Tuesday 5 April 2011

“Fully Qualified Survivor” by MICHAEL CHAPMAN (2011 Light In The Attic CD Reissue - Nick Robbins Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...




"…Like Jewels In Your Hand…"


Seventies Rock aficionados will no doubt have read gushing reviews telling them to invest their hard-earned in long lost classics - and having been burned a few times before - would view another such review with a certain amount of scepticism. But this is a Light In The Attic Records release - and after 60 peerless reissues of obscurities that truly deserve reappraisal – LITA have done it again. Beautiful presentation, extraordinary sound quality and songs that beggar the question – how the hell did this little gem get lost in the first place? 

MICHAEL CHAPMAN hails from Leeds in England and was 28 when he recorded his second LP "Fully Qualified Survivor" for EMI’s progressive label imprint Harvest. His debut album "Rainmaker" issued in July 1969 was only Harvest’s 5th LP at that time and signalled the arrival of a major Guitar Player and Rock singer-songwriter. 

1. Aviator
2. Naked Ladies And Electric Ragtime 
3. Stranger In The Room
4. Postcards Of Scarborough 
5. Fishbeard Sunset
6. Soulful Lady [Side 2]
7. Rabbit Hills
8. March Rain 
9. Kodak Ghosts 
10. Andru’s Easy Rider
11. Trinkets & Rings

"Fully Qualified Survivor" was released March 1970 on Harvest SHVL 764 in the UK and Capitol/Harvest SW-816 in the USA – and even though it actually charted in the UK at 45 - it’s a rare record on vinyl and UK originals can command upwards of £100. This February 2011 reissue on Light In The Records LITA 060 (Barcode 0826853006026) is a straightforward transfer of that 1970 album remastered from the 1st generation EMI tapes by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London (46:32 minutes). The sound quality is fabulous - clear, warm and full of presence - and fully realises the original quality production values of GUS DUDGEON (of David Bowie and Elton John fame). 

The original gatefold artwork has been retained but upgraded to a lovely silver effect on the card digipak (they’ve also issued it on a beautiful Vinyl Version using the same silver effect artwork – a future collectable). The booklet is an impressive 32-pages long with liner notes by MICK HOUGHTON that feature new interviews with Chapman in 2010. Photos and archive material provided by the artist himself feature black and white snaps of him and the other musicians in the studio, on tour, reproductions of press releases and reviews and so on.

It opens with the epic "Aviator" – a nine and half-minute long acoustic song that has touches of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake in its languid pace. The cello is by Paul Buckmaster and the Violin by Johnny Van Derek. But – and this is a matter of taste – you’re met with his nasally drone of a voice which you will either embrace or loath. It all sounds a bit effected now, but if you give it time, there’s rewards later. Chapman was also a very accomplished guitar player (Bert Jansch, Stefan Grossman and John Renbourn jump to mind) and there follows the first of the album’s three acoustic-instrumentals "Naked Ladies & Electric Ragtime". With his foot tapping in the background, it’s a very pretty ditty and it also emphasises the superlative NICK ROBBINS remaster. The sheer musicality of "Postcards From Scarborough" is shocking – and the strings added by Dudgeon are lovely. "Fishbeard Sunset" is the second instrumental and is a 40-second introduction to a great song - "Soulful Lady". It also heralds a major playing talent – MICK RONSON on Guitar. He crops up again on "Kodak Ghosts" and his contributions are so exciting – rocking like a madman – loose and inspired ("The Man Who Sold The World", "Ziggy" and "Hunky Dory" with Bowie lay ahead). 

Side 2 is far better than Side 1 in my book – giving a run of truly superb tunes. "Rabbit Hills" is my favourite on here – a beautifully realised acoustic song with warm words and a haunting melody that still sounds sweet four decades on (lyrics above). "March Rain" with its Cello, Strings and Acoustic guitar arrangement could be Nick Drake circa "Bryter Layter" – so impressive. Mick Ronson adds lovely electric guitar licks to the treated Chapman acoustic guitars on the mid-tempo "Kodak Ghosts". The fantastically bluesy "Andru's Easy Rider" starts out with him on Piano but then goes into this huge John Fahey 12-string slide-guitar blues-boogie that you wish would overstay its mere two-minute duration. It segues into a funky Tabla and Guitar album finisher called "Trinkets & Rings" which features his trademark nonchalant vocals and electric guitar licks in the background. It’s impressive stuff, it really is…

To sum up - like his fellow Harvest Label mate Roy Harper (and nearest musical comparison), Chapman remains a bit of an unknown even in deep rock circles (Keef Hartley, Bryn Haworth, Mick Greenwood, Judee Sill, Karen Dalton and Fred Neil are others).  But you have to say that this is a smart reissue on the part of Light In The Attic Records in a long line of them (Lou Bond, Kris Kristofferson and Rodriguez come to mind - see reviews) and I’m glad I took a chance on it. I’ve subsequently bought the 2006 remaster of his "Millstone Grit" album from 1973 on Deram and it’s a cracker too. 

