"Magic Christian Music" by BADFINGER (2010 Apple 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Come And Get It..." 

Like the equally brill Big Star – Badfinger is one of those bands. Given the quality of their music and the wads of writing talent within their ranks - Badfinger should have entered the music charts on a more regular basis (especially in Blighty) - but instead have entered the realms of Music Legend precisely because they didn't succeed commercially. They charted only three singles in the UK (one with the help of McCartney) - but none of their six albums on Apple or Warner Brothers tickled the fancy of the buying public.

Formerly known as THE IVEYS – the half-British, half-Welsh band famously signed to The Beatles Apple Records in 1968 – promptly pushing out two 45s and one hastily withdrawn album. The "Maybe Tomorrow" LP did at least get release in some Europe territories and Japan - but was unissued on Apple SAPCOR 8 in the UK. A quick line-up change (Bassist and Vocalist Ron Griffiths departed to be replaced by Guitarist Joey Molland) and a re-naming to the more funky BADFINGER - their next step was to feature three of their songs ("Come And Get It", "Rock Of All Ages" and "Come On Till Tomorrow") in a 1969 comedy spoof film called "The Magic Christian" (directed by Joseph McGrath). In order to get a 'Badfinger' album out into the market place that wasn't strictly a Soundtrack – seven of the old IVEYS tunes were remixed, edited, mined for a standalone album - "Magic Christian Music". And that's where this dinky little 2010 Apple CD reissue steps in. Here are the core details...

UK released 25 October 2010 - "Magic Christian Music" by BADFINGER on Apple 5099964243825 (Barcode is the same) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (58:50 minutes):

1. Come And Get It

2. Crimson Ship

3. Dear Angie

4. Fisherman

5. Midnight Sun

6. Beautiful And Blue

7. Rock Of All Ages

8. Carry On Till Tomorrow [Side 2]

9. I'm In Love

10. Walk Out In The Rain

11. Angelique

12. Knocking Down Our Home

13. Give It A Try

14. Maybe Tomorrow

Tracks 1 to 14 are the 'British Track Line-Up' for the Stereo LP "Magic Christian Music" by BADFINGER released 8 January 1970 in the UK Apple SAPCOR 12.

"Magic Christian Music" was released 16 February 1970 in the USA on the Stereo LP Apple SW-3364 but with two less songs and a rejiggered 12-track list. To sequence the US LP use the following CD numbers:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7

Side 2: Tracks 8, 9, 10, 4, 12 and 14

BONUS TRACKS:

15. And Her Daddy's A Millionaire (Previously Unreleased Alternate Version)

16. Mrs. Jones (Remix)

17. Sali Bloo (Previously Unreleased Mono Mix)

18. See-Saw Grandpa (Previously Unreleased Mono Mix)

19. I've Been Waiting (Previously Unreleased Unedited Remix)

DIGITAL DOWNLOADS:

Requiring extra payment - there are also 6 more tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon - "Dear Angie (Mono Mix)", "Think About The Good Times (Mono Mix)", "No Escaping Your Love (Mono Mix)", "Arthur (Remix)", "Storm In A Teacup (Mono Mix)" and "Yesterday Ain’t Coming Back (Mono Mix)" (see either site for cost details). Niggles – it won't take real fans moments to notice that the two bonus tracks "Storm In A Teacup" and "Arthur" that accompanied the first CD reissue by Apple of this album way back in November 1991 are now AWOL in physical form from this new reissue – relegated albeit in different form to the Digital Downloads.

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

The front and rear of the original vinyl LP sleeve is reproduced on the gatefold card sleeve while noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the booklet (they're all a disappointingly weedy 12 pages long). But with what little text he has been afforded - Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details. It's cute for sure but you do wish there was more. But the real deal is in the Audio...

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters has done this too - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKE and SAM OKELL with SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is beautiful - a massive improvement – the kind of Remaster that makes you reassess a lot of the music.

CONTENT:

Associations - three songs from the Movie have that magic-dust Beatles connection – "Come And Get It", "Rock Of All Ages" and "Carry On Till Tomorrow" - all Produced by PAUL McCARTNEY with Macca having also penned "Come And Get It" (he plays Piano on "Rock Of All Ages' and some Percussion on "Come And Get It"). Beatles Engineer MAL EVANS Produced Tracks 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16 and 18 - while The Beatles Producer GEORGE MARTIN orchestrated the strings on the Pete Ham song "I'm In Love". TONY VISCONTI Produced the remainder of the songs – Tracks 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19 and NICKY HOPKINS plays piano on "See-Saw Grandpa".

Badfinger’s debut LP has always had a rep for being a tad lightweight – strung together from remnants - a good start and not much else. I suppose the best compliment you can give this CD reissue is that it makes you reassess that overly 'harsh' judgement. It opens with Hitsville UK – Macca's catchy as a Socialistic viewpoint "Come And Get It". Released 5 December 1969 in advance of the album – Badfinger's debut 45 on Apple Records APPLE 20 rose to a very cool No. 4 in January 1970 (had a rare British picture sleeve) and lasted 11 weeks on the UK charts. Its US equivalent on Apple 1815 was issued February 1970 (the album came out later there) with the same B-side "Rock Of All Ages" and did equal business – an impressive No. 7. But what amazes me is that I'd forgotten how good tracks like "Crimson Ship" and "Dear Angie" are. The remaster on "Crimson Ship" is fabulous - that sweet Bass and that huge guitar - while the vocal harmonies on "Dear Angie" are gorgeous and that strummed acoustic guitar so clear. "Fisherman" is one of the 1969 tracks 'remixed' and it feels slightly out of kilter with the two that preceded it - but on rehear - I'm digging it - and that remix has really added a warmth to the song. We rock out for "Midnight Sun" - Pete Ham riffing away like a goodun. Tom Evans contributes what has to be the most Beatlesque sounding song on the album "Beautiful And Blue" - a pretty ditty with strings that could easily have been on "Rubber Soul" albeit in a more stripped down form.

