"Blues Jam In Chicago Volume One" by FLEETWOOD and CHESS PLAYERS (12 July 2004 Columbia/Blue Horizon 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Get A Real Good Feeling Talking To You…"

Fleetwood Mac's 4th British vinyl outing was a double-album called "Blues Jam At Chess" issued on Blue Horizon Records S 7-66227 in the UK and Blue Horizon BH 3801 in the USA (both December 1969). 

Recorded in one day (4 January 1969) and reluctantly it seems released at the end of the year (probably trying to capitalise on the September 1969 issue of "Then Play On" with its "Oh Well Part 1 and 2" monster single) - "Blues Jam At Chess" (aka "Fleetwood Mac In Chicago") was produced by MIKE VERNON and MARSHALL CHESS at the Chess "Ter-Mar" Studios in Chicago. 

The artists involved were FLEETWOOD MAC, OTIS SPANN on Piano, WILLIE DIXON on Bass, WALTER "SHAKEY" HORTON on Harmonica, J.T. BROWN on Tenor Sax, GUY BUDDY on Guitars (Guy Buddy is a pseudonym for Buddy Guy), HONEYBOY EDWARDS on Bass and S.P. LEARY on Drums.

A word first about the less than exciting UK and US original artwork and why none of it been used on these 2 reissues (see photos above). The original UK double-album had a wavy backdrop and titled sleeve (no real effort in the art department) - while the original US copy didn't fare much better either. Credited as "Fleetwood Mac - In Chicago", it was issued in a dull plain red cover (5 December 1969). However it was reissued again in June and September 1970 in the USA as two separate volumes - "Blues Jam In Chicago, Vol.1 and Vol.2" on BH 4802 and BH 4803 respectively (to confuse matters further the 2LP-set charted Stateside 3 July 1971 as "Fleetwood Mac In Chicago" on Blue Horizon BH 3801 with yet more different artwork - the title on the side door of a blue car). And it is these two individual volumes with their far prettier colour-photos-of-the-session artwork that were used for "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969" 6CD Box Set issued in November 1999 and are now individually issued again here in July 2004 as these much extended editions. Let's get to the South Indiana details…

UK released 12 July 2004 - "Blues Jam In Chicago Volume One" by FLEETWOOD MAC, OTIS SPANN, J.T. BROWN, GUITAR BUDDY, HONEYBOY EDWARDS and S. P. LEARY on Columbia/Blue Horizon 5164462 (Barcode 5099751644620) is an Expanded Edition Reissue and Remaster offering up Sides 1 and 2 of the December 1969 "Blues Jam At Chess” double-album and plays out as follows (68:24 minutes):

Also, in order to show the musical differences, I've detailed the vinyl first, then the extended CD (Volume Two is Side 3 and 4 of "Blues Jam At Chess" - see separate review):

ORIGINAL VINYL:

Side 1:

1. Watch Out [Peter Green song]

2. Ooh Baby [Chester Burnett aka Howlin' Wolf cover]

3. South Indiana - Take 1 [Walter `Shakey' Horton cover]

4. South Indiana - Take 2 [Walter `Shakey' Horton cover]

5. Last Night [W Jacobs cover]

6. Red Hot Jam [Peter Green Instrumental song]

Side 2:

1. I'm Worried [Elmore James cover]

2. I Held My Baby Last Night [Elmore James/Jules Taub cover]

3. Madison Blues [Elmore James cover]

4. I Can't Hold Out [Elmore James cover]

5. I Need Your Love [Jimmie Rogers cover]

6. I Got The Blues [Walter `Shakey' Horton cover]

EXTENDED CD (68:24 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 5 are the same as the LP above

Track 6 is "Red Hot Jam" [Take 1 with Studio talk - An Inserted Previously Unreleased Track]

Track 7 is "Red Hot jam" [Take 2 - The Master Version, Track 6 on the LP]