In 2015 at the age of 74 - it probably seems slightly odd to Michael Chapman now to be the subject of adoration and rediscovery for Folk/Rock he penned 45-years ago – but better late than never. A top job done boys and a major reissue for 2011…



This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 



Friday 25 February 2011

“Have Mercy – His Complete Chess Recordings 1969 To 1974” by CHUCK BERRY. A Review of the 2010 Hip-O Select 4CD Box set.






"…She Worked Night And Day To Keep Us Six Kids Alive…"


"Have Mercy..." is the 3rd and final volume of Chuck Berry's Chess recordings. Released in the USA via their website in January 2010 (general release March 2010), Hip-O Select/Geffen B0013790-02 houses 71 tracks across 4CDs, 23 of which are previously unreleased (plus one further track which is previously unreleased in the USA - Track 4, Disc 3). Its packaging consists of a slightly oversized 4-way foldout digipak that is itself tied with a string on a lapel on the front - aping the layout of the two preceding sets (see PS below). It's a non-numbered worldwide limited edition of 6000 copies and Discs 1 to 4 run to 69:23, 71:37, 69:45 and 65:10 minutes respectively.

FRED ROTHWELL and ANDY McKAIE have compiled the set with Rothwell handling the 24-page booklet (he is author of the book “Long Distance Information – Chuck Berry’s Recorded Legacy”). Pictured beneath the see-through trays and on the final flap are the following 5 albums from that period…

1. “Back Home” (November 1970 on Chess LPS-1550 in the USA, February 1972 on Chess 6310 113 in the UK)
2. “San Francisco Dues” (September 1971 on Chess CH-50008 in the USA, March 1972 on Chess 6310 115 in the UK)
3. “The London Chuck Berry Sessions” (June 1972 on Chess CH-60020 in the USA, July 1972 on Chess 6310 122 in the UK)
4. “Chuck Berry/Bio” [aka “Bio”] (September 1973 on Chess CH-50043 in the USA, October 1973 on Chess 6499 650 in the UK)
5. “Chuck Berry” [released as “Chuck Berry ‘75” in the UK] (February 1975 on Chess CH-60032 in the USA, March 1975 on Chess 9109 101 in the UK)

The three volumes of “Golden Decade” doubles are not referenced at all in the booklet neither is the “St. Louis To Frisco To Memphis” album from 1972 with The Steve Miller Band live on one side because that was released through Mercury Records. The studio side of “The London Chuck Berry Sessions” (Side 1) features Derek Griffiths of The Artwoods and Dog Soldier on Guitar, Rick Grech of Traffic and Family on Bass with Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones of the Faces on Piano and Drums respectively. Side 2 of that album was recorded live in Coventry in England and features the Average White Band as Berry’s backing group. Elliott Randall of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ In The Years” guitar-solo fame plays Pedal Steel guitar on “I’m Just A Name” and “Too Late” on Disc 4, while Jazz Fusion favourite and multi-instrumentalist Phil Upchurch plays Bass on Tracks 1 to 8 on Disc 1.
A rarity for US collectors is the UK-only 7” single live version of “South Of The Border” (Chess 6145 027), which features Jimmy Campbell of Vertigo Spiral Label fame on Guitar (its the previously unreleased in the USA track).

The A & B sides of the US 7” single Chess 2090 (“Tulane” and “Have Mercy Judge”) start things off strongly on Disc 1 and you immediately hear the quality song-writing and the cool sound upgrade. The 1st-generation master tapes have been remastered by ace-engineer ERICK LABSON (has over 850 credits to his name including the majority of the Chess catalogue) and his work here is again exemplary – the sound is great. There’s hiss on a few tunes for sure and the unreleased live stuff is untreated so it sounds very rough – but there’s a fab little instrumental called “Woodpecker” tucked away on Side 2 of “Bio” that I’ve been trying to get a good CD copy of for years – and here it is at last – and (if you’ll forgive the pun) it’s ring, ringing like a bell. So too when the British band back up Berry on the T-Bone Walker cover of “Mean Old World” (off “The London Chuck Berry Sessions”) – you can really feel and hear that as well – thrilling stuff.

