"Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together" by BUDDY MILES EXPRESS (first two LPs) and BUDDY MILES featuring Jimi Hendrix (Production 2nd LP) and more (January 2022 UK Beat Goes On Compilation - 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Freedom Special..."

 

As of spring 2022 - a full 54-years after the first album event – the rare debut for Buddy Miles and his band Express has remained stubbornly off the digital radar (ease of access that is) for yonks. The only copy available on CD has been Hip-O Select's US card repro sleeve reissue from 2006 on Hip-O Select B0002976-02 (No Barcode), which being a limited edition of only 5000-cipies is long deleted and extortionately priced on the open market.

 

The genuinely fab Rock-Soul-Fusion-Funk "Them Changes" album from 1970 saw the digital light of day in May 2003 out of Universal-Europe on their 'Original Funk Series' of CD reissues too (I've reviewed that release). But to my knowledge – both 1969's "Electric Church" and 1971's "We Got To Live Together" have been absent anywhere and/or very difficult to find in decent audio form.

 

Well at last (albeit it belatedly), Beat Goes On of the UK have done the ex Electric Flag and Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys drummer a solid by lumping four of the six albums he did with Mercury Records together onto 2CDs and Remastering them to mucho cool effect. The presentation is properly tasty too. Let’s get it together with the mind-blowing details...

 

UK released 7 January 2022 (delayed from 5 November 2021) – "Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together" by BUDDY MILES EXPRESS (first two LPs) and BUDDY MILES (last two) on Beat Goes On BGOCD1468 (Barcode 5017261214683) offers 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (71:29 minutes):

1. Train [Side 1]

2. Let Your Lovelight Shine

3. Don't Mess With Cupid

4. Funky Mule

5. You're The One That I Adore [Side 2]

6. Wrap It Up

7. Spot On The Wall

Tracks 1 to 7 are his debut solo album "Expressway To Your Skull" by BUDDY MILES EXPRESS – released November 1968 in the USA on Mercury SR-61196 in Stereo, January 1969 UK on Mercury 20137 SMCL. Produced by LOU REIZNER with liner notes on the rear sleeve by JIMI HENDRIX (doesn't play on the album) – it didn't chart Top 200 in either country. 

 

PLAYERS:

BUDDY MILES [ex Electric Flag and Hendrix's Band Of Gypsys] – Lead Vocals, Drums, Guitar and Organ

JIM McCARTY [of Cactus] – Guitars

BILL McPHERSON and VIRGIL GONSALES – Baritone and Soprano Saxophones and Flute

HERBIE RICH – Organ and Tenor Saxophone

TERRENCE CLEMENTS – Tenor Saxophone

MARCUS DOULBLEDAY – Trumpet and Flugelhorn

BILL RICH – Bass

RON WOODS – Drums 

 

8. Miss Lady [Side 1]

9. 69 Freedom Special 

10. Cigarettes And Coffee 

11. Destructive Love 

12. Texas [Side 2]

13. My Chant 

14. Wrap It Up 

Tracks 8 to 14 are his second studio album "Electric Church" by BUDDY MILES EXPRESS (hence-after credited as Buddy Miles) - released June 1969 in the USA on Mercury SR-61222, October 1969 UK LP on Mercury 20163 SMCL in Stereo. Produced by JIMI HENDRIX (Tracks 8, 9,11 and 13) - ANNE TANSEY Produced Tracks 10, 12 and 14. The Isaac Hayes/David Porter cover version "Wrap It Up" was recorded live at the Fillmore East in NYC, all other tracks studio recordings.

