"Buddy Miles Live/A Message To The People" by BUDDY MILES - 2LP Live Set from October 1971 USA (February 1972 UK) Combined With An April 1971 USA Single Studio LP (June 1971 UK) both on Mercury Records - Buddy Miles, Stemsey Hunter and Herbie Rich all ex The Electric Flag, Buddy Miles also ex Jimi Hendrix's Band Of Gypsies. Also featuring Hank Redd, David Hull, Charlie Karp (Karp later with White Chocolate and Dirty Angels), Donnie Beck (later with B & G Rhythm) and more (April 2023 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation - 3LPs onto 2CDs - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Feelin' Alright This Evening..."

 

After decades in the digital wilderness, we of a Rhythm 'n' Blues meets Brassy Rock meets Soul and Funk persuasion finally get the last two pieces of the Buddy Miles Discography put out onto a quality CD reissue - and it's a twofer doozy. The ex Electric Flag and Hendrix's Band Of Gypsies Drummer and Singer has never sounded so good.

 

I have already reviewed the compilation "Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together" that England's Beat Goes On Records reissued onto 2CDs in January 2022 (Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1468 - Barcode 5017261214683). That Andrew Thompson remastered release contained four studio albums originally issued November 1968, June 1969, July and November 1970 in the USA on Mercury Records featuring Production by Jimi Hendrix on LP No. 2 ("Electric Church"). The first two were credited to Buddy Miles Express and everything after that to plain old Buddy Miles. 

 

Extra info: his 1968 American debut solo album "Expressway To The Skull" (1969 in the UK) is also on a rare mail-order only CD reissue out of the USA. Released December 2006 - "Expressway To The Skull" on Hip-O Select B0002976-2 came in an Oversized Mini LP Repro Artwork Hard Card Gatefold Sleeve and was limited to only 5000 copies worldwide (no Barcode, numbered on the rear - Hip-O Select was the mail-order wing of Universal). That gorgeous sounding version has been deleted years now but costs far more than its worth. I mention this by way of info, because you are frankly going to get far better value for money out of the superb BGO 2CD set highlighted above. Buy that first - then come to door number two...

 

Which brings us in 2023 to this - another 2CD compilation from BGO that rounds up the remainder of his six-album discography for Mercury Records. Lots to yak on about ye pirates of the groove; so once more my Right On Funkadelics to the groin-gyrating details...

 

UK released Friday, 7 April 2023 - "Buddy Miles Live/A Message To The People" by BUDDY MILES on Beat Goes on Records BGOCD1493 (Barcode 5017261214935) offers 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs. The first is a live double-album spread across two CDs (Sides 1 and 2 on CD1 etc), the second a single studio LP entirely on the end of CD2. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (43:03 minutes):

1. Introduction (0:42 minutes) [Side 1]

2. Joe Tex  (4:32 minutes)

3. Take It Off Him And Put It On Me (4:54 minutes)

4. Down By The River (12:55 minutes)

5. Wrap It Up (19:03 minutes) [Side 2]

Tracks 1 to 5 are the first LP (Sides 1 and 2) of the double-album "Buddy Miles Live" - released October 1971 in the USA on Mercury Records SRM-2-7500 and February 1972 in the UK on Mercury Records 6641 033. It peaked at No. 10 on the American R&B LP charts in the USA (No. 50 on Pop & Rock) - didn't chart UK.

 

CD2 (77:18 minutes)

1. Place Over There (5:03 minutes) [Side 3]

2. The Segment (12:18 minutes)

3. Them Changes (12:44 minutes) [Side 4]

4. Applause (1:00 minutes)

5. We Got To Live Together (12:18 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 5 are the second LP (Sides 3 and 4) of the double-album "Buddy Miles Live" - released October 1971 in the USA on Mercury Records SRM-2-7500 and February 1972 in the UK on Mercury Records 6641 033. It peaked at No. 10 on the American R&B LP charts in the USA (No. 50 on Pop & Rock) - didn't chart UK. 

 

The BUDDY MILES Live Band was:

BUDDY MILES – Drums and Lead Vocals

CHARLIE KARP – Lead Guitar and Vocals

DAVID HULL – Bass and Vocals

DONNIE BECK – Organ

HANK REDD – Tenor Saxophone

STEMSY HUNTER – Alto Saxophone

TOM HALL – Trumpet

BOB HOGINS – Trombone & Organ

 

6. Joe Tex [Side 1]

7. The Way I Feel Tonight

8. Place Over There

9. The Segment

10. Don't Keep Wondering [Side 2]

11. Midnight Rider

12. Sudden Stop

13. Wholesale Love

14. That's The Way Life Is

Tracks 6 to 13 are his fifth studio album "A Message To The People" – released April 1971 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1 608 and June 1971 in the UK on Mercury 6338 028. It peaked at No. 12 on the American R&B LP charts (No. 60 in the Pop & Rock LP charts) - didn't chart UK.