More than a few of the 23 previously unreleased tracks are shockingly good – “Untitled Instrumental” features the fab piano playing of Ellis “Lafayette” Leake with great harmonica fills from Robert Baldori, while the 9-minute instrumental “Turn On The Houselights” sees Chuck play a blinding lead guitar. It’s not all good of course - from the “Chuck Berry” LP sessions in 1975 (all of Disc 4) both outtakes “Jambalaya” and “The Song Of My Love” are truly awful, while the abomination that is “My Ding A Ling” on Disc 3 is on here in its full album length version of eleven minutes and the 7” single edit too and even has an added previously unreleased studio version. But it is to this day quite possibly the worst song ever made – and cringing to listen to (I dare say his bank balance rather enjoyed it though). But overall – the outtakes are excellent – and along with the largely unheard remastered album tracks – it all makes for a rather spiffing listen.

Niggles and speculation – like the other two sets, the packaging is ok rather than great and had Bear Family of Germany gotten their hands on this project, we would have had a 9 disc box (instead of 12) with a 180-page 12” x 12” hardback book for about the same cost – and it would have been complete with visuals that would have taken 2 years to compile rather than two days to dash off. A fantasy reissue I know, but worth making the comparison…

Having said that - as it stands “Have Mercy” is far better than I thought it would be – his Rock’n’ Roll mojo and lyrical brilliance still intact in the Seventies (the 6-minute poem “My Pad” is deep and prophetic as are the lyrics from “Bio” which titles this review). And if you were to make up a single disc representing the best of what’s on this mini box set – then I guarantee you’d shock certain people as to how good it is.

So there you have it - fabulous in places, a let down in others – 2010’s “Have Mercy” does at least see Chuck Berry’s Seventies’ legacy be given some proper respect at last.

Recommended.

PS: His initial output for the famous label was released in 2008 as "Johnny B. Goode - The Complete 50's Recordings" - then followed in 2009 by the 2nd set - “You Never Can Tell – The Complete Chess Recordings 1960 to 1966” (see separate review for “Tell”).

PPS: see also the tag “Erick Labson Remasters” for a list of goodies remastered by him

“Meridian 1970” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review of the Jon Savage CD Compilation from 2005 – And A Suggested Follow-Up for 1971.



"…Warm Embraces I Have Found…”


In an overcrowded and weary marketplace - the VARIOUS ARTISTS CD compilation has slowly become something of an unloved and unwanted beast - and to look at “Meridian 1970” you really wouldn’t think very much of it either and be tempted to pass it by...

It doesn’t have a great sleeve to start with - and the track list on the rear is full of names you barely even know - and what’s this stuff in the subtitle about “Protest, Sorrow, Hobos, Folk And Blues”! Even the liner notes are made up entirely of crumpled pages from 4 rock music insiders who put together a compilation of their favourite childhood tracks and then described each in barely legible hand-written pages (complete with coffee stains). And who is this Jon Savage geezer anyway?

But then you play it – and man does it so work. It’s genius – it really is.

“Meridian 1970: Protest, Sorrow, Hobos, Folk And Blues - Compiled By JON SAVAGE” was released in February 2005 in the UK on Forever Heavenly FHVN2LP CD (through EMI) and its 20 tracks run to 78:23 minutes...

1. Mouthful Of Grass - Free
2. Nobody - The Doobie Brothers
3. Industrial Military Complex Hex - The Steve Miller Band
4. Hamburger Midnight - Little Feat
5. Catch The Man On The Rise - Sir Douglas Quintet
6. 3.10 Smokey Thursday - Danny O'Keefe
7. Message From The Country - The Move
8. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave - Dave Mason
9. Three Hours - Nick Drake
10. One Night Wonder - Meic Stevens
11. Man Of Constant Sorrow - Rod Stewart
12. Cripple Creek - Skip Spence
13. Tulsa County - The Byrds
14. Biloxi - Jesse Winchester
15. Song Of The Wandering Aengus - Donovan
16. Good Shepherd - Jefferson Airplane
17. Black Uncle Remus - Loudon Wainwright III
18. Hear The Wind Howl - Leo Kottke
19. The Moonstone - Tommy Flanders
20. Ashes The Rain And I - The James Gang

So why does it work? The song choices are brilliant and follow each other magnificently. There’s also the journey into the off-the-beaten track – discoveries that are exactly that – discoveries. Opening with the wonderfully soulful instrumental “Mouthful Of Grass” (the original B-side to Free’s “All Right Now” from May 1970 on Island), the emphasis is very much on ‘good’ songwriting and not just obscurities for the sake of it. And the mixture of American acts with British artists is sweet too – The Move perfectly follow Danny O’Keefe, while the funk of Little Feat and the jangling melody of The Byrds lift the pace when needed. The guitar-driven rock of Sir Douglas Quinter on Track 5 matches the 12-string instrumental of Leo Kottke later on Track 18 - but in different ways.

