"Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters" by THE UPSETTERS feat Lee 'Scratch' Perry (April 2019 Doctor Bird Reissue – 2LPs onto 2CDs Plus 24 Bonus Tracks From The Period Involving Producer Lee Perry – Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Rightful Ruler..."

In the world of Reggae (especially Jamaican Reggae) – two names elicit a certain knee-trembling excitement amidst arthritic old-fart collectors like me. And this fabulous April 2019 Doctor Bird Records 2CD reissue out of the UK offers up truck loads of both – the magical Pama Records label - and the wonder-kid Producer and Arranger, the rightful ruler himself - Lee 'Scratch' Perry. It’s enough to make me throw my spaghetti at a Western. So what’s on offer partner?

For a few dollar more you get two hugely sought-after British-issued Pama Records LPs from 1969 and 1970 (pricey and so rare on original vinyl) bolstered up with a whopping 24 Bonus Tracks featuring period productions by Perry, much of it making its digital debut after half a century in genre obscurity (48 tracks in all remastered by top Audio hero Andy Pearce). Time to don the poncho, holster the pistols, spit on mangy dogs and get to the big shots within...

UK released Friday, 5 April 2019 (12 April 2019 in the USA) - "Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters" by THE UPSETTERS (featuring LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY) on Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-034 (Barcode 5013929273436) offers 2 x 12-Track LPs from 1969 and 1970 originally on Pama Records (UK) Remastered onto 2CDs with A Further Twenty-Four Period Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (62:36 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are "Clint Eastwood" by THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK MONO LP on Pama Records PSP-1014)

Tracks 5 and 10 exclusive to the LP, other 10 tracks were UK 45s as noted

Side 1:

1. Return Of The Ugly - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 18, A)

2. For A Few Dollars More - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 12, A)

3. Prisoner Of Love - DAVE BARKER (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 20, A - for B see Track 19 Disc 2)

4. Dry Acid - COOL STICKY & THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 19, A)

5. Rightful Ruler - U ROY with COUNT OSSIE & THE UPSETTERS

6. Clint Eastwood - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 21, A)

Side 2:

7. Taste Of Killing - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 13, A)

8. Selassie - THE REGGAE BOYS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 19, B-side to "Dry Acid" - see Track 4 for A)

9. What Is This (Ba Ba) - THE REGGAE BOYS (1969 UK 7" single on Gas GAS 135, A - original credited as "Ba Ba")

10. Ain't No Love (aka I've Never Found A Girl) - WINSTON HOLNESS

11. My Mob - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 13, B-side of "Taste Of Killing", for A-Side, see Track 7)

12. I've Caught You - COOL STICKY & THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 18, B-side of "Return Of The Ugly", for A-side, see Track 1

BONUS TRACKS – DISC 1:

13. Down In The Park - THE INSPIRATIONS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 11, A)

14. Strange Whisperings - THE WEST INDIANS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 16, A)

15. Hard To Handle - CARL DAWKINS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 16, B-side of "Strange Whisperings" by The West Indians - for the A-side, see Track 14

16. (No) Not Me - THE ETHIOPIANS (1968 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1172, A - credited as "Not Me")

17. Facts Of Life - THE MELLOTONES (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 18, A, for B-side, see Track 20)

18. Can't Get No Peace - MONTY MORRIS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 12, B-side of "For A Few Dollars More" by The Upsetters, for A-side see Track 2 on Disc 1)

19. Freedom Train - ERNEST WILLIAMS (1969 UK 7" single on Crab CRAB 17, A)

20. I'll Be Waiting - THE TERMITES (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 18, B-side to "Facts Of Life" by The Mellotones, for A-side, see Track 17 on Disc 1)

21. Love Oh Love - THE INSPIRATIONS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 11, B-side of "Down In The Park", for A-side, see Track 13 on Disc 1)

22. A Broken Heart - BUSTY BROWN (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 10, A)

23. Cut Down (On Your Speed) - THE ETHIOPIANS (1969 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1172, B-side of "Not Me", for A-side, see Track 16 Disc 1)

24. Anyway - LLOYD DOUGLAS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 6, B-side of "I Can't Take It Anymore", for A-side, see Track 2 on Disc 2)

Disc 2 (63:52 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are "Many Moods Of "The Upsetters"" (1970 UK STEREO LP on Pama Economy SECO 24 in Stereo)

