"The Classic Albums Collection" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [E.L.O.] (November 2011 Sony/Legacy 11CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3

- Exceptional CD Remasters
As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On
Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

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"…Mr. Blue Skies…"

Cheaper than a Waitrose Christmas Pudding (though with maybe not as much Brandy) - this Sony/Legacy ELO Box Set is like THE BYRDS and BILL WITHERS issues in this excellent series (see reviews) - chock full of tasty musical raisins and alarmingly good value for money. Here are the details and with no strings attached...

Released November 2011 - "The Classic Albums Collection" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [ELO] is an 11CD Mini Box Set on Sony/Legacy 88697873262 (Barcode 886978732620) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Electric Light Orchestra" aka "No Question" - 59:38 minutes:

1. 10538 Overture

2. Look At Me Now

3. Nellie Takes Her Bow

4. The Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644)

5. First Movement (Jumping Biz) [Side 2]

6. Mr. Radio

7. Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre)

8. Queen Of The Hours

9. Whisper In The Night

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "The Electric Light Orchestra" - released December 1971 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 797. It was released May 1972 in the USA as "No Question" on United Artists UAS 5573

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Battle Of Marston Moor (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

11. Nellie Takes Her Bow (Alternate Mix)

12. Mr. Radio (Take 9)

13. 10538 Overture (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 2 - "ELO II" - 62:15 minutes:

1. In Old England (Boogie No. 2)

2. Momma

3. Roll Over Beethoven (Full Album Version)

4. From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1) [Side 2]

5. Kuiama

Tracks 1 to 5 are their 2nd album "ELO II" - released February 1973 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 806 and April 1973 in the USA on United Artists UA-LA040-F

BONUS TRACKS:

6. In Old England Town (Instrumental)

7. Baby I Apologize (Session Outtake)

8. In Old England Town (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

9. Roll Over Beethoven (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 3 - "On The Third Day" - 57:34 minutes:

1. Ocean Breakup/King Of The Universe

2. Bluebird Is Dead

3. Oh No Not Susan

4. New World Rising/Ocean Breakup Reprise

5. Showdown [see Note]

6. Daybreaker  [Side 2]

7. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (Album Version)

8. Dreaming Of 4000

9. In The Hall Of The Mountain King

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd album "On The Third Day" (UK Track Listing) - released December 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56021 in a Die-Cut Gatefold Sleeve. Note: Although the CD uses the UK artwork, the tracks are sequenced like the American album (released December 1973 on United Artists UA-LA 188-F with different artwork). The US LP added "Showdown" as Track 5 - the last song on Side 1 (Side 2 is the same for both countries). MARC BOLAN of T.REX plays guitar on 7, 8 and 10 to 13.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Auntie ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Take 1)

11. Auntie ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Take 2)

12. Mambo ("Dreaming Of 4000" Alternate Mix)

13. Everyone's Born To Die - Previously Unreleased

14. Interludes - Previously Unreleased

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 4 - "Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra" - 47:59 minutes:

1. Eldorado Overture

2. Can't Get It Out Of My Head

3. Boy Blue

4. Laredo Tornado

5. Poor Boy (The Greenwood)

6. Mister Kingdom [Side 2]

7. Nobody's Child

8. Illusions In G Major

9. Eldorado

10. Eldorado Finale

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th album "Eldorado - A Symphony By..." - released October 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56090 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 339-G

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Eldorado Instrumental Medley - Previously Unreleased

12. Dark City - Previously Unreleased

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 5 - "Face The Music" - 52:33 minutes:

1. Fire On High

2. Waterfall

3. Evil Woman

4. Nightrider

5. Poker [Side 2]

6. Strange Magic (Full Album Version)

7. Down Home Train

8. One Summer Dream

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 5th album "Face The Music"- released October 1975 in the UK on Jet Records JET LP 11 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 546-G

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Fire On High Intro (Early Alternative Mix)

10. Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)

11. Strange Magic (U.S. Single Edit)

12. Waterfall (Instrumental Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 6 - "A New World Record" - 59:12 minutes:

1. Tightrope

2. Telephone Line

3. Rockaria!

4. Mission (A World Record)

5. So Fine [Side 2]

6. Livin' Thing

7. Above The Clouds

8. Do Ya

9. Shangri-La

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 6th album "A New World Record" - released November 1976 in the UK on United Artists UAG 30017 (JET LP 20) and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 679-G

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Telephone Line (Different Vocal)

11. Surrender

12. Tightrope (Instrumental Early Rough Mix)

13. Above The Clouds (Instrumental Rough Mix)

14. So Fine (Instrumental Early Rough Mix)

15. Telephone Line (Instrumental)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 7 - "Out Of The Blue" - 76:27 minutes:

1. Turn To Stone [Side 1]

2. It's Over

3. Sweet Talkin' Woman

4. Across The Border

5. Night In The City [Side 2]

6. Starlight

7. Jungle

8. Believe Me Now

9. Steppin' Out

10. Standin' In The Rain [Side 3 - "Concerto For A Rainy Day"]

11. Big Wheels

12. Summer And Lightning

13. Mr. Blue Sky

14. Sweet Is The Night [Side 4 - "Concerto For A Rainy Day"]

15. The Whale

16. Birmingham Blues

17. Wild West Hero

Tracks 1 to 17 are their 7th album - the double-LP "Out Of The Blue" - released November 1977 in the UK on Jet Records/United Artists UAR 100 and in the USA on Jet Records/United Artists JT-LA 823-L2

BONUS TRACKS:

18. Wild West Hero (Previously Unreleased Alternate Bridge/Home Demo)

19. The Quick And The Daft - Previously Unreleased

20. Latitude 88 North - Previously Unreleased

2007 CD Remaster used

Disc 8 - "Discovery" - 43:39 minutes:

1. Shine A Little Love

2. Confusion

3. Need Her Love

4. The Diary Of Horace Wimp

5. Last Train To London [Side 2]

6. Midnight Blue

7. On The Run

8. Wishing

9. Don't Bring Me Down

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 8th album "Discovery" - released June 1979 in the UK on Jet Records JET LX 500 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 35769

BONUS TRACKS

10. On The Run (Previously Unreleased Home Demo 1979)

11. Second Time Around (Previously Unreleased Home Demo 1979)

12. Little Town Flirt - Previously Unissued

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 9 - "Time"- 54:35 minutes

1. Prologue

2. Twilight

3. Yours Truly, 2095

4. Ticket To The Moon

5. The Way Life's Meant To Be

6. Another Heart Breaks

7. Rain Is Falling [Side 2]

8. From The End Of The World

9. The Lights Go Down

10. Here Is The News

11. 21st Century Man

12. Hold On Tight

13. Epilogue

Tracks 1 to 13 are their 9th album "Time" - released August 1981 in the UK on Jet Records JET LP 236 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 37371

BONUS TRACKS:

14. The Bouncer (non-album track, B-side of "Four Little Diamonds" UK 12" single released October 1983 on Jet Records JETTA 3869

15. When Time Stood Still (non-album track, B-side of "Hold On Tight" UK 7" Single released July 1981 on Jet Records JET 7011

16. Julie Don't Live Here (non-album track, B-side of "Twilight" UK 7" single released October 1981 on Jet Records JET 7015

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 10 - "Secret Messages" - 56:07 minutes:

1. Secret Messages

2. Loser Gone Wild

3. Bluebird

4. Take Me On And On

5. Time After Time [see Note]

6. Four Little Diamonds [Side 2]

7. Stranger

8. Danger Ahead

9. Letter From Spain

10. Train Of Gold

11. Rock 'n' Roll Is King

Tracks 1 to 4 and 6 to 11 are their 10th album "Secret Messages" - released June 1983 in the UK on Jet Records JET LX 527 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 38490. The CD reissue in 1987 added on the song "Time After Time" as Track 5.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. No Way Out - Unused track from the original double album "Secret Messages"

