"Mad Dogs & Englishmen: 35th Anniversary DELUXE EDITION" by JOE COCKER (2005 Universal/A&M 2CD Reissue - Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Feelin' Alright..."

Absolutely everyone loved "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" - Joe Cocker's blistering live double-album released September 1970 on both sides of the pond (and everywhere else for that matter). It capturing lightning in a bottle - a humungous band at their lead-swinging freshest recorded across two venues and nights in March and April of that decade’s first year. A&M Records loved it (went to No. 2 in the USA and sold a million copies) - the public and press alike frenzy-fought for tickets to see the 43-piece extravaganza as it made its way across America until the final show on the 16th of May. Everybody loved it – everyone except Joe Cocker.

By the end of the tour the freshness and excitement was gone – and so was he. A massive ego-clash between him and Leon Russell had ripped the happy heart out of the merry band – and all that palatable joy in those first shows so evident on the 2LP set – had evaporated in a haze of drugs, recrimination and bitterness. Legend has it that the feud was so grim it wouldn't be discussed for decades on end. Worse - despite nationwide fame, adoration and a single in the American charts for the first time - Cocker had just under $900 in his pocket with his hard-won LP royalties' unavailable - years and years away. He wound up broke and bruised in California with an itch he needed to scratch. Joe later said it took him years to fully recover from the aftermath of that fateful tour...

None of this post-mortem however detracts from the reissue brilliance of this very cool '35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' – Joe Cocker’s ground-breaking live double-album "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" finally given the stunning Remastered Audio its always deserved - quality presentation and some shockingly brill Previously Unreleased tracks alongside other B-side rarities. They even sort-of mimic that wonderful foldout many-leaved sleeve that came with original vinyl issues. Nice. Here are the muscular details...

UK released 24 October 2005 (18 October 2005 in the USA) - "Mad Dogs & Englishmen: 35th Anniversary DELUXE EDITION" by JOE COCKER on Universal/A&M 0602498860069 (Barcode 602498860069) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster with Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks and other Rarities and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (57:23 minutes):
1. Honkey Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
3. The Weight
4. Sticks And Stones
5. Bird On A Wire
6. Cry Me A River
7. Superstar - Performed by RITA COOLIDGE
8. Feelin' Alright
9. Something
10. Darling Be Home Soon
11. Let It Be - Performed by CLAUDIA LENNEAR
12. Further On Up The Road - Performed by DON PRESTON
Tracks 3, 9, 10 and 12 on Disc 1 are Previously Unreleased - all recorded Saturday, 28 March 1970 at the Fillmore East
Track 11 is the non-album 7" single B-side to "The Ballad Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen" released April 1971 in the USA on A&M 1253 (1st time on CD)

Disc 2 (79:30 minutes):
1. Let's Go Get Stoned
2. Space Captain
3. Hummingbird - Performed by LEON RUSSELL
4. Dixie Lullaby - Performed by LEON RUSSELL
5. The Letter
6. Delta Lady
7. Give Peace A Chance
8. Blue Medley: I'll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong With My Baby/I've Been Loving You Too Long
9. With A Little Help From My Friends
ENCORE:
10. Girl From The North Country
STUDIO SESSIONS for SINGLES:
11. Warm-Up Jam including Under My Thumb - Performed by LEON RUSSELL and THE SHELTER PEOPLE
12. The Letter (Studio Single Version) - Performed by JOE COCKER with LEON RUSSELL and THE SHELTER PEOPLE
13. Space Captain (Studio Single Version) - Performed by JOE COCKER with LEON RUSSELL and THE SHELTER PEOPLE
14. The Ballad Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen - Performed by LEON RUSSELL
Tracks 3, 4, 9 and 11 are Previously Unreleased
Live Tracks 3 and 4 recorded Friday, 27 March 1970 at the Fillmore East - Track 9 recorded Saturday, 28 March 1970
Studio Track 11 recorded 17 March 1970 and 3 April 1970 at A&M and Gold Star Studios respectively
Tracks 12 and 13 are First Time STEREO Mix – released April 1970 in the USA on 7” single as A&M 1174 and June 1970 in the UK on Regal Zonophone RZ 3027. It was subsequently re-issued using the same catalogue number but replaced the studio versions with the 2LP live cuts.
All songs sung by JOE COCKER except where stated

Lovers of the original will immediately notice that Universal in their corporate wisdom have decided to place the songs across this 2CD reissue as they were recorded - arguing that it gives the gigs used better context (March 27 and 28th at The Fillmore East and April 17th at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium). Some have already commented on how much they love it - personally I'm not that keen. But if you do want to configure the US and UK 2LP set as originally released – use the following as your playlist:

Side 1:
1. Introduction
2. Honky Tonk Women (Track 1, Disc 1)
3. Introduction
4. Sticks And Stones (Track 4, Disc 1)
5. Cry Me A River (Track 6, Disc 1)
6. Bird On A Wire (Track 5, Disc 1)

Side 2:
1. Feelin' Alright (Track 8, Disc 1)
2. Superstar - Performed by RITA COODLIDGE  (Track 7, Disc 1)
3. Introduction
4. Let's Go Get Stoned (Track 1, Disc 2)

Side 3:
1. Blue Medley:
I'll Drown In My Own Tears
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
I've Been Loving You Too Long (Track 8, Disc 2)
2. Introduction
3. Girl From The North Country (Track 10, Disc 2)
4. Give Peace A Chance (Track 7, Disc 2)

Side 4:
1. Introduction
2. She Came In Thru The Bathroom Window (Track 2, Disc 1)
3. Space Captain (Track 2, Disc 2)
4. The Letter (Track 5, Disc 2)
5. Delta Lady (Track 6, Disc 2)
The double-album "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" was released September 1970 in the USA on A&M Records SP-6002 and September 1970 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 6002. Produced by DENNY CORDELL and LEON RUSSELL - it peaked at No. 2 on the US album charts and No. 16 in the UK.

THE BAND was:
JOE COCKER - Lead Vocals
LEON RUSSELL - Guitar and Piano
CHRIS STAINTON - Piano and Organ
DON PRESTON - Rhythm Guitar (Lead Vocals on "Further On Up The Road")
BOBBY KEYS - Tenor Saxophone
JIM PRICE - Trumpet
CARL RADLE - Bass
BOBBY TORRES - Conga
JIM KELTNER - Drums
JIM GORDON - Drums
CHUCK BLACKWELL - Drums and Percussion
THE CHOIR - Don Preston, Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear, Daniel Moore, Donna Weiss, Pamela Polland, Matthew Moore, Donna Washburn, Nicole Barclay and Bobby Jones

The four-way foldout card digipak has an info page attached to the rear and the 24-page booklet has new liner notes from JP BEAN of Sheffield along with random cartoons in-between the text. There’s a two-page colour photo for a massive Sunset Blvd. billboard advert using the ‘All Elements Of The Truth’ lines from the album sleeve. Niggles - "Cry Me A River" b/w "Give Peace A Chance" was issued as a 45 in the USA (A&M 1200, September 1970) and in the UK (Fly Records BUG 3, October 1970) and both came with different picture sleeves - but neither is featured here - so a trick missed there.

But all of that goes by the wall when you hear the amazing new Audio care of a team of two - HEATH CONDIOTTE who did the transfers while long-time Universal Engineer SUHA GUR did the mastering. It's like the record has been given renewed power - and at least four of those Previously Unreleased live tracks with Don Preston and Leon Russell are absolutely storming. Fans will also know that the fabulous pairing of the non-album tracks "The Letter" b/w "Space Captain" turned up on The Long Voyage Home Box and subsequent CDs as ‘Mono’ Singles Mixes. Here they’re given first-time STEREO versions and all I can say is WOW! Fans are going to chew these up...even if the "Space Captain" track has some weird echoes and spaces all of a sudden.

While I understand the thinking behind the line-up of the tracks on the DE – I quickly assembled the original double on my iTunes set up and I’d still maintain it’s a better edit and a far better listen. Opening with "Honky Tonk Women" and "Sticks And Stones" (The Rolling Stones and Ray Charles) – you’re immediately struck by the sheer power the Remaster has given the band who now seem to be occupying your living room with intent on doing some serious party damage to your carefully arranged Feng Shui. Julie London gets Funkified to a point where her signature tune "Cry Me A River" is unrecognisable – but it’s the Leonard Cohen bawler "Bird On A Wire" that moves – given a hugely Soulful take that ends Side 1 on a real high.

Dave Mason’s Traffic song "Feelin’ Alright" opens Side 2 with a elongated belter - while the Bonnie Bramlett/Leon Russell song "Superstar" is the first to feature a guest – this time Rita Coolidge. Rita's vocal range is similar to Karen Carpenter who would cover the song on their self-titled A&M album the following year (1971) – almost making it feel like The Carpenters owned the tune all along. Bobby Keys - the default Saxophonist for The Rolling Stones - requests, gets and is featured on the Ray Charles cry for a mental blitz "Let's Go Get Stoned". By now the band is simply cooking – the choir adding soulful backing vocals at choice points throughout the eight-minute work out.