Tracks 1 and 4 to 12 are exclusive to the LP - Tracks 2 and 3 were also British 45s as noted below

Side 1:

1. Exray Vision - THE UPSETTERS

2. I Can't Take It Anymore - DAVID ISAACS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 6, A, B-side is Track 24 on Disc 1)

3. Soul Stew - THE UPSETTERS credited as MEDETATORS on the original 45-label (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 23, B-side to "Ram You Hard" by John Lennon and The Bleechers, for A-side, see Track 21 on Disc 2)

4. Low Lights (I'll Be Waiting) - THE UPSETTERS

5. Cloud Nine - CARL DAWKINS

6. Beware Fade - THE UPSETTERS

Side 2:

7. Serious Joke - THE UPSETTERS

8. Goosy - PAT SATCHMO

9. Prove It - THE UPSETTERS

10. Boss Security - PAT SATCHMO

11. Mean And Dangerous - THE UPSETTERS

12. Games People Play - THE UPSETTERS

BONUS TRACKS - DISC 2:

13. Set Me Free - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 25, A - credited on original 45s as "Shock Of Might (Vocal)" but is "Set Me Free”)

14.  Tribute To A King - BUSTY BROWN (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 10, B-side to "Broken Heart", for A-side, see Track 22 Disc 1)

15. Lennox Mood - LENNOX BROWN & UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 21, B-side of "Clint Eastwood", for A-side, see Track 6 Disc 1)

16. You Betray Me - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 22, A)

17. Never Get Away (Caught You Red-Handed) - ERIC DONALDSON & THE WEST INDIANS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 9, B-side to "Hello Dolly" by Pat Satchmo, for A-side, see Track 22 Disc 2)

18. Feel The Spirit - THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 27, B-side of "The Result", for A-side, see Track 23 Disc 2)

19. Soul Juice - BUSTY BROWN & THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 20, B-side to "Prisoner Of Love", for A-side, see Track 3 Disc 1)

20. Will You Still Love Me (Tomorrow) - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 22, B-side to "You Betray Me", for A-side see Track 16 Disc 2)

21. Ram You Hard - JOHN LENNON and THE BLEECHERS (1970 UK 7"s single on Punch PH 23, A-side, for B-side "Soul Stew" by THE UPSETTERS credited as MEDETATORS, see Track 3 Disc 2)

22. Hello Dolly - PAT SATCHMO (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 9, A, for B-side see Track 17 Disc 2)

23. The Result - THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 27, A, for B-side see Track 18 Disc 2)

24. Shocks Of Mighty [aka Hit Me Back] - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 25, B-side to "Shock Of Might (Vocal)" on the original 45 but the song is "Set Me Free", for A see Track 13 Disc 2)

The 12-page booklet is the usual feast of memorabilia - the Side 1 and 2 labels of the two rare LPs on Pama and Pama Economy are pictured on Page 2 (not things you see every day of the week). There are black and white photos dotted throughout the text of key players like Eric Morris, The Inspirations, Lee Perry with The Pioneers, Eric Donaldson and of course LP himself. You get two full-page displays of those gorgeous Punch, Camel, Doctor Bird and Gas Records single labels (nine to each page) – British-pressed 45 rarities with their mottled punch-hold centres that are so hard to find. DAVID KATZ provides the superb liner notes – deep level info on both albums and the manic two years that surrounded them, Lee Perry’s early career of brilliance, legacy and so on. And finally there is an advert on the rear inlay of some of the DB releases mentioned in my list below.

New mastering comes by way of my fave Engineer ANDY PEARCE – a gent with a huge Rock catalogue to his name and now, a huge spread of these new Trojan and related releases as well. But even with the best will in the world, almost all of this was recorded in Aunty Flo's Bargain Bucket Basement Studio for three schillings and no pence when there wasn't an electricity-black-out. Anyone expecting Audio miracles can look elsewhere - but given that - when the volume knob goes up - the power and sheer atmosphere of this infectious music is both cool and fabulous. For sure, the audio here is not anything like the whack a body gets off the original British-pressed 45s, and some titles are so rare there are no tapes and the notes admit vinyl dubs, but even then – this is the best I've ever heard these recordings sound. You may to adjust your Supertramp expectations down to 2 on a scale of 10 – but these rarities have been sympathetically handled by a label that gives a monkeys. To the aces and the braces...

