"An Apple A Day" by APPLE – February 1969 UK Debut LP on Page One Records in Stereo - featuring Jeff Harrad, Robert Ingram, Denis Regan, Charlie Barber and Dave Brassington and Producer Caleb Quaye of Hookfoot and The Elton John Band (September 2020 UK Grapefruit Records Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Oli Hemingway Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 324 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
CADENCE / CASCADE 

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

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08DBVZY6P&asins=B08DBVZY6P&linkId=ad943dd7a55c65724ddba2d71d27eb36&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Full Of Flavour..."

History is a double-edged sword when remembering, and I'd argue never more so than for the five-piece Welsh Psych-boys of APPLE. To understand the magnificence of this September 2020 Expanded Edition CD reissue from those hairy-men over at the much-loved Grapefruit Records, some musical backdrop is needed. 

In 2017, a Stereo (playable Mono) copy of the February 1969 LP "An Apple A Day" by Apple on Page One POLS 016 sold for a staggering four grand on a well-known auction site – the kind of Psych and Freakbeat rarity that makes fans of the genre sell small babies to unscrupulous piranha to acquire. And at that time little was known about the group in any discography anywhere – nearly half a century after the event. The band Apple and their fantastically grungy lone album were largely unknowns, which in some ways only added to the mystique. 

For this Grapefruit Records CD remaster and reissue, founder member and Bassist Jeff Harrad has finally come forth and upset the you-know-what cart by giving us a blow-by-blow account of the band's woes with Larry Page's Page One Records – a rushed signing to a London maverick they all came to bitterly regret. In fact the material is licensed from Harrad - remastered by OLI HEMINGWAY at The Wax Works and annotated by the much-lauded DAVID WELLS of Grapefruit Records (all good names amongst collectors). 

Page was a cheapskate on a gargantuan level. In a 20-page booklet, there are only three photographs of the band and they are in black and white because Page wouldn't pay for colour. The three 'demo' recordings they made with guitarist and future Hookfoot and Elton John Band member CALEB QUAYE as Producer at De Lane Lea Studios were only meant to be just that - demos. Then at another session in Page's Oxford Street studios, they recorded more demos only to find that instead of doing proper studio variants, Page slap-dashed the lot together and that became their February 1969 debut album. 

The front cover was a shot Page had borrowed from (wait for it) 'The Apple And Pair Development Council' of Great Britain and the album inexplicably contained a four-page insert of 'the juicy, full of flavour and crisp' nature of English Apples and Pears. It offered meringue recipes with further instructions on how to keep the fruits and ripen them - and even had a colour-coded calendar on their availability in English shops throughout the year (don't you just love it). Absolutely naught to do with the group or the wild music contained within the LP. The rear cover misspelled two of the band member names (Harrad as Harrod and Denis with two n’s) and the track list was arse-about face too. And worst of all of course, despite favourable press reviews, their debut barely made into any collection anywhere – hence its rarity value. In fact Harrad advises that keyboardist Charlie Barber was so appalled when he saw and heard the finished LP that he drew a nail across the tracks so they couldn't be played again. 

But here's the historical rub. The very kiss-me-quick nature of the demos where the fuzzed-up Psych guitar of Robert Ingram and Piano tinkles of Charlie Barber do battle with the barely audible drums of Dave Brassington, the vocals of Denis Regan and the bass of Jeff Harrad - gives the solos, passionate performances and sonic assault a wallop that polished studio variants would probably have lacked. This is a wee brute of a listen – so uncouth – and yet so bloody alive because of that. Page wouldn't have cared one way or the other at the time even if perfectionists in the band were appalled, but their mistakes then are a boon to us now – this being the kind of whig-out Syd Barrett Pink Floyd-esque sound subsequent collectors of the Psych genre worship at the feet of - and rightly so. 

Time to get Bramley Cake and Crumble on this sucker, here are the CD reissue details...

UK released Friday, 25 September 2020 - "An Apple A Day" by APPLE on Grapefruit records CRSEG079 (Barcode 5013929187924) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster in a Card Digipak that plays out as follows (52:30 minutes):

1. Let's Take A Trip Down The Rhine [Side 1]
2. Doctor Rock 
3. The Otherside
4. Mr. Jones 
5. The Mayville Line 
6. Pretty Girl I Love You 
7. Rock Me Baby [Side 2]
8. Buffalo Billycan
9. Photograph 
10. Psycho Daisies 
11. Sporting Life 
12. Queen Of Hearts Blues
Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut and only album "An Apple A Day" - released February 1969 in the UK on Page One Records POLS 016 in Stereo

BONUS TRACKS:
13. Let's Take A Trip Down The Rhine (Mono Single Version) 
14. Buffalo Billycan (Mono Single Version) 
Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of their debut UK 45-single released October 1968 on Page One POF 101

15. Doctor Rock (Mono Single Version)
16. The Otherside (Mono Single Version)  
Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of their 2nd and last UK 45-single released December 1968 on Page One POF 110

The card digipak has a promo photo of the five-piece on one inner flap whilst a Grapefruit Records advert for other product lies beneath the see-through CD tray. DAVID WELLS has done a typically excellent job on the 20-page booklet and presentation. The genesis of Apple goes back to 1963 and a thriving Cardiff band on the popular R&B scene called Vance & The Vauqeros that featured drummer David Brassington and singer Denis Regan. Bassist Jeff Harrad came up through the ranks of another popular five-piece combo called Brother John & The Witnesses – both suited-and-booted beat groups are pictured on Pages 4 and 5 of the booklet. There are foreign pictures sleeves for the two 1968 singles hat preceded the album, a full repro of the ludicrous Apples and Pears insert and a fascinating flyer repro on Page 8 for a 25 June 1969 gig at the Paget Rooms in Penarth showcasing The Apple and support act, The Budgie (now there’s a noisy rocking gig). 