 

BUDDY MILES - Drums and Lead Vocals

JIM McCARTY [of Cactus] - Guitars 

DUANE HITCHINS - Keyboards 

JAMES TATUM, TOBY WYNN and BOBBY ROCK - Saxophones

PETE CARTER and TOM HALL - Trumpets

BILL RICH - Bass

 

CD2 (64:46 minutes):

1. Them Changes [Side 1]

2. I Still Love You Anyway 

3. Hearts Delight 

4. Dreams 

5. Down By The River [Side 2]

6. Memphis Train 

7. Paul B. Allen, Omaha, Nebraska 

8. Your Feeling Is Mine 

Tracks 1 to 8 are his third studio album "Them Changes" by BUDDY MILES - released July 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR-61280, October 1970 UK on Mercury 6338 016 in Stereo. Produced by BUDDY MILES and ROBIN McBRIDE - it peaked at No. 14 on the US R&B LP charts.

 

BUDDY MILES - Drums, Guitars and Lead Vocals 

CHARLIE KARP, MARLO HENDERSON, JIM McCARTY - Guitars  

ANDRE LEWIS and DWAYNE HITCHINS - Keyboards 

MARK WILLIAMS, BOBBY PITTMAN and JAMES TATUM - Saxophones 

PETE CARTER, TOM HALL and LEE ALLEN - Trumpets 

PHIL WOOD - Flugelhorn 

BOB HOGINS - Trombone 

ROLAND ROBINSON and DAVID HULL - Bass

 

9. Runaway Child (Little Miss Nothin') [Side 1]

10. Walking Down The Highway 

11. Easy Greasy 

12. We Got To Live Together [Side 2]

13. Take It Off Him And Put it On Me

Tracks 9 to 13 are his fourth studio album "We Got To Live Together" (credited to BUDDY MILES) - released November 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR-61313, January 1971 UK on Mercury 6338 028. Produced by BUDDY MILES and ROBIN McBRIDE - it peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts. 

 

The outer card slipcase always lends these BGO reissues a look of classiness and the 24-page booklet inside with al artwork and typically in-depth CHARLES WARING liner notes don't disappoint either. But again - the nuts for us musical squirrels comes in the new 2021 Remasters by Beat Goes On's long-standing Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON. Even as the famously distorted grunge guitar of "Train" opens the debut "Expressway" (making you think there's something wrong with your pressing) right up to the fabulous Bloomfield/Miles composition "Texas" on "Electric Church" and on to the twelve-plus-minutes of "Take It Off Him And Put It On Me" - the audio is great - full of life and power and a genuine pleasure to listen to.    

Highlights include the "Don't Mess With Cupid" cover version on CD1 - a funky Willa Parker, Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd song made famous by Otis Redding on Volt Records in 1966, and his own "Easy Greasy" on the never-heard "We Got To Live Together" LP over on CD2. 

 

Other highlights for me include the entirety of the "Them Changes" album - three are BM originals "Them Changes", "Heart's Delight" and a co-write with Andre Lewis on "Paul B. Allen, Omaha, Nebraska". The lovely "I Still Love You, Anyway" is written by band guitarist Charlie Karp. His cover versions are masterfully chosen too and arguably the highlights of the album - a fantastically funky reinterpretation of "Dreams" by The Allman Brothers, "Memphis Train" by Rufus Thomas, "Your Feeling Is Mine" by Otis Redding and a truly brilliant and soulful version of "Down By The River" from Neil Young that never ceased to bring customers to the counter when I worked at Reckless Records in Berwick St. asking - "Who is this!" And there's lots more where they came from.

 

Miles made two other albums for Mercury Records - "A Message To The People" issued April 1971 USA on Mercury SRM 1-608 (June 1971 UK on Mercury 6338 048) and the double-album "Buddy Miles Live" issued October 1971 USA on Mercury SRM-2 7500 (February 1972 UK on Mercury 6641 033) - and I'm suspecting they will be doubled also for BGO's follow up to this cool release. 

 

In the meantime - grab this superb and bountiful Buddy Miles BGO double-digital splurge while you can...and enjoy...

