"The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" by THE KINKS – November 1968 UK Sixth Studio Album on Pye in Stereo and February 1969 US LP on Reprise in Stereo – featuring Ray Davies (October 2018 UK BMG/Sanctuary 50th Anniversary 2CD Deluxe Edition – Andrew Sandoval and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Big Sky..."

  

Arguing the merits of this cracking British album is probably something of a mute point 52 years after the November 1968 event. But I would like to shout to the top about the stunning job BMG and its assembly teams have done for the 50th Anniversary celebratory reissue of "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society". Let us break it down first...

Formats: for punters, it can appear that there are a dizzying amount of variants (there are). Yet setting aside Downloads and Vinyl Represses – there are three digital shots worth your spondulicks - all newly Remastered for 2018 in what BMG is calling a first in their 'The Art Of The Album' Series. Here goes...

UK released 26 October 2018 - '1CD Standard Edition' of "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" by THE KINKS is on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09CD (Barcode 4050538402179) and that offers you the STEREO version of the 15-Track album on a single CD in limited edition '50th Anniversary' Book packaging and retails for about eight quid or less. There is also a VINYL Variant of the STEREO LP in gatefold repro artwork on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09LP (Barcode 4050538402216) retailing for about £22.00.

The one I'd buy is the next grade up, the 2CD Deluxe Edition on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09DCD (Barcode 4050538402186). That peach (which I'm reviewing here) offers you the STEREO album on Disc 1 with 9 Bonus Tracks and the MONO Album on Disc 2 with a further 10 Bonus Tracks. Seven of the nineteen Bonuses are Previously Unreleased Mono and Stereo versions while the rest are either stand-alone singles mixes or from rare Kinks compilation LPs from the early Seventies. There is the hard card book sleeve and more in the way of presentation – an attached 20-page booklet, new liner notes, unseen photos and of course those new 2018 HD Remasters. It's about thirteen quid or less secondhand.

The next up is the big daddy and an object of serious lust for KINKs aficionados - the '50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set' on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09BOX (Barcode 4050538402049) which BMG allocate a whole page advert to in the 2CD booklet. A 12" x 12" behemoth - it offers the 2CDs of the Deluxe Edition with a further 3CDs, Remastered VINYL LPs in both Mono and Stereo, 3 x Repro 7" singles, 52-page hardback book, memorabilia poster and quite possibly (if they could) - original 1968 underpants signed and authenticated by Ray Davies. In May 2020 Barcode 4050538402049 is technically still available and ranges from £90 to 140 depending on what site you use. Just to annoy fans further, in October 2018 the first 1000 came with an exclusive single and in June 2019, Ray Davies signed 50 copies that were only available on the Kinks website - all of course, sold out now.

Let's get back to the twofer Deluxe Edition we can have...

CD1 Stereo Album 2018 Remaster (65:44 minutes):

1. The Village Green Preservation Society [Side 1]

2. Do You Remember Walter?

3. Picture Book

4. Johnny Thunder

5. Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains

6. Big Sky

7. Sitting By The Riverside

8. Animal Farm [Side 2]

9. Village Green

10. Starstruck

11. Phenomenal Cat

12. All Of My Friends Were There

13. Wicked Annabelle

14. Monica

15. People Take Pictures Of Each Other

Tracks 1 to 15 are their sixth studio album (seventh overall) "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" - released 22 November 1968 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 18233 in STEREO and February 1969 in the USA on Reprise RS 6327.