It's a wonder that Apple didn't consider the raucous Slade riffage of "Rock Of All Ages" as the next single from the album - shame that. "Carry On Till Tomorrow" is a song I used to dismiss as fay once - but I'm digging its sweet vocal arrangements here. I can easily live without "I'm In Love" but the Pete Ham ballad "Walk Out In The Rain" is shockingly beautiful - the remaster making it shine like never before. Tom Evan gets in on the love song act with his "Angelique" and does well but Ham's "Knocking Down Our Home" is dreadfully clunky. The album ends on a duo of semi-weepies "Give It A Try" and "Maybe Tomorrow" - big and epic in their own mini-series kind of way (love that orchestration on "Maybe Tomorrow"). A good album rather than a great one you’d have to say - but man those good bits...

I hadn't expected the Bonus Material to be up to much - and unfortunately some of it feels like filler - for fans only. You can so hear where The Hollies comparison comes from when "And Her Daddy's A Millionaire" comes bopping out of your speakers (great remaster though). Sounding like The Move seeking a hit - "Mrs. Jones" is good too as is the Mono Mix of the guitar-boogie tune "Sali Bloo". The audio on "See-Saw Grandpa" is unfortunately the worst on here - but it ends on a blaster - the huge guitars of "I've Been Waiting" - a genuinely great inclusion. I bought the downloads at the time for this review - despite "Arthur" sounding incredible in remastered form - the poor man's Hollies comparison is staggering - complete with whiny identikit vocals. More interesting is the 'Mono' mix of an album fave - "Dear Angie" - it's good but not a patch on the beauty of the Stereo version. For me the best here is "Think About The Good Times" - a strange Funk-Rock hybrid that at least has The Kinks at its heart. And again the shadow of The Beatles hangs over "Yesterday Ain't Coming Back" - a tune that could have been on "Magical Mystery Tour"...nice.

One Star or Five - BADFINGER have always divided people - many calling them one of the great overlooked bands of the period - others calling them lightweight. For sure this record is hardly the crafted-gems of the "No Dice" and "Straight Up" LPs - nonetheless their debut album "Magic Christian Music" deserves reappraisal - especially given the massive improvement in sound quality on offer here and some of those ragbag bonus tracks. There's magic in there folks - just gotta root it out...

PS: Monday 25 October 2010 saw 14 of the 'Apple' label Sixties and Seventies albums remastered and reissued in the UK alongside a first-time-ever label 'Best Of' compilation CD not surprisingly called "Come And Get It" after Badfinger's first hit song (penned by Paul McCartney).

The October 2011 Apple CD Remasters are (I've reviewed most):

1. Magic Christian Music - BADFINGER (January 1970)

2. No Dice - BADFINGER (November 1970)

3. Straight Up - BADFINGER (1972)

4. Ass - BADFINGER (1974)

5. Postcard - MARY HOPKIN (1969)

6. Earth Song - Ocean Song - MARY HOPKIN (1971)

7. Is That What You Want? - JACKIE LOMAX (1969)

8. Under The Jasmine Tree/Space - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET 

(1968 and 1969 - 2LPs on 1CD)

9. That's The Way God Planned It - BILLY PRESTON (1969)

10. Encouraging Words - BILLY PRESTON (1970)

11. The Radha Krishna Temple - THE RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE (1971)

12. The Whale/Celtic Requiem - JOHN TAVENOR (1970 and 1971 - 2LPs on 1CD)

13. James Taylor - JAMES TAYLOR (1968)
14. Doris Troy - DORIS TROY (1970)

"Fly Me To The Moon/My Prescription" by BOBBY WOMACK (2004 EMI/Stateside CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This CD contains the album "My Prescription" released in 1970

"…Real Soul Pleaser…"

This rather simple but brilliant Stateside CD brings together the late great Bobby Womack’s first two LPs both issued on Minit Records in the USA. It also boasts major label sound quality (EMI) and a less than budget price. In my book – it’s a total winner. Here are the midnight movers and all-night groovers…

UK released August 2004 on EMI Stateside 866 0782 (Barcode 724386605924) it breaks down as follows (63:39 minutes):

1. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)

2. Baby! You Oughta Think It Over

3. I’m A Midnight Mover

4. What Is This

5. Somebody Special

6. Take Me

7. Moonlight In Vermont

8. Love, The Timer Is Now

9. I’m In Love

10. California Dreamin’

11. No Money In My Pocket

12. Lillie Mae

Tracks 1 to 12 are “Fly Me To The Moon” released January 1969 in the USA on Minit Records LP-24014

13. How I Miss You Baby

14. More Than I Can Stand

15. It’s Gonna Rain

16. Everyone’s Gone To The Moon

17. I Can’t Take It Like A Man

18. I Left My Heart In San Francisco

19. Arkansas State Prison

20. I’m Gonna Forget About You

21. Don’t Look Back

22. Tried And Convicted

23. Thank You

Tracks 13 to 23 are “My Prescription” released May 1970 in the USA on Minit LP-24027

The 12-page booklet has sleeve notes by DEAN RUDLAND with two photos and snappy trade advert for the “Fly Me To The Moon” LP. STEVE ROOKE did the remasters at Abbey Road and lovely Stereo Sound fills every track. There is hiss on some of the tracks but there’s a wonderful warmth and air around the recordings – kind of goes with the territory.