13. Endless Lies - Previously Unreleased/Unused Track from the original double version of "Secret Messages"

14. After All (non-album track, B-side of "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" UK 7"single released June 1983 on Jet Records JETA 3500

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 11 - "Balance Of Power" - 56:17 minutes:

1. Heaven Only Knows

2. So Serious

3. Getting To The Point

4. Secret Lives

5. Is It Alright

6. Sorrow About To Fall [Side 2]

7. Without Someone

8. Calling America

9. Endless Lies

10. Send It

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 11th album "Balance Of Power" - released May 1986 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 26467 and in the USA on CBS Records ZK 40048

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Opening

12. Heaven Only Knows (Alternate Version)

13. In For The Kill

14. Secret Lives (Alternate Mix)

15. Sorrow About To Fall (Alternate Mix)

16. Caught In A Trap (non-album track, B-side of "Calling America" UK 7" single (and 12") released February 1986 on Epic Records A 6844)

17. Destination Unknown (non-album track, B-side of "Calling America" UK 12" single released February 1986 on Epic Records QTA 6844)

2007 CD Remaster used

The clamshell box houses all 11 card-repro sleeves (1, 2 3, 7 and 8 are gatefolds) with a chunky 28-page booklet sat atop that pieces together the reissue liner notes from 2001, 2003 and 2007. JOEL PALMACCIO at Sony Music mastered the set but it's using the PETER MEW remasters and all the other quality engineers involved in the later issues. The audio quality is great and as you can see from the detailed lists provided - each album has retained their Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. The only thing conspicuous by their absence - are the large number of 7" single edits and different mixes that are scattered through the Seventies especially (they're mostly available on the "Very Best Of" 2CD set). The booklet gives detailed credits on each album - ROY WOOD is on the first two albums - BEV BEVAN joins the group from the 3rd album onwards as does MICHAEL De ALBUQUERQUE with LOUIS CLARK (the unsung member of the band) providing String Arrangements for much of their classic albums.

Their Seventies output splits into three distinct phases - the first Prog Rock Harvest Records period - then into the more commercial Warner Brothers stretch - then finally into Global recognition on their own Jet Records where they simply became known to everyone as ELO. All the big chart hits are here (and more) -"10538 Overture", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Showdown", "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle", "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic", "Livin' Thing", "Rockaria!", "Telephone Line", "Turn To Stone", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Wild West Hero", "Sweet Talkin' Woman" "Shine A Little Love"' "The Diary Of Horace Wimp", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Confusion/Last Train To London".

Fans of their fabulous Chuck Berry cover "Roll Over Beethoven" may find the full 6:47 minutes of the album version odd on the ears after hearing the (AWOL) single edit of 4:37 minutes for so long. That other superb rocker "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is the same - though at 3:57 to 3:21 minutes - the difference is less noticeable. What is very noticeable is Peter Mew's fantastic remaster - these suckers rock.

It's always strange to me how Jeff Lynne's ballads can be so moving - like being moved by a 10cc song - you just don't expect it (but then he's such a good songwriter). Songs like "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", "Strange Magic", "One Summer Dream", "Big Wheel" and "Need Her Love" have hugely emotive centres wrapped around fiendishly hooky melodies. By the time we get to the hits-heavy "Discovery" in 1979 - ELO are Number 1 in their native Blighty and an impressive Number 5 in the USA. From "Time" onwards commercial and public indifference had set in despite the quality of environmental/emotional songs like "The Way Life's Meant To Be" and "Getting To The Point".

Sweet presentation, quality mastering and eleven albums worth for roughly two round ones a go. One for the bedside stocking I think...

"Torrid Zone: The Vertigo Recordings 1970-1975" by NUCLEUS and IAN CARR (29 March 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 6CD Clamshell Box - Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CADENCE /CASCADE 

PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
And Others Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

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"...Labyrinth..."

