – Beatles Producer GEORGE MARTIN once again took the reins alongside his Assistant CHRIS BOND – and with Engineers Geoff Emerick and John Mills doing the Mixing - the Audio results simply sparkled. Here are the details...

UK released April 2001 – "Wired" by JEFF BECK on Epic EPC 502182 2 (Barcode 5099750218228) is a straightforward CD Remaster and plays out as follows (37:21 minutes):

1. Led Boots

2. Come Dancing

3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

4. Head For Backstage Pass

5. Blue Wind [Side 2]

6. Sophie

7. Play With Me

8. Love Is Green

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album “Wired” – released July 1976 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 86012 and in the USA on Epic PE 33849. Produced by GEORGE MARTIN except “Blue Wind” produced by JAM HAMMER.

It helped too that Beck’s band featured session superstars – Drummer and Percussionist Narada Michael Walden would have stints with John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra and embark on a successful Soul-Funk career with Atlantic Records in the late Seventies and early Eighties – his “Blow By Blow” companion Max Middleton once again stumped up a huge array of Funky clavinets, slinky Fender Rhodes and anything else with a keyboard on it – whilst American Bass genius Wilbur Bascomb had done stints with demanding superstars like James Brown and B.B. King. But the newest element to Beck’s sound elevated everything to another level – Keyboardist Jan Hammer who later formed bands with Santana’s second guitarist Neil Schon and was soon fronting his own Jan Hammer Trio.

“Wired” opens with a mission statement – Max Middleton’s “Led Boots” – we’re gonna Jazz-Rock – but we’re gonna be as Funky as Bootsy Collins and Fred Wesley’s sock drawer as we do it. A fantastic Drum and Bass intro introduces many fan’s LP fave “Come Dancing” – a stunning piece of instrumental Funky Rock written by Narada Michael Walden – ably pumped up by tasty Beck licks and Brass backing. A cover of the Charles Mingus classic “Pork Pie Hat” mellows thing down – all shimmering high hats and floating Fender Rhodes notes as Beck caresses notes like he’s in a nightclub at three a.m.

Jan Hammer provided the decidedly poppy (nay even commercial) “Blue Wind” which feels at time like the theme to a late Seventies cop show from the mean streets of Chicago or New York (blow chill wind blow).

Narada Michael Walden then dominates the last half of the LP with three different self-penned soundscapes – the gorgeous acoustic beauty of “Love Is Green” (check out Beck’s electric guitar note bending - making that axe sing) – the Stevie Wonder Clavinet-Funky “Play With Me” with amazing keyboard soloing – and finally “Sophie” – clearly a love song on guitar to begin with (impossibly pretty acoustic flourishes) that then goes into some serious Todd Rundgren’s Utopia Prog Fusion towards its frantic finish...

Jeff Beck has always been the most sensational player of a plank and every major guitarist in the world dons a tail-feather to the man.

But he’s never been so soulful or so Fusion-accessible as he was on the mighty “Wired” (and ditto for that matter to 1975’s “Blow By Blow”)...

PS: there is also a superb September 2010 LP Reissue on Music On Vinyl MOVLP 133 (Barcode 8713748980351) pressed up on 180 Grams Vinyl

"Third Annual Pipe Dream/A Rock And Roll Alternative" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (August 2009 Beat Goes On Reissue - 2LPs onto 1CD - Andrew Thompson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Georgia Rhythm…"

Arising out of the ashes of Roy Orbison's Candymen and Sixties hit makers The Classics IV (Keyboard player Dean Daughtry and Drummer Robert Nix) - Atlanta Rhythm Section hailed out of Doraville in Georgia. In the early days they were a Country Rock act with strains of Lynyrd Skynyrd moving quickly into more commercial Chicago Funky Rock territory in the mid to late Seventies. This superb-sounding CD gathers together two albums from 1974 and 1977 - with "A Rock And Roll Alternative" featuring the huge Radio smash "So In To You" - a number 7 in the USA and a regular on oldies playlists to this day. Here are the details...

UK released August 2009 - "Third Annual Pipe Dream/A Rock And Roll Alternative" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION on Beat Goes On BGOCD 877 (Barcode 5017261208774) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and breaks down as follows (69:36 minutes):

1. Doraville

2. Jesus Hearted People

3. Close The Door

4. Blues In Maude's Flat

5. Join The Race (To Inner Space)

6. Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us) [Side 2]

7. Get Your Head Out Of Your Heart

8. The War is Over

9.  Help Yourself (You Gotta Help Yourself)

10. Who You Gonna Run To (When You're Thru Walkin' On Me)

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd album "Third Annual Pipe Dream" - released September 1974 in the USA on Polydor PD-6027 and February 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2391 136

11. Sky High

12. Hitch-Hikers' Hero

13. Don't Miss The Message

14. Georgia Rhythm

15. So In To You [Side 2]

16. Outside Woman Blues

17. Everybody Gotta Go

18. Neon Nites

Tracks 11 to 18 are their sixth album "A Rock And Roll Alternative" - released January 1977 in the USA on Polydor PD-1-6080 and March 1977 in the UK on Polydor 2391 255

There's an outer card slipcase, an 8-page inlay with DARYL EASLEA liner notes and the remaster is by ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Performance. The sound is superb - well-recorded albums (Bobby Buie Productions) now given a chance to shine. The clarity is great.

The commercial Country Rock opener "Doraville" with "Who You Gonna Run To" on its flip was put out a US single in late 1974 on Polydor PD 14248 and January 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2066 488. It did no business in the UK but managed a chart placing of 35 in the States in November 1974. Polydor tried again with "Get Your Head Out Of Your Heart" and "Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us)" on both sides of the pond (Polydor PD 14273 in the USA, May 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2058 560) but neither side of the water took to it. A cool funky Rock tune is "Help Yourself (You Gotta Help Yourself") which I've put on many 70's FEST compilations.

