"Confessions Of The Mind" 1970 LP inside 'Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies January 1969 to March 1973' by THE HOLLIES (2015 Parlophone 5CD Set with Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This 5CD set contains the 1970 LP "Confessions Of The Mind" 

"...Cast You Spell Over me One More Time..." 

Following on from the May 2011 six-disc clump of early HOLLIES that was "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" - we now get Volume 2 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" - which weighs in at a paltry 5 discs.

But for my money - this second motherlode of HOLLIES melody is even more amazing that its much-praised predecessor. There's a veritable avalanche of detail to get through - so once more unto those Romany hills...

UK and USA released July 2015 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" by THE HOLLIES on Parlophone 0825646336111 (Barcode 0825646336111) is a 5CD Set in a multiple-layer double-sized jewel case that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (66:53 minutes, 21 tracks):

1. Sorry Suzanne

2. Not That Way At All

Tracks 1 & 2 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 28 February 1969 on Parlophone R 5765

3. Blowin' In The Wind

4. I Shall Be Released

5. The Mighty Quinn

6. This Wheel’s On Fire

7. The Times They Are A-Changin'

8. Quit Your Lowdown Ways

9. I Want You

10. Just Like A Woman

11. When The Ship Comes In

12. My Back Pages

13. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

14. All I Really Want To Do

Tracks 3 to 14 are the album "Hollies Sing Dylan" - released May 1969 in the UK on Parlophone PMC 7079 (Mono) and Parlophone PCS 7079 (Stereo) and as "Words And Music By Bob Dylan" in the USA on Epic BN 26447 (Stereo only) - the STEREO mix is used (same Tracks both LPs). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence either LP as released - use the following songs (all on Disc 1):

UK and USA 12-Track LP "Hollies Sing Dylan"/"Words And Music By Bob Dylan"

Side 1: 11, 13, 9, 6, 4 and 3

Side 2: 8, 10, 7, 14, 12 and 5

15. Do You Believe In Love

16. Please Sign Your Letters

17. Cos You Like To Love Me

18. Please Let Me Please

19. Goodbye Tomorrow

20. She Looked My Way

21. My Life Is Over With You (see Disc 2)

Disc 2 (61:29 minutes, 19 tracks):

1. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

Track 1 is the A-side to a UK 7" single released 19 September 1969 on Parlophone R 5806 (the album-cut "'Cos You Like To Love Me" was the B-side)

2. Soldier's Dilemma

3. Marigold/Gloria Swansong

4. You Love 'Cos You Like It

5. Why Didn't You Believe

6. Look At Life

7. Louisiana Man (from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311)

8. Don't Give Up Easily

9. Reflections Of A Long Time Past

Tracks 15 to 21 on Disc 1 and Tracks 2 to 6 and 8 and 9 on Disc 2 is the LP "Hollies Sing Hollies" - released November 1969 in the UK on Parlophone PCS 7092 and in the USA as "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" on Epic BN 26538 with a different track list (both Stereo only). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence the actual "Hollies Sing Hollies" UK 12-track LP or the US 11-track variant as released - use the following songs (5/2 = Track 5 on Disc 2 etc.):

UK 12-Track LP "Hollies Sing Hollies"

Side 1: 5/2, 8/2, 6/2, 16/1, 21/1 and 18/1

Side 2: 15/1, 2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 9/2 and 19/1

US 11-Track LP "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (different on Side 2 only)

Side 1: 5/2, 8/2, 6/2, 16/1, 21/1 and 18/1

Side 2: 15/1, 1/2, 4/2, 9/2 and 19/1

10. I Wanna Shout

11. Lady Please

12. Sign Of The Times (from the 1998 CD compilation "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" on EMI 7243 4 93450 2 7)

13. Separated

14. Little Girl

15. Eleanors Castle - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

16. Confessions Of A Mind

17. Mad Professor Blyth

18. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top

Tracks 17 and 18 are the B and A-side of a UK 7" single released 10 April 1970 on Parlophone R 5837

19. Dandelion Wine

Track 19 on Disc 2 is the non-album B-side to "Gasoline Alley Bred" - released as a UK 7" single 18 September 1970 on Parlophone R 5862 (the A-side is Track 7 on Disc 3)