Apple (nothing to do with The Beatles of their label) managed two UK 45-singles in their short duration as band, both of which are pictured on the last page of the booklet in stock and demo copy form alongside a rare two-track Emidisc Acetate dated 7 September 1968 for their debut 7" single - "Take A Trip Down The Rhine" and "Buffalo Billycan" (see photos provided). I always wondered why the poppier "Let's Take A Trip Down The Rhine" debut 45 is listed in the Record Collector Rare Records Price Guide at more than "Doctor Rock" b/w "The Otherside" - because in my mind both sides of the second are way better - a genuinely stunning piece of mad Psych guitar frenzy that still amazes. 

As for the LP, of the twelve songs, you got nine originals and three contemporary covers - "Rock Me Baby" by Muddy Waters, "Psycho Daisies" by The Yardbirds and "Sporting Life" by Brownie McGhee. I love the Syd Barrett Floyd-era feel to "Mr. Jones" and the great grunge-drive of "The Mayville Line" despite its less than stellar Production values. Robbo (as the LP called him) puts in some fantastic guitar in "The Otherside" and although Grapefruit's Wells argues that the three covers dilute the original material and overall impact, I personally couldn't disagree more. The Bluesy "Sporting Life" is excellent and guitar frenzy is everywhere on the Morgan Mackinleyfield (Muddy Waters) classic "Rock Me Baby". We never do find out who the Brass Section is on one of the album's highlights - "Queen Of Hearts Blues" - and the delightfully titled "Buffalo Billycan" is surely the masterpiece 45-single Syd's version of Sixties Pink Floyd never made. 

For sure this kind of Psych and Freakbeat will not be everyone's idea of a pleasant punt down the canals of Oxford sipping tea and dreaming of strawberry spongecake. It's a snarler and I'd argue all the more brill for it (there is a reason why some collector parted with four large ones for an album listed at less than half that price). 

"...This is where their progress lies..." wrote Producer Caleb Quaye on the final line of his original 1969 liner notes. Well 51 years on, this unfairly forgotten band and we once-clueless admirers of them and their lone LP have at last progressed some, and we have Grapefruit Records of the UK to thank for it. Well done to all involved and nose bleeds to the rest...

"Living On The Hill: A Danish Underground Trip 1967-1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – featuring Beefeaters, Day Of Phoenix, Burnin' Red Ivanhoe, Young Flowers, The Savage Rose, Alrune Rod, Delta Blues Band, Rainbow Band, Ache, Pan, Blast Furnace, Culpeper's Orchard, The Old Man & The Sea, Midnight Sun, Thor's Hammer, Secret Oyster, Hurdy Gurdy and Dr. Dopo Jam (October 2020 UK Esoteric Recordings 3CD Clamshell Mini Box Set – Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 324 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
CADENCE / CASCADE 

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

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08GLMMD1G&asins=B08GLMMD1G&linkId=ccc05d0a558bd20f7bae4f185bded575&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Mind Movies..."

I like to pride myself on knowledge when it comes to music (I used to run the Mail Order and Rarities department in Reckless Records London, a busy joint in the West End of London) - but I'd admit openly that looking at the band names on this extraordinary trawl through Denmark's underground music scene between 1967 and 1974 - I know only five of these wildly obscure bands - Day Of Phoenix, The Savage Rose, Burnin' Red Ivanhoe, Hurdy Gurdy and Midnight Sun - all of whom had limited UK albums releases - and I do mean ltd. 

I mention this because collectors of Sixties and Seventies Underground and beyond should be looking at this 3CD Clamshell Mini Box Set as a torch light shone under a very, very dark bush indeed. Know these acts - I can barely pronounce most of the titles of their songs. And I can tell you now that the album covers repro'd in the typically cool 36-page booklet that accompanies Esoteric's "Living On The Hill..." are not exactly growing on Record Fair trees. 

Content - Esoteric Recordings of the UK have once again dug deep and trumped up European LPs and 45-single goodies on Sonet Records, Polydor, Parlophone and Philips – stuff we've either forgotten and didn't know existed in any musical universe. So, onwards and backwards my hairy children of Thor's big Hammer (if you know what I'm saying)... 

UK released Friday, 30 October 2020 - "Living On The Hill: A Danish Underground Trip 1967-1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC32733 (Barcode 5013929473386) is a 3CD Clamshell Mini Box Set that plays out as follows: 

CD1 The Savage Rose pictured on the card sleeve (78:52 minutes): 

1. Night Flight - BEEFEATERS (from the 1967 Danish LP "Beef Eaters" on Sonet SLPS 1242)

2. Tell Me - DAY OF PHOENIX (A-side of a 1968 Danish 45-single on Sonet T 7255, a Dave Cousins of The Strawbs cover version)

3. Ouverture/Take Warning - YOUNG FLOWERS (from the 1968 Danish LP "Blomsterpistolen" on Sonet Records SLPS 1258)

4. Long Before I Was Born - THE SAVAGE ROSE (from the 1968 Danish LP "In The Plain" on Polydor SLP HM 46 292)

5. Ksilioy - BURNIN' RED IVANHOE (from the 1969 Danish 2LP-set "M 144" on Sonet Records SLPS 1512)

6. Natskyggevej - ALRUNE ROD (from the 1969 Danish LP "Alrune Rod" on Sonet Records SLPS 1516)

7. Kragerne Vender - YOUNG FLOWERS (from the 1969 Danish LP "No. Two" on Sonet Records SLPS 1511)

8. Opus 1 - DELTA BLUES BAND (from the 1969 Danish LP "Delta Blues Band" on Parlophone E 062-37038)

9. Wide Open N-Way - DAY OF THE PHOENIX (from the 1970 Danish LP "Wide Open N-Way" on Sonet Records SLPS 1519 - reissued 1971 in the UK with altered track listing on Greenwich Gramophone Company GSLP-R 1002)

10. B.M. - RAINBOW BAND (from the 1970 Danish LP "Rainbow Band" on Sonet Records SLPS 1523)

11. Jingle Jangle Man - BURNIN' RED IVANHOE (1969 Recording, No Details)

CD2 Culpeper's Orchard pictured on the card sleeve (79:41 minutes):

