"Machine Head: 5-Disc Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition" by DEEP PURPLE – March 1972 UK Sixth Studio Album on Purple Records and April 1972 USA on Warner Brothers Records featuring Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice (March 2024 UK Universal/Purple/Warner Brothers 5-Disc LP-Sized Box Set with 3CDs, 1 BLU RAY, 1 x Purple-Smoke Coloured VINYL LP and Dweezil Zappa Remixes with Andy Pearce/Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Machine-Head-Deluxe-Deep-Purple/dp/B0CT96JCGN?crid=KE69DW3QYB6L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-ycGPWC86FCkGB9fDpaJGQ.DuNkxcothAvPpZqEzn7fBnYQJNwTDcT2GyJ-DpPyujY&dib_tag=se&keywords=600753993149&qid=1712509895&sprefix=600753993149%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=8cf27a9760a866f7ad20dfe3f64241fb&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

*** Presentation ***** Original Album *** Bonus Material ***** Remasters

OVERALL RATING: ***

"...Big Fat Tyres And Everything..."

Oh dear! And oh yes! I suspect like so many men of a certain age (and given that it's almost two years overdue as a '50th Anniversary' Reissue and comes complete with an extortionate £100 price tag) - this March 2024 latest version of Deep Purple's Classic 70ts Rock album "Machine Head" is going to conflict and thrill in equal measure. 

Off the bat - I really don't get the Dweezil Zappa Remix at all - feels like an ugly reworking of an album I love. And why oh why is ONLY his remix on Vinyl and NOT the brilliant Andy Pearce/Matt Wortham Remaster? BOTH versions should have been pressed on VINYL and put in a gatefold sleeve with the lyric insert - instead of now being asked to accept a REMIX and an overblown foldout page of lyrics as a 'poster' of sorts? To put this into context - should you be lucky enough to get your purchase-hands on the Creedence Clearwater Revival 2CD/1DVD set "The Singles Collection" from November 2009 (see separate review) - you are greeted with one of the most beautiful foldout posters of single-sleeves from around the world that I have ever seen. Why couldn't something like that have been done for this 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe set? Deep Purple fans are a fanatical bunch and in conjunction with fan clubs and devotees - there must surely have been more to see? 

You don't even get proper release dates, catalogue numbers for the album, singles - the "In Concert '72" set on which CD2 is based was a hugely collectable industry-only 8-track LP release called 'Stereo Pop Special-12' on BBC Transcription Discs CNN 1513 recorded for the BBC's famous 'Sounds Of The Seventies' series - but it's not pictured! The 'Selected Albums Gallery' on Page 14 doesn't show either a British or US issue on the newly formed Purple Records Label or Warner Brothers out of the States. The 'Selected Singles Gallery' is fabulous to look at - old issues from around the world (Turkey and Portugal included for "Never Before") and reissues of "Smoke On The Water (Live)" from 1980 - but again - would have made a worthy POSTER of itself.  

The Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remaster of the 1972 Classic album as is however shines lights in corners previously deadened (so damn clean and yet powerful) and the live stuff (even if Disc 2 has been available before) shows the band in its staggering pomp (see notes below on CD3). But truth be painfully told - there is a gnawing feeling of let-down here when it should be reeking celebration. Still - let's go space truckin' - here be the fretboard details...

UK/EU released Friday, 29 March 2024 - "Machine Head: 5-Disc Deluxe Anniversary Edition" by DEEP PURPLE on Universal/Purple/Warner Brothers/Rhino R2 725876 - 603497828852 00600753993149 (Barcode 600753993149) is an LP-Sized 5-Disc Reissue Box Set containing 3 x CDs, 1 x BLU RAY AUDIO DISC and 1 x VINYL LP (Purple-Smoke Coloured Vinyl) with a Bonus B-side added to Side 2. The VINYL LP has the Dweezil Zappa Remix Only of the album but does include the "When A Blind man Cries" B-side on Side 2 as a Bonus Track – a first. 