Disc 3 68:03 minutes, 18 tracks):

1. Survival Of The Fittest

2. Perfect Lady Housewife

3. Isn't It Nice

4. Too Young To Be Married

5. Frightened Lady

6. Man Without A Heart

7. Gasoline Alley Bred

Track 7 is the non-album A-side of a UK 7" single released 18 September 1970 on Parlophone R 5862 (the non-album B-side "Dandelion Wine" is Track 19 on Disc 2)

Tracks 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16 on Disc 2 with Tracks 1 to 6 on Disc 3 make up the album "Confessions Of The Mind" - released November 1970 in the UK as an 11-track LP on Parlophone PCS 7116 and as "Moving Finger" in the USA on Epic E 30255 (both Stereo only). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence the actual "Confessions Of The Mind" and "Moving Finger" LPs as released (for both countries) - use the following tracks (10/2 = Track 5 on Disc 2 - 2/3 = Track 2 on Disc 3 etc.):

UK LP "Confessions Of The Mind"

Side 1: 1/3, 6/3, 14/2, 3/3, 2/3 and 16/2

Side 2: 11/2, 5/3, 4/3, 13/2 and 10/2

US LP "Moving Finger" (different configuration on both sides)

Side 1: 1/3, 16/2, 11/2, 14/2, 4/3 and 6/3

Side 2: 3/3, 5/3, 3/2, 2/3 and 7/3

8. Hey Willy

9. Row The Boat Together

Tracks 8 and 9 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 14 May 1971 on Parlophone R 5905

10. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)

11. You Know The Score

12. Pull Down The Blind

13. Promised Land

14. What A Life I've Led

15. Cable Car

16. Hold On

17. To Do With Love

18. Look What You've Got

Disc 4 (67:45 minutes, 18 tracks):

1. Long Dark Road

2. A Little Thing Like Love

Tracks 10 to 18 on Disc 3 and Tracks 1 and 2 on Disc 4 make up the album "Distant Light" - released October 1971 in the UK on Parlophone PAS 10005 and in the USA on Epic KE 30958 (same track list both countries). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order - to sequence the actual "Distant Light" LP as released use the following tracks (10/3 = Track 10 on Disc 3 - 1/4 = Track 1 on Disc 4 etc.):

Side 1: 14/3, 18/3, 16/3, 12/3, 17/3 and 13/3

Side 2: 10/3, 11/3, 15/3, 2/4 and 1/4

3. Oh Granny (Allan Clarke Vocal Version) - from the 1993 UK CD compilation "Singles A's & B's" on EMI/Music For Pleasure CDMFP 5980

4. Oh Granny (Terry Sylvester Vocal Version)

5. The Baby

Tracks 5 and 4 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 4 February 1972 on Polydor 2058 199

6. Touch

7. Romany (see Disc 5)

8. Papa Rain - a Previously Unreleased track from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

9. Indian Girl - non-album B-side to the UK single of "Magic Woman Touch" released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289

10. Blue In The Morning

11. Jesus Was A Crossmaker

12. Down River

13. Magic Woman Touch (see Disc 5 - also A-side to UK 7" single released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289)

14. Magic Woman Touch (Acoustic Version) - one of the eight bonus tracks from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

15. Lizzy And The Rainman

16. Delaware Taggett And The Outlaw Boys

17. Words Don't Come Easy

18. Courage Of Your Convictions (see Disc 5)

Disc 5 (56:59 minutes, 16 tracks):

1. Witchy Woman - a Previously Unreleased track (an Eagles cover) from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

2. Slow Down

3. Won't You Feel Good That Morning

Tracks 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 on Disc 4 and Tracks 2 and 3 on Disc 5 is the album "Romany" - released November 1972 in the UK on Polydor 2383 144 and Epic E 31992 in the USA (with a different track listing on Side 1). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order - to sequence either the UK or USA "Romany" LP as released - use the following tracks (6/4 = Track 6 on Disc 4 - 2/5 = Track 2 on Disc 5 etc.):

November 1972 UK 12-Track LP on Polydor 2383 144

Side 1: 3/5, 6/4, 17/4, 13/4, 15/4 and 12/4

Side 2: 2/5, 15/4, 11/4, 7/4, 10/4 and 18/4

November 1972 US 11-Track LP on Epic E 31992 (different track list on Side 1 only)

