"High Adventure/Vox Humana" by KENNY LOGGINS – September 1982 and April 1985 US Studio Albums on Columbia Records featuring Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers, Steve Parry of Journey, David Sanborn, The Pointer Sisters, Tom Scott, David Foster, Phil Bailey, Steve Lukather, Steve Pocaro of Toto and many more (August 2014 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation – 2LPs onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...We All Do The Best We Can..."

 

Part of the Rock-Soul-Folkie duo of LOGGINS and MESSINA (Jim Messina was ex Poco and Buffalo Springfield) – Kenny Loggins had already clocked up five studio albums and 2 live sets with the pairing between 1972 and 1977 - and along with it considerable chart success and record sales. His inevitable solo career began in earnest in April 1977 with "Celebrate Me Home" on Columbia Records and continued into his most productive and commercially viable decade – the Eighties.

 

And that’s where this brilliant little duo CD combo comes in – giving us his 5^th and 6^th solo albums from 1982 and 1985. The big hair and big productions break down as follows…

 

UK released 4 August 2014 – "High Adventure/Vox Humana" by KENNY LOGGINS on Beat Goes On BGOCD1160 (Barcode 5017261211606) is a BGO digital compilation that offers 2LPs Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonuses) and plays out as follows:

 

Disc 1 (41:32 minutes):

1. Don't Fight It [Side 1]

2. Heartlight 

3. I Gotta Try

4. Swear Your Love

5. The More We Try 

6. Heart To Heart [Side 2]

7. If It's Not What You're Looking For 

8. It Must Be Imagination

9. Only A Miracle 

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "High Adventure" - released September 1982 in the USA on Columbia Records TC 38127 and CBS Records 85932 in the UK (peaked at No. 13 on the US album charts).

 

Disc 2 (43:56 minutes):

1. Vox Humana [Side 1]

2. No Lookin' Back 

3. Let There Be Love

4. I'll Be There

5. I'm Gonna Do It Right 

6. Forever

7. At Last 

8. Loraine

9. Love Will Follow

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Vox Humana" – released April 1985 in the USA on Columbia FC 39174 and CBS 26221 in the UK. 'Vox Humana' is the Latin for Human Voice – the album peaked at 41 on the US album charts (didn't chart UK).

 

The substantial 24-page booklet features all lyrics and track-by-track annotation (with Loggins own notes) and a detailed summary by noted writer NEIL DANIELS. The outer card wrap – now generic with all BGO CD reissues – gives the whole shebang a classy feel too. But the big news is that Bernie Grundman's stunning original Production values have been brought to the fore by a superb 2014 ANDREW THOMPSON remaster. These CDs sound huge and in a good way.

 

In the late Seventies and into the Eighties – I was like many – obsessed with all things MICHAEL McDONALD. I hunted down his many contributions on other people's albums – Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Bonnie Raitt, Stephen Bishop, Donna Summer – you name it – I had to have it. Loving the "Minute By Minute" album by The Doobie Brothers to distraction in 1978 – I more than noticed the name KENNY LOGGINS turning up on songs – especially his co-write with McDonald on the fabulous Grammy-winning "What A Fool Believes". That connection again features strongly on the "High Adventure" platter where McDonald co-writes and plays keyboards on three (no silken vocals unfortunately) - "I Gotta Try", "Heart To Heart" and "Only A Miracle".

 

Co-Produced with BRUCE BOTNIK (of THE DOORS fame) – the 9-track "High Adventure" LP also featured a co-write with Journey's STEVE PARRY on "Don't Fight It" itself benefiting heavily from the zippy guitar of NEIL GUIRALDO (Pat Benatar's better half). It was a chart hit – peaking at 17 in the USA in September 1982. Production genius and ex Skylark Keyboardist DAVID FOSTER contributed to "If It's Not What You're Looking For" - while TOM SNOW who did beautiful songs for Randy Crawford like "You Bring The Sun Out" on her lovely May 1981 album "Secret Combination" for Warner Brothers co-wrote the equally pretty "It Must Be Imagination". His long-time session associate MIKE HAMILTON also plays tasty guitar throughout.

 

With the mega soundtrack "Footloose" taking up most of 1984 – Loggins returned with the 9-track "Vox Humana" in 1985, again featuring large amounts of co-writes with heavy-hitters like DEAN PITCHFORD, TOM SNOW, NATHAN EAST, DAVID SANFORD and his wife EIN LOGGINS. The album also featured the usual plethora of classy session players – MICHAEL LANDAU and BUZZY FEITON on Guitars, STEVE POCARO of Toto on Synths, MICHAEL OMARTION on Keyboards, DAVID SANBORN on Saxophone and NEIL LARSEN with GREG PHILLINGANES also on Keyboards. 