 

The BUDDY MILES Band for the Studio LP was:

BUDDY MILES – Lead and background Vocals, Guitar, Organ and Drums

ANDRE LEWIS – Organ, Clavinet, Piano and Background Vocals

CHARLIE KARP – Lead Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals

MARLO HENDERSON – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Uni-Vibe, Backing Vocals

DAVID HULL – Bass and Backing Vocals

FRED ALLEN – Drums and Percussion

MICHAEL FUGATE – Lead Trumpet and Flugelhorn

TOM HALL – Second Trumpet and Flugelhorn

HANK REDD – Tenor and Baritone Saxophones

STEMSY HUNTER – Alto Saxophone and Backing Vocals

 

The card slipcase is classy (as always), the original artwork for both LPs reproduced in the 16-page booklet with new liner notes from noted Music Historian and Regular Mojo Magazine contributor CHARLES WARING – whilst the Remasters are by BGO's resident Audio Engineer – ANDREW THOMPSON. You will probably have noticed that the order of the albums is reversed for this CD – the studio set should be first and the live double second. But probably because of timing issues, they are the other way around.

 

Audio-wise, they are a tale of two cities. The live set is good, at times great, but at other times showing its age and crudity of recording. The studio album just leaps out of your speakers and sounds frankly Funkily amazing. Live is 3 to 4-stars – Studio is five-alive. Waring does his usual thorough exploratory when it comes to the history of the songs and notes, that although forgotten now – back in the Seventies day, Buddy Miles was a voice and a chart presence to be reckoned with. After the funky one-two sucker-punch of the "Them Changes" and "A Message To My People" studio sets – it was time to give the public the incendiary live performances he had become rather well known for. In late 1971 his double "Buddy Miles Live" went up to No. 10 on the US R&B LP charts and had a 22-week run – impressive for such a release. The audio on the studio LP is HUGE (all that instrumentation going on) but in a good way. There are tracks on this album (those two Allmans covers especially) that I've been after for Funky-Funky Cover Version CD compilations for years. Good job done - to the big guns...

 

Side 1 offers a devastating live trio that must have pretty much knocked the crowd for six. He urges the gang to boogie in their seats, then the band launches into a sort of Manic Blues Brothers Brass-Band assault that segues from Track 2 into Track 3. "Take It Off Him And Put It On Me" had been a January 1970 US 45-single for American Soul Singer Clarence Carter on Atlantic 2702 (A-side). For his live-and-in-yer-face take, Buddy Miles takes the tune's inherent funkiness and throws in loads more brass and hip-shakin' mama-ness to a point where you can feel the audience getting lewd with the row of seats in front of them.

 

Quieting down the pace and mellowing out the mood comes with "Down By The River" - the Neil Young classic from his debut solo album "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" after leaving Buffalo Springfield. Miles smartly hooks into its deeply adaptable nature by turning what was a Guitar-Rock workout on the Young Reprise LP into a Soulful church organ and brass soloing showcase. Slow at first, the band cleverly melts its harmony vocals and begins building to a place where varying horn instruments do battle with a Church Organ (Donnie Beck) like a cool Miles Davis workout. Charles Warring quite rightly praises its astonishing transformation from Rock murder creep into a Soul Aria. Tom Hall on Trumpet and Bob Hogins on Trombone blow the thing out of the water while Donnie Beck gets all testifying Georgie Fame on the organ. Overall it is a fantastic near-thirteen minute crowd-winner and is the first tune on Live to cement the double's greatness in your mind.

 

Miles seriously funks things it with a cover of the Isaac Hayes and David Porter penned "Wrap It Up". About 7:40 minutes in after what seems like the Guitarist going all Hendrix on the night – the band stops – only to have a incessant beat return only this allowing Donnie Beck to go nuts on the organ – soon joined by Brass. Then of course you have to get through the obligatory drum solo. This is the whole Brass-Soul-Rock genre in a live nutshell and even if it does overstay its endless boogie stay at nineteen minutes – hard not to be impressed with the virtuosity of a band this hot whipping the crowd up into frenzy with their sheer showmanship.

