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Saturday 7 May 2022

"Madonna" by MADONNA - July 1983 US and UK Debut Album on Sire Records featuring Paul Pesco of The System, Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of Hot Streak and Pure Energy, Reggie Lucas of MFSB and Mtume, Anthony Jackson of MFSB, Gwen Guthrie, John "Jellybean" Benitez (May 2001 UK 'Warner Remasters Series' CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks with Ted Jensen Remasters - Reissued 2020) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 
 

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This Review And Many More Like It 
Available In my Kindle e-Book (June 2022 Version)
 
LOOKING AFTER NO. 1 
Volume 2 of 2 - M to Z...
 
Your All-Genres Guide To
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 
For Music from 1956 to 1986
Over 1,760 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
240 Reviews From The Discs Themselves
No Cut and Paste Crap...

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"...Burning Up For Your Love..." 

I must be getting old. There was a time, when as a hip and happening young buck who liked all-sorts of uppity singers and dance-dodgy genres of music (including Synth Pop and Disco), that I quite dug the 24-year old Mad Maddie and her lippy sexpot midriffs. 
 
But God this 1983 Dancing-Baby Debut Album is showing its surgical cracks in 2022. Let's get to the Borderlines before I'm hunted down like a dog that's gonna need an eye-patch...
 
UK released 22 May 2001 (re-issued 2020) - "Madonna" by MADONNA on Warner Brothers 9362-47903-2 (Barcode 093624790327) is part of the Warner Remasters Series - an Extended Edition CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (55:35 minutes):
 
1. Lucky Star [Side 1]
2. Borderline 
3. Burning Up 
4. I Know It 
5. Holiday [Side 2]
6. Think Of Me 
7. Physical Attraction 
8. Everybody 
Tracks 1 to 8 are her debut album "Madonna" - released July 1983 in the USA on Sire Records 9 -23867-1. Produced by REGGIE LUCAS and JOHN "Jellybean" BENITEZ - it peaked at No. 8 in the USA and No. 6 in the UK. 
 
BONUS TRACKS: 
9. Burning Up (12" Version) - 5:56 minutes
10. Lucky Star ("New" Mix) - 7:15 minutes 
 
The spine-visible Digitally Remastered wording on the rear inlay for these Warner Remasters CD reissues all look the same - in this case given a 12-page booklet that reproduces the LPs few photos of a very young and bright Madonna Louise Ciccone. It also throws in the lyrics, album credits and not much more unfortunately. The two Remixes as Bonuses are a nice touch, but 'released in 1983' is hardly the examination of her musical legacy and her debut's impact that fans deserve. Still, the TED JENSEN Remaster from first generation tapes is suitably muscular when the Linn and Oberheim Synth Pop and Disco Beats need it - which is a lot. 
 
Despite only sporting eight tracks, her self-titled debut album "Madonna" was a commercial goldmine and eventually got milked for five American singles across almost two years - "Everybody" (October 1982), "Burning Up" (March 1983), "Holiday" (September 1983), "Borderline" (February 1984 USA) and finally "Lucky Star" (August 1984 USA). "Lucky Star" had been issued in Blighty first in September 1983 – speaking of which - it doesn't take a genius to notice that huge numbers of mixes and remixes are missing from the bonuses - but at least there are Extras worth having. To the music...
 
I had forgotten "Burning Up" – a very on fire for your torso bopper with Drum Machines aplenty and the pinging guitar of Paul Pesco (of The System). "I Know It" is so Disco it hurts and not really her greatest moment. Even if it feels a tad weedy at the outset, the Remaster soon sorts out the monster "Holiday" – a total Eighties winner penned by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of Pure Energy and later Hot Streak. You can just imagine so many dancefloors filling up to this irresistible beat in that summer of 1983. But the one I like is the very Hall & Oates shake-your-hair vibe to "Think Of Me" – a genuine forgotten album gem.
 