Turning up sometime in late 1969 - the Mono "Clint Eastwood" album features 10 singles from Pama's subsidiary labels Punch, Camel and Gas with two newbees tagged on, one to each side. And like Trojan's popular LP "Return Of Django" - Pama's album title was blatantly tapping into the Sergio Leone spaghetti western film craze taking cinemas by storm (Lee calling Mister Eastwood his favourite cowboy). Perry's rhythm section (also known as The Hippy Boys) consisted for the most part of Glen Adams and Alva 'Reggie' Lewis on Organ, Guitar and Vocals with Bassist Aston 'Family Man Barrett and his Brother/Drummer Carlton Barrett. Side 1's opener "Return Of The Ugly" gives us the familiar Skinhead rhythms - an organ shuffling alongside a vocalist giving it some "...ah ha..." every few seconds. We're helpfully informed on the next Upsetters cut that for a few dollars more we can be lying on the floor (how very thoughtful of them), while Dave Barker has a seriously good stab at cult Soul Vocalist on his "Prisoner Of Love" - a commercial slice of wickedness that should have broken through to the Pop charts. U Roy and Peter Tosh lend Tribe of Juddah vocals to "Rightful Ruler" but my fave cuts are the vocally-sporadic instrumentals "My Mob" and "Dry Acid" - driving organ dancers - the former with Bad Manners type 'pick it up, pick it up' scat vocals.

Of the exclusive LP cuts, Winston Holness's "Ain't No Love" turns out to be a reggae slant on the Eddie Floyd Stax Records classic "I've Never Found A Girl (That Loves Me Like You Do)" that does the original proud. But again (as with so many of these chocker 2CD sets) - the Bonuses from 13 to 24 are shockingly good and I'd argue a better LP that the issued one. The "Love Me Two Times" Top A&B-side Single Award goes to Eric Donaldson's sweet vocals fronting The West Indians on their "Strange Whisperings" b/w a very cool cover of Otis Redding's sure "Hard To Handle" on the flip-side by Carl Dawkins (Camel Records CA 16 from 1969). Disc 2 simply coughs up a further hour and a bit of the same feel-the-spirit Reggae and Ska and many in Stereo - sweet.

I'm eating up these Doctor Bird 2CD reminders (as I’m sure other fans are too) and this is easily another winner/reissue of the year. Recommended big time...

2017 and 2018 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues
(Featuring Larges Amounts of Trojan Records, Treasure Isle, Pama 60s & 70s etc)

1. BOB ANDY & MARCIA GRIFFITHS - Young, Gifted And Black/Pied Pier (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-014 - Barcode 5013929271432)

2. ERROL BROWN/THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Dubb Everlasting/Dub Expression [1977 and 1978 High Note 2LPs on 1CD] (November 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-07 – Barcode 5013929270732)

3. DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS – Double Barrel (June 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-016 - Barcode 5013929271630)

4. DESMOND DECKER & THE ACES – Action!/Intensified (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCD-025 – Barcode 5013929272538)

5. DESMOND DEKKER – You Can Get It If You Really Want (September 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-015 - Barcode 5013929271531)

6. DESMOND DEKKER – Double Dekker [1973 UK 2LP set onto 1CD] (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-018 – Barcode 5013929271838)

7. PHYLLIS DILLON – One Life To Live (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-021 – Barcode 5013929272132)

8. ETHIOPIANS – Reggae Power/Woman Capture Man (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-10 – Barcode 5013929271036)

9. MARCIA GRIFFITHS – Naturally/Steppin’ [1978 and 1979 2LPs on 1CD] (August 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-002 – Barcode 5013929270237)

10. DERRICK HARRIOTT & THE CRYSTALITES – Psychedelic Train (October 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-05 – Barcode 5013929270534)

11. HARRY J. ALL STARS - Liquidator (June 2008 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-012 - Barcode 5013929271234)

12. JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES – From Jamaica With Reggae (February 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-09 – Barcode 5013929270930)

13. THE KINGSTONIANS – Sufferer (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-03 – Barcode 5013929270336)

14. THE MAYTALS – Monkey Man/From The Roots (July 2018 2LPs on 1CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-017 – Barcode 5013929271739)

15. THE PIONEERS – Long Shot/Battle Of The Giants (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-019 – Barcode 5013929271937)