Tracks 8 to 11 are "I'm Worried" through to "I Can't Hold Out" and are as per the LP

Track 12 is "Bobby's Rock" which is an inserted Previously Unreleased cover of an Elmore James song

Track 13 is "I Need Your Love" (same as the LP)

Track 14 is "Horton's Boogie Woogie [Take 1 with Studio Chatter - an Inserted Previously Unreleased Version]

Track 15 is "I Got The Blues" is the Master but with inserted Previously Unreleased False Start

The tapes have been digitally remastered to STUNNING SOUND QUALITY - as fresh as a politician's new excuses and the inlay is a foldout three-leaf affair that simply duplicates the MIKE VERNON liner notes from the 6CD set, "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969". The players were...

FLEETWOOD MAC were:

PETER GREEN – Lead Guitar and Vocals (Tracks 1, 2 and 5), Guitar Only (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14 and 15)

DANNY KIRWAN – Guitar (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15)

JEREMY SPENCER – Guitar and Vocal (Tracks 8, 9, 10 and 11), Guitar Only (Track 12)

JOHN McVIE – Bass Guitar

MICK FLEETWOOD – Drums

GUESTS:

WALTER HORTON plays Harmonica on CD tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14 and 15

BUDDY GUY, HONEYBOY EDWARDS and WILLIE DIXON are on 6 and 7

JEREMY SPENCER replaces Peter Green on Guitar and Vocal for 8, 9 10 and 11 - these tracks also feature J.T. BROWN on Tenor Sax with WILLIE DIXON on Upright Bass

OTIS SPANN plays Piano and S.P. LEARY plays drums on 13, 14 and 15

Fans greet the album itself with equal amounts of affection and disdain because at times it sounds like one long rehearsal - and a slightly uninspired and dull one at that. It's not that Blues Jam At Chess is bad - it just isn't red hot like you'd think it should have been. Highlights, however, include the lovely shuffle of "Watch Out", the harmonica driven slow blues of "Last Night" and the slashing Elmore James riffs in "I Can't Hold Out" (lyrics above). "Bobby's Rock" is a rubbishy extra, but Take 1 of "Horton's Boogie Woogie" is fantastic - alive and kicking and worth the price of entry alone. I play it a lot and it picks me up every time. And for me who once thought some parts of the session was only workmanlike, the added stuff and cool extra songs has made me love this strange double-album beast even more – brought a vitality to it that I'm sure will thrill newcomers too...

To sum up then - this is a 5 star presentation of a rare moment in Blues Rock history. And it has enough magic in its obscure grooves to not just recommend it, but make both volumes of "Blues Jam In Chicago..." a necessity for Blues Rock and Fleetwood Mac fans alike. Jump in I say and boogie...

PS:

See also my reviews for the other five July 2004 Extended CD versions of Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green years with the Blue Horizon label - "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac", "Mr. Wonderful", "The Pious Bird Of Good Omen", "Blues Jam In Chicago Volume Two" and "The Original Fleetwood Mac" – all fab in their own 60ts Blues-glorious way...

"Down To Love Town" by THE ORIGINALS - February 1977 US Album on Soul Records (August 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Kevin Reeves and Wayne A. Dickson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION 
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...I'm Going Down To Love Town..."

A high–energy Disco dancer - Down To Love Town on Soul Records (USA) was in fact their 8th album (The Originals had formed in 1966) and this amazing-sounding 2014 CD reissue and remaster from BBR of the UK (Big Break Records) adds on a Previously Unreleased "Alternate Take" for good measure. Here are body beautiful details…

UK released August 2014 - "Down To Love Town" by THE ORIGINALS on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0303 (Barcode 5013929060333) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with One Bonus Track and plays out as follows (42:33 minutes):

1. Hurry Up And Wait [Side 1]

2. Down To Love Town

3. You Are A Blessing To Me

4. Call On Your Six Million Dollar Man [Side 2]

5. Mother Nature's Best

6. Sunrise

8. Been Decided

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Down To Love Town" released February 1977 in the USA on Soul S6-74951.

