"The Albums" by SUTHERLAND BROTHERS and QUIVER - Clamshell Box Set Featuring Their Eight Studio Albums Between January 1972 and April 1979 on Island and CBS Records featuring Iain and Gavin Sutherland, Tim Fenwick, Bruce Thomas, Peter Wood and Willie Nelson with Guests Pat Donaldson and Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith with Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd (September 2019 UK (October 2019 USA) Cherry Red/Lemon Records 103-Track 8CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters That Includes Eight Albums with 20 Bonuses) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: *** Material ***** Audio **** Presentation

 

"...Because You Gave Me Something..."

 

When I worked at Reckless Records in both London's Berwick Street (Soho) and Upper Street (Islington) branches - Sutherland Brothers and Quiver albums were a sales no-no. They just didn't shift then and (sadly) it's pretty much the same now. Even the at-times gorgeous and wildly underrated Folk-Rock self-titled Island Records debut LP can be bought for just over two quid from loads of sites - not something you can say of any Island Records LP from 1972 – now over fifty years past and counting. Go to another famous site and in October 2023, you can find 182 copies of their "Reach For The Sky" LP with their big hit "Arms Of Mary" on it with a set-sale price tag of 80p.

 

Unfortunately, there are reasons why collectors won't pay up for LPs like "Dream Kid" or "Beat Of The Street" (from 1973 and 1974) - they just feel slight. As far as I'm concerned and despite silly assertions made in the booklet by Brian Mathieson of 'the best Rock music of the Seventies' – The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver went on a very real MOR downward trajectory after that lovely start - to a point where you can't give away the later albums either.

 

But this is not to say that all of their music warrants such low sums - it absolutely doesn't. The "Reach For The Sky" album has tunes and the sophisticated "Down To Earth" LP follow-up in 1977 was actually even better - but despite CBS trying three singles - it seemed few wanted to notice in those Punk and New Wave years. In short - despite the occasional oasis - it is all too often easy to hear as you wade through these eight Seventies slices of America-type songs why they didn't break through like some of their better contemporaries, Gallagher & Lyle jump to mind.

 

But praise where praise is due – there are goodies in here and Lemon Records of the UK (part of the Cherry Red roster of reissue labels) have done the sonic biz by the Scottish brothers and their harmonious legacy. What you get with "The Albums" is 3-star material given 5-star Audio and a 4-star presentation that offers eight remastered albums and twenty bonus tracks for beneath thirty quid from most online sites. Let's get to the details, because we got armloads of it...

 

UK released Friday, 27 September 2019 (4 October 2019 in the USA) - "The Albums" by SUTHERLAND BROTHERS and QUIVER on Cherry Red/Lemon Records CDLEMBOX237 (Barcode 5013929783706) is an 103-Track 8CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters (Six of the albums have 20 Bonuses), Singular Repro Card Sleeve Artwork and a 28-Page Booklet that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "The Sutherland Brothers Band" (43:36 minutes):

1. The Pie [Side 1]

2. Sleeping Dog 

3. Hallelujah

4. I Was In Chains 

5. Medium Wave

6. Big Brother

7. War Of The Roses [Side 2]

8. Midnight Avenue 

9. Sunny Street, W14

10. Where In The World

11. Long Long Day 

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut studio album "The Sutherland Brothers Band" - released January 1972 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9181 and in the USA on Island Records SW-9315. Reissued 1975 on Island ILPS 9181 (different label) and November 1977 in the UK on CBS Records 82297. Produced by MUFF WINWOOD - it didn't chart in either country

 

CD1 BONUS TRACK:

12. The Pie (7" Version) - Edit at 3:31 minutes

Tracks 12 and 11 are the A&B-sides of their debut UK 45-single released 21 January 1972 on Island WIP 6120. Rare copies came with picture sleeves on the album's artwork (it's pictured on Page 2 of the booklet)

 

CD2 "Lifeboat" (61:12 minutes) - see NOTES below re releases:

1. Lady Like You [Side 1] 

2. Lifeboat

3. Where Do We Go Wrong

4. Ireland

5. All I Got Is You

6. Space Hymn [Side 2]

7. Change The Wind

8. Sorrow 

9. Love Is My Religion

10. Real Love

 

CD2 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Have You Had A Vision 

12. Rock And Roll Show

13. (I Don't Want To Love You) But You Got Me Anyway

14. Not Fade Away 

15. Sailing

16. Who's Crying Now

17. Annie (7" Version)

 

CD2 NOTES:

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Lifeboat" - first 'UK' released November 1972 on Island ILPS 9212 (also produced by MUFF WINWOOD, also did not chart). The British Folk-Rock band QUIVER (who had had two albums on Warner Brothers in the UK, "Quiver" in 1971 and "Gone In The Morning" in 1972) joined with the Scottish group to become thereafter credited as The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. This extended line-up recorded four new recordings in the spring of 1973 and along with the stand-alone UK 45-single "Sailing" from 1972 and four of the original British LP's songs - a new album line-up was formed for the summer 1973 'US' release where the LP was launched as "Lifeboat" by SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER (using the same artwork). It is also pictured in the booklet.

 

The US LP "Lifeboat" released July 1973 on Island SW-9326 can be sequenced as follows from CD2: 

Side 1:

1. (I Don't Want To Love You) But You Got Me Anyway (CD Track 13)

2. Sailing (CD Track 15)

3. Where Do We Go Wrong (CD Track 3)

4. Space Hymn (CD Track 6)

5. Real Love (CD Track 10)

Side 2:

1. Have You Had A Vision (CD Track 11)

2. Lifeboat (CD Track 2)

3. Not Fade Away (CD Track 14)

4. Change The Wind (CD Track 7)

5. Rock And Roll Show (CD Track 12)

 

After Rod Stewart had made a worldwide hit of "Sailing" as a cover version on his 1975 album "Atlantic Crossing" and "Arms Of Mary" became a hit for The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver when it charted 10 April 1976 in the UK and rose to a peak position of No.5 on the British 7" singles chart (exited the Top 40 in June 1976) - CBS Records reissued all of their catalogue to date including another British version of the "Lifeboat" album in November 1977 on CBS Records 82298 which replaced "Sorrow" as track 3 on Side 2 with the hit "Sailing". That 1977 variant can also be sequenced from CD2.