16. THE UNIQUES - Absolutely The...Uniques (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-011 - Barcode 5013929271135)

17. THE UPSETTERS – The Upsetter/Scratch The Upsetter Again (October 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-022 – Barcode 5013929272231)

18. THE UPSETTERS – Return Of Django/Eastwood Rides Again (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-013 - Barcode 5013929271333)

19. VARIOUS – Dancing Down Orange Street [Trojan 1969 LP] (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-04 – Barcode 5013929270435)

20. VARIOUS – Gay Feet, Every Night (October 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-06 – Barcode 5013929270633)

21. VARIOUS – Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae/Reggay At Its Best (October 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-030 – Barcode 5013929273030)

22. VARIOUS – Hot Shots Of Reggae (November 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-08 – Barcode 5013929270831)

23. VARIOUS – King Size Reggae (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-026 – Barcode 5013929272637)

24. VARIOUS – No More Heartaches/What Am I To Do? [2LPs from 1969 and 1970 onto 1CD] (August 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-01 – Barcode 5013929270138)

25. VARIOUS [Duke Reid and Treasure Isle Productions] – Soul Of Jamaica/Here Comes The Duke (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-024 – Barcode 5013929272439)

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2019 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues

1. ROLAND ALPHANSO & THE ORIGINAL ORCHESTRA – ABC Rock Steady (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 43 Bonus Tracks, Doctor Bird DBCDD-023 – Barcode 5013929272330)

2. DENNIS BROWN – Just Dennis/Deep Down (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-027 – Barcode 5013929272736)

3. ERROL BROWN & THE REVOLUTIONARIES – Culture Dub & Medley Dub (12 July 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 25 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-038 – Barcode 5013929273832)

4. ERROL BROWN & THE SUPERSONICS – The Treasure Dub Albums Collection (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with Eight Previously Unreleased, Doctor Bird DBCDD-043 – Barcode 5013929274334)

5. ALTON ELLIS – Greatest Hits/Mr. Soul Of Jamaica [known as Greatest Hits in the UK] (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 47 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-045 – Barcode 5013929274532)

6. THE ETHIOPIANS – Engine No. 5 (17 May 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 17 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-035 – Barcode 5013929273535)

7. THE GAYLADS – Fire And Rain (14 June 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 13 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-036 – Barcode 5013929273634)

8. JOHN HOLT – Like A Bolt (January 2019 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-029 – Barcode 5013929272934)

9. THE MELODIANS – Rivers Of Babylon (9 August 2019 Expanded 1CD Set with 15 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-041 – Barcode 5013929274136)

10. DERRICK MORGAN – Moon Hop/Derrick Morgan In London (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-032 – Barcode 5013929273238)

11. DERRICK MORGAN – Derrick Morgan And His Friends (12 July 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 24 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-039 – Barcode 5013929273931)

12. SONIA POTTINGER – Put On Your Best Dress: Ska & Rock Steady 1966-1967 (14 June 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-037 – Barcode 5013929273733)

13. LORD TANAMO & FRIENDS – Festival Jump-Up [1965] (15 November 2019 Expanded 2CD Reissue of 1965 LP with 40 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-046 – Barcode 5013929274631)

14. LINVAL THOMPSON – The Linval Thompson Trojan Roots Album Collection - Including two LPs by Big Joe And The Trinity called "African Princess" and "Rock In The Ghetto" and one Linval Thompson LP called "I Love Marijuana" (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 10 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-044 – Barcode 5013929274433)

15. LINVAL THOMPSON & THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Negrea Love Dub/Outlaw Dub [1978 and 1979] (15 November 2019 Reissue featuring 2LPs onto 1CD (no bonus), Doctor Bird DBCD-047 – Barcode 5013929274730)

16. THE UPSETTERS featuring LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY – Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-034 – Barcode 5013929273436)

17. VARIOUS – The Down Town Albums Collection [Down Town Label] (February 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-020 - Barcode 5013929272033)

18. VARIOUS – Gay Jamaican Independence Time – Boom Sha-Ka-La (17 May 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-028 – Barcode 5013929272835)

19. VARIOUS – Greatest Jamaican Beat... (March 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-033 – Barcode 5013929273337)

20. VARIOUS – Independence Jump Up Calypso (9 August 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 46 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-040 – Barcode 5013929274037)

21. VARIOUS – The Treasure Isle Ska Albums Collection (January 2019 2CD Set [4LPs and more], Doctor Bird DBCDD-031 – Barcode 5013929273139)

22. VARIOUS – You Can’t Wine/Music Alone Shall Live (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 33 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-042 - Barcode 5013929274235)

"Yes" by YES [1969 Debut LP] (January 2003 UK Elektra/Rhino 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Beyond And Before..."