The "Burning Up" twelve-inch version is more attacking than the album cut – and mixed louder – which feels like a good idea (the Remaster really kicks). Keeping that signature synth lead-in, "Lucky Star" is again transformed by a remix – this time by the Producer she had a falling out with – Reggie Lucas of MFSB and Mtume fame. Punctured by flicking Chic-type guitar licks, Synth jabs and smooth backing vocals, it may be extended, but "Lucky Star" feels more interesting that the shorter LP cut.
 
What was so exciting back in the day is beginning to sound like it's had its day to me, but fans will love "Madonna" and need it like a crucifix earring. To them, their lady of dance can do no wrong...and after 300 million album sales...even I can forgive Shanghai Surprise...

Tuesday 3 May 2022

"Peel Slowly And See" by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND – All Four of Their Studio Albums - "The Velvet Underground And Nico" (1967), "White Light/White Heat" (1968), "The Velvet Underground" (1969) and "Loaded" (1970) - featuring Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Maureen 'Mo' Tucker, Nico and Doug Yule (October 1995 UK Polydor/Chronicles 5CD Compilation Long Box Set (6" x 12") with 74 Remastered Tracks (25 Previously Unreleased) and an 88-Page Booklet - Bob Ludwig, Dan Hersch, Dan Kincaid and Joseph M. Palmaccio Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...




 
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This Review And Many More Like It 
Available In my Kindle e-Book (June 2022 Version)
 
LOOKING AFTER NO. 1 
Volume 2 of 2 - M to Z...
 
Your All-Genres Guide To
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 
For Music from 1956 to 1986
Over 1,760 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
240 Reviews From The Discs Themselves
No Cut and Paste Crap...

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This Review and 364 More Like It
Are Available In My E-Book 
 
GIMME SHELTER!
CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD 
And Other Genres Thereabouts 
 
Your All-Genres Guide To 
Exceptional Reissues and Remasters 
All Reviews From The Discs 
No Need To be Nervous!
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Falling In And Out of Grace..."
 
I remember when this re-peelable 5CD brute used to turn up in second-hand record shops with alarming regularity - always with its sticker curled or plain knackered (truly a sin). But in May 2022, maybe now not so much. And speaking of much to linger on (pale blue eyes anyone as one of the most gorgeous songs ever written, or certainly by Lou Reed anyway) - let's get to the details and what Candy says (she's always sayin' sumthin' that Candy)...
 
UK released October 1995 - "Peel Slowly And See" by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND on Polydor/Chronicles 527 887-2 (Barcode 731452788726) is a 5CD Long Box Set (6" x 12") of 74 Remastered Tracks (25 Previously Unreleased). It comes with a Re-Peelable Banana Sticker on the front lid (mimicking their debut album of 1967), an 88-page illustrated booklet with essays, rare photos, repro'd memorabilia and text involvement from all members of the band - Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Maureen Tucker, Nico and Doug Yule. It plays out as follows: 
 
CD1 "The Velvet Underground Demo Tape, July 1965" (78:12 minutes):
1. Venus In Furs (Demo, 15:33 minutes) 
2. Prominent Men (Demo, 4:53 minutes)
3. Heroin (Demo, 13:34 minutes)
4. I'm Waiting For The Man (9:50 minutes)
5. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (15:50 minutes) 
6. Tomorrow's Parties (18:26 minutes)
Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison - recorded live at John Cale's Ludlow Street loft apartment in Mono - all Previously Unreleased
 
CD2: "The Velvet Underground And Nico" (78:06 minutes):
1. All Tomorrow's Parties (Mono Single Version) 
July 1966 US Debut 45-single on Verve VK-10422 in Mono, A-side 
 
