"The Pretender" by JACKSON BROWNE (2004 Asylum CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Out Into The Cool Of The Evening Strolls..."

Some records actually scare you - emotionally that is. Back in 1976 and well into 1977 I was 'too' into "The Pretender". I was lonely I suppose and this album hooked into that lonesome pain like no other. Even now I find certain tracks hard to listen to – a downer LP I'd rather avoid in some ways.

And as it's 40th anniversary has come and gone in 2016 with no Deluxe Edition reissue/fanfare from Asylum or WEA (it shifted over two million copies for God's sake) - we're still left with this rather boring looking 80ts type CD reissue in a standard jewel case complete with a gatefold slip of paper for an inlay. Presentation wise – you get a big fat zip. But then you play the plain-looking CD and the Remaster is absolutely astounding.

The only mastering credit on the inlay for CD is GREG LADANYI who mixed some of the album back in the day and it doesn't advise a date or what was used. Fans will know that revered audio engineer Steve Hoffman remastered the LP for his DCC Compact Classics audiophile label in 1993 (DCC Compact Classics GZS-1047 - Barcode 010963104721) and I can't help but think that that CD variant is what has been used here (without saying so). I'm open to correction on this of course - but what can't be argued away is that you get gorgeous audio on what looks like the most boring of CD reissues ever. Anyway - here are the bright baby blues...

UK released 19 July 2004 - "The Pretender" by JACKSON BROWNE on Asylum 8122-78912-2 (Barcode 081227891220) is a straightforward CD transfer of the 1976 Asylum Records 8-track LP and plays out as follows (35:25 minutes):

1. The Fuse [Side 1]

2. Your Bright Baby Blues

3. LInda Paloma

4. Here Come Those Tears Again

5. The Only Child [Side 2]

6. Daddy's Tune

7. Sleep's Dark And Silent

8. The Pretender

Tracks 1 to 8 are his fourth studio album "The Pretender" - released November 1976 in the Asylum 7E-1079 and in the UK on Asylum K 53048. Produced by JON LANDAU - it peaked at No. 5 in the USA and No. 23 in the UK.

Musicians:

JACKSON BROWNE - Lead Vocals on all plus Acoustic Guitar on Track 2

FRED TACKETT (of Little Feat) - Guitars on Tracks 4, 5, 6 (Left Chanel), 7 and 8

DAVID LINDLEY - Slide Guitar on Tracks 1 and 6 with Violin on Track 5

LOWELL GEORGE (of Little Feat) - Slide Guitar and Harmony Vocals on Track 2

JOHN HALL (of Orleans) - Guitar Solo on Track 4

ALBERT LEE (of Heads, Hands & Feet) - Guitar on Track 5

WADDY WATCHELL - Guitar (Right Chanel) on Track 6

ROBERT GUTIERREZ - Guitaron, Violin and Backing Vocals on Track 2

LUIS F. DAMIAN - Vijuella, Guitar and backing Vocals on Track 2

CRAIG DOERGE - Keyboards on Tracks 1, 6, 7 and 8

BILL PAYNE (of Little Feat) - Keyboards on Tracks 2, 4 and 5

ROY BITTAN (of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band) - Piano on Track 2

MIKE UTLEY - Organ on Track 4

ARTHUR GERST - Harp and Backing Vocals on Track 2

JIM HORN (Arranger), CHUCK FINLEY, DICK HYDE and QUITMAN DENNIT - Horns on Track 6

LELAND SKLAR - Bass on Tracks 1, 6, 7 and 8

CHUCK RAINEY - Bass on Tracks 2 and 5

BOB GLAUB - Bass on Track 4

RUSS KUNKEL - Drums on Track 1

JIM GORDON - Drums on Tracks 2 and 4

JEFF PORCARO (of Toto) - Drums on Tracks 5, 6, 7 and 8

GARY COLEMAN - Percussion on Track 5

BONNIE RAITT and ROSEMARY BUTLER - Harmony Vocals on Track 4

DON HENLEY (of Eagles) and J.D. SOUTHER - Harmony Vocals on Track 5

DAVID CROSBY and GRAHAM NASH (of The Byrds, The Hollies, CSNY) - Harmony Vocals on Track 8

DAVID CAMPBELL – Arranged Strings on Track 8

Although it doesn't directly mention the event that shaped the music - the album was recorded amidst horrible personal circumstances (his wife Phyllis had taken her own life in March 1976) and you can feel that bleakness seep out through the darkness of the lyrics. The LP's artwork displayed the range of emotions a heart feels. As he crosses a street in his clean white teeshirt - Browne looks like someone planted him there from another world - an outsider striding amidst pedestrians who don't seem to notice what's going on inside him. You flip the cover over and a naked child of three is giggling on a beach - playing in the sand and the sunset light as the tide goes out. It shows that there is also joy amidst the pain - hope - a continuance no matter what.