But the 2LP literally goes up in live flames with the three-song Soul Medley that opens Side 3 – Brother Ray's Atlantic hit "I'll Drown In My Own Tears" - Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" (written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter) and finally the Otis Redding Stax classic "I've Been Loving You Too Long" - all rolled into one powerhouse performance. Russell intros Bob Dylan's "Girl From The North Country" which he shares with Joe as that plays fast yet soulful. We get all 'church-on-Sunday' righteous with "Give Peace A Chance" - a Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell song that feels like The Staples Singers having a rave up with the Lord while James Brown conducts the funky choir. Side 4 introduces what many wanted to hear - Joe do The Beatles - the Abbey Road nugget "She Came In Thru The Bathroom Window". But even that crowd-pleaser is trumped by a lethal three-song finale that genuinely thrills as it builds - Matthew Moore's "Space Captain", The Box Tops' "The Letter" and the Leon Russell hit that practically broke Joe Cocker - "Delta Lady" – all sounding unbelievably good on this Remaster. What a winner...

I wasn't expecting the unreleased stuff to be as good as it is - but genuine standouts include Don Preston doing a truly fantastic rocking version of the old Blues classic "Further On Up The Road" while Russell delivers the goods on both "Hummingbird" and "Dixie Lullaby" and the near mine-minute "With A Little Help From My Friends" is a virtual tour-de-force.

Universal has done some dubious DE versions over the years and some nuggets too (check out Howlin Wolf, Whiskeytown, John Martyn to name but a few) - expanded editions that genuinely bring more to the feast. "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" is one of them.

"...Learning to live together..." Joe croaks on the brilliant "Space Captain". We're just learning to live without you mate. God bless wherever you may be...and thanks to all the players for such great memories...

"Gasoline Alley" by ROD STEWART (Inside 2002's The Universal/Chronicles 3CD Set 'Reason To Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings' - Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Take Me Back To The Gasoline Alley…"

Arguing the merits of Rod Stewart's 'Mercury Records Years' albums (1969 to 1974) is like saying a few of the Beatles albums from the Sixties were 'pretty good' and you should 'probably' buy some. What I'm getting at here is 'which' version of "Gasoline Alley" should you buy? And while I'm at it what about 1971's "Every Picture Tells A Story" or 1972"s "Never A Dull Moment" or even the lesser-seen "Sing It Again Rod" LP compilation from June 1973 that went to No. 1 but never seems to show on CD? I want to argue that the whole period was magical musically (even the disappointing "Smiler" from 1974 had its fab moments) and this is one of those occasions where you should forego the individual purchase and buy the bleeding lot.

There's a Remastered stand-alone CD for "Gasoline Alley" from 1995 with just the 9-tracks and the gorgeous UK artwork inside and out – an expensive but audiophile Mobile Fidelity Gold CD release from 2011 and a beautifully done Japanese SACD from 2014 - as well as a dizzying array of '5 album collection' Mini Box Sets - most of whom use the 'US' artwork. But I say go for this instead...

US and UK released in November 2002 (reissued January 2005) – "Reason To Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings" by ROD STEWART on Mercury/Universal/Chronicles 440 063 422-2 (Barcode 044006342221) is a 3CD set of Remasters that offers fans all six albums from the period along with rare 7" single edits and five outakes first released on a 1995 2CD retrospective. 

This 3CD set will allow fans to sequence his six albums (5 studio and 1 compilation) - "An Old Raincoat Won’t Let You Down" (known as "The Rod Stewart Album" in the USA), "Gasoline Alley", "Every Picture Tells A Story", "Never A Dull Moment", "Sing It Again Rod" (compilation with one new track "Pinball Wizard") and finally "Smiler" – his last studio LP for Mercury Records.

Disc 1 contains the first two LPs including "Gasoline Alley" (79:19 minutes):

1. Street Fighting Man

2. Man Of Constant Sorrow

3. Blind Prayer

4. Handbags And Gladrags

5. An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down [Side 2]

6. I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing

7. Cindy's Lament

8. Dirty Old Town

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut LP "An Old Raincoat Won’t Let You Down" – released February 1970 on Vertigo VO 4 in the UK. It was called "The Rod Stewart Album" in the USA and its September 1969 release on Mercury SR-61237 featuring different artwork to the UK issue (same tracks). As this is effectively an American release – the booklet doesn’t picture the lovely 'photograph' gatefold of the UK artwork.

9. Gasoline Alley

10. It's All Over Now

11. Only A Hobo

12. My Way Of Giving

13. Country Comforts [Side 2]

14. Cut Across Shorty

15. Lady Day

16. Jo's Lament

17. You're My Girl (I Don’t Want To Discuss It)

Tracks 9 to 17 are his 2nd solo LP "Gasoline Alley" – released May 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR-61264 and September 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 500. Produced by ROD STEWART and LOU REIZNER.