Wilson Pickett had a 7” smash with Womack’s “I’m A Midnight Mover” in 1968 (called the album “The Midnight Mover” too) but now it was the turn of Cleveland’s finest and ‘The Preacher’ does a barnstormer of a great tune. In fact the first album is full of those unbelievably catchy hooks – the mid-tempo “Somebody Special” and the distant harmonica melody in “Take Me” (also used as the B-side to “Fly Me To The Moon” when it was released as a US 7” on Minit 32048). Wilson Picket plundered Womack’s knack for a ballad with punch too when he recorded “I’m In Love” and released it in early 1968 (also calling the album after the track).

But for me things really take off on “My Prescription” which opens with one of my all-time favourite Soul tunes – “How I Miss You Baby”. Minit coupled it with the album cut “Tried And Convicted” (on Minit 32093). It has a snappy beat, churchy organs, impassioned vocals, touching lyrics and eventually goes into a sort of Burt Bacharach brass bit as he sings – it’s unbelievably good. The same hooky melody of sorts infests “It’s Gonna Rain” where he sings of “bad vibrations” – again brilliantly arranged and the remaster bring out a fabulous rhythm section of bass, drums and rhythm guitars. His “Preacher” side comes out in “Everyone’s Gone To The Moon” and “I Can’t Take It Like A Man” – the latter with lovely brass fills adding so much. And on it goes to the Tony Joe White slink of “Arkansas State Prison” and the bouncy keyboard of “Don’t Look Back” (A Temptations cover) and the equally upbeat “Tried And Convicted”.

Womack would go on to huge success and acclaim with his Seventies material on United Artists and onwards again to “The Poet” and beyond. But I’ve always loved his duo of fabulous Minit LP starters and hope you will too…

Stateside 866 0782 is the kind of CD that gets unwisely ignored and sells for peanuts. But I urge you (if you’ll forgive the primate pun) to shell out on this one…

"The Complete Invictus Studio Recordings: 1969-1978" by CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD (2014 Edsel 9CD Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Box set contains "Give Me Just A Little More Time" and "In Session" from 1970

"…Skin I'm In…" 

There’s a huge haul in this mini box set – so let’s get to the Soulful nitty-gritty right away… 

UK and USA released August 2014 - “The Complete Invictus Studio Recordings: 1969-1978” by CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD is a 97-track 9CD British Box Set on Edsel COTBOXO1 (Barcode 501479789094). It offers fans their 4 studio albums, 3 solo LPs and 2CDs worth of Bonus Tracks – non-album singles, rarities and four previously unreleased tracks (two of which are new Tom Moulton remixes). Each CD-album is housed a hard-card 5” repro sleeve (American artwork) while the Bonus Tracks come in gatefold hard card 5” sleeve that uses the Invictus Label Bag as its artwork. It breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (38:16 minutes):

1. Give Me Just A Little More Time

2. Come Together

3. Bless You

4. Patches

5. Since The Days Of Pigtails (And Fairy Tales)

6. I’ll Come Crawling

7. (You’ve Got Me) Dangling On A String

8. Bravo, Hooray

9. Didn’t We

10. Feelin’ Alright

11. My Way

12. Tricked & Trapped (By A Tricky Trapper)

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album “Give Me Just A Little More Time” – released April 1970 in the USA on Invictus ST-7300 and November 1970 in the UK as “Chairmen Of The Board” (with the same track list) on Invictus SVT 1002

Disc 2 (40:21 minutes):

1. Chairmen Of The Board

2. Everything’s Tuesday

3. Pay To The Piper

4. Twelfth Of Never

5. All We Need Is Understanding

6. Patches

7. It Was Almost Something

8. Bridge Over Troubled Water

9. Hanging On A Memory

10. I Can’t Find Myself

11. When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me

12. Children Of Today

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 2nd LP “In Session” – released November 1970 in the USA on Invictus ST-7304 and April 1971 in the UK on Invictus SVT 1003

Disc 3 (41:14 minutes):

1. Men Are Getting Scarce

2. So Glad You’re Mine

3. Working On A Building Of Love

4. I’m A Sign Of Changing Times

5. Elmo James

6. I’m On My Way To A Better Place

7. Bittersweet

8. Saginaw County Line

9. Weary Traveller

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd album “Bittersweet” – released October 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9801 and Invictus SVT 1006 in the UK

Disc 4 (37:19 minutes):

1. Everybody Party All Night

2. Skin I’m In

3. Morning Glory

4. Life & Death Pt. 1

5. White Rose (Freedom Flower)

6. Life & Death Pt. II

7. Let’s Have Some Fun

8. Love At First Sight

9. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

10. Live With Me, Live With Me

11. Finder’s Keepers

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 4th and final LP “Skin I’m In” – released October 1974 in the USA on Invictus KZ 32526 (no UK issue)

Disc 5 (41:41 minutes):

1. Saginaw County Line

2. God’s Gift To Man

3. It Was Almost Something

4. Every Couple’s Not A Pair

5. All We Need Is Understanding

6. Everything’s Tuesday

7. I Never Get Tired Of You

8. My Credit Didn’t Go Through

9. Things Are Bound To Get Better Later On

10. Mary Lou Thomas

Tracks 1 to 10 are the solo album by GENERAL JOHNSON called “Generally Speaking” – released 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9803

