"Tea For The Tillerman: Deluxe Edition" by CAT STEVENS (2008 Universal/Island 2CD Reissue - Ted Jensen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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                                         "...Longer Boats Are Coming To Win Us..."

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2008 'DELUXE EDITION' 2CD REMASTER ***

Some artists have a golden period - a stretch of albums that define them for decades to come.

CAT STEVENS had such a spell with Island Records in the Seventies - starting at the lovely and underrated "Mona Bone Jakon" LP in July 1970 - right through to November 1978's "Back To Earth" when the public had long since stopped listening. In-between this eight-year splurge - London's Steven Demetre Georgiou popped out a series of singer-songwriter albums that found their way into every bedsit and bedroom around the world (a girlfriend in collage had remarked that our Steven had eyes like a cat – hence the stage name).

After a pop start with Deram and Decca in the late Sixties - Cat Stevens switched to Island Records in early 1970 - acoustic-folk-souled his songwriting and the handsome troubadour and across the next five years in particular became huge with the public. Albums like 1972's "Catch Bull At Four", 1973's “Foreigner” and 1974's "Buddah And The Chocolate Box" are still remembered with real affection now in 2016 and charted big at the time – part of the James Taylor, Elton John and Carole King singer-songwriter movement sweeping the world in the early part of that fantastic decade. 

But it was the duo of 1970's "Tea For A Tillerman" and the 1971 follow-up "Teaser And The Firecat" (Island Records in the UK and A&M in the USA) that seared him into the hearts of millions. These two beautifully written and well-recorded albums have always been the jewels in his catalogue crown. It's therefore hardly surprising that both have become recipients of a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remaster from Universal - "Tillerman" in November 2008 with "Teaser" following in May 2009. Here are the Longer Boats coming to win us...

UK released November 2008 - "Tea For The Tillerman: Deluxe Edition" by CAT STEVENS on Universal/Island 00602517870888 (Barcode 602517870888) is a 2CD Expanded and Newly Remastered 'Deluxe Edition' with Eleven Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (36:46 minutes):
1. Where Do The Children Play?
2. Hard Headed Woman
3. Wild World
4. Sad Lisa
5. Miles From Nowhere
6. But I Might Die Tonight
7. Longer Boats
8. Into White
9. On The Road To Find Out
10. Father And Son
11. Tea For The Tillerman
Tracks 1 to 11 are his fourth studio album "Tea For The Tillerman" - released November 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9135 and January 1971 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4280. Produced by PAUL SAMWELL-SMITH - it peaked at No. 20 in the UK and No. 8 in the USA.

Disc 2 (36:49 minutes):
1. Wild World (Demo Version, Recorded 1969)
2. Longer Boats (Live At The Troubadour, Recorded 1970)
3. Into White (Live At The Troubadour, Recorded 1970)
4. Miles From Nowhere (Demo Version, Recorded 1969)
5. Hard Headed Woman (Live in Japan, Recorded 1976)
6. Where Do The Children Play? (From the Majikat Earth Tour, Recorded 1976)
7. Sad Lisa (from the Majikat Earth Tour, Recorded 1976)
8. On The Road To Find Out (Live at KCET-TV, Recorded in Los Angeles, 1971)
9. Father And Son (from Yusef's Cafe, Recorded 2006)
10. Wild World (from Yusef's Cafe, Recorded 2006)
11. Tea For The Tillerman (Live At The BBC, Recorded 1970 for BBC Radio 1's "Sounds Of The Seventies" at the Playhouse Theatre)

This 'Deluxe Edition' had a plastic wrap (before Universal decided unwisely to ditch them) with 'Classic '70s Album Digitally Remastered...' sticker on the outside and a four-way foldout card digipak within - itself housed a beautifully laid-out 28-page oversized booklet. The inner gatefold photo of the original LP is spread across the flaps of the digipak with sepia photos adorning the other flaps (it's hardly great visually). The booklet is gorgeous. Page 3 has Cat's own ruminations on the album and its life/career changing effect on him - Pages 4 to 6 feature superb in-depth track-by-track explanations by original LP Producer PAUL SAMWELL-SMITH while principal band member and Guitarist ALUN DAVIES gives his eclectic take on the songs (Pages 8 and 9). The rest of the booklet reprints the lyrics alongside live photos and finally track-by-track breakdowns of the Bonus Material. The eleven-track Bonus Disc includes Previously Unreleased - two demos being the real prizes - almost as lovely as the finished articles. Songs from the 'Majikat' Tour have been released on an Eagle Vision DVD and the KCET Concert piece was out on a Weinerworld DVD "Tea For The Tillerman Live" - the rest are Previously Unreleased.