Side 1: 13/4, 6/4, 17/4, 7/4, 3/5 and 12/4

Side 2: 2/5, 15/4, 11/4, 7/4, 10/4 and 18/4

The eight Bonus Tracks on the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD of "Romany" are 5/4, 14/4, 9/3, 4/5, 8/4, 1/5, 4/4 and 16/5

4. If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

5. Don't Leave This Child Alone

6. They Don't Realise I'm Down

7. Transatlantic Westbound Jet

8. Nearer To You

9. Pick Up The Pieces (Terry Sylvester song)

10. Slow Down - Go Down

11. The Last Wind

12. A Better Place

13. Mr. Heartbreaker

14. Out On The Road

15. I Was Born A Man

Tracks 5 to 15 is the album "Out On The Road" - released June 1973 in Germany on Hansa Records 87119 IT

16. I Had A Dream - non-album B-side to the US 7" single of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" (Judee Sill cover) release May 1973 on Epic Records 5-10989 - June 1973 German 7" single (in picture sleeve) of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" on Hansa 12 728 AT

THE HOLLIES (January 1969 to December 1971):

Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert and Terry Sylvester

THE HOLLIES (December 1971 to March 1973)

Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert, Terry Sylvester and Mikael Rickfors

The 24-page booklet features a witty and clever introduction called 'Elucidating Observations' by the band's long-standing drummer BOBBY ELLIOTT (reminiscences of Graham being rescued from the beer-swilling Hollies by David Crosby to join him on the CSNY odyssey) - a UK Discography for the singles and LP – pages of rare European, US and Japanese 7” single picture sleeves – album covers – and track by track recording details. It's well done - the colour centre pages photo sees the boys staring out of set of broken windows somewhere in Nuremberg - and for such a huge haul of music is priced cheaply too.

Across 92 tracks are the A&B-sides of eight British 7" singles, six full albums (five British on Parlophone and one European on Hansa), six LP and CD compilation exclusives, non-album European/USA single releases and the bonus tracks that came with the ‘Extended Version’ CD of “Romany”. The six albums are: "Hollies Sing Dylan" (May 1969), "Hollies Sing Hollies" (November 1969), "Confessions Of The Mind" (November 1970), "Distant Light" (October 1971), "Romany" (November 1972) and "Out On The Road" (Germany-Only, June 1973).

Like its predecessor 2011’s "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" - the CDS for this follow volume are sequenced in recording-date order - with the album tracks often spread across different discs. In order to sequence the original British LPs (and the one German-only release on Hansa) and all of those UK 7” singles – see the details I’ve provided above (details that aren’t in the booklet).

Even when you get past huge chart hits like "Sorry Suzanne" (No. 3), "He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother" (No. 3), "I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top" (No. 7) and less successful goodies like "Gasoline Alley Bred" (No. 14), "Hey Willy" (No. 22), "The Baby" (No. 26) and "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" (No. 32) and the criminally forgotten "Magic Woman Touch" (didn't chart) – the album highlights number many. Their version of Dylan's magical "My Back Pages" sticks out as a bright light on a much-derided cluster of corny covers from the "Hollies Sing Dylan" LP (the less said about the banjo-strumming "When The Ship Comes In" the better). The "Hollies Sings Hollies" LP was a welcome return to form - the jangling acoustic guitars and doubled-vocals of Allan Clarke's "Goodbye Tomorrow" and "My Life Is Over With You" both have great harmonies in them - while Side 2 highlights include the 'you ain't having me on a leash' of "Soldiers Dilemma" and the epic double-track "Marigold/Gloria Swansong" compliments the piano and strings 'theme' feel to the instrumental "Reflections Of A Long Time Past" (a Bernie Calvert creation).