1977's "A Rock And Roll Alternative" still sees Ronnie Hammond on Lead Vocals and their sound is Funky Boogie Rock exemplified by "Don't Miss The Message" and the rocking Skynyrd vibe of "Outside Woman Blues". But the album is dominated by the huge hit "So In To You" - the kind of Boz Scaggs commercial song that would make you double take if you heard it even now coming out of a radio  - asking - who's that? "Neon Nites" tries to get close to its sound and succeeds with its plucked guitars and slinky beat.

Atlanta Rhythm Section's brand of Country Rock won't be everyone's cup of Horlicks nowadays and a lot of it feels lightweight with the passing of time (they had neither the integrity of Skynyrd or the sheer balls-to-the-wall Blues Boogie of Foghat) - but those slinky moments in between are worth the purchase (and that top audio quality).

"...Captured by your style..." Hammond sings on "So In To You". You may feel the same...

"Dog Days/Red Tape" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (2009 Beat Goes On 2LPs onto 1CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Boogie Smoogie..."

Often perceived as a cross between The Allmans and a lesser version of Little Feat (a combo that would turn many on) - Southern Rock supergroup ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION had their 3rd album "Third Annual Pipe Dream" from September 1974 and the hugely popular/very commercial  "A Rock And Roll Alternative" from January 1977 covered by Beat Goes On Records back in August 2009 (BGOCD 870).

Now it's the turn of album numbers four and five - records that are more Little Feat than Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Dog Days" from September 1975 and "Red Tape" from May 1976 - both originally on Polydor Records in both the USA and UK. Here are the rhythmic details...

UK released July 2009 - "Dog Days/Red Tape" by ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD 874 (Barcode 5017261208743) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (68:42 minutes):

1. Crazy

2. Boogie Smoogie

3. Cuban Crisis

4. It Just Ain't Your Moon

5. Dog Days - [Side 2]

6. Bless My Soul (Instrumental)

7. Silent Treatment

8. All Night Rain

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album "Dog Days" - released September 1975 in the USA on Polydor PD-6041 and November 1975 in the UK on Polydor Super 2391 179. Produced by BUDDY BUIE - it peaked at No. 113 in the USA (didn't chart in the UK).

9. Jukin/San Antonio Rose

10. Mixed Emotions

11. Shanghied

12. Police! Police!

13. Beautiful Dreamers

14. Oh What A Feeling

15. Free Spirit

16. Another Man's Woman

Tracks 9 to 16 are their fifth studio album "Red Tape" - released May 1976 in the USA on Polydor PD-6060 and July 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2391 223. Produced by BUDDY BUIE - it peaked at No. 146 in the USA (didn't chart in the UK).

ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION was:

RONNIE HAMMOND - Lead Vocals

DEAN DAUGHTRY - Keyboards

BARRY BAILEY - Guitars

J.R. COBB - Guitars

PAUL GODDARD - Bass

ROBERT NIX - Drums

The outer card slipcase lends the release a classy feel and the 12-page booklet has comprehensive (if not overly praising) liner notes about the band by CAMPBELL DEVINE. There are a few photos and the usual credits – original and reissue. But the big news is a fabulous Remaster by BGO's ANDREW THOMPSON done at Sound Mastering in London. Both albums sound glorious – the original quality Production values very much to the fore. This is a huge sounding CD and for all the right reasons.

After a rather Pop-Rock start with "Crazy (Times)" - things get seriously dirty Southern Boogie with the wickedly groovy grunge of "Boogie Smoogie" - a song about a dive filled with hookers, greasy chicken and beer-swilling clientele throwing their cans at the bar band trying to make a buck. The Audio is superb for this huge fan fave. Their commercial 'let's write one that will be played on Country radio' streak kicks in for the jaunty "Cuban Crisis" - the kind of song Little Feat would have made a better fist of. "It Just Ain't Your Moon" is good old boy Rock 'n' Roll and sounds chunky - a really sweet sounding transfer. Things mellow into the big smooch of "Dog Days" - a power ballad that doesn't really ignite. The instrumental "Bless My Soul" is a funky little Southern Boogie number that actually sounds more 1977 dancefloor than 1975 chicken coup. Another fave is surely "Silent Treatment" - a wickedly catchy groove with 'honky tonk' harmonica where our boys are captured by a quiet lady (Ronnie struck out). It ends on the warmth of "All Night Rain" where ARS do their best Eagles impression.

You really the quality of the Remaster with the 45 lifted off "Red Tape" - the Boogie Rock of "Jukin". Buie and Nix delivered a wickedly good Rocker - the kind of song Jo Jo Gunne would have killed for. "Mixed Emotions" is the same - another clever ZZ Top type groover with Hammond's vocals sounder better than ever and those dual guitars tearing it up. "Shanghied" is another Rocker as the album begins to sound more and more like "Tres Hombres" with a commercial funk. Not surprisingly "Police! Police!" opens with arriving sirens, doors slamming and then a huge guitar riff (another travelling late at night - got hassled - song). The ballad "Beautiful Dreamers" is at least more convincing than the previous LP's attempts - a piano chord tells us that blue jean friends have faded. Again back to hard-hitting boogie - a huge guitar sound on "Oh What A Feeling" - and the single "Free Spirit" is the same - amazing clarity.

You wouldn't call either of these albums 'masterpieces' - hardly anything ARS ever did could hold a candle to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat or even The Allmans - bands with real chops and tunes that moved. Having said that - if you're a fan or even partial to Southern Rock – then this superb-sounding twofer CD is an absolute must-own...