But the big news is a new June 2008 TED JENSEN Remaster done at Sterling Sound Studios in New York from the original two-track analogue master tapes - superseding the version he did on the May 2000 single disc Remaster series. This version is beautiful to listen too - a real Audio treat. Typically the bonus tracks are a mixture of the essential vs. the superfluous. His voice is gone on "Sad Lisa" while the Live At The BBC "Tea For The Tillerman" that ends the disc is less than a minute long and very hissy. The two live 'Yusef's Cafe' tracks are beautifully recorded and feature "Wild World" in both English and a different langue (original album player Alan Davies is part of the band for these sessions). But the real prize here for collectors and uber-fans is the two demos - both sweetly recorded and hugely impressive. There’s a warmth and magic coming off of them and you wish there was a whole album of these. The Troubadour live cuts are good too (just him and Alun Davies on guitars) - very clear and way better than say bootleg quality. As I write this (Thursday, 10 November 2016) - the Sci-Fi movie "Arrival" is opening today about twelve banana-shaped spaceships suddenly turning up on our capitol city lawns itching to communicate in squiggles. I mention this because in his first Troubadour song he announces that "Longer Boats" is about spaceships 'coming to win us' - 46 years before the film event! What a clever boy. But onto to the album...

"...Well I think it's fine building Jumbo planes...switch on Summer from a slot machine...but tell me...where do the children play?" Cat opens the album with an environmental plea and in his May 2008 liner notes he comments that those passionate cries are still falling on 'tone-deaf ears' and unfortunately all present day evidence proves him right. What's not in dispute is the 'Audio'. My 'Pink Island' label 1970 Vinyl LP original and subsequent 1970's  'Pink-Rim Palm Tree Label' reissues always had low audio on "Where Do The Children Play?" - but this CD Remaster has gorgeous clarity and that acoustic bottom end when it kicks in is impressive. The strings on "Hard Headed Woman" are clearer and Harvey Burn's drums are almost 'too' good - a beautiful transfer. That huge piano on "Sad Lisa" fills your room and you forget just how passionate his vocals could be until you re-hear "Miles From Nowhere". Side 2's "Longer Boats" and the anthemic "Father And Son" will leave many tingling - both musically and lyrically.

"...Mary dropped her pants by the sand...and let the parson...come and take her hand...
But the soul of nobody knows...where the parson goes..."
I don’t know where he’s gone either.

"Tea For A Tillerman" is a gorgeous album and the Audio on this 2008 'Deluxe Edition' Remaster has only hammered that home with knobs on. I don't how many times I'll return to Disc 2 in truth - but there are nuggets to be had there as well – period songs that fans will need and enjoy.

If you're not prepared to pay the extra - then simply plum for the May 2000 single CD remaster which has great audio too and can be found for less than three or four pounds in many places.

If however you're after the very best Audio and the fanboy in you wants that tasty presentation and those extras on Disc 2 (some of which are actually worth owning) - then this 2CD 'DE' version of Cat Stevens' "Tea For The Tillerman" is the Father and Son for you...

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"Little Queen" by HEART (2004 Epic/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD - Joseph Palmaccio Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Beauty Take Us..." 

"...Beauty Take Us..." they etched into the run-out groove of Portrait JC 34799 - their second album in early May 1977. And Heart's sophisticated Seattle Rock has been doing just that for decades ever since.

After a blistering debut in the shape of "Dreamboat Annie" on Mushroom Records the year prior (Arista in the UK) - the dynamic songwriting duo of Nancy and Ann Wilson at the core of the band (the caped sisters on the front cover with their band of intrepid gypsies behind them) stumped up yet another radio-friendly tennis-racket wielding winner in "Little Queen" - housing as it does huge fan-faves to this day like "Barracuda" and "Love Alive".

And this superbly remastered Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD even adds on a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" as one of two bonus tracks - a near ten-minute live version from 1976 that might have its Jimmy Page & Robert Plant originators nodding in tearful appreciation. Here are the heart-shaped teeshirts and era-changing dreams...

UK released June 2004 - "Little Queen" by HEART on Epic/Legacy 508342 2 (Barcode 5099750834220) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (52:06 minutes):

1. Barracuda

2. Love Alive

3. Sylvan Song

4. Dream Of The Archer

5. Kick It Out

6. Little Queen

7. Treat Me Well

8. Say Hello

9. Cry To Me

10. Go On Cry

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 2nd studio album "Little Queen" - released May 1977 in the USA on Portrait Records JC 34799 and July 1977 in the UK on Portrait PRT 82075. Produced by MIKE FLICKER - it peaked at No. 9 on the US album charts and No. 36 in the UK.