You could of course argue endlessly about the song choices (I wouldn’t have used that Donovan track), but mostly it’s all good. There’s beautiful stuff on here too - ex Blues Project Tommy Sanders released his lone album in early 1970 on Verve and it sank without a trace – unfair – especially considering just how good “The Moonstone” is (lyrics above). Ending with the moody string-filled gem “Ashes, The Rain And I” by The James Gang (featuring Joe Walsh) is a superb choice too.

Given the varying sources and production values, the sound quality wavers between good only (Meic Stevens) to superb (The Doobie Brothers, Nick Drake, Dave Mason and Leo Kottke).

It may seem silly to say this, but getting a compilation like this ‘right’ is far more difficult than you would imagine – and as a voracious compilation maker myself - I was more than impressed when I only recently stumbled upon this unassuming little gem.

Do yourself a favour and spend a fiver on “Meridian 1970” – and enjoy the journey these 4 guys began over 40 years ago – and are still geed-up about to this day.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS: I’ve listed below a suggested follow up compilation “Meridian 1971” – I’d welcome suggestions – it took me 30 tries!


MERIDIAN 1971
A suggested follow up compilation to Jon Savage’s CD “Meridian 1970”
A Compilation of Tracks From Not-So-Well-Known 1971 LPs
Posted 5 May 2010 – 20 Tracks, 75:47 minutes

1. Old, Old Woodstock - VAN MORRISON
(From the album “Tupelo Honey”
November 1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 460114)

2. It Ain’t Easy - JOHN BALDRY [aka Long John Baldry]
[Features MAGGIE BELL of STONE THE CROWS on Duet Vocals with RON WOOD of THE ROLLING STONES on Guitar; Produced by ROD STEWART]
(From the album “It Ain’t Easy”
June 1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 46088)

3. Really Wanted You - EMITT RHODES
(From the album “Mirror”
December 1971 UK LP on Probe SPBA 6262)

4. Born Under A Bad Sign - RITA COOLIDGE
[Written by Booker T Jones and William Bell, covered by Albert King & Cream]
(From her debut album “Rita Coolidge”
1971 UK LP on A&M Records AMLS 2015)

5. Walk To The Point – DAVE MASON and CASS ELLIOTT
[From the album “Dave Mason and Cass Elliott”
May 1971 UK LP Probe Records SPBA 6259)

6. Are You Leaving For The Country – KAREN DALTON
[From the album “In My Own Time”
1971 USA-only LP on Just Sunshine Records PAS 6008)

7. A Hundred Mountains – JACKIE LOMAX [features Bryn Haworth on Guitar]
(From the album “Home Is In My Head”
1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 46091)

8. Anymore - BOB LIND
(From the album “Since There Were Circles”
1971 USA LP on Capitol ST-780)

9. Gu Gu Gu – TUCKY BUZZARD
(From the album “Tucky Buzzard”
1971 USA LP on Capitol ST-787)

10. Mr. Skin – SPIRIT
(From the album “The Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus”
1971 UK LP on Epic Records S EPC 64191)

11. Dawn Of Another Day – BRIAN AUGER’S OBLIVION EXPRESS
(From the album “A Better Day”
1971 UK LP on Polydor 2383 062)

12. Midnight – THREE MAN ARMY [featuring Adrian Curtis on Guitar]
(From the album “Third Of A Lifetime”
1971 UK LP on Pegasus PEG 3)

13. If I Laugh – CAT STEVENS
(From the album “Teaser And The Firecat”
September 1971 UK LP on Island Records ILPS 9154)

14. Back Down The River - JOHN MARTYN
(From the album “Bless The Weather”
November 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9167)

15. Black Woman (The Wild Ox Moan) – ALEXIS KORNER
[Acapella version of a Blues song sung in the 1930’s by Vera Hall Ward]
(From the album “Alexis”
1971 UK LP on Rak Records SRAK 501)

16. Change – TONY JOE WHITE
(From the album “Tony Joe White”
1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 46068)