"A Whole New Thing" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE– October 1967 US Debut Album on Epic Records in Stereo – Disc 1 Inside "Original Album Classics" (August 2013 UK/EU Epic/Legacy 5CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet Compilation of Five Albums in Mini LP Repro Artwork with Remasters and Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"A Whole New Thing" from October 1967 on Epic Records

Sly & The Family Stone's Debut Album in Stereo

Remastered Expanded Edition CD by VIC ANESINI

 Inside "Original Album Classics" 

 

"…That Kind Of Person…"

 

First appearing in 2010 in the USA as part of the Sony/Legacy "Original Album Classics" Series of 5CD capacity wallet mini box sets (Cata No. 8869770802) – this 2013 repackaged version is out of Europe and uses different (some would say prettier) artwork and a new catalogue number (88883743022).

 

Although you get a flimsy card slipcase for this capacity wallet (as opposed to the hard card of the original American issues), the best news is that you also get the 2007 BOB IRWIN/VIC ANESINI CD Remasters with all five of the albums retaining their expanded bonus tracks. 

 

In short there's a whole lot of historical Soul and Funk on here for not a lot of wedge (their debut included). Here are the Luv N' Haight details…

 

Euro released August 2013 – "Original Album Classics" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE on Epic/Legacy 88883743022 (Barcode 888837430227) is a 5CD Capacity Wallet Card Slipcase. Disc 1 contains the debut album and breaks down as follows:

 

Disc 1 (56:36 minutes):

1. Underdog [Side 1]

2. If This Room Could Talk

3. Run, Run, Run

4. Turn Me Loose

5. Let Me Hear It From You

6. Advice

7. I Cannot Make It [Side 2]

8. Trip To Your Heart

9. I Hate To Love Her

10. Bad Risk

11. That Kind Of Person

12. Dog

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "A Whole New Thing" – released October 1967 in the USA on Epic LN 24324 (Mono) and BN 26324 (Stereo) – the Stereo mix is used. There was no UK issue of this album.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Underdog (Single Version, Mono) – 1967, USA 7" 45-single on Epic 10229, B-side to "Higher"

14. Let Me Hear It From You (Single Version, Mono) – 1967, USA 7" 45-single on Epic 10256, Non-Album B-side to "Dance To The Music"

15. Only One Way Out Of This Mess

16. What Would I Do

17. You Better Help Yourself (Instrumental)

Track 16 first appeared on the 1997 Legacy remaster of the "A Whole New Thing" album. Tracks 13, 14, 15 and 17 first appeared on the 2007 Legacy Expanded CD remaster of the album.

 

The carp repro sleeves are lovely to look at – especially for the first three upbeat Soul albums and all contain those tasty bonus tracks including as you can see from the track list above –including the debut album. The 2007 VIC ANESINI Stereo remasters are thankfully used and are typically superb - amazing clarity – both the vocals and ever-present backing horns.

 

To the debut on CD1 - Sly waxes lyrical about being related to the wrong-parts-of-town, no-job-promotions and general lack of opportunities for all Americans in "Underdog" - especially those hard-working souls of color. It was kind of ballsy for Epic to give it a 45-single release given its hard-hitting no-holes-barred words. He then launches into got to have you territory for "If This Room Could Talk" - a hooky brass backing giving the ba-boom funky little tune more 7" single potential. With its flesh and blood message and duet vocals - "Run, Run, Run" is good but like the manic "Turn Me Loose" actually feels like its trying too hard and all that frantic pace could have been dialled down to something stronger. 

 

Big brass beginnings for the talking-about-me-behind-my-back "Let Me Hear It From You" only to settle into a church-organ pleader - Sly digging down deep to find those big-balls vocals. Great whack off the drums on "Advise" - a get yourself together plea combined with a promise of mind-blowing loving should the lady let the poor boy in (don't do it gal). "I'm so hip!" Sly shouts at the start of "I Cannot Make It" - great audio as those flicking guitars and horns do battle in the right and left speakers. Things get shouting weird with "Trip To Your Heart" - a combo of Psych and Soul that works that spaceship chorus about winning a trip to your heart. 

Sexy and cool describes the very Sly smooch of "I Hate To Love You" - tears the poor man can't even hide anymore (ooh ooh, if you know what I mean). The LP races to a close with two great cuts - a fantastic funky groove strong in "Bad Risk" where our boy stands accused of running around (or is it him blaming her?) and the slow punctuated Soul of "That Kind Of Person". 