I remember as a young lad opening up the gatefold of the wildly exotic Atlantic Records 588 190 (why is that always such a brill thing) and reading Tony Wilson’s liner notes. Respected journo, he enthused that Melody Maker magazine had asked him what two top bands he would pick for 1969 – one was LED ZEPPELIN and the other was of course – YES (both signed to the canny American label). I think the lad was on to something...

Personally I've always thought their first two albums wildly underrated and under appreciated (most fans want to begin their catalogue with 1971's brilliant "The Yes Album" and i can understand that). But like the "Time And A Word" CD Reissue and Remaster [their 2nd platter from 1970] - I'd argue that the six 'Bonus Tracks' on this 2003 Elektra/Rhino CD Remaster of "Yes" (four of which are unreleased) lift proceedings into the realms of essential purchase for fan and newcomer alike. Here are the positive details...

UK released January 2003 (reissued August 2008 and April 2013) - "Yes" by YES on Elektra/Rhino 8122-73786-2 (Barcode 081227378622) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Six Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (79:48 minutes):

1. Beyond And Before [Side 1]

2. I See You

3. Yesterday And Today

4. Looking Around

5. Harold Land [Side 2]

6. Every Little Thing

7. Sweetness

8. Survival

Tracks 1 to 8 are their Debut studio album "Yes" - released 25 July 1969 in the UK on Atlantic Records 588 190 (reissued December 1971 on Atlantic K 40034) and 15 October 1969 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 8243. The US issue had different artwork to the UK variant - the first page of the booklet uses the UK artwork (centred YES logo) whilst the last page uses the US cover (a colour photo of the 5-piece band standing amidst statues).

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Everydays (Single Version) – October 1969 UK 7” single on Atlantic Records 584298, Non-Album Version, B-side to "Looking Around"

10. Dear Father (Single Version No. 2) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSED

11. Something’s Coming – 4 July 1969 UK 7” single on Atlantic 584280, Non-Album B-side to "Sweetness"

12. Everydays (Early Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSED

13. Dear Father (Early Version No. 1) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSED

14. Something’s Coming (Early Version)  - PREVIOUSLY UNISSED

For their Debut Album YES was:

JON ANDERSON - Leads Vocals and Incidental Percussion

PETER BANKS - Lead Guitars and Backing Vocals

TONY KAYE - Keyboards (Organ and Piano)

CHRIS SQUIRE – Bass and Backing Vocals

BILL BRUFORD – Drums and Vibes

The first remaster of this album in November 1994 simply presented fans with the 8-track album and as it was a US based reissue - it used the American colour artwork. This new 2004 stab at it goes back to the British artwork and design of Bryan Lasley (the US variant is on the last page of the booklet) and adds on six tasty Bonus Tracks, four of which are Previously Unissued in the USA. The 16-page booklet has detailed and informative liner notes from MIKE TIANO and the text is peppered with colour/black and white period photos of the band as well as rare picture sleeve for Sweetness. Pages 2 and 14 recreate the inner gatefold artwork of the UK plum label 1969 original, while the rare lyric insert that came with original vinyl issues is featured towards the end. But the big news here is a new DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT CD Remaster at Digiprep from original master tapes and they've done a sterling job - full, alive and coming at you with real presence.

Grapefruit Records of the UK - the new darlings of 3CD reissues covering this period - featured the Side 1 opener "Beyond And Before" in their May 2019 mini box set "Lullabies For Catatonics: A Journey Through The British Avant-Pop/Art Rock Scene 1967-1974" and its easy to hear why. Their cover of The Byrds "I See You" smacks of Yes hijacking that hooky sound but still has enough to make it exciting and feel like something new and brill is emerging. Pretty and even beautiful describes the gentle strum of "Yesterday And Today" – the audio warm and lovely. Something on a lost melodic gem in their canyon on an album so often associated with the early Prog of the very Yes  "Looking Around". Speaking of which...