1. De Homine Urbano - ACHE (from the 1970 Danish LP "De Homine Urbano" on Philips PY 841 906)

2. To Get Along - PAN (from the 1970 Danish LP "Pan" on Sonet Records SLPS 1518)

3. Rainbow Song - RAINBOW BAND (from the 1970 Danish LP "Rainbow Band" on Sonet Records SLPS 1523)

4. Toytown - BLAST FURANCE (from the 1971 Danish LP "Blast Furnace" on Polydor 2380 013)

5. Mountain Music (Part One) - CULPEPER'S ORCHARD (from the 1971 Danish LP "Culpeper's Orchard" on Polydor 2380 006)

6. Living Dead - THE OLD MAN & THE SEA (from the 1972 Danish LP "The Old Man And The Sea" on Sonet Records SLPS 1539)

7. Tapiola - THE SAVAGE ROSE (from the 1971 Danish LP "Your Daily Gift" on Polydor 2380 004)

8. Living On The Hill - RAINBOW BAND/MIDNIGHT SUN (from the 1971 Danish LP "Midnight Sun" on Sonet Records SLPS 1523)

9. Shadow Of A Gypsy - ACHE (August 1970 45 and also from the 1971 Danish LP "Green Man" on Philips Records 6318 005) 

CD3 Burnin' Red Ivanhoe pictured on the card sleeve (78:36 minutes):

1. Equatorial Rain - ACHE (from the 1971 Danish LP "Green Man" on Philips Records 6318 005) 

2. Avez Vous Kaskelainen? - BURNIN' RED IVANHOE (from the 1971 Danish LP "W.W.W." on Sonet records SLPS 1530 - UK-issued by John Peel's British label in 1971 on Dandelion 2310 145)

3. Paradox - DAY OF PHOENIX (from the 1972 Danish LP "The Neighbour's Son" on Sonet SLPS 1549)

4. A La Turca - MIDNIGHT SUN (from the 1972 Danish LP "Walking Circles" on Sonet SLPS 1536)

5. Mexico - THOR'S HAMMER (from the 1971 Danish LP "Thor's Hammer" on Metronome 15412)

6. Ginger Cake - BLAST FURNACE (from the 1971 Danish LP "Blast Furnace" on Polydor 2380 013)  

7. Going Blind - THE OLD MAN & THE SEA (from the 1972 Danish LP "The Old Man And The Sea" on Sonet Records SLPS 1539)

8. Fire And Water - SECRET OYSTER (from the 1973 Danish LP "Secret Oyster" on CBS Records CBS 65769)

9. Lost In The Jungle - HURDY GURDY (from the 1971 Danish and 1972 UK LP "Hurdy Gurdy" on CBS Records S 64871)

10. Spring Theme - Summer Theme - Dr. DOPO JAM (from the 1973 Danish LP "Entree" on Zebra 2949 007)

11. Classified Ads - CULPEPER'S ORCHARD (from the 1972 Danish LP "Second Sight" on Polydor 2380 018)

12. Mind Movie - SECRET OYSTER (from the 1974 Danish LP "Sea Son" on CBS Records S 80489)

A glossy clamshell mini box set houses three singular picture card-sleeves and a chunky 36-page booklet stuffed to the European tariffs with factoids, rare album cover art and peace sign photos of bands that rarely get a foot into any discography. Head honcho MARK POWELL has annotated this set with each artist and their recording history examined in alphabetical order - their country's counterculture explored and explained too. The genres work their way up from late 60ts Ten Years After swirling Blues Rock into wildly un-commercial Pop and more. But it is early 70ts Euro Prog Rock that dominates, some Psych guitars, Jazz flute and saxophones joining the proceedings on many occasions – with most tracks reassuringly long (as you can see from above, the near 80-minutes playing time of each CD is generous too). 

BEN WISEMAN has remastered the original tapes that concentrate a lot on Sonet Records and its eclectic output. I had expected wildly varying soundstages, and sure enough some of the tracks on CD1 betray crude productions. But as it progresses, the sound gets stronger and better. Wiseman has an enviable resume when it comes to transferring these kinds of recordings and like Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham (other top Audio Engineers), is a name I find I can rely on. It is so here. To the savage roses...

Farfisa Organ and grungy Guitar combine to open "Night Flight" by Beefeaters on CD1 – a shortish instrumental that features some gibberish spoken-words as it whirls to its homemade finish. Next up is Day Of Phoenix who is given two shots on Disc One. Back in September 2012, Esoteric CD-reissued their Danish LP "Wide Open N-Way" with Ben Wiseman Remasters (from original tapes) that tagged on both sides of their rare 45-single "Tell Me" b/w "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" as Bonus Tracks to ECLEC 2331 (Barcode 5013929433144). Both 7" single sides were covers - the A being a Dave Cousins song from the first Strawbs LP in 1969 with a famous Randy Newman track on the B. This Box Set returns to the A-side of the single first and then later on the lengthy "Wide Open N-Way" album title track. The eleven and a half minute title track is a tad meandering but in its better moments at times also feels like early Kraut Rock. Produced by Colosseum's Tony Reeves (later with Greenslade too) - "Wide Open N-Way" was also one of only a handful of Danish LPs issued in the UK (early 1971 saw it pressed on Chapter 1's Progressive Rock imprint label Greenwich Gramophone Company in a slightly altered track form). So along with Burnin' Red Ivanhoe - Day Of Phoenix have at least been seen by British genre fans from time to time in record shop racks and their tune here is a highlight. 

Young Flowers do a nightmarish Psych drone intro for "Ouverture/Take Warning" that quickly becomes a cool Rock groove, their album title "Blomsterpistolen" being Danish for 'Flower Pistols'. Anisette Hansen and her distinctive lead vocals for The Savage Rose comes on like Grace Slick's slightly demented younger sister – while the intriguing mishmash of styles displayed by Burnin' Red Ivanhoe encompasses American Harmony Vocals and Blodwyn Pig via Flute Rock. Members of The Maxwells and Burnin' Red Ivanhoe joined Young Flowers for the Kraut Rock drone of "Kragerne Vender". Not sure I thought much of the plodding Thor's Hammer song, strangulated vocals ahoy. 

