"Live! Takin' The Stage/Just Fly/Can't Hold Back" by PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE – September 1977 (2LP-set), March 1978 and June 1979 Studio Albums on RCA Victor Records (August 2022 UK Beat Goes On Compilation – 3LPs onto 2CDs (First is a 2LP-set on CD1, Two Studio Sets on CD2) – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review And 225 Others Is Available In My AMAZON E-Book 

BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

And Genres Thereabouts

Your Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

For the 1960s and 1970s

All Reviews In-Depth and from the Discs Themselves

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"...Can’t Hold Back..."

 

This is the third installment by England's Beat Goes on Records reintroducing the Seventies back catalogue of PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE onto Remastered CDs (see list below).

 

A Country-Rock phenomenon in the States (they charted nine albums there between 1975 and 1981 alone) – Cincinnati's PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE has never really meant diddly in the UK. Even at the heights of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Eagles Country-Rock dominance in the mid-Seventies - I can recall PPL albums (on the ultra-hick RCA label) being reduced to pennies in secondhand racks for years. That isn't to say there aren't melodies galore to be had here – there are.

 

This time round we get an entire live double from 1978 on CD1 (joyous and raucous stuff) with two further studio platters from 1978 and 1979 onto CD2 – all of it originally on RCA Victor Records in the States (only the 1979 album got a UK release). Newly remastered in 2022 to perfection by BGO's resident Audio Engineer impresario-splendido ANDREW THOMPSON, there's lots to discuss so let's have at it:

 

UK released Friday, 5 August 2022 - "Live! Takin' The Stage/Just Fly/Can't Hold Back" by PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE on Beat Goes On BGOCD1484 (Barcode 5017261214843) offers 3LPs (the first a 2LP-set) Remastered onto 2CDs as follows:

 

CD1 (74:33 minutes):

1. Kansas City Southern [Side 1]

2. Harvest 

3. I'll Change Your Flat Tyre, Merle

4. Lucille Crawfield 

5. Two Lane Highway 

6. Country Song [Side 2]

7. Out In The Street 

8. Dark Colours

9. That'll Be The Day 

10. Sun Shone Lightly

11. Heart Of Her Own

12. Amie [Side 3]

13. Pickin' to Beat The Devil

14. Kentucky Moonshine

15. Fade Away

16. Feelin' of Love

17. Dance [Side 4]

18. Louise (What I Did)

19. All The Lonesome Cowboys 

20. Came Through

Tracks 1 to 20 are the live double-album "Live! Takin' The Stage" - released September 1977 USA on RCA Victor CPL2-240 (no UK issue). Produced by ALAN ABRAHAMS - it peaked at No. 68 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts.

 

CD2 (73:46 minutes): 

1. Place In The Middle [Side 1]

2. Slim Pickin's 

3. Love Will Grow 

4. You Don't Have To Be Alone

5. Love Is Falling 

6. Just Fly [Side 2]

7. Lifetime 

8. Working in The Coal Mine 

9. My Young Girl 

10. Bad Dream

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Just Fly" - released March 1978 on RCA Victor AFL 1-2590 in the USA and June 1978 UK on RCA Victor PL-12590. Produced by ALAN ABRAHAMS - it peaked at No. 79 on the US Billboard Rock charts,

 

11. I Can't Hold Back [Side 1]

12. I Can't Believe

13. Rude Rude Awakening

14. White Line 

15. Misery Train 

16. Restless Woman [Side 2]

17. I'm Goin' Away 

18. Jerene

19. Livin' It Alone 

20. Fool Fool

21. Goodbye So Long

Tracks 11 to 21 are the album "Can't Hold Back" - released June 1979 on RCA Victor AFL 1-3335 in the USA, June 1979 UK on RCA Victor PL-13335. Produced by RON and HOWARD ALBERT - it peaked at No. 124 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts. 