BONUS TRACKS:

16. Days (Mono Single Mix) - 28 June 1968 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17573, A-Side

17. She's Got Everything (Original Stereo Mix) - first issued on the 25 March 1972 US 2LP set "The Kinks Kronikles" on Reprise 2XS 6454

18. Mr. Songbird (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

19. Wonder Boy (Mono Single Mix) - 5 April 1968 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17468, A-side

20. Polly (Original Stereo Mix) - first issued on the 25 March 1972 US 2LP set "The Kinks Kronikles" on Reprise 2XS 6454

21. Berkeley Mews (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

22. Rosemary Rose (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

23. Misty Water (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

24. Till Death Do Us Part (Mono Mix) - first issued on the 25 January 1972 LP "The Great Lost Kinks Album" on Reprise MS 2127

CD2 - Original MONO Album, 2018 Remaster (66:55 minutes):

1. The Village Green Preservation Society [Side 1]

2. Do You Remember Walter?

3. Picture Book

4. Johnny Thunder

5. Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains

6. Big Sky

7. Sitting By The Riverside

8. Animal Farm [Side 2]

9. Village Green

10. Starstruck

11. Phenomenal Cat

12. All Of My Friends Were There

13. Wicked Annabelle

14. Monica

15. People Take Pictures Of Each Other

Tracks 1 to 15 are their sixth studio album (seventh overall) "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" - released 22 November 1968 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18233 in MONO and February 1969 in the USA on Reprise RS 6327 (Stereo Only).

BONUS TRACKS:

16. Lavender Hill (Mono Mix)

17. Rosemary Rose (Mono Mix)

18. Pictures In The Sand (Mono Mix)

19. Where Did My Spring Go? (Mono Mix)

Tracks 16 to 19 first issued on the 25 January 1972 US LP "The Great Lost Kinks Album" on Reprise MS 2127

20. When I Turn Off The Living Room Light (Mono Mix) - first issued in April 1970 on the Promotional-Only Various Artists 2LP Compilation "The Big Ball" on Warner Bros PRO 358. First commercial issue (like tracks 16 to 19) on the 25 January 1972 US LP "The Great Lost Kinks Album" on Reprise MS 2127

21. Did You See His Name (Original Stereo Mix) - first issued on the 25 March 1972 US 2LP set "The Kinks Kronikles" on Reprise 2XS 6454

22. Time Song (Monitor Mix - Stereo) - March 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions, remixed by Ray Davies in May 2018 - 2018 Previously Unreleased

23. The Village Green Preservation Society (Preservation Version - Stereo Mix) - February 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions - 2018 Previously Unreleased

24. Medley: Picture Book/People Take Pictures Of Each Other (Preservation Version - Stereo Mix) - February 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions - 2018 Previously Unreleased

25. Village Green Overture (Preservation Version - Stereo Mix) - February 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions - 2018 Previously Unreleased

The 20-page attached booklet is beautifully done. As a Rarities Buyer for Reckless Records in London's Islington and Soho branches for nearly 20 years – I saw my fair share of Kinks 45s from all corners of the world (there are two pages of them here). And you would see the Reprise Records double-album "The Kinks Kronikles" turn up because it was a US swap-meet staple. But I've honestly never seen most of the international covers for the LP displayed in a set of nine on Page 16 (Norway and Sweden and even a Mexican reissue). Another nice touch is that both CDs feature the original Pye Records LP colouring (separate card flaps for each at the back of the booklet). There are colour photos of the band on Hampstead Heath in August 1968, trade adverts for the Record Mirror and NME along with a concert poster and more (lovely things). ANDY NEILL provides a superb and knowledgeable appraisal of the album and its out-of-step place in the landscape of November 1968 – Ray Davies hankering not for change (like everyone else) but instead to put a stay of execution on a way of British life that was fast disappearing under the big city wrecking ball of progress (God save strawberry jam and all its different varieties). Pye had in fact vetoed a 20-track double-album, so Ray edited it down to a paltry 15. But as the LP charts show – neither side of the pond seemed particularly interested. Village Green didn't chart in either England or the USA – a famous flop that somehow seems a wee bit myopic on our parts.

A team of four have done the Audio - longtime associate with Kinks 2CD Deluxe Editions ANDREW SANDOVAL did the mixing and audio restoration, tape transfers fell to RICHARD WHITTAKER and KEVIN VANBERGEN while Final Mastering was carried out by Rhino's long standing Audio Engineer - DAN HERSCH. It's all so good - even the unreleased "Misty Walter" in Stereo boogies with power and shocking presence. To the music...