You would not call "A Whole New Thing" a fantastical hybrid-Soul success and for damn sure, it lacked (and still does) killer tunes that pointed to the "Everyday People" classics to come. Sly's debut album with The Family Stone is a good beginning - a very late-60ts slice of butt wabbling Funk-Soul shaking its ass at a bemused public. But there is still enough on this long forgotten debut to get the juices flowing and the creaking bones itching again.

 

A pioneer, a hero, a drugged-up nutjob – Sly Stone was all of these and more. But rehearing that debut and thinking that it was late 1967 – you reach more for the pioneer tag. Mostly though you're left impressed and wanting more…and that's a complaint I'll take any day of the week…

"Mr. Tambourine Man" by THE BYRDS – June 1965 US Debut LP on Columbia Records in Mono and Stereo (Stereo Mix Used for CD) - Inside "The Complete Columbia Albums Collection" featuring Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke with Guests Leon Russell, Hal Blaine and Larry Knechtel (November 2011 UK Sony/Legacy 13-Album 15CD Clamshell Box Set of Vic Anesini Stereo Remasters in Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

July 1965 US Debut Album by THE BYRDS on Columbia Records in Stereo

Remastered by VIC ANESINI Inside 

"The Complete Columbia Albums Collection" 13-Album/15-CD Box Set

 

"…Feel A Whole Lot Better…"

 

Talk about a monster. 13 albums across 15 CDs (2 are Deluxe Edition doubles), more unreleased tracks than you can shake a wobbly stick at, a chunky 40-page booklet that literally gives track-by-track annotation, dinky facsimile 5" Mini LP Repro Card Sleeve Artwork and blindingly good remastered sound. And all of it for under twenty five quid! Throw in their stunning 1965 debut LP "Mr. Tambourine Man" in all its groundbreaking jangling guitar-sound glory too - and it's a no-brainer.

 

Even the first 10 CDs reflect the 360 STEREO Sound red Columbia labels that came with original American LPs, while the last three are the plain red variant – nice attention to detail. And apart from the very downward slope of the early Seventies sets, the music is pretty much sublime throughout. So here are the musical highs and lows of these American feathery troubadours…

 

UK released November 2011 – "The Complete Columbia Albums Collection" by THE BYRDS on Sony/Columbia/Legacy 88697873802 (Barcode is the same) is a 15CD Box Set with a 40-Page Booklet. The Debut Album is Disc 1 (in Stereo) and breaks down as follows:

 

Disc 1 "Mr. Tambourine Man" in a single sleeve (45:40 minutes):

1. Mr. Tambourine Man [Side 1]

2. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better

3. Spanish Harlem Incident

4. You Won't Have To Cry

5. Here Without You

6. The Bells Of Rhymney

7. All I Really Want To Do [Side 2]

8. I Knew I'd Want You

9. It's No Use

10. Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe

11. Chimes Of Freedom

12. We'll Meet Again

Tracks 1 to 12 are the debut LP "Mr. Tambourine Man" – released June 1965 in the USA on Columbia CL 2372 (Mono) and CS 9172 (Stereo) and August 1965 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 62571 (Mono) and CBS S BPG 62571 (Stereo). The Stereo Mix is Used and Stereo Album Artwork for the repro 5" Mini LP sleeve. Producer by TERRY MELCHER - the LP peaked at No. 6 in the USA and No. 7 in the UK and is widely acknowledged to have started what was coined at the time as Folk-Rock.