Scottish Trumpeter IAN CARR (raised in Newcastle) has deserved this kind of lavish clamshell-dom for some time now. But fans will quickly clock that nine album front covers onto six card sleeves does not artwork go. I say this because on opening this still brilliant Esoteric Recordings mini box set (which the spirit of textured gatefold LP sleeves within me has been looking forward to for some time) - I have to confess to being slightly crest-fallen. Five of the single CD card sleeves reflect the original and cool Roger Dean and Keith Davis artwork for sure (disc three has the October 1972 Ian Car solo album "Belladonna") – but my fave die-cut for their brilliant debut "Elastic Rock" had to be replaced with a period image instead. Boo hoo...

But not to fear my elasticated rocking alley cats – this Jazz Rock Prog-tastic monster hasn’t missed anything else that I can see - all of the original artwork inside and out is repro’d faithfully in the substantially chunky booklet, alongside a whole lot more from magazine and personal archives, most of it seeing the 2019 light of day for the first time in nearly five decades.

But for me, best news is the new Audio - fabulous Paschal Byrne Remasters taken from original Vertigo Records mastertapes, which for my money is one of 'the' reasons for fan purchase. Sweet as a zone that’s torrid (as they say in pre Brexit Brussels). There's a veritable magma flow of solar plexus blowhard horns and synths to wade through, so once more my swirl label devotees unto the die-cut breach...

UK released Friday, 29 March 2019 (5 April 2019 in the USA) - "Torrid Zone: The Vertigo Recordings 1970-1975" by NUCLEUS & IAN CARR on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 62663 (Barcode 5013929476301) is a 6CD Clamshell Box Set offering 9 albums in full (no other bonuses) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (64:42 minutes):

1. 1916 [Side 1]

2. Elastic Rock

3. Striation

4. Taranki

5. Twisted Track

6. Crude Blues (Part One)

7. Crude Blues (Part Two)

8. 1916 - The Battle Of Boogaloo

9. Torrid Zone [Side 2]

10. Stonescape

11. Earth Mother

12. Speaking For Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think...

13. Persephones Jive

Tracks 1 to 13 are their debut album "Elastic Rock" [as NUCLEUS] - released June 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 008 (no US issue) - Produced by PETE KING. 

14. Song For The Bearded Lady [Side 1]

15. Sun Child

16. Lullaby For A Lonely Child

17. We'll Talk About It Later

Tracks 14 to 17 are Side 1 of their second album "We'll Talk About It Later" [as NUCLEUS] - released February 1971 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 027 (no US issue) - Produced by PETE KING.

Disc 2 (67:27 minutes):

1. Oasis [Side 2]

2. Ballad Of Joe Pimp

3. Easter 1916

Tracks 1 to 3 are Side 2 of their second album "We'll Talk About It Later" [as NUCLEUS] - released February 1971 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 027 (no US issue) - Produced by PETE KING.

4. Elements I & II [Side 1]

5. Changing Times

6. Bedrock Deadlock

7. Spirit Level

8. Torso [Side 2]

9. Snakehips Dream

Tracks 4 to 9 are their third studio album "Solar Plexus" [as IAN CARR with NUCLEUS] - released June 1971 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 039 (no US issue) - Produced by PETE KING.

IAN CARR - Trumpet and Flugelhorn

BRIAN SMITH - Tenor and Soprano Saxophone and Flute

KARL JENKINS - Baritone Saxophone, Oboe, Piano and Electric Pianos

CHRIS SPEDDING - Guitar

JEFF CLYNE - Bass Guitars

JOHN MARSHALL - Drums and Percussion 

Above line-up for the first two LPs, but for "Solar Plexus", these additional:

Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett on Trumpets (Tracks 4, 5, 8 and 9)

Tony Roberts – Tenor Saxophone, Bass and Clarinet

Ron Matthewson – Bass

Keith Winter – VCS3 Synthesiser

Disc 3 (65:56 minutes):

1. Belladonna [Side 1]

2. Summer Rain

3. Remadione [Side 2]

4. May Day

5. Suspension

6. Hector's House

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Belladonna" [by IAN CARR] – released October 1972 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 076 (no US issue) – Produced by JON HISEMAN of Colosseum