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

11. Too Long A Time (Early Demo Version of "Love Alive")

12. Stairway To Heaven (Live at the Aquarius Tavern in Seattle, WA, 1976)

The 5-square double-sided foldout inlay has witty and affection liner notes from NANCY WILSON remembering an era when they genuinely felt that music (including theirs) had "...an eye towards enlightening and changing the world..." I can remember that feeling - everything up for grabs - when music seemed so important you couldn't breath with excitement. There's also a 'track by track' overview of the songs by both sisters that tells us of their pride in stunners like "Love Alive". There are the usual reissue credits and several beautiful colour photos of the girls and the band clearly enjoying the spoils of years grafting. But the big news is a new JOSEPH M. PALMACCIO Remaster done at Sony Music's New York Studios in 2004. This album has always needed that extra 'oomph' a good remaster can give a record and Palmaccio has done the business here. The truly gorgeous acoustic guitars of "Treat Me Well" rattle around your living room with warmth and presence - then that Bass and Ann's aching pleading voice (will you treat me well) - that lonesome Harmonica mixing with the strings - Mike Flicker's original production values shining like never before. It’s hugely impressive stuff...

"Little Queen" opens with a huge 'rawk' anthem and a produced one at that - flanged guitars and whacking drums thundering through your speakers as "Barracuda" nibbles at your legs with Jaws-like teeth (the audio is fantastic on this sucker). But even that's roundly trumped by the brilliance and sheer melody of "Love Alive" - an Acoustic/Rock tune that so apes Led Zeppelin's style that its hairy (a compliment to the boys in the best possible way). I dare say the girls are proud of this song - co-written with guitarist Roger Fisher. Zeppelin III's mandolin influence rears its melodic head on "Sylvan Song" where the instrumental passage channels its inner Jimmy Page with beautiful effect (a Nancy Wilson and Roger Fisher co-write) before launching into gorgeous duet-vocals on "Dream Of The Archer". Re-listening to this beautiful song - you can so hear why they were both able to tackle soundtracks later in their careers – melody is at the core of their songwriting. The Side 1 Rock 'n' Roll finisher "Kick It Out" turned up at the B-side to the October 1977 UK 7" single of "Love Alive" on Portrait PRT 5570 – but despite its strength as a double-sider - Heart would have to wait unto 1986's "These Dreams" for chart success in Blighty.

The album's ambitious title track "Little Queen" opens Side 2 where Ann sings of a 'gypsy band' - a five-minute guitar chugger co-written with Bassist Steve Fossen and Drummer Michael Derosier. But that's kicked firmly into touch by the stunning "Treat Me Well" - a Nancy Wilson hurt that's 40 years old in 2017 and yet still feels like an open-wound you can't cauterise (its the only song on the album featuring her Lead Vocals). Hand-claps, falling coins and giggling voices open "Say Hello" quickly followed by layers of Fleetwood Mac type vocals as the band has fun and feels lighter than usual (bit of an album-sleeper this one). There's an underlying pain in "Cry To Me" crackling through Ann Wilson's vocals - asking someone to trust and 'set it free' even if it’s emotionally dangerous. The near six-minute "Go On Cry" is another co-write with Guitarist Fisher and feels like the album's overlooked masterpiece. I've always loved the way those 'ooh' vocals come sailing in and those building guitar flicks like Roger Gilmour letting rip in the studio (Palmaccio's Remaster breathes life into this track).

I wasn't expecting much of the two bonus tracks but they are shockingly good. Different 'mama' lyrics fill "Too Long A Time" – an early demo version of "Love Alive" that has fabulous layered vocals but a guitar solo that feels intrusive instead of adding to the song and you can so hear why it was dropped. But even in this early form – it's amazing stuff. The live version of "Stairway To Heaven" is preceded by a witty introduction about Canadians and 'people in lurve' and is amazingly faithful to the original – difficult passages and all. They would of course play the song in front Of Page and Plant four decades later – see YouTube footage of that amazing tribute with both of its creators properly moved.

In October 1978 they would follow 1977's "Little Queen" with another fan fave - "Dog & Butterfly" - which along with March 1980's "Bebe Le Strange” is also part of Epic/Legacy's 'Expanded Edition' Series of CD Remasters.

Although it's forgotten now "Little Queen" is a great HEART album. And languishing in a warehouse near you for under four English poundlike small ones - it doesn't take a tarot card or a gypsy's crystal ball to work out that ye minstrels of Seventies Rock need this little CD belter in your travelling caravan - and right soon...

"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...

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"…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!