The album opens with Ray wanting Desperate Dan, Donald Duck and the village green saved from progress in the opening title track. The Stereo separation in "Do You Remember Walter?" is fab but my heart went straight to the wicked groove of "Picture Book" which sounds so damn good. Re-hearing its Scooby-dooby-do chipper chorus - you can't help but feel that Pye missed a serious trick here by not issuing it as a lead in single for the album. Reprise USA did just that when they coupled "Picture Book" with "Starstruck" in January 1969 (Reprise 0806) - a month before the album hit the shops there in February. Everyone tried his or her best but "Johnny Thunder" rides the highway - another cracking melody that easily could have been single No. 2. 

I'm sure there are many Kinks fans who have their blood moved by the cool harmonica R 'n' B of "Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains" - a once mighty puffer now gathering dust in a museum (the remaster rocks). The feeling that you're in the middle of a great album continues with the one-day-we'll-be-free "Big Sky" - a fabulous tune with spoken and sung lyrics. The piano-jaunty "Siting By The Riverside" conjures old English bars while at the same time segueing into Psyched-up Guitars and Accordions. Take me where the animals are playing, Ray sings on "Animals" - another 'wanna be back there in the easier past' song. Churches with steeples and a girl called Daisy fill up "Village Green" while another woman is "Starstruck" drinks deep because she can't have what the famous man she wants. Whimsy returns with the fat moggy song "Phenomenal Cat" while "All Of My Friends Were There" begins with a how's-yer-father rhythm only to go into a softer melody. The album races to a close with the rocky "Wicked Annabella", the shuffling Salsa rhythms of "Monica" and the rapido-shaking tambourine of "People Take Pictures Of Each Other".

Of the Bonus tracks my remote went not to the overplayed "Days" in Mono but the "Kronikles" Stereo Mixes of "She's Got Everything" and (pretty) "Polly" and they're every bit as Kinks-Kool as I remember them including that wild guitar solo in "She's Got Everything" that seems to encompass both 60ts Rock and Psych in one 15-second outburst. I can't believe how cool the Previously Unreleased Stereo Mixes are - the 'you make me happy' Stereo Mix of "Mr. Songbird" and the piano-rolling "Berkeley Mews" - previously unreleased variants fans will have to have. And on it goes on CD2...

Re-listening to the album now, I can hear why a 1968 young audience weren't taken - too much going on in the present and future to be focusing on the old English past. But make no mistake, in 2020 the Kink's past has been brought to life by this exemplary big sky set of reissues. Top marks to all involved...

The SUPER DELUXE BOX SET Edition

"Gordon Giltrap/Portrait" by GORDON GILTRAP – October 1968 and October 1969 UK Debut and Second Studio Albums on Transatlantic Records in Stereo (29 May 2020 UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 2LPs onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Hands Of Fate..."

Originally on Bill Leader's groundbreaking Transatlantic Records, Gordon Giltrap's first two albums of largely instrumental British Folk from October 1968 and October 1969 have been reissued on CD like this twice before. First up was August 1993, then November 1997, and in both cases by Essential Music (part of the Sanctuary Group) as two-albums onto 1CD.

Now it’s the turn of England's Beat Goes On (BGO) with shiny new 2020 remasters courtesy of Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON that make Benchley's best virtuoso guitarist shine anew. This disc sounds gorgeous – those doubled acoustic strings rattling around your speakers with air-bending intent. Here's the Folky beef...