 

SINGLES:

24 November 1972 saw Island Records UK issue "Lady Like You" as the band's third UK 45 7" single (Island WIP 6147) with an Edit of "Annie" as its B-side (featured here as a Bonus Track on CD2 – the edit is 3:59 minutes, the re-made LP version of "Annie" can be found on the "Beat Of The Street" album on CD4 where it runs to 4:06 minutes). Their second UK 45-single "Sailing" b/w "Who's Crying Now" was issued July 1972 on Island WIP 6136 (both tracks featured here as Bonuses on CD2). Their fifth UK 45 was "(I Don't Want To Love You) But You Got Me Anyway" b/w "Not Fade Away" issued 23 February 1973 on Island WIP 6157 - both tracks from the American version of the "Lifeboat" album but Non-LP in the UK ("Not Fade Away" is a Buddy Holly cover version).

 

CD3 "Dream Kid" (40:41 minutes):

1. You And Me [Side 1]

2. I Hear Thunder

3. Flying Down To Rio

4. Seagull/Lonely Love

5. Champion The Underdog

6. Bluesy World [Side 2]

7. Bad Loser 

8. Dream Kid

9. Maker

10. Rollin' Away/Rocky Road/Saved By The Angel

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third studio album "Dream Kid" and first credited to SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER in Britain - released December 1973 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9259 and in the USA on Island SW 9341 (produced by MUFF WINWOOD - it didn't chart in either country). Reissued November 1977 in the UK on CBS Records 82299.

 

CD3 BONUS TRACK:

11. Don't Mess Up 

Track 11 is the Non-LP B-side to "Dream Kid" released 25 January 1974 in the UK as a 45-single on Island WIP 6182

 

CD4 "Beat Of The Street" (43:46 minutes):

1. World In Action [Side 1]

2. Saviour In The Rain

3. Devil, Are You Satisfied?

4. Bone Dry

5. Beat On The Street

6. Laid Back In Anger [Side 2]

7. His Life Music

8. Living In Love

9. Annie

10. Last Boy Over The Moon

Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Beat Of The Street" - released October 1974 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9288 (no US release). It was reissued November 1977 in the UK on CBS Records 82230.

 

CD4 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Saviour In The Rain (7" Version)

12. Silver Sister

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of an October 1974 UK 45-single on Island WIP 6209. Although it doesn’t say so on the label, the A-side is an edit at 2:34 minutes – the full album version of "Saviour In The Rain" runs to 4:13 minutes – the B-side "Silver Sister" was a Non-LP song

 

CD5 "Reach For The Sky" (44:37 minutes):

1. When The Train Comes [Side 1]

2. Dirty City

3. Arms Of Mary

4. Something Special

5. Love On The Moon

6. Ain't Too Proud [Side 2]

7. Dr. Dancer

8. Reach For The Sky

9. Moonlight Lady

10. Mad Trail

Tracks 1 to 10 are their fifth studio album "Reach For The Sky" – released June 1975 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 69191 – reissued May 1976 in the UK with the same catalogue number after the 45-single "Arms Of Mary" became a Top 5 chart hit. US album on Columbia PC 33982.

 

CD5 BONUS TRACKS:

11. We Get Along

12. When The Train Comes (7" Version)

Track 11 is the Non-LP B-side to "Arms Of Mary" released 6 February 1976 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 4001. Track 12 is the 3:32 minutes edited A-side of their seventh UK 45-single released 2 July 1976 on CBS Records S CBS 4336.

 

CD6 "Slipstream" (40:54 minutes):

1. Slipstream [Side 1]

2. Wild Love

3. Saturday Night

4. If I Could Have Your Loving

5. Love On The Side

6. Secrets

7. Dark Powers [Side 2]

8. Something's Burning

9. Sweet Cousin

10. Midnight Rendezvous

11. The Prisoner

12. High Nights

Tracks 1 to 12 are their sixth studio album "Slipstream" – released September 1976 in the UK on CBS Records S 81593 and Columbia PC 34376 in the USA. Produced by HOWIE and RON ALBERT (Fat Albert Production)

 

CD7 "Down To Earth" – see NOTES (67:15 minutes):

1. Ice In The Fire [Side 1]

2. Dark Ship

3. Harbour Light

4. Somebody's Fool

5. Fun On The Farm

6. Every Tear I Cry [Side 2]

7. Situations

8. Oh Woman

9. Rock 'N' People

10. Where Lies Your Soul

Tracks 1 to 10 are their seventh studio album "Down To Earth" (British version) – released September 1977 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 82255 (see below re USA issue).