 

The studio LP "A Message To The People" was an R&B album smash on release in April 1971 - certainly in the USA where it hit No. 12 before the live double came on the back of that tour in October 1971 and went two chart places further to No. 10 (neither album barely made any headway in the UK - in fact the live 2LP set wasn't released in Blighty until February of 1972 where it promptly died). As Buddy Miles did with the 1970 "Them Changes" LP and The Allman Brothers Band song "Dreams" from their "Idlewild South" album of 1969 - Miles tapped two more from the same platter for his "A Message To The People" set - the fabulous "Midnight Rider" and "Don't Keep Me Wondering". I don't quite know why such a marriage works - but Buddy Miles rearranging and doing Allman Brothers Southern Rock songs with a Soul-Funk twist worked - like say Leon Russell doing a Tony Joe White tune. 

 

The 'Message' album also worked that other Funky-Funky seam - Stax stalwart Otis Redding for his "Wholesale Love" - all those Brass and guitars. The instrumental (which turned up on the live set) "The Segment" is a co-write between Miles and his Saxophone player Hank Redd. Even the Bobby Russell-penned "Sudden Stop" which had been a hit for Percy Sledge on Atlantic Records in July 1968 gets a good old working over. All in all - a very cool album with huge audio from the Remaster.

 

It seems unfair in 2023 that Buddy Miles is such a footnote in Soul and Funk Music History. Because this crossover dude with his great hair, his soulful voice, his hammer-down sticks and even his knack for penning a tune or picking the greats of others - should be remembered with more genuine respect for bringing crossover music to his peeps. 

 

Fans will absolutely have to have to it and newcomers are eagerly advised to give the rather cool double-header (Beat Goes On BGOCD1493) a whirl - immerse yourself in the heady 1971 of it all - all over again. "Feelin' alright this evening..." Indeed I am...

"Vertigo" by GRAHAM PARKER (and THE RUMOUR) – A 40-Track 2CD Mercury/Vertigo Records Anthology - Album And 45-Single Tracks from his April 1976 UK Debut "Howlin Wind" to his Fifth Studio Album "Squeezing Out Sparks" in March 1979 – Featuring Brinsley Schwarz, Bob Andrews, Martin Belmont, Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding of The Rumour with Guests Dave Edmunds, John Earle and Producer Jack Nitzsche - Includes the 1976 UK Promotional LP "Live At Marble Arch" Produced by Nick Lowe - First Time on CD Here (October 1996 UK Vertigo/Mercury 2CD 40-Track 'Chronicles' Anthology with Roger Wake Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Dodged All The Turnpikes..."

 

Tales of boozy anguish in hotel rooms with frisky chambermaids and a search the world over (well mostly in Dagenham) for that special lady. Graham Parker and his kickass band The Rumour should have been huge - what with their edgy songs that fused 60s R&B with Punk Rock lyrics about the frustrations and exhilaration of dole-ridden young life in New Wave England. And in some kind of curiously begrudging non-commercial 'stop reminding us of our predicament' way – they were. At least among my Dublin mates and I, GP & Crew were the Super Unleaded nozzle to us. 

 

I suppose as someone who lived through Punk and New Wave (and bought the safety pins and buttons) – I kind of thought that as each new record seemed to get demonstrably better than the last – the public would embrace him like they had say Elvis Costello or Nick Lowe or Hell, even Dave Edmunds. But the right worshipful Graham Parker (a gent from Chobham in Surrey) always seemed to struggle to rise above the music pulpit to be heard.

 

Still – this unwieldy CD twofer from the forgotten hills of England in 1996 (and one of those splurges the industry used to call 'A Chronicles Anthology' on the sticker) is here to remind us of our mistakes and emotional misdemeanors and offer up forty acts of suburban contrition so we can reassess and forgive ourselves for our many colored-vinyl trespasses. Here are the howlers...

 

UK released October 1996 - "Vertigo" by GRAHAM PARKER (and The Rumour) on Vertigo/Mercury 534 100-2 (Barcode 731453410022) is a 2CD 40-Track 'Chronicles' Best-Of Anthology covering his stay at Mercury and Vertigo Records between 1976 and 1979. It has Roger Wake Remasters from Original Tapes and also includes the 10-Track Promotional LP "Live At Marble Arch" (Tracks 6 to 15 on CD1) issued in 1976 in the UK and is first time on CD here. "Vertigo" plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (73:01 minutes):

1. Between You And Me

2. I'm Gonna Use It Now

3. You've Got To Be Kidding

4. Howlin' Wind

5. Back To Schooldays

6. White Honey (Live)

7. That's What They All Say (Live)

8. Back Door Love (Live)

9. Back To Schooldays (Live)

10. Silly Thing (Live)

11. Chain Of Fools (Live)

12. Don't Ask Me Questions (Live)

13. You Can't Hurry Love (Live)

14. Soul Shoes (Live)

15. Kansas City (Live)

16. Heat Treatment

17. Hotel Chambermaid

18. Black Honey

19. Fool's Gold

20. Hold Back The Night

21. (Let Me Get) Sweet On You

NOTES ON CD1:

Tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5 are from his debut album "Howlin Wind", April 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 129 and Mercury SRM-1 1095. Track 5 features Dave Edmunds on Rockabilly Guitar

Track 2 is the Non-LP B-side to "Silly Thing", his UK Debut 45-single in March 1976 on Mercury 6059 135

Tracks 6 to 10 are Side 1 whilst Tracks 11 to 15 are Side 2 of the Promotional Only UK LP "Live At Marble Arch" issued in 1976 on Phonogram G.P. 1. It is issued here in its entirety for the first time on CD. Note: The two Promo-Only Live Tracks "Silly Thing (Live)" b/w "Kansas City (Live)" were offered as a FREE SINGLE with initial copies of his second British album "Heat Treatment"

Tracks 16, 17, 18 and 19 are from his second studio album "Heat Treatment", October 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 137 and in the USA on Mercury SRM-1 1095

Tracks 20 and 21 make up Side 1 of a 4-track Extended Play EP - "The Pink Parker – Hold Back The Night" released March 1977 in the UK on Vertigo PARK 001. The other two tracks on the B-side were "White Honey" and "Soul Shoes" - both of which were on the preceding "Howlin Wind" album. "Hold Back The Night" is a cover of a TRAMMPS US Soul hit originally on Buddah Records in February 1976 – the other songs are Graham Parker originals with both "Hold Back The Night" and "(Let Me Get) Sweet On You" being exclusive to the EP.

 

CD2 (69:55 minutes):

1. The New York Shuffle

2. Watch The Moon Come Down

3. The Raid

4. Lady Doctor

5. I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

6. The Heat in Harlem

7. Gypsy Blood

8. Discovering Japan

9. Local Girls

10. Nobody Hurts You

11. You Can't Be Too Strong

12. Passion Is No Ordinary Word

13. Saturday Nite is Dead

14. Love Gets You Twisted

15. Protection

16. Waiting For The UFOs

17. Don't Get Excited

18. Mercury Poisoning

19. I Want You Back (Alive)

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1, 2 and 3 are from his third studio album "Stick To Me" – released October 1977 in the UK on Vertigo 9102 017

Tracks 4, 5, 6 and 7 are from his fourth album "The Parkerilla" – released May 1978 as a 2LP set on Vertigo 6641 797 – it was all recorded live in the studio

Tracks 8 to 17 are the entire album "Squeezing Out Sparks", his fifth album released March 1979 on Vertigo 9102 030

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a March 1979 US-only 45-single on Arista AS-0439

 

GRAHAM PARKER – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Rhythm Guitar on

 

THE RUMOUR was:

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Guitar, Hammond Organ, Tenor Saxes and Backing Vocals

BOB ANDREWS – Lowrey And Hammond Organ, Piano and backing Vocals

MARTIN BELMONT – Guitar and backing Vocals

ANDREW BODNAR - Bass

STEVE GOULDING – Drums and backing Vocals

 

The 12-page booklet splits its details between JOHN TOBLER and GRAHAM PARKER – Tobler concentrating on the track-facts and scene-setting history while GP reminisces on his beginnings with the British Pub Rock band Brinsley Schwarz, his musical influences and where it all eventually led – to the USA on a bus hearing their latest single on American Radio and being duly impressed (not even the slightest bit repulsed). You would not say the lack of Discography or even half-decent photos or memorabilia helps (it all feels too slight even for a Chronicles twofer in 1996) – but thankfully the ROGER WAKE Remasters lift proceedings and leave it all on the page – the music. These Remasters jump and snarl - "Saturday Nite Is Dead" on the "Squeezing Out Sparks" album has huge guitars now – riffage and power galore (the whole album is included, and as many feel it his best, that is a good thing). To the tunes...

 

Choice shavings from his five albums for Vertigo Records are all here in spiffing audio - "Howlin Wind" (April 1976), "Heat Treatment" (October 1976), "Stick To Me" (October 1977), the double album "The Parkerilla" (May 1978) and finally "Squeezing Out Sparks" (March 1979). Inbetween the cracks are rare B-sides, stand-alone 45s and the big prize for diehard fans – a first-time on CD outing for the legendary "Live At Marble Arch" Promo-Only album issued by Phonogram to keep journos and industry insiders thinking about GP before the second LP of 1976. To that...

