"My Aim Is True: Originals Series" by ELVIS COSTELLO (2007 Hip-O/UMC 'Originals' CD Remaster In A Digipak With Booklet and Obi - Dan Hersch Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I'm Not Going To Get Too Sentimental..."

Elvis Costello's debut (like much of his catalogue for the Seventies and Eighties) has been reissued to a point where fans will yawn and newcomers turn their eyes and ears elsewhere.

For this review I'm concentrating on the American 'Originals' CD Series put out by Universal's Hip-O Records in May 2007 (aka Hip-O Select) where eleven albums were Remastered to CD and presented in Artwork-Repro Digipaks with new booklets (most sans any bonus material – just the LP). The series started with the 1977 debut "My Aim Is True" and ran through to 1986's "Blood And Chocolate" (see list below). Here are the sneaky details and the original sins...

US released 1 May 2007 - "My Aim Is True: Originals Series" by ELVIS COSTELLO on Hip-O Records/Universal Music Company (UMC) B0008635-02 (Barcode 602517260863) is a 13-Track CD Remaster of the 1977 American LP on Columbia Records. The UK LP on Stiff Records had only 12-tracks ("Watching The Detectives" was originally only a 7" single in the UK) but was added to the end of Side 1 of the US LP (hence the 13-tracks). This CD Remaster plays out as follows (36:48 minutes):

1. Welcome To My Working Work

2. Miracle Man

3. No Dancing

4. Blame It On Cain

5. Alison

6. Sneaky Feelings

7. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes [Side 2]

8. Less Than Zero

9. Mystery Dance

10. Pay It Back

11. I'm Not Angry

12. Waiting For The End Of The World

13. Watching The Detectives

Tracks 1 to 12 are the UK debut LP "My Aim Is True" - released July 1977 in the UK on Stiff Records SEEZ 3. "Watching The Detectives" was issued October 1977 in the UK as a 7" single only (A-side) but was added on as an extra track (end of Side 1 after "Sneaky Feelings") on the March 1978 US reissue LP on Columbia Records JC 35037. Produced by NICK LOWE.

The Band for Tracks 1 to 12 were:

ELVIS COSTELLO - Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitars, Piano and Drumsticks on "Mystery Dance"

JOHN McFEE - Guitar and Pedal Steel

SEAN HOPPER - Piano, Organ, Backing Vocals

JOHNNY CIAMBOTTI - Bass and Backing Vocals

MICKEY SHINE - Drums

NICK LOWE - Backing Vocals, Bass, Drums and Drumsticks on "Mystery Dance"

Band for "Watching The Detectives" was:

ELVIS COSTELLO - Vocals and Guitar

STEVE NIEVE - Organ and Piano Overdubs

ANDREW BODNAR - Bass

STEVE GOULDING - Drums

The 'Originals' card digipak is hardly anything to write home about and its glued-on Obi even obscures the track list on the rear cover (and the inner gatefold is simply all yellow - a bad waste of space). The 12-page booklet has all the lyrics - original album recording credits and reissue details - it's good but without any history of the album and its making it's hardly great. The Remaster was carried out by Rhino's longtime Audio Engineer DAN HERSCH and is a mixed bag of brill and brash.

Production wise "My Aim Is True" the LP has always felt a bit 'all over the place'. The Remaster reflects the source material. Some tracks have stunning clarity while others just feel wrong and I'd have to say that this Remaster has only highlighted 'both'. From the moment "Working Week" hits the speakers - you can hear the taught band but the deliberately distanced vocals take away from the impact. Some tracks though are absolutely stunning - the sheer drum wallop coming from "Waiting For The End Of The World" is amazing and yet that guitar feels even more disconnected. Even though it's brash "Blame It On The Cain" feels incredible - that fantastic staccato beat as Elvis sings about Government burglars taking away his dosh.

Three in a row with great sound are the beautiful ballad "Alison" with the LP's title amidst its lyrics - the catchy "Sneaky Feelings" (can't let them show) and the lyrically acidic "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" where EC used to be disgusted but now he's just amused. "Less Than Zero" is absolutely huge on this remaster - amazing clarity (as is "Watching The Detectives") - and I hear South America is coming into style. There is a 2007 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' with shed loads more on offer and flashier presentation (outtakes, B-sides, live material) - but I like the simplicity of just the album.