The Overall package offers two versions of the "Machine Head" album on CD1 - a Dweezil Zappa Remix with a Bonus Track and an Andy Pearce/Matt Wortham straightforward Remaster of the album only, Previously Unreleased Live Material from 1971 (CD3) and Previously Released Live Material from 1972 (CD2). The BLU RAY DISC has 1974 Quad Mixes of the Entire album, a Rare 45-Single Non-LP B-side, a 2024 Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Surround Sound Mixes. There is a Reproduced Lyrics Poster and a New LP-Sized 18-Page Booklet. Discs play out as follows:

CD1 "Machine Head" (79:26 minutes):

2024 REMIX (Dweezil Zappa)

1. Highway Star [Side 1]

2. Maybe I'm A Leo

3. Pictures Of Home

4. Never Before

5. Smoke On The Water [Side 2]

6. Lazy 

7. Space Truckin'

Tracks 1 to 7 are DWEEZIL ZAPPA Remixes of the "Machine Head" album originally issued March 1972 in the UK on Purple Records TPSA 7504 and April 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2607. Produced by DEEP PURPLE (Engineered by Martin Birch) - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 7 in the USA.

BONUS TRACK:

8. When A Blind Man Cries 

Track 8 is a Non-Album B-side to the 45-single "Never Before". Written by the whole band, it was released March 1972 in the UK as a 7" Single on Purple Records PUR 102 and the same month in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7572 (charted at No. 35 in the UK but didn't chart USA).

2024 REMASTER (Andy Pearce)

9. Highway Star [Side 1]

10. Maybe I'm A Leo

11. Pictures Of Home

12. Never Before

13. Smoke On The Water [Side 2]

14. Lazy 

15. Space Truckin'

Tracks 1 to 7 are an ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM Remaster of the "Machine Head" album (from original tapes) first issued April 1972 in the UK on Purple Records TPSA 7504 and in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2607. Produced by DEEP PURPLE (Engineered by Martin Birch) - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 7 in the USA.

CD2 "In Concert '72" (79:36 minutes):

Original Recording, Paris Theatre in London, 9 March 1972

Produced by Pete Dauncey and Engineered by Adrian Revill

Previously Released UK 18 October 2012 as "In Concert '72" on Purple TPSA 7518 (Vinyl)

Reissued UK 2014 on Purple TPSAX 7518/Warner Brothers 825646294794

1. Introduction 

2. Highway Star 

3. Strange Kind Of Woman

4. Maybe I'm A Leo 

5. Smoke On The Water

6. Never Before

7. Lazy

8. Space Truckin'

9. Lucille

BONUS TRACK:

10. Maybe I'm A Leo (Soundcheck)

CD3 "Montreux '71" (79:09 minutes):

Previously Unreleased Live Show Recorded at The Casino, Montreux, Switzerland, 16 Apr 71

Recorded by Rene Ernest Finger

1. Swiss Yodel

2. Speed King

3. Strange Kind Of Woman

4. Into The Fire

5. Child In Time

6. Paint It Black

7. Wring That Neck (Hard Road)

8. Black Night

9. Lucille

DISC 4 BLU-RAY AUDIO

2024 ATMOS REMIX 

1. Highway Star [Side 1]

2. Maybe I'm A Leo

3. Pictures Of Home

4. Never Before

5. Smoke On The Water [Side 2]

6. Lazy 

7. Space Truckin'

8. When A Blind Man Cries 

1974 U.S. QUAD MIX

9. Highway Star [Side 1]

10. Maybe I'm A Leo

11. Pictures Of Home

12. Never Before

13. Smoke On The Water [Side 2]

14. Lazy 

15. Space Truckin'

5.1 MIXES 

16. When A Blind Man Cries

17. Maybe I'm A Leo

18. Lazy

DEEP PURPLE was:

IAN GILLAN - Lead Vocals 

RITCHIE BLACKMORE – Guitars

JON LORD – Keyboards

ROGER GLOVER – Bass

IAN PAICE – Drums

History first: The Purp's classic "Machine Head" hit the streets in April 1972 and we've been in love with its non-nonsense Classic Rock ever since - a No. 1 in the UK and a No. 7 in the States. Followed later in the year with the stunning double-live set "Made In Japan" - and with "Fireball" from 1971 and "Deep Purple In Rock" from 1970 already under their hard-rocking belt - the first three years of the Seventies was a slam-dunk for the 'Mark II' line-up of DEEP PURPLE. Fans however have been here before - specifically with the November 1997 '2CD Anniversary Edition' of "Machine Head" featuring Remixes and Remasters done by an impressive line-up of names - Peter Mew, Peter Denenberg, Roger Glover, Joe DiGiorgi and mastering by the legendary Greg Calbi. That twofer is still available on many auction sites for under a tenner (complete with its 28-page booklet). So, what's new here...