 

CD7 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Ice In The Fire (7" Version) – 19 Aug 1977 UK 45-single edit on CBS Records S CBS 5563, A-side – the LP-track "Where Lies Your Soul" was its B-side. The A-side edit is 3:37 minutes; the LP cut is 4:18 mnutes

12. Every Tear I Cry (7" Version) – 11 Nov 1977 UK 45-single edit on CBS Records S CBS 5818 – the LP-track "Rock 'N' People" was its B-side. The A-side edit is 3:27 minutes; the LP cut is 4:09 minutes

13. Somebody's Fool (7" Version) – 28 July 1978 UK 45-single edit on CBS Records S CBS 6453 (as The Sutherland Brothers) – the 1972 UK 45-single "Sailing" was its B-side. The LP version of the A-side is 4:33 minutes; the single edit is 3:32 minutes

14. One More Night With You

15. Sunbird

16. When I Say I Love You (The Pie) – Remake of their first single "The Pie" from 1972 on their debut album; Tracks 14, 15 and 16 on the American LP – see Notes below

 

CD7 NOTES:

Although it had the same front sleeve artwork, the US album for "Down To Earth" had three additional tracks not on the UK variant and a different track-running order too. Released on Columbia JC 35293 and using the six Bonus Tracks provided on CD7 – it can be sequenced as follows:

 

Side 1:

1. One More Night With You (Track 14 on CD7)

2. Ice In The Fire (Track 1 on CD7)

3. Sunbird (Track 15 on CD7)

4. Harbour Light (Track 3 on CD7)

5. Dark Ship (Track 2 on CD7)

Side 2:

1. Situations (Track 7 on CD7)

2. Somebody's Fool (Track 4 on CD7)

3. Every Tear I Cry (Track 6 on CD7)

4. Fun Of The Farm (Track 5 on CD7)

5. When I Say I Love You (The Pie) (Track 16 on CD7)

 

CD8 "When The Night Comes Down" (41:29 minutes):

1. Natural Thing [Side 1]

2. Have You Ever Been Hurt?

3. First Love

4. Easy Come, Easy Go

5. As Long As I've Got You

6. I'm Going Home

7. When The Night Comes Down [Side 2]

8. Dreams Of You

9. Cruisin'

10. On The Rocks

11. Crazy Town

Tracks 1 to 11 are their eight and final studio album "When The Night Comes Down" (credited as The Sutherland Brothers) – released April 1979 in the UK on CBS Records 83427 and Columbia PC 35703 in the USA

 

Quiver had consisted of Tim Renwick on Guitars, Flute and Vocals, Cal Batchelor on Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals with Bruce Thomas on Bass and Vocals and Willie Nelson on Drums and Vocals. Barney Bubbles had even designed both of their album sleeves for their duo of Warner Brothers albums in 1971 and 1972 – something he would bring to the debut for The Sutherland Brothers Band in January 1972 (he would go on to famously design New Wave albums).

 

Minus Cal Batchelor - the other three - Tim Renwick, Bruce Thomas and Willie Nelson – joined with the Sutherland Brothers in 1972 – in fact that second album featured a plethora of great session-players – Dave Mattacks and Pat Donaldson from Fairport Convention, Bob Ronga on Bass, John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick and Steve Winwood from Traffic with John ‘Hawk’ Hawken all hawking Keyboards. Tex Comer from Ace (Paul Carrack’s band) joined them too on Bass for the "Beat Of The Street" album.

 

The Clamshell Box offers eight individual single card sleeves and a 28-page booklet (all pictured above) with new liner notes by BRIAN MATHIESON who draws from interviews with the core four-piece of Sutherlands, Renwick and Willie Nelson. There are tour posters with Elton John, Island Records promo photos (two), Zig Zag magazine covers and various Trade Adverts. Each card sleeve is a single with a picture CD inside that reflects the album artwork and not the original labels. Any original inner bags or lyric inserts are left out – so the gatefold of "Beat Of The Street" is missing – the inner sleeves of "Dream Kid" and "Down To Earth" are not here – the lyric inserts for "Reach For The Sky" and "Slipstream" are AWOL too. Some of the artwork to those inners is in the booklet along with a collage of singles, picture sleeves and other period material too, but sadly no lyrics.

 

It’s a perfectly acceptable visual on all fronts – but the fireworks are really clean and upfront remasters (the overall set is mastered by JAMES BRAGG). The extras are all very smart moves too – fans will know that for instance the CBS Rewind Remaster of "Reach For The Sky" (their breakthrough album from 1975 and 1976) had only the UK LP tracks – here Lemon provide the full US picture too – the same for "Down To Earth" from 1977. To the tunes...

 

The early 1972 debut LP on Island Records has at least three or four great moments least not of all is Track 4 "I Was In Chains". Both Maggie Bell of Stone The Crows and Paul Young of The Q-tips spotted its lovely Folk-Traditional melodious magic when Maggie covered it in 1975 on her "Suicide Sal" for Polydor - while Young put it as the last track on his 2^nd solo album "The Secret Of Association" ten years later in 1985. Other cool grooves come with the stay-together-comrades chug of "Big Brother" and the other whopper on the LP – the oddly happy let-down-off-the-family obsessed "Where In The World". But the LP is dominated by many fans firm fave – the beautiful lilt in "The Pie" that opens Side 1 (here in two forms, full album and edited single). British jocks played it a lot, but for some reason, it just didn’t take with the general public enough to chart it (the saccharine syrupy/string remake version on the otherwise excellent "Down To Earth" album is to be avoided – ruin a perfectly lovely memory).

 

Their second outing "Lifeboat" comes in two forms – the British original from November 1972 which is only OK – but then three members of Quiver joined The Sutherland Brothers and injected some much need oomph. Sessions ensued with four new songs. So July 1973 sees the LP re-launched in the US (same artwork) credited as "Lifeboat" by The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver (the UK LP is TSB only). When you sequence the US variant from CD2 (see Notes above) – it makes for a much more coherent and enjoyable listen – better songs and the killer "Sailing" included too. The only pointless moment is a cover of the Buddy Holly classic "Not Fade Away" that instantly feels like filler and superfluous to requirements.