The card-slipcase is classy whilst the fat booklet provides genuinely cool info on the band's long history - all the artwork repro'd and album credits included (net sources named too). But the real draw for fans will be the ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters new to 2022 - well produced albums amplified upwards - the studio sets almost too clean. A typically big balls sounding reissue from England's BGO.

 

They start "Live! Takin' The Stage" with a quick announcement, then immediately into the wailing railroad 'lonesome sound' of Gene Clark's "Kansas City Southern" and straight out of the box you hear how staggeringly tight the band is - a combo of Pedal Steel (John David Call), Twangin' Lead Vocals in George Powell and Larry Goshorn (Lead Guitars too) and in-the-groove rhythm section (Mike Reilly on Bass and Billy Hinds on Drums) - Mike Reilly doing a lion's share of Harmony Vocals as well. Recorded throughout May and July 1977 supporting the "Dance" LP of 1976 - the shows are almost note perfect and some criticized the band for it, but fans lapped it up. 

 

A combo sound that encompasses The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with The Dillards and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils - PPL cover versions include a rather insipid "That'll Be The Day" (Buddy Holly) while Janis Joplin's pal Nick Gravenites had his Western Swing "I'll Change Your Tires, Merle" given a good going over. Better are their own ballads like "Sun Shone Lightly", "Heart Of Her Own" and the Dobro jaunt of "Kentucky Moonshine". The only new tune was the last on Side 4 - a rather good George Powell guitar offering called "Came Through" that ends the set with 'style'.  

The two studio efforts on CD2 are super polished in terms of Production - Country superstar VINCE GILL having famously joined the band for 1979's "Can't Hold Back" (Patrick Bolan on Lead Guitar too). It's easy unfortunately to hear why critics of the day had little time for the "Can't Fly" LP cheeseball of "Slim Pickin's" followed by the jaunty Pop-Country of "Love Will Grow" - both dreadfully dated in 2022. Prettier is "You Don't Have To Be Alone" and "Lifetime" whilst the guitar-rocking "Love Is Falling" is more Outlaws and The Allman Brothers than Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Thinks get funky with the title song "Just Fly" and there's a passable go at Allen Toussaint's hit for Lee Dorsey "Working in A Coal Mine", but you're left with the feeling that the LP is treading water after the exuberance of the Live Shows. 

New Line-up, New Producers - "I Can't Hold Back" has even got Michael McDonald Doobie Brothers sounding backing vocals with a Saxophone solo - maybe hoping it'll have some of that "Minute By Minute" Yacht Rock magic rub off. Vince Gill's "I Can't Believe" improves things - he also wrote "Rude Rude Awakening", "Misery Train", "I'm Goin' Away" and "Jerene". Bennett's "White Line" is pretty - radio song with strings. Brass beefs up "Restless Woman" and on it goes...

 

For sure this kind of fiddle and pedal steel Country Rock will not be for everyone and the last album is more Yacht Rock than Country - but fans of melodies and good songwriting should dig in and long time followers of PPL and their cowboy-hat logo will love the great new audio and presentation... 

 

A List of Beat Goes On CD Remasters for PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

 

1. "Pure Prairie League/Bustin' Out/Two Lane Highway/Dance"

February and October 1972 Debut and Second LPs with their Fourth and Fifth Albums from June 1975 and November 1976 – all originally on RCA Victor Records (USA)

UK 2CD compilation released 19 April 2019 (25 April 2019 in the USA)

Beat Goes On (BGO Records) BGOCD 1376 (Barcode 5017261213761)

 

2. "Live! Takin' The Stage/Just Fly/Can't Hold Back"

September 1977 (2LP-set), March 1978 and June 1979 Studio Albums originally on RCA Victor Records

UK 2CD compilation released 5 August 2022 (12 August 2022 USA)

Beat Goes On (BGO Records) BGOCD1484 (Barcode 5017261214843)

 

3. "Firin' Up/Something In The Night"

May 1980 and April 1981 US LPs originally on Casablanca Records

UK 2CD compilation released 11 September 2020 (23 October 2020 USA)

Beat Goes On BGOCD 1423 (Barcode 5017261214232)

"How Dare You!" by 10cc – January 1976 UK Fourth Studio Album on Mercury Records featuring Kevin Godley, Lol Crème, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart (July 1997 UK Mercury 'Digitally Remastered' CD Reissue – Expanded Edition with One Non-LP B-side as a Bonus Track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Gimme In The Kitchen, Gimme In The Hall..."