18. It's All Over Now – issued as a 7” single edit in the UK on Vertigo 6086 002 in September 1970 (the album track "Jo's Lament" was its B-side).

As you can see - with this set you also get the 7" single edit of "It's All Over Now" - something none of the individual "Gasoline Alley" CD releases offers. The packaging is tasty too and the Audio stunning. The 24-page booklet is housed in a three-way foldout card digipak with each flap featuring live photos (pictures beneath the see-through plastic trays also). AMY LINDEN provides the liner notes and there’s discography info on each track and overall recording credits. But the big news is the SUHA GUR remasters which are fantastic – full of presence and life and that raunchy feel Stewart got at the time. Lyrically and musically – there is so much richness here. Armed with a God-given set of tonsils, melodies that haunt and a way with observation - song after song smacks you over the head with greatness and smart choices. And all of it with that fantastic band of his - Ronnie Wood, Martin Quittenton, Ronnie Lane, Mick Waller, Kenny Jones and Ian McLagan - all dripping British Rock’n’Roll swagger that seemed to come so easily to them. The only real disappointment for me - especially with regard to artwork - is that this 3CD compilation is essentially an American release and therefore uses the 'US' artwork for "Gasoline Alley" and unfortunately the lovely British artwork (inside and out) is AWOL.

The opening song "Gasoline Alley" (co-written by Rod with Ron Wood of The Stones) is likely to reduce most ardent Rodders fans to mush within seconds - a plaintive and heartfelt ache for the simple times and even the grimy streets of old as depicted on the stippled gatefold cover. It's trite I know to call songs 'beautiful' but this one is and its been covered many times as proof (Elkie Brooks reminded people of its beauty in 1983 with synth version on A&M Records). And that Ron Wood bottleneck guitar and Stanley Matthews on Mandolin add so much too.

Recorded at Morgan Studios in London - there's a ramshackle feel to the "Gasoline Alley" LP from the off - an unplugged feel that lends the music an authenticity that the later polished Riva material abandoned (different times, different approaches). A nice addition on this set is the 3:37 minute 7" single edit of Bobby Womack's witty and caustic "It's All Over Now" - shorter and punchier that its 6:24 minute big brother on the album (Ian McLagan and Pete Sears plink away on the piano). Written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane for the Small Faces self-titled Immediate Records LP in 1967 – both Ronnie Lane and Kenny Jones join Rod on Vocals and Drums for his clever cover of "My Way Of Giving".

Another clever choice is his Side opener - Elton John's "Country Comforts" taken from his "Tumbleweed Connection" album of October 1970. Rod makes the ballad feel like his own and is ably abetted by wonderful counterpoint vocals from Jack Reynolds as the song winds its way to the end. Rod's brilliant cover of "Cut Across Shorty" (written by Marijohn Wilkin and Wayne Walker) - an Eddie Cochran classic made almost unrecognisable with rattling acoustic guitar strings, Dick Powell on Violin and chunky Ron Wood Rock 'n' Roll guitar licks (and I love that acoustic fade out). "Lady day" is a wickedly good Rod Stewart original ballad with his 'north winds have made my face a little older' lyrics confessing. But there's a warmth to his affection towards his lady that's intensely moving - 'scared when I remember too much' - it's the kind of wonderful overlooked album gem that needs to be in your life - a 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' song I never tire of. And "Jo's Lament" is the same - another RS original that shows his amazing knack for a melody - all those acoustic guitar strums and bottleneck slides that warm your bones like an afternoon on a river. It ends on the fantastic Funk-Rock of "You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)" - a Dick Cooper, Beth Beatty and Ernie Shelby song that was done by Little Richard in 1967 on Okeh Records and Rhinoceros in 1968 on their self-titled debut LP on Elektra Records. A great way to end a great album...

To sum up - six whole albums, rare single sides and a batch of previously unreleased for under nine-quid is a bit of a no-brainer really.

Carry yourself back to the "Gasoline Alley" with the "Reason To Believe” 3CD set - a rare instance of quality and quantity combined - and of all of it wrapped up in that top-quality remastered sound…

PS: The first album gives you a superb keyboard contribution from a pre ELP Keith Emerson on "I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing" - a brilliant song added to hugely by his playing. RIP Keith...