Fans are going to go straight for the PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 1971 live set (recorded in Montreux) on CD3 first that includes faves like "Black Night", "Speed King" and "Child In Time" alongside two tasty covers – The Purps doing the Stones on "Paint It Black" and Little Richard on a frenzied "Lucille". The bad news is that the audio is obviously bootleg standard – starting out with a bit of fun as they doddle through "Swiss Yodel". Unfortunately, what should be a DP Mark II moment is destroyed with drop-outs and muddled sound – Blackmore displaying astonishing axework for "Speed King" even if Gillan seems ever so slightly disinterested and verbose with the crowd. A new single comes next "Strange Kind Of Woman" – but again like the rest of the set – the audio is passable at best. It’s criminal to hear corking material like "Into The Fire" and the "Paint it Black" mixed-up cover too far back in the mix. In all honesty, I don't know how many Purple fans are going to consider this reduced audio experience as a BONUS no matter how thrilling their playing was. 

Better - Mike Harding introduces the Purps to a rumbling crescendo-building "Highway Star" on CD2 – not as good as the "Made In Japan" version but getting close. Having originally been a BBC Transcription LP back in 1972 (they have used the CD reissue from 2012 with its extra tracks and not just the original eight) – the audio is lightyears ahead of the Bootleg on CD3 and the material being largely from "Machine Head" – that bit more exciting. You can feel the band and their electricity – hard rocking and unapologetic for it – Blackmore, Lord, Glover and Paice all so tight as they go into the final guitar solo stretch where RB lets rip. Gillan explains the darkness inherent in "Strange Kind Of Woman" – a trail of happiness and misery left by a gal who did not impress our hairy men. The groove in "Maybe I'm A Leo" is fantastic even if Gillan seems to be having difficulty controlled a presumably pissed-up crowd. And on it goes. It absolutely is not "Made In Japan" - but is at least period material worth rehearing and celebrating.

CD1 kind of baffles me – I really do not like the Zappa Remix where the vocals are supposedly given an amp-up but just feel abused and further away from clarity rather than running towards it. But I am absolutely loving the clarity and sheer punch-in-the-face power of the straightforward album Remaster done by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham – two Audio Engineers who have had a long and fruitful relationship with Universal Classic Rock-Sound acts – Budgie, Rory Gallagher, ELP, Wishbone Ash, Free, Spooky Tooth and loads more. It may be hackneyed through over use, but when that riff and that rhythm section combine for "Smoke On The Water" – the Montreux in flames story song - you will feel it. Same goes for that huge Organ sound on "Lazy" – a Jon Lord boogie I still get a kick out of hearing. 

The KORY GROW 'We All Came Down To Montreux' Liner Notes in the LP-Sized booklet are dated 2023 and tell of the band's rise to Rock Superstardom – tours in Osaka and Tokyo after the LP's release that would produce the opus directly off the back of "Machine Head" - "Made In Japan". There is a UK trade advert, pictures of The Stones Mobile unit on which the album was taped, very cool period photos in both black and white and colour of the band/individuals, lyrics to the iconic "Smoke On The Water" - Jon Lord's organ awaiting its master - enthusiastic notes from Dweezil Zappa on the 2024 Remix of "Machine Head", Didi Zill who was the photographer on the scene the day after the fire in Montreux (he witnessed Gillan writing lyrics to "Smoke On The Water"), an appreciation of Ian Gillan's fantastic vocals from Sir Tim Rice who of course used his rasp as the voice of Jesus in the 1970 double-album musical smash "Jesus Christ Superstar". But at 18-pages, again you feel short-changed. 