Their seemed to be immense maturity in their early Seventies stuff - the Production values going through the roof too. Tony Hicks provided the jaunty "Lady Please" and the 'teardrops' of "Little Girl" on 1970's "Confessions Of The Mind" - while Allan Clarke threw in the accomplished "Separated" (I've always loved that Acoustic/Tabla combo while he shouts words. Fans will love the wickedly good B-sides too you never get to hear like "Not That Way At All" - a song that could easily have been a winning A - and "'Cos You Like To Love Me" (presented here in Mono despite the Stereo logo on the CD). Their cover of Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man" (first appeared on the "Rarities" CD) is good rather than great – but I've always thought the 1972 "Romany" LP with "Magic Woman Touch" and their version of Judee Sill's lovely "Jesus Was A Crossmaker" is a bit of an overlooked harmony masterpiece (it can be sequenced from this set in both its 12-track UK guise or the different 11-track US variant - see Disc 5 above).

Further glory would follow for The Hollies on Polydor with Alan Clarke taking the song-writing ascendancy ("The Air That I Breathe") - while Graham Nash went on of course to conquer the West Coast of America and then the entire world with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young and all of the CSNY off-shoots.

"…Cast your spell upon me one more time..." - THE HOLLIES sang on the wonderful "Magic Woman Touch". Great sound, top songs and quality presentation – like its predecessor - there's so much to enjoy on here. And even after five discs - a trunk load of admiration into the bargain…

"Alone Together" by DAVE MASON of Traffic [featuring Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Delaney & Bonnie and Eric Clapton] (2008 Rev-Ola CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Only You Know And I Know..."

The "Alone Together" LP by DAVE MASON from 1970

A founder member of Traffic (who'd worked with Kim Fowley and The Spencer Davis Group prior to that) – the man who penned their fabulous "Feelin’ Alright" hit was the first to jump ship due to that internal hairyman virus bands seem to suffer perennially from - 'musical differences'.

Ensconced in the USA with a huge cast of key players – Mason went at his first solo LP with the help of Traffic’s Drummer Jim Capaldi and cool contributions from the likes of Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Chris Etheridge, Jim Keltner, Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear and the Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett band (to name but a few) – producing a humdinger in the process. And that’s where this superb 2008 Rev-Ola CD Reissue and Remaster comes in...

UK released 28 May 2008 (June 2008 in the USA) - "Alone Together" by DAVE MASON on Rev-Ola CD REV 251 (Barcode 5013929455122) is a straightforward CD Remaster of his 8-Track 1970 debut solo LP and plays out as follows (34:54 minutes):

1. Only You Know And I Know

2. Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving

3. Waitin' On You

4. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave

5. World In Changes [Side 2]

6. Sad And Deep As You

7. Just A Song

8. Look At You, Look At Me

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut solo LP "Alone Together" – released July 1970 in the USA on Blue Thumb BTS 19 and October 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHTC 251. Produced by DAVE MASON and TOMMY LIPUMA (engineered by Bruce Botnik of The Doors fame) - the US issue famously came in two forms – a triple gatefold sleeve with black vinyl and some copies came with die-cut 'kangaroo-pac' triple gatefold sleeve with a splatter–coloured Vinyl LP inside (both had BTS 19 as their catalogue numbers).

But the big news here is the 'Sound Recreation' Remaster by NORMAN BLAKE and JOE FOSTER done at Studio 3 in Glasgow. This CD sounds glorious - beautiful sound on every track...

Harvest Records took their sweet time in the UK - releasing "World In Changes" b/w "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving" in April 1970 on Harvest HAR 5017. But as the album proper didn’t show until October 1970 in the UK - months of waiting killed any momentum. In-between that they'd issued another 7" single in the shape of the superb "Only You Know And I Know" b/w "Sad And Deep As You" in August 1970 on Harvest HAR 5024 – but again it tanked. Considering how good the four songs were – and how radio catchy too – it's amazing now to think that DJs didn't pick up on either. Mason also contributed to the George Harrison colossus "All Things Must Pass" which saw his work on the 3LP Box Set released late November 1970 - this should have given Dave Mason more profile to the October 1970 UK release of the "Alone Together" LP - but naught happened. In fact when I now replay killers like "Only You Know And I Know" and "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" - it's hard to understand why Joe Public in Blighty didn't pay any attention to their native son. "Only You Know And I Know" in particular is one of those songs that gets covered to buggery precisely because its so damn catchy - Rita Coolidge did it on her 1971 A&M Records LP "Nice Feelin'" - Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett tapped it in October 1971 as a 45 in the UK on Atco 2091 151 - then again on their March 1972 LP on CBS Records "D & B Together" - and as recently as 2002 American R&B lover Joan Osbourne did a stunning Funk version of it for her "How Sweet It Is" covers CD album.