One of Denmark's most respected underground groups Rainbow Band - would eventually morph into Midnight Sun as a Canadian act of the same name forced a change in moniker. Rainbow Band/Midnight Sun's four cuts across the three CDs are more than warranted, their genuinely brilliant and cool "B.M." sounding not unlike Pentangle with its heavy reliance on double-bass and Jazz floating rhythms. And you can so hear why their two British MCA Records albums "Midnight Sun" and "Walking Circles" from 1971 and 1972 (complete with Roger Dean artwork) are worth so much dosh. 

Disc 2 mellows down the mood a lot with the Hammond M3 Organ sound of Ache soon joined by fuzzed-up guitars while Pan could be Spooky Tooth meets the more trippy ethereal Blues side of John Mayall circa "Bare Wires" or "Blues From laurel Canyon". And despite the industrial warehouse cauldron of a name, Blast Furnace feels like a mid-tempo Wishbone Ash love song, Neils Vangkilde giving it some superb treated guitar until its fade-out ending. The Old Man And The Sea LP reputedly saw only 500 copies pressed by an unsure Sonet Records – hence the uber-rare cover art of a shark with its jaws on display on Page 26 of the booklet is a new one on me. And on the strength of the Grateful Dead meets Budgie track by Culpeper's Orchard on Disc 3 (Cy Nicklin on guitar), I'm looking forward to Esoteric's "Mountain Music: The Polydor Recordings 1971-1973" vaults reissue on the Danish band come 26 November 2020. And on it goes...

For sure I was expecting this listen to be arduous and perhaps too doomy for my aging tastes, but it wasn't. And furthermore, I am certain that lovers of 60ts and 70ts Psych, Euro Prog, Jazz Rock and even the trippy side of Blues Rock are going to love the discoveries offered in here. I know this sort of Prog and Jazz Rock won't be everyone's cup of herbal tea, but you absolutely have to say that Esoteric have done it again – finding gems on that yellow brick road of old we should give a second look at. 

Want a bit of Alrune's Rod shoved up your Kragerne Vender by Dr. Dopo's Jam - then look no further my fluffy friends (now isn't that a comforting thought)...

"Bubblerock Is Here To Stay! The British Pop Explosion 1970-1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – featuring David Essex, The Sweet, Middle Of The Road, Bay City Rollers, Mungo Jerry, Lieutenant Pigeon, White Plains, Harmony Grass, Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs, Blue Mink, Marmalade, Kenny, Bill Fay, Peter Skellern, Millie, pre 10cc groups with Kevin Godley - Graham Gouldman and Lol Crème - Hotlegs - Festival - Grumble and more, The Tremeloes, Pickettywitch, Fumble, Paintbox, Piglets, Sparky, Pluto, Jonathan King – Pseudonym Acts and UK Records, Fickle Pickle, Design, Pete Dello, Flanelcat and more (October 2020 UK Grapefruit Records 3CD Capacity Wallet with Card Sleeve Artwork and Booklet – Simon Murphy Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 290+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

REASON TO BELIEVE

Classic Rock and Beyond 

1970 to 1974 - Volume 2 of 2 

Artists from M to Z 

Exceptional CD Remasters

Just Click Below To Purchase for £4.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B086VQBG78&asins=B086VQBG78&linkId=65f8e1ff844fb101a5710229b9b601a1&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Don't Stick Stickers On My Paper Knickers..."

Fab 208, Pan's People, Ray Dorset's humungous sideburns, British DJs Dave Lee Travis and Kid Jensen with equally bulbous headphones grinning like Marty Feldman as they plug the latest 45-hitmaker, The Sweet in a wigwam bam, Lead Vocalist Sally Car of Middle Of The Hot in her Hot Pants (oh yes), The Bay City Rollers dreaming of shortbread, midriffs and tartan scarves and those earnest Strawberry Studios geezers in 10cc pre Rubber Bullets and The Wall Street Shuffle - God bless em all!

My fellow-sufferer/reviewer of all things Pop and Rock – The Punk Panther - has called this fascinating October 2020 3CD 85-Track trawl through the whiffy lavatories of English bubblegum rock (and other suchlike horrors) both appalling and thrilling at one and the same time. And you know what, I think the erudite lad has it nailed. I was kind of dreading this 1970 to 1973 pop-light listen (and I was right too in some cases), but then something weird happened – tune discoveries, an open mind and several bottles of paint-stripping Grappa convinced me otherwise. 

Grapefruit Records has built up a rep amongst bonkers-collectors and ancient aficionados like moi and "Bubblerock Is Here To Stay! The British Pop Explosion 1970-1973" is surely a good example as to why. Having said that, I can't in all honesty say that everything here is going tickle many fancies. But it will make anyone who was there for those first four astonishing years of the Seventies smile and occasionally even move them. The 1971 original of Mungo Jerry's "Lady Rose" on that Dawn Records EP for instance is quite rightly featured because it isn't dismissive cack – "Lady Rose" is perfectly lovely melodic harmonica-shuffling Pop that crosses over into the Rock genre (a nugget you overlooked). And I found quite a few more similar veins like that (the wickedly good pre 10cc band called Festival and the Northern Soul vibe of Brenda Arnau). 

So let's get to the Neanderthal Man, Groove with Mr. Bloe and lay it on Johnny Reggae (Reggae) - you big girl's blouse...

UK released Friday, 30 October 2020 - "Bubblerock Is Here To Stay! The British Pop Explosion 1970-1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Grapefruit Records CRSEG080T (Barcode 5013929188020) is a 3CD Capacity Wallet set of 85 Remastered Tracks and plays out as follows: 