"Reason To Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings" by ROD STEWART (2002 Mercury 3CD Set – Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Both UK LPs "An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down" & "Gasoline Alley" are from 1970

"…I Wouldn't Change A Thing…"

I’ve been meaning to heap praise on this “Chronicles” tin of Scots Shortbread for years – so here are the tartan scarves, champagne buckets and caviar pillow stains…

USA/UK released November 2002 (reissued January 2005) – "Reason To Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings" by ROD STEWART on Mercury/Universal/Chronicles 440 063 422-2 (Barcode 044006342221) is a 3CD set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (79:19 minutes):

1. Street Fighting Man

2. Man Of Constant Sorrow

3. Blind Prayer

4. Handbags And Gladrags

5. An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down

6. I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing

7. Cindy's Lament

8. Dirty Old Town

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut LP "An Old Raincoat Won’t Let You Down" – released February 1970 on Vertigo VO 4 in the UK. It was called "The Rod Stewart Album" in the USA and its September 1969 release on Mercury SR-61237 featuring different artwork to the UK issue (same tracks). As this is effectively an American release – the booklet doesn’t picture the lovely 'photograph' gatefold of the UK artwork.

9. Gasoline Alley

10. It's All Over Now

11. Only A Hobo

12. My Way Of Giving

13. Country Comforts

14. Cut Across Shorty

15. Lady Day

16. Jo's Lament

17. You're My Girl (I Don’t Want To Discuss It)

Tracks 9 to 17 are his 2nd solo LP "Gasoline Alley" – released May 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR-61264 and September 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 500.

Track 18 is "It's All Over Now" – issued as a 7” single edit in the UK on Vertigo 6086 002 in September 1970 (the album track "Jo's Lament" was its B-side).

Disc 2 (77:08 minutes):

1. Every Picture Tells A Story

2. Seems Like A Long Time

3. That’s All Right / Amazing Grace

4. Tomorrow Is A Long Time

5. Maggie May

6. Mandolin Wind

7. (I Know) I'm Losing You

8. (Find A) Reason To Believe

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 3rd album "Every Picture Tells A Story" – released July 1971 in the UK on Mercury 6338 063 and May 1971 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1 609

9. True Blue

10. Lost Paraguayos

11. Mama You’ve Been On My Mind

12. Italian Girls

13. Angel

14. Interludings

15. You Wear It Well

16. I'd Rather Go Blind

17. Twistin' The Night Away

Tracks 9 to 17 are his 4th album "Never A Dull Moment" – released July 1972 in the UK on Mercury 6499 153 and Mercury SRM-1 10646 in the USA

Tracks 18 is "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)" is the non-album B-side to "Angel" – a UK 7” single issued in November 1972 on Mercury 6052 198

Disc 3 (70:47 minutes):

1. Pinball Wizard - a cover of The Who track from "Tommy" – it was featured on the June 1973 compilation LP "Sing It Again Rod"

2. Oh! No Not My Baby

3. Jodie – Tracks 2 and 3 were non-album and the A&B sides of a 7" single in both the USA and UK in September 1973

4. Sweet Little Rock ‘n Roller

5. Lochinvar

6. Farewell

7. Sailor

8. Bring It On Home To Me / You Send Me

9. Let Me Be Your Car

10. (You Make Me feel Like) A Natural Woman

11. Dixie Trot

12. Hard Road

13. I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face (Instrumental)

14. Girl From The North Country

15. Mine For Me

Tracks 4 to 15 are his 5th album "Smiler" – released September 1974 in the UK on Mercury 9101 001 and Mercury SRM-1 1017 in the USA

16. Missed You

17. You Put Something Better Inside Me

18. Crying Laughing Loving Lying

19. Every Time We Say Goodbye

20. So Tired – Tracks 16 to 20 all 'Previously Unreleased in the USA' session outtakes first released on the 1995 2CD retrospective set "Handbags & Gladrags"

The 24-page booklet is housed in a three-way foldout card digipak with each flap featuring live photos (pictures beneath the see-through plastic trays also). AMY LINDEN provides the liner notes and there’s discography info on each track and overall recording credits. But the big news is the SUHA GUR remasters which are fantastic – full of presence and life and that raunchy feel Stewart got at the time.

Lyrically and musically – there is so much richness here. Armed with a God-given set of tonsils and a way with observation and melody - song after song smacks you over the head with greatness and smart choices. And all of it with that fantastic band of his - Ronnie Wood, Martin Quittenton, Ronnie Lane, Mick Waller and Ian McLagan- dripping British Rock’n’Roll swagger that seemed to come so easily to them.

But while “Picture” and “Moment” are 5-star Rod Stewart classics with nuggets like the gorgeous “Mandolin Wind” and the raucous “Los Paraguayos” – it’s the first two on Vertigo and the massively underrated “Smiler” that I keep returning to when I play this massive CD haul. We get the superb keyboard contribution of Keith Emerson on “I Wouldn’t Ever Change A Thing” (before ELP) and Stewart's beautifully sensitive cover of “Only A Hobo” – a Dylan outtake from “The Times Are A-Changin’” sessions. And there’s that stunning mixture of rockers versus ballads – the thread runs right through from his fab take on Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller” in 1974 backtracking to his own “Lady Day” in 1970.