The "...best friend I have is me..." lyrics of "Waitin' On You" threaten to derail a great little rock song and Eric Clapton famously puts in what many feel is his best ever 'guitar solo' on the near eight-minute Side 2 finisher "Look At You, Look At Me". Mason's brilliant "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" was a featured track on the Harvest Records 4CD expansion of the 1970 2LP label sampler "Picnic: A Breath Of Fresh Air" in 2007 - and check out the superb cover of "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving" by Steve Ellis of The Love Affair (and Ellis) on Disc 3 of the June 2015 "Time Has Changed Us" 3CD retrospective on RPM Records (see separate review). The hurting "Sad And Deep As You" is a piano ballad that is so pretty while "Just A Song" could almost be America or even acoustic Supertramp. I’m finding all I need in this great little album...

Since the advent of CD the album "Alone Together" has become something a darling with audiophile reissue companies like Mobile Fidelity and regularly shown up on Japanese SHM-CD versions with that famous 'head and top-hat' die-cut artwork - each falling over themselves to get out a CD variant out there that will easily trounce the dreadful quality of the original splatter-vinyl LPs. Many are deleted now and cost a hefty chunk of change – but the Rev-Ola reissue and remaster offers superb audio for a reasonable sum and makes accessible a truly great album you will want in your CD player. I'll tip my top hat to that...

PS: Rev-ola have also reissued and remastered his 2nd LP with Mama Cass Elliot called "Dave Mason and Cass Elliot" in 2008 on Rev-ola CD REV 255 (Barcode 5013929455528) – use the Barcode on Amazon to locate my review of this equally good Audio delight.

"Mountains" by STEAMHAMMER [feat Martin Pugh and Kieran White later of Armageddon] (2016 Esoteric Recordings CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...We Could Almost Touch The Sun..."

"Mountains"by STEAMHAMMER from November 1970

Two tours with Blues Legend Freddie King in 1968 and 1969 saw the nucleus of England's forgotten and overlooked STEAMHAMMER be given the grounding for two albums on CBS Records - their raucous Blues-Rock debut "Steamhammer" in early 1969 on CBS S 63611 (also known as "Reflections" because of the cover art) and "Steamhammer MKII" in late 1969 on CBS Records S 63694. But Steamhammer was better than just Blues-Rock and had melody makers at their core too. The first of those albums featured Acoustic Guitarist genius Martin Quittenton - who would be a quintessential part of Rodders band sound for five amazing Mercury Records LPs between 1969 and 1973 - "An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down", "Gasoline Alley," Every Picture Tells A Story, "Never A Dull Moment" and Smiler" - as well as co-pen the monster hit "Maggie Mae" with Stewart in 1971.

But the British band's "Mountains" album from late 1970 saw original band member Martin Pugh return to the fold (he was on the first LP) as Lead Guitarist and along with founder member Kieran White (Vocalist and principal songwriter) - Steamhammer changed tack and went a bit more Prog Mellow with their third and what many feel is their best record. November 1970's "Mountains" was issued on the Charisma Records offshoot label B&C Records. Its gorgeous sticker-titled gatefold sleeve (the Chris Stepan artwork is now fully reproduced n the newly upgraded booklet) has been a notorious and sought-after vinyl rarity in the UK ever since - often exceeding its modest £50-ish price tag by three or four times that amount.

And that's where this superlative little 2016 CD Reissue and Remaster by England's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) comes storming in - a very welcome and timely reminder of a band and a record that shouldn't have been so marginalised at the time and deserves mucho reappraisal now. Let's get to the details for Mark III...