 

"I'm Gonna Do It Right" benefits from the backing vocals of THE POINTER SISTERS, STEVE LUKATHER's Guitar solo on "Forever" is typically brill and economical, PHIL BAILEY's backing vocals on "At Last" are cool and DAVID FOSTER provided choppy keys on "Lorraine" and "I'll Be There". Michael McDonald would name his second solo LP after Track 2 "No Lookin' Back" - a co-write between him, American Vocalist and Keyboard Player ED SANFORD and Kenny Loggins. 

 

Both discs are all so Eighties I know – terrible jackets and equally awful trousers. But as always with KL, the melodies in stuff like "Heart To Heart" and "The More We Try" are still there. Fans need this BGO twofer and it's another winner from England's Beat Goes On who champion the neglected side of reissues so well...

"The Colour Of Spring" by TALK TALK - March 1986 UK Third Studio Album on EMI Records featuring Mark Hollis, Tim Friese-Greene and Lee Harris with Guest Musicians Robbie McIntosh and David Rhodes on Guitars, Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Solo Career on Organ, Mark Feltham of Nine Below Zero on Harmonica, Danny Thompson of Pentangle on Double Bass, Alan Gorrie of Average White Band on Bass, Gaynor Sadler on Harmonica, David Roach on Saxophone, Paul Webb on Bass and more (September 1997 UK EMI CD Reissue with a Phill Brown and Denis Blackham Remaster from Original Tapes) - A Review by Mark Barry

 

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Fresh Upon The Ground..."

I have a few touch-points when it comes to naysayers about the Eighties being nothing more than Poodle Rock, Synths and Drum Machines and Shoulder Pads bigger than their hair-dos. For such a maligned decade - the mid 80s onward didn't half produce some utterly ball-busting greatness. 

It's now 40-years plus and I still haven't tired of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's shooting stars never stop double "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" (1984), David Sylvian's "Brilliant Trees" (1984), Kate Bush's meisterwerk "Hounds Of Love" (1985), Peter Gabriel's fabulous "So (1986), John Martyn's underrated "Piece By Piece" (1986), Deacon Blue's "Raintown" (1987), Love And Money's "Strange Kind Of Love" (1988) with Production from Steely Dan's Gary Katz, Joni Mitchell's "Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm" (1988), R.E.M.'s "Green" (1988), Simple Minds' "Street Fighting Years" (1989), Del Amitri's "Waking Hours" (1989) and The Blue Niles' "Hats" (1989). 

And this is not forgetting Paul Simon's other-genres-enlightening "Graceland" (1986), the Texas debut "Southside" (1989) that introduced us to the fabulous vocals of Sharleen Spiteri and Ally McErlaine's stunning guitarwork, Matt Johnson's The The and his acidic but brilliant "Infected" (1986), The Smiths on a one-after-another stormer with "Meat Is Murder" (1985) and "The Queen Is Dead" (1986), Bruce Springsteen's "Tunnel Of Love" (1989), Prince's "1999" (1982) and "Purple Rain" (1984), John Mellencamp's "The Lonesome Jubilee" (1988), Eurythmics' "Be Yourself Tonight" (1985), Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" (1989) and so many more. 

But up there with a whizz-bang bullet in the Top 10 pantheon for that entire decade is Talk Talk's gorgeous third album "The Colour Of Spring" from March 1986. Everything about this winner spells event. With the core of singer-songwriter MARK HOLLIS and Keyboard whizz and Producer TIM FRIESE-GREENE and Bassist LEE HARRIS - they roped in a formidable array of Guest Musicians to help achieve the vastly more sophisticated and ethereal sound the album debuted (a move away from the overly synth-based Pop of the first two LPs in 1982 and 1984 "Talk Talk" and "It's My Party". 

That list included the lauded Robbie McIntosh and David Rhodes on Guitars, Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Solo Career on Organ, Mark Feltham of Nine Below Zero on Harmonica, Danny Thompson of Pentangle on Double Bass, Alan Gorrie of Average White Band on Bass with other players like Gaynor Sadler on Harmonica, David Roach on Saxophone, Paul Webb on Bass and some schoolkids and a choir. 

There are only 8 songs on the LP - but they matter and each in its own little way is a sonic masterpiece - beautifully arranged and produced by TFG. Throw in the seriously gorgeous and eye-catching JAMES MARSH hand-painted artwork that graced the front sleeve and all the hugely collectable 12" singles that came off the album - and "The Colour Of Spring" impacted with a face slap - sit up and take notice of this boys and girls of the C-90 generation. 