 

Although a considerable audio notch up in Production values, for me the two from 1973 and 1974 "Dream Child" and "Beat Of The Street" are just plain boring and lightweight (the second did not get a US release). And you can just so hear why bands like America and especially Eagles shifted such huge numbers of albums – they always had tunes – whole albums full of them. But things change with a signing to CBS Records. Unfortunately (and as is discussed in the booklet) – TSB and Quiver could not have known of the Epic Records signing CBS Records UK was really interested in – ABBA.

 

Abba had removed the mighty "Bohemian Rhapsody" by QUEEN from the No.1 spot of several weeks in late 1975 and early 1976 by putting their "Mamma Mia" at No. 1. They would put "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen" both at further No.1 spots in May and September 1976 – just when TSB and Quiver were getting lucky with "Arms Of Mary". As a charting band – the Scandi ABBA were huge. I mention this because the "Reach For The Sky" album came out in June 1975, yet CBS had not even bothered prepping a teaser 45. The band would have to wait until November 1975 for the not-so-good "Ain't Too Proud" for a UK 45-single and that was only because Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd played barely-perceptible Steel Guitar on the track and that other mega band was riding high after "Wish You Were Here" had become one of the monster albums of 1975. Someone thought maybe fans of Pink Floyd would seek out anything DG was on. 

 

Then came the 1976 relaunch of the LP after "Arms Of Mary" broke the lean streak by charting April 1976 and rising eventually to No.5. in England. Willie Nelson describes the song in the booklet as a throwaway that came back from America with overdubs and commercialized sound – a melody that did catch the British public's attention. Other goodies on their most famous album include "When The Train Comes" and "Something Special" while the Side 2 ender "Mad Trail" is a refreshingly funky belter.

 

Both the "Slipstream" album from 1976 and especially the more accomplished follow-up "Down To Earth" from 1977 deserved better sales – tracks like "Secrets" and "Situations" showing they could still touch a heart. But the last set here "When The Night Comes Down" is a step too far into soulless Yacht Rock and is mostly unlistenible for me.

 

Iain Sutherland sadly passed in late November 2019 aged 71 – only a couple of months after the release of this Box Set. At least Lemon Records of the UK did him and his band pals a solid. If you are a fan, it is a must own, and for the Seventies-curious there are discoveries enough worth seeking out...

"Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 18 Album and Single Tracks from 1968 to 1997 by Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Donnie Fritts, J.J. Cale, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Crazy Horse, Ry Cooder, Percy Sledge, Al Green, Thin Lizzy, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Mott The Hoople, Boz Scaggs, The Chi-Lites, Little Feat, Grateful Dead and more (October 2023 UK Ace Records CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Rating: ****

 

"...You Sweet Thing...You're Driving Me Mad..."

 

I was kind of excited at the idea of the first Bobby Gillespie compilation in this series "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" - but truth be my mistress - the actual listen drove me nuts and had one too many disappointments in song choices (it was released 27 November 2015 in the UK on Ace Records CDCHD 1453 – Barcode 029667074124). I did like a few cuts for sure (mostly in the second half of the listen) - but not enough to get in a fidgety lather about.

 

Well – it seems that the Scottish Primal Scream lead singer and songwriter has gone all I-hear-you-pal psychic on my sorry Irish posterior and eardrums - because his second outing in the series "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" (27 Oct 2023 in the UK and 3 Nov 2023 in the USA) is much better - and frankly in its own self-lacerating way - a bit of a doozy. It also feels actually personal (and revealing) if not a tad too boo-hoo for its own good as the black and white poor-me cover-art photo implies.

 

The journey consists of 18 tracks on CD (15 album cuts and 3 single sides) ranging from professional two-timer Lee Hazelwood on Reprise Records in 1968 all the way up to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds going native on a clever Jimmy Webb cover version in 1986 while Bob Dylan professes to be truly sick of love in 1997 (the further outpost here and the darkest actually). The 2LP Vinyl Variant of "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" even has a 19^th Bonus as Track 5 on Side 1 - "In The Rain" by The Dramatics (Ace Records XXQLP2 098 – Barcode 0029667015417).

 

"I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" is about love on the road being tested, betrayed, lost, longed-for or maybe even formed in-between tourbus stops and Honky Tonks and the untenable nomad existence that is the life of all working musicians. Most of the cautionary tales are from Folk, Country, Country Rock, Soul and Rock journeyman and women feeling emotionally bummed out between 1970 and 1975. Because many are ballads – the jumps don't feel so severe – and work more often than not. I personally sequenced the CD to start at Track 6 - the stunning Crazy Horse song "I Don't Want To Talk About It" that Rod Stewart later covered and turned into a global smash - play down to 18 and then bring in Tracks 1 to 5 (a better listen for me). Discoveries, re-acquaintances, tugs on a fast receding memory lane - this comp is indeed a "Heart Like A Wheel". Let's get to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 27 October 2023 (3 November 2023 in the USA) - "Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1605 (Barcode 029667106122) is an 18-Track CD Compilation (19-Track 2LP set) ranging from 1968 to 1997 that plays out as follows (76:52 minutes):

 

1. I Still Can't Believe You're Gone – WILLIE NELSON (from the March 1974 US LP "Phases And Stages" on Atlantic Records SD 7291)

 

2. Love Sick – BOB DYLAN (from the September 1997 US CD Album "Time Out Of Mind" on Columbia Records CK 68556)

 

3. We Had It All – DONNIE FRITTS (from the June 1974 US LP "Prone To Lean" on Atlantic SD 18117)

 

4. Magnolia – J. J. CALE (from his debut LP "Naturally" released November 1971 in the USA on Shelter SW-8908 and January 1972 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 68105)

 

5. By The Time I Get To Phoenix – NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (from the August 1986 UK LP "Kicking Against The Pricks" on Mute STUMM 28)

 

6. I Don't Want To Talk About It – CRAZY HORSE (from their debut album "Crazy Horse" issued on Reprise Records RS 6438 in the USA in February 1971 and April 1971 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6438)