CD1 (79:14 minutes):
1. Groovin' With Mr. Bloe - MR. BLOE (March 1970 UK 45-single on DJM Records DJS 216, A)
2. It's The Same Old Song - THE WEATHERMEN (December 1970 UK 45-single on B&C Records CB 139, A)
3. The Banner Man - BLUE MINK (June 1971 UK 45-single on Regal Zonophone RZ 3034, A)
4. Come On Around - PAINTBOX (October 1972 UK 45-single on President PT 384, A)
5. 17 - SIMON TURNER (November 1972 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 20, A)
6. That Same Old Feeling - PICKETTYWITCH (January 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17887, A)
7. Friend Of Mine - Dr. MARIGOLD'S (April 1972 UK 45-single on CBS Records 7986, A)
8. Feedback - MAJORITY ONE (from the July 1971 Italian LP "Majority One" on Jolly LPJ 5109) 
9. Pollution - GINGERBREAD (April 1971 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45054, A)
10. Neanderthal Man - HOTLEGS (June 1970 UK 45-single on Fontana 6007 019, A)
11. I Fought The Law - POSSE (November 1973 UK 45-single on Santa Ponsa PNS 9, A)
12. Alexander Park (Palisades Park) - FUMBLE (July 1973 UK 45-single on Sovereign SDV 121, A)
13. Emma Louise - STUD LEATHER (February 1973 UK 45-single on Dart ART 2024, A)
14. Circus Girl - CLIFFORD T. WARD (from the September 1972 UK LP "Singer Songwriter" on Dandelion 2310 216)
15. My Little One - THE MARMALADE (February 1971 UK 45-single on Decca F 13135, A)
16. Gay Girl - JONATHAN KING (August 1970 UK 45-single on Decca F 13069, B-side of "Cherry, Cherry")
17. Dirty Old Man - LIEUTENANT PIGEON (from the February 1973 UK LP "Mouldy Old Music" on Decca SKL 5154)
18. Summer Feeling - PAUL GABRIEL (June 1972 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 3, A)
19. Tawny Wood - THE ANSWERS (January 1972 UK 45-single on Spark Records SRL 1058, B-side to "Give Me All That I Need")
20. My Little Girl - AUTUMN (August 1971 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45090, A, a Harmony Grass cover version)
21. Hello, Hello, Hello - STORMY PETREL (June 1971 UK 45-single on CBS Records 7271, A)
22. Turn Me On - THE MATCHMAKERS (from the April 1971 UK LP "Bubblegum A-Go-Go" on Chapter One CMS-R 1004)
23. Sha La Ley - THE SECRETS (November 1972 UK 45-single on Spark SRL 1083, A)
24. Hello Goodbye - SPARROW [featuring Elaine Paige] (April 1971 UK 45-single on Spark SRL 1052, A)
25. Travellin' Man - TRISTAR AIRBUS (January 1972 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2170, B-side to "Willie Morgan" - B-side "Travellin' Man" written by Graham Gouldman and features most of 10cc as the backing band)
26. Sunday Girl - DUNNO (November 1971 UK 45-single on M and M Records FFMS 10013, A)
27. Top Ten Record - RICK PRICE (January 1971 UK 45-single on Gemini GMS 017, A)
28. Leap Up And Down - ST. CECELIA (April 1971 UK 45-single on Polydor 2058 104, A)

CD2 (79:41 minutes):
1. Johnny Reggae - THE PIGLETS (October 1971 UK 45-single on Bell BLL 1180, A)
2. Dreams Are Ten A Penny - KINCADE (September 1972 UK 45-singl eon Penny Farthing PEN 796, A)
3. Wig-Wam Bam - THE SWEET (September 1972 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2260, A)
4. I Like It That Way - THE TREMELOES (May 1972 UK 45-single on CBS Records CBS 8048, A)
5. It Ain't Easy - THE SAD (November 1971 UK 45-single on Phoenix NIX 124, A)
6. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow? - TINA HARVEY (September 1973 US 45-single on UK Records 45-49016, A - a Rolling Stones cover)
7. Baby Walk Back - GUMM (November 1970 UK 45-single on M and M Records FFM 10001, A)
8. Popsicles And Icicles - THE ANGELETTES (August 1972 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 11, A)
9. Da Doo Ron Ron - GRUMBLE (June 1973 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2384, A - a Crystals cover)
10. Big Fat Oranguman - JUNGLE JIM (August 1971 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45092, A)
11. Loop Of Love - SHAG (August 1972 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 7, A)
12. Don't Stick Stickers On My Paper Knickers - X-CERTIFICATE (September 1973 UK 45-single on Spark SRL 1096, A)
13. Mayfair - MILLIE (March 1970 UK 45-single Trojan TR 7744, A)
14. On The Dole - ARTHUR'S MOTHER (March 1971 UK 45-single on Polydor 2058 093, A)
15. When You Are A King - WHITE PLAINS (May 1971 UK 45-single on Deram DM 333, A)
16. Cowboy Convention - CALIFORNIA BREAKMEN (April 1972 UK 45-single on M and M Records FFMS 10016, A)
17. Lady Rose - MUNGO JERRY (May 1971 UK 45-single 4-Track EP on Dawn DNX 2510, Track 1, Side A)
18. Sweet Water - JEFF ASTLE (November 1971 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2147, A)
19. Cecilia - HARMONY GRASS (February 1970 UK 45-single on RCA Records RCA 1932, A - a Simon & Garfunkel cover)
20. It's My Party - BUBBLEROCK (from the August 1972 UK LP "Bubblerock Is Here To Stay!" on UK Records UKA 1 – a Leslie Gore cover)
21. Rupert - JACKIE LEE (November 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45003, A)
22. Crickets - PETER COWAP (July 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17976, A)
23. Rag-A-Bone Joe - PLUTO (October 1971 UK 45-single on Dawn DNS 1017, A)
24. Round And Round - RICKY WILDE (February 1973 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 28, a Marty Wilde song and B-side of "April Love")
25. Come Into My Heart - RUSTY HARNESS (November 1970 UK 45-single on Ember EMBS 295, A)
26. Warm Me - FESTIVAL (October 1972 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2275, A)
27. She Left I Died - TERRY DACTYL & THE DINOSAURS (May 1973 UK 45-single on UK Records UK R 39, A)
28. Hang On Sloopy - SAKKARIN - (July 1971 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2107, A - a McCoys cover)