UK released Friday, 29 May 2020 - "Gordon Giltrap/Portrait" by GORDON GILTRAP on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1415 (Barcode 5017261214157) offers his first two albums Newly Remastered onto 1CD that plays out as follows (65:02 minutes):

1. Gospel Song [Side 1]

2. Fast Approaching

3. Don't You Feel Good

4. Birth Of Spring

5. Won't You Stay Awhile Suzanne

6. Wilderness

7. Adolescent Years [Side 2]

8. Saturday Girl

9. Don't You Hear Your Mother's Voice

10. Ives Horizon

11. Blythe Hill

12. Willow Pattern

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Gordon Giltrap" - released October 1968 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 175 - Produced by BILL LEADER (no US release)

13. Portrait [Side 1]

14. Thoughts In The Rain

15. Never Ending Solitude

16. Tuxedo

17. All Characters Fictitious

18. Lucifer's Cage

19. Careful As You Go [Side 2]

20. Free For All

21. William Taplin

22. Hands Of Fate

23. Confusion

24. Young Love

Tracks 13 to 24 are his second studio album "Portrait" - released October 1969 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 202 in Stereo - Produced by BILL LEADER (no US release)

You get the usual card slipcase on the outside that lends these reissues a wee bit of class while the 16-page booklet features in-depth new liner notes from JOHN O’REGAN. Topics covered are his 18-year old signing to Transatlantic Records in 1968 through to his time with Don Partridge and their band Accolade and on to the commercially successful Prog-instrumental years with The Electric Record Company Label and his 1977 "Perilous Journey" album breakthrough. It even mentions 26 March 2020 when GG played an acoustic gig from his doorstep to benefit Front Line Staff in the NHS during the Coronavirus/Covid 19 lockdown. You also get the album rear sleeve blurbs from Bill Leader (1968) and Don Partridge (1969) and the colour cover artwork for both albums on the front and rear pages of the booklet allowing you to invert the booklet if you want "Portrait" facing out.

However, those expecting the holiday program theme song and hit single "Heartsong" should look elsewhere – these tunes are purely Folk and in some cases feature his vocals which unfortunately wasn’t the greatest of ideas. To the early music of an emerging talent...

The two debut album tracks that highlighted his amazing plectrum picking technique on "The Contemporary Guitar Sampler" budget album of 1969 (Transatlantic TRA SAM 14) are both here - "Fast Approaching" and "Ives Horizon"- the first showing his extraordinary playing talent as the rapid flicks and strums come a screaming out of your speakers in lovely clarity – the second with a wall of doubled guitars. But then comes the voice...

Harmonics ping at the beginning of "Don't You Feel Good" but the lovely song is quickly ruined by his whiny voice that is not the strongest (nor are his lyrics). Again beautiful playing opens "Why Won't You Stay A While, Suzanne?" but his how-I-need-you lyrics and voice render the playing mute – the same for the terribly twee "Adolescent Years". Back to racing up and down the steel strings for the far better "Saturday Night". The debut ends on the short instrumental "Blythe Hill" – another racer full of great ideas but fades out on "Willow Pattern" – more bad singing that really should have been nipped in the bud from the get go.

The 1969 second album opens on the title track "Portrait" – two and half minutes of lovely playing with pretty cascading runs up and down the fretboard. The second song "Thoughts In The Rain" is about jealousy but again his deadpan vocal delivery makes the song hard to listen to – the same for "Never Ending Solitude" and "All Characters Fictitious". The big chunky chords instrumental "Lucifer’s Cage" would be returned to years later for his 1976 "Visionary" album on The Electric Record Company – here it gets a gimmicky flanging from speaker-to-speaker treatment that kind of ruins the track had it been left alone to play out. And on it goes...

All the virtuoso guitar playing in the world doesn’t help if you don’t have the tunes or in this case – the voice. For his formative years, Giltrap hadn’t really got either. There are undeniably beautiful instrumentals on both records, but suffering the others may prove a step too far for the uninitiated. Fans will love it for sure – especially the great audio – but others should grab a listen first before purchase...

"Derrick Morgan And His Friends" by DERRICK MORGAN and VARIOUS ARTISTS – 1968 UK LP on Island Records featuring The Viceroys, Pauline Morgan and The Loveletts, The Consumates, The Groovers, Alva Lewis, Neremiah Reid, The Black Brothers, The Inventors, The King Twins, Dawn Penn, Frank Brown, Zanda Ferron, Tony King and more (July 2019 UK Doctor Bird 2CD Expanded Edition Reissue – Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Food Of Love..."