 

This Review And More Like It Can Be Found in my Amazon e-Book

 

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"...I've nibbled the cheese of it, the birds and the bees of it..."

 

Following on from the March 1975 monster album "The Original Soundtrack" – an event audiophile vinyl LP that carried the mesmerizing "I'm Not In Love" and the pastrami Pop brilliance of "Life Is A Minestrone" - was never going to be an easy task. Manchester's super-songwriting 10cc would have to up the game all the way and on the 24 January 1976 release of their fourth studio album – they did. 

 

I remember buying the original LP with its wildly clever Hipgnosis artwork continued on the inside with a beautifully presented gatefold and further lyric inner sleeve. Then there was the needle down and being duly taken aback by the aural sophistication on the grooves inside. Like its 1975 predecessor, you didn't know where to look, such was the innovation and cleverness displayed on every single twisty-bendy song – even if in my mind some of them just didn't work then and still don't now ("Iceberg" and "I Wanna Rule The World" in particular too clever-clever for their own clogs).

 

Kind of worse than that for me is the overall impact of the Remaster which to my ears sounds more muddled than "The Original Soundtrack" disc in this series. HDY! is good, but there is a seriously over-produced feel to the album that is upped by the ROGER WAKE transfer - though not in a good way. The inner sleeve artwork with the brilliant lyrics is missing entirely, no pictures of those tasty foreign 45 sleeves either ("Lazy Ways" was issued as a 45 in France but not in the UK or US) and the 4:12 minutes edit of "Art For Art's Sake" along with the 4:40 minutes edit of "I'm Mandy Fly Me" could have been easily added on as Bonus Tracks as they were on the 2008 Japanese CD Reissue. But let's get to what we do have...

 

UK released June 1997 - "How Dare You!" by 10cc on Mercury 534 975-2 (Barcode 731453497528) is a 'Digitally Remastered' Expanded Edition CD Reissue with One Bonus Track that plays out as follows (45:26 minutes):

 

1. How Dare You [Side 1]

2. Lazy Ways

3. I Wanna Rule The World

4. I'm Mandy Fly Me

5. Iceberg

6. Art For Art's Sake [Side 2]

7. Rock 'n' Roll Lullaby

8. Head Room

9. Don't Hang Up

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fourth studio album "How Dare You!" - released January 1976 in the UK on Mercury Records 9102 501 and January 1976 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-1061. Produced by 10cc - it peaked at No. 5 in the UK and No. 46 in the US LP charts.

 

BONUS TRACK:

9. Get It While You Can

Track 9 is the 21 November 1975 UK 45-single on Mercury 6008 017, Non-LP B-side of "Art For Art's Sake" (15 Nov 1975 USA on Mercury 73725)

 

The 8-page booklet is both good and bad - functional at best. Only the front and rear cover of the LP is represented with the inner gatefold and the hugely detailed lyric inner-sleeve both AWOL. In their place is a new set of liner notes from CHRIS WHITE that cover their second LP for Mercury Records with archival interview quotes from all four of the boys. Unfortunately too much of its time is spent recanting the band's history prior to the LP and the split into two factions after "How Dare You!"  - Godley and Crème going solo - while Stewart and Gouldman carried on as 10cc to "Deceptive Bends" and "Bloody Tourists" in May 1977 and September 1978 (and further). And despite the rear inlay printing "Art For Art's Sake" at 4:19 minutes (the single edit timing) - it is actually the full album version at 5:59 minutes.