UK released Friday, 29 July 2016 (August 2016 in the USA) - "Mountains" by STEAMHAMMER on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2549 (Barcode 5013929464940) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 8-Track 1970 LP and plays out as follows (41:07 minutes):

1. I Wouldn't Have Thought (Gopher's Song)

2. Levenia

3. Henry Lane

4. Walking Down The Road

5. Mountains

6. Leader Of The Ring [Side 2]

7. Riding on The L&N [Live At The Lyceum, London]

8. Hold That Train [Live At The Lyceum, London]

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd studio album "Mountains" - released November 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1024 (no US issue). Produced by FRITZ FRYER and Engineered by MARTIN BIRCH - it failed to chart in the UK. The last two tracks were recorded live at The Lyceum in London (no dates provided). Principal vocalist and songwriter Kieran White penned all the songs except "I Wouldn’t Have Thought (Gopher’s Song)" which was co-written with Martin Pugh. "Riding on The L&N" is a live cover of Lionel Hampton’s old R&B classic while the whole band contributed songwriting credits to the second live track recorded at London’s Lyceum venue - "Hold That Train".

STEAMHAMMER was:

KIERAN WHITE - Lead Vocals, Harmonica, 2nd Acoustic And Electric Guitars

MARTIN PUGH - Lead Acoustic, Electric and Bottleneck Guitars

STEVE DAY - Bass, Organ and Vocals

MICK BRADLEY - Drums and Percussion

Keith Nelson guested on "Henry Lane" playing Banjo

The 16-page booklet restores the album’s gatefold sleeve artwork throughout whilst offering newcomers superb MALCOLM DOME liner notes (presentation conceived and carried out by Mark and Vicky Powell of Esoteric). Dome interviews Guitarist Martin Pugh and Engineer Geoff Calver (who did the two live tracks) and gives a potted history of the band and its line-up changes and 4-album history. But the big news over the 2000 Repertoire CD reissues is a new 24-Bit Digital Remaster of the original B&C mastertapes by BEN WISEMAN at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire in 2016. This CD sounds great – full of presence and warmth – tracks like "Levenia" full of life.

Viewed from a distance - "Mountains" is a curious album with its six new studio-cuts sat uncomfortably alongside two live songs bookending Side 2 that feel like the band of old. Most of "Mountains" has very little to do with the Blues Rock influenced debut LP and a lot more in common with Man or even Help Yourself – excepting as I said those last two. Songs like "Henry Lane" and the near six-minutes of the title track "Mountains" are wonderfully melodic – the guitar warmer – the harmony vocals sweeter – and dare we say it – at times gentle and even beautiful (lyrics from it title this review).

"Levenia" feels like MAN circa "Bananas" where Kieran White is shadowed on the vocal line by Martin Pugh’s electric guitar at every turn and then later by deft Acoustic work. The bass opening that explodes into guitar on "Walking Down The Road" feels like Juicy Lucy or even Audience – but just when you think you know where its going – the later half of the song goes all bongo-and-drums Funky like Osibisa on a roll.

Listening to the acoustic prettiness of "Leader Of The Ring" – as mellow as America or Donovan or even Duncan Browne - it’s impossible to think of Steamhammer as the band Status Quo covered when they did their Hard Rock version of "Junior’s Wailing" on their August 1970 LP "Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon" (they’d also do a live version of it on their 1975 "Status Quo EP"). Yet the very next track does just that – rocks like a mother – Steamhammer’s ten-minute live version of "Riding On The L&N" where the sophistication is gone and they sound like The Groundhogs enjoyed a thumping bass and wah-wah guitar boogie wigout. The shorter 5:45 minutes of "Hold That Train" is actually better – a great guitar-boogie that feels like Man at their live best. Damn shame they didn’t see fit to record it properly for the album but maybe there was a life in the live version they couldn’t get in the studio.

You can’t help but think in hindsight that Steamhammer made a stylistic mistake with those last two live tracks filling up much of Side 2 (though others swear they’re the best things about the LP). I can’t help but think that if they’d stuck to their artistic guns and produced two more studio-cuts of the same melodic diversity and beauty of the preceding six – we would be looking at a bona fide Prog Rock masterpiece - with "Mountains" held in awe instead of a curio people stumble on.

A split-up Steamhammer would later join ranks in 1974 with Keith Relf from The Yardbirds to form the hard-rocking Armageddon for one highly revered self-titled album on A&M Records in 1975 (AMLH 64513 is also reissued by Esoteric Recordings on ECLEC 2150 in 2009).