2. Sunday Morning [Side 1]
3. I'm Waiting For The Man 
4. Femme Fatale 
5. Venus In Furs 
6. Run Run Run 
7. All Tomorrow's Parties 
8. Heroin 
9. There She Goes Again 
10. I'll Be Your Mirror 
11. The Black Angel's Death Song 
12. European Son
Tracks 2 to 12 are their debut album "The Velvet Underground And Nico" - released March 1967 in the USA on Verve V-5008 (Mono) and V6-5008 (Stereo) - November 1967 in the UK on Verve SVLP 9184 - the STEREO MIX is used here
NOTES: 
The MONO MIX is available on the June 2002 Deluxe Edition reissue, CD2. 
NICO sings lead vocals on "Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "I'll Be Your Mirror" - Lou Reed on all others
 
13. Melody Laughter (Live, 10:43 minutes)
Recorded 4 November 1966 at the Valleydale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio and is edited down from a 30-minute performance - Previously Unreleased
 
14. It Was A Pleasure Then (8:02 minutes)
15. Chelsea Girls (7:24 minutes)
Tracks 14 to 15 are from "Nico: Chelsea Girl"- the solo debut album by NICO released October 1967 on Verve V6-5032 (Stereo) and finally released in the UK in September 1971 on MGM Select 2353 025 (Stereo) 
 
CD3: "White Light/White Heat" (74:15 minutes):
1. There Is No Reason (Demo, 2:12 minutes)
2. Sheltered Life (Demo, 2:52 minutes)
3. It's All Right (The Way That You Live) (Demo, 2:48 minutes)
4. I'm Not too Sorry (Now That You're Gone) (Demo, 2:17 minutes)
5. Here She Comes Now (Demo, 2:46 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 5 are The Velvet Underground Demo Acetate, recorded early 1967 in Mono at John Cale's Ludlow Street loft apartment in Manhattan, NYC - Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen 'Mo' Tucker - all 5 tracks Previously Unreleased 
 
6. Guess I'm Falling In Love (Live, 4:40 minutes)
7. Booker T. (Live, 6:30 minutes)
Tracks 6 and 7 recorded live April 1967 at the Gymnasium, NYC - Previously Unreleased 
 
8. White Light/White Heat [Side 1]
9. The Gift 
10. Lady Godiva's Operation 
11. Here She Comes Now [Side 2]
12. I Heard Her Call My Name 
13. Sister Ray 
Tracks 8 to 13 are their second studio album "White Light/White Heat" - released January 1968 in the USA on Verve V-5046 (Mono) and V6-5046 (Stereo) - the STEREO MIX is used here
 
14. Stephanie Says (2:49 minutes)
15. Temptation Inside Your Heart (2:30 minutes) 
Tracks 14 and 15 are from the post compilation album "VU" - released February 1985 on Verve 823 721-2 – Previously Unreleased at the time
 
16. Hey Mr. Rain (Version One) 
Track 16 take from the post compilation album "Another View" - released July 1986 on Verve 829 405-2 - Previously Unreleased at the time
 
CD4: "The Velvet Underground" (75:41 minutes)
1. What Goes On (Live, 5:34 minutes)
Track 1 recorded live 2 October 1968 at La Cave, Cleveland, Ohio, Previously Unreleased
 
2. Candy Says [Side 1]
3. What Goes On
4. Some Kinda Love
5. Pale Blue Eyes
6. Jesus
7. Beginning To See The Light [Side 2]
8. I'm Set Free
9. That's The Story Of My Life
10. The Murder Mystery
11. After Hours
Tracks 2 to 11 are their third studio album "The Velvet Underground" - released March 1969 in the USA on MGM Records SE-4617 and April 1969 on MGM Records CS 8108 in STEREO (reissued November 1971 in the UK on MGM Select 2353 022 with different artwork). The album was recorded Nov/Dec 1968 at the T.T.G. Studios in Hollywood, California. 
 