 

7. Dark End Of The Street – RY COODER (from his 3rd album "Boomer's Story" released November 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2117 and in the UK on Reprise K 44224 – a James Carr cover version done as an instrumental)

 

8. Kind Woman – PERCY SLEDGE (July 1969 USA 45-single on Atlantic 45-2646, A-side – also on the 1969 South African-only LP "Wanted" on Atlantic ATC 9210)

 

9. Wait And See – LEE HAZELWOOD (from his June 1968 US LP "Love And Other Crimes" on Reprise RS 6297 in Stereo)

 

10. Strong As Death (Sweet As Love) – AL GREEN (June 1975 US 45-single on Hi Records 5N-2288, B-side of "Oh Me Oh My (Dreams In My Arms)" – also July 1975 UK 45-single on London HLU 10493 – same tracks)

 

11. Shades Of A Blue Orphanage – THIN LIZZY (from their second studio album "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" issued 10 March 1972 in the UK on Decca TXS 108 – no US release)

 

12. Heart Like A Wheel – KATE & ANNA McGARRIGLE (from their November 1975 US Debut LP "Kate & Anna McGarrigle" on Warner Brothers BS 2862, March 1976 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56218)

 

13. When My Mind's Gone – MOTT THE HOOPLE (from their second studio album "Mad Shadows" released September 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9119 and October 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8272)

 

14. I'll Be Long Gone – BOZ SCAGGS (from his debut album "Boz Scaggs" released August 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8239, September 1969 in the UK on Atlantic 588 205)

 

15. The Coldest Days Of My Life Part 1 – THE CHI-LITES (July 1972 USA 45-single on Brunswick 55478, A-side)

 

16. Roll Um Easy – LITTLE FEAT (from their third US studio album "Dixie Chicken" released January 1973 on Warrner Brothers BS 2686)

 

17. Brokedown Palace – GRATEFUL DEAD (from their 5th studio album "American Beauty" released November 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1893)

 

18. I Feel Like Going Home – CHARLIE RICH (August 1973 US 45-single on Epic Records 5-11040, B-side of "The Most Beautiful Girl" – November 1973 UK 45-single on Epic Records S EPC 1897, as per US release)

 

Following on from a Track List on Page 2 that details album titles, catalogue numbers and year of release (three of the 18 are single-sides) – Page 3 starts the 24-pages of song-by-song explanations proper (I have elaborated on those in the list above). Anyone who knows Ace Records will know that these booklets are fab collages of single and LP labels, rare picture sleeves/album covers, a trade advert here and here etc. This time however is a bit more basic. Here we just get the album sleeves and occasional British 45 label instead of American issues (Al Green on London and The Chi-Lites on MCA).

 

Not that this is a bad thing - instead of photos, Gillespie waxes lyrical in huge amounts of text about every choice – paragraphs recalling the magical effect that Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott in their 1976 gig awesomeness had on young lads like him and Alan McGee – a lifetime love that will never die. Bobby talks about Richie Furay assembling the last Buffalo Springfield album and including what was essentially an outtake – his own song "Kind Woman" – that Percy Sledge then took to another level in his mournful Soul version. There's stuff about touring and the emotional toll it takes on every relationship a body enters into. It's a great read – personal yet informative and articulate. Genre-wise, the overall song choices are very much in the Country Rock meets edgy Sixties and Seventies Outlaw Rock and Soul veins – much of it dark for sure - but mellow also - and sometimes moving when you least expect it.

 

DUNCAN COWELL – longstanding Audio Engineer for Ace – has handled the transfers and Remasters and almost everything sounds super clean and clear – the noticeable odd-man-out being a wee bit of hiss on the J.J. Cale song – those debut album Shelter Records recordings notorious for being that way. All are in STEREO - so for almost all of it "Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" is never less than an impressive listen audio-wise (at times beautiful). To the tunes...

 

It opens with Willie Nelson red-raw the morning after she done left him for the final time - "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" - and the Big Nell knows who is to blame on that fine 1974 dawn. His vocal bottom-of-the-barrel shivering hurt is helped by top musicians like Keyboardist Barry Beckett and most of the Fame Gang bringing up the rear (guitarist Pete Carr, Bassist David Hood and legendary drummer Rodger Hawkins). But I feel that the sparse Bob Dylan leap to 1997 for the "Time Out Of Mind" track "Love Sick" feels too jarring to me (I adore the album like most Zimmer fans but I would have gone with something else like the "Up To Me" outttake from "Blood On The Tracks" say). But things pick up instantly when we get a great lip-quiver pairing - "Magnolia" from J.J. Cale's staggeringly influential debut album on Shelter Records in 1971 (lyrics from it title this review) up to Nick Cave with his bad Seeds in 1986 doing Jimmy Webb via Glen Campbell on a oddly touching cover of "By The Time Get To Phoenix" – smart choices both.

 

Complimenting the Outlaw Country Music vide to the Willie Nelson song that gives the compilation its title – the seldom-seen let alone discussed Donnie Fritts album "Prone To Lean" from 1974 on Atlantic Records featured an astonishing line-up of talent – Billy Swann, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Jerry Wexler as well as ace singer and guitarist Eddie Hinton and keyboardist Barry Beckett (I know folks who scour albums for anything Eddie Hinton touched – a white guy who had a voice similar to Otis Redding). The Fritts entry "We Had It All" is a co-write with Troy Seals of Seals and Croft fame and with Wexler and Kristofferson at the Production buttons - sounds warm and glorious.