And that's where this one-of-four CD Reissues and Remasters comes a stomping in. UK catalogue-numbered RETALK 100 to 104 - the four albums from "Talk Talk" in 1982, "It's My Party" in 1983, "The Colour Of Spring" in 1986 to "Spirit Of Eden" in 1988 are in the series - each spine spelling out a single letter at the top and base - TALK TALK. The beautifully clear yet muscular Remasters were done by a duo of much respected Audio Engineers - PHILL BROWN and DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering) - each making the original 1/2" EMI Analogue Tapes shine like never before. This is a fantastic-sounding CD and my only fault would be that it could have done with those tasty Non-LP B-sides from the 12" singles. 

To the details - once more unto the butterfly breach/peach...

UK released September 1997 - "The Colour Of Spring" by TALK TALK on EMI RETALK 102 - 7243 8 57131 2 5 (Barcode 724385713125) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the album and plays out as follows (45:43 minutes):

 

1. Happiness Is Easy [Side 1]

2. I Don't Believe In You

3. Life's What You Make It

4. April 5th

5. Living In Another World [Side 2]

6. Give It Up 

7. Chameleon Day

8. Time It's Time

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "The Colour Of Spring" - released March 1986 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3506 and in the USA on EMI-America ST-17197. Produced by TIM FRIESE-GREENE - it peaked at No. 8 in the UK and No. 58 in the US Rock LP charts.

The 12-page booklet reproduces the inner sleeve (handwritten almost illegible lyrics intact) with musician credits beneath and a very nice touch is to give each of James Marsh's paintings (that graced the album's singles) a full leaf each (Pages 8 to 11). There isn't a history, liner notes or any involvement from the band, which is a bit of a let down - but the songs and the audio are the business (I've seen this CD for sale on Auction Sites for under four or even three pounds). To the chameleon music...

"Happiness Is Easy" opens accounts in a fantastic Talk Talk kind of a way - the song benefiting from a bevvy of impressive types - Steve Winwood on Organ, Robbie McIntosh on Guitar and Alan Gorrie of Average White Band on Electric Bass with Danny Thompson of Pentangle on Upright Bass. Bizarrely - there is also a Robbie McIntosh in AWB (their drummer), but the McIntosh used here is the session guitarist and a different bloke. The children chanting lyrics come courtesy of the School of Miss Speake. 

EMI had preceded the March 1986 release of "The Colour Of Spring" album in January with the first of four singles from it - "Life's What You Make It" which hit a healthy interest-arousing No. 16 in the UK and No. 90 in America. March 1986 saw "Living in Another World" which made a lesser No. 48 in Blighty and then "Give It Up" in May 1986 which hit No. 59 and inexplicably - the best track on the album as far as I'm concerned - "I Don't Believe In You" in November of 1986 only to not chart at all. It's interesting to note that the last three British 45s, 12s and Picture Discs mentioned weren't released by EMI America in the States where the album seemed to languish as a non-event. 

Speaking of "I Don't Believe In You" - it is the second of three tracks on "The Colour Of Spring" album that benefits big time from the floating Organ sound of Steve Winwood (the other song is "Living In Another World"). Both lingering-mood tunes also having Robbie McIntosh on guitar (his soloing on "I Don't Believe In You") is one of the highlights of the album - while David Rhodes provides a second guitar for "Living In Another World". And while the ear gravitates to the hits - especially "Life's What You Make It" - longtime listeners will adore the quietly brilliant "April 5th" and "Chameleon" too. It ends on "Time It's Time" - a wonderful eight-minute moody and broody little bugger that boasts Percussion from Morris Pert of Stomu Ymashta's Red Buddah band (and before that Sun Treader, also on Island Records) with Martin Ditcham of Virgin's Avant Garde band Henry Cow. The mood is also buoyed up with the church-like eerie vocals of The Ambrosia Choir. I love it. 

"The Colour Of Spring" by Talk Talk is like Kate Bush's "Hounds Of Love" or Prefab Sprout's "Steve McQueen" from 1985 or Dead Can Dance's "The Serpent's Egg" on 4AD Records from 1988 - the kind of off-kilter genius I'll play the whole way through.

"Spirit Of Eden" that followed in 1988 would see them go even more uncommercial minimalist and soundscape weird - Mark Feltham of Nine Below Zero giving the greatest Harmonica solo ever on "The Rainbow" - its opening track. But in truth - 1986's "The Colour Of Spring" is the Talk Talk album I go potty for. Mark Hollis and his staggering warble vocals gave us a self-titled solo album in January 1998 on Polydor Records (much praised), but retired after that (despite huge cash offers) and was lost to us in February 2015 - a passing that I know many fans could hardly believe let alone bare. Both Hollis and the band were a talent that just wouldn't play the game (much to our advantage) - and I for one love them to bits for it...