I've been raving for some time now about how good these Doctor Bird CD Reissues are and DBCDD-039 is another belter.

Listed in Record Collector Price Guides at between £150 to £200 for an original British-pressed LP in Mono (that sum in no way reflects just how rare and desirable this fab album is) – this massively expanded 2CD reissue is centered around his second album outing - the 1968 Island Records 12-track LP "Derrick Morgan And His Friends" as pictured on the cover.

With a whopping 24 Bonus Tracks on top of the 12-track album - many rare Island and Unity single-sides from the spring of 1968 make their digital debut here. And along with a seminal genre album that has been off-radar for over 52 years, you even get a few Previously Unreleased Tracks too. There's a lotta Rock Steady to get steady to, so let's have at it...

UK released Friday 12 July 2019 - "Derrick Morgan And His Friends" by DERRICK MORGAN and VARIOUS ARTISTS on Doctor Bird DBCDD-039 (Barcode 5013929273931) is a 36-Track 2CD Reissue/Remaster than plays out as follows:

CD1 (47:03 Minutes):

1. Bad Luck On Me - DERRICK MORGAN [Side 1]

2. Father Killam - DERRICK MORGAN

3. Tears On My Pillow - DERRICK MORGAN

4. Ain't That Crazy - DERRICK MORGAN

5. Lagga Head - DERRICK MORGN

6. Stumbling Block - DERRICK MORGAN and THE VICEROYS

7. I've Been Searching - PAULINE MORGAN and THE LOVELETTS [Side 2]

8. Stop The Wedding - PAULINE MORGAN and THE LOVELETTS

9. Give Me A Chance - PAULINE MORGAN and THE CONSUMATES

10. The More They Get - PAULINE MORGAN and THE CONSUMATES

11. You've Been Saying Things - THE BLACK BROTHERS

12. Music Be The Food Of Love - THE INVENTORS

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Derrick Morgan And His Friends" - released spring 1968 in the UK on Island Records ILP 990 in Mono.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Conquering Ruler - DERRICK MORGAN & THE VICEROYS (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3094, A - for B-side see Track 16, Disc 2)

14. You've Got To Cry - THE GROOVERS (January 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3080, A - for B-side see Track 16)

15. Lip & Tongue - THE VICEROYS (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3095, A - for B-side see Track 4, Disc 2)

16. I'm Indebted - ALVA LEWIS  (January 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3080, B - for A-side see Track 14)

17. Family War - NEREMIAH REID (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3102, A - for B-side see Track 3, Disc 2)

18. Someone - DERRICK MORGAN & PAULINE (December 1967 UK 45 on Island WI-3079, A - for B-side see Track 7, Disc 2)

CD2 (47:52 minutes):

1. Gimme Back - DERRICK MORGAN (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3101, A)

2. Send Requests - THE VICEROYS (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3101, B)

3. Give Me That Love - NEREMIAH REID (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3102, B - for A-side see Track 17, Disc 1)

4. When Am I Gonna Be Free - DAWN PENN (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3095, B - for A-side see Track 15, Disc 1)

5. Give It To Him - THE VICEROYS (as THE HOT TOPS) - Not Originally Released In The UK

6. Every Day (True, True, True) - ZANDA FERRON - Not Originally Released In The UK

7. Do You Love Me - DERRICK & PAULINE (December 1967 UK 45 on Island WI-3079, B - for A-side see Track 18, Disc 1)

8. Some Come, Some Go - FRANK BROWN (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3103, B - for A-side see Track 14, Disc 2)