 

BONUS TRACKS (1996 CD):

13. She Has A Way (Previously Unissued Version with Alternate Vocal Track/Take 2)

14. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better (Previously Unissued Version with Alternate Lead Guitar Overdub)

15. It's No Use (Previously Unissued Version with Alternate Lead Guitar Overdub)

16. You Won't Have To Cry Way (Previously Unissued Version with Alternate Vocal Track/Take 2)

17. All I Really Want To Do – Mono 7" Single Version (A-side of USA 45 on Columbia 4-43332)

18. You And Me Way (Previously Unissued Instrumental Backing Track/Take 13)

 

Like the Simon & Garfunkel and Elvis Presley catalogues – The Byrds have had the magic touch of master remaster/remix engineer VIC ANESINI. I've sung his praises many times before (Hall & Oates, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Carole King, Mott The Hoople, Jayhawks to name but a few) – and yet again – the STEREO quality on these recordings is gorgeous. This Box Set uses the same tracks as the High-Fidelity "360 Sound" CD Remaster that appeared in 1996.

 

In a book about musical beginnings, you have to say that "Mr. Tambourine Man" must be considered to be up there in the top ten of all time great debut albums. The Byrds were also more than that sound - the look, the mixtures of Folk and Rock, the brilliant re-interpretation of Dylan songs nestling alongside their own obvious cache of great writers in McGuinn and Clark (and David Crosby, if they had let him). Arriving like a melodic comet in 1965, this band exuded an attitude too that influenced so many rising forces in that halcyon decade – even The Beatles. Any group that sported Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke as a starting out line-up was always going to be sensational.

 

The debut album was preceded by two killer 45s; the opener being "Mr. Tambourine Man" b/w "I Knew I'd Want You" in April 1965. Columbia 4-43271 went to No. 1 on the US and UK Pop Charts (May 1965 UK on CBS Records 201765) and established the Byrds Rickenbacker Sound too. That amazing first seven-inch single was followed 15 June 1965 (a week before the LP on 21 June 1965) by a true double-header 45-single masterpiece - "All I Really Want To Do" b/w "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better". Columbia 4-43332 made No. 40 in the USA, but broke Top Ten at No. 4 in Blighty. It was also one of those rare occasions where you could argue that the Gene Clark original on the flipside ("I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better") was arguably better than the A.

 

Across its 12-cuts, Bob Dylan is present (albeit in songwriting form) for four - "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Spanish Harlem Incident", "All I Really Want To Do" and "Chimes Of Freedom". Other cover versions include Pete Seeger in "The Bells Of Rhymney", Jackie DeShannon for "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe" and that Traditional occasion-closer over on Side 2 "We'll Meet Again" ending the album. Gene Clark provided three of the five originals - "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", "Here Without You" and the debut single B-side "I Knew I'd Want You". The two co-writes by Gene Clark with Roger McGuinn are "You Won't Have To Cry" and "It's No Use". Then a sessionman, Shelter Records star Leon Russell apparently plays un-credited piano on "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "I Knew I'd Want You" (legendary drummer Hal Blaine is on those sessions too, as is Bassist Larry Knechtel who would go on to be in Bread with David Gates).

 

But what a purchase like this does is to allow newbees and fans alike to deep dive those lesser-trodden LP paths – wonderful moments like "Here Without You", "It's No Use" and even the strange joy in the emotional two-fingers of "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better". The extras too are not superfluous puffed-up fodder (dig that Clark song "She Has A Way") – but genuinely interesting and worthy additions. The Byrds really were such a great band.

 

"I opened my heart to the whole universe…and found it was loving…" - founder Roger McGuinn sang on their third album "5D (Fifth Dimension)" in 1966 - a year after their explosive start.

 

Well, open your soft machine to this groovy Byrds Clamshell beauty and I'm sure you'll be feeling the extraterrstrial love too - a full 55-years after the event and for decades more after…

"Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill"" by MUDDY WATERS – June 1960 US Debut Album on Chess Records in Mono – Inside "You Shook Me: The Chess Masters Volume 3, 1958 to 1963" featuring James Cotton on Harmonica, Otis Spann on Piano, Pat Hare on Guitar and Andrew Stephenson on Bass (December 2012 US Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology of Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

Muddy Waters Debut US LP on Chess Records 

"Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill""

Remastered Beautifully Inside "You Shook Me..." US 2CD Hip-O Select Set

 

"...Take The Bitter With The Sweet..."