The September 1997 TALK TALK EMI CD Remasters

RETALK 100 to 104 are UK Catalogue Numbers - The Next Are International 

None Have Bonus Tracks - Phill Brown and Denis Blackham Remasters

1. The Party's Over (July 1982 Debut Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 100 - EMI 7243 8 56796 2 9 

(Barcode 724385679629) 

2. It's My Life (February 1984 Second Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 101 - EMI 7243 8 56797 2 8 

(Barcode 724385679728)

3. The Colour Of Spring (March 1986 Third Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 102 - EMI 7243 8 57131 2 5 

(Barcode 724385713125)

 

4. Spirit Of Eden (September 1988 Fourth Studio Album) 

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 103 - EMI 7243 8 57129 2 0 

(Barcode 724385712920)

"Anthem Of The Sun" by THE GRATEFUL DEAD - July 1968 US LP on Warner Brothers in Stereo featuring Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Ron McKernan, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Tom Constanten (July 2018 UK Rhino/Dead.Net 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2 x HDCD Reissue in Digipak Repro Artwork with David Glasser, Jamie Howarth and Jeffrey Norman Audio Restoration and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Faster We Go, The Rounder We Get..."

 

I have had a hard time with The Grateful Dead and their music for decades.

 

Not everyone would agree – some might even get aerated and whomp me one. Like fellow Space-Psych-Rock cult bands Hawkwind or Gong, I know Deadhead fans are notoriously loyal obsessives. They will say this pioneering San Francisco band can be credited with starting Psych and Stoner Rock, were anti music-commercialism when others raced towards it, contributors to the counter-culture on a biblical level (The Lost Continent of MU ahoy). The Dead are 60ts doyens, feted and worshiped, fuzzed-out poster art darlings etc.

 

But in truth I have found much of their output dull, badly recorded, indulgent and downright un-listenable a full five to six decades after the event. In 2018 or 2023 for that matter, it is hard to forgive this level of experimental tomfoolery let alone enjoy it. They could never seem to write a tune to save their weed-lives. As one reviewer back in the day noted "...there really is no excuse for this kind of junk. But there is an explanation – drugs..." Not much truck then (if you will forgive the obvious keep-on trucking pun).

 

And so it is with this '50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' of their second disruptor album "Anthem Of The Sun" initially thrust on a hippy-world in July of 1968. The remaster is an improvement for sure (those drums and percussive sounds on "Alligator" for instance and the vocal panning in "Caution" is a little clearer) and I have honestly not heard the 1971 remix version that so many prefer sound so muscular either. But then the music is such hard going. And as a supposedly DE – Rhino's effort is not without its disappointments either – a piddly 16-page booklet that seems to want to avoid all that period colour and memorabilia and a foldout card Digipak that isn't exactly exciting or adventurous in any real way. To what we have got - let's get to the quadlibets for tender feet...

 

UK/EUROPE issued 13 July 2018 - "Anthem Of The Sun" by THE GRATEFUL DEAD on Rhino/Dead.Net 603497864881 (Barcode 603497864881) is a 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2 x HDCD Reissue in Digipak Repro Artwork with David Glasser, Jamie Howarth and Jeffrey Norman Audio Restoration and Remasters. CD1 offers the Original 1968 and Remixed 1971 Stereo Versions of the Album (one after the other) and a Previously Unreleased 22 October 1967 concert recorded live at Winterland in San Francisco, California is offered on CD2 (also in Stereo). They play out as follows:

 

CD1 Original 1968 Stereo Mix and 1971 Remix (78:18 minutes):

1. That's It For The Other One

I. Cryptical Envelopment

II. Quadlibet For Tender Feet

III. The Faster We Go, The Rounder We Get

IV. We Leave The Castle

2. New Potato Caboose

3. Born Cross-Eyed

4. Alligator [Side 2]

5. Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)

 

Tracks 6 to 10 as above but are the 1971 Album Remix

 

Tracks 1 to 5 are their 2nd studio LP "Anthem Of The Sun" – released July 1968 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1749 and November 1968 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 1749 (both Stereo only). Produced by DAVE HASSINGER – it peaked at No. 83 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

 

CD2 Live At Winterland, San Francisco, CA on 22 Oct 1967 (55:06 minutes):

1. Morning Dew

2. New Potato Caboose

3. It Hurts Me Too

4. Cold Rain And Snow

5. Turn On Your Lovelight

6. Beat It On Down The Line

7. That's It For The Other One

I. Cryptical Envelopment

II. The Other One

III. Cryptical Envelopment

 

THE GRATEFUL DEAD was:

JERRY GARCIA – Lead and Acoustic Guitars, Kazoo, Vocals

BOB WEIR – Rhythm, 12-String and Acoustic Guitars, Kazoo, Vocals

RON McKERNAN – Organ, Celesta, Claves, Vocals

PHIL LESH – Bass, Trumpet, Harpsichord, Piano, Tympani and Vocals

MICKEY HART and BILL KREUTZMANN – Drums and Percussion

TOM CONSTANTEN – Prepared Piano, Piano, Electric Tape

 