Disc 6 (38:02 minutes):

1. Hypnotic Music

2. Closet Queen

3. Night Comes Day Goes

4. Sunday Morning People

5. Gimme A Glass Of Water

6. Come Together

7. You Hurt Your Mother Again

8. Up-The Organization

9. Children Of Today

Tracks 1 to 9 are the solo album by HARRISON KENNEDY called “Hypnotic Music”  – released 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9806

Disc 7 (42:41 minutes):

1. Everybody’s Got A Song To Sing

2. Let Me Ride

3. Roller Coaster

4. Try On My Love For Size

5. It Didn’t Take Long

6. Working On A Building Of Love

7. Funny How Times Slips Away

8. Two Can Be As Lonely As One

9. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)

10. Danny Boy

Tracks 1 to 10 are the solo album by DANNY WOODS called “Aries” – released 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9808

Disc 8 is BONUS TRACKS: 1971-1973 (36:07 minutes) – all track are by COTB except where noted:

Tracks 1 and 2 are Savannah Lady and I’m In Love Darling by GENERAL JOHNSON – the A&B sides of a 1972 USA 7” single on Invictus IS-9093

Track 3 is Men Are Getting Scarce – it’s the USA 7” single A-side edit at 3:13 minutes (the album version is 5:19 minutes) - released 1971 on Invictus IS-9103

Track 4 is Hanging On To A Memory – the non-album B-side to Tricked And Trapped (By A Tricky Trapper) – released 1971 on Invictus IS 9089

Tracks 5 and 6 are Elmo James (Single Edit – 3:28 minutes) and Bittersweet (Single Edit – 3:24 minutes) – the A&B-sides of a 7” single released 1971 in the USA on Invictus IS-9105

Track 7 is Let Me Down Easy – released 1972 as the non-album A-side 7” single on Invictus IS-9126

Tracks 10 and 8 are Everybody’s Tippin’ and Roller Coaster (Single Edit) by DANNY WOODS – the A&B-sides of a USA 7” single issued in 1971 on Invictus IS-9132. The A-side is non-album – the B-side a 2:53 minutes edit of the album version at 3:41 minutes

Track 9 is Everybody’s Got A Song To Sing (Single Edit – 2:52 minutes) – the B-side of Working On A Building Of Love - a 1972 USA 7” single on Invictus IS-9122

Track 11 is Up-The Organization (Instrumental) by GENERAL JOHNSON – the non-album B-side to Sunday Morning People – a 1972 USA 7” single on Invictus IS-9112

Track 12 is Finder’s Keepers (Instrumental) – the non-album B-side to “Finder’s Keepers – a 1973 USA 7” single on Invictus ZS7 1251

Disc 9 is BONUS TRACKS: 1973-2014 (42:30 minutes) - all track are by COTB except where noted:

Track 1 is Finder’s Keepers (Vocal) – the non-album A-side version – a 1973 USA 7” single on Invictus ZS7 1251

Tracks 2 and 3 are Only Time Will Tell and Only Time Will Tell (Instrumental) by GENERAL JOHNSON – the A&B sides of a 1973 USA 7” single on Invictus ZS7 1252

Track 4 is Skin I’m In (Single Edit) – the A-side to the 1974 USA 7” single on Invictus ZS8 1276

Track 5 is Everybody Party All Night (Single Edit) – the A-side to the 1974 USA 7” single on Invictus S INV 2523

Tracks 6 and 7 are You’ve Got Extra Added Power and Someone Just Like You by COTB featuring PRINCE HAROLD – the non-album A&B-sides of a 1976 USA 7” single on Invictus ZS8 1278

Track 8 is Come On In And Dance – the non-album A-side of a 1978 USA 7” single on ICA Recording Group ICA-023

Tracks 9 and 10 are What’s The Use and Where There Is Faith There Is Hope – two PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED tracks. There are no writers credits and were found in the vaults in 2014.

Tracks 11 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 2014 TOM MOULTON REMIXES of You’ve Got Me Dangling On A String and Give Me Just A Little More Time

I love the aesthetic feel of the oversized 5” Repro Sleeves – very nice indeed front and rear. The 36-page booklet is gorgeous – full colour-plates of all 7 LPs - with further photos of the band and rare Euro 7” picture sleeves. DEAN RUDLAND (with help from TONY ROUNCE – both long-time Soul aficionados) did the superlatively detailed and informative liners notes – their huge knowledge and love for the label and the period lifting every paragraph. 

The remasters are done by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy in London and are wicked – full of presence and power. Comparing them – they sound better to the 2009 versions Edsel gave us when they presented this catalogue in 2CD sets years back.

It’s cool to hear the albums again minus the bonus tracks – just as I remember them. The first two LPs had the Invictus hits – "Give Me Just A Little More Time", "You've Got Me Dangling On A String", "Everything's Tuesday" and "Pay To The Piper". Setting aside woeful covers of Frank Sinatra's "My May" and an unwise stab at The Beatles Abbey Road classic "Come Together" - the 1st LP is still chocker full of undiscovered gems like the Motownesque "I Come Crawling" and their cool cover of Dave Mason's Traffic winner "Feelin' Alright". The 2nd platter from 1970 "In Session" had goodies too like the funky "Hanging On To A Memory" and the genius Stevie Wonder clavinet groove of  "I Can't Find Myself" where our hero is 'lost in love again'. The frantic "When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me" sees Danny Woods in typical pleading mode. The socially conscious "Children Of Today" is excellent too. 