 

Remastered by one of Universal's top Audio restoration engineers – ERICK LABSON – this hard-copy digital-double will allow fans of Chicago Delta Blues legend Morgan McKinleyfield to sequence thirteen of his Chess 45s between 1959 and 1963. And more importantly to us, both of his start-out Mono LPs on Chess Records – the live genius of "Muddy Waters At Newport" from December 1960 and his rare debut album of covers for Big Bill Broonzy - "Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill"" from June of 1960. To the CD details first...

 

The third volume in American label Hip-O Select's three-part reissue series - "You Shook Me: The Chess Masters Volume 3, 1958 to 1963" was USA released December 2012 on Hip-O Select/Geffen/Chess/Universal B10017581-02 (Barcode 602537164653) as a 2CD Anthology of Remasters.

 

Disc 1 has 26 tracks at 71:16 minutes - Disc 2 has 23 tracks at 73:03 minutes. Here are the track-by-track details - [16/1] is Track 16 on Disc 1 - [1/2] is Track 1 on Disc 2 etc.

 

1. "Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill""

Chess LP 1444 (released June 1960 in Mono)

 

Side 1:

1. Tell Me Baby [16/1]

2. Southbound Train [9/1]

3. When I Get To Thinking [17/1]

4. Just A Dream (On My Mind) [10/1]

5. Double Trouble [18/1]

Side 2:

1. I Feel So Good [11/1]

2. I Done Got Wise [15/1] [aka "Baby, I Done Got Wise"]

3. Mopper's Blues [6/1]

4. Lonesome Road Blues [5/1]

5. Hey, Hey [12/1]

 

2. "Muddy Waters At Newport"

Chess LP 1449 (released December 1960 in Mono, 2001 expanded CD remaster)

 

Side 1:

1. I Got My Brand On You (Live) [1/2]

2. I'm Your Hoochie Koochie Man (Live) [2/2] [aka "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man"]

3. Baby, Please Don't Go (Live) [3/2]

4. Soon Forgotten (Live) [4/2]

5. Tiger In Your Tank (Live) [5/2] [aka "(I Wanna Put A) Tiger In Your Tank"]

Side 2:

1. I Feel So Good (Live) [6/2]

2. Got My Mojo Working (Live) [7/2]

3. Got My Mojo Working, Part 2 (Live) [8/2]

4. Goodbye Newport Blues (Live) [9/2]

[Note: "Goodbye Newport Blues" features OTIS SPANN on Lead Vocals and Piano]

 

The 3-way card digipak has a textured feel and is a lot less elaborate than its Volume 2 predecessor (book form 2CD set). And while the 28-page booklet has pretty colour photos and July 2012 liner notes by MARY KATHERINE ALDIN - it feels way too slight for such an important release and artist of this stature (gorgeous picture though of Muddy with Big Bill Broonzy on Page 5). Having said that the set's been compiled by great names like ANDY McKAIE and remastered/restored by one of Universal's top engineers - ERICK LABSON - a man with well over 1,300 tape transfer credits to his name (including most of the huge Chess Records catalogue). It sounds wonderful - clean, full of presence and not too trebled for the sake of it.

 

The 10-track debut LP "Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill"" was recorded over two sessions – June 1959 for six - Lonesome Road Blues, Mopper's Blues, Southbound Train, Just A Dream (On My Mind), I Feel So Good and Hey, Hey - with July/August 1959 for the remaining four – Baby, I Done Got Wise [credited on the sleeve as I Done Got Wise], Tell Me Baby, When I Get To Thinking and Double Trouble. 

 

While seven songs were exclusive to the LP – three had been debuted as 45-singles – "I Feel So Good" on Chess 1748 in 1960 with "When I Get To Thinking" as its flipside and "Tell Me Baby", which was the B-side of "Recipe For Love" on Chess 1739 in 1959 ("Recipe..." is Track 14 on Disc 1).