I'm constantly amazed at how good Costello's first foray was and still is - a stunning debut album that announced the arrival of a major songwriting talent (coming up on its 40th Anniversary in November 2017).

I will get sentimental about "My Aim Is True" – warts and all - I f***ing love it...

May 2007 ELVIS COSTELLO 'Originals' CD Series of Reissues:

1. My Aim Is True (1977) - Hip-O Records B0008635-02 (Barcode 602517260863)

2. This Year’s Model (1978) – Hip-O Records B0008638-02 (Barcode 602517260894)

3. Armed Forces (1978) – Hip-O Records B0008630-02 (Barcode 602517260818)

4. Get Happy!! (1980) - Hip-O Records B0008632-02 (Barcode 602517260832)

5. Almost Blue (1981) - Hip-O Records B0008628-02 (Barcode 602517260573)

6. Trust (1981) - Hip-O Records B0008639-02 (Barcode 602517260900)

7. Imperial Bedroom (1982) – Hip-O Records B0008634-02 (Barcode 602517260856)

8. Punch The Clock (1983) – Hip-O Records B0008636-02 (Barcode ?)

9. Goodbye Cruel World (1984) – Hip-O Records B0008633-02 (Barcode 602517260849)

10. King Of America (1986) – Hip-O Records B0008637-02 (Barcode 602517260887)

11. Blood and Chocolate (1986) – Hip-O Records B0008631-02 (Barcode 602517260825)

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"Spectres" by BLUE OYSTER CULT (2001 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD - Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ready 2 Rock..."

In October 1976 obscuro rockers BLUE OYSTER CULT found themselves with a big fat Rock hit on their hands with the perennial and Radio-friendly "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". Long Island's BOC and their now signature song sat proudly at No. 12 on the US singles charts - helping to push studio album number four "Agents Of Fortune" into Platinum Status and a peak position of 29 with a huge 35-week run on the LP charts. Time to follow that up – in steps 1977's "Spectres". And a smart move it was too...

A complimentary issue to the June 2001 'Blue Oyster Cult Collection' CD Reissue Series that covered their initial output (see list below) – this March 2007 'Expanded Edition' comes with a tasty new Vic Anesini CD Remaster, extra liner notes and Four Previously Unreleased tracks from the "Spectres" sessions. Here are the spectral and celestial details...

UK and US released March 2007 - "Spectres" by BLUE OYSTER CULT on Columbia/Legacy 82796964082 (Barcode 827969640821) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks/Session Outtakes and plays out as follows (53:37 minutes):

1. Godzilla

2. Golden Age Of Leather

3. Death Valley Nights

4. Searchin' For Celine

5. Fireworks

6. R. U. Ready 2 Rock [Side 2]

7. Celestial The Queen

8. Goin' Through The Motions

9. I Love The Night

10. Nosferatu

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 5th studio album (sixth overall) "Spectres" - released October 1977 in the USA on Columbia JC 35019 and January 1978 in the UK on CBS Records 86050. Produced by DAVID LUCAS, MURRAY KRUGMAN, SANDY PEARLMAN and BLUE OYSTER CULT – it peaked at No. 43 and No. 60 on the US and UK charts respectively.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Night Flyer

12. Dial M For Murder

13. Please Hold

14. Be My Baby

Tracks 11 to 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED outtakes from the "Spectres" sessions

BLUE OYSTER CULT were:

ERIC BLOOM – Vocals and Guitar

JOE BOUCHARD - Bass, Vocals and Piano

DONALD (Buck Dharma) ROESER – Lead and Rhythm Guitars and Vocals

ALBERT BOUCHARD - Drums, Vocals and Harmonica

ALLEN LANIER – Keyboards and Guitar

The 8-page booklet has brief but informative liner notes by noted writer LENNY KAYE, some black and white band photos and the usual reissue credits. But the big news is a VIC ANESINI Remaster - a name associated with a huge range of Sony releases - Santana, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Byrds, Nilsson, Mountain, The Jayhawks, Mott The Hoople and many more. The audio here is better than the album I had for years and even the four Bonus Tracks/Outtakes prove more than filler.