But for me it’s the lesser-heard "Skin I'm In" album from 1974 that has more magic and the American “Aries” solo album by Danny Woods is a bit of a forgotten Seventies Soul masterpiece. The only slip-up I can see is the absence of the Instrumental of “Morning Glory” which was a B-side – other than that – this is exemplary stuff. 

Pitched at twenty of our pounds – it works out at a few pence over two quid per CD – which is a bit of a deal frankly. Top job done by Edsel and congrats to all involved…

"Home" by PROCOL HARUM (2015 Esoteric Recordings 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ride That Whisky Train..."

Procol Harum's gloomy' fourth album (and last with Robin Trower as lead guitarist) came out in June 1970 - largely to public indifference. Sure it rose to No. 49 in the UK in its 'snakes and ladders' board-game single sleeve artwork and was even afforded the luxury of a Gatefold Sleeve in the US and a chart placing of 34. But from decades of experience in rare records - original copies of the British Regal Zonophone vinyl LP are notoriously hard to find especially with the lyric insert (reproduced on the rear of the poster in the right hand flap) precisely because it sold so little. It's one of those records that slipped through the net after initial release - like a lot of albums from 1970 actually.

There have been two CD reissue labels that have had a varying go at "Home" – Westside in 1999 (with 8 bonus tracks) and Salvo of the UK in 2009 (with 2 bonus tracks). I had most of the 'Salvo' Procol Harum reissues in their cool card repro artwork - each sporting spangly new Nick Robbins/Rob Keyloch transfers and remasters. Well along comes Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red of the UK) and they’ve returned to the tapes for new 24-bit remasters and thrown in some new Previously Unreleased material. There are two variants on this release - the single disc issue with two bonus tracks (Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2506 - Barcode 5013929460645) - and this - the 2CD ‘Deluxe Edition’ on ECLEC 22505. Here are the Whisky Train details...

UK released Friday, 31 July 2015 (14 August 2015 in the USA) – “Home” by PROCOL HARUM on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22505 (Barcode 5013929460546) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (39:10 minutes):

1. Whisky Train

2. The Dead Man's Dream

3. Still There'll Be More

4. Nothing That I Didn't Know

5. About To Die

6. Barnyard Story [Side 2]

7. Piggy Pig Pig

8. Whaling Stories

9. Your Own Choice

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 4th album "Home" – released June 1970 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1014 and in the USA on A&M Records SP 4261. CHRIS THOMAS produced - all songs written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid except "Whisky Train" by Robin Trower and Keith Reid.

For "Home" PROCOL HARUM was:

GARY BROOKER - Lead Vocals and Piano

ROBIN TROWER - Lead Guitar

CHRIS COPPING - Bass and Organ

B.J. WILSON - Drums

KEITH REID - Lyrics

Disc 2 (42:50 minutes):

1. Your Own Choice (Demo, Autumn 1969)

2. Barnyard Story (Take 4, Abbey Road 11 February 1970)

3. The Dead Man's Dream (Take 7, Abbey Road 11 February 1970)

4. Still There'll Be More (Take 3 Backing Track, Abbey Road 14 February 1970)

5. Whaling Stories (Initial Backing Track)

6. About To Die (George Martin Mix, Abbey Road 12 March 1970)

7. Your Own Choice (Extended Remix, Abbey Road 22 March 1970)

8. Piggy Pig Pig (Chris Thomas Remix)

9. Whisky Train (US Radio Single Edit - May 1970 US 7" Single A-side of A&M 1218) - Previously Unreleased on CD

10. Your Own Choice (BBC Radio One Session for 'David Symonds Show' - Recorded 12 May 1970) - Previously Unreleased

11. About To Die (BBC Radio One Session for 'David Symonds Show' - Recorded 12 May 1970) - Previously Unreleased

Esoteric's MARK and VICKY POWELL 'conceived, researched and compiled' the reissues and BEN WISEMAN and ROB KEYLOCH carried out the brill new 24-bit Remasters from original tapes. The booklet has trade adverts, US concert tickets, publicity photos for the band and new liner notes from HENRY SCOTT-IRVINE - author of Omnibus biography "Procol Harum: The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade Of Pale". The gatefold card digipak folds out into four flaps - the 20-page booklet in the left flat and a foldout poster in the left. The 'seated' photo on Page 2 of the booklet is used as the basis to the poster which also has the lyrics in the same colour as the LP insert on the rear (a sort of grey). Discs 1 and 2 reflect the colouring of the original Regal Zonophone issue (also carry the 'Fly Records' logo) and beneath both see-through CD trays are pictures of the rare "Your Own Choice" White-Label Promo-Only UK 7" single LP sampler on Regal Zonophone SPSR 328 with "About To Die" on the flip. You’d have to say that it's all very tastefully done.

You couldn't ask for a more rocking opener to an album than the wicked riffage that is "Whisky River" - Trower's sole writing offering for the LP. This album version at 4:26 minutes was edited down by A&M Records in the USA for single release on A&M 1218 in May 1970 ("About To Die" on the fiipside - a great double sider). The shorter cut weighs in at 3:01 minutes (Track 9 on Disc 2) and is spelt "Whiskey Train" on the label. The mix also seems to accentuate the guitar more (not surprising) where Robin Trower sounds like Budgie's Tony Bourge having a grunge wig-out. The album's 'doomy' reputation comes from tracks like the dreadnaught heavy "The Dead Man's Dream" and the lonesome seven minutes of "Whaling Stories" - both a tad hissy it has to be said. I've always liked the acoustic prettiness of "Nothing That I Didn't Know" - a song about the 26-year old Jenny Drew - a lost soul who starved from anorexia. But my crave has always been the brilliant guitar of Trower on the Side 1 closer "About To Die" - a huge tune in every way - with Brooker letting rip on the vocals ("tear the city down").