 

Essentially to become the backing band for Neil Young – Crazy Horse featured a huge array of talent on their first platter – Danny Whitten on Lead Guitar and Vocals with Nils Lofgren sharing the same – Jack Nitzsche on Piano and Vocals with Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina bringing up the Rhythm Section (Bass and Drums). The Crazy Horse self-titled debut album produced three US 45s using six sides from the 11-track LP - but bizarrely Reprise Records did not use nor seem to see what Rod Stewart clearly saw in the gorgeous "I Don't Want To Talk About It" – a Danny Whitten breakup-song winner nestled at the end of Side 1. Had Reprise aired this as a single – their fate might not have been so like Big Star – another great US melody band on a label that could not or would not break them nationally. My God even Ry Cooder plays slide on it. The sound for "I Don't Want To Talk About It" is glorious, the emotion real and the solar plexus hurt-wallop just about bearable – a very smart choice for a compilation like this.

 

Tapping into the Ry Cooder connection, Gillespie follows with a beautiful acoustic slide guitar instrumental version of the James Carr 60ts Soul classic "Dark End Of The Street" – just one of many gems on the third Ry Cooder album "Boomer's Story" from November 1972. Personally, I would also have tapped "Maria Elena" – another stunner instrumental from the "Boomer's Story" album that would have slotted in just nicely (see my review of the forgotten 2CD set "The Ry Cooder Anthology: The UFO Has Landed" on Rhino from 2008 which contains both songs in glorious Bernie Grundman Remastered form). Keeping it soulful – Gillespie now offers a Percy Sledge cover version of "Kind Woman" – the Richie Furay song on the third and final Buffalo Springfield album "Last Time Around" (July 1968, Atco SD 33-256). Sledge and Atlantic Records issued "Kind Woman" as a stand-alone 45-single A-side in July 1969 – a slow-cooking gurgling-under barnstormer.

 

The self-titled and deeply unassuming debut album for French-Canadian sisters Kate & Anna McGarrigle was received in late 1975 on Warner Brothers by the press (and musicians) as some sort of genius platter carved out of melody gold. A whole year earlier – American vocalist and song-interpreter Linda Ronstadt took one of Anna's then un-issued songs "Heart Like A Wheel" and named her entire album after it (November 1974 on Capitol Records). But you cannot deny the McGarrigle version here from 1975 that slays all in its path – their vocal power in full force from a very clean and clear remaster – those lyrics about a sinking ship out in mid ocean – only love can reduce us to such tears and hurt. That is followed by a deeply sombre Ian Hunter in full-throated Mott The Hoople glory - "Mad Shadows" flying away – just him on a piano with a lingering organ building in the minds-gone background. Relief comes in the slightly Burt Bacharach feel to Boz Scaggs doing "I'll Be Long Gone" – good but not really great and seriously showing its age. Far better is Eugene Record wrenching tears from us white blokes with his lush fabulous Chi-Lites sound on Part 1 of "The Coldest Days Of My Life..." – waves and gulls easing in the reminiscences of a day our hero made the big mistake of letting his lady walk away (I never tire of their Chicago Soul – me and my sis bought the singles on Brunswick with religious regularity).

 

It rolls home with a very tasty triple whammy – Little Feat, Grateful Dead and Charlie Rich – Lowell George achingly brilliant for "Roll Um Easy" – the Dead weary of the grinding road, longing for the river to rock their soul in the tuneful "Brokedown Palace" - while the Silver Fox closes out proceedings with the seriously sad yet resigned piano ballad "I Feel Like Going Home" – everything he done turned out wrong (Epic Records relegated the song to the flipside of the huge hit "The Most Beautiful Girl" on both sides of the pond).

 

I would have considered "Looking For Angeline" by Love And Money – a 1988 nugget on Fontana from 1988 – James Grant playing a National Steel blinder with echoed Harmonica bringing up the longing in the background. Maybe the moving Shawn Colvin cover version of the Judee Sill gem "There's A Rugged Road" from SC's 1994 compilation album of favourites "Cover Girl". On to Chris Smither doing a stunning reinterpretation of the Tim Hardin song "Don't Make Promises" from his 1999 CD album "Drive You Home Again". There must be hundreds more out there. Volume 2 anyone - "I Still Can't Believe You're Still Here".

 

Like so many of these compilations, it's a crapshoot. But "Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" wins on more entries than not (the Vinyl variant with its extra track is a tempting gift and a proper looker too). There are also more than enough discoveries here to please old hands and plenty to entice musical newcomers to sit up and take notice - maybe even visit those musical truck-stops that moved so many of us back in the suburban day.

 

On the long and lonely road to Kingdom Come – the Screamadelica Bobster has compiled a mix-tape worthy of your hard-earned Sovereigns and Petro-Dollars.

 

Dig in and pine no more ye Vagabonds of the Western World. Or as the mighty Rocker Phil Lynott of the much-missed Thin Lizzy used to sing "...Got my cycle outside...wanna ride!"

"Bob Stanley Presents LONDON A To Z: 1962 to 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 24 Single and Album Tracks by The John Barry Seven, Cat Stevens, Marianne Faithfull, Jethro Tull, Cressida, John and Beverly Martyn, Nick Drake, Linda Lewis, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, Ralph McTell, Dave Evans, Dana Gillespie, Quintessence, Humble Pie, Al Stewart, Shelagh McDonald and more (September 2023 UK - October 2023 USA Ace Records CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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Rating: ****
 

"...Things Are Great In Notting Hill Gate..."

 

I have had a hard time with some Bob Stanley CD compilations for Ace Records – loved a few – hated others. 

 

But this 'A To Z' journey through the Sixties and Seventies folk side of British Music with London themes built into every song is a very clever little road-map indeed. Sure – some songs are here only because they fit the street/borough criteria, but actually, the choices are cool and the easy-going busman's holiday vibe works as a cohesive whole. To your all zones pass...the details...my bedsit commuters of love...