Initially in shrink-wrap, it looks the part with its gold reissue details sticker on one side and a 50th Anniversary lightning head sticker on the other. But once you open it, the three-way fold out card sleeve doesn't really offer much – track lists in a difficult-to-read font. The picture art CDs are nice and some band hand-drawn recording details are beneath each see-through CD tray for Side 1 and Side 2. But the 16-page booklet is hugely disappointing even with new and deeply knowledgeable liner notes from STEVE SIBERMAN. He goes into the music scene at the time, their output and attitudes as a direct result of the 'chaotic splendour of LSD'. He also does not shirk from remarks then (and now) that some viewed this album as stoned-hippy cack (me being one of them).

 

I found the live CD (recorded October 1967) raw, but much more interesting that the terrible main studio album. The Dead open with a riffage-heavy cover of the Tim Rose winner "Morning Dew" following that with a track the crowd had not heard yet (would be on the "Anthem Of The Sun" album in 1968) – the near ten-minutes of "New Potato Caboose". And on it goes to fourteen minutes of "Anthem Of The Sun". The audio is pretty damn good given the vintage and circumstances – vocals to the left – Neil Young grunge guitar and Animals-type organ to the right. Bluesy lurch channelling a more hard-hitting B.B. King comes at us with their cover of the Tampa Red 40ts Blues classic "It Hurst Me Too" (great Harmonica too).

 

The terrible vocals and DIY-band vibe continue with "Cold Rain And Snow" – throwing back her yellow hair – only to be followed with more R&B – a cover of the Bobby Bland romper "Turn On Your Lovelight" which the Dead typically heavy up but you have to say in a good way (and you can so hear why CD2 is a cause for fan excitement). The drums, vocals and counter vocals are clean and it’s a surprisingly coherent bash at its very Gloria feel (great guitar work). And on it goes...

 

You would have to say that all three-out-of-five star ratings attributed to this supposed 50th Anniversary celebration are absolutely on the money. It is good but never really great despite the improved audio. Hear "Anthem Of The Sun" first before you buy is the best advice and also - don’t buy drugs, become a Board Member of Pfizer and they will give them to you and your family for free...

"3 Original Album Classics" by ARETHA FRANKLIN – Featuring "The Electrifying Aretha Franklin" from May 1962, "The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin" from November 1962, An Uncredited "Soft & Beautiful" from April 1969 on CD2 in Error and "Soul Sister" from July 1966 – All Four Albums Originally on Columbia Records and Presented Here in their STEREO Versions (February 2010 UK Sony/Columbia/Legacy 3CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

 

"…It Should Have Ended Long Ago…"

 

A weird one in so many ways in that this 3CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet offers more than is advertised on the tin (4 albums instead of 3) and then drops one song on CD1. But all of it is second tier music anyway (her much derided stay at Columbia Records). Time to explain and get to the details...

 

UK released February 2010 in the UK and Europe - "3 Original Album Classics" by ARETHA FRANKLIN on Sony/Columbia/Legacy 88697618262 (Barcode 886976182625) is a 3CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Three Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves and Remasters. It breaks down as follows:

 

Disc 1 is the album "The Electrifying Aretha Franklin" originally released May 1962 in the USA on Columbia Records CL 1761 (Mono) and CS 8561 (Stereo). The Stereo version is used here (12 Tracks, 31:36 minutes). The back of the box wrongly lists 13 tracks, when there is only 12 – the missing song is the first one on Side 1 - "You Made Me Love You".

 

Disc 2 is the album "The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin" released November 1962 in the USA on Columbia Records CL 1876 (Mono) and CS 8676. (Stereo). The Stereo version is used here (70:11 minutes)

 

NOTE to CD2: as you can see from the playing time above - a mastering error has put 22 tracks on Disc 2 so it actually features an uncredited whole album - Tracks 13 to 22 are the LP "Soft & Beautiful" issued April 1969 on Columbia Records CS 9776 in Stereo.

 

Disc 3 is the album "Soul Sister" released July 1966 in the USA on Columbia Records CL 2521 (Mono) and CS 9321 (Stereo). The Stereo version is used here (11 tracks, 30:23 minutes).

 

The sound quality is truly gorgeous - exceptional really - and the credits can be downloaded from Sony's website at www.musicmadesimple.info. But that's where the good news ends...