 

After the critical rave-ups and warm public response the debut album "Howlin Wind" received on release in April 1976 and before the issue of his second studio album "Heat Treatment" in October of that mercurial year – Phonogram decided to record a Live LP inbetween and release it as mock-bootleg to keep the momentum going with journalists and insiders alike. Again produced by Nick Lowe (like the debut), the resulting 10-track set "Live At Marble Arch" was probably circulated August/September of 1976 (no one seems to now its exact release date) in its stamped Bootleg-looking sleeve. It included live versions of five tracks from the "Howlin Wind" debut (Tracks 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12 on CD1) whilst the second LP "Heat Treatment" (which had yet to appear at the time the live set was recorded) got two outings (Tracks 7 and 8 on CD1).

 

The other three cuts (Tracks 11, 13 and 15 on CD1) were covers from his first passion – American R&B and Soul artists - "Chain Of Fools" originally done by Aretha Franklin on Atlantic Records in 1967, "You Can't Hurry Love" by the Supremes on Motown in 1966 and the old Fifties Rhythm and Blues stalwart "Kansas City". The remastered Audio does its best with what Nick Lowe produced – get it down and stack it loud. Personally I love his tighter-than-tight Rumour band as they trash through one of my faves - "Back To Schooldays" (dig that twanging guitar solo while the old Joanna boogies along). The same can be said of a fantastic "Soul Shoes" and "Kansas City". Saxophone and sheer bombast carries the single "Silly Thing" to. In fact the overall impression is not of an angry young man or even a Punk/New Waver about town scowling at the powers that be – but that of a great band having a Pub Gig blast.

 

But the key to a 40-track spurge like this is the deep dives (or if you are new to GP, the discoveries). You could argue that the album "Squeezing Out Sparks" from 1978 (included on CD2 in its entirety) warrants serious rediscovery – stunners like the riffage of "Protection" and the aching real-world ballad "You Can't Be Too Strong" being genuine standouts. Spit and snarl and a certain world-weariness course through the veins of tunes like "Watch The Moon Come Down" and his rant at his American record label in "Mercury Poisoning" not doing him a solid – but I could honestly do without that cover of The Jackson 5 that ends CD2 on a bit of a too frivolous note.

 

Rhino had issued their superlative goody two shoes in 1993 called after a track on "Squeezing Out Sparks" – "Passion is No Ordinary Word: The Graham Parker Anthology 1976-1991" which also explored the Stiff Records and RCA 1980s albums that followed (personally I dug those even more) – so that compilation is worth seeking out too although in 2023 – it is deleted decades and has become pricey.

 

But in the meantime get dizzy on "Vertigo" – visually it may not look like much – but content/audio-wise – Graham Parker and The Rumour will tickle your inner gyro mechanisms as any good British Petrol Pump Attendant and his oily rags should...

"Lonesome, On'ry & Mean/Honky Tonk Heroes/This Time/Waylon The Ramblin' Man" by WAYLON JENNINGS – Four 'Country/Country Rock/Outlaw Country' American Albums from March 1973, July 1973, July 1974 and September 1974 on RCA Records – Guests Featuring Fred Carter, Billy Joe Shaver, Randy Scruggs, Charley McCoy and Members of Area Code 615, Pete Drake and Ralph Mooney, Tompall Glaser, Willie Nelson and more (August 2023 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 4LPs onto 2CDs Plus Six Bonus Tracks – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Moving Is The Closest Thing To Being Free..."

 

In what chart history has dubbed his Outlaw Country Music years, England's Beat Goes On Records (or BGO for short) continues their legacy exploration of the hugely successful and much-missed WAYLON JENNINGS - a serious Texan Duderino who clocked up a huge fifteen No.1 hits whilst at the same time kick-muling against sterile old ways when it came to presenting the music he loved and championed. This is BGO's fourth CD compilation for the Littlefield Highwayman (see list below).

 

What you get here are four albums issued on RCA Records in the USA (some in the UK) in rapid succession – March and July 1973 for the first two and July and September 1974 for three and four (all were Country LP chart hits in America). This twofer compilation however goes further though than just putting 4LPs onto 2CDs – it has also been smart enough to include three bonus tracks from the first LP and three more from the fourth that were previously issued on individual RCA Nashville/BMG Heritage CD Remasters out of the USA in 2003 and 2000.

 

And when you consider the huge guest name list – Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, Billy Joe Shaver, Randy Scruggs, Charley McCoy and Members of Area Code 615, legendary Pedal Steel players like Ralph Mooney and Pete Drake – you're getting a whole lot of value for your money and all dressed up in cool duds too (sounds mighty fine as well). To the Honky Tonk Heroes...