 

ROGER WAKE who did all the Strawbs and Joan Armatrading CD Remasters on A&M Records – handles the Remaster here and it’s a very mixed bag for me - victim of the heavily overdubbed recordings (horrible muffle on "Art For Art's Sake") on one hand whilst jumping out of your speakers because of it on the other ("Head Room" and the fabulous album finisher "Don't Hang Up"). If in doubt, crank it is actually a good instruction! To the music...

 

"How Dare You!" opens with the title track as an instrumental to 4:14 minutes (no exclamation mark for some reason) which then segues immediately into "Lazy Days". On the strength of these two brilliant ditties alone (clever changes of mood abound in the opener) - you begin to think this is another Pop masterpiece and echoes of where Tears for Fears would go with "The Seeds Of Love" flood in. But then its all chucked out the window by the clever but seriously irritating "I Wanna Rule The World". All is redeemed by one of the album's true gems - "I'm Mandy Fly Me". It opens with an obscure 10cc tune in the left speaker about fear-of-flying called "Clockwork Creep" from their second album "Sheet Music" in 1974 on UK Records - then the real speaker-to-speaker flanging of "I'm Mandy Fly Me" crashes into your living room. But it's the guitar parts that are utterly brilliant - a genuine 10cc moment of joy. Side 1 ends with the awful "Iceberg" with its mock-Tango rhythms and corny in-jokes.  

Preempting the album by nearly three months, the 4-minute edit of the catchy as Hell "Art For Art's Sake" was issued on both sides of the pond in November 1975 as the album's first 45-single (lyrics above). With the only-OK Non-LP "Get It While You Can" on the flipside (a Bonus Track on this CD) - it returned 10cc to the British and American singles charts and nicely set up a buzz for its parent LP. The full album cut at just under six minutes is an impressive piece of song-assembly, but the audio on the Remaster feels damp and muffled - though I suspect this may be more to do with how it was studio-trickery recorded in the first place. No such audio compromises on the brilliant trio that ends Side 2 - "Rock 'n' Roll Lullaby", "Head Room" (lyrics above head this review) and the weirdly unsettling/moving "Don't Hang Up" - they sound great with both "Head Room" and "...Lullaby" fencing some very funny lyrics. And that dial-tone that ends "Don't Hang Up" still grates after all these decades.

"How Dare You!" should have done better in the US album charts, but I hold a candle for it (the trusty LP remains in my heavy-gauge plastic in Mint condition to this day). 

 

"I've called a million times, but to me you're never in..." they sang on the sad and funny "Don't Hang Up". I'd go back and revisit this marriage-on-the-rocks density - it has stag nights and violins and aisle-walking and scum buzzing around busy bodies you should check out one more time (she's got a Rocky terrain too you know)...

"A Night On The Town" by ROD STEWART – June 1976 UK and US Seventh Studio Album on Riva/Warner Brothers Records featuring Guitarists Joe Walsh of Eagles, Steve Cropper of Booker T. & The MG’s, David Lindley of Jackson Browne’s Band, Fred Tackett of Little Feat with Barry Beckett and David Foster on Keyboards - Lee Sklar, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Willie Weeks on Bass with Roger Hawkins on Drums, Tower of Power on Horns and Brook Honicutt and Britt Eckland on Backing Vocals (November 2000 UK Warner Brothers CD Reissue and Keith Blake Remaster in the Warner Remasters Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and more like it can be found in my e-Book

 

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"...Oh Georgie Stay..."

 

Common consensus has it that Rodders and his run of Seventies classic albums ended in 1977 with "Foot Loose & Fancy Free" – only to nose-dive into the bum-wiggling Disco embarrassment that was "Blondes Have More Fun" in December 1978. And with my hand on my Tartan-ish heart, I would have to agree.