 

The music is mostly awful. This was her stay at the straight-laced Columbia label and not the entirely creative and sympathetic Atlantic Records. Columbia tried to put her across as a female Nat King Cole - so each song either starts with violin strings or features them somewhere in the middle - to a point where you end up getting tune after tune with these soulless crooner arrangements. The mediocrity of the song choices too is hard to believe - "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" and "Swanee" for God's sake! A woman with a godlike voice like this! Even Ray Charles' mighty "Just For A Thrill" - which cannot be wrecked as a song - is reduced to saccharine. 

 

It's not all bad of course - "Only The Lonely" is lovely and features great vocal work, while her version of "Try A Little Tenderness" (later made famous by Otis Redding in 1967 on Atlantic) shows some of that magic touch. "Without The One You Love" is pretty too, even when it's drowning in syrupy strings. And you're constantly aware of that 'sound' - these are the remastered Legacy issues of a few years back and audio quality is truly breathtaking. But if you really want Aretha Franklin at her soulful best, then start with her Atlantic debut album "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" from 1967 and prepare to be properly blown away. Unfortunately, track after track here only convinces you that this is not Sixties Soul, but Soulless Sixties Pap.

 

I picked this up in a London store a few days ago - only released 3 months ago - and it's already reduced to five pounds. Cheap or not with an uncredited extra album or no, I'd advise you to hear this set first before you buy it.

 

One to avoid I'm afraid...

 

PS: other titles in this "3" CD series for 2010 include:

1. AMERIE (01 February 2010)

(All I Have/Touch/Because I Love It)

2. SHAWN COLVIN (08 February 2010)

[Steady On/Fat City/Cover Girl]

3. AGNETHA FALTSKOG [FRIDA of ABBA] (01 February 2010)

[Agnetha Faltskog/Nar En Vacker Tanke Blirsang/Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus]

4. (PETER GREEN'S) FLEETWOOD MAC (01 February 2010)

[Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac/Mr. Wonderful/The Pious Bird of Good Omen - The Original UK Album Track Lists - No Extras]

5. JOURNEY (01 February 2010)

[Departure/Escape/Frontiers]

6. WILLIE NELSON (01 February 2010)

[Yesterday's Wine/Red Headed Stranger/Stardust]

7. DOLLY PARTON (8 February 2010)

[Eagle When She Flies/Slow Dancing With The Moon/White Limozeen]

8. (CARLOS) SANTANA (08 February 2010)

[Illuminations/Oneness/The Swing of Delight]

9. SCORPIONS (01 February 2010)

[In Trance/Virgin Killer/Taken By Force]

10. SIMON and GARFUNKEL (01 February 2010)

[Sounds Of Silence/Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme/Bookends]

11. TOTO (08 February 2010)

[Toto/Hydra/Turn Back]

12. LUTHER VANDROSS (01/02/2010)

(Never Too Much/Give Me The Reason/The Power of Love)

13. THE WALKER BROTHERS (01/02/2010)

[No Regrets/Lines/Nite Flights]

"Where Were You When I Needed You/Let's Live For Today/Feelings/Lovin' Things" by THE GRASS ROOTS – Four US Studio Albums from 1966 (Debut), 1967, 1968 and 1969 all on Dunhill Records featuring Producer and Songwriters Lou Adler, P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri with Band Members Creed Bratton, Rock Coonce, Rob Grill and Warren Entner (April 2022 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilations – 4LPs onto 2CDs with Andrew Thompson Remasters)- A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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"…Melody For You…"

 

Musically somewhere between The Association, The Monkees, The Fabs and even the more melodic moments of Moby Grape (with the long-shadow of The Byrds lingering in the background) – THE GRASS ROOTS charted big – but not that you would know in 2022 or 2023. This most American of Jangle Rock bands seem all but forgotten now let alone respected like some of the hallowed names just mentioned. Yet between 1967 and 1972, TGR charted seven albums on Billboard's Rock LP charts and an impressive fourteen 45-singles starting in 1966 (also ending in 1972). 

 

Brainchild of Producer and Arranger LOU ADLER and featuring extensive songwriting contributions from two 60ts icons - P.F. SLOAN and STEVE BARRI – the last decent CD compilation for The Grass Roots covered their singles. Check out my review for the March 2014 CD "The Complete Original Dunhill/ABC Hit Singles" on Real Gone Music RGM-0227 (B0020162-02) - Barcode 848064002277. A superb sounding compilation with Aaron Kannowski remasters - all 24 of its tracks are USA seven-inch single MONO Mixes (66:27 minutes) and it's a cracker.

 

And that's where this timely 2CD compilation from England's Beat Goes On (BGO) comes a Byrds-jangling in - offering us their first four Studio Albums by THE GRASS ROOTS expertly remastered in Stereo onto 2CDs for maximum value. Time to get rooted (oh dear)...

