"Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings…Plus!" by NEIL DIAMOND (2002 MCA/Universal 3CD Set – Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This 3CD Set has the album "Tap Root Manuscript" released November 1970

"...She Would Ache For Love...And Get Only Stones..." 

Including 6 whole LPs issued between 1968 and 1972, a rare B-side and 7 live cuts relevant to the time period – there’s a ton of stuff on the Neil Diamond retrospective "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings..." 

In order to get a grip on this Universal 3CD motherlode – I’ve broken it down into disc-by-disc details. Here goes...

USA and UK released May 2003 - "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings…Plus!" by NEIL DIAMOND on MCA/Universal 088 112 824 2 (Barcode 008811282424) plays out as follows (all songs written by Diamond unless otherwise noted):

Disc 1 (79:56 minutes):

His first Uni Records LP "Velvet Gloves And Spit" was released in two versions at two different times - so I’ve shown how to sequence either variant (7/1 = Track 7, Disc 1 etc): 

"Velvet Gloves And Spit" – released October 1968 LP in the USA on Uni Records 73030

1. Sunday Sun (7/1)

2. A Modern Day Version Of Love (2/1)

3. Honey-Drippin’ Times (3/1)

4. The Pot Smoker’s Song (4/1)

5. Brooklyn Roads (5/1)

6. Two-Bit Manchild (1/1)

7. Holiday Inn Blues (8/1)

8. Practically Newborn (9/1)

9. Knackelflerg (10/1)

10. Merry-Go-Round (11/1)

"Velvet Gloves And Spit" – the May 1970 US reissue LP on Uni Records 73030 (Different Sleeve with repositioned tracks including an additional re-recording of “Shilo”)

1. Two-Bit Manchild (1/1)

2. A Modern Day Version Of Love (2/1)

3. Honey-Drippin’ Times (3/1)

4. The Pot Smoker’s Song (4/1)

5. Brooklyn Roads (5/1)

6. Shilo (6/1)

7. Sunday Sun (7/1)

8. Holiday Inn Blues (8/1)

9. Practically Newborn (9/1)

10. Knackelflerg (10/1)

11. Merry-Go-Round (11/1)

12. Bread Old Woman (6 A.M. Insanity) – non-album B-side to the 1968 US 45 for "Two-Bit Manchild" on Uni 55075

13. Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show

14. Dig In

15. River Runs, New Grown Plums

16. Juliet

17. Long Gone

18. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind

19. Glory Road

20. Deep In The Morning

21. If I Knew Your Name

22. Memphis Streets

23. You’re So Sweet Houseflies Keep Hangin’ ‘Round Your Face

24. Hurtin’ You Don’t Come Easy

Tracks 13 to 24 on Disc 1 are the first pressing of the album “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show” – May 1969 LP on Uni Records 73047. However, it was reissued in September 1969 with the hit “Sweet Caroline” added on as the last track on Side 2 (the album also renamed and re-sleeved as “Sweet Caroline”). 

25. Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)

Track 25 is the A-side of a USA 7” single on Uni Records 55136 (“Dig In” was its B-side). Also on the “Sweet Caroline” LP – see Tracks 13 to 24 above

26. Everybody’s Talkin'

Track 26 is the opening song on Side One of the "Touching You Touching Me" LP – released December 1969 in the USA on Uni Records 7307. Track 26 is a Fred Neil cover version. 

Disc 2 (77:26 minutes):

1. Mr. Bojangles [Jerry Jeff Walker cover]

2. Smokey Lady

3. Holly Holy

4. Both Sides Now [Joni Mitchell cover]

5. And The Singer Sings His Song

6. Ain’t No Way

7. New York Boy

8. Until It’s Time For You To Go [Buffy Sainte-Marie cover]

Tracks 1 to 8 on Disc 2 make up the remainder of the US LP “Touching You Touching Me” (note “Sweet Caroline” (25/1) was an additional track on the UK LP)

9. Cracklin’ Rosie

10. Free Life

11. Coldwater Morning

12. Done Too Soon

13. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother [Bob Russell, Bobby Scott song – Hollies cover]