In the meantime we’ve "Mountains" to savour - and 46 years after the event – a hill worth re-climbing…

"It Ain't Easy/Naturally" by THREE DOG NIGHT (2009 Beat Goes On 2LPs onto 1CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Something Worth Remembering..." 

Both the "It Ain't Easy" and "Naturally" LPs by THREE DOG NIGHT released in 1970 

Talk about criminally overlooked.

Despite their monster chart successes in the USA (gazillions of albums sold - a whopping 21 entries on the 7" singles charts between 1969 and 1975 when many other more famous names struggled to reach five) - THREE DOG NIGHT have always been terminally unhip. Musical history has LA's TDG viewed as little more than a great covers band - clever interpreters of someone else's brilliance – a chart phenomenon with three storming vocalists out front but without any real songwriting ability within their own ranks. But I'd argue that the first flurry of Three Dog Night studio albums were great and the brilliance of the re-arranged covers often made other people's songs sound like TDG tunes anyway. The "It Ain't Easy" and "Naturally" LPs are a case in hand (both issued in the heady days of a new decade - 1970).

"It Ain't Easy" is anchored by their first No.1 single - a cover version of the naughty-naughty Randy Newman song "Mama Told Me Not To Come" sung by Cory Wells. They also premiered Elton John's "Your Song" to an American audience months before anyway knew what a classic it was or who Reg Dwight would become. Even after a gruelling 200 live shows in that busy year - the unstoppable Three Dog Night followed March 1970's "It Ain't Easy" with November's "Naturally" - an equally strong LP set with winners like their kicking cover of Bush's "I Can Hear You Calling", the Funk-Rock instrumental "Fire Eater" and their 2nd number 1 single - their wonderful 'Jeremiah was a bullfrog...' version of Hoyt Axton's "Joy To The World" - Chuck Negron's vocals as famous today as they were 46 years ago. Anyway, there's a ton of detail to wade through so once more my comrades into the doggy position (sorry, couldn't resist)...

UK released July 2009 - "It Ain't Easy/Naturally" by THREE DOG NIGHT on Beat Goes On BGOCD 875 (Barcode 5017261208750) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (68:09 minutes):

1. Woman [Free cover - Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser song]
2. Cowboy [Randy Newman cover]
3. It Ain't Easy [Ron Davies cover]
4. Out In The Country [Paul Williams/Roger Nicholls song]
5. Good Feeling (1957) [Alan Brackett/John Merrill song]
6. Rock And Roll Widow [Three Dog Night song] - Side 2
7. Mama Told Me Not To Come [Randy Newman cover]
8. Your Song [Elton John cover]
9. Good Time Living [Barry Mann/Cynthia Weill song]
Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "It Ain't Easy" (fourth LP overall) - released late March 1970 in the USA on ABC/Dunhill Records DS-50078 and May 1970 in the UK on Probe Records SPBA 6251. Produced by RICHARD PODOLOR - it peaked at No. 8 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK).

10. I Can Hear You Calling [Bush cover]
11. One Man Band [Thomas Jefferson Kaye co-write with Billy Fox and January Time]
12. Creepin' [Free cover]
13. Fire Eater [Three Dog Night song - Instrumental]
14. Can't Get Enough Of It [Jimmy Miller and Steve Winwood song - Spencer Davis Group cover]
15. Sunlight [Jesse Colin Young song] - Side 2
16. Heavy Church [Anita O'Day cover]
17. Liar [Argent/Russ Ballard cover]
18. I've Got Enough Heartache [Gary Wright song - Spooky Tooth cover]
19. Joy To The World [Hoyt Axton cover]
Tracks 10 to 19 are their 4th studio album "Naturally" - released November 1970 in the USA on ABC/Dunhill Records DSX 50088 and December 1970 in the UK on Probe Records SPBA 6257. Produced by RICHARD PODOLOR - it peaked at No. 14 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK).

For both LPs THREE DOG NIGHT was:
CHUCK NEGRON, DANNY HUTTON and CORY WELLS on shared Lead Vocals
MICHAEL ALLSUP - Guitars
JIMMY GREENSPOON - Keyboards
JOE SCHERMIE - Bass
FLOYD SNEED - Drums

The outer card slipcase on these BGO reissues lends the whole shebang a handsome visage while the 8-page inlay with February 2006 BRUCE EDER liner notes pour on the details in a small amount of space complete with some artwork shots and musician credits. BGO's long-standing Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON has done the Remasters at Sound Performance in the UK and both LPs 'rawk' in all the right ways. Tracks like "Good Time Living" and "Liar" sound great.