 

UK released Friday, 29 September 2023 (6 October 2023 in the USA) - "Bob Stanley Presents LONDON A To Z: 1962 to 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1638 (Barcode 029667109024) is a 24-Track CD Compilation of Single and Album Track Remasters that plays out as follows (72:53 minutes):

 

1. Cutty Sark – THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN and ORCHESTRA (March 1962 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 4806, A-side)

2. Portobello Road – CAT STEVENS (September 1966 UK Debut 45-single on Deram DM 102, B-side of "I Love My Dog")

3. Sunny Goodge Street – MARIANNE FAITHFULL (from her fourth album "North Country Maid" released April 1966 in the UK on Decca LK 4778 in Mono only)

4. Jeffery Goes To Leicester Square – JETHRO TULL (from their second studio album "Stand Up" - released 27 July 1969 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9013)

5. Marcel's - HERMAN'S HERMITS (29 December 1967 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 8327, B-side of "I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving")

6. Goodbye Post Office Tower, Goodbye – CRESSIDA (from their second album "Asylum" released January 1971 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 025)

7. Primrose Hill – JOHN and BEVERLEY MARTYN (from his 4th studio album "The Road To Ruin" issued November 1970 on Island ILPS 9133)

8. Mayfair – NICK DRAKE (from the January 1987 UK Posthumous LP compilation "Time Of No Reply" on Hannibal Records HNBL 1318)

9. London Bridge – CILLA BLACK (7 February 1969 UK 45-single on Parlophone R 5759, B-side of "Surround Yourself With Sorrow")

10. Hampstead Way – LINDA LEWIS (from her debut album "'Say No More...'" issued 1971 in the UK on Reprise Records K 44130)

11. Soho – BERT JANSCH and JOHN RENBOURN (from the September 1966 UK LP "Bert And John" on Transatlantic Records TRA 144)

12. Friday Hill – BULLDOG BREED (on the UK album "Made In England" released January 1970 on Deram Nova DN 5 (Mono) and SDN 5 (Stereo) - Stereo mix is used. Band featured BERNARD JINKS and KEITH CROSS who went on to form T2. Cross also teamed up with Peter Ross and produced a lovely folky type album called "Bored Civilians" released July 1972 on Decca SKL 5129 (see separate review))

13. London Social Degree – DANA GILLESPIE (from her October 1969 UK LP "Foolish Seasons" on Decca SKL 5012)

14. Euston Station – BARBARA RUSKIN (28 April 1967 UK 45-single on Parlophone R 5593, A-side)

15. Kew Gardens – RALPH McTELL (from his third studio album "My Side Of Your Window" released December 1969 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 209)

16. City Road – DAVE EVANS (from his October 1971 UK Debut LP "The Words In Between" on The Village Thing Records VTS 6)

17. Parliament Hill – MAGNA CARTA (from their June 1971 UK Debut album "Songs From Wasties Orchard" on Vertigo Records 6360 040)

18. Edgware Station – EDWARD BEAR (from their fourth US LP "My Side Of Your Window" released January 1973 on Capitol ST-11157)

19. Beckton Dumps – HUMBLE PIE (from the 2LP set "Eat It" released April 1973 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 6004 and March 1973 in the USA on A&M Records SP-3701)

20. Notting Hill Gate – QUINTESSENCE (October 1969 UK Debut 45-single on Island WIP 6075, A-side)

21. Clapham Junction – NORMA TANEGA (from the album "I Don't Think It Will Hurt If You Smile" released 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8217)

22. Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres – AL STEWART (from his October 1967 UK Debut Album "Bed Sitter Images" on CBS Records S BPG 63087 – reissued June 1970 in the UK as "The First Album" on CBS Records S 64023)

23. Richmond – SHELAGH McDONALD (from her debut LP "Shelagh McDonald Album" released October 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1019)

24. Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge – JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY (from their third release, the 2LP set "Streetnoise" released May 1969 in the UK on Marmalade 608005/6 and June 1969 in the USA on Atco SD 2-701)

NOTES:

Tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 to 12 and 15 to 24 in STEREO

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 and 14 in MONO

 

Following on from the reproduction of the colour front page of The Sunday Times Magazine of 1969 on Page 2 that features a gorgeous Julie Driscoll in her best big hat repose – Page 3 starts the 20-pages of song-by-song explanations proper (24 mini notelets). Anyone who knows Ace Records will know that these booklets are fab collages of single and LP labels, rare picture sleeves/album covers, a trade advert (the first Quintessence 45 on Island from October 1969) and so on. Compiler BOB STANLEY gives detailed appraisals of his choices that all act as a musical mooch around a London of yesteryear (and its un-sung suburbs as the back inlay implies). It's a great read – informative too – the overall song choices very much in the Folk, Folk Rock and Hippy Tradition of things (a mellow yellow listen in other words).

 

DUNCAN COWELL – longstanding Audio Engineer for Ace – has handled the transfers and Remasters and almost everything sounds super clean and clear – the noticeable odd-man-out being the Nick Drake demo. I should add that despite the tracks jumping from Mono to Stereo (especially in the first half of the listen) – the segue feels good - and as it moves into the Tracks 15 to 24 Stereo run - is never less than an impressive listen audiowise. To the tunes...