 

UK released Friday, 11 August 2023 – "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean/Honky Tonk Heroes/This Time/Waylon The Ramblin' Man" by WAYLON JENNINGS on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1496 (Barcode 5017261214966) features 4 LPs Remastered onto 2CDs with Six Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (69:36 minutes):

1. Lonesome, On'ry & Mean [Side 1]

2. Freedom To Stay

3. Lay It Down

4. Gone To Denver

5. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues

6. You Can Have Her [Side 2]

7. Pretend I Never Happened

8. San Francisco Mabel Joy

9. Sandy Sends Her Best

10. Me And Bobby McGee

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean" – released March 1973 in the USA on RCA Records LSP-4854. Produced by DANNY DAVIS and RONNY LIGHT – it peaked at No. 8 on the US Country LP charts

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Laid Back Country Picker

12. The Last One To Leave Seattle

13. Big, Big Love

Three Previously Unreleased Studio Outtakes first released digitally 2003 on the CD Reissue/Remaster for "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean" on RCA Nashville/BMG Heritage 82876 53229 2. The first two came from the late 1972 sessions for the LP, while the third was from the album sessions for "Ladies Love Outlaws" (released September 1972, also on RCA).

 

14. Honky Tonk Heroes [Side 1]

15. Old Five And Dimers (Like Me)

16. Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me

17. Low Down Freedom

18. Omaha

19. You Asked Me To [Side 2]

20. Ride Me Down Easy

21. Ain’t No God In Mexico

22. Black Rose

23. We Had It All

Tracks 14 to 23 are the album "Honky Tonk Heroes" – released July 1973 in the USA on RCA Records APL1-0240 and in the UK on RCA Records AFL1-0240. Produced by TOMPALL GLASSER and WAYLON JENNINGS (except "Low Down Freedom" and "Black Rose" produced by RONNIE LIGHT and "We Had It All" produced by KEN MANSFIELD and WAYLON JENNINGS) – the LP peaked at No. 14 on the US Country Music Charts

 

CD2 (71:01 minutes):

1. This Time [Side 1]

2. Louisiana Women

3. Pick Up The Tempo

4. Slow Rollin’ Low

5. Heaven Or Hell

6. It’s Not Supposed To Be That Way [Side 2]

7. Slow Movin’ Outlaw

8. Mona

9. Walkin’

10. If You Could Touch Her At All

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "This Time" – released June 1974 in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0539 and in the UK on RCA Victor AFL1-0539. Produced by WAYLON JENNINGS and WILLIE NELSON – it peaked at No. 4

 

11. I’m A Ramblin’ Man [Side 1]

12. Rainy Day Woman

13. Cloudy Days

14. Midnight Rider

15. Oklahoma Sunshine

16. The Hunger [Side 2]

17. I Can’t Keep My Hands Off Of You

18. Memories Of You And I

19. It’ll Be Her

20. Amanda

Tracks 11 to 20 are the album "Waylon The Ramblin' Man" – released September 1974 in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0734 and in the UK on RCA Victor LSA 3196 (APL1 0734). Produced by WAYLON JENNINGS and RAY PENNINGTON - it peaked at No.3 on the US Country Music Album Charts

 

BONUS TRACKS:

21. Got A Lot Going For Me

22. The Last Letter

23. The One I Sing My Love Songs To

Tracks 21 to 23 are outtakes from the sessions first released on the 2000 CD Reissue of the "Waylon The Ramblin' Man" album on Buddah 74465 99699 2

 

There's an outer card slipcase that lends the release a classy feel, the substantial 24-page booklet has liner notes from noted writer and Folk/Country Music aficionado JOHN O'REGAN and the artwork for all four albums, the musician credits and a long potted history on Jennings  that names Net Sources. It's a deep read that refers to Jennings' interviews done around the LPs - hands-on info from the man himself. But most will want to know about the audio.

I'm aware that some have said these albums (this period in general) was not really served well by Producers and RCA - yet there are others who swear by the naturality of the sound. In short you're probably getting that fans are often divided. To my ears the sonic improvement in ANDREW THOMPSON's New Remasters is considerable - the clarity of acoustic guitars - clean bass - very little traceable hiss - but yes the vocals are somewhat in the back of the mix on some songs, but it rarely gets in the way of his roadside performance. And those six Bonuses are actually worth having - putting an already tasty haul of Primo period albums over the edge. I love it, and as usual a quality release from BGO. To the tunes...