NOTE: The 1995 "Peel Slowly And See" 5CD Box Set Version of their third studio album "The Velvet Underground" is known as the Closet Mix - a mix that was ok'd by Lou Reed on original American LPs and is therefore restored as such here. This was done for the 1995 box because mixes from the 80ts onward - including even the 45th Anniversary CD from 2014 - all contain what's become known as the Val Valentin Mix which upped the brightness of many instruments, making the album more poppy. I personally prefer the quieter (even more sedate) Closet Mix. See separate review for The Val Valentin Mix...
 
12. Foggy Notion
13. I Can't Stand It
14. I'm Sticking With You 
15. One Of These Days 
16. Lisa Says 
Tracks 12 to 16 are from the post compilation album "VU" - released February 1985 on Verve 823 721-2 – Previously Unreleased at the time (October 1969 recordings). "I Can't Stand It" and "Lisa Says" ended up being re-recorded for Lou Reed's debut solo album "Lou Reed" issued June 1972 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4701. 
 
17. It's Just Too Much (Live) - recorded 28 Oct 1969 at The End of Cole Ave., Dallas Texas - Previously Unreleased
 
18. Countess From Hong Kong (Demo) - recorded late 1969, Previously Unreleased
 
CD5: "Loaded" (76:24 minutes): 
1. Who Loves The Sun [Side 1]
2. Sweet Jane [Previously Unreleased Full Length Version, 4:06 minutes]
3. Rock And Roll 
4. Cool It Down
5. New Age [Previously Unreleased Full Length Version, 5:07 minutes]
6. Head Held High 
7. Lonesome Cowboy Bill
8. I Found A Reason 
9. Train Round The Bend 
10. Oh Sweet Nuthin'  
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "Loaded" - released September 1970 in the USA on Cotillion SD 9034 and April 1971 in the UK on Atlantic 2400 111. Produced by GEOFFREY HASLAM, SHEL KAGAN and THE VELVET UNDERGROUND – the album didn't chart in either country. 
 
11. Satellite Of Love 
12. Walk And Talk 
13. Oh Gin 
14. Sad Song 
15. Ocean 
16. Ride Into The Sun 
Tracks 11 to 16 and Track 19 are "Loaded" outtakes. "Satellite Of Love" would be used on his second solo LP "Transformer" in 1972, "Sad Song" would be revisited with orchestration on his third solo album "Berlin" in 1973 while "Ocean" and "Ride Into The Sun" would be re-worked for the "Lou Reed" debut solo LP (also in 1972).
 
17. Some Kinda Love (Live) 
18. I'll Be Your Mirror (Live)
Tracks 17 and 18 recorded live 23 August 1970 at Max's Kansas City, New York. 
Track 17 is Previously Unreleased
Track 18 first appeared May 1972 on the US LP "Live At Max's Kansas City" on Cotillion SD 9500   
 
19. I Love You (see Tracks 11 to 16)
 
Quite apart from the gimmicky and hard-to-keep-from-getting-knackered Banana Peel sticker (aping their famous Andy Warhol artwork debut) - the first thing that hits you is the 88-page booklet (6" x 12") - a seriously in-depth and beautifully annotated work of art in itself. Produced by BARRY LEVINSON, Essay by DAVID FRICKE and Remasters from a team of four Universal-related Audio Engineers - Bob Ludwig, Dan Hersch, Dan Kincaid and Joseph M. Palmaccio - all names known to collectors - it's an impressive package for damn sure. There's posters, flyers, gig adverts, press reviews and all five of the jewel cases are adorned not with the LP artwork but Mono and Stereo master-tape boxes. Page 55 has a gig poster from December 1969 with Detroit's MC5 as the support act - or Page 65 with its beautiful psych typeset poster for the Hippodrome with Clover and Maya in tow. The card that advertises 'the world's first mod wedding happening' with 'girl-of-the-year' Nico and Andy Warhol for The Carnaby Street Fun Festival. The infamous toilet in Warhol's New York studio hang...and on it goes to credit pages at the end. 
 