 

UK released 8 April 2022 - "Where Were You When I Needed You/Let's Live For Today/Feelings/Lovin' Things" by THE GRASS ROOTS on Beat Goes On BGOCD1478 (Barcode 5017261214782) offers Four Stereo Studio Albums originally on Dunhill Records (USA) remastered onto 2CDs and it plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (66:43 minutes):

1. Only When You're Lonely [Side 1]

2. Look Out Girl 

3. Ain't That Lovin' You Baby

4. I've Got No More To Say 

5. I Am A Rock 

6. Lollipop Train (You've Never Had It So Good)

7. Where Were You When I Needed You [Side 2]

8. You Don't Have To Be So Nice

9. Tell Me 

10. You Baby

11. That Is What I Was Made For 

12. Mrs. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man)

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Where Were You When I Needed You" - released August 1966 in the USA on Dunhill Records D-50011 (Mono) and Dunhill DS-50011 (Stereo) - no UK issue. The STEREO Mix is used for this CD.

 

13. Things I Should Have Said [Side 1] 

14. Wake Up, Wake Up 

15. Tip Of My Tongue

16. Is It Any Wonder

17. Let's Live For Today

18. Beatin' Round The Bush

19. Out Of Touch [Side 2]

20. Won't You See Me

21. Where Were You When I Needed You 

22. No Exit

23. The Precious Time

24. House Of Stone

Tracks 13 to 24 are their second studio album "Let's Live For Today" - released July 1967 in the USA on Dunhill Records D 50022 (Mono) and Dunhill DS 50022 (Stereo) - no UK issue. The STEREO Mix is used for this CD.

 

CD2 (65:23 minutes): 

1. Feelings [Side 1]

2. Here's Where You Belong 

3. The Sins Of The Family Fall On The Daughter 

4. Melody For You 

5. Who Will You Be Tomorrow

6. You Might As Well Go My Way 

7. All Good Things Come To An End [Side 2]

8. Hot Bright Lights 

9. Hey Friend 

10. You And Love Are The Same

11. Dinner For Eight

12. Feelings (Reprise)

Tracks 1 to 12 are their third studio album "Feelings" - released February 1968 in the USA on Dunhill Records D 50027 (Mono) and Dunhill DS 50027 (Stereo) - no UK issues. The STEREO Mix is used for this CD.  

 

13. Lovin' Things [Side 1]

14. The River Is Wide

15. (You Gotta) Live For Love

16. City Women

17. What Love Is Made For

18. Pain

19. I Get So Excited [Side 2]

20. The Days Of Pearly Spencer

21. Baby, You Do It So Well

22. I Can't Help But Wonder, Elizabeth

23. Fly Me To Havana

Tracks 13 to 23 are their fourth studio album "Lovin' Things" - released March 1969 in the USA on ABC/Dunhill Records DS 50052 (Stereo only) and March 1969 in the UK on EMI/Stateside SJSL 5064 (Stereo only). 

 

THE GRASS ROOTS were:

CREED BRATTON - Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar

WARREN ENTNER - Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar

ROB GRILL - Lead Vocals and Bass

RICK COONCE - Drums and Percussion

Other Musicians included:

P.F. Sloan (Guitars and Bass), Larry Knechtel and Jimmie Haskell (Keyboards), Joe Osborn and Bobby Ray (Guitars), Hal Blaine (Drums), 'Bones' Howe (Percussion), 

 

The outer card slipcase and 24-page booklet lends this twofer CD set a feel of class. And once again BGO's long-time liner notes associate CHARLES WARING pours on the factoids and generally favourable opinions. Along with all the artwork (front and rear) filling out the first cluster of pages - Waring references sources that include P.F. Sloane's autobiography - it's a typically informative and affectionate read for a band that deserves the spotlight. The AUDIO is very clean even if the deliberate channel separation (the way it was recorded) begins to sound jarring. The imaging is great and when these so-60ts recordings kick in, the pack an ANDREW THOMPSON remastered wallop. Another point noting is that the "Golden Grass" greatest hits set issued in September 1968 contained two new tunes that were both issued as successful 45s in the USA - "Midnight Confessions" and "Bella Linda" and despite room on either CD – they are both AWOL. To the chunes we do have...

 

The debut album is a typical catchall mishmash of contemporary cover versions alongside Sloan and Barri originals. TGR tackled the gentle harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock" (rather well too), The Turtles on "You Baby" and Barry McGuire's "Lollipop Train (You Never Had It So Good)" - while The Stones' "Tell Me", The Lovin' Spoonful's "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice" and Jimmy Reed's R&B classic "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" provided the semi-boppers.