Smartly realising that more radio-friendly 'Reaper' type tunes were needed to continue their popularity - BOC stumped up the camp cock-rock of "Godzilla" and the witty "Golden Age Of Leather" and quickly elicited the derision of fans who loved their hard-rocking earlier stuff. Corny 'kiss from you' song or not - what you can't argue with is the Anesini Remaster that shines on the instrumentation of "Death Valley Nights" - BOC getting all in touch with feminine selves. "Searching For Celine" has that cool bass opening and it’s so clear now - as is the Side 1 finisher "Fireworks" - the closest thing they came to "Reaper" in terms of sound.

"R.U. Ready 2 Rock" gives us some big-mickey riffs complete with cheesy title. "...I'm out of my face...I'm out of my mind..." they sing on "Celestial The Queen" where they sound like a sappier version of Mott The Hoople. The synth and guitar opening of "Goin' Through The Motions" is clearer than any other version I've heard on CD before. Musically "I Love The Night" is probably the mellowest song on the album - treated guitars and layered vocals - lovely ladies helping our lovelorn singer feel better. "Nosferatu" features great guitar and keyboard work and is probably the most Prog tune on the record. The extras present a cover of The Ronettes classic "Be My Baby" and sought-after BOC rarities "Night Flyer" and "Dial M For Murder".

Musically Blue Oyster Cult have always been hard to put in a genre box and leave them there and I find a lot on this late Seventies album hard to like in 2016. But if you're a fan and have fond memories of them - this superb remaster is the one for you - cheeseball titles and all... 

BLUE OYSTER CULT titles available as June 2001 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CDs are:

1. Blue Oyster Cult (1972) – Columbia/Legacy 502234 2 (Barcode 5099750223420)

2. Tyranny And Mutation (1973) – Columbia/Legacy 502235 2 (Barcode 5099750223529)

3. Secret Treaties (1974) – Columbia/Legacy 502236 2 (Barcode 5099750223628)

4. Agents Of Fortune (1976) – Columbia/Legacy 502237 2 (Barcode 5099750223727)

March 2007 'Expanded Edition' Columbia/Legacy CD titles:

5. Spectres (1977) – Columbia/Legacy 82796964082 (Barcode 827969640821)

6. Some Enchanted Evening (1978) – Columbia/Legacy 82876752042 CD+DVD (Barcode 828767520421)

"Agents Of Fortune" by BLUE OYSTER CULT [feat Patti Smith] (2001 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD - Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...(Don't Fear) The Reaper..."

After three studio albums that the US public showed only mild interest in (1972 to 1974) and the storming live-double "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" that peaked at a healthy No. 22 in March 1975 - the purposely obscure 'I don't know what a hit single is and I won't write one because I'm so rad man' BLUE OYSTER CULT found themselves in October 1976 with exactly that - a monster all-conquering guns-blazing big fat Rock hit - "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". Long Island's BOC and their now signature song sat proudly at No. 12 on the US singles charts - helping to push studio album number four "Agents Of Fortune" into Platinum Status and a peak position of 29 with a huge 35-week run on the LP charts.

At times sounding like the US answer to England's Mott The Hoople meets their own Grand Funk Railroad - the mixed-up aural landscape of Blue Oyster Cult's "Agents Of Fortune" elicits both derision amongst diehards who loved the hard-rocking first three albums - and tearful affection from those who picked up on this most American of bands during the beginning of their (cue laughs) 'commercial' phase. Hell they even got Patti Smith to duet with them and co-write "The Revenge Of Vera Gemini" - whilst the Brecker Brothers (Randy and Michael) provided smooth horns on some tracks (BOC does silky brass - yikes). It was a long way from the eclecticism of  'The Stalk-Forrest Group' on Elektra Records in 1970 - a one-single band with songs penned by founder BOC member Allen Lanier with Lyricist Richard Meltzer (see my review of Stalk-Forrest in the "Forever Changing: The Elektra Records Story" 5CD Box Set).