17. Better Days – GRAHAM NASH [feat Neil Young [credited as Joe Yankee] on Piano with Rita Coolidge and Dallas Taylor on Backing Vocals]
(From the album “Songs For Beginners”
June 1971 UK LP on Atlantic 2401 011)

18. Orleans – DAVID CROSBY
(From the album “If I Could Only Remember My Name”
February 1971 UK LP on Atlantic Records 2401 005)

19. Love Ain’t For Keeping – THE WHO
(From the album “Who’s Next”
August 1971 UK LP on Polydor 2408 102)

20. Moonlight Mile – THE ROLLING STONES
(From the album “Sticky Fingers”
April 1971 UK LP on Rolling Stones Records COC 59100)

“The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969 – 1973)” by EMITT RHODES. A REVIEW of the USA 2009 Hip-O Select 2CD Set Now Given a 2010 UK Release.




"I Was Dying Inside...I Was Hoping You'd Come Along..."


In truth, there was a time when you couldn't give away Emitt Rhodes albums here in the UK, but something of a rediscovery of his music has taken place in the last two decades that has brought his LPs out of the bargain bins and into the eBay lists.

Hailing from Hawthorne (a suburb in Los Angeles), Rhodes first came to prominence with the US sixties group "The Merry-Go-Round" who made one album for A&M in 1967, their self-titled debut "The Merry-Go-Round". Around the album they issued a wad of singles, but neither bothered the charts. These releases are quite sought after now. And prior to this rather lovely reissue, the only half decent set of his music on CD was a rare 1998 compilation from Edsel of the UK called "Daisy-Fresh". Well not anymore...

Released initially in the USA in May 2009 as a 2CD set, Hip-O Select B0012926-02 is a worldwide limited edition of 5000 which contains 4 full albums and one rare non-album 7" single. It breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (66:13 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "The American Dream" recorded in 1969 but released after his debut album (14 to 25 below) in April 1971 in the USA on A&M SP-4254 and on A&M AMLS 64254 in the UK
Tracks 14 to 25 are the album "Emitt Rhodes" first issued December 1970 in the USA on ABC/Dunhill DS 50089 and then on Probe Records SPBA 6256 in the UK in February 1971

Disc 2 (70:06 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Mirror" issued on ABC/Dunhill DSX 50111 in the USA in November 1971 and on Probe Records SPBA 6262 in the UK in December 1971
Tracks 11 to 22 are the album "Farewell To Paradise" issued September 1972 on Probe Records SPBA 6266 in the UK and on ABC/Dunhill DSX 50122 in the USA.

Track 23 is "Tame The Lion", a non-album A-side. In the UK it was on Probe Records PRO 565 and in the USA on A&M 4315, both issued in 1972. "Golden Child Of God" - an album track off "Mirror" - is its B-side in both countries.

The 3-way fold out card digipak houses a 16-page booklet with an appreciation of the man and his music by SCOTT SCHNIDER. There's also a pictorial album-by-album breakdown with relevant production and instrument credits. It's remastered by PETE DOELL at Universal Mastering and sounds fantastic - and given that most of these tracks are self-recorded by Rhodes himself - it's amazing how good they sound. Equally impressive is his musicianship on every track - so proficient, so talented.

Vocally Rhodes is a cross between Nilsson on "Nilsson Schmilsson", Todd Rundgren on "Something/Anything?" and Ron Mael of Sparks on "Kimono My House". But there is also the Beach Boys and Dennis Wilson vibe too. With all these cool influences bounding around, his songs and their arrangements have aroused a lot of interest in those who like their Seventies tunes melodic and layered. His first album is probably his most popular and fans will be glad to see it represented here in its entirety. Also - and impressively - most of the songs on here are entirely written, played, arranged and produced by Emitt Rhodes (how every Prince).

Another nice touch is that the 1st issue of "The American Dream" album had the track "Saturday Night" on it - which was replaced with "You're A Very Lovely Woman" when it was reissued later in a different sleeve - Hip-O has included both tracks so you can sequence either version.

While I like his debut - for me his song writing improved immeasurably on "Mirror". I especially love "Better Side Of Life" and "Really Wanted You" (lyrics above) - very Dennis Wilson - and in a really good way.

To sum up - and as other reviewers have pointed out - this is a superb reissue and luckily for us it's been given a January 2010 UK release for just under twelve quid (rare for Hip-O sets).

It's not all fab of course, but when he was good - he was sit-up-and-take-notice good. Recommended.

"Someday We'll All Be Free" by DONNY HATHAWAY ( 2010 French-Only Rhino/Warner Brothers 4CD Box Set Of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...