Their debut produced two wildly un-commercial UK 45s - "Sweetness" b/w "Something's Coming" in July 1969 on Atlantic 584280 and "Looking Around" b/w "Everydays" in October 1969 on Atlantic 584298 - the second reputedly withdrawn after zero interest. I can remember decades back when these orange label 7" singles would command £40 for the first and say £60 for the second, especially because of their non-album B-sides pre CD. But in 2019 they're probably four times that amount and if actual mint issues came up for public grabs (especially "Looking Back"), they’d be auction items rather than set sale. Both are featured in the bonus tracks and cool inclusions.

The Side 2 opener "Harold Land" is superb and I used to think it like Nursery Cryme by Genesis – only recorded months earlier. The acoustic guitar over to the left is clear as Jon sings of marching soldiers and holding the thin blue line. While the Byrds cover on Side 1 stayed mostly faithful - Yes rightly screw around with The Beatles cover of "Every Little Thing" (originally on their fourth UK platter "Beatles For Sale" in 1964). Half way through they come up with that familiar vocal refrain - a clever set of counterpoints as the guitars and drums punch and swirl. "Sweetness" is just over four minutes of Prog meets melody - sweetness stirred with a spoon - a very 1969 love-song wrapped up that Yes-ness sound. "Survival" points towards the multiple-song-parts of "The Yes Album" - huge thumping bass notes - guitars and keyboards dancing – until it suddenly fades into something entirely new and unexpected – gorgeous stuff and a genuinely great way to end the album.

The 1970 "Time And A Word" second LP (with orchestra) would continue the musical search for 'that sound' which they would finally realise in the 1971 game-changer "The Yes Album" - a band arriving and unleashing their potential. "...Somewhere in a field a life begins..." and "...yesterday's endings will tomorrow's life give you..." - Jon Anderson sang on "Survival". For sure "Yes" is only a start, but man what an opening Starship Trooper...

PS: This 2003 Remaster variant of "Yes" including the Six Bonus Tracks also turns up inside "The Studio Albums 1969-1987" Box Set which is amazing value for money and includes repro artwork but not the booklet...

"The Velvet Underground & Nico" by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO (June 2002 UK Universal/Polydor 2CD ‘Deluxe Edition’ Reissue – Bob Ludwig and Jeff Willens Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...He's Got The Works..."

I can think of only two other albums like The Velvet Underground's debut that have influenced so much and so many - and had such a staggering and lasting cultural impact - "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" by The Beatles and "Never Mind The Bollocks..." by The Sex Pistols. When I worked at Reckless in the West End we kept at least 100 copies of the Velvet's debut on new 180grams reissue vinyl for eager punters to snap up on a daily basis - without question the biggest selling reissue album we ever had. No other LP short of Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" or Nirvana's "Nevermind" has had such a devoted and long-lasting following.

And for those who can't afford (nor want) the Super Deluxe 6-Disc version that came out in October 2012 - this 2CD Deluxe Edition gives a scratchy arm all the needles it'll need. Here are the Femme Fatales and Andy Warhols...

Released June 2002 - "The Velvet Underground & Nico: Deluxe Edition" by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO on Universal/Polydor 314 589 624-2 (Barcode 731458962427) is a 2CD Deluxe Edition with the Mono and Stereo Versions of the album with Nine Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (60:18 minutes):

1. Sunday Morning

2. I'm Waiting For The Man

3. Femme Fatale [Vocals by Nico]

4. Venus In Furs

5. Run, Run, Run

6. All Tomorrow's Parties [Vocals by Nico]

7. Heroin [Side 2]

8. There She Goes Again

9. I'll Be Your Mirror

10. The Black Angel's Death Song

11. European Son

Tracks 1 to 11 are the STEREO VERSION of "The Velvet Underground & Nico" - their debut album released March 1967 in the USA on Verve V6-5008 and November 1967 in the UK on Verve SVLP 9184 [For Mono Variant see Disc 2]

12. Little Sister

13. Winter Song

14. It Was A Pleasure Then

15. Chelsea Girls

16. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

Tracks 12 to 16 are from "Chelsea Girl"- the solo debut album by NICO released October 1967 on Verve V6-5032 (Stereo) and finally released in the UK in September 1971 on MGM Select 2353 025 (Stereo)