It's astonishing (even in 2022) to think that the Velvets never charted any of their four LPs - so by all accounts were an abysmal chart failure. Yet their influence and ethos stretches its tentacles out like a beast. When I worked at Reckless Records in Berwick Street, Soho, London - there was only one album we kept over 100 copies of in new and sealed reissue form - "The Velvet Underground And Nico" - their mind blowing debut. Copies of the US original with the Peelable Banana sleeve still relatively intact go on auction sites for ludicrous sums - The Velvet Underground the very epitome of what cult means. 
 
In truth I cannot abide much of "White Light/White Heat" with its sonic onslaught - but at least the Remaster gives the seriously rough recording the audio bombast its always needed. But I adore the third platter "The Velvet Underground" - so skipping a needless live version of "What Goes On" - I play Tracks 2 to 19 all the way through - hell I even suffer the nine-minute speaker-to-speaker Lou Reed/Doug Yule consciousness reading in "The Murder Mystery". And killer tracks like "Foggy Notion" should have been on an official Velvets LP and not just ended up as a Punk-sounding Sally May curiosity on a post split-up compilation from 1985.      
 
I have to be truthful and say that much of the vaunted Previously Unreleased material is either badly recorded or when it comes to the serious full-on grunge and noise of the "White Light/White Heat" period - excuses for pig outs that are largely unlistenable. But then I go to the five "Loaded" outtakes on Disc 4 and I can't get enough. Love those extended versions of "Sweet Jane" and "New Age" on the seriously underrated "Loaded" album from 1970. "Rock And Roll" too - what a great tune.

The Velvet Underground were and have always been an acquired taste - part genius - part smoke and mirrors - but man those foggy notions put to tunes slaughter me still. Venus In Furs, Shiny Leather, Lisa says, and she would know...

Monday 2 May 2022

"East Side Story" by SQUEEZE - May 1981 UK Fourth Album on A&M Records featuring Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, Paul Carrack [ex Ace] with John Bentley and Gilson Lavis with Production by Elvis Costello, Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe (January 1998 UK A&M CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks - Part of the A&M Re Master Pieces Series and also in the November 1997 "Six In One..." 6CD Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...



 
"...Left My Ring By The Soap..."
 


 
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When Keyboardist and humourist Jools Holland left Squeeze after three albums to pursue his own Rhythm & Blues and Big Band dreams, they needed a seriously good replacement. And for their fourth album of May 1981 (again released on A&M Records) – Squeeze pulled in the stunning Vocals of Paul Carrack who had been with Ace for three albums and after Squeeze would join the ranks of Mike & The Mechanics for No. 1 chart fame (shame that his vocal prowess was not used more - sings on only one track).
 
"East Side Story" went to No. 44 in the USA in May 1981 – a better showing than its predecessor "Argybargy" from April 1980 that had managed a No. 71 slot – their first album to register on the Stateside Billboard Rock LP charts. Squeeze would thereafter enjoy a long and fruitful nine-album chart run Stateside that stretched well into the Nineties and beyond.
 
But the path of "East Side Story" onto digital has been (like a lot of their stuff) a wee bit piecemeal to say the least. Initially launched in and part of the November 1997 "Six Of One..." 6CD Box Set on A&M Records 540 801-2 (Barcode 731454080125) - "East Side Story" was then put out as an A&M Re Master Pieces single CD re-release in January 1998 (February 1998 USA) with its Two Bonus Tracks intact (both are pictured above). But the single-CD got quickly deleted (like the Box Set) and has remained so ever since. To the hearty details we do have...
 
UK released 19 January 1998 (4 February 1998 in the USA) - "East Side Story" by SQUEEZE on A&M 540 805-2 (Barcode 731454080521) is an A&M Re Master Pieces CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (56:05 minutes):
 
1. In Quintessence [Side 1]
2. Someone Else's Heart
3. Tempted
4. Piccadilly
5. There's No Tomorrow
6. Heaven
7. Woman's World
8. Is That Love? [Side 2]
9. F-Hole
10. Labelled With Love
11. Someone Else's Bell
12. Mumbo Jumbo
13. Vanity Fair
14. Messed Around
Tracks 1 to 14 are their fourth studio album "East Side Story" - released May 1981 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64854 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4854. Produced by ROGER BECHIRIAN and ELVIS COSTELLO - it peaked at No. 19 in the UK and No. 44 in the USA.
 