Amongst the previously unreleased “Missed You” is a gem - but you can see why his take on Labi Siffre’s classic “Crying Laughing Loving Lying” stayed in the can (it just doesn’t suit him). Better is his version of an old Stealers Wheel tune “You Put Something Better Inside Me” (written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan). And “So Tired” (an outtake from the “Smiler” sessions) is very good too.

To sum up - five whole albums, rare single sides and a batch of previously unreleased for under nine-quid is a bit of a no-brainer really. “Reason To Believe” is a rare instance of quality and quantity combined - and of all of it wrapped up in that top-quality remastered sound…

"...Combed my hair in a thousand ways…but I come out looking the same…" - Rod sings on "Every Picture Tells A Story". Forget all the expensive alternatives - this is the musical mirror you want to look in to…

"On The Road To Find Out" by CAT STEVENS (2001 4CD Box Set and 2008 4CD Reissue Book Set) - A Review By Mark Barry....

“…Listen To The Wind Of My Soul…”

[featuring "Mona Bone Jakon" and "Tea For A Tillerman" from 1970]

Essentially a scaled-down reissue of the 4CD long box "On The Road To Find Out" that came out in October 2001 - this 2008 "Cat Stevens" Book Set repackaging is just as beautifully presented and even more convenient in size. Here are the catty details:

Released June 2008 - "Cat Stevens" (aka " On The Road To Find Out") by CAT STEVENS is a 4CD Book Set on Universal/Island/A&M 0600753028032 (Barcode 600753028032) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1  - THE CITY - 65:34 minutes:

1. Back To The Good Old Times (Previously Unreleased First Recording from 1965)

2. I Love My Dog

3. Portobello Road

4. Here Comes My Baby

5. Matthew And Son

6. The Tramp (tracks 2 to 6 are from his debut LP "Matthew And Son" - released March 1967 in the UK on Deram DML 1004 (Mono) and SML 1004 (Stereo) and in the USA on Deram DE 16005 (Mono) and DES 18005 in the USA - Stereo mix used)

7. I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun

8. School Is Out (tracks 7 and 8 are the non-album A&B-sides of his debut 7" single released March 1967 in the UK on Deram DM 118 and Deram 85006 in the USA)

9. A Bad Night

10. The Laughing Apple (tracks 9 and 10 are the non-album A&B-sides of his 2nd single released July 1967 in the UK on Deram DM 140 and on Deram 85015 in the USA)

11. Kitty

12. Blackness Of Night

13. The First Cut Is The Deepest

14. Northern Wind

15. Moonstone

16. Come On Baby (Shift That Log) (tracks 11 to 16 are from his 2nd LP "New Masters" - released December 1967 in the UK on Deram DML 1018 (Mono) and SML 1018 (Stereo) and in the USA on Deram DES 18010 in 1968 (Stereo Only) - Stereo Mix used)

17. Lovely City (When Do You Laugh?) - non-album track, February 1968 UK 7" single on Deram DM 178

18. Here Comes My Wife - non-album track, October 1968 UK 7" single on Deram DM 211

19. The View From The Top - non-album track, B-side to "Where Are You" released June 1969 in the UK on Deram DM 260. Mistakenly credited in the booklet as the B-side of "Kitty" (the A-side of Deram DM 156)

20. Where Are You - non-album track, A-side of “The View From The Top”

21. If Only Mother Could See Me Now (Demo) - previously unreleased recording from 1968 - between "New Masters" and "Mona Bone Jakon")

22. Honey Man (with ELTON JOHN) - previously Unreleased October 1967 recording featuring Elton John on Piano and Duet Vocals - co-written with Ken Cumberbatch

23. The Joke - Previously Unreleased September 1970 recording - features the same group that did the backing on Jimmy Cliff's version of "Wild World" which Steven recorded for "Tea For A Tillerman"

Disc 2 - THE SEARCH - 76:14 minutes:

1. Time/Fill My Eyes

2. Lady D'Arbanville

3. Trouble

4. Pop Star

5. Katmandu

6. Lilywhite (tracks 1 to 6 from his 3rd album "Mona Bone Jakon" (debut with Island) - released April 1970 in the UK on Island ILPS 9118 and A&M SP-4260 in the USA)

7. I've Got A Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old - Previously Unreleased mix of a "Mona Bone Jakon" outtake- an alternate mix was used for "The Very Best Of Cat Stevens" CD compilation in 2000