9. Give Me Loving - THE BLACK BROTHERS - Not Originally Released In The UK

10. Let Him Go - THE VICEROYS - Not Originally Released In The UK

11. A Prisoner In Love - DERRICK MORGAN - Not Originally Released

12. Lonely World - ZANDA FERRON - Not Originally Released In The UK

13. Treat Me Right (Trying To Keep Me Down) THE KING TWINS (Errol Dunkley) - Not Originally Released In The UK

14. Do It Now - THE CONSUMATES (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3103, A - for B-side see Track 8, Disc 2)

15. Bedweight - DERRICK MORGAN (1970 UK 45 on Unity UN 569, B-side to "The Conqueror")

16. Red Rum Ball - LLOYD & DEVON (March 1968 UK 45 on Island WI-3094, B - for A-side see Track 13, Disc 1)

17. Bum Ball (Chapter II) - TONY KING (December 1970 UK 45 on Smash SMA-2302, A and 1970 UK 45 on Unity UN 565, B – for A see Track 18)

18. More Balls - MARC ANTHONY & THE JETS (December 1970 UK 45 on Smash SMA-2302, A and 1970 UK 45 on Unity UN 565, A)

Compiled by Reggae and Ska historian and aficionado LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT (Author of "Young Gifted And Black: The Story Of Trojan Records" – see my Review) – the 16-page booklet offers up two pages of those uber-rare single labels (nine on each) – Island, Unity, Morgan's own Hop Records, Jamaican white labels as well as black and white snaps on DM in his trademark Pork Pie hat. There are interviews conducted across the decades with the great man that include contributions from Bunny Lee. The distinctive orange and black eye Island Records label for "Derrick Morgan And Friends" is repro'd on Page 7 while the album's rear sleeve (advertising all those tasty 1967 impossible to find Island and Sue LPs) is on the last page of the booklet.

You get track by track credits and mastering is by one of my fave Audio Engineers – ANDY PEARCE – a name Universal has used for Budgie, Free, Rory Gallagher, ELP, Spooky Tooth, Wishbone Ash and loads of these difficult to get right Reggae compilations (him and his audio partner Matt Wortham have mastered over 50 of these sets so they know their way around a few tape boxes and vinyl dubs). Given the recordings vintage and notorious made-in-a-bucket origins – the audio here is once again kicking. I'll never be able to afford these sevens or the LP and to have it here in such cool Audio is – well, cool. To the music...

Unusual for the time, all 12 tracks on the LP were not singles and their flipsides, but exclusive to it. That irresistible chug-rhythms kick in straight away with "Bad Luck On Me" - will someone hear my plea - Derrick asks - yes we will mate. "Tears On My Pillow" would be covered by so many - here its simple Rock Steady beat also features a neat guitar solo. There's a new bird across the street that's making Derrick take notice in "Ain't That Crazy" while he riles against stupidity in local youths in "Lagga Head". Other faves on the album are "Stop The Wedding" where Pauline Morgan sounds like Reggae Girl Group and the fantastic vocalist in The Consumates commenting on greed with "The More They Get".

Island Records enthusiasts will look down those WI catalogue numbers and beam. Derrick's "Conquering Ruler" starts a run of ten rarities - each with that identikit chug-rhythm. Highlights include the mind your "Lip & Tongue" walkie-talkie song by The Viceroys, the soft and pretty "I'm Indebted" by Alva Lewis and "Family War" by Neremiah Reid - a co-write between Derrick and Duke Reid. CD2 opens with a 1968 version of "Gimme Back" while Neremiah Reid tackles another co-write with Duke on the "Give Me That Love" love song. Of the songs not previously released in the UK - "A Prisoner In Love" feels like a real find (lovely audio). This is no time to relax Derrick demands in the rather cool "Bedweight". And on it goes...

For sure hearing 36 songs with essentially the same Rock Steady rhythms and sound can be trying after a while, but this is a typically great Doctor Bird reissue - making available once again music that shouldn't be condemned to the Brixton Market of over 50 years ago. Big red bum ball and a smile...