BONUS TRACKS (Both Previously Unreleased):
15. The Axe Has Now Fallen
16. Looking For A Love
 
SQUEEZE was:
GLENN TILBROOK – Lead Guitar, Vocals
CHRIS DIFFORD – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
PAUL CARRACK [ex Ace] – Keyboards and Vocals (Track 3, Duet Vocals Track 16)
JOHN BENTLEY – Bass
GILSON LAVIS – Drums
Guests:
ELVIS COSTELLO – Production for the whole album except Track 1
DAVE EDMUNDS and NEIL KING – Production for "In Quintessence"
ELVIS COSTELLO – Sang Backing Vocals on "Tempted" and "Piccadilly"
NICK LOWE – Produced the Bonus Track "Looking For A Love"
 
Annotation - without the accompanying 52-page long book that came with that Box Set (a fabulous looking thing with huge swathes of memorabilia pictured), the skimpy gatefold slip of paper with barely any info that acts as an inlay for this CD is wildly inadequate. Pages 13 and 14 of the Box Set's 52-page booklet carried track-by-track comments for the third album from the band, and that could easily have been re-printed for here. A&M took the lazy way out and simply reissued the CDs as is from the box set. 
 
Bonuses/Missing - with a total playing time of 56:05 minutes, yes it's nice to have two new outtakes, but where's all the peripheral singles and their non-LP B-sides - a format this band was not only famous for but one that fans revelled in? When there was ample room, it's disappointing for sure. To the good stuff - Digitally Remastered by band founder GLENN TILBROOK and A&M's go-to Audio Engineer for the A&M Re Master Pieces Series ROGER WAKE - the original tapes certainly pack a lethal punch. But for such a huge step forward in songwriting and especially the brilliant words in each and every song, the absence too of the lyrics is kind of unforgivable. To the music...
 
The album opens with the too-clever-by-far "In Quintessence" - a lyrical step too far. He got nosy, done read her letters and diary in "Someone Else's Heart" - Elvis Costello adding backing vocals to this tune that was rejected for the preceding album "Argybargy". Unfortunately it still feels weedy with a tagged-on unconvincing lead vocal. Paul Carrack at last steps up to the microphone for the popular 45-single "Tempted" (went to No. 40) and immediately you feel it was a mistake that Tilbrook and Difford didn't give him more microphone duties (the "Tempted" Non-LP B-side "Yap Yap Yap" isn't here either, when it could have been). 

Their famous whimsy returns in the Costello-Produced "Piccadilly" - another wordy tale of hopes and clothes and expectant shop assistants. There's a slightly sinister vibe to "There's No Tomorrow" - the treated vocals and overall echoed keyboard song-sound bearing an uncanny resemblance to 10cc circa "The Original Soundtrack" and "How Dare You" in 1975 and 1976. Pumping Bass lines punctuate your room with "Heaven" - a tale of Cypriots and tobacco and beer mats and stained tea cloths (knackered barmaids). I can't in all honesty make out if the words to "Woman's World" are praising lady-kind or taking the Michael out of their lot (or both). It's definitely one of the album's more sophisticated tunes - appliances and science. 