Musically Jackson Browne's fourth studio album was a very class affair. And as you can see from the extensive list provided above - the session players were the best. You get most of Little Feat, members of Toto, The Eagles, David Crosby and Graham Nash of CSNY, John Hall of Orleans, Albert Lee of Heads, Hands & Feet and Roy Bittan of Springsteen's E-Street Band – as well as his how own core players - David Lindley and Craig Doerge. Harmony Vocalists feature Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Rosemary Butler and J.D. Souther. An embarrassment of riches really.

It opens with David Lindley providing sweeping slide guitar notes for "The Fuse" as lyrics about 'years in the wilderness' slowly turn into a positive romp towards the end of the song - 'the walls come tumbling down'. And just as it’s fading - Lindley does those brilliant harmonics on his guitar - Craig Doerge providing a gorgeous counter on the piano. But for me "Your Bright Baby Blues" represents the album's first moment of true greatness. A lethal combo of musicians contribute to the "...I can't seem to get away from me..." hurt in the words - Chuck Rainey on Bass, Billy Payne of Little Feat on Organ with Roy Bittan of The E-Street Band and especially Lowell George whose guitar slide solo is the very epitome of brevity and impact combined. I've always hated the cod Mariachi rhythms of "Linda Paloma" though I know others love it. Asylum used it as the B-side to the Side 1 finisher "Here Come Those Tears Again" - an American No. 23 hit single in February 1977 on Asylum E-45379.

Side 2 offers up a stunning run of four. A song to his son of three (who'd just lost his mum) - "The Only Child" is both sad and beautiful and lyrically deep. He warns his boy that the world may make him hard and wild but to let the disappointments pass and remember to be kind. And one day he may meet that Soul that sees into his own (Henley and Souther nail those harmony vocals). "Daddy's Tune" is a 'so hard to talk to you' paternal plea that oddly starts to rock out towards its awkward end. Way better is the beautiful and intensely sad "Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate" - a short homage to missed chances - a song filled with longing for simple love - lying awake at night. Those final string notes will crush you. And it ends with the epic title track - that piano as clear as a bell. Asylum edited the album cut of 5:50 down to 4:47 minutes and with "Daddy's Tune" on the flip-side - Asylum E-45399 was rewarded with a lowly No. 58 placing in May 1977. The guy goes to work - comes home from work - goes out - gets wasted - staggers home - gets up in the morning - only to do it all over again. "...Ah the lovers as they run through the night...while the ships bearing their dreams sail out of sight..." – how many of us felt that in dead-end jobs...

Sure it’s depressing in places and too dark at times to deliberately inflict on yourself - but forty years after its release - Jackson Browne's "The Pretender" still has the power to floor me. And something that powerful and moving will always draw me back. And it sounds great too...

"The Albums" by MEAL TICKET (2017 Lemon Records 3CD Mini Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Out Of The Blue..."

When I worked for Reckless Records in Islington and Berwick Street in Soho (I was a buyer for 20 years) – Meal Ticket LPs were strictly a no-no - bargain bin fodder that never sold - always reduced to sell. And despite the gorgeous presentation of this lavish Lemon Records 3CD Mini Box Set (Lemon is a part of Cherry Red of the UK) - it's easy to hear why that was the case for this very US-influenced West London band.

That's not to say that there isn't anything worth loving here – there most definitely is. The "Code Of The Rode" debut album from July 1977 has some genuine melodic peaches on it (Britain's answer to the Americana of The Eagles, America and The Band) - but the second platter "Three Times A Day" that followed only four months later in November 1977 is a dog and the third "Take Away" from November 1978 is not much better.

London's Meal Ticket formed in 1975 - so the 1977 debut album on EMI International/Logo Records had time to gestate and songs like "Out Of The Blue", "Last One To Know" and the epic sounding harmonies of "The Man From Mexico" would do any Crazy Horse LP proud. The lyrics too are long and smart and penned by actor and scriptwriter David Pierce. Along with Canadian singer Rick Jones – Pierce was an integral part of Meal Ticket the band and a prime mover behind the 1975 Chrysalis Records LP "Flash Fearless Versus The Zorg Women Parts 5 & 6" (CHR 1081) – a Sci-Fi spoof album project that featured Elkie Brooks, Alice Cooper, Jim Dandy of Black Oak Arkansas, James Dewar of Stone The Crows and The Robin Trower Band and John Entwistle of The Who. But clearly out of decent songs - and given the visceral musical scene of Punk and New Wave exploding all around them - it's no wonder that the insipid soft-rock of the second and third LPs died a death commercially (none of Meal Ticket's recorded output disturbed the UK charts and none of it was issued Stateside). And rehearing them now – 40 years of time has not been kind to either of the later LPs.

But for fans who've waited decades for these albums to be put out on CD (especially that debut) - this first-time-on-digital in the UK 3-Disc Box Set from Lemon Records with its great Audio and classy presentation is going to be a must buy. Here are the Bar Room details...