BONUS TRACK:

9. Down To Love Town (Alternate Take) 

The 12-page booklet has excellent and detailed liner notes by JUSTIN COBER LAKE that include band photos, the US Motown artwork and rare 12" single sleeves as well as very detailed recording/discography info. But the big news as always with BBR releases is the stunning remaster. KEVIN REEVES (whose been involved in huge numbers in the Universal Soul and Jazz "Originals" series) did the initial remaster with more touches by BBR's resident tape wizard WAYNE A. DICKSON after the fact.

The sound is wonderful especially on the Number 1 Disco hit "Down To Love Town" - Jeff Porcaro of Toto whacking those Drums with Ray Parker, Jr. and Jay Graydon on Guitars (Graydon did the stunning solo on Steely Day's "Peg" from "Aja"). Funky breaks galore come at ya in "You Are A Blessing To Me" - major sessionman David T. Walker taking over the guitars for that one. The ballad "Mother Nature's Best" turned up as the B-side to the other album hit - "(Call On Your) Six Million Dollar Man". It ends on the funky "Been Decided" (surely another potential single). The "Alternate Take" of "Down To Love Town" runs to 3:51 minutes and ups the Disco high-hat beat even more…

Great sound and presentation – fans should also make a way to the Lamont Dozier produced "California Sunset" from 1975 - BBR reissued that a few years back…

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Let Me Be Your Angel" by STACY LATTISAW (October 2015 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Nick Robbins and Wayne A. Dickson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Jump To The Beat...."

Containing the huge Soul/Funk/Disco hit "Jump To The Beat" - Stacy Lattisaw's "Let Be Your Angel" album originally came out June 1980 on Cotillion Records SD-5219 in the States and amongst its heavy-hitter contributors were the combined talents of Narada Michael Walden and the Chic boys - Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

The British 12" single of "Jump To The Beat" on Warner Brothers K 11496 (T) pictured on Page 10 of the 16-page booklet (resplendent in its distinctive die-cut sleeve) was a massive UK club hit and the same pretty much everywhere else. Produced by Soul/Funk wonder-boy Narada Michael Walden and featuring a hand-picked band of quality sessionmen (the distinctive Funk-Bass runs of T.M. Stevens in particular) - the album hit R&B No. 9 Stateside and even impacted on the rock charts at No. 44. Here are the jumpy details...

UK released 16 October 2015 - "Let Me Be Your Angel" by STACY LATTISAW on Big Break Records WCDBBRX 0317 (Barcode 5013929061736) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD reissue and remaster with Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows: 

1. Jump To The Beat [Side 1]

2. Dynamite

3. You Don't Love Me Any More

4. Dreaming

5. Let Me Be Your Angel [Side 2]

6. Don't You Want To Feel It (For Yourself)

7. You Know I Like It

8. My Love

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Jump To The Beat (Single Version, 3:33 minutes)

10. Dynamite! (Single Version, 4:25 minutes) 

Remastered by Audio experts NICK ROBBINS (of Ace Records fame) and BBR's own WAYNE A. DICKSON - this CD has fabulous sound and reflects the top quality original production values laid down by NMW.  The substantial booklet has in-depth liners by noted Soul, Disco and Funk genre expert CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE and also features new input from Stacy. There's photos and all the usual period memorabilia.

Typical of so many albums of the day - there are gems and ordinary tracks aplenty. The other hit was "Dynamite!" - a Disco No.1 and No. 8 on the national R&B charts written by NMW and Bunny Hall - a lady who's recorded and written for Peabo Bryson and D.C. LaRue. Another dancefloor winner comes in the shape of "You Don't Love Me Anymore" where NMW practically plays every instrument while that meaty Slap-Bass of Stevens dominates the excellent "You Know I Like It"  – very similar in feel to "Jump To The Beat". Edwards and Rodgers contribute to "Dreaming". It's not all CHIC-funky genius for sure - but the good stuff is excellent and that "Jump To The Beat" full album version at 5:22 minutes is joyous dancefloor stuff to this day.