"...Sack Full Of Dreams..."

Released in February 2010 in Europe only - "Someday We'll All Be Free" is the first ever box set given over to the wonderful American soul artist DONNY HATHAWAY. It has good points and bad - so let's get to the details first...

"Someday We'll All Be Free" by DONNY HATHAWAY on Warner Brothers France/Rhino/Atlantic 8122798076 (Barcode 081227980764) is a 4CD Book Set of Remasters from original master tapes and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (76:37 minutes):
1. Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)
2. Je Vous Aime (I Love You)
3. I Believe To My Soul 
4. Misty 
5. Sugar Lee
6. Tryin’ Times [Side 2]
7. Thank You Master (For My Soul)
8. The Ghetto
9. To Be Young, Gifted And Black 
Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut LP "Everything Is Everything" released October 1970 in the USA on Atco SD 33-332 and 1971 in the UK on Atco 2465 019

10. Giving Up
11. A Song For You
12. Little Girl 
13. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother 
14. Magnificent Sanctuary Band 
15. She is My Lady 
16. I Believe In Music
Tracks 10 to 16 are the first 7 of 9 tracks from his 2nd album "Donny Hathaway" released April 1971 in the USA on Atco SD 33-360 and in the UK on Atlantic 2400 143

Disc 2 (66:26 minutes):
1. Take A Love Song
2. Put Your Hand In The Hand
Tracks 1 and 2 are the last two songs on the "Donny Hathaway" album (as per Disc 1)
3. I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)
4. Someday We’ll All Be Free 
5. Flying Easy 
6. Valdez In The Country
7. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know
8. Come Little Children 
9. Love, Love, Love
10. The Slums
11. Magdelena
12. I Know It’s You 
Tracks 3 to 12 are his 5th album (4th studio) "Extension Of A Man" released July 1973 in the USA on Atco SD-7029 and in the UK on Atlantic K 40487

Tracks 13 to 17 are Previously Unreleased - "Jealous Guy (Studio Version)". "No Other One But You [1974 Demo]", "The Essence Of Destiny [1974 Demo]", "Going Down [1974 Demo] and "Make It On Your Own [1975 Demo]"

Disc 3 (78:15 minutes)
Track 1 is "This Christmas", a single-only release from November 1970 in the USA on Atco 45-6799 (see Track 4) 

Track 2 is "Little Ghetto Boy", title track from the album "Come Back Charleston Blue" - a USA Soundtrack released July 1972 on Atco SD-7010 

Track 3 is "A Dream", a previously unreleased bonus track on the "Everything Is Everything" CD reissue from 1995

Track 4 is "Be There", non-album B-side to "This Christmas" (see Track 1)

Track 5 is "Lord Help Me", a bonus track on the "Extension Of A Man" CD reissue from 1993

Track 6 is "You Were Meant For Me" is from "A Donny Hathaway Collection" from 1990 on Atlantic 

Track 7 is "What A Woman Really Wants", a previously unreleased track on the 2006 CD compilation "Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers" (recorded January 1973)

8. What’s Going On
9. The Ghetto
10. Hey Girl 
11. You’ve Got A Friend 
12. Little Ghetto Boy
13. We’re Still Friends
14. Jealous Guy
15. Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)
Tracks 8 to 15 are his 3rd album "Donny Hathaway Live" released March 1972 in the USA on Atco SD 33-386 and Atlantic K 40369 in the UK  

Disc 4 (77:35 minutes):
1. To Be Young, Gifted And Black
2. A Song For You
3. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know
4. We Need You Right Now
5. Sack Full Of Dreams 
Tracks 1 to 5 are 5 of the 6 tracks from the 1980 posthumously released live album "In Performance" on Atlantic  

6. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother 
7. Yesterday 
8. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
9. Flying Easy 
10. Valdez In The Country
11. Someday We’ll All Be Free 
Tracks 6 to 11 are the 6 previously unreleased live tracks that were featured on the 14-track posthumous CD compilation "These Songs For You, Live!" issued by Atlantic/Rhino in 2004.

Tracks 12 and 13 are "Nu-Po" and "Love, Love, Love" - two previously unreleased live tracks recorded June 1973 in New York

As you can see from the details above, there are 7 previously unreleased tracks on this box set - 5 demos tagged onto the end of Disc 2 and 2 Live Tracks at the end of Disc 4. The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that the "Robert Flack & Donny Hathaway" album from 1972 is entirely absent and only one track appears from the 1972 "Come Back Charleston Blue" soundtrack, but that's available as a separate Rhino Remaster from 2007 should you want it (see my review). 