But that's where this 'Blue Oyster Cult Collection' CD Reissue comes barrelling in – sporting a tasty new Vic Anesini Remaster. Here are the gory details that will include tales of Not So Grim Reapers, an Extra Terrestrial Intelligence called Balthazar and Tattoo'd Vampires (nice)...

UK and US released June 2001 (reissued December 2003) - "Agents Of Fortune" by BLUE OYSTER CULT on Columbia/Legacy 502237 2 (Barcode 5099750223727) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (51:41 minutes):

1. This Ain't The Summer Of Love

2. True Confessions

3. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

4. E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)

5. The Revenge Of Vera Gemini

6. Sinful Love [Side 2]

7. Tattoo Vampire

8. Morning Final

9. Tenderlion

10. Debbie Denise

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th studio album "Agents Of Fortune" - released June 1976 in the USA on Columbia PC 34164 and in the UK on CBS Records S 81385. Produced by DAVID LUCAS, MURRAY KRUGMAN and SANDY PEARLMAN – it peaked at No. 29 on the US LP charts.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Fire Of Unknown Origin (Original Version)

12. Sally (Demo)

13. (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Demo)

14. Dance The Night Away (Demo)

Tracks 11 to 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

BLUE OYSTER CULT were:

ERIC BLOOM - Vocals, Guitar and Percussion

ALBERT BOUCHARD - Drums, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion and Harmonica

DONALD (Buck Dharma) ROESER - Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer and Percussion

JOE BOUCHARD - Bass, Vocals and Piano

ALLEN LANIER - Keyboards, Vocals, Guitar and Bass

The 12-page booklet has brief but informative liner notes by noted writer LENNY KAYE, the lyrics and gatefold artwork of the original vinyl LP and the usual reissue credits. But the big news is a VIC ANESINI Remaster - a name associated with a huge range of Sony releases - Santana, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Byrds, Nilsson, Mountain, The Jayhawks, Mott The Hoople and many more. The audio here is better than the album I had for years and even the four Bonus Tracks prove more than filler.

It opens with the 'not playing nice' of "This Ain't The Summer Of Love" where menacing guitars tell us this isn't The Garden Of Eden (oh dear) and a very clear guitar solo. That's followed by Allen Lanier's "True Confessions" where his rare lead vocal sounds like Ian Hunter fronting Mott The Hoople through another piano-swagger song (one of The Brecker Brothers puts in a Saxophone solo too). Then you're hit with Hitsville USA but instead of Radio Shows and oldies hit-lists - I'm immediately thinking of that great episode in the Season 2 finale of "Orange Is The New Black" when one of the girls whose dying from cancer (Rosa) drives past the prison gates – runs over the killer inmate whose been making her life a misery - then makes a bid for freedom as the songs plays out – the wind of possibility blowing through her prison van window. The Remaster has improved its muted audio considerably - the song always feeling like it needed some serious Production input. And don't you just love that break and solo. The voicebox treated guitar of "E.T.I." suddenly has muscle and those chorus voices feel bigger too (Balthazar ahoy). I've never really known how to react to Patti Smith's collaboration with the band on "The Revenge Of Vera Gemini" - is it Rock or early US New Wave - but I am loving the better clarity on offer here.

Side 2 opens with the hammy Piano/Guitar Rock of "Sinful Love" where he loves her like sin but he won’t be her pigeon (God help us all). Far better is the excellent riffage of "Tattoo Vampire" where grisly smiles and a photo is sucking skin for our rattled heroes. There’s sophistication to the funky arrangements in "Morning Final" – a recounting of inner city life – scenes where a gun-totting junkie wanders the morning pavements aimless and dangerous. "Tenderloin" feels like BOC-lite and the dreadful "Debbie Denise" offers too many falsetto vocal moments that make you cringe instead of making you swoon. I wasn’t expecting much from the four unreleased Bonus Tracks – but each is excellent is their own way. Even in demo form "(Don’t Fear) The Reaper" is a winner – this early stab featuring a great guitar passage and harmonising vocals very close to the released version.