Superb audio – great liner notes and classy presentation - another winner from BBR of the UK. Fans should dig in right away...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Martyrs & Cowboys: The Atlantic Recordings 1974-1975" by WALLY (27 September 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 2CD Reissue Including the albums "Wally" (1974) and "Valley Gardens" (1975) and Two Non-Album B-sides – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Mood I'm In..."

England's WALLY was a strange one. After being discovered and plugged by Rick Wakeman of Yes and Whispering Bob Harris of The Old Grey Whistle Test (that duo had a hand in the Production of both their LPs) - the Harrogate, Yorkshire six-piece signed to the mighty Atlantic Records (UK) and promptly pumped out two platters - "Wally" in August 1974 and their final studio set "Valley Gardens" in October 1975.

Taking their name from East End Cockney slang for pickled gherkins (Wallies were a fave of their first guitarist Jim Slade) – Wally were dogged by bad luck. A US tour with YES as a supporting act and a further UK venue haul with The EAGLES both failed to materialise (huge opportunities lost for a melodic band like Wally who were more comfortable live than in the studio). And despite Prog Rock being king in those halcyon years (1973, 1974 and 1975) and favourable press for the LP releases – the public simply didn’t get it – or perhaps more accurately – never got to hear their music. Combining poor album sales, lack of label support and two singles that missed their audience (one even had a Radio Caroline pick-of-the-week chance but Atlantic pressed the 45 up too many months after that buzz) – they were dropped and gone by 1976.

But what of the music you ask? With a sound that straddles Americana and Seventies Prog on each record (the second is definitely more Relayer than the first) - the albums are a strange hybrid of band-member influences clashing with each other. One minute its all America meets Eagles meets The Byrds meets Smith Perkins Smith for lead singer, frontman and principal songwriter Roy Webber - whilst keyboardist Paul Gerrett wants you to dig ye oldie clavinet Gryphon, violin based The Flock and Pedal Steel Area Code 615 – all of it washed down with liberal dollops of Greenslade Proggy keyboard flourishes on the other tracks. America vs. Colosseum...

Wally therefore made their own kind of mishmash sound, but I suspect the wildly conflicting musical directions must have made them a nightmare to sell and pitch. And deep down there is a niggling wish as you listen to the strums and chords, that the material was more memorable and not just pretty in places. Don’t get me wrong, there is beauty and accomplishment in some of the songs, especially the three contributions from Webber on the debut and a Side-2 magnum opus on the second LP in the form of a 19:20 minute 3-Part monster called "The Reason Why" will please density-is-good fans. But a lot of it feels plodding and never rises above each band member's desperate need to be David Crosby or Roger McGuinn on the one hand vs. Steve Howe and Jon Hiseman on the other.

Having said all of that, there is a lot to like here and if you're a fan, you need to own this superb reissue. For sure its 3 to 4 star material, but its presented here by Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) in their typically exemplary 5-star way. Let's get to those sonically pickled gherkins...

UK released 27 September 2019 - "Martyrs And Cowboys: The Atlantic Recordings 1974-1975" by WALLY on Esoteric Recordings QECLEC 22691 (Barcode 5013929479142) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster offering both of their 1974 and 1975 LPs with Two Non-Album B-sides of 45s that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Wally" (46:24 minutes):

1. The Martyr [Side 1]

2. I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy

3. What To Do

4. Sunday Waiting Lady [Side 2]

5. To The Urban Man

6. Your Own Way

Tracks 1 to 6 are their debut album "Wally" - released August 1974 in the UK on Atlantic Records K 50051 and November 1974 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18115. Produced by RICK WAKEMAN of YES and BOB HARRIS - it didn't chart in either country.