I would surmise that what you have here is a three-star reissue of a five-star album and I would say get to hear it first before spending such serious dosh. I would also acknowledge as one of those 'old farts' this Reissue would be aimed at that Deep Purple's 1972 album "Machine Head" may be a seriously outdated listen to kids in 2024 - but you can't help feel that it has earned its place in Rock History and deserved something better than this rather obvious ***-cash-grab. 

Shame, because that Remaster is a blast even if the rest seems just a tad too superfluous to requirements...

"Zakarrias" by ZAKARRIAS – October 1971 UK Debut Album on Deram Records featuring Zakarrias (Bobby Haumer), Peter Robinson, Geoff Leigh, Don Gould, and Martin Harrison (February 2010 UK Cherry Red/Cherry Tree Records CD Reissue – Andy Pearce Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zakarrias/dp/B0032BVEM2?crid=VLYRTYP5FF0E&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.35LngmQ61ff8ahUvKOh8tw._xZ2WMZ81Zg9YBnWWEgW0WyWDzejpagTogKmOY_YOfs&dib_tag=se&keywords=5013929690622&qid=1711038406&sprefix=5013929690622%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=c455cda2c0a11ccfe8a6a56d05e3d4c9&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Rating: Content **** Audio **** to *****

"...Cosmic Bride..."

Apart from his very vague recollection of the album sessions in the summer of 1971 in London as "...a reasonably excruciating learning curve..." - Deram Records Producer Roger Watson then goes on to describe Bobby Haumer as "...a very odd Austrian bloke". The Record Mirror reviewer for its 6 Nov 1971 issue (the only review available of the album) was less enthusiastic of Haumer's Zakarrias alter-ego - helpfully suggesting that "...it might be kinder if all copies were withdrawn from public consumption". Nice.

Slithered out into the British marketplace in October 1971 on Deram SML 1091 - not only did Bobby 'Robert' Haumer (aka Zakarrias) not have a band - but he hadn't a work permit visa either. So legend has it that Decca gave the LP zero promotion (while Haumer went back to Europe) and probably put out maybe 100 copies or less into unsuspecting Blighty stores. And Decca/Deram then it seems did indeed heed that reviewers advice and withdrew the album. 

As a result the lone "Zakarrias" LP has steadily begun to accumulate frankly ludicrous bid-amounts online. The liner notes (written in October 2009) to this February 2010 UK Cherry Tree CD Reissue and Remaster told of a copy reaching $1000 - when in March 2024 you have copies for sale at over £2100. Is it worth that - yes and no in equal measure would be my curt response - but if you are interested (and there's a lot to like here) - then CRTREE006 sports fabulously clean CD audio.

Let's talk genres also. As everyone knows England's 'Deram' Records was Decca's home for all things Avant Garde and Progressive in the late 60s and early 70ts. Any album on the label garnishes dosh - but the idea that this LP is Psych is rubbish. I suspect some enterprising trader peddled this largely Rock and Prog Folk orientated LP as 'Psych' - thereby sending fans and buyers into a frenzy. As there is a distinct lack of electric guitars on the long-player - Psych whig-outs are absolutely not the order of the day. The "Zakarrias" album is more Prog Folk - part Jethro Tull - part Van Der Graaf Generator - part Soft Machine - part Audience - even Funky in tunes like "The Unknown Years" and "Let Us Change". 

And when Universal started releasing those 3CD Label Retrospective Clamshell Box Sets - the rather excellent Acoustic-Rock-Folk of Zakarrias track "The Unknown Years" showed up on the January 2003 set "Legend Of A Mind: The Underground Anthology" - while the album's flanged-finisher "Cosmic Bride" showed up in May 2008 on the "Strange Pleasures: Further Sounds Of The Decca Underground" 3CD set. It's a fair bet that most collectors had not heard either track up until then and I suspect those entries alone sent collectors a-hunting and a-bidding. Let's get to the reissue at hand - the first official issue of the album in forty years and thankfully with stonkingly great audio courtesy of obviously very clean master tapes.