IAN CARR - Trumpet and Flugelhorn

BRIAN SMITH - Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Alto and Bamboo Flute

DAVE MacRAE – Fender Electric Piano

ALAN HOLDSWORTH – Guitar

ROY BABBINGTON – Bass Guitar

CHRIS THACKER - Drums

7. Origins [Side 1]

8. Bull Dance

9. Ariadne

10. Arena

Tracks 7 to 10 are Side 1 of the album "Labyrinth" [by IAN CARR with NUCLEUS] – released July 1973 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 091 (no US issue) – Produced by IAN CARR and ROGER WAKE

Disc 4 (73:59 minutes):

1. Arena/Exultation [Side 2]

2. Naxos

Tracks 1 to 2 are Side 2 of the album "Labyrinth" [by IAN CARR with NUCLEUS] – released July 1973 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 091 (no US issue) – Produced by IAN CARR and ROGER WAKE

IAN CARR - Trumpet and Flugelhorn

BRIAN SMITH - Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Flute

DAVE MacRAE – Fender Electric Piano

ALAN HOLDSWORTH – Guitar

ROY BABBINGTON – Bass Guitar

CHRIS THACKER – Drums

Plus Guests:

Kenny Wheeler – Trumpets and Flugelhorn

Norma Winstone – Vocals

Paddy Kingsland – VCS3 Synthesiser

Trevor Tomkins – Percussion

Tony Levin – Drums

3. Roots [Side 1]

4. Images

5. Caliban

6. Whapatiti [Side 2]

7. Capricorn

8. Odokamona

9. Southern Roots And Celebration

Tracks 3 to 19 are the album "Roots" [by IAN CARR’S NUCLEUS] – released November 1973 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 100 (no US issue) – Produced by FRITZ FRYER

IAN CARR – Trumpet

BRIAN SMITH – Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Flute and Bamboo Flute

DAVID MacRAE – Electric and Acoustic Piano

JOCELYN PITCHEN – Guitars

ROGER SUTTON – Bass

CLIVE THACKER – Drums (Percussion on "Images")

AUREO de SOUZA – Percussion (Drums on "Images")

JOY YATES - Vocals

10. In Procession [Side 1]

11. The Addison Trip

12. Pastoral Graffiti

13. New Life

14. A Taste Of Sarsaparilla

Tracks 10 to 14 are Side 1 of the album "Under The Sun" [by NUCLEUS] – released October 1974 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 110 (no US issue) - Produced by FRITZ FRYER.

Disc 5 (67:24 minutes):

1. Theme 1 - Sarsaparilla

2. Theme 2 - Feast Alfresco

3. Theme 3 - Rites Of Man

Tracks 1 to 3 are Side 2 of the album "Under The Sun" [by NUCLEUS] – released October 1974 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 110 (no US issue) - Produced by FRITZ FRYER.

IAN CARR – Trumpet and Flugelhorn

BOB BERTIES – Alto and Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet and Flute

GORDON BECK – Electric Piano and Percussion (Solo on "Sarsaparilla")

GEOFF CASTLE – Electric Piano and VCS3 Synthesiser (Piano on "A Taste Of Sarsaparilla")

JOCELYN PITCHEN – Guitars (Solo on "New Life")

KEN SHAW – Guitars (Ring Modulated Piano on "In Procession")

ROGER SUTTON – Bass

BRYAN SPRING – Drums, Tympani and Percussion

Guests:

Keiran White (of Steamhammer) sings Vocals on "The Addison Trip"

4. Rat's Bag [Side 1]

5. Alive And Kicking

6. Rachel's Tune

7. Snakehips Etcetera [Side 2]

8. Pussyfoot

9. Heyday

Tracks 4 to 9 are the album "Snakehips Etcetera" [by NUCLEUS] – released April 1975 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 119 and Sire SASD-7508 in the USA (first album by Nucleus issued in America) - Produced by JON HISEMAN of Colosseum.