8. Where Do The Children Play?

9. Wild World

10. Sad Lisa

11. On The Road To Find Out

12. Father And Son (tracks 8 to 12 are from his 4th album "Tea For The Tillerman" - released November 1970 in the UK on Island ILPS 9135 and on A&M SP-4280 in the USA)

13. Love Lives In The Sky - Previously Unreleased "Tea For The Tillerman" outtake recorded July 1970 - it's an early version of "Land O' Freelove & Goodbye"

14. Don't Be Shy

15. If You Want To Sing Out Sing Out (tracks 14 and 15 first appeared in the motion picture "Harold & Maude" in 1971)

16. The Day They Make Me A Tsar - Previously Unreleased Demo for the "Teaser And The Firecat" album recorded February 1971

17. The Wind

18. Moonshadow

19. Morning Has Broken

20. How Can I Tell You

21. Peace Train (tracks 17 to 21 are form his 5th album "Teaser And The Firecat" - released September 1971 in the UK on Island ILPS9154 and A&M SP-4313 in the USA)

22. I Want To Live In A Wigwam - non-album track, B-side of "Morning Is Broken" - December 1971 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6121

Disc 3 - THE HURT - 70:26 minutes:

1. Crab Dance - non-album instrumental track, B-side of "Sitting" - a UK 7" single released December 1972 on Island WIP 6152

2. Sitting

3. Silent Sunlight

4. Angelsea

5. Can't Keep It In

6. 18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare) (tracks 2 to 6 are from his 6th album "Catch Bull At Four" - released September 1972 in the UK on Island ILPS 9206 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4365)

7. The Hurt

8. Foreigner Suite (tracks 7 and 8 are from his 7th album "Foreigner" - released July 1973 in the UK on Island ILPS 9240 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4391

9. Oh Very Young

10. Music

11. Sun/C79

12. King Of Trees (tracks 9 to 12 are from his 8th album "Buddah And The Chocolate Box" - released March 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9274 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-3623)

13. Bad Penny (Live)

14. Lady D'Arbanville (Live) (tracks 13 and 14 are from the album "Saturnight-Cat Stevens Live In Tokyo"- a Japan-Only single LP album released August 1974 on A&M Records GP-228)

15. Another Saturday Night - first released as a UK 7" single August 1974 on Island WIP 6206 and later included on the "Greatest Hits" album released June 1975 on Island ILPS 9310

Disc 4 - THE LAST - 69:05 minutes:

1. Whistlestar

2. Novim's Nightmare

3. Majik Of Majiks

4. Banapple Gas (tracks 1 to 4 are from his 9th album "Numbers" - released November 1975 in the UK on Island ILPS 9370 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4555)

5. Blue Monday - Previously Unreleased cover version of a Fats Domino classic - recorded November 1975

6. Doves (Majikat Earth Tour Theme Song) - non-album track, B-side to "(Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard" released May 1977 in the UK on Island WIP 6387

7. Hard Headed Woman (Live) - Previously Unreleased - recorded 22 Feb 1978 at the College Of William & Mary, Virginia, USA

8. Tuesday's Dead (Live) - as per 7

9. Ruins (Live) - as per 7

10. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard (A-side of 6)

11. Life

12. (I Never Wanted) To Be A Star

13. Child For A Day (tracks 10 to 13 are from his 10th album "Izitso" - released May 1977 in the UK on Island ILPS 9451 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4702)

14. Just Another Night

15. Daytime

16. Last Love Song

17. Never (tracks 14 to 17 are from his 11th album "Back To Earth" - released December 1978 in the UK on Island ILPS 9565 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4735)

18. Father And Son (Live) - Previously Unreleased - recorded at The Year Of The Child Concert in Wembley Arena 22 Nov 1979

19. God Is The Light - from the album "Syuku" (1997) and "Bismallah" (2001)

The presentation is has to be said is gorgeous - a 98-page colour booklet is attached inside the hard back book sleeve - every sepia-page festooned with live photos, publicity shots, a sort of time line of photos across the bottom of each two-page spread cataloguing both his career and personal life, the logos from the early Island albums artwork, stills from the cartoons that surrounded "Tea For The Tillerman" and "Teaser And The Firecat", some lyrics and extensive track-by-track breakdowns. It's beautifully done and a genuine feast for fans.

TED JENSEN and SUHA GUR have handled the superb remasters - mastered from the original analogue two-track master tapes (these are names familiar to those who seek out quality reissues - Jensen and Gur have handled literally hundreds of prestigious catalogues between them). The audio quality is really sweet throughout.