 

After a very cool start with the instrumental "Cutty Sark" – a dapper John Barry Seven giving in some secret agent lounge room before Bond even knew who he was – the Mr. Smoothy flow fades fast with the dreadfully twee Cat Stevens flipside "Portobello Road". Things pick-up with the Harmonica and Acoustic doom of Marianne Faithfull talking about hashish smokers and magicians and other hippy neer-do-wells on her version of Donovan's "Sunny Goodge Street". On Tull's much-anticipated second studio album "Stand Up" in late July 1969 (their first UK No.1) sat Track 2 on Side 1 – the speaker-to-speaker "Jeffery Goes To Leicester Square". It's a clever choice – lead singer and principal songwriter Ian Anderson swirling the production with phasing giving the song that so Tull feel. "Jeffrey..." and his trip to the famous tourist Merry-go-round area of the Capitol City comes complete with observational lyrics about what was on TV at the time while the populous/tourists gleefully took in the local colour - Ian A's insights sounding way too smart for a beggar standing on one leg with a flute in his hand.

 

Herman's Hermits urge you and "Marcel" to go down to his houseboat on the Thames where men with long eyelashes inhabit this East End wonderland – odd creatures with unfamiliar features keeping it groovy man in the London Borough of Wapping. Not so sure whether I like or just admire the darlings of Vertigo Spiral albums Cressida and their piano-plinking "Goodbye Post Office Tower, Goodbye" where they urge the capitols authorities to just blow up the GPO and be done with it. Better (always better) is John and Beverly Martyn giving it some 'sun going down' on "Primrose Hill" – the kind of Saxophone (Ray Warleigh) and Piano (Paul Harris) hippy ditty she must cringe at in 2023 (it was relevant then in 1970). Lovely production values though. The same cannot be said (unfortunately) for the Nick Drake cut "Mayfair" – a clearly demo-ish outtake that featured on the posthumous album "Time Of No Reply" – nice to have him here but the song is weak and the tin-can audio off-putting.

 

Leaping from the outside lavvy to serious EMI production values – we next get Cilla Black getting soulful and affecting on a beloved B-side. Written by her then hubby Bob Willis and Denmark Street songwriter Clive Westlake, "London Bridge" is the kind of pretty ditty that doesn't get aired enough and kudos to Bob Stanley for spotting its rightful place here. Leaping from that into real Soul, we get true vocal acrobatics from Linda Lewis on her fantastic fun-to-funky "Hampstead Way" – a self-penned gem on her 1971 debut album that features fabulous electric guitar picking from Chris Spedding - soft one second - attacking the next as the pace builds up only to mellow out again. The great lady only passed in May 2023, so for me the Linda Lewis cut is one of at least three genius choices on this intriguing compilation (see also Dave Evans and Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger at the end).

 

While the Bert Jansch and John Renbourn song "Soho" rattles around your speakers with their staggering musicality, there is unfortunately more than a touch of the plodding to "Friday Hill" by Bulldog Breed – not quite a doggy doo-doo but not far off it either. "London Social Degree" (a Billy Nicholls song) and "Euston Station" (Ruskin original) see two ladies Dana Gillespie and Barbara Ruskin comment on street life in the capitol – stressed out people in dead-end jobs not paying nearly enough attention to flowers and trees and their world hurtling into the war-machine abyss. They are good but not really great truth be told. Better for me is the gorgeous "Kew Gardens" by Ralph McTell – beautifully supported by the fay-but-too-fay vocals of Ruth and Brian Britain of the obscure British Folk outfit English Tapestry – a plaintive ballad that could only have come from the optimism of the late 60ts. A smart choice then that is in turn followed by my second fave track on the comp – the genuine discovery of Dave Evans and his winding-down song "City Road".

 

Very much in the vein of acoustic Nick Drake, John Martyn and Meic Stevens by way of a Welsh Leonard Cohen (Evans is from Bangor – a few train stops from Hollyhead in North Wales) – the song may make you rush to buy his debut album "The Words In Between" from October 1971 on the UK Folky/World Music label The Village Thing Records. It is seriously rated by Folk and Folk Rock aficionados – reissued by Earth Records here in the UK in 2018 on CD and already hard-to-find. City Road was an industrial district that housed the Gordon’s Gin distillery (G&T with the D&E). The track has sweetly lovely audio quality with second vocals from Adrienne J. Webber who had her own self-titled solo album in 1976 on Anchor Records as AJ Webber – nursery rhymes and ice-cream chimes. 

 

The rare Norma Tanega 1971 album "I Don't Think It Will Hurt If You Smile" on RCA Victor featured instrumentals in-between songs that referenced London hot-spots - "Clapham Junction" being the one that opened Side 2 with a giggle from her and the musicians having an Acoustic-ish Funk-Up. Who doesn't love every second of Steve Marriott's voice even on a lesser Humble Pie song (he could recite the phone-book and make any London boy shed a tear of joy). And on it goes to a cool duo of lady album-enders - "Richmond" by Shelagh McDonald – a sophisticated slice of musicianship from her revered B&C Records Debut Album of 1970 – in turn followed by the glorious near seven-minute passion of Julie Driscoll giving it some I-hope-you-find-what-you're-looking-for searching in the vocals and acoustic guitar duet "Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge". So sixties, but also looking forward too – a perfect finisher for the compilation.

 

I am certain some punters will look in vain for bigger inclusions like "Richmond" by the Faces from their 1970 second album "Long Player", or pushing the time-frame boundaries a little – maybe the pretty "Portobello Belle" by Dire Straits from their 1979 second album "Communiqué" (probably licensing issues). Or how about "Piccadilly" by the Irish Folk Duo Tir na n'Og from their May 1971 self-titled debut album on Chrysalis Records. I'll bet the list could go on to a Vol.2...

 

So for sure 2023's "Bob Stanley Presents LONDON A To Z: 1962 to 1973" is not all CD compilation genius (there isn't a Vinyl variant either). But there are more than enough discoveries to please old hands and plenty to entice musical newcomers to sit up and take notice and maybe even seek out these lesser-trodden paths. And for any compiler/influencer - that's a job well done.

 

A very cool little compilation – recommended – and contender for the 2023 CD Reissue Lists in someone's December Magazine...