Disc 6 (41:22 minutes):

1. Phaideaux Corner [Side 1]

2. Alleycat

3. Splat [Side 2]

4. You Can't Be Sure

5. Nosegay

Tracks 1 to 5 are the album "Alleycat" [by NUCLEUS] – released November 1975 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 124 (no US issue) - Produced by JON HISEMAN of Colosseum.

Line-Up for both "Snakehips Etcetera" and "Alleycat"

IAN CARR – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Acoustic Piano, Moog, Percussion

BOB BERTIES – Alto, Baritone and Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Voice

KEN SHAW – Guitars and Percussion

GEOFF CASTLE – Keyboards, Moog, Percussion

ROGER SUTTON – Bass

ROGER SELLERS – Drums and Percussion

Guest:

Trevor Tomkins – Percussion on "Phaideaux Corner" and "Alleycat" on the "Alleycat" album

Compiled and co-ordinated by MARK POWELL with full involvement from those still around the band, the 48-page booklet is an impressive affair and very proudly flaunts the boxes of original Vertigo master tapes across its many picture-festooned pages (along with all of that dinky Roger Dean artwork). Noted writer SID SMITH (who did the liner notes for the impressive Panegyric 'Definitive Edition' CD and BLU RAY reissues of YES) digs in deep for a history across nine studio albums beginning with Carr’s career as part of the Don Rendell Quartet (1965 to 1969) on to Best Group awards at The Montreaux Jazz Festival and celebrated dates in the USA. There are promo pages from Phonogram (who distributed Vertigo), a concert poster for the Queen Elizabeth Hall where a program would set you back a frankly extortionate 10p (ten new pence to you mate) and so on. To the music...

I suspect the last time anyone had these albums on CD in their mits was the 2005 Repertoire reissues – here the Audio is not so in-your-face – warmer and fuller. Spedding trades his guitar licks with the horns of Ian Carr and Karl Jenkins on "Taranaki" – a Karl Jenkins mellow instrumental on Side 1 of "Elastic Rock" and two things are apparent – the band has been listening to Miles Davis and his 1969 Columbia/CBS Records output for a entire year and that the Remaster is fantastic. Sure the separation of instruments is a tad harsh but man are they reproduced well in this transfer. Again the Chris Spedding intro to "Earth Mother" over on Side 2 accompanied by some heavy Oboe soloing is clear and present – Jeff Clyne on Bass. Another moment of remaster clarity comes with the drums, guitar and brass unison opening of "Crude Blues (Part Two)" – a short but very cool opening to Side 2 of the album. Many fans rate "Elastic Rock" as a brilliant account-opener and they’d be right – apart from the one and half-minute drum nonsense of "Speaking For Myself..." – there is hardly a wasted moment.

Issued in February 1971, the proper full-on Jazz-Prog-Rock of "Song For The Bearded Lady" from their second album "We'll Talk About It Later" was chosen as the representative track for the "Time Machine" 3CD Box Set covering Vertigo Records in 2005 ("Torrid Zone" from the 1970 debut album is in there too). And frankly it’s easy to hear why – a neck-jerking seven and a half-minute instrumental workout with clever musical breaks and a hat-tip to King Crimson over on Island Records. Spedding gets to wah-wah his gee-tar on the Clyne/Marshall jabber "Sun Child" behind Carr and Jenkins letting it rip. Miles Davis pretty surfaces in the guise of "Lullaby For A Lonely Child", but the echoed vocals of "Easter 1916" Zappa-fy the album finisher too much for me (and not in a good way).

By the time we reach album three, Ian Carr has taken over composition of all tracks. Guests Kenny Wheeler on Flugelhorn and Tony Roberts on Tenor Sax act as the soloists on "Changing Times" – Nucleus getting Funky. Karl Jenkins does the Oboe solo on the sad Tudor soundscape of "Bedrock Deadlock" with Jeff Clyne drawing his bow across large Double Bass strings before the six and half-minute track takes a sudden and unexpected Funky direction change with a treated guitar from Spedding (very clever and sounding spiffing on this transfer). Confirming its rep as a quality Nucleus outing, the album ends on an epic 15-minute slink – "Snakehips’ Dream" – a tribute to a lady dancer Carr once knew called "Snakehips" Johnson. It’s the first time for me that the keyboards/guitar battles get pride of place – and it so works (best track they ever did methinks).