On a very cold evening in the Australian outback, an Aborigine hunter would dig a furrow in the ground and bring his dog into the hole with him for bodily warmth. Two dogs were needed for a really bitter night, but the worst night of all was called a THREE DOG NIGHT (that's how they got their name). The band changed Producers for "It Ain't Easy" leaving behind Gabriel Mekler who did their first two 1969 LPs "Three Dog Night" and "Suitable For Framing" (paired on another BGO CD reissue - BGOCD 865). The result was a more punchy delivery and that's immediately evident with the opening stab at Free's "Woman" and Randy Newman's "Cowboy" - both sounding full of beans. However both of these adequate openers are roundly trounced by the title track "It Ain't Easy" - a song with a fabulous musical history. Nashville songwriter Ron Davies wrote "It Ain't Easy" for his 1970 LP "Silent Song Through The Land" (A&M SP-4264) and then witnessed his unknown song name TWO entire albums after it - THREE DOG NIGHT in 1970 and (LONG) JOHN BALDRY in 1971. Many will also be aware of the song through David Bowie's cover on Side 1 of 1972's "Ziggy Stardust". Even Dave Edmunds had a go for his debut album "Rockpile" on Regal Zonophone - also in 1972 (see separate review). "It Ain't Easy" was just one of those cool rock tracks that lent itself to other artists who then somehow made it 'their' song. Three Dog Night's "It Ain't Easy" is the kind of 70ts track I love and place on CD-R comps for home listening.

"Out In The Country" was issued as a 45 in the USA and with its incredibly hooky and pleasing  melody lines - not surprisingly it saw them clock up another Top 20 hit (peaked at No. 15). But their Fifties pastiche "Good Feeling (1957)" that ends Side 1 is God awful - an absolute howler with a screeching vocal - the kind of song that gives Rock a genuinely bad name. Side 2 thankfully opens with their own "Rock And Roll Widow" - a very tasty rocker that in turn is followed by the LP’s big mama - "Mama Told Me Not To Come". Cory Wells fronted the vocal on their first US No. 1 getting across that country boy naiveté at a city party in Randy Newman’s knowing lyrics when he sings "...want some whiskey in your water...some sugar in your tea...what's all these crazy questions they asking me!" It was also the California band's first UK chart showing when Stateside SS 8052 went No. 3 in August 1970.

"Naturally" opens with a genuine blast - their cover of Bush's "I Can Hear You Calling" - co-written by future James Gang guitarist Dominic Troiano. I always thought it would have made a tremendous rocker single and was (and still is) a brilliant choice of song to do. "One Many Band" is one of many songs penned by Thomas Jefferson Kaye who would have his own solo albums on Probe Records and was closely associated with that other stunning Probe Records act - Steely Dan. Three Dog Night thought it strong enough for a 45 and were duly rewarded with a No. 15 chart position. Their version of Free's "I'll Be Creepin'" is better than workmanlike - but that's trounced by a Three Dog Night original - the stunning instrumental "Fire Eater" - another Funk-Rock gem put out by a Rock band. But again the LP is dominated by another huge song and their 2nd No. 1 single - "Joy To The World" - a fantastic version of a Country Rock song penned by Hoyt Axton who also penned "The Pusher" so brilliantly converted into a huge anti-drugs anthem by Jon Kay's Steppenwolf. "Joy To The World" would be their 2nd and last UK chart placing in May 1971 on Probe PRO 523 at a more humble No. 24. 

Both TDG albums fall short of being out-and-out masterpieces - but the good bits are plentiful and still impressive after all these years - and the Audio on this superb BGO remaster lifts both up considerably. Joy To The World indeed...

PS: Three Dog Night recorded 'specific' mixes for most all of their American 7” singles - see my separate review of the superlative April 2004 CD with top audio quality Erick Labson Remasters called "The Complete Hit Singles" on Geffen/UTV Records B0001779-02 (use Barcode 602498614709 to locate it on Amazon).