Disc 1 covers his Sixties Deram period - the "Matthew And Son" and "New Masters" albums with some non-album single sides and previously unreleased thrown in. The Stereo impact of stuff like "Here Comes My Baby", the acoustic "Portobello Road" and "Blackness Of The Night" and the lovely "The First Cut is The Deepest" is fantastic - but tunes like "I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun" are insufferable Sixties pap. Disc 1 wisely ends with the beginning of the Island Records period by giving us three rarities in a row. His voice had already changed by 1968 when he recorded the demo of "If Only Mother Could See Me Now" even though it has that Sixties arrangement and not the simplicity of the Seventies stuff. The duet with Elton John "Honey Man" is better than I'd expected but the "The Joke" is the prize here - a strangely 'Rock' tune for Cat Stevens.

Things go stratospheric with Disc 2 when we hit that incredible run of albums in 1970 and 1971 - "Mona Bone Jakon", "Tea For The Tillerman" and "Teaser And The Fire Cat". The audio quality of "Time/Fill My Eyes" is truly gorgeous and what a forgotten nugget it is. The hits start coming with "Lady D'Arbanville" but again its trumped by a forgotten LP ballad - "Trouble". The pretty "Lilywhite" is still hissy (it always was) but it's a gorgeous Nick Drake type melody with those fabulous strings. We're then hit with a cool one - a "Mona Bone Jakon" outtake - the decidedly good "I've Got A Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old". A very clever run of four rarities follows. The first is an outtake from "Tea For A Tillerman" called "Love Lives In The Sky" which turns out to be an early version of "Land O' Freelove & Goodbye" and it's really sweet (beautifully remastered too). But long time fans are going to adore "Don't By Shy" and "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out" both from the 1971 movie "Harold & Maude" - gorgeous melodies from his best period (especially "Don't Be Shy").

His songwriting capabilities took a leap into space with "Tea" and "Teaser"(probably everybody's favourite albums) and they dominate the rest of this stunning disc. I can remember as a 12-year old first hearing "Sad Lisa" at a friend's house in Clontarf in Dublin - I stood there stunned - the beautiful piano melody washing over me (its doing so again this day). And even with five tracks from "Teaser" - if you think about brilliance like "If I Laugh" and "How Can I Tell You?" being absent - you could add the other five and still not have enough. "I Want To Live In A Wigwam" was always a dodgy B-side - but "Love Lives In The Sky" is a wonderful "Tillerman" outtake - simple, pretty and affecting. I nailed my first kiss dancing to "Moonshadow" - so she and it are seared into my (slightly battered) heart and immortalised in a poem I wrote called "Debs" which was published in the Eighties in a book called "Hard Lines 2" (oh dear).

Disc 3 is probably where people loose interest - but they shouldn't because again its chock full of choice picks. The superb instrumental "Crab Dance" has long been absent from CD for Cat Stevens fans - so it's a properly great opener. Fans will notice that the acoustic masterpiece "The Boy With A Moon And A Star On His Head" from "Bull" is AWOL (mores the pity) but the fantastic groove of acoustic and synth of "Angelsea" makes up for it. But for me the unsung masterpiece in his entire canon of work is "The Foreigner Suite" that took up the whole of Side 1 and weighed in at a whopping 18-minutes. It was essentially three songs linked together with musical interludes and it's going to be great surprise to those to stopped buying his albums after 1972. It's commonly thought that Stevens was running on empty almost from "Numbers" onwards - yet when you cherry pick the goodies out - the tracks here tell a different story. Stuff like "Sun/C79", "Majik Of Majiks" and the lovely instrumental "Whistlestar" are full of great melody and clever funky breaks. I can live without hearing "Schoolyard" or "Another Saturday Night" even again - but tunes like "Child For A Day" and "Never" show some of that early Seventies magic - lovely songs.

Amongst the Previously Unreleased - the properly recorded cover of Fats Domino's "Blue Monday" is shockingly good - his voice suiting the R'n'B classic far better than you would think. Fans will appreciate having the "Doves" B-side on CD at last - it feels like one of the funky piano stretches in the middle of "Foreigner Suite" - a cool little instrumental. His voice is in fantastic form for the three live takes of "Hard Headed Woman", "Tuesday's Dead" and Catch Bull At Four's "Ruins" recorded in 1978 (you can hear the crowd loving it) - his female backing singers adding a lot to the power of the performance.

For most a 2CD set like "Gold" will probably suffice - but this 4-disc retrospective is a winner on all the right fronts - sound, song choice, listener surprises and beautiful presentation.

"I left my happy home to see what I could find out..." - Cat Stevens sang on the gorgeous "On The Road To Find Out". Take time out to fill your mind with this journeyman's musical and spiritual travels...