UK released 27 January 2017 (3 February 2017 in the USA) - "The Albums" by MEAL TICKET on Lemon Records CDLEMBOX227 (Barcode 5013929782709) is a 3CD Mini Box Set offering their three studio albums from 1977 and 1978 and Two Bonus Live Tracks Remastered. There are Singular Card Repro Artwork Sleeves and a 20-page booklet and it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "Code Of The Road" (46:40 minutes):

1. Out Of The Blue [Side 1]

2. Keepin' The Faith

3. OK Bar (Same Old Story)

4. Last One To Know

5. Day Job

6. The Man From Mexico [Side 2]

7. Snow

8. Golden Girl

9. Standing On The Wrong Corner

10. Georgia Syncopator

11. The Code Of The Road (Travellers Bible)

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Code Of The Road" - released July 1977 in the UK on EMI International/Logo INS 3008. Produced by ALAN O'DUFFY and WILLY FINLAYSON (no US release).

Disc 2 - "Three Times A Day" (38:10 minutes):

1. This Could Be The Town [Side 1]

2. Oh Sister

3. Last Port Of Call

4. Comes The Dawn

5. River Man

6. Yesterday's Music [Side 2]

7. Rural Routes

8. I Wish I Wish

9. Laughing Daughter

10. This Dream I Have Of You

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Three Times A Day" - released November 1977 in the UK on EMI International/Logo INS 3010. Produced by RICHIE GOLD (no US release)

Disc 3 - "Take Away" (44:11 minutes):

1. Why In The World [Side 1]

2. Down On My Knees (After Memphis)

3. Lucy

4. Lone Star Motel

5. The Shape I'm In

6. Blame [Side 2]

7. Simple

8. Bonnie Lee's Dinette

9. At The Funny Farm

10. Get On Board

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third and final studio album "Take Away" - released November 1978 (reissued April 1979) on Logo Records LOGO 1008. Produced by DAVID MACKAY.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Son Of The Creature From The Black Lagoon (Live)

12. Boogie Queen (Live)

Tracks 11 and 12 are non-album - released November 1978 as the second single in a UK double-pack for "Simple" on Logo Records GO(D) 330. The standard single (Disc 1 of the double-pack) on Logo Records GO 330 contained "Simple" on the A-side and "Funny Farm" on the B-side. There is no venue or recording date advised for the live cuts.

You have to say that the glossy clamshell box is pretty as are the three repro card sleeves and the 20-page booklet. New liner notes come courtesy of MICHAEL HEATLEY and with recent interviews give a thorough history of the band's beginnings and end. In-between the text are photos of the many EMI International and Logo 45s that EMI tried - as well as live photos of the band, the rear sleeve artwork on the back page (no inners) and various press cuttings. The mastering is down to JAMES BRAGG and the Audio on all three is excellent - especially "Code Of The Road".

You can immediately hear why EMI thought "Out Of The Blue" would be the best lead-off single for the debut album - it's a fantastically hooky song. EMI International INS 533 was issued as a British 45 towards the end of May 1977 with the witty "Day Job" as its B-side - months ahead of the album. Given the strength of the Rick Jones, David Pierce and Steve Hammond composition - it should have been huge really and yet I can't recall ever hearing it at the time. Other nuggets on an album obsessed with American Highways and Mexican Haciendas are the very Crazy Horse vibe of "Last One To Know" and the brilliant harmony breaks that occur in the near six-minute Side 2 stunner "The Man From Mexico".

After the relative high of the debut - "Three Times A Day" comes as a huge disappointment. Tracks like "This Could Be The Town" and "Rural Routes" suddenly sound dull and derivative. EMI tried "Yesterday's Dreams" b/w "The Man From Mexico" from the first LP in September 1977 as a 45 on EMI International INS 539 - even awarding it the luxury of a picture sleeve (both sides are repro'd on Pages 3 and 4 of the booklet). But fans of say Cado Belle or Ace didn't seem to be listening as it tanked. When album number three "Take Away" showed in November 1978 - EMI (under their Logo label imprint) tried "Simple" as the LPs first 45 in two formats - a standard 7" single and a double-pack with two unreleased live tracks on Disc 2 - but no takers. March 1979 saw them try their cover of The Band's "The Shape I'm In" as a single - Logo GO 342 with the LP opener "Why In The World" as its B-side. But that and the last UK single "Blame" in May 1979 on Logo GO 352 (with "At The Funny Farm" on the flip-side) failed as well.

You have to say that re-listening to these albums has been a mixed emotion - loving the first but I'd forgotten how forgettable the other two really are. Still - fans will adore the quality presentation and the sparkly audio and will need to own it. Others should try a listen first...

"Head Out Of Dreams: The Complete Hollies August 1973 to May 1985" by THE HOLLIES (March 2017 Parlophone 6CD - Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Air That I Breathe..."