"It's All About" by SPOOKY TOOTH - July 1968 UK Debut LP on Island Records in Stereo – featuring Mike Harrison, Gary Wright, Luther Grosvenor, Greg Ridley and Mike Kellie with Production and Song Co-Writes by Jimmy Miller (September 2016 UK Universal UMC/Island Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Ten Bonuses – Paschal Byrne and Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Love Really Changed Me..."

Underrated debuts, there's a shed load of them - and you can add July 1968's "It's All About" by SPOOKY TOOTH to that list.

Principal band member and lead vocalist Mike Harrison had come up through the 60ts R&B ranks with The V.I.P.'s in 1963 through to the Psych sounds of ART on Island Records (they made one revered album called "Supernatural Fairy Tales" in 1967) before forming Spooky Tooth with Keyboardist and Lead Vocalist Gary Wright, Lead Guitarist Luther Grosvenor, Bassist Greg Ridley and Drummer Mike Kellie (later 70ts ranks of the band would feature Mick Jones of Foreigner).

Between 1968 and 1974 Spooky Tooth popped out seven accomplished albums all of which have been Remastered and Reissued for these exemplary CD series (September and October 2016 releases). Their debut was actually issued in three configurations in the UK and America (different artwork too) and this CD reissue will allow punters to sequence all three. It's all about a roundabout indeed, to the rainbow details...

UK released 30 September 2016 - "It's All About" by SPOOKY TOOTH on Universal UMC/Island 570 547-1 (Barcode 602557054712) offers their 1968 debut album in Stereo in an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with 10 Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (72:01 minutes):

1. Society's Child [Side 1]

2. Love Really Changed Me

3. Here I Lived So Well

4. Too Much Of Nothing

5. Sunshine Help Me

6. It's All About A Roundabout [Side 2]

7. Tobacco Road

8. It Hurts You So

9. Forget It, I Got It

10. Bubbles

Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut album "It's All About" - released July 1968 in the UK on Island ILPS 9080 in Stereo and September 1969 in the USA as "Spooky Tooth" on Bell Records BELL 6019 with the tracks in a different running order. Produced by JIMMY MILLER (of Rolling Stones fame) - it didn't chart in either country.

To sequence that American LP use the following:

Side A: 1. It's All About A Roundabout 2. Tobacco Road 3. It Hurts You So 4. Forget It, I Got It 5. Bubbles

Side B: 1. Society's Child 2. Love Really Changed Me 3. Here I Lived So Well 4. Too Much Of Nothing 5. Sunshine Help Me

The American LP was reissued again in June 1971 on A&M Records SP-4300 with different artwork but with the original 1968 British album line up of songs (Tracks 1 to 10 above). The only difference being that "Too Much Of Nothing" was replaced as Track 4 on Side 1 with a cover version of The Band classic "The Weight" (Track 13 in the Bonuses).

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Sunshine Help Me (Original Version, Recorded 13 October 1967)

12. Weird (January 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6022, non-album B-side to "Sunshine Help Me")

13. The Weight (September 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6046, A, non-album track, cover of The Band classic)

14. Do Right People  (September 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6046, B-side of "The Weight", non-album track)

15. Love Really Changed Me (Single Version) (June 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6037, A)

16. Luger's Groove (June 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6037, B-side of "Love Really Changed Me", non-album track)

17. It Hurts You So (Mono Mix)

18. Sunshine Help Me

19. Too Much Of Nothing (Tracks 18 and 19 are from a BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session recorded 21 February 1968)

20. The Weight (Track 20 is from a BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session recorded 30 September 1968)

The 12-page booklet is a pleasingly fact-filled affair although it could have featured the different US artwork for the "Tobacco Road" version of the album that also has the song "The Weight" substituted for "Too Much Of Nothing" – but alas. What you do get is new liner notes from MARK POWELL of Esoteric Recordings that features interviews with two of the band’s principal players – Mike Harrison and Gary Wright – both reminiscing with affection of their time with the eclectic Rock Band. There are also colour photos from the album cover shoot of the boys amidst the vegetation, other period snaps, a rare foreign picture sleeve for "Bubbles" and the usual musician/reissue credits.