Niggles - although new and shrink-wrapped, my copy arrived with one of its plastic clip teeth rattling around in the cheap cardboard digi box. But that's nothing to the hugely underwhelming booklet, which is entirely in French and is next to useless. Its paltry 16 pages do have album sleeves and 7" singles pictured, but little else (4 of those pages are taken up with barely legible track listings for God's sake!). There is at least a nice touch beneath the see-through CD trays where 4 different label variations are reproduced - including the rare US Quadraphonic Version of "Extension Of A Man". But overall - for such a stellar artist - this is yet another shoddy and cheap set of packaging from Rhino - added to a worryingly growing list of them. The demos are ok, but not great - the best probably being "Make It On Your Own" from 1975. And why oh why wasn't this given a British or American release?

But the really good news, however, is the SOUND. There is a logo on the rear of the box which says HIGH QUALITY MASTERING and its been done by someone called ISAAK JASMIN. Comparing the sound to the 1993 Rhino discs, these 2010 versions are clearer and certainly more `present' than before. At times this ups the hiss levels inherent on the master tapes, but not to a point where it becomes overbearing. Typical would be "Take A Love Song" which opens Disc 2 - the old version was lacklustre, even dull - now it's huge and alive as the girls and strings crescendo. The live "In The Ghetto" is astonishing - a gig I would gladly have given a part of my anatomy to attend. 

I've always adored the "Extension Of A Man" LP from 1973 and the opening track "I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)" with its strings, clarinets and oboes is now GLORIOUS. That then segues into the box set's title song - the truly beautiful "Someday We'll All Be Free" (lyrics above) - and I'm in floods of tears! The two instrumentals on the album are huge too - the funky wah-wah guitars and keyboards of "Valdez In The Country" and the monstrous bass line of Willie Weeks in "The Slums". Very cool stuff...

So to sum up - there is an improved sound quality for die-hard fans to enjoy, however, newcomers might be better off with the 5CD mini box "Original Album Series" which is cheaper and offers more. 

Donny Hathaway folks. Recommended in any language. But docked a star for a less-than-stellar presentation of this beautiful man’s heartfelt musical legacy...

“Encouraging Words” by BILLY PRESTON. A Review Of 2nd Album For The Beatles Apple Records (1970) – Now Reissued Onto A 2010 Extended CD.




"…Learn To Live The Golden Rule…Don’t You Go Through Life Being A Fool…"


BILLY PRESTON [featuring George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Delaney Bramlett, Members of The Temptations and Edwin Hawkins Singers] - “Encouraging Words” (2010 Apple Expanded CD - Guy Massey, Steve Rookes, Phil Hicks and Simon Gibson Remasters)

"Encouraging Words" was the second and last album on Apple Records for long-time friend and sometimes collaborator with The Beatles - American keyboardist and Soul Singer Billy Preston. And along with his excellent debut LP the year before (1969's "That's The Way God Planned It") - it's not just one of the labels better offerings, it's a criminally forgotten Seventies Soul-Rock gem - and arguably the best album of his long and distinguished career.

UK released 25 October 2010 - Apple 5099990823923 (Barcode 5099990823923) breaks down as follows (54:44 minutes):

1. Right Now
2. Little Girl
3. Use What You’ve Got
4. My Sweet Lord
5. Let The Music Play
6. The same Thing Again
7. I’ve Got A Feeling
8. Sing One For The Lord
9. When You Are Mine
10. I Don’t Want To Pretend
11. Encouraging Words
12. All Things (Must) Pass
13. You’ve Been Acting Strange
Tracks 1 to 13 are the LP "Encouraging Words" released 11 September 1970 in the UK on Apple SAPCOR 14 (Stereo only) and on Apple ST-3370 in the USA.

BONUS TRACKS:
14. As Long As I Got My Baby
15. All That I Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)
16. How Long Has The Train Been Gone

Notes: Tracks 14 and 15 are the 2 bonus tracks given with the 1993 reissue - "As Long As I Got My Baby" (a Preston original) and "All That I Got (I'm Gonna Give It To You)" (a co-wrote with Doris Troy). "As Long As I Got My Baby" was intended to be the B-side of Preston's version of "My Sweet Lord" on Apple 29 (scheduled for September 1970 release in the UK), but was withdrawn. All That I Got (I'm Gonna Give It To You)" was co-produced with GEORGE HARRISON and released as a 7" single on 30 January 1970 in the UK on Apple 21. It's B-side "As I Get Older" is on the "That's The Way God Planned It" CD reissue as a bonus (track 14) - both songs were non-album at the time of release.