BONUS TRACK:

7. The Life You're Living (Non-Album B-side to "I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy", a UK 7" single released 24 August 1974 on Atlantic K 10497)

Disc 2 "Valley Gardens" (45:30 minutes):

1. Valley Gardens [Side 1]

2. Nez Percé

3. The Mood I'm In

4. The Reason Why [Side 2]

(i) Nolan (ii) The Charge (iii) Disillusion

Tracks 1 to 4 are their second and last studio album "Valley Gardens" - released October 1975 in the UK on Atlantic Records K 50180 (not issued in the USA). Produced by BOB HARRIS - it didn't chart.

BONUS TRACK:

5. Right By Me (Non-Album B-side to "Nez Percé" - a UK 7" single released 13 June 1975 on Atlantic K 10616)

The 20-page booklet covers the artwork for both LPs front and rear (Jim Slade's distinctive sleeve designs, including the inner sleeve cartoons and lyrics for the second platter "Valley Gardens"), new and highly informative interviews with principal band members Roy Webber and Paul Middleton and a detailed history of the band from noted writer MALCOM DOME. We get everything from the Melody Maker unsigned bands contest in 1974 that brought them into the orbit of compere 'Whispering' Bob Harris of The Old Grey Whistle Test, keyboardist Nick Glennie-Smith joining the band after Yes dropped him for Patrick Moraz (fresh out of Refugee) to poaching ace session singer MADELINE BELL (doing a Blue Mink session in the studio next door) to get her to lay into a Clare Torry Pink Floyd's "Great Gig In The Sky" soaring vocal wail at the end of "Nez Percé" (she did it in one take). Very entertaining and illuminating...

The PASCHAL BYRNE Remaster makes the debut shine but I think Bob Harris' production values on the follow up "Valley Gardens" (an area in their home town Harrogate) let the side down considerably because there's slight but audible hiss and muddiness to CD2 despite Byrne's best transfer efforts. It sounds good - just not great. The two non-album B-sides also make their digital debut here and are welcome additions - decent tunes in both cases.

The self-titled August 1974 debut LP opens with "The Martyr" - a clavinet keyboard based Proggy moment where you feel you've stumbled on Gryphon mating with The Flock as Pete Sage plays his violin over the melody - whilst Roy Webber has his Lead Vocals backed by some fluid Pete Cosker guitar. Then we get three-in-a-row Americana tunes from Roy Webber - the first of which was an obvious Eagles/America 45 outing. "I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy" was chosen as the only 7" single from the album with a fine non-LP flip-side in the shape of "The Life You're Living" (here as a Bonus Track on Disc 1). Both it, "What To Do" and "Sunday Walking Lady" sound very Poco in places - sweet melodies that feel genuinely accomplished as three members of the band layer on the harmony vocals above the well-recorded Acoustic strums, Violin and Pedal Steel. It ends well on the lovely strummed vibe of "Your Own Way" that features a so-Yes wild guitar moment in its final minute.

The second album "Valley Gardens" (named after an area in their beloved Harrogate) is way more Prog than the debut - the three-part Side 2 beast "The Reason Why" being based on The Charge Of The Light Brigade and stretching to over 19-minutes. Platter No. 2 opens with "Valley gardens" and immediately the America and Eagles strums of old are completely gone - replaced with very Yes and Greenslade keyboard battles - the title track in fact feeling like some kind of outtake from the Yes masterpiece "Relayer" of 1974 with Patrick Moraz newly implanted in the band to replace Rick Wakeman then embarked on a fully-fledged solo career.  The anguished singer-songwriter sway of "Nez Percé" (pronounced Nay Parsay) made it an obvious candidate for 45 number one off the album but in August 1975 it did no business. And while "The Mood I'm In" is back to that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young influence of old (with keyboards and delicious harmony vocals) - the Side 2 three-parter is just too much like hard work for me.