The 'demo' of "Your Own Choice" on the Bonus Tracks Disc 2 is a lighter take that might even be considered Americana in the '11s. Take 4 of "Barnyard Story" is a well-recorded 2:51 minutes of Brooker and Piano (very tasty) while he shouts "Good God!" at the beginning of Take 7 for the droning "The Dead Man's Dream". I got a tad excited at the 'George Martin Mix' of "About To Die" which seems to accentuate the bass line and adds more flickering keyboard flourishes - it's good - but the finished version is better. The two Previously Unreleased BBC Sessions are hissy for sure but the performances are properly vintage – and fans will love having them after all these decades.

The droning-doom of Procol Harum have always been an acquired taste for sure and their 1970 platter "Home" doesn't buck that trend. But for money this 2015 Esoteric Recordings 'Deluxe Edition' is the best variant of it by far. Well done to all involved...

"Official Release Series Discs 1-4" by NEIL YOUNG (2012 Reprise Reissue Box Set Containing The 4 x 2009 HDCD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Show You The Way To Go…"

This Box Set contains the album "After The Gold Rush" released in 1970

What we have here is a reissue. UK and Europe released 11 June 2012 - "Official Release Series Disc 1-4" by NEIL YOUNG is a 4CD set on Reprise 9362-494975 (Barcode 093624949756) which bundles together the four August 2009 individual releases into a simple card slipcase (each is discussed in detail below). As such - this neatly bundled foursome represents seriously great value for money - both musically and on the old lugs. So what's on offer and what's the muss?

Over the last two decades in particular - Neil Young fans have had their reissue patience sorely tested by their moody overlord. He has famously resisted the remastered reissue of his huge catalogue on CD because of what he feels is the format's less than stellar representation of analogue tapes' 'original sound'. But you have to say right from the audio start of these August 2009 CD reissues/remasters - the wait for these first quartet of solo albums - "Neil Young", "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere", "After The Gold Rush" and "Harvest" - has absolutely been worth the endless delays and press hissy fits. What a magnificent job his transfer teams have done here... 

JOHN NOWLAND carried out the Audio Tape Restoration and Analog-To-HDCD Digital Transfer of the Original Master Tapes (24-Bit 176 KHZ) with TIM MULLIGAN taking care of the Editing and Mastering. These remasters are not bombastically loud - trebled up to the nines for the sake of it - they're subtle - the music is just there in your speakers to a point where everything seems new and up for grabs again. Fans will love it and feel like they're revisited long cherished old friends - while newcomers will now understand what all the 5-star fuss is about. Now to the details - here are the Loners, Trips to Tulsa and Cinnamon Maids in need of a Man...

Disc 1 "Neil Young" (36:25 minutes):

1. The Emperor Of Wyoming

2. The Loner

3. If I Could Have Her Tonight

4. I've Been Waiting For You

5. The Old Laughing Lady

6. String Quartet From Whiskey Boot Hill

7. Here We Are In The Years

8. What Did You Do To My Life?

9. I've Loved Her So Long

10. The Last Trip To Tulsa

Written at the tender age of 23 - his debut has been eclipsed by the more illustrious "Gold Rush" and "Harvest" - but real fans will want to start here. While I can live without the countrified "Emperor Of Wyoming" - I still find "The Loner" astonishing in the way that the first Zeppelin album is - powerful, punchy and still rocking today. It's kind of shocking that even though Reprise coupled it with "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" as it's B-side - it failed as a UK 7" single on Reprise RS 23045 in September 1969. I love the Jack Nitzsche arrangements on the magical "The Old Laughing Lady" with Ry Cooder on Guitar and the wonderful singer Merry Clayton on Backing Vocals. The channel separation is harsh (the way it was recorded) but the clarity is fabulous. "What Did You Do To My Life" sounds like a top Buffalo Springfield outtake from their patchy 3rd album while the acoustic guitars on the epic "The Last Trip To Tulsa" are so clear - as is his warbling treated vocals - frail and aching. What I love about this remaster is that its somehow brought the album alive - and now begs rediscovery...

Disc 2 "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (40:47 minutes):

1. Cinnamon Girl

2. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

3. Round & Round (It Won't Be Long)

4. Down By The River

5. The Losing End (When You're On) [Side 2]

6. Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)

7. Cowgirl In The Sand

His 2nd solo album after Buffalo Springfield - "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" was released in May 1969 on Reprise Records RS 6349 in the USA and July 1969 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6349. This 2009 'Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' CD Remaster on Reprise 9362-49790-3 (Barcode 093624979036) is Disc 2 of 4 and carries the HDCD code on the label and rear inlay (High Density Compact Disc). The inlay reproduces photos of Danny Whitten (Guitar), Billy Talbot (Bass) with Ralph Molina (on Drums) and David Briggs (Engineer and Producer) - but there are no lyrics.