Side 2 opens with what is undoubtedly the album's best cut - "Is That Love?" A&M UK issued it as the lead-off 45-single in April 1981 on AMS 8129 (a month before the LP) with the Non-LP "Trust" on the flip-side. Rewarded with a No. 35 chart peak - it set up the LP nicely. Teasing, beating him with her letters, walk-out notes - the poor chap is unhappy but still the sucker stays - her assets rising while his droop. Another strange vibe for "F-Hole" - 4:44 minutes of face-filler and painted palaces - those ghostly strings now upfront in the Remaster. Better for me is the other LP gem - "Labelled With Love" - a September 1981 UK 45-single on A&M AMS 8166 that rose all the way to No. 4. The past is bottled - an American pilot drags his gal to his Prairie home where he promptly drinks himself into the dirt while she carries a bump around a kitchen that's just too big. The country-lilt of "Labelled With Love" allows you to concentrate on the clever story-telling - eventually making it home being the goal in this cautionary tale of wartime passion.
 
"Someone Else's Bell" is another little-town tale of other people's beds - the Garden of Eden once again not being as relationship-fruitful as Eve had hoped. We go Flamin Groovies Rock and Roll with "Mumbo Jumbo" - an attacking song about being saddled with lonely flats and their even lonelier inhabitants. Baroque strings open the lovely and touching "Vanity Fair" - Squeeze goes "Eleanor Rigby" - a lady in a butcher's shop looking out past the blood and severed animal parts. The album ends with the Eddie Cochran echo of "Messed Around" - Squeeze going Stray Cats with a slapped double-bass vengeance. Fantastic Remastered sound too.
 
The Two Bonus Tracks kick too - "The Axe Has Now Fallen" (3:51 minutes) is a beautifully recorded tough-rocker that feels like it should have been an album track - replacing the lesser "Someone Else's Heart" perhaps. One of my heroes Nick Lowe produced "Looking For A Love" - a storming cover of a Bobby Womack 1973 classic originally on United Artists that surprisingly (an unannounced)  turns out to be a Duet with Paul Carrack. Why in God's name was this not a B-side on a British 45-single? In any case, once again, the two bonuses on this CD (like all the others) has proved more than worthy of the moniker Bonus
 
In a strange way, I prefer "Argybargy" more (the album that preceded it). But on a Re-master re-hear and with its cool tippity-toppity bonuses, I'm indeed labelled with love once again. 
 
Squeeze was a great little band and this largely forgotten early Eighties LP of theirs is one of the reasons why. Tempted, give it a Mumbo Jumbo...
 
SQUEEZE A&M Re Master Pieces CD Reissue Series
Released January 1998 UK, February 1998 USA
Each Single CD Remaster Contained Two Previously Unreleased Bonuses
 
1. "Squeeze" 
Original UK LP March 1978 on A&M Records AMLH 68465
UK CD Reissue January 1998 on A&M 540 806-2 (Barcode 731454080620) 
Bonus Tracks "Deep Cuts" and "Heartbreak"
 
2. "Cool For Cats" 
UK LP April 1979 on A&M Records AMLH 68503 
UK CD January 1998 on A&M Records 540 804-2 (Barcode
Bonus Tracks "I Must Go" and "Ain't it Sad" 
 
3. "Argybargy" 
UK LP February 1980 on A&M Records AMLH 64802
UK CD January 1998 on A&M 540 803-2 (Barcode 731454080323) 
Bonus Tracks "Funny How It Goes" and "Go" 
 
4. "East Side Story..." 
UK LP May 1981 on A&M Records AMLH 64854
UK CD January 1998 on A&M 540 805-2 (Barcode 731454080521) 
Bonus Tracks "The Axe Now Fallen" and "Looking For A Love"
 
5. "Sweets From A Stranger"
UK LP May 1982 on A&M Records AMLH 64899
UK CD January 1998 on A&M 540 807-2 (Barcode 731454080729) 
Bonus Tracks "I Can't Get Up Anymore" and "When Love Goes To Sleep"
 
6. "Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti" 
UK LP August 1985 on A&M Records AMA 5805 
UK CD January 1998 on A&M 540 802-2 (Barcode 731454080224) 
Bonus Tracks "Love's A Four Letter Word" and "The Fortnight Saga"

INDEX - Entries and Artist Posts in Alphabetical Order