Wally are a footnote in musical history now, but back in the day they made a sound that many loved. I suspect this lovingly put together twofer CD reissue from Esoteric will remind many of that...

"Give Me The Night" by GEORGE BENSON (24 June 2009 Japan-Only Warner Brothers SHM-CD Reissue with 24-Bit Remaster in Jewel Case) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Remember The Days When We Never Had A Dime…"

  

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE SHM-CD June 2009 REMASTER 

- Also References 2012 and 2015 Japanese CD Issues ***

Originally released on LP in July 1980 on Warner Brothers K 56823 in the UK and BSK 3453 in the USA - George Benson's "Give Me The Night" was a huge record at the time (it peaked at No. 3 in both countries). And like Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" from 1978 before it - its fusion of soul, funk and jazz was popular everywhere - crossing over every rock barrier like never before (it was Grammy nominated and won too).

Yet except for a few remastered tracks on the excellent George Benson 2CD "Anthology" set from 2000 on Rhino - the entire album has been languishing around for over three decades now on one of those awful Eighties CDs with dullard murky sound. Until now...

Released 24 June 2009 in Japan-only on Warner Bros WPCR-13453 (Barcode 4943674090396) - this 24-bit remastered version is an audiophile CD on their SUPER HIGH MATERIALS format (42:51 minutes). An SHM-CD is playable on all machines and is simply a better form of the compact disc. And coming from an era that is probably the most derided in history by music lovers - especially when it comes to bombastic sound and ham-fisted production excesses - this SHM-CD version is a beautifully realized remaster - it really is.

1. Love X Love

2. Off Broadway

3. Moody’s Mood

4. Give Me The Night

5. What’s On Your Mind [Side 2]

6. Dinorah, Dinorah

7. Love Dance

8. Star Of A Story (X)

9. Midnight Love Affair

10. Turn Out The Lamplight

It doesn't say who did the 24-bit transfer - but whoever did has produced the most awesome result because the sound quality is just glorious. Of course the album always had the immaculate production values of QUINCY JONES and the stunning array of top session men to thank for its polish anyway - but this newly upgraded version is just wonderful. It's neither falsely loud nor brash nor clinically clean - there's air around the instruments - it's just warm and there. You hear all the instrumentation - especially the bass and rhythm sections. The wildly underrated funky-as-James-Brown instrumental "Off Broadway" is just stunning now - as is David Wolinski's brilliantly soulful and sleek "Midnight Love Affair".

The jewel case is standard and there's the black and gold obi strip inside; the SHM CD itself feels slightly heavier to ordinary CDs - more substantial - it seems to hold better as it plays in the tray somehow - steady. The 8-page booklet is disappointingly the same as US/Euro issues (has session details though) and the extra foldout page of info about the album that you get in these Japanese issues is - well in Japanese - so its kinda useless.

With 6 of it's 10 killer songs written by Britain's ROD TEMPERTON 9Of Heatwave fame) and the immaculate production values of veteran sound man QUINCY JONES - "Give Me The Night" practically set up the template for the album that would literally take over the world three years later - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (Quincy produced and Temperton wrote 3 of its 9 songs including the title track). As well as Temperton and Quincy charting the arrangements, the legendary David Foster is in there too. Guest Musicians included such luminaries as Guitarist Lee Ritenour, keyboard whiz-kids Greg Phillanganes, George Duke and Herbie Hancock, Larry Williams is on Flute, Patti Austin on Lead and Backing Vocals, Richard Tee on Synth, Jerry Hey on Trumpet, Abraham Laboriel on Bass, Paulinho Da Costa on Percussion and many more.

Gripes - no Euro/USA issue so it costs as an import - and it wouldn't have taken much to include the edited single mixes of "Give Me The Night" and "Love X Love" as bonus tracks. But this reissue is not about ramming the disc chock-full of extras - it's about the best sound - and on that front they've achieved their goal with absolute knobs on. A fantastic album that in 2020 is 40 years old – and for an LP from a much-derided decade to still sound so kicking and exciting is a testament to the sheer quality thrown at the original all those decades ago. But how do you get your hands on it now...