UK released February 2010 - "Zakarrias" by ZAKARRIAS on Cherry Red/Cherry Tree Records CRTREE006 (Barcode 5013929690622) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1971 album that plays out as follows (41:21 minutes):

1. Country Out Of Reach [Side 1]
2. Who Gave You Love
3. Never Reachin'
4. The Unknown Years
5. Sunny Side [Side 2]
6. Spring Of Fate
7. Let Us Change
8. Don't Cry
9. Cosmic Bride
Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "Zakarrias" - released October 1971 in the UK on Deram SML 1091, produced by Roger Watson. Tracks 2, 3, 5 and 6 written by Zakarrias - Tracks 1, 4, 7 and 8 written by Zakarrias and his wife Eva - Track 9 written by Zakarrias and Samy Bimbach (Manager of Salt, Bobby Haumer's previous band).

Musicians:
Zakarrias (Bobby Haumer) - All Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Kazoo
Peter Robinson - Keyboards
Geoff Leigh - Saxophone and Flute
Martin Harrison - Drums
Don Gould - String Arrangements on "Spring Of Fate", "Don't Cry" and "Cosmic Bride" and played Piano on "Spring Of Fate". 

Bobby Haumer had been with Vienna based teenage Psych band Expiration who managed one Euro 45-single "It Wasn't Right" b/w "And The World Will Be A Bird" on VRC Records. Haumer then joined forces with Huw Lloyd-Langton and John Lingwood to form the Munich-based Salt with the idea of peddling songs to Decca. Lloyd-Langton eventually jumped ship and would then famously join the newly formed Hawkwind in the UK while Langford did stints with Amon Duul, Steamhammer and eventually Manfred Mann's Earth Band. But the Zakarrias album appears to be just Bobby Haumer under the pseudonym with guest musicians - Peter Robinson would end up in Quatermass over on Harvest Records while Geoff Leigh did stints in Henry Cow (on Virgin) and Quiet Sun.

There may only be 8-pages in the booklet but the DAVID WELLS liner notes (which I have liberally used as a basis for this review) are the kind of researched genius you expect from someone like him – a proper fact-fest that lays out the Bobby (Robert) Haumer/Zakarrias story for the first time in its many lurid colours. There are some promo photos (Salt, a smiling long-haired Baumer as alter-ego Zakarrias) and even photos of the Expiration and Bobby Haumer Band (BHB) 45s out of Europe. But the real deal comes with one of my fave Audio Engineers – ANDY PEARCE – who has done Budgie, Free, Rory Gallagher, Spooky Tooth, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, ELP, Wishbone Ash and loads more. If he gets his hands on a master tape – it will sound alive and kicking and so it is here. Admittedly the flange separation sop favoured in the day on say "Cosmic Bride" can be speaker-to-speaker harsh, but that is more down to the recording trickery of the time. Mostly this sounds so clear and vibrant and a properly great job done.

Both the Side 1 opener "Country Out Of Reach" and Side 2's "Don't Cry" employ a very heavily fuzzed Bass Guitar line as the basis of the songs which gives both an ever so slightly amateur-hour grungy Rock feel – like you have stumbled on Roger Bain (of Sabbath fame) producing Budgie on their 1971 MCA Records debut. They are both good but falsely make you think the album is going to Psych it up bigtime any second now when it does  nothing of the sort. Many of the songs are Acoustic Guitar based – more a Prog Folk feel with some funky keyboard fills – and his voice is good without ever being great – but still more than Peter Hammill-acceptable. The album's other gems include "Spring Of Fate" and the speaker-to-speaker harmonies in "Who Gave You Love" even if lyrically it can all feel a tad too down for its own good. 

"Zakarrias" is the kind of obscurity that deserves rediscovery but temper those Psych hopes and amp up your inner Prog Folk with a sprinkle of flange instead. Well done to Cherry Tree Records (part of England's Cherry Red roster of labels) for getting this big-bucks charmer out there once again and don't ya just love the Seventies where people made albums like this and hoped for the best... 

"Vagabonds Of The Western World: 50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set" Edition by THIN LIZZY – Sept 1973 Album Remastered with Seven Bonuses on CD1, Rarities, Outtakes and Live BBC Radio One Sessions and In Concert Shows from 1972 and 1973 on CD2 and CD3 with ATMOS and 5.1 Surrounds Mixes on the BLU RAY – featuring Phil Lynott, Eric Bell and Brian Downey, Jr. (December 2023 UK Universal/Decca '50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' 10" x 10" Reissue with a 60-Page 10" x 10" Hardback Book - 2023 Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"... Baby's Been Messin' All Over Town..."