Niggles - the big disappointment is the complete lack of musical extras or even any new info in the booklet - and in the case of this album in particular the omissions are going to be a sore point for fans who've waited decades for these releases. While some rarities have turned up on the 2009 mega box set "The Archives Vol.1 1963-1972" - some tracks are still missing. "Down By The River" was edited for single release in the UK in August 1970 on RS 23462 with an alternate take of "Cinnamon Girl" on the B-side. To my knowledge neither is available in remastered sound anywhere. Also - "Oh Lonesome Me" was extended for the US 7" and it's B-side - an alternate mix of "I've Been Waiting For You" is again a no-show. All of them would have made for ideal extras material and it's infuriating that they're not on here. Still - at mid price - this remaster of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" is great value for money and with this hugely upgraded sound - makes you focus on the music as is and not anything else.

The sound is especially good on the big rocking tracks like "Down By The River" and the near 10-minute "Cowgirl In The Sand" - while the clarity is just beautiful on Richie Furay's "Round And Round (It Won't Be Long)" - Robin Lane's duet vocals being particularly lovely. Bobby Notkoff's violin on "Running Dry" is very clear - and as the band loosely ramshackles its way into the song - it sounds like they're in your living room - miked up and live - fabulous stuff. On to album three...

Disc 3 "After The Gold Rush" (35:03 minutes):

1. Tell Me Why

2. After The Gold Rush

3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

4. Southern Man

5. Till The Morning Comes

6. Oh Lonesome Me

7. Don't Let It Bring You Down

8. Birds

9. When You Dance, I Can Really Love

10. I Believe In You

11. Cripple Creek

"After The Gold Rush" was released in September 1970 on Reprise Records MS 6383 in the USA and Reprise RSLP 6383 in the UK (it went to Number 8 in the USA and Number 7 in the UK). This 2009 'Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' remaster on Reprise 9362-49790-1 (Barcode 093624979012) is Disc 3 of 4 (HDCD details as above).

Again so many audio highlights - the meaty guitars of "Southern Man" and the harmonica and rhythm section on the slyly lovely cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me". But then there's a triple whammy of audio brilliance on "Don't Let It Bring You Down", the beautiful "Birds" (lyrics above) and the rocking "When You Dance, I Can Really Love". Each is so beautifully done but in different ways. There's now a lovely intimacy on "Tell Me Why" and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" too. Sweet as...and leading up to...

Disc 4 "Harvest" (37:47 minutes):

1. Out On The Weekend

2. Harvest

3. A Man Needs A Maid

4. A Heart Of Gold

5. Are You Ready For The Country?

6. Old Man

7. There's A World

8. Alabama

9. The Needle And The Damage Done

10. Words (Between The Lines Of Age)

His 4th solo (and some feel his best) "Harvest" was released in February 1972 on Reprise Records MS 2032 in the USA and K 54005 in the UK (it went to Number 1 in both countries and many others around the world). This 2009 'Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' on Reprise 9362-49789-9 (Barcode 093624978992) is Disc 4 of 4 (HDCD details as above).

From the second that the drums, acoustic guitar and low harmonica kick in with the opener "Out On The Weekend" - the audio can only be described as beautiful. The shuffle of "Harvest" now boats the same clarity - but things really go into the fidelity stratosphere with the strings on "A Man Needs A Maid" (The London Symphony Orchestra arranged by Jack Nitzsche) - wow! David Crosby and Graham Nash puts in harmony vocals on "Are You Ready For The Country" while James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt do backing vocals on the gorgeous "Old Man". The muscle from Stephen Stills' guitar on "Alabama" grunges and rocks with Neil's superb lead while Nash and Stills add layers to the finisher "Words (Between The Lines Of Age)" (lyrics from it title this review).

Re-listening to these four albums in a row is a revelatory experience. "Gold Rush" and "Harvest" have always received the plaudits - but now the first two have been given a new lease of life by these transfers - and I'm returning to them more - which is surely what a good remaster should make you do...and all of it is available for under a ten spot from most retailers...

The gold sticker on the jewel case of each of these issues says "Because Sound Matters" - and I think Rock's great curmudgeon was right to wait until he got it right...

"Dada" by DADA [featuring Elkie Brooks, Paul Korda, Pete Gage, Jimmy Chambers & Don Shinn] (2016 Esoteric Recordings CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry

"...Take Me Up And Put Me Down Big Dipper..." 

Derided and beloved in equal measure – England's DADA made only one LP in late 1970 for a confused Atlantic Records. A hybrid of styles encompassing Brassy Prog, Holy Roller Rock and Rotary Connection-style vocal gymnastics (and a few points beyond those) - like the eclecticism suggested by their band name – the music was impossible to pigeonhole and of course drove both the record company nuts and the public into the nearest bar.

Most Rock geezers like me know our Dada through the 99p we spent on Atlantic Super 2464 013 – "The Age Of Atlantic" label sampler LP put out in October 1970. Amidst the Zeppelin, Yes and Dr. John - there they were. Track 2 on Side 2 was Dada's Hair-like cover of The Rolling Stones 1965 "The Last Time" - a bopper radically rearranged into something more interesting and ever so slightly out there. The whole album is like that – a mishmash of 5th Dimension meets Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and The Trinity meets Rotary Connection and a few other musical experiments along the way. Don't get me wrong – I love it – there is much to cherish here. It's not Rock for sure and it's not completely Psych either. It's a mixture of many styles – immediately dated yet actually very cool too. Here is the exploratory cross-pollination existential Dadaist details man (and that's just the left leg)...