It’s not all genius by any means and I can think of a few "Californication" episodes where Rock like this and bands like BOC rightly had the piss taken out of them. But the good bits are great and the Remaster Rocks.

"…Baby take my hand…don't fear the reaper…" - they sang 40 years ago as the two star-crossed lovers made their dash for freedom. Agreed…

BLUE OYSTER CULT titles available as June 2001 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CDs are:

1. Blue Oyster Cult (1972) – Columbia/Legacy 502234 2 (Barcode 5099750223420)

2. Tyranny And Mutation (1973) – Columbia/Legacy 502235 2 (Barcode 5099750223529)

3. Secret Treaties (1974) – Columbia/Legacy 502236 2 (Barcode 5099750223628)

4. Agents Of Fortune (1976) – Columbia/Legacy 502237 2 (Barcode 5099750223727)

March 2007 ‘Expanded’ Legacy Editions

5. Spectres (1977) – Columbia/Legacy 82796964082 (Barcode 827969640821)

6. Some Enchanted Evening (1978) – Columbia/Legacy 82876752042 CD+DVD (Barcode 828767520421)

"Original Album Classics" by JEFF BECK [feat Jan Hammer, Narada Michael Walden and Cozy Powell] (October 2008 UK Sony/Legacy 5CD Mini Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

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(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Got The Feeling…"

The first of two box sets in Sony’s on-going "Original Album Series" (the second deals with later releases) – this five album haul of Jeff Beck’s lengthy career contains what probably represent a favourite period for fans of the best guitar player in the UK (and some would say in the world).

Beginning in 1971 and ending in 1977 - the five albums presented here have our Beckster getting all Seventies Rock-Funky, Rock-Soulful, Rock-Fusion and even wild Instrumental Progressive with the help of band mates Bob Tench on Vocals, Max Middleton and Jan Hammer on Keyboards, Narada Michael Walden on Drums and Beatles Producer George Martin at the helm more than once. What a ride! There’s a whole wad of great sounding Seventies moods on here – so let’s get to the ice cream cakes, constipated ducks and the led boots…

UK released October 2008 – "Original Album Classics" by JEFF BECK on Sony/Legacy 88697302772 (Barcode 886973027721) is a 5-disc Mini Box Set of CD Remasters with Repro LP Card Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 "Rough And Ready" (36:50 minutes):

1. Got The Feeling

2. Situation

3. Short Business

4. Max’s Tune

5. I’ve Been Used [Side 2]

6. New Ways Train Train

7. Jody

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Rough And Ready" – released October 1971 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 64619 and in the USA Epic PE 30973. It peaked at No. 46 in the USA charts.

Disc 2 "Jeff Beck Group" (40:27 minutes):

1. Ice Cream Cakes

2. Glad All Over

3. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You

4. Sugar Cane

5. I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel For You

6. Going Down [Side 2]

7. I Got To Have A Song

8. Highways

9. Definitely Maybe

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Jeff Beck Group" – released May 1972 in the USA on Epic KE 31331 and July 1972 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 64899

Disc 3 "Blow By Blow" (44: 37 minutes):

1. You Know What I Mean

2. She’s A Woman

3. Constipated Duck

4. AIR Blower

5. Scatterbrain

6. ‘Cause We Ended As Lovers [Side 2]

7. Thelonius

8. Freeway Jam

9. Diamond Dust

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Blow By Blow" – released March 1975 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 89117 and in the USA on Epic PE 33409. Note: the rear of the box lists tracks 10 and 11 as "You Know What I Mean" and "She's A Woman" – also claiming 10 is a bonus track – but neither are actually on the disc.

Disc 4 "Wired" (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

Disc 5 "Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live" (44:31 minutes):

1. Freeway Jam

2. Earth (Still Our Only Home)

3. She's A Woman

4. Full Moon Boogie

5. Darkness/Earth In Search Of A Sun [Side 2]

6. Scatterbrain

7. Blue Wind

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live" – released March 1977 in the UK on Epic EPC 86025

Albums 1 and 2 are credited to JEFF BECK GROUP, 3 and 4 to JEFF BECK and 5 to JEFF BECK with the JAN HAMMER GROUP - album credits are available online at the musicmadesimple.info website.