 

The band featured JAMES COTTON on Harmonica (all songs except Tell Me Baby), PAT HARE on Lead Guitar as well as Acoustic Guitar on Tell Me Baby, OTIS SPANN on Piano except Tell Me Baby, ANDREW STEPHENSON on Bass with FRANCIS CLAY and WILLIE SMITH on Drums.  

 

Morgan opens his long-player account with a fantastic sounding "Tell Me Baby" – Pat Hare plucking his acoustic guitar in the left speaker while a huge drum whacks the right. Muddy warbles his pain documenting hour-by-hour mistreating by his woman who (naturally) studies evil all the time. Otis Spann Piano gets introduced alongside James Cotton Harmonica for the work-so-hard "Southbound Train" – and even in Mono the presence Labson has gotten out of these recordings in truly fantastic (got your ticket right there in your hand).

 

We flick back to the July 1959 session for a tell-your-daddy about your jiving and carrying on with every hood in town "When I Get To Thinking" – a subtle shuffling Chicago Blues that rhymes paycheck with breaking her neck (literally). Clear as a bell James Cotton Harmonica punches your speaker for "Just A Dream (On My Mind)" while Double Trouble slows everything down to a moaning Harmonica and Piano Blues as it ends Side 1 (Muddy has troubles and nothing to ease his worried mind).

 

Side 2 opens with another jaunty winner in "I Feel So Good" (easy to see why it was chosen as a 45), Muddy all happy because he got a letter from his baby in the US mail and the man feels like balling a jack (who wouldn't). The album now offers up the only Morgan McKinleyfield original on the LP – credited as "I Done Got Wise" – a tale of our boy needing to get wise to her tricks. The audio leaps fantastically for "Mopper's Blues" – a great jaunting Rhythm 'n' Blues shuffler. The same goes for "Lonesome Road Blues" – the first song cut at that June 1959 session with the trio of Pat Hare on Guitar, Cotton on Harmonica and Spann on Piano dominating the beautifully recorded soundstage. Muddy Waters ends his debut album with a bopper – muscular audio for the repeated chorus of "Hey, Hey" where he tells his baby that he loves her but he still ain't gonna be her dog. Nice one...

 

For sure the huge songs he would be associated with are not quite here – but don't let that put you off – the magic, the mood, the playing and that stunning audio here will knock your socks off. And right now in March 2022, I can only think of a young Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meeting on an English suburban train in the early 60ts with Muddy Waters and Little Walter Chess LPs under their arms and the sheer genius of that reflected in every part of this gorgeous 2CD set...

 

Hip-O Select Chess Masters Series of CD compilations for MUDDY WATERS

 

1. "Rollin' Stone: The Golden Anniversary Collection"

June 2000 USA 2CD set on MCA/Chess/UMG 088 112 301-2 (Barcode: 008811230128)

(The 50-tracks of this 2CD set cover 1947 to 1952 on the Aristocrat and Chess labels in chronological order and although it doesn't have a Hip-O Select reference or call itself Volume 1 – it effectively acts as Part 1 in this ongoing series)

 

2. "Hoochie Coochie Man - The Complete Chess Masters Volume 2, 1952-1958"

December 2004 USA 2CD Book Pack on Hip-O Select/Chess B0002758-02 (No Barcode)

 

3. "You Shook Me - The Chess Masters Vol. 3, 1958-1963"

December 2012 USA 2CD set on Hip-O Select/Geffen/Chess/Universal B10017581-02 (Barcode 602537164653)

"The Electric Light Orchestra" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA aka E.L.O – December 1971 UK Debut Album on Harvest Records (May 1972 in the USA on United Artists as "No Answer" with Different Artwork, Same Track List) – Inside "The Classic Albums Collection" featuring Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan, Bill Hunt and Steve Woolam (November 2011 UK Sony/Legacy 11CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters with Mini LP Repro Card Sleeve Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"The Electric Light Orchestra" December 1971 UK Debut Album on Harvest

(As "No Answer" in the USA on United Artists Records)

Remastered with Bonus Tracks Inside "The Classic Albums Collection"  

 

 

"...First Movement..."