Track 16 is a new bonus for this 2010 issue - the previously unreleased fully formed song - "How Long Has the Train Been Gone". It was co-written with Bruce Fisher, recorded in January 1970 and then later re-recorded for Preston's 1973 album on A&M Records - "Everybody Loves Some Kind Of Music" (he would also re-record "When You Were Mine" for his 1976 A&M album "Billy Preston").

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:
Noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the disappointingly weedy 12-page booklet (EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and it's peppered with some very tasty full-page colour photos of Preston from the time. No UK singles were issued around the record (possibly why it disappeared so quick), but there is a full-page reproduction of an advert for the American single of "My Sweet Lord" on Apple 1826 (it also names Radio Stations supporting the song).

PLAYERS:
The cast is impressive (if not a little vague) - GEORGE HARRISON co-produced the entire album with Preston, ERIC CLAPTON played guitar on 3 tracks - "Right Now", "Use What You Got" and "Encouraging Words". RINGO STARR and KLAUS VOORMAN are said to be on Drums and Bass respectively, while DELANEY BRAMLETT also plays guitar on "Encouraging Words" with Eric. The Rhythm Section for THE TEMPTATIONS are on there (Bass, Guitarist, Drums) while members of SAM and DAVE'S band played Drums and Bass too. Both MADELINE BELL and DORIS TROY provided beautiful soulful backing vocals (Doris Troy's lone album on Apple "Doris Troy" was released the week earlier - 4 September 1970) while the EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS are on "My Sweet Lord" and "Sing One For The Lord".

CONTENT:
Six of the 13 are Billy Preston originals with "My Sweet Lord" and "All Things (Must) Pass" being George Harrison compositions. "Let The Music Play", "The Same Thing Again" and "Sing One For The Lord" are co-writes with Jesse Kirkland, James Herndon and George Harrison respectively. Which leaves two cover versions - The Beatles' "I've Got A Feeling" and "You've Been Acting Strange" by Ronnie Lee Williams (also covered by Merry Clayton on her 1970 "Gimme Shelter" album). Unlike some of the other Apple issues, there are no extra tracks via download. But the really big news is the SOUND...

SOUND:
The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters have done this - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, PHIL HICKS and SIMON GIBSON. I always thought the initial 1993 reissue was dull-as-dishwater soundwise - well not so now because the audio quality here is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement. It also makes you reassess a lot of the songs and appreciate more Harrison's excellent production contributions.

"Right On" is a superb opener and sets the tone for the overall funky feel of the album (surely it would have been a hit single). "When You Are Mine" is a sweetheart too as is "Use What You Got" (with great wah-wah guitar from Clapton). Very cool stuff. Conversely - the two most famous 'early versions' of Harrison classics "My Sweet Lord" and "All Things (Must) Pass" are the ones that work the least well for me. Not so the stunning blues-soul of "The Same Thing Again" co-written with the noted Gospel singer James Herndon - it's a monster. It had customers coming to the counter in our shop wanting to know which 'Ray Charles' tune we were playing (praise indeed).

"Encouraging Words" is a brilliantly brassy dancer with a message for the 'kids' to be kind, stay in school and don't get suckered (lyrics above). It really is so good. The brass, the great production and the remaster combine to fill your room with superlative soul-funk. But for me the absolute dog's undercarriage is the fabulous Beatles-meets-Gospel "Sing One For The Lord" - Preston's huge organ playing combines with the choir feel of the backing vocals, George's meaty guitar riff and a lingering Sitar-sounding instrument called the Indian Tamboura which floats over the whole thing - it's a stunning cross-pollination of cultures and music and as close to post-Beatles magic as you can get.

Although a little hissy - the new song "How Long Has The Train Been Gone" is a slow soulful gem - it's fantastic - I can't believe its been lingering in vaults all these years. And like the new bonus track "Something's Got To Change" on the "That's The Way God Planned It" CD reissue (see separate review) - it's that rarest thing, a genuine must-have bonus track.

Niggles - the gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). They're minor points I know, but worth making...


To sum up - I've loved rehearing this forgotten peach of an album in this hugely improved sound quality - Seventies Soul lovers 'need' to discover this great record. I'm also reminded of crying uncontrollably when I saw Billy Preston play "Isn't It A Pity" live with Eric Clapton and that fantastic band at the "Concert For George" in The Royal Albert Hall in 2002 - magical. Too many losses man...remember them and him this way...