Across the seven tracks of 1971's "Rough And Ready" (his 3rd album) – Beck wrote the lot except "Max's Tune" which is an original by Drummer Max Middleton and "Jody" which is a co-write with Brian Short – a UK folky of Transatlantic Records fame. For both "Rough And Ready" and the self-titled follow-up "Jeff Beck Group" he enlisted the help of BOB TENCH on Soulful Lead Vocals, MAX MIDDLETON on Piano, CLIVE CHAMAN on Bass and COZY POWELL on Drums. Both records are more Soulful Rock than just Rock – feeling like Blood, Sweat & Tears meets Earth, Wind & Fire by way of England. "Got The Feeling" is great Soulful Rock with Tench giving it some Joe Cocker growls and feeling while the upbeat Side 2 opener "New Ways Train Train" sounds so American in a Delaney & Bonnie way. 

On the second album we open with the uber-cool funk of "Ice Cream Cakes" with the band sounding not unlike Atlantic's COLD BLOOD but with a male singer instead of Lydia Pense. He does a cover of Carl Perkins' "Glad All Over" that is almost unrecognisable (hence the arranged by Jeff Beck credit) and a wickedly soulful take on Dylan's "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You". "Sugar Cane" is a co-write with Booker T & The MG's guitarist – Stax genius STEVE CROPPER. And not for the first time – he visits obscure soul by doing a cover of Rosetta Hightower's "I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You" – a 1968 7" single on Toast in the UK that highlighted the writing of Ashford & Simpson along with HDH's Brian Holland. But my heart belongs to the fabulous instrumental finisher "Definitely Maybe" – so good and so typically Soulful in a way that seems natural to Jeff Beck. [Note: Fans will know that both of these albums have only been available on CD on expensive Japanese imports for years – here the remaster sound is great (doesn't say who did it or what source they're using) but they both sound great – full and clear]

Things go into another league both musically and aurally on his hugely popular "Blow By Blow" and "Wired" albums from 1975 and 1976. Apart from the dense layers of guitar-funk and the utterly hair-raising licks - the first thing that hits you about "Blow By Blow" with a full-on wallop is GEORGE MARTIN's genius production. It sounds amazing and has always been an audiophile release for that reason. His slowed down and funkified cover of The Beatles' "She's A Woman" with a voice-box vocal is so damn clever too – the keyboards flitting from speaker-to-speaker like a dance. But the giant on here for me is his instrumental version of Stevie Wonder's "'Cause We Ended As Lovers" which Beck dedicates to guitar hero ROY BUCHANAN (on Polydor Records) – even aping Buchanan’s famous bending-notes style. The vocal version of this gorgeous song is on Syreeta's album "Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta" from 1974 on Tamla Motown. Beck's searing solo on it is surely a career highlight and was used in one episode of "Californication".

The album "Wired" simply made good on the brilliance of "Blow By Blow" but brought on board Keyboard wizard JAN HAMMER and ex Mahavishnu Orchestra Drummer and songwriter NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN. I've lost count of the number times I placed "Come Dancing" on a 'Funky Funky' type CD-R compilation (a NMW original) while his cover of the Charles Mingus perennial "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" sees him wisely go all vibes Soulful. Another highlight "Blue Wind" is returned to for the 'live' set a year later – and easy to see why – it boogies. We get all clavinet funky on "Play With Me" and it ends on the lovely and mellow "Sophie". Of the live stuff I remember the three Jan Hammer originals "Earth (Still Our Only Home)", "Full Moon Boogie" and "Darkness/Earth In Search Of A Sun" as all being new. The playing is extraordinary and production values much the same.

So there you have it – a shed load of good stuff to discover (or rediscover) from an axeman who never ceases to amaze. In the vast canon of Sony releases for this 5CD and 3CD Box Set Series - this is one of those "Original Album..." Box Sets that's stacked and racked and cries out to be popped into your buy basket...

PS: check out his 2008 BLU RAY "Performing This Week…Live At Ronnie Scott’s" with the Lady Bass Player Tal Wilkenfield – wow!

"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...