 

Opening the band's vinyl account in America - Dunhill Records not surprisingly picked the man of the 1965 moment as their 45-single debut. The Grass Roots' lovely version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man)" had Dunhill D-4013 put "You're A lonely Girl" on the flipside - a Non-LP track that's outside the purview of this compilation unfortunately. Fans would have to wait until April 1966 for the next platter - a pairing on Dunhill D-4029 of the Sloan/Barri classic "Where Were You When I Needed You" with another Non-LP B-side "(These Are) Bad Times". It did the trick - the A-side punching into Billboard's US singles charts in mid July 1966 and rising to a healthy No. 28 position. Their debut album would proffer one more single in August 1966 (just as the album was released) - the Sloan/Barri two-song combo of "Only When You're Lonely" with "That's What I Was Made Of" on the flipside of Dunhill D-4043 - but chart success would elude them until the release of their much loved second LP - "Let's Live For Today".

 

A cover of an Italian ditty called 'Piangi Con Me' which translates into 'Cry With Me' - The Grass Roots started their chart success proper with their version of that song re-titled "Let's Live For Today". Released April 1967, when that piano, bass and strummed acoustic guitar hits your speakers - you can so hear why its Monkees-meets-The Beatles girly-angst hit the charts with a wallop. Cleverly constructed as the vocals pan across your speakers - hippy-hippy shake moments swoop and swirl and this winner made it up No. 8 on the US singles chart (Dunhill D-4084). The "I'm glad we're different…" and "don't worry about tomorrow…" lyrics of "Let's Live For Today" meant something to Vietnam grunts too.

 

Their signature sound of Clavinet and layered vocals fills every bit of the so-60ts "Beatin' Round The Bush" (it even has a half decent guitar solo). But my fave is the whack and 'down your street' pleader "Out Of Touch" - a Sloan and Barri stab at The Kinks that succeeds. Other acoustic goodies include the layered harmonies of "No Exit" (the walls closing in) and the 'keeping me down' Beach Boys sweetness in "This Precious Time". The album ends in the sound to come - the slightly bad-boy Psych-influenced guitar trash of "House Of Stone" - a fantastic shin-kicker penned by Lead Guitarist Creed Bratton. 

 

Despite the commercial feel to its two opening clavinet and strings cuts, the "Feelings" album (their third) saw changes – a pronounced move away from the Pop of Sloan and Barri to sexier genres and the whole band playing on the album. S & B had only two songs on the album – "Here's Where You Belong" and "Melody For You". After the overtly saccharine nature of the openers, suddenly there is a Kinks hard-hitting guitar edge to "The Sins Of A Family Fall On The Daughter" – a socially smart Ben Sidan song about a girl of 30 who has been around a little too much for her own good. They really come into their own with the brilliant "Who Will You Be Tomorrow" – a Grill and Entner composition that has a slinky vibe with fabulous fuzzed-up guitar. The very pretty "Melody For You" came resplendent with lyrics like "...if I were a poet…my words would be revealing…" This period sweetheart of a tune was issued as a 45-single on Dunhill D-4122 in February 1968 (the Rob Grill and Warren Entner composition "Hey Friend" was its B-side) - but failed to get traction. There is a Dylan meets Buddy Holly jangle to "You Might As Well Go My Way" - while the band channels their inner Neil Diamond Tin Pan Alley cool with the super piano-catchy "All Good Things Come To An End" (great audio on this). The Grass Roots become almost funky THEM with the excellent flick-and-chug of "Hot Bright Lights" – a tune that actually uses the word groovy.

 

Unfortunately the band may have progressed song-wise, but the "Feelings" album di not do much business and there is a marked back-to-what-worked feel to their fourth platter. Title track "Lovin' Things" had been a UK hit for Marmalade (featuring Junior Campbell) in 1968 – the Grass Roots taking its infectious beat to the charts in March 1969. "The River Is Wide" was originally recorded by The Forum on Mira Records 232 in 1967 - here TGR begin their take with cracks of thunders but then do melodrama via Phil Spector and it is admittedly very dated. Harmonica on "(You Gotta) Live For Love" and the death-of-me "City Women" help both tunes, but the strings make it feel like they are trying to hard to please. Back to clavinet can’t-go-on whinging with "What Love Is Made Of" – an awful cloying ballad best forgotten. They even have a go at David McWilliams 'watching me too' tale in "The Days Of Pearly Spencer" though the separation of channels is harsher than it should be. Not as good an album as its undiscovered predecessor.

 

For sure, by the time you get to album number four, you can already hear the winning formula that served them on albums one and two and that taste of genuine progress on their adventurous third – already worn out. But there is much to enjoy on here and warm to see their legacy get such tasty presentation from BGO (yet another quality compilation from them).

 

A uniquely American phenomenon – The Grass Roots deserve this very cool Beat Goes On 4LPs-onto-2CDs offering. Why I can almost forgive those beads and that hairy chest man...