 

But re-listening to the one before – the 1976 Britt Eckland lurve-in that is "A Night On The Town" and I am transported back to a time when being happy with 50 to 60 per-cent of the album was enough. And in the case of the magnificent Side 1 social statement "The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)" – I was even moved to tears back in the day and still am.

 

Issued in the USA and Blighty in November 2000 - this largely forgotten Warners Remaster CD is 22 years old in 2022 and is unfortunately deleted. Once a cheap as chips fiver-English, it can go for twenty-five, so hunt around. To the Slow and Fast Halves...

 

UK released November 2000 - "A Night On The Town" by ROD STEWART on Warner Brothers 9362-47730-2 (Barcode 093624773023) is part of the 'Warner Remasters' Series and is a straightforward CD reissue of his 1976 LP that plays out as follows (41:12 minutes):

 

Slow Half [Side 1]

1. Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)

2. The First Cut Is The Deepest

3. Fool For You

4. The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II)

 

Fast Half [Side 2]

5. The Balltrap

6. Pretty Flamingo

7. Big Bayou

8. The Wild Side Of Life

9. Trade Winds

Tracks 1 to 9 are his seventh studio album "A Night On The Town" - released June 1976 in the UK on Riva Records RVLP 1 and Warner Brothers BS 2938 in the USA. Produced by TOM DOWD - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US album charts. "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)", "Fool For You", "The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II)" and "The Balltrap" written by Rod Stewart - the other five tracks are cover versions (each discussed below).

 

MUSICIANS featured were:

GUITARS - Steve Cropper (of Booker T. & The MG's), Joe Walsh (of Eagles), Jesse Ed Davis, Billy Peek, David Lindley (of Jackson Browne's band) and Fred Tackett (of Little Feat)

KEYBOARDS - Barry Beckett, David Foster, John Jarvis and J Smith

HORNS – Tower Of Power

BASS - Duck Dunn (Booker T & The MG's), Bob Glaub, David Hood, Willie Weeks and Lee Sklar

DRUMS and PERCUSSION - Willie Correa, Roger Hawkins, Al Jackson and Nigel Olsson (Elton John's Band), Tommy Vig, Joe Lala (of Manassas)

 

The foldout three-way gatefold slip inlay offers only credits alongside that photo which adorned the inner sleeve of the 1976 LP and naught else. For such a huge album, it seems kind of cheap and piddly and has not been expanded ever since. But the 24-Bit High Resolution Audio supplied in this Warner Remaster done by KEITH BLAKE rocks like the proverbial clappers. The recordings were top notch originally anyway, but this CD has a real punch and swagger – amplifying what was boogie-on-down one minute (Side 2) – then Soulful and swaying the next (Side 1). To the record...

 

Recorded in America with a very Memphis Rock-Soul feel and produced by the legendary Tom Dowd – Rod's previous LP "Atlantic Crossing" wasn't just a nod to his new future and aspirations – Stewart had literally upped sticks to the USA to escape (like so many at the time) ludicrously crippling British taxation laws that we're robbed him of almost all his earnings. More importantly, with "Atlantic Crossing", Stewart had also left behind the 'sound' of his old British Steamhammer, Jeff Beck Group and Faces muckers Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan and Martin Quittenton. Now it was sessionmen galore – Soul Boys like Steve Cropper and Jesse Ed Davis who also understood and loved Rock and R&B and Funk. There was a deliberate commercialism to "Atlantic Crossing" – a ten-track winner full of potential singles – least not of all the arms-waving-in-the-air Celtic-ish ballad "Sailing" (a cover version of a Sutherland Brothers single from 1972 on Island Records penned by Gavin Sutherland) of course repeating the No. 1 status of the album in the UK. 