Back in October 2010 - Lizzy's third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World" got the Universal '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatment - and I for one raved about its audio, presentation and extras (it was also their final LP with original Lead Guitarist Eric Bell). Time to re-rave frankly.

You have to say that Universal has done the absolute dog's you-know-what by their 1973 third studio album for its 50th Anniversary Reissue Series of releases here in late 2023. I love these things so much that I've only gone and committed to all three big formats - the 50^th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl set with a fantastically complimentary Extras LP and the 50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set (both reviewed elsewhere). The 4LP Box has a 60-page book to drool over with the album on LP1 and LPs 2, 3 and 4 being the 'Radio One In Concert/John Peel/Bob Harris Sessions' from 1972 and 1973 that first appeared on "At The BBC" 6CD Box Set in 2011. Those BBC Sessions are first-issue on vinyl in the 4LP Box. The 'Extras' LP on the 2-LP Purple Vinyl Set does not duplicate anything on the 4LP Box. Both vinyl sets hits the streets of Blighty on Friday, 17 November 2023.

Door number three (released Friday, 1 December 2023) is the 4-Disc Super Deluxe '50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' variant - also a thing of digital lust even if it's only ten-by-ten-inches in size. The ATMOS and 5.1 Mixes on the BLU RAY are first-time-ever for any Lizzy release and CD2 and CD3 contain unreleased material some of which is not on either of the VINYL sets. The 60-page Hardback Book is exactly the same as the one in the 4LP Box Set except that instead of 12 x 12 size you get 10 x 10-inches (so for fans who bought that will have unfortunate duplication - but more of the book and its gorgeousness later). At this point in time there appears to be no 2023 single LP, single CD or 2CD sets - just the above 3 variants in the 50th Anniversary Reissues Series.

Some history - originally released as an album 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca Records SKL 5170 (May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with a slightly edited version of "Little Girl In Bloom") – the LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" had huge tunes like the manic guitar-fest of "The Rocker", the slide guitar meets environmental statement song "Mama Nature Said" and the deeply touching and melodious "Little Girl In Bloom" - it was a huge song-writing step forward after "Thin Lizzy" of 1971 and "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" in 1972. Hip British DJ of the moment (1973) - David Kid Jensen narrated the story in "The Hero And The Madman", Jan Schelhass plays Organ on "Mother Nature Said" and Fiachra Trench arranged Strings for "A Song For While I'm Away". 

1973's "Vagabonds Of The Western World" was also the first album to feature their trademark look via Jim Fitzpatrick artwork (more of which is thrillingly used in the book and on the inner sleeves) and the first album that pointed towards a commercial Rock future – a hard-won success that would take them three more albums to arrive at via the worldwide breakthroughs of "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" - both in 1976 (their sixth and seventh studio albums). The ultimate triumph would come in 1978 with the legendary double "Live And Dangerous" which sold in cartloads – and rightly so. But this is where that road really started and arriving here – 50-years down the line at a 3-Versions 2023 reissue of higher heroes and flaming motorcycles. To the details for the 3CD and BLU RAY variant...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2023 - "Vagabonds Of The Western World" by THIN LIZZY on Universal/Decca 5587532 (Barcode 602455875327) is a Super Deluxe 10" x 10" Limited Edition 50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set with a 60-Page Hardback Book. New Sleeve Notes are by MARK BLAKE (Rare Memorabilia etc) and Unpublished Artwork is by JIM FITZPATRICK – an artist intrinsically linked with the band. It plays out as follows:

CD1 "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (68:21 minutes):

1. Mama Nature Said [Side 1]

2. The Hero And The Madman 

3. Slow Blues

4. The Rocker

5. Vagabond Of Western World [Side 2]

6. Little Girl In Bloom

7. Gonna Creep Up On You

8. A Song For While I'm Away

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World” - released 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca SKL-5170 and May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with the track "Little Girl In Bloom" being slightly edited. 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

10. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

11. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

13. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

14. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

15. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

CD1 NOTES:

Tracks 9 and 10 are the A & B-sides of their second UK 7" single released 3 November 1972 on Decca F 13355. "Whisky In The Jar" (spelt with an 'e' only on American issues) was the real starting point for Thin Lizzy's global success. "Whisky" is a traditional Irish air dating as far back as 1729 and was originally only meant to be a jokey B-side dashed off in the studio to accompany "Black Boys On The Corner" on the A - a Lynott original far more representative of their rocking sound. But British DJ's flipped the single and "Whisky" became the hit. It finally charted January 1973 and eventually rose to number 6. The version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:45 minutes. However a 7" 'edit' of the track was quickly pressed up for BBC Radio play and the US 7" single on London - this 'edit' version at 3:44 minutes is only on the October 2010 UK 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 11 and 12 are their 2nd UK 7" single released May 1973, both tracks on Decca F 13402 were non-album at the time. The version of "Randolph's Tango" that is used here is known as the 'Full Version' at 3:49 minutes - the promo-only 7" edit at 2:25 minutes is Track 17 on the 2CD DE version of "Vagabonds..." from October 2010

Tracks 13 and 14 are their 3rd UK 7" single and the first to feature a track off the album. "The Rocker" (A-side) was issued as a 7" single in the UK in November 1973 on Decca F 13467 and is an edited version (2:41 as opposed to the album's 5:12 minutes). It was backed with another non-album Phil Lynott track, the jaunty "Here I Go Again"

Track 15 is Non-LP also. Often called "Cruising In The Lizzymobile" - its correct title "A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile" is used here. It is also a genuine Thin Lizzy vinyl rarity as it was only ever issued on the B-side of the 7" GERMAN release of "The Rocker". Its CD debut first came on the "Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels" 4CD Box Set in 2001. Its rare picture sleeve is reproduced on the right flap of the inner three-way foldout CD gatefold card sleeve (along with two other Euro Pic Sleeves) 

CD2 "Radio Sessions" (73:18 minutes):

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded: 14 Nov 1972, Broadcast 28 Nov 1972

1. Whisky In The Jar (5:50 minutes)

2. Suicide (4:00 minutes)

3. Black Boys On The Corner (3:07 minutes)

Produced by TONY WILSON

"RTE Radio Eireann Session" *

4. 1969 Rock (5:40 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:31 minutes)

6. Broken Dreams (5:38 minutes)

7. Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows (3:55 minutes)

NOTES: No recording dates or Producer name provided - but because of the songs its sometime in 1973. "1969 Rock" is an early more rocking version of "The Hero And The Madman" that eventually turned on the "Vagabonds…" album and here includes a spoken introduction from guitarist Eric Bell. "Suicide" and "Broken Dreams" features a spoken intro by Eric and Phil. "Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows" sees the band joined by guitarist Eddie Campbell of The Real McCoy

* Tracks 4 to 7 NOT ON EITHER OF THE VINYL SETS 

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded 31 July 1973, Broadcast 7 Aug 1973

8. Vagabond Of The Western World (4:23 minutes)

9. Little Girl In Bloom (4:45 minutes)

10. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:13 minutes)

Produced by JOHN WALTERS

"John Peel Session" - Recorded 6 August 1973, Broadcast 16 Aug 1973

11. Randolph's Tango (3:45 minutes)

12. The Rocker (5:10 minutes)

13. Slow Blues (5:31 minutes)

Produced by BERNIE WINTERS

"Bob Harris Session" - Recorded 28 Aug 1973, Broadcast 17 Sep 1973

14. Randolph's Tango (3:40 minutes)

15. Little Girl In Bloom (4:41 minutes)

16. The Rocker (5:12 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

CD3 "Live, Rarities, Demos & Outtakes" (77:37 minutes):

"Radio One In Concert 1973" - Recorded 26 July 1973, Paris Theatre, London

1. The Rocker (6:00 minutes)

2. Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm (7:52 minutes)

3. Slow Blues (5:03 minutes)

4. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:47 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:50 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN 

6. The Rocker (Take 1 Instrumental) - 5:17 minutes

7. Little Girl In Bloom (Take 3) - 5:52 minutes)

8. Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2 Instrumental) - 4:37 minutes