UK released Friday 22 April 2016 – "Dada" by DADA [featuring Elkie Brooks, Paul Korda, Jimmy Chambers, Pete Gage and Don Shinn] on Esoteric Recordings WECLEC 2543 (Barcode 5013929464346) is a straightforward CD Remaster and transfer of their lone album (37:17 minutes):

1. Big Dipper

2. The Last Time

3. This Is My Song

4. Seed Of Peace

5. Organ Interlude

6. Tonite Is

7. She Walks Away [Side 2]

8. Aspen, Colorado

9. Eyes Of The Warren

10. Jasamin

11. Dada

Tracks 1 to 11 are their lone album "Dada" – released December 1970 in the UK on Atlantic 2400 030 and in the USA on Atco SD 33-352.

Paul Korda had a hand in writing In "Big Dipper" and "This Is My Song" (both co-writes with Pete Gage) - "Seed Of Peace" and "Tonite Is" are co-writes with Keyboardist Don Shinn and he solo wrote "Jasamin" and "Dada". Don Shinn wrote "Organ Interlude" and "Eyes Of The Warren". "The Last Time" is a Rolling Stones cover and "Aspen, Colorado" is a Tony Joe White cover. "She Walks Away" is written by Pete Gage and Ivan Zagni.

Taking its moniker from an art movement formed at the outbreak of the First World War – DADA was the brainchild of PETE GAGE - a Guitarist and Arranger heavily involved with Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band in the mid Sixties. Deliberately choosing not to have one central singer but enough people to handle the diversity of the music (they weren't called Dada for nothing) – founder member Pete Gage decided on three sets of voices – and what a trio they were. ELKIE BROOKS had been working the cabaret circuit and doing jazz-outs with Humphrey Lyttleton's band as well as studio stints with Jody Grind – Tim Hinkley's Prog Rock act signed to Transatlantic Records. The second set of pipes belonged to the all-round eccentric and hugely creative PAUL KORDA – a falsetto singer who’d worked in the "Hair" cast and was a prolific song/lyric writer. The third was JIMMY CHAMBERS who was a Percussionist as well. DON SHINN supplement those singers with Keyboards and MARTIN HARRYMAN played Drums. Other musicians included BARRY DUGGAN on Saxophones & Flutes, MALCOLM CAPEWELL on Tenor Sax & Flute with ERNIE LUCHLAN on Trumpet & Flugelhorn.

The 16-page booklet has new liner notes by SID SMITH that feature informational interviews with founding member Pete Gage discussing the formation of the band – the eclectic styles and the tours of America in 1971 that saw Robert Palmer join the ranks and would eventually go on with Elkie to form the much-loved Vinegar Joe on Island Records. There are no photos but quotes from Dada exponents like Huelsenbeck, Blosche, Hugo Ball and Andre Breton. BEN WISEMAN has carried out the 24-bit digital remaster at Broadlake Studios and this disc rocks.

It opens very strongly with "Big Dipper" which is a brilliantly arranged Prog Rocker with Blood, Sweat & Tears brass thrown in and all three vocalists featured. Their adventurous cover of The Rolling Stones "Last Time" has clever breaks that feel very Lydia Pense and Cold Blood. The acoustic opening to "This Is My Song" is beautifully handled on the remaster as is the "Hair" chorus and keyboards – a genius tune – I'm reminded of good 5th Dimension or a cool Charles Stepney production of Rotary Connection circa "Hey, Love". I love the duet of vocals between Brooks and Korda on "Seed Of Peace" – another sort of holy-roller peace anthem that cries out to be in "Jesus Christ Superstar". The side ends on two short 'n' curlies - the 54-second "Organ Interlude" by Don Shinn that feels like the beginning to an ELP opus done on a local church organ. That immediately leads into "Tonite Is" – another one minute of hippy claptrap vocals.

Side 2 opens with the wicked "She Walks Away" – a very Rotary Connection "Hair" production song with great brass fills and multiple vocals. Tony Joe White's "Aspen, Colorado" originated on his 1968 "Black And White" LP in 1968 on Monument Records while others might recognise it as the B-side to the more famous "Pork Salad Annie". In the hands of Dada - its 2:50 original playing time is stretched to 5:03 minutes and becomes almost unrecognisable (but in a good way). Sung with real Soul by all – it features cool treated keyboards and complimentary brass. "Aspen Colorado" is a definite highlight on here. Shinn's "Eyes Of The Warren" has a great keyboard break – while the acoustic 'sweetness of a million roses' that pours off the twee "Jasamin" may be too much free-love for most (even with that great vocal ending). The album ends on "Dada" – an upbeat Blood Sweat & Tears vibe – again feeling like another 'Hair' outtake that almost made the set list.

Historically - Paul Korda appeared as one of the Lead Vocalists in the 1968 stage show of "Hair" - made a couple of solo albums in the 70ts - "A Passing Stranger" released June 1971 in the UK on MAM Records MAM-AS 1003 and "Dancing In The Aisles" released 1978 in the USA on Janus JXS-7038. He also guested on "Ride A White Horse" and "One Of The Boys" for The Who's Roger Daltrey in 1975 and 1978. Personally - I knew his name from the song "Seagull (The West Coat Oil Tragedy Of '68)" which Dave Edmund's Love Sculpture covered on their 1970 second LP "Forms And Feelings". Korda is still active and put out 2 CDs in 2009 covering his early years and new material.

It's not all great for sure - but there is genius in its midst. I never thought I'd see the day that this obscure LP would finally receive a decent CD remaster (there is a Wounded Bird issue in 2010 but I heard bad reports about its audio). So not everyone's just Joss Stick – but if you feel like sticking a flower in a child's hair or sharing your baubles and dandelions collection with the world - then the brill and hippyish "Dada" is the earth-mother for you.

I dig it baby and I still think the Stones nicked their logo design in part from the cover painting...