In October 2019, this 2009 Audiophile version is now unfortunately super expensive and awkward to locate (use Barcode 4943674090396 to locate the correct issue on Amazon or other sites). Subsequently, there has been two further reissues to date and again only in Japan – 13 June 2012 on Warner Brothers WPCR-14501 (Barcode 4943674118281) saw a new 2012 Remaster based on the US tapes put on a SHM-CD in Mini LP Packaging (now deleted and also expensive). That variant however was reissued 29 July 2015 on Warner Brothers WPCR-28201 (Barcode 4943674213399) in a jewel case with liner notes as part of their low-priced 'Fusion Best 1000 Series' (offering quality CDs for 1000 yen). That 2012 Remaster is the only one currently available in 2019 to purchase – often clocking in on Amazon and elsewhere at about £12.00 or so. A reasonable sum for such a great sounding reissue - enjoy...

Japan's Warner Bros. Jazz & Fusion SHM-CD Collection Series (2009)

"Give Me The Night" by George Benson is part of the Japanese-Only "Warner Bros. Jazz & Fusion SHM-CD Collection" Series - Audiophile 24-Bit Remastered SHM-CDs in a Jewel Case with Booklet and Obi.

SHM-CDs are fully compatible with all CD players – Super High Materials CDs are a better form of compact disc brought into play in 2006 (mostly exclusive to Japan) featuring advanced music retrieval over the standard CD that hasn't upgraded its format since introduction in 1983. In artist alphabetical order (all released 24 June 2009), the 20 titles in this Series are:

1. Breezin' (1976) - GEORGE BENSON

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13452 – Barcode 4943674090372)

2. Give Me The Night (1980) – GEORGE BENSON

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13453 (Barcode 4943674090396)

3. Larry Carlton (1978) - LARRY CARLTON

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13446 – Barcode 4943674090297)

4. Sleepwalk (1982) - LARRY CARLTON

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13448 – Barcode 4943674090334)

5. Strikes Twice (1980) - LARRY CARLTON

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13447 – Barcode 4943674090303)

6. Amandla (1989) - MILES DAVIS

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13443 – Barcode 4943674090266)

7. Doo-Bop (1991) - MILES DAVIS

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13444 – Barcode 4943674090273)

8. Live Around The World (1996) - MILES DAVIS

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13445 – Barcode 4943674090280)

9. Siesta (1982) - MILES DAVIS and MARCUS MILLER

(Warner Bros WPCR-13442 – Barcode 4943674090259)

10. Tutu (1986) - MILES DAVIS

(Warner Bros WPCR-13441 – Barcode 4943674090242)

11. Teasin' (1974) - CORNELL DUPREE

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13457 – Barcode 4943674090440)

12. Between The Sheets (1993) - FOURPLAY (1993)

[Featuring Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason]

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13460 – Barcode 4943674090471)

13. Fourplay (1991) - FOURPLAY

[Featuring Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason]

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13459 – Barcode 4943674090464)

14. Word Of Mouth (1981) - JACO PASTORIUS

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13454 – Barcode 4943674090402)

15. Rit (1981) - LEE RITENOUR (see also FOURPLAY)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13456 – Barcode 4943674090433)

16. The Captain's Journey (1978) - LEE RITENOUR

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13455 – Barcode 4943674090419)

17. Magnetic (1986) - STEPS AHEAD [feat Michael Brecker]

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13458 – Barcode 494367409040457)

18. More Stuff (1977) - STUFF

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13450 – Barcode 494367409040358)

19. Stuff (1976) - STUFF

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13449 – Barcode 494367409040341)

20. Winelight (1980) - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr.

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13451 – Barcode 494367409040365)




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