CD3 (79:46 minutes):
1. Suspicion - VIVIAN STANSHALL and GARGANTUAN CHUMS (December 1970 UK 45-single on Fly Records BUG 4, A - an Elvis Presley cover - 'chums' included Keith Moon and John Entwistle of The Who)
2. Golden Oldie Show - STARDUST (August 1973 UK 45-single on Sonet 2036, A)
3. I Can't Hide - BILL FAY - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded 1972)
4. Harry The Earwig - PETE DELLO & FRIENDS (from the July 1971 UK LP "Into Your Eyes” on Nepantha 6437 001)
5. The Rolly Pole Coaster - BUGGY (February 1970 UK 45-single on Parlophone R 5832, A)
6. I Want To Go Back There Again - (BRENDA) B.J. ARNAU (January 1972 UK 45-single on Mojo 2092 028, A - Berry Gordy song, Chris Clark cover)
7. The Jet Song (When The Weekend's Over) - DESIGN (April 1971 UK 45-single on Epic EPC S 7119, A)
8. Lamplight - DAVID ESSEX (November 1973 UK 45-single on CBS Records S 1902, A)
9. California Calling - FICKLE PICKLE (November 1971 Dutch 45-single on Negram DEX 03, A)
10. My Sweet Potato - BUTTERWICK (February 1972 UK 45-single on MAM Records MAM 63, A)
11. You Got A Good Thing - TOUCHWOOD (March 1972 UK 45-single on Ember EMBS 314, A)
12. Jennifer Please - GARY WARREN (August 1971 UK 45-single on President PT 344, A)
13. Keep On Dancing - BAY CITY ROLLERS (June 1971 UK 45-single on Bell Records BLL 1164, A)
14. Hello Blinkers - KEV and LOL (Original 1970 Release, Uncredited Promo-Only 45 on Inter City/Strawberry Studios IC 1215)
15. Our Jackie's Getting Married - PETER SKELLERN (November 1972 UK 45-single on Decca F 13360, A)
16. Nursery Lane - CHRISTYAN (November 1972 UK 45-single on Decca F 13275, A - featuring David Paton and Billy Lyall pre formation of Pilot)
17. Today - RICH TEA (September 1972 UK 45-single on Dart ART 2014, B-side of "Sing Me, Swing Me")
18. Samson And Delilah - MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (June 1972 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 2237, A)
19. You Gotta Have It Sometime - SPARKY (October 1972 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 16, B-side of "(Do You Remember That) Summertime Woman?")
20. Who Is The Doctor? - JON PERTWEE (November 1972 UK 45-single on Purple Records PUR 111, A - features Rupert Hine)
21. Timothy Jones - ROD THOMAS (May 1972 UK 45-single on Cube records BUG 19, A)
22. Today's A Tomorrow - CRUSH (June 1973 UK 45-single on Santa Ponsa PNS 3, A)
23. Don't You Know (She Said Hello) - BUTTERSCOTCH (March 1970 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1937, A)
24. Heart Of Stone - KENNY (January 1973 UK 45-single on RAK Records RAK 144, A)
25. Living Right Next Door To An Angel - SUMMER WINE (March 1973 UK 45-single on Philips 6006 238, A)
26. Beep Beep - THE BUMBLES (June 1972 UK 45-single on Purple Records PUR 107, A - featuring David Curtiss of Curtiss Maldoon and John Cann of Atomic Rooster and Hard Stuff)
27. Drivin' Drivin' - HIGH NOON (May 1970 UK 45-single on CBS Records S 4972, A)
28. Yer Big Girl's Blouse - FLANELCAT (March 1973 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 33, A - by Mike Hugg of Manfred Mann)
29. Bubblerock Is Here To Stay - BUBBLEROCK (September 1972 UK 45-single on UK Records UK 14, B-side of "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock") - Jonathan King using a Pseudonym

Some have decried Grapefruit for abandoning the glossy 'clamshell mini box set' format and instead lumbering us with what is now called a 'capacity wallet' - a sort of thin card slipcase housing (in this case) individual card sleeves (generous playing times too in all three cases, a snip below 80-minutes) and a 40-page booklet (see photos provided). I'm easy one-way or the other, but for sure the clamshell box is sturdier and feels more substantial. Still, let's deal with what we do have. 

DAVID WELLS has done stunning liner notes before, packed with info and titbits that amaze and make you giggle into the bargain. Here DW digs deeper still, providing individual entries for each song sat alongside the photo displays that are both awesome. Speaking of displays in the booklet. As you can see from the listings above, each CD is largely made up of UK 7" singles and as anyone knows, most only came with label bags - UK Records, CBS, Decca, RCA Victor and so on. In order to provide visuals, someone has sought out those rare 'Euro' variants almost all of which came with exclusive pic sleeves of the bands/artists – the kind of shots collectors love. On top of that you are treated to period photos of 'Look In' magazine, sheet music for "Neanderthal Man" by Hotlegs (pre 10cc) and snaps of both the ladies in the audience of 'Top Of The Pops' and Pan's People as a trio posing in gold lame on its stage (Louise Clark, Babs Lord and Dee Dee Wilde looking hotter than a pepper sprout).  

Some of this stuff is funny and even plain weird. Little will prepare you for the shot of both The Who's Keith Moon and The Bonzo's Vivian Stanshall dressed up in Nazi uniforms to promote a Christmas single in 1970 (well of course they were) or the cherubic nice-tie and haircut teen Gary Warren sat straight-faced by the demonically-bearded Catweazle from the popular British TV show (Warren was literally one of The Railway Children in that Jennifer Agutter film) about to sing a B-side penned by the writer of Psych classics for City Smoke and Orange Seaweed. 
And if that wasn't enough, on disc 2, the playlist veers into rude innuendo and Benny Hill smut when X Certificate urges you to "Don't Stick Stickers On My Paper Knickers" while "My Boy Lollipop" Millie poses literally in the buff for her "Mayfair" 45. Disappointingly (and I know many will weep over this) - St. Cecilia's loose undergarments tune "Leap Up And Down" on CD1 where the picture sleeve is them literally in oversized underpants (apparently knickers was a very funny word in the early 70ts) – have been denied their topical follow-up "C'mon Ma (Burn Your Bra)" on this naughty clotheshorse of a compilation - a devastating blow I think you'll agree. What japes indeed! 

The 40-page booklet to "Bubblerock Is Here To Stay! The British Pop Explosion 1970-1973" is a fantastic and varied read, absolutely crammed to the gunnels with factoids that throw light onto artists and their tangled career trees. The SIMON MURPHY masters are a mixed bag of the good, the great and the just so-so. But I was so busy enjoying myself (or not) to notice audio compromises in such a huge number of acts. To the music...