 

 

Recorded in late 1972 and determined not to fall back on tried and tested Country songs of old, Jennings fully embraced the new contemporary Country Rock sound of the early Seventies for his began to feel "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean" album. Sometimes referred to as Outlaw Country Music – the songs were still real but sometimes more macho and brutal in their subject matters. You get Danny O'Keefe and his 1971 ache-song "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" (check out the Harry Manx cover of this), the huge Kris Kristofferson crossover hit "Me And Bobby McGee", Johnny Cash and Waylon between marriages as they don their broken hearts and scuffed black coats and be "Gone to Denver" - while the cult artist Steve Young has his feeling uppity song used as the title track to the LP - "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean". As the harmonica wails and the guitars pluck and slide – I like the fullness of the Remaster - a title track no one but a bandit would use. More hit me with a sledgehammer lonesome comes a smoking out of your speakers with "Freedom To Stay" – a rambler who had walked alone too long finally finding the lady eyes he wants to settle down for. Lovely gut-string acoustic is remastered so nicely for "Lay It Down" – a lovely Gene Thomas song that Waylon lays into with real vocal power.

 

His vocal gets a tad lost in "Gone To Denver" even if the rest of the instruments are so clear. A nod too goes to the magnificence of Mickey Newbury over on Elektra Records in his cover of "San Francisco Mabel Joy"). But if I am completely truthful here – I turn away from the flashy chart-bound cover versions and go far more for the three stripped down laid-bare bonus tracks – very cool stuff and somehow imbibed with honesty that is more touching. But I have to say that while the ladies that join him for the backing on "Pretend I Never Happened" – the in-your-face vocals by them in You Can Have Her" has not weathered the years well.

 

But in my not-so-humble opinion, his second LP here trounces the first - "Honky Tonk Heroes" from June 1973 almost entirely dominated by the songwriting chops of Billy Joe Shaver who provides and is involved in a whopping nine of its ten tracks. With most of the LP Produced by Country Legend Tompall Glaser (Ronnie Light produced two) - man is it good - talk about dudes suiting each other musically. The acoustic is quiet and airy – his vocals sweet and the violin and Dobro both sail in nicely for "Honky Tonk Heroes" – and then that electric geetar too. Jennings just goes straight up Country Ballad with the lovely "Old Five And Dimers (Like Me)" – songwriter Shaver talking of fence yards and weary bones that think too much needing a place to belong. Nice vocals and a clean remaster for "Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me" – the Bass, Fiddle and Harmonica all holding up the strumming. Waylon does not want to risk love making a fool of him in "Low Down Freedom" – so he is a confused soul having to leave town when he does not really want to go (quality Remaster on this wildly underrated album).

 

CD2 opens with Waylon wanting his woman to walk the mark and toe the line – but despite his doomy threats as he sings "This Time" - you can’t help think the schmuck is setting himself up once again (Don Brooks on Harmonica). Produced by Willie Nelson, the no-nonsense back to business "This Time" album had been his best charting LP for nearly seven years – it hit No. 4. The title track was in fact put out by RCA in April 1974 ahead of the album and its warmth took it to No.1 – another in his huge tally of fourteen poll toppers. Willie Nelson also plays some lead guitar on "This Time" tunes supplemented by real pickers like Reggie Young and Fred Newell. The cover of "Louisiana Woman" (a J.J. Cale song) sounds lovely on Remaster even if the instruments like the Pedal Steel of Ralph Mooney sounds like its off in the distance by a (forgive me) a country mile. More walls of acoustic guitars and Pedal Steel to the left on the WN-penned "Pick Up The Tempo" – Waylon sounding like – well, Willie Nelson. Very good sound to the Acoustic and Harmonica driven "Slow Rollin' Low" – another poor-me tune set to a dancing beat – superlative Dobro moment from Ralph Mooney (WN also contributes Rhythm and Lead Guitar).

 

Willie joins Waylon for the jauntily odd "Heaven Or Hell" – a treated Trumpet not quite working on this one. Gorgeous Acoustic, Harmonica and Vocals on "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way" – a father pining for his estranged wife and child – regretting the distance imposed by bad decisions and the grind of separation. That same ache permeates every nuance of "Slow Movin' Outlaw" – a-once-quick-draw old-timer bemoaning the state of all around him (a Dee Moeller song, also plays Piano and Organ on the album). It ends on the pure Country of "If You Can Touch Her At All" – a Lee Miller-written smoocher that swirls and shuffles its sneaky way into your heart. Deep inside the album too was another fruitful collaboration – the "Mona" song on Side 2 of the LP being written by Miriam Eddy, the ex wife of Duane Eddy who would go on to change her name to JESSI COLTER. Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter because a commercial duet – a force to be reckoned with (see my BGO Reissue list below for two albums they did in 1971 and 1980).