 

Again produced by TOM DOWD and featuring virtually the same crew as "Atlantic Crossing" – "A Night On The Town" went down the same path – and arguably more successfully than before. A huge fan fave and a great bedroom potboiler, "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)" opens proceedings on Side 1 with naughty talk of sweet virgins of the world and Britt Eckland speaking in French (not exactly giving instructions on how to make a really good Cucumber Sandwich). The song's sexy sway and 'let's get upstairs quickly my dear' lyrics was so fruity for 1976 that several American Radio Stations banned it as 'lewd'. The public naturally ran towards it with gusto. In 2022 though, "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)" probably has fond memories for us olden-types, but is admittedly sounding a tad dated if not a wee bit ridiculous too. Eight weeks as a US No. 1 single however, and I'm sure Rod Stewart's bank accounts would disagree. It was a monster song in 1976 and 1977 officially saw it named as one of the year's biggest plays – sexpot or not.

 

Up comes Rod's first cover version – a gorgeous and still moving take on the Cat Stevens 60ts Deram song "The First Cut Is The Deepest" – Stewart again showing his extraordinary knack of making someone else's great song seem like it had always been his (it became the third and last single off the album in April 1977). He ends Side 1 with two of his own - "Fool For You" – a nice ballad that deserves rediscovery as a deep album cut – but is trounced by the majesty and genuine brilliance of "The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)". A tale of an English gay man rejected by his parents, who then emigrates and becomes the toast of New York and its notorious scene (no party was complete without him) – only to be knifed in a New Jersey street gang spat days after he'd finally found love. Stewart can pen a memorable lyric – all the good ones can – but he nailed it with Georgie. His lifestyle-knowing and his empathy for this extroverted character imbibes the song with a shocking reality, acceptance and heart too that was rarely ever publicly aired by other artists. When it goes into that 'oh Georgie stay' refrain in Part II with the ladies so Soulfully backing up his aching vocals – it's probably the defining moment in a long career of greatness. Re-listening to it in 2022 (it was issued as the second single from the album in August 1976), and I was and still am, impossibly moved by it.

 

Side 2 (the fast half) opens up with the tease of "The Balltrap" – a typically snotty rocker (he is so good at these) telling us of a lady with perhaps dubious intentions towards his frequently removed undergarments. It's a hoot still and was the B-side of the "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)" 45-single in many areas. We then get into the final run of four cover versions – Manfred Mann's "Pretty Flamingo" (written by songsmith Marcus Barkan), American Cajun rocker Gib Gilbeau and his "Big Bayou" and the 50ts Country twang of Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side Of Life". They're good, but just a tad too functional and after the coherence of Side 1, made it feel like the LP was losing its way a bit. 

 

Rod finishes his seventh studio album on that other forgotten deep cut - "Trade Winds" – penned by American percussionist Ralph MacDonald (with William Salter). MacDonald is the author of "Where Is The Love" done by Roberta Flack and "Just The Two Of Us" done by Grover Washington, Jr with Bill Withers on Vocals. Rod imbibes this lovely Soulful ender with the feeling of a classic that's always been there – you just never noticed. MacDonald would put out his first solo LP on Marlin Records also in 1976 - "Sound Of A Drum" which contained his solo cut of "Where Is The Love" and Stone The Crows Vocalist Maggie Bell did a version of "Trade Winds" on her 1974 Polydor Records LP "Queen Of The Night" - her fabulous Scottish pipes up to the task (Bill Salter, the song's co-author even plays Bass on Maggie's version).

 

Back to the tune in hand and in keeping with Rod Stewart's knack for spotting an unsung gem, "Trade Winds" had appeared as far back as 1972 as the B-side to the monster Roberta Flack 45-single "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on Atlantic 2864. To my knowledge MacDonald never did do a solo cut of it – so Rod's version of "Trade Winds" is a fabulous upgrade on 1972 and 1974 - maybe even an amalgam of both. However, even as a Remaster, it's a bit hissy admittedly in certain parts especially as Brooks Honicutt and Jerry Jumonville do their Vocal and Saxophone soloing. But still, what a great way to end Side 2.