Motherlode Number Three. Volume One of this trilogy arrived in May 2011 - "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" – a 6CD Set on Parlophone 5099909624221 (Barcode 5099909624221). Volume Two followed in July 2015 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 to March 1973" on Parlophone 0825646336111 (Barcode 0825646336111).

Now just in time for pints of Guinness, a green Hudson River and bad hair decisions - here comes the long awaited Volume Three on St. Patrick's Day, 17 March 2017 – complete with a whopping 120-tracks, nine album's worth of songs, 27 x UK 7" singles (many of which feature non-album sides) and further oddities from LP and CD compilations. The albums include "Hollies" (March 1974), "Another Night" (February 1975), "Write On" (January 1976), "Russian Roulette" (December 1976), "A Crazy Steal" (March 1978), "Five Three One - Double Seven O Four" (March 1979), "Buddy Holly" (October 1980) and "What Goes Round" (July 1983) and straggler tracks from compilations like "Rarities" (1988), "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" and "1973-1989" (1998) and the 6CD 2003 retrospective "The Long Road Home 1963-2000" as well as some European and New Zealand exclusives.

Coupled with superb Peter Mew Remasters done from original tapes at Abbey Road across the last decade or so - that's the good news. The bad news - because the Discs are laid out as they were recorded in 'chronological order' - it makes actually sequencing those UK and US albums and singles as 'released' a bit of a logistical nightmare. Although the booklet lists the LPs and their release dates/catalogue numbers - it doesn't give track lists so fan or newcomer won't know what goes where. To this end I've done the work (see the the Notes beneath each CD listed below). And the other downer is for die-hard fans - there's nothing new - nothing they wouldn't have had on previous CD purchases. There's a lot to untangle so let's get to the dreamy details...

UK released Friday, 17 March 2017 (24 March 2017 in the USA) - "Head Out Of Dreams: The Complete Hollies August 1973 - May 1988" by THE HOLLIES on Parlophone 0190295892333 (Barcode 0190295892333) is a 6CD set of Remasters that plays outs as follows:

Disc 1 (73:31 minutes):

1. The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee

2. Mexico Gold

3. Out On The Road

4. Born A Man

5. Pick Up The Pieces Again

6. It's A Shame, It's A Game

7. Transatlantic Westbound Jet

8. Don't Let Me Down

9. Falling Calling

10. Tip Of The Iceberg

11. Burn Fire Burn

12. Rubber Lucy

13. The Air That I Breathe

14. Down On The Run

15. No More Riders

16. Love Makes The World Go Round

17. Give Me Time

18. Lonely Hobo Lullaby

19. Son Of A Rotten Gambler

20. Layin' To The Music

NOTES for Disc 1:

Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 16 are the LP "Hollies" - released March 1974 in the UK on Polydor 2383 262 and Epic KE 32574 in the USA. Each country had different track running orders - to sequence either 11-track LP from this CD use the following configurations:

UK LP:

Side 1: Tracks 6, 12, 5, 7, 3 and 13

Side 2: Tracks 9, 14, 8, 16 and 1

US LP:

Side 1: Tracks 9, 6, 8, 3, and 13

Side 2: Tracks 12, 7, 5, 14, 16 and 1

Track 2 is from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

Track 10 is from the 1998 CD compilation "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" on EMI 7243 4 93450 2 7

Track 15 is the non-album B-side to the UK 7" single of "The Air That I Breathe" released January 1974 on Polydor 2058 435

Tracks 17 and 18 are from the LP "Another Night" (see NOTES for Disc 2)

Tracks 19 and 20 are the non-album A&B-sides of a May 1974 UK 7” single on Polydor 2058 476

Disc 2 (78:49 minutes):

1. 4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy)

2. Come Down To The Shore

3. Hello Lady Goodbye

4. You Gave Me Life (With That Look In Your Eyes)

5. Lucy

6. Look Out Johnny (There's A Monkey On Your Back

7. Second Hand Hang-Ups

8. Another Night

9. Time Machine Jive

10. I'm Down

11. Stranger

12. Narida

13. My Island

14. Samuel

15. Sweet Country Calling

16. Crocodile Woman (She Bites)

17. Star

18. Love Is The Thing

19. I Won't Move Over

20. There's Always Goodbye

NOTES for Disc 2:

Tracks 17 and 18 on Disc 1 along with 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 on Disc 2 make up the album "Another Night" released February 1975 in the UK on Polydor 2442 128 and in the USA on Epic PE 33387. To sequence the UK and US LP from both discs use the following tracks:

Side 1: Tracks 8, 1, 18 on Disc 1, 7 and 9

Side 2: Tracks 10, 6, 17 on Disc 1, 4 and 5

Tracks 2 and 14 are from the 1998 UK CD compilation "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1973-1989" on EMI 7243 496464 2 0

Tracks 10 and 3 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7” single released November 1974 on Polydor 2058 533

Tracks 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 on Disc 2 and Track 1 on Disc 3 are the album "Write On" released January 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2442 141 (no USA release). To sequence that UK LP use the following:

Side 1: Tracks 17, 1 from Disc 3, 15, 18 and 19

Side 2: Tracks 12, 11, 16, 13 and 20

Disc 3 (76:10 minutes):

1. Write On

2. Boulder To Birmingham

3. Here In My Dreams

4. Daddy Don't Mind

5. My Love

6. Russian Roulette

7. Corrine

8. C'Mon

9. Be With You

10. Lady Of The Night

11. Louise

12. 48-Hour Parole

13. Thanks For The Memories

14. Wiggle That Wotsit

15. Draggin' My Heels

16. Hello To Romance

17. Let It Pour

18. Burn Out

19. Amnesty

20. Crossfire

NOTES for Disc 3:

Track 1 is from the album "Write On" released January 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2442 141 (no USA release) - see also Disc 2.

Track 2 is the non-album A-side to a UK 7" single released February 1976 on Polydor 2058 694

Track 3 is from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

Tracks 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are the album "Russian Roulette" UK released December 1976 on Polydor 2383 421. To sequence the album from this CD use the following tracks:

Side 1: Tracks 14, 12, 13, 5 and 10

Side 2: Tracks 6, 15, 11, 9 and 4

Track 7 is the non-album B-side of the UK 7” single "Wiggle That Wotsit" released October 1976 on Polydor 2058 799

Track 8 is the non-album B-side of the UK 7" single "Daddy Don't Mind" released September 1976 on Polydor 2058 779

Track 16 is the non-album A-side of a UK 7" single released May 1977 on Polydor 2058 880

Tracks 17, 18 and 19 are from the album "A Crazy Steal" UK released March 1978 on Polydor 2383 474 (see also Disc 4)

Track 20 first appeared on the 6CD Box Set "The Long Road Home 1963-2000" UK released 2003 on EMI 07243 584856-2-2

Disc 4 (78:43 minutes):

1. Caracas

2. What Am I Gonna Do

3. Feet On The Ground

4. Writing On The Wall

5. Clown Service

6. When I'm Yours

7. Lovin' You Ain't Easy

8. Satellite Three

9. Something To Live For

10. Sanctuary

11. Maybe It's Dawn

12. Song Of The Sun

13. Stormy Waters

14. Boys In The Band

15. It's In Every One Of Us

16. Say It Ain't So Jo

17. Harlequin

18. Can't Lie No More

NOTES for Disc 4:

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are from the album "A Crazy Steal" UK released March 1978 on Polydor 2383 474 (see also Disc 3). To sequence the UK LP from Disc 3 and 4 use the following:

Side 1: Tracks 4 on Disc 4, 2 on Disc 4, 17 on Disc 3, 18 on Disc 3 and 16 on Disc 3

Side 2: Tracks 19 on Disc 3, 1 on Disc 4, 2 on Disc 3, 5 on Disc 4 and 3 on Disc 4

Tracks 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 16 and 17 are from the album "Five Three One - Double Seven O Four" UK released March 1979 on Polydor 2442 160. To sequence the UK LP from Disc 4 use the following:

Side 1: Tracks 16, 11, 12, 17 and 6

Side 2: Tracks 9, 13, 14, 8 and 5

Track 7 from the 1998 UK CD compilation "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1973-1989" on EMI 7243 496464 2 0

Track 10 is from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

Track 18 first appeared on the 6CD Box Set "The Long Road Home 1963-2000" UK released 2003 on EMI 07243 584856-2-2

Disc 5 (76:50 minutes):

1. Soldier's Song

2. If The Lights Go Out

3. Peggy Sue

4. Wishing

5. Love's Made A Fool Of You

6. Take Your Time

7. Heartbeat

8. Tell Me How

9. Think It Over

10. Maybe Baby

11. Midnight Shift

12. I'm Gonna Love You Too

13. Peggy Sue Got Married

14. What To Do

15. That'll Be The Day

16. It Doesn't Matter Anymore

17. Everyday

18. Carrie

19. Driver

20. Take My Love And Run (1st Version)

21. Musical Pictures

22. Let Her Go Down

NOTES for Disc 5:

Track 1 is the non-album A-side of a UK 7” single released April 1980 on Polydor 2058 246

Track 2 first appeared on the 1988 2LP/2CD compilation "All The Hits And More – The Definitive Collection" on EMI Records EM 1301

Tracks 3 to 17 are from the cover versions album "Buddy Holly" UK released October 1980 on Polydor POLTV 12

Tracks 18 in the non-album B-side to "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" UK released August 1988 on EMI Records EM 74

Tracks 20 and 19 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released November 1981 on Polydor POSP 379

Track 21 is the non-album B-side of "Stop In The Name Of Love" UK released July 1983 on WEA U 9888

Track 22 is the non-album B-side of "Stop In The Name Of Love" NEW ZEALAND released July 1983 on WEA 2598647

Disc 6 (72:17 minutes):