 

You would think that album number four in such a recording rush might let the ball drop – think again. Jennings cleverly picked up again on Country Rock and mixing it with genuinely touching ballads – the "The Ramblin' Man" filled with both hipswayers and heartbreakers. Dig that fantastic Outlaw-Vibing guitar-shuffling cover version of The Allman Brother Band 1971 gem "Midnight Rider" – bound to be on some themed compilation soon. Gorgeous remastered audio on "The Hunger" – a woman aging fast and longing for a connection that will satisfy her fears and the reflections in too many mirrors. More ballad in "I Can’t Keep My Hands Off Of You" – but for me the album highlight is the guitar-swinging lilt in the brilliant "Memories Of You And I" – a prisoner with lines on his face that grow deeper. All the guitars – electric, pedal steel and acoustic – all collide into a sort of hugely produced Gram Parsons moment – all tune and emotions (the song was written by Lee Clayton). Fab...

 

I dare say most Waylon Jennings enthusiasts will need little persuasion here - they will press their battered purchase buttons and await the wife with a bill in one hand and a rolling pin in the other. Heartache hasn't sounded this good in five decades...

 

 

WAYLON JENNINGS CD compilations as of August 2023

On Beat Goes on Records (BGO) of the UK

In Album Release Date Order

 

1. JESSI COLTER and WAYLON JENNINGS

"A Country Star Is Born/Leather And Lace" (1971 and 1980 albums)

CD compilation offering 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD released 14 February 2020 on Beat Goes on BGOCD1300 (Barcode 5017261213006)

 

WAYLON JENNINGS

2. "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean/Honky Tonk Heroes/This Time/The Ramblin' Man" (2 x 1973 and 2 x 1974 albums)

CD compilation offering 4LPs and Six Bonus Tracks Remastered onto 2CDs, released 4 August 2023 on Beat Goes On Records GOCD1496 (Barcode 5017261214966)

 

3. WAYLON JENNINGS

"What Goes Around Comes Around/Music Man/Black On Black/Waylon And Company" (1979, 1980, 1982 and 1983 albums)

CD compilation offering 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs released 8 October 2021 on Beat Goes on Records BGOCD1462 (Barcode 5017261214621)

 

WAYLON JENNINGS

4. "It's Only Rock & Roll/Never Could Toe The Mark/Turn The Page/Sweet Mother Texas" (1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 albums)

CD compilation offering 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs released August 2021 on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1454 (Barcode 5017261214546)

CD BOX SETS - "OH MY GIDDY AUNT!" Best CD Box Sets Ever! Your All-Genres Guide to the Best CD Reissues and Remasters - A SOUNDS GOOD Music Book by Mark Barry...

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OH MY GIDDY AUNT!

BEST CD BOX SETS EVER!

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional Reissue and Remasters 

Only £4.95 on Amazon 

(2023 Version)

OH MY GIDDY AUNT - Best CD Box Sets Ever! E-Book on AMAZON
* A HUGE 2,730-Plus E-pages of info on CD Box Sets from all genres

 * 243 In-Depth Entries featuring a wide range of artists
* Details, track lists etc from the discs themselves, no cut and paste crap
* Best Independent Reissue Labels highlighted... – Ace, Bear Family, Cherry Red, Demon, Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Light In The Attic, Repertoire, Rhino and Rhino Handmade, Salvo, Trojan and Panegyric
* Major Label Box Set Retrospectives from – EMI, Sony/BMG/Legacy, Universal and Warner Brothers/WEA
* Technical data (total playing times and more)
* Release Date, Catalogue No and Barcode to locate the correct issue
* CD Track lists and Details on Bonus material (if any)
* Formats included - CD, SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and Japan Platinum SHM-CD  [Super High Materials]
* VINYL Discographies referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the discs – huge number of record labels covered
* UK and US catalogue numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7” singles and EPs within each review
* Remaster/Tape Transfer Engineers highlighted
* Packaging descriptions, size of booklets, what’s contained within, who wrote the liner notes, repro artwork explained
* Reference to the Audio Quality of the CD - analysis of songs
* Guest Musicians highlighted – Cover Versions noted

Having worked for RECKLESS RECORDS in London for over 20 years as one of their principal Vinyl and CD buyers (one of the best secondhand record shops in the West End) and having been a Hall Of Fame Reviewer on Amazon six times - as you can imagine I have come across a huge number of reissues - some far more worthy than others.

To that end I've collated together these SOUNDS GOOD Music Books as guides to Exceptional CD Remasters offering up in-depth reviews on a wide range of titles. And it doesn't have to cost the earth to Sound Good either – you just need to know which CD is the right issue to buy. Many entries in this large and unique book can cost less than £20 while others are sometimes less. And even if some Major Label or Independent Label Box Sets have acquired a nasty price tag since deletion - because they're the best I've included them along with other artists/titles that deserve your attention…

Enjoy the reads - MARK BARRY (2023)