 

For sure the inlay to "A Night On The Town" is merely functionary and some of the tunes are obvious cover version filler - but let's be clear - the good stuff is great and as an album, this 1976 platter is revered still for damn good reason.

 

"...Here I stand looking...what do I see...unhappy faces behind a painted smile...Heartache and loneliness dressed up in modern style...reflections of myself...life is no easy game..." - Rod sang on "Trade Winds" – a plea for cross denominational understanding – a song that ached for peace in a society gone crazy in many ways.

 

Revisit this album...though perhaps with a bottle of real ale instead of a glass of bubbly (and maybe loose the negligee too). Well done my exiled son...

"Blues With A Feeling: A Tribute To Little Walter" by GEORGE SMITH and THE CHICAGO BLUES BAND – February 1969 US Debut Studio LP on World Pacific Records in Stereo (March 1969 UK on Liberty Records in Stereo) featuring Muddy Waters on Guitar, Otis Spann on Piano, SP Leary on Drums with Luther Johnson and Marshall Hooks also on Guitars (July 2022 UK Beat Goes On Reissue (delayed from May 2021 due to Covid-19) – 1LP onto 1CD with 3 Bonus Tracks, One Including Lucille Spann on Vocals – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Key To The Highway..."

 

What you have here is a reissue of a reissue of a reissue.

 

England's Beat Goes on (BGO) initially put out this CD as far back as late March 2012 (launched again in late January 2013). 

 

This variant is a July 2022 re-release using the same catalogue number and barcode (itself delayed from 2021 because of Covid-19). This time around you get upgraded to Card Slipcase packaging, a see-through CD tray, other album advert inlay beneath and a 2022 Copyright Date to differentiate issues. This 2022 re-release is NOT a new remaster - the February 2012 liner notes are the same as is the 2012 Remaster – no change.

 

The other album... 

July 2022 also saw BGO remaster his 2^nd studio album from mid 1969 called "...Of The Blues" accredited to GEORGE "Harmonica" SMITH and his BLUES BAND. 

Beat Goes On BGOCD1448 (Barcode 5017261214485) is the first official CD Reissue of that lost Blues-Rock blast – see separate review.

 

Lots to talk about here though and most of it great – to the details...

 

UK released July 2022 (delayed from May 2021 due to Covid-19) -  "Blues With A Feeling: A Tribute To Little Walter" by GEORGE SMITH and THE CHICAGO BLUES BAND on Beat Goes On BGOCD1035 (Barcode 5017261210357) is a CD Reissue and Remaster of his debut studio album from 1969 plus three Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (44:57 minutes):

 

1. Mellow Down Easy [Side 1]

2. Can't Hold On Much Longer

3. My Babe

4. Juke

5. West Helena Woman

6. Tell Me Mama [Side 2]

7. Last Night

8. You Better Watch Yourself

9. Key To The Highway

10. Everything Gonna Be Alright

11. Too Late

Tracks 1 to 11 are his debut studio album "Blues With A Feeling: A Tribute To Little Walter" - released February 1969 in the USA on World Pacific Records WPS-21887 in Stereo – March 1969 UK on Liberty Records LBS 83218E in Stereo. Recorded across three days in October 1968 (2^nd, rd and 4^th), the album is mostly cover versions of his Chess Records Harmonica hero – Little Walter. Produced by STEVE LaVERE and PETE WELDING in Los Angeles - guest musicians include Muddy Waters, Marshall Hooks and Luther Johnson on Guitars, Otis Spann on Piano, Lawrence "Little Willie" Wimberley on Bass with S.P. Leary on Drums.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Goin' Down Slow

13. Just A Feelin'

14. Love With A Feelin'

All three tracks were cut at the October 1968 sessions. Both 12 and 14 feature Muddy Waters and Luther Johnson on Guitars with "Goin' Down Slow" featuring a Rare Muddy slide-guitar solo. Although not stated definitively – Track 13 probably contains the core band listed above also. "Love With A Feelin'" features Lucille Spann – the then 29-year-old wife of Otis Spann – on Lead Vocals and was first issued March 2012 on the original BGO reissue.