1. Casualty

2. Take My Love And Run

3. Say You'll Be Mine

4. Something Ain't Right

5. If The Lights Go Out

6. Stop In The Name Of Love

7. I Got What I Want

8. Just One Look

9. Someone Else's Eyes

10. Having A Good Time

11. You're All Woman

12. You Gave Me Strength

13. Laughter Turns To Tears

14. Too Many Hearts Get broken

15. This Is It

16. Reunion Of The Heart

17. Stand By Me

18. For What It's Worth, I'm Sorry

19. Shine Silently

20. Your Eyes

NOTES for Disc 6:

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "What Goes Around" UK and EUROPE released July 1983 on Polydor 25-0139-1

Track 11 in the non-album B-side to the UK 7" single for "Too Many Hearts Get Broken" released May 1985 on Columbia DB 9110 (also on the 12" single).

Tracks 14 and 11 are the non-album A&B-sides to a UK 7" single released May 1985 on Columbia DB 9110

Track 13 is the second non-album B-side to the UK 12" single for "Too Many Hearts Get Broken" released May 1985 on Columbia 12DB 9110

Tracks 15 and 12 are the non-album A&B-sides to a UK 7" single released January 1987 on Columbia DB 9146 - Track 11 is also on the B-side of the 12" single of Columbia 12DB 9146

Track 16 is a non-album A-side to a UK 7" single released March 1987 on Columbia DB 9151

Tracks 17 and 18 are the non-album A&B-sides to a 1988 German 7" single on Coconut 109 664 and 12" single on Coconut 609 664

Tracks 19 and 20 are the non-album A&B-sides to a 1988 German 7" single on Coconut 109 981 and 12" single on Coconut 609 981

Like the first two volumes in this series – the multi-layered triple jewel case is pleasant enough to look at and handle – all the CDs have the famous red Polydor label and the 24-page booklet features new liner notes from ULI TWELKER with all the usual discography info. There are rare European pictures sleeves and photos of the boys throughout as well as two 'in the studio' snaps of the lads beside microphones beneath the see-through CD trays. The only error in the text is "Something To Live For" in the singles list listed as Polydor POSP 175 when it's Polydor POSP 35.

But despite the huge amount of music on offer that works out at less than two quid per album - the presentation feels rather functional rather than celebratory and true fans will notice immediately that across 6CDs there effectively isn't anything new. Having said that the audio is PETER MEW Remasters done at Abbey Road Studios across the last decade or so and old chestnuts like "The Air That I Breathe" and "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" sound sensational. Let’s get to what we do have - the music...

Apart from the obvious spine-tingler of "The Air That I Breathe" that still slaughters me to this day - I'd forgotten how lovely songs like "Don't Let Me Down" and "I'm Down" are - despite their heavy-on-the-strings arrangements (the set's title comes from lyrics in "I'm Down"). Being a huge Bruceophile - I've always liked their sweet cover of his "4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy)" - The Hollies realising the loveliness and romanticism in the song. A lonesome harmonica wails in "Give Me Time" as Allan Clarke and Terry Sylvester woe us with a gorgeous melody and arrangement. They boogie up a guitar notch on "Daddy Don't Mind" while "Draggin' My Heels" gets friendly with a synth and a salsa rhythm. There's significant hiss on the pretty "Love Is The Thing" - but the bass and vocals on the album's title song "Write On" are beautifully produced here.

The boys go for another 'aeroplane' lonesome song in "Boulder To Birmingham" - world-weariness in their vocals and those sad strings. "Burn Out" is a bopper that feels very Bruce circa "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" - but "Hello To Romance" is a little too schlock for me. I don't know who was listening by 1979 when they put out the bizarrely titled "Five Three One - Double Seven O Four" or "513-7704" as we used to call it. Still songs like the anthemic "It's In Every One Of Us" showed that their knack of touching you was still there as Clarke's voice soars hymn-like over a lone string note. More 'turning me on with your eyes' love-song angst appears in the pretty "When I'm Yours" - a gorgeous transfer too. And on it goes...

The eighties albums left me cold and after 1988 and the "All The Hits And More..." 2-disc set - The Hollies suddenly felt like a nostalgia act. But if you want to know why they charted so many successful singles in the Seventies when others fell by the wayside and why they're held in such affection by so many still - then "Head Out Of Dreams..." will feel like a very sweet spot to start indeed...