CD1 opens strongly with the crowd-pleasing instrumental "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" – the kind of cool tune that ends up in movies. But there are horrors lurking too – The Weathermen doing an insipid cover of The Four Tops Motown hit "It's The Same Old Song", the teen mulch that is "17" by Simon Turner and Jonathan King doing "Gay Girl" (oh dear). Discoveries and clever inclusions include a European LP-only track from Majority One and cracking songs from Stormy Petrel and Paintbox. Great Pop too from The Secrets and the lovely "Tawny Wood" by an obscure group called The Answers. And it still amazes me to think that the pre 10cc half-hearted seaside shuffle of "Neanderthal man" shifted over two million copies. 

We enter the world of the musically bizarre with Disc 2 where Nick Drake fans will find out that an unissued song of his called "Mayfair" was brought by his ace arranger Robert Kirby to Millie (of My Boy Lollipop fame) who then Reggae-fied it into a surprisingly dull effort on Trojan Records (God this is wrong on so many levels). With regard to the fab unsung hero that is Robert Kirby - see my review for the Ace Records CD compilation "When The Day Is Done - The Orchestrations Of Robert Kirby" (use Barcode 029667088022 to locate it). 

Jonathan King, his pseudonym bands and the UK Records label in general appear across all the discs - Shag, Sakkarin, Bubblerock and opening CD2 is the right tasty geezer Mavis of "Johnny Reggae" – a great deal more fun than I remember it. Productions values jump leaps and bounds for The Hollies meets The Moody Blues acoustic Rock of Kincade and their excellent "Dreams Are Ten A Penny". Discoveries include a creepy re-working of the Stones drug-tune "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?" by Tina Harvey, the wife who finds it hard to live with her bisexual husband in "It Ain't Easy" by The Sad (the BBC banned it for a while), and again the voices and productions of Gouldman and Crème in "Crickets" by Peter Cowap. Speaking of that band – the Festival tune "Warm Me" is such a hit but again didn’t make it. Neither here nor there looms large too in the West Bromwich Albion centre-forward come singer Jeff Astle or the awful "Rupert" by Jackie Lee. 

By the time we get to Disc 3, a case of diminishing returns and patience testing kicks in big time with tripe like Buggy or Pete Dello or Butterwick or Touchwood. But there is fun in the guitar pop of the Rich Tea B-side, the second 45 from David Essex "Lamplight" is welcome too (even if it borrows from a Leon Russell tune), and the lovely cover of the Berry Gordy-written Chris Clark tune "I Want To Go Back There Again" by B. J. Arnau – is a surprisingly sweet Northern Soul vibe in a compilation a million miles away from such things. Jon Pertwee tells Dr. Who fans "...through the cosmic waste, the Tardis flies..." in his distinctive and cool voice on "Who Is The Doctor?” while Design has those, Rotary Connection meets The Association harmonies on the go in a rather good tune called "The Jet Song..."

For sure, Grapefruit could be accused of trying to hold-in the fat belly of Seventies pop-light detritus with "Bubblerock Is Here To Stay! The British Pop Explosion 1970-1973", when they should lock it all up in a nuclear bunker and never let it out again for fear of contamination of vulnerable younger minds. But isn't that half the fun?

Where is a musical Playtex Girdle when you need one – right here baby...in a Capacity Wallet...

"Hamish Imlach/Before And After/Hamish Imlach Live!/The Two Sides Of Hamish Imlach + Bonus Tracks" by HAMISH IMLACH – Four Albums from 1966, 1967 and 1968 and a 1966 Stand-Alone 45-Single – Guests Included Bobby Campbell of The Exiles, Oscar St. Cyr, Clive Palmer (of The Incredible String Band), Ray Warleigh of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and John Stevens' Away, Martin Fry of The Temperance Seven, John McKinnon of Madder Lake and Archie Fisher of The Fisher Family (May 2020 UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 4LPs onto 2CDs Plus Two Bonus Tracks – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review And 212 Others Is Available In My AMAZON E-Book 

 

BOTH SIDES NOW

FOLK & COUNTRY MUSIC

And Rock Genres Thereabouts

Your Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

For the 1960s and 1970s

All Reviews In-Depth and from the Discs Themselves

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08FFVZKH7&asins=B08FFVZKH7&linkId=eb23bbcba447d1fd50617da642401b60&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Street Songs..."

Born in India to Scottish parents but raised as a something of a street brat in Glasgow from the age of 13 with passions for the local working class and their struggles – the huge-framed Folk and Comedy troubadour HAMISH IMLACH sees his first four albums for Transatlantic's XTRA Records reissued here in a generous twofer package. 

Lobbing on two Bonus Tracks on CD2 – you get rare Folk LPs from 1966, 1967 and 1968 (three studio and one live) Remastered and card slip-cased by England's Beat Goes On Records (BGO) alongside his stand-alone debut UK 45-single from early 1966 "I'm The Boy To Freeze 'Em" b/w "Scottish Breakaway" on Transatlantic Records TRA SP 11. 

Very much in a Scottish tradition of wit, trade unions and hometown misery – you get tales of 37 buses, clapped out bangers and hornary moggies from Dundee. Underappreciated nationally yet prolific nonetheless, by the time Scotland's Imlach passed from health issues in 1996, he had released some 20 albums and mentored a young Billy Connolly in the ways of a ribald raconteur. Here are the Cod Liver Oil Coppers, Plaidie Bonny Lasses and Drumboe Whiskey Devils (if you know what I’m saying)...