 

The outer Card Slipcase is new but the 8-page booklet and TONY RUSSELL liner notes are the same as the original March 2012 version – track list too. The 2012 ANDREW THOMPSON Remaster needs no improvement and absolutely Rocks – reminding me of those Taj Mahal 360 Sound CD Remasters that Legacy put out. The music is Blues with a Rock lean – sort of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band fronted by George’s great voice and his deep chromatic Harmonica warbles. To the tunes...

You can hear the band filling out both your speakers in the opening "Mellow Down Easy" (a Willie Dixon song Little Walter made famous) - Smith's voice way better than you'd expect - a sort of warm-toned crooner feel. Whilst both Muddy Waters and Luther Johnson are on the opener, it's background rather than flash. And then it comes in - that huge Harmonica. Smith's second is the can't sleep at night/cat-nap all day Slow Blues of "Can't Hold On Much Longer". "Gonna have to cut you loose now woman..." and then that warbling harp blasting out around the room. Also impressive is Otis Spann - tinkling cool in the background. 

"My Babe" has to be almost everyone's fave-rave Chess Classic when it comes to Little Walter - British R&B combos like Cyril Davies, Alexis Korner and Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames practically combusting on the spot in the Sixties. Here Smith gives it fantastic Mojo - so R&B sweaty nightclub - and gorgeous full audio too. Northern Soul dancers and Modernists will dig the Harmonica R&B shuffle of the instrumental "Juke" - all party - all night long. Smith ends Side 1 on what is surely an LP highlight - a lowdown gutsy Slow Blues in "West Helena Woman". Mean and ballsy - the lyrics are boisterous Saturday Night - going out and having a Natural Ball - our George loving this woman best of all. The two guitars (Muddy and Luther) get to weep and moan too in this superb side-finisher. 

 

Side 2 opens with a bopper "Tell Me Mama" - our George suspicious about a chap leaving his home at an unbecoming hour. Way better is the misery-loves-company that is "Last Night" - a 2 a.m. Blues moaner that features superb guitar/piano/harp battles throughout - impressive stuff. "Last Night" contains the band's best mind meld - a true Blues With A Feeling. Belting harp opens "You Better Watch Yourself" - a typically menacing Little Walter blame game - his beady eyes on his gal's possibly shifty behavior. It romps home with "Key To The Highway", "Everything Gonna Be Alright" and "Too Late" - fun R&B boppers any one of which could have been a single. 

The three Bonuses are just that - "Goin' Down Slow" featuring Muddy on Slide Guitar with Otis plinkering away in the Slow Blues background. It's great stuff but was probably left off because it was one mooch too many. "Just A Feelin'" has two guitarists - gotta be Muddy and Johnson - and is excellent - equal to tunes on the LP. And we end with Otis Spann's wife Lucille taking Lead Vocals for the mid-tempo "Love With A Feelin'" - coming on like a Big Mama Thornton. She gives it some gusto, but the vocal is a little too low in the mix and therefore doesn't come across with the upfront power the tune demands. But the guitar playing is great.

 

A very cool little CD reissue/remaster of a hip but largely unknown debut album from 1969 - George Smith and his Band of Blues Brothers remembered with style and mucho Audio punch. "Harmonica" Smith would go on to do two albums with England's Blues Rock combo BACON FAT featuring Rod Piazza under the watchful eye of the label's producer Mike Vernon (see my separate review for "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" 2CD set). 

 

But as a starter for ten, his debut LP "Blues With A Feeling..." was indeed the Keys To The Highway. Dig in and enjoy...