UK SINGLES A & B-sides (unless otherwise noted) in release-date order:

1. The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee b/w Born A Man - October 1973, Polydor 2058 403 (B-side is non-album)

2. The Air That I Breathe b/w No More Riders - January 1974, Polydor 2058 435 (B-side is non-album)

3. Son Of A Rotten Gambler b/w Layin' To The Music - May 1974, Polydor 2058 476 (both sides are non-album)

4. I'm Down b/w Hello Lady - November 1974, Polydor 2058 533

5. 4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy) b/w Second Hand Hang-Ups – May 1975, Polydor 2058 595

6. Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress b/w Carrie Anne - September 1976, EMI 2353

7. Boulder To Birmingham b/w Crocodile Woman (She Bites) - February 1976, Polydor 2058 694

8. Star b/w Love Is The Thing - April 1976, Polydor 2058 719

9. Daddy Don't Mind b/w C'Mon - September 1976, Polydor 2058 779

10. Wiggle That Wotsit b/w Corrine - October 1976, Polydor 2058 799

11. Hello To Romance b/w 48-Hour Parole - May 1977, Polydor 2058 880

12. Amnesty b/w Crossfire - July 1977, Polydor 2058 906

13. Look Through Any Window b/w I'm Alive and Just One Look - June 1978, EMI 2813

14. Something To Live For b/w Song For The Sun - March 1979, Polydor POSP 35 (7" single)

Something To Live For b/w Song For The Sun and The Air That I Breathe - March 1979, Polydor POSPX 35 (12" single)

15. Soldier's Song b/w Draggin' My Heels - April 1980, Polydor 2058 246

16. Heartbeat b/w Take Your Time and Reprise - September 1980, Polydor POSP 175

17. Hollidaze b/w Hollipops - August 1981, EMI 5229

18. Take My Love And Run b/w Driver - November 1981, Polydor POSP 379

19. He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother b/w 'Cos You Like To Love Me - August 1982, Parlophone PMS 1001

20. Stop In The Name Of Love b/w Musical Pictures - July 1983, WEA U 9888

Stop In The Name Of Love b/w Let Her Go Down - July 1983, New Zealand on WEA 2598647

21. Just One Look b/w Here I Go Again - March 1984, EMI GG 11

22. Too Many Hearts Get Broken b/w You're All Woman - May 1985, Columbia DB 9110 (7" single)

Too Many Hearts Get Broken b/w You're All Woman and Laughter Turns To Tears - May 1985, Columbia 12DB 9110 (12" single)

23. This Is It b/w You Gave Me Strength - January 1987, Columbia DB 9146 (7" single)

This Is It b/w Give Me Strength/You're All Woman - January 1987, Columbia 12DB 9146 (12" single)

24. Reunion Of The Heart b/w Too Many Hearts Get Broken - March 1987, Columbia DB 9151 (7" single)

Reunion Of The Heart b/w Too Many Hearts Get Broken/Hollidaze - March 1987, Columbia 12DB 9151 (12" single)

25. Stand By Me b/w For What It's Worth, I'm Sorry - 1988 German 7" single on Coconut 109 664 and 12" single on Coconut 609 664

26. Shine Silently b/w Your Eyes - 1988 German 7" single on Coconut 109 981 and 12" single on Coconut 609 981

27. He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother b/w Carrie – August 1988, EMI Records EM 74

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"Legend - The Best Of: Deluxe Edition" by BOB MARLEY and THE WAILERS (February 2002 UK Universal/island '2CD DELUXE EDITION' Reissue with Ted Jensen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 242 Others Like It 

Can Be Found in my e-Book on AMAZON (see link below)

"PROVE IT ALL NIGHT" 

The Music of 1977 to 1979

 Your All-Genres Guide to Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

All Info From The Discs Themselves (no Cut and Paste crap)

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"…Redemption Songs…"

The biggest selling Reggae Album of all time is an obvious (and even lazy) choice for inclusion in Universal's Deluxe Edition Series of 2CD Reissues. Especially as it’s a Best Of. But have you actually heard it?

The audio quality on this 2002 twofer reissue is astounding - not just good - but truly incredible (Ted Jensen Remasters from original tapes). And it's one of those cool reissues where you get the best of both worlds - a superlative CD version of the album on Disc 1 - while Disc 2 is filled with brilliant alternate versions that actually warrant the word Bonus. Time to lively up yourself and be no drag. Here are the skanking details...

UK released 25 February 2002 - "Legend – The Best Of: Deluxe Edition" by BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS on Universal 586 714-2 (Barcode 731458671428) is a 2CD DELUXE EDITION Reissue of Remasters and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (73:16 minutes):

1. Is This Love (from "Kaya", March 1978 UK LP on Island ILPS 9517)

2. No Woman No Cry [Live] [Full Album Version] (from "Live! At The Lyceum", December 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9376)

3. Could You Be Loved (from "Uprising", June 1980 UK LP on Island ILPS 9596)

4. Three Little Birds (from "Exodus", May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9498)

5. Buffalo Soldier  (from "Confrontation", May 1983 UK LP on Island ILPS 9760)

6. Get Up Stand Up (from "Burnin'", November 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9256)

7. Stir It Up [Full Album Version] (from "Catch A Fire", April 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9241)