 

Cheaper than a Waitrose Christmas Pudding (though with maybe not as much Brandy) - this Sony/Legacy ELO Box Set is like THE BYRDS and BILL WITHERS issues in this excellent series (see reviews) - chock full of tasty musical raisins and alarmingly good value for money.

 

Included is their Prog Rock beginning – the self-titled debut on Harvest Records from December 1971 renamed "No Answer" and issued May 1972 in the States on United Artists (included in this Box set with its 2006 CD Remaster Bonus Tracks). Here are the details and with no strings attached...

 

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

 

Disc 1 "The Electric Light Orchestra" aka "No Answer" (59:38 minutes):

1. 10538 Overture [Side 1]

2. Look At Me Now

3. Nellie Takes Her Bow

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

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

6. Mr. Radio

7. Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre)

8. Queen Of The Hours

9. Whisper In The Night

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

 

BONUS TRACKS:

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

11. Nellie Takes Her Bow (Alternate Mix)

12. Mr. Radio (Take 9)

13. 10538 Overture (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

 

The clamshell box houses all 11 card-repro sleeves (1, 2 3, 7 and 8 are gatefolds) with a chunky 28-page booklet sat atop that pieces together the reissue liner notes from 2001, 2003 and 2007. JOEL PALMACCIO at Sony Music mastered the set but it's using the PETER MEW remasters and all the other quality engineers involved in the later issues. The audio quality is great and as you can see from the detailed lists provided - each album has retained their Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. The only thing conspicuous by their absence - are the large number of 7" single edits and different mixes that are scattered through the Seventies especially (they're mostly available on the "Very Best Of" 2CD set).

 

The booklet gives detailed credits on each album - ROY WOOD and the ever-present JEFF LYNNE are on the first two albums as is BEV BEVAN - while from the 3rd album onwards MICHAEL De ALBUQUERQUE joins the ranks with LOUIS CLARK (the unsung member of the band) providing String Arrangements for much of their classic albums.

 

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

 

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

 

Given how the band's sound morphed as Jeff Lynne steered the group to huge global success in the mid to late Seventies, their 1971 beginnings on Harvest Records (UK) is definitely an acquired taste – acquired – but very satisfying. It opens with very Move-sounding "10538 Overture" – the track given its full album reign of 5:30 minutes. Quite why someone didn't think to include the 4:04-minute single edit is definitely a sloppy omission – but the track still thrills in 2019. 

 

The ghost of Eleanor Rigby and its string slashing opens "Look At Me Now" – those vocals still deliberately back in the mix as the Roy Wood written song goes for Baroque Rock and largely succeeds. Six minutes of "Nellie Takes Her Bow" is a Jeff Lynne drama-fest about back stages and bands playing on while Nellie has to go after the final curtain call (to become someone else some place else) – those combined piano and string moments now clearer with the Remaster. Roy Wood ends Side 1 on the album's most testing moment - "Battle Of Marston Moor" – wretched souls marching for the king on a tune that might have sent them running the other way.

 

The five-minute "Mr. Radio" opens Side 2 in that Jeff Lynne signature way – his vocals sliding in after a clever intro – a DJ thanked for airing a lover’s wish. Lynne follows it with "Manhattan Rumble (49^th Street Massacre)" – a song so doomy and laden with discordant strings and pianos that it might indeed have been used for a Hammer Horror movie to frighten punters back into their seats and away from the ice-cream lady (I've always liked this weird almost silly instrumental). Sending somehow that he’s gone too far – Lynne now gives us the album's other (slightly) commercial moment - "Queen Of The Hours" – a wind blowing away time song (who bought this!). It ends with Roy Wood's pretty "Whisper In The Night" – his sung-on-the-side-of-the-room vocals sounding like a plea and for me one of the album’s best moments.

 

For sure many will feel that "The Electric Light Orchestra" (or "No Answer" as its known in the USA) is a beginning – a curious and weird one too – but I've always loved it for its bonkers feel and those moments of melodic brilliance that would lead to so many more years on. In Old England Town for sure...