UK released Friday, 22 May 2020 - "Hamish Imlach/Before And After/Hamish Imlach Live!/The Two Sides Of Hamish Imlach + Bonus Tracks" by HAMISH IMLACH on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1414 (Barcode 5017261214140) offers Four Folk LPs Remastered onto 2CDs with Two 45-Single Stand-Alone Tracks as Bonuses. It plays out as follows: 

CD1 (69:50 minutes):
1. Johnny O'Breadislee [Side 1]
2. Man Of Knoydart 
3. The Zoological Gardens
4. Street Songs 
5. Cod Liver Oil And Orange Juice
6. The Gaudie 
7. If It Wasn't For The Unions [Side 2]
8. The Cumbie Boys 
9. Erin Go Bragh 
10. The Soldier's Prayer 
11. Black Is The Colour 
12. Foggy Due 
Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Hamish Imlach" - released 1966 on XTRA Records XTRA 1039. Produced by NATHAN JOSEPH – Hamish Imlach on Guitar and Vocals (reissued in March 1977 on Transatlantic TRA SAM 43 with the same title). 

13. Tall Tale [Side 1]
14. Ramensky 
15. The Copper's Song
16. The Klan
17. MacPherson's Farewell
18. Candy Man 
19. The 37 Bus [Side 2]
20. I Am A Miller 
21. The Castle Of Drumboe 
22. The Dundee Cat
23. Sporting Life 
Tracks 13 to 23 are his second studio album "Before And After" – released 1967 in the UK on XTRA Records XTRA 1059. Produced by NATHAN JOSEPH – Hamish Imlach on Guitar and Vocals with Bobby Campbell of The Exiles on Fiddle and Oscar St. Cyr on Mandola and Concertina. 

CD2 (75:57 minutes):
1. I Was A Gay Spark In My Time [Side 1]
2. Whisky You're The Devil 
3. Early Morning Blues 
4. The Ballad Of Timothy Evans 
5. It's Better In The Dark 
6. Campbell [Side 2]
7. Castlereagh 
8. The Wind Blew The Bonnie Lassie's Plaidie Awa'
9. Paddy Lay Back 
Tracks 1 to 9 are his third album "Hamish Imlach Live!" - released 1967 in the UK on XTRA Records XTRA 1050. Produced by NATHAN JOSEPH – Hamish Imlach on Guitar and Vocals. 

10. Jean Harlow (Died The Other Day - Several Times) [Side 1]
11. Clapped Out Motorcar
12. I Got Fooled 
13. Bourgeois Blues
14. The Hurny Bull 
15. The Happiest Day
16. The McGregors [Side 2]
17. Anthony Riley 
18. Deep Elm Blues
19. D Day Dodgers 
20. History Of Football 
21. The Priest And The Minister  
Tracks 10 to 21 are his fourth album (third studio set) "The Two Sides Of Hamish Imlach" - released 1968 in the UK on XTRA Records XTRA 1069. Produced by NATHAN JOSEPH - Hamish Imlach on Guitar and Vocals, Clive Palmer (of The Incredible String Band) on Banjo and Kazoo, Ray Warleigh of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and John Stevens' Away on Flute, Martin Fry of The Temperance Seven on Tuba, John McKinnon of Madder Lake on Fiddle and Archie Fisher of The Fisher Family on Banjo and Concertina.

BONUS TRACKS:
22. I'm The Boy To Freeze 'Em 
23. Scottish Breakaway 
Tracks 22 and 23 are the A&B-sides of his stand-alone 45-single debut from 1966 on Transatlantic Records TRA SP 11. "Scottish Breakaway" was featured on "The Hamish Imlach Sampler" LP in 1969 on Transatlantic TRA SAM 9.

The card slipcase lends these BGO reissues that touch of visual specialness while JOHN O'REGAN does his usual classy and in-depth liner notes on the man's larger than life persona. The artwork photos for the four LPs along with their respective liner notes of the day (if any) are reproduced in the booklet (the song-by-song credits are on the rear of the card sleeve). Politics, the oppression of the poor and roots sometimes-un-PC comedy is never far from Imlach's lips - Scottish crofters and desperate but brave Robin Hood types stealing deer from the King's land to feed their children. In-between we get jabs at Prime Ministers, covers of Leadbelly's "Bourgeois Blues", tales of tours with Planxty and The Dubliners in Ireland, all the way up to the inevitable heartbreak of a lass who took some wee laddie's heart in tunes like "Black Is The Colour" (the cheeky moo). 

Long-time Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON has done the 2020 Remasters from original tapes and these primarily Acoustic analogue recordings sound gorgeous - rattling six-strings and self-effacing humour echoing around your speakers. Let's get to the records...

When Imlach came to Scotland as a 13-year old teen in 1953, he had already lived in India's Darjeeling and Australia's Brisbane with his wandering parents. So in some respects it's no surprise that as a 26-year old man in 1966 Glasgow, his XTRA Records debut album is filled with myth and mirth and Folk songs that touch on unrequited love, zoological gardens and trade unions. There is a theme of noble struggle in "Street Songs", "The Cumbie Boys" and "Men Of Knoydart". The bleak acoustic guitar and lone vocal only add to the poignancy. 

The second studio album "Before And After" (and his second in 1967, the sequence of releases in wrong here) adds on two musicians in the shape of Bobby Campbell of The Exiles on Fiddle and Oscar St. Cyr on Mandola and Concertina. It's eleven tracks bring us more vignettes on the clans of Drumboe and dodgy cats in Dundee. There's more than a touch of The Dubliners in the drunken fiddle tune in "MacPherson's Farewell" and big Jimmy on the upper deck on the 37 bus where hairy Mary's boyfriend is kicking up a fuss - a bottle of wine in hand (lost a wad on the dogs). 

When you put his huge personality into a live setting (his first album in 1967), it all comes to life. Jokes like whenever a baby was born, a man left town, and this is why the village kept its population at the same number. "Early Morning Blues" sees our hero made sore by his baby - leaving and ain't coming back anymore. But there is also pathos in "The Wind Blew Bonnie Lassie's Plaidie Awa'" and it was a smart move for album number four to up the ante musician wise – Jug-band music in "Jean Harlow..." and the ceilidh round the fireside hoot to "History Of Football". 

This kind of barroom-brawling history-remembering Folk is an acquired taste, truth be told, and at times you just wish Imlach had chosen to dig deeper into Traditional ballads where his big voice would have moved instead of forever being dubbed 'the king of entertainment'. 

Still, if you're a fan, this is a must own and a lovely reminder of a great storytelling talent lost...