8. Easy Skanking (from "Kaya", March 1978 UK LP on Island ILPS 9517)

9. One Love/People Get Ready (from "Exodus", May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9498)

10. I Shot The Sheriff (from "Burnin'", November 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9256)

11. Waiting In Vain (from "Exodus", May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9498)

12. Redemption Song (from "Uprising", June 1980 UK LP on Island ILPS 9596)

13. Satisfy My Soul (from "Kaya", March 1978 UK LP on Island ILPS 9517)

14. Exodus (from "Exodus", May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9498)

15. Jamming (from "Exodus", May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9498)

16. Punky Reggae Party (Long Version) (originally a non-album B-side to "Jamming" issued as a UK 7"single in December 1977 on Island WIP 6410. The original &' single edit ran to 4:25 minutes, this 'Long Version' extends to 6:52 minutes)

Disc 2 - The Legend Remixes (71:55 minutes):

1. One Love/People Get Ready (Extended Version - Remix by Julian Mendelsohn - 7:01 minutes)

2. Waiting In Vain (Remix by Julian Mendelsohn - 5:57 minutes)

3. Jamming (Remix by Paul "Groucho" Smykle - 5:36 minutes)

4. Three Little Birds/Three Little Birds (Dub Version) (Remix by Julian Mendelsohn- 5:20 minutes)

5. Could You Be Loved (Remix by Errol Brown and Alex Sadkin - 5:26 minutes)

6. No Woman No Cry (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 4:11 minutes)

7. Coming In From The Cold (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 5:43 minutes)

8. Buffalo Soldier (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 5:25 minutes)

9. Jamming (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 3:22 minutes)

10. Waiting in Vain (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 4:13 minutes)

11. Exodus (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 8:51 minutes)

12. Lively Up Yourself (Remix by Eric E.T. Thorngren - 5:18 minutes)

13. One Love/People Get Ready (Dub Version) (Remix by Godwin Logie - 4:56 minutes)

The original May 1984 14-track LP is expanded to a 16-track CD with full album versions instead of the 7" edits that were often on the record because of vinyl space restrictions. While it might sound trite to say that the single mixes end too soon - never is this more evident for instance than on "Punky Reggae Party" where the 'Long Version' groove extends to nearly seven minutes instead of four and a half. And the difference in incredible – transforming the song into a hugely enjoyable funky beast of a thing.

The sequencing is everything with "Legend" - flitting from the Eighties to the early Seventies with ease and clever choices. It opens with the fantastic crossover hit "Is This Love" - I can remember DJing parties when this just slayed the crowd - hundreds of people joining in on the chorus. The emotional "No Woman No Cry" (from 1975's amazing "Live! At The Lyceum") is given full album length reign - over seven minutes - what a winner. But again were quickly back to another stunning dancefloor killer "Could You Be Loved" - the remaster bringing out that tight as a Vatican purse rhythm section. One of my all time faves by Marley has always been "Get Up Stand Up" - politics and passion combine with Rasta Rhythms to produce a winner for the heart, mind and feet. Johnny Nash first brought "Stir It Up" to us in March 1972 (a year before "Catch A Fire" was even released) - while I personally don't have much time for Bob's original of "I Shot The Sheriff" (made famous of course by Eric Clapton in 1974 who put it on top of the UK singles chart and probably made the lad a few bob). "Waiting In Vain" is simply gorgeous with that wonderful guitar break and that irresistible backbeat (Annie Lennox does a lovely cover of it on her "Medusa" set from 1995 that's always being used in rom-coms). In fact the breakthrough masterpiece of 1977's "Exodus" casts it shadow over the remainder of tracks with the hugely popular "Jamming" sounding amazing in the transfer.

Disc 2 opens with a seven -minute extension of "One Love/People Get Ready" with the centre section going into amazing keyboard and bass jabs. The Mendelsohn remix of "Waiting In Vain" sounds a lot less polished than the album cut - but turns it quite deliberately into a far funkier affair with the vocals treated to slight echoes. The long version of "Could You Be Loved" is a DJ's dream - allowing that fantastic certain groove to stretch out like never before - it's frankly impossible to sit still while it plays (the girls giving in some slick vocals). The acoustic beginning of "Coming In From The Cold" (originally on "Kaya" from 1980) gives way to a cool keyboard groove that feels more Soul than Reggae - a great remix. The other nugget for me is a brassy Thorngren rejigger of "Lively Up Yourself" which doesn't top the original but is a brill "You Rock So!" groove that just doesn't quit. You're then hit with a final Audio Blast - the Dub Version of "One Love/People Get Ready" which isolates Marley's vocal and the girls. There are drum whacks and echoed bass plucks that will literally rattle your speaker cones...

Universal have not surprisingly done almost every Marley LP on Island Records in a 2CD DELUXE EDITION but for me this compilation is the Jah Lion of the Reggae crop.

"Let's get together and feel all right..." - Bob Marley sang in 1977 and his passing in 1981 aged only 36 years of age hurt. Millions have been taking his message of love and music to heart ever since. Robert Nesta was a giant and this brilliant Deluxe Edition proves that handsomely...