Disc 2 (77:33 minutes):

1. Sunday Morning

2. I'm Waiting For The Man

3. Femme Fatale [Vocals by Nico]

4. Venus In Furs

5. Run, Run, Run

6. All Tomorrow's Parties [Vocals by Nico]

7. Heroin [Side 2]

8. There She Goes Again

9. I'll Be Your Mirror

10. The Black Angel's Death Song

11. European Son

Tracks 1 to 11 are the MONO VERSION of "The Velvet Underground & Nico" released March 1967 in the USA on Verve V-5008 and November 1967 in the UK on Verve VLP 9184 [For Stereo Variant see Disc 1]

12. All Tomorrow's Parties (Single Version),

13. I'll Be Your Mirror (12 and 13 issued July 1966 as the A&B-sides of a US 7" single on Verve VK-10427. Both tracks feature NICO on Lead Vocals, are in MONO and were not issued in the UK as a single. "I'll Be Your Mirror" the 'single version' features an alternate ending to the cut on the LP)

14. Sunday Morning (Single Version)

15. Femme Fatale (Single Version) (14 and 15 issued December 1966 as the A&B-sides of a US 7" single on Verve VK-10466. "Femme Fatale" features NICO on Lead Vocals, is in Mono and was not issued in the UK)

Compiled by BILL LEVINSON and remastered by BOB LUDWIG and JEFF WILLENS - they've done a fantastic job with an album that is notoriously lo-fi on purpose (Produced by Andy Warhol with Nico credited as a 'Chanteuse'). The foldout flaps of the digipak feature reviews of the album from various trade papers of the time, album credits, suitably blurry photos of the band beneath the see-through trays and a 28-page booklet that has classy black and white snaps of the group's famous shows (mostly live shots) and some studies of Nico. The Dave Thompson liner notes (Pages 3 to 12) go deep into the album's explosive history, there's lyrics to all the songs and original US issues (Universal 314 589 624-2) even has a 'peelable' banana on the front flap to repro the rare first pressings on vinyl (now worth a King's ransom).

Flower-power ladies, loved up hippies and peace-in-our-time acid droppers got the fright of their lives when "The Velvet Underground & Nico" was released in the spring of 1967. It painted a seriously dark picture of a counter-culture that was already writhing in sweaty withdrawal. Drugs and their all-pervasive effect of everything you hold dear permeates almost every song  - scoring them ("I'm Waiting For The Man"), doing them ("Venus In Furs") and then selling your body and eventually your soul to get more ("Run, Run, Run"). And all of this despair is wrapped up in jagged melodies, droll voices (American and German) and distorted guitars that sound like they're being tortured by CIA operatives determined to find a Communist. But I suspect that like "Bollocks" - the real reason the album has endured so long is precisely because it's so brutally honest - where one track is actually called "Heroin" - and the others barely disguise such a controversial subject matter. And yet there's inexplicable prettiness too - the gorgeous opener "Sunday Morning" sung by Lou Reed as if he hasn't a care in the world - while Nico scores massively with three vocal beauties - "Femme Fatale", the ragged piano of "All Tomorrow's Parties" and the delicate "I'll Be Your Mirror". Even now it's an extraordinary piece of work and 'influential' barely touches on its true impact down through the decades. It also has something you can't invent - it's effortlessly cool...

Of the two versions I actually find the MONO mix to be more powerful and direct (unavailable since its 1967 release) - the wild soloing of "Heroin" is so stunning and the jangly guitar of "There She Goes Again" much cleaner as it escapes your speakers. And with Sterling Morrison, Lou Reed and John Cale all contributing to the NICO solo tracks - it's hardly surprising they bookend Disc 1. The flute and dry nature of "Chelsea Girls" with "Bridget all wrapped in foil..." matches the Velvets album perfectly while the eight-minutes of the (admittedly hissy) "It Was A Pleasure Then" feels just as druggy as anything on the "Banana Peel" debut.

Will we ever know its like again? Will I ever find an unpeeled 'banana sleeve' in a dollar bin or carboot sale - no is the answer. But at least with this superb Universal DE Edition you can get to understand what all the fuss and iconography is about.

"$26 in my hand...more dead than alive..." Lou Reed sings on "I'm Waiting For The Man". 

Well in 2019 you'll get your fix for a lot less now - and in this case - it's worth every blood red cent...