Two of Universal’s leading Audio Engineers BEN WISEMAN and PASCHAL BYRNE have handled the analogue to digital transfers, mixes and Remasters – and this sucker boogies. Spooky Tooth always made somewhat of a chaotic and cluttered racket with moments of Psych and Rock Funk punctuating the guitars and keyboards and this Remaster handles the lot with admirable aplomb.

Their debut opens with a cover of Janis Ian's "Society Child" which like their version of Loudermilk's oft-copied "Tobacco Road" further on in the album is a radically reworked thing. But for me the album really opens with one of their own - the Luther Grosvenor, Jimmy Miller and Gary Wright composition "Love Really Changed Me" where they get piano funky on the intro only to go into 'save me' vocals towards the melodramatic end. Spooky Tooth had a certain sound that felt like a mash-up of Traffic, Moby Grape and Procol Harum - a sort of Soulful Rock meets art-house Psych - evidenced on the slow and trippy "Here I Lived So Well" (gorgeous Remaster on those etherial vocals and punchy bass).

Another cover gets Toothed - Bob Dylan's "Too Much Of Nothing" first aired by Peter, Paul & Mary in 1967 - bending guitar notes soon start going into a high-vocal Rock boogie - like Uriah Heap having too much fun. One of the album's best tracks, the Harpsichord opening and funky 'crazy dreams' "Sunshine Help Me" feels like Prog Rock Donovan meets Blood, Sweat & Tears (the single version is one of the bonus tracks). The short two minutes of "It's All About A Roundabout" opened the American LP on Side 1 and you can hear why - a poppy hippy moment that maybe Radio or DJs might hook into to. But my faves are two Jimmy Miller and Gary Wright songs - the hide and seek "It Hurts You So" and the brilliant "Forget It, I Got It" - a sort of Joe Cocker "Feelin' Alright" piano bopper that at times feels like Marriott and The Small Faces having an Immediate Records whig-out. Of the Bonuses, a real digital winner is the rarely heard B-side "Do Right People" – a Funky Rock charmer that could easily have been on the album. Speaking of those who like their 60ts on a funky tip – the 21 June 1968 45 on Island WIP 6037 has a winner non-LP B-side instrumental called "Luger's Groove" - Spooky Tooth having a sort of Santana goof off moment – speedy guitar soloing anchored by piano rolls – very cool indeed.

Mike Harrison did three solo albums on Island and Good Ear Records between 1971 and 1975 (see my review of those on Beat Goes On CDs), Luther Grosvenor joined Stealers Wheel for a brief stint in 1972, then changed his name to Ariel Bender and joined Mott The Hoople for their seventh album "The Hoople" in 1974. Gary Wright later had two huge No. 2 US hit singles with the Yacht Rock of "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" in 1976 – both from his 1975 platinum Warner Brothers album "The Dream Weaver".

For sure July 1968's "It's All About" is something of an acquired taste in May 2020 – but it sounds good to me and those ten bonuses make it taste a whole lot better too...

SPOOKY TOOTH

September and October 2016 

Universal/Island CD Expanded Edition Remaster Series:

1. It's All About (1968 Debut) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-1 (Barcode 602557054712) with 10 Bonus Tracks

2. Spooky Two (1969 2nd LP) - 7 Oct 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-3 (Barcode 602557054736) with 9 Bonus Tracks

3. Ceremony: An Electronic Mass (1969 3rd LP with Pierre Henry) - 7 Oct 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-0 (Barcode 602557054705) with 6 Bonus Tracks

4. The Last Puff (1970 4th LP) - 7 Oct 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-5 (Barcode 602557054750) with 6 Bonus Tracks

5. You Broke My Heart...So I Busted Your Jaw (1973 5th LP) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-8 (Barcode 602557054781)

6. Witness (1973 6th LP) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-7 (Barcode 602557054774) with 1 Bonus Track

7. The Mirror (1974 7th LP) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-6 (Barcode 602557054767)