14. Childsong

15. I Am The Lion

16. Madrigal

17. Soolaimon

18. Missa

19. African Suite

20. Childsong (Reprise)

Tracks 9 to 20 are the whole album of “Tap Root Manuscript” – November 1970 LP on Uni Records 73092

21. I Am…I Said

22. The Last Thing On My Mind [Tom Paxton cover]

23. Husbands And Wives [Roger Miller cover]

24. Chelsea Morning [Joni Mitchell cover]

Tracks 21 to 24 are Side 1 of the album “Stones” – November 1971 LP on Uni Records 93106

Disc 3 (77:27 minutes):

1. Crunchy Granola Suite

2. Stones

3. If You Go Away [Jacques Brel – Rod McKuen cover]

4. Suzanne [Leonard Cohen cover]

5. I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today [Randy Newman cover]

6. I Am…I Said (Reprise)

Tracks 1 to 6 are Side 2 of the “Stones” LP

7. Song Sung Blue

8. Porcupine Pie

9. High Rolling Man

10. Canta Libre

11. Captain Sunshine

12. Play Me

13. Gitchy Goomy

14. Walk On Water

15. Theme

16. Prelude I E Major

17. Morningside

Tracks 7 to 17 are the whole album “Moods” – July 1972 LP on Uni Records 93136

LIVE BONUS TRACKS:

18. Lordy (Live)

19. Kentucky Woman (Live)

20. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Live)

Tracks 18, 19 and 20 are live bonus songs from the “Neil Diamond/Gold” album of August 1970

21. Solitary Man (Live)

22. Cherry, Cherry (Live)

23. Red, Red Wine (Live)

24. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (live)

Tracks 21, 22, 23 and 24 are from the December 1972 live double “Hot August Night”

The 24-page booklet has full Discography info including mini pictures of the album artwork and incisive liner notes by Robyn Flans (of People Magazine). But the big news is the 96K/24bit remasters by ERICK LABSON of Universal – a man who has over 1200 restoration credits to his name including most of the Chess Label.

The sound quality here is awesome and adds huge power to the “Stones” and “Moods” albums in particular. “Cracklin’ Rose”, “Shiloh”, “I Am…I Said”, “Song Sung Blue” – they’re all here. But for me the best here is the double-winner of “Stones” backed up by the funky “Crunchy Granola Suite” – a genius 7” single from 1972.

Even when he’s tackling cover versions like Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing On My Mind” or the gorgeous Midnight Cowboy song “Everybody’s Talkin’” – Diamond manages to respect the original while adding his own slice of Neil to it somehow. The earlier albums too are all but forgotten now and yet there’s blindingly good stuff on them like the plaintive “Brooklyn Roads”, the Spanish Guitar Walker Brothers melodrama of “A Modern Day version of Love” or the very Fred Neil warmth of “Hurting You Don’t Come Easy” (issued as a 45 B-side to “Holly Holy” in the UK and USA in November 1969). Jumping forward to 1972’s “Moods” LP and both “Gitchy Goomy” (fun) and the hurting “Morningside” sound gorgeous too (superb audio quality). And on it goes...

"...L.A.'s fine…the sun shines most the time…and the feeling's laid back…"

The 3CD haul of "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings...Plus!" is probably more Big D than most can handle (a single disc "Best Of" would probably suffice). But if you're prepared to dig a bit deeper and embrace your inner Neil - the good stuff is great – and that audio quality will blow you away…

PS: For other superb Erick Labson remasters see my reviews for...

1. Gold by STEPPENWOLF (2CD Set)

2. The Complete Hit Singles by THREE DOG NIGHT

3. The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions by HOWLIN' WOLF featuring ERIC CLAPTON and members of the ROLLING STONES (2CD Deluxe Edition)

4. Not Fade Away - The Complete Studio Recordings And More by BUDDY HOLLY (6CD Book Set)

5. Greatest Hits Volume 2 - The ABC/Dunhill/MCA Years by BOBBY BLAND

6. Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues by MUDDY WATERS  

“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