The inevitable Ian Carr solo album arrived in October 1972 in the shape of "Belladonna" – again its six lengthy instrumentals steeped in the smooze of IC’s acknowledged hero – Miles Davis. The transfer on the lovely and nay even sexy "Summer Rain" is so sweet – with newcomer Dave MacRae bringing his keyboard chops to the party. Jon Hiseman’s production certainly amps up the Alan Holdsworth Guitar and Brian Smith Brass blasts on "Hector's Party" – a song that sounds exactly like its hep title.

A muscular loincloth-clad gladiator brute-type manhandles a Minotaur on the front cover of "Labyrinth" – Nucleus commissioned by the Park Lane Group (with Arts Council funding) to create music based on the antiquities myth (Athens vs. Crete etc). They augmented the band with so many musicians that they literally get a credits ‘Plus’ on the front sleeve – amongst the names being Norma Winstone on Vocals with ace sessionman Tony Levin on Drums (years later he would become the defacto kit-man for Peter Gabriel’s touring band). It opens with the suitably ominous danger inherent in the stabby "Origins" only to go all Bullet bass lines chase sequence on the sexy "Bull Dance". Shimmering Greenslade-type electric piano notes open seven minutes of the excellent "Ariadne" with Norma Waterstone’s high-flying vocals singing of seekers and their detractors - while over on Side 2 the two lengthy workouts "Exultation" and "Naxos" bring the ancient tale into serious Prog-Fusion mode.

Highlights from albums five to nine include the first-time-on-CD appearance of the much-sampled "Roots" LP from November 1973 – resplendent here on CD 4 with its fab Keith Davis designed sleeve. Super cool slow-Drums and Brass-jabbing Grooves give the title track the feel of a Seventies Cop TV show where some Superslick Detective falls in love with a babe from the driver’s seat of his cigarettes ‘n’ coffee filthy car (fantastic remaster too). The cool continues with "Images" where Joy Yates Jazz-moans her words as the British lads smooze the backbeat. "Caliban" sees Nucleus once again embrace their inner Billy Cobham by way of Donald Byrd – funky and sounding like a dead ringer for the sequel "Baby Driver 2: Behind The Wheel Again". Keiran White of Steamhammer moans scat vocals on the hipster Jazz-Funk of "The Addison Trip" while Roger Sutton lets rip on a Bass solo.

The "Under The Sun" album is probably the most Jazz of the lot while I’ve always been partial to the Jon Hiseman produced "Snakehips Etcetera" LP with its garish glossy laminate sleeve (fave tracks "Alive And Kicking" and "Pussyfoot"). And on it goes...

For sure listening to nine albums worth of Jazz Rock, Prog Fusion and even Jeff Beck like funkiness may prove too much for the uninitiated – but I’ve loved this vaults trawl. And how good is it to see the missing digital hole of "Roots" finally be filled and in such Audio style too.

As Sid Smith quite rightly points out in his typically excellent liner notes, bands like Chick Corea’s Return To Forever and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra probably sold more album on Columbia/CBS in a month than poor Ian Carr did across six years in Blighty - even when Prog Rock and Fusion were literally flavour of the year in 1973 and 1974 – regularly nabbing the No. 1 spot on the LP charts for ELP, Yes, Jethro Tull and Top 5 for Genesis.

But spare a moment for the nine-LP Spice Girls of Jazz-Rock – NUCLEUS. They may have only charted their debut album for one miserly week in 1970 (at No. 46) - but their consistent (yet commercially ignored) brilliance is reflected in this jam-packed box. Man, I could even forgive Ian Carr’s seriously garish Tartan trousers on Page 41 of the booklet as he giggles at the advances of a scantily clad lady in hots pants threatening to do things to his improvisational ass with a Bottle of Stout that may have worried those nice people over at the BBC. Them were the days baby. Recommended and well-done to all involved...