9. Slow Blues (Take 2 Instrumental) - 5:39 minutes

10. Here I Go Again (Extended) - 6:42 minutes

11. Suicide (gtr Needles and Pins Jam) - 1:30 minutes

12. Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix Extended Version) - 5:58 minutes

13. Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix) - 3:44 minutes

14. Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate Version) - 3:30 minutes

15. Baby's Been Messin' (Acetate Version) - 4:01 minutes

NOTES for CD3: 

The 'BBC Radio 1 In Concert' set that appeared on the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" is a different gig. Recorded 31 July 1973 at Golders Green Hippodrome in London - it had the same five songs (and in the same order) - but the 31 July 1973 show instead introduced the two lead guitarists of the new four-piece Thin Lizzy line-up – Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson.

Tracks 6 to 15 NOT ON THE VINYL VERSIONS

BLU-RAY: 

"Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 1 to 8 are the 1973 Album (as listed above) in an ATMOS MIX, a 5.1 MIX and a STEREO MIX

BONUS ATMOS MIXES:

9. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

10. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

11. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

13. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

14. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

15. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

For CD1, CD2 and CD3 THIN LIZZY was:

PHILIP LYNOTT – Bass and Vocals

ERIC BELL – Guitars

BRIAN DOWNEY, JR. - Drums

OLDER REISSUES:

First things first – those who own the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" will need to keep it as there are extras and unreleased not on the 2 Vinyl Sets or here on the 3CD/BLU RAY variant. 

PRESENTATION:

The 60-Page Hardback Book sits atop an inset drawer inside the 10 x 10 Box with both CD card sleeves underneath in a well. The first houses the three CDs in a threat foldout card sleeve while the gatefold second has the BLU RAY. Photos of rare Euro and Japanese singles make up the photos that dominate all five of the inner flaps - "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark alongside "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark and more. They are lovely to look at, but of course suffer from tightness when trying to get the discs out of each slot without tearing the artwork. But these are minor hassles because once fans clap eyeballs on the 60-page hardback - most Lizzyphiles will be literally weak at the knees. 

Throughout its comprehensive text by MARK BLAKE and memorabilia displays are full-page outtake artwork of the LP cover by JIM FITZPATRICK. Blake begins his seriously in-depth study of Thin Lizzy history from Crumlin schoolyards in 1968 to stints with Gary Moore in Skid Row and a contract with Decca for the 'quite green' Irish Rock Trio to record the self-titled debut in January 1971. It weaves its merry way to Page 31 plastered as it goes with badges, posters, singles, press adverts, Decca letters and all of it given room to shine on big fat glossy black pages. You get promo pictures of the band from Decca (dig the Guinness stage logo behind the band on Page 58) – messages from the band in October 1973 apologising to Irish fans for delays with physical copies of the album arriving in Irish shops due to production hiccups in England - a full page advert for the LP with quotes from British DJs/Fans John Peel and Kid Jensen along with cartoon adverts for "Whisky In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango" and oodles more space-hopping and motorcycle roaring.

The roll call of reissue credits on Page 57 reads like a who's who for Lizzy – Band Managers Ted Carroll of Ace Records and Chris O'Donnell of Morrison O'Donnell Limited (both he and Chris Morrison were closely associated with the band) with contributions from the Belfast Guitarist ERIC BELL and mainman for Lizzy – the Drummer and schoolboy pal of Phil Lynott – BRIAN DOWNEY. Websites are named and the Jim Fitzpatrick artwork outtakes strewn with fantastic punch throughout will make even diehard old farts like me (and many others too) weepy – rekindling our love for this fabulous Rock band. In fact – if this is the 50^th Anniversary effort for 1973 – then we could hope for "Night Life" in 2024, "Fighting" in 2025 and the big boys - "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" in 2026 - mouth-watering stuff to look forward to.

AUDIO:

It's all beautifully done and if that isn't enough, the whole shebang is mastered from original tapes by two fave Audio Engineers - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. This dynamic duo have handled huge swathes of Universal's Rock and Pop catalogue - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Spooky Tooth and the DE editions of Thin Lizzy too. If I was to single out one obvious winner - you can so hear the punching Bass on "Slow Blues" - those guitar flicks and especially Downey’s high-hats and drum rolls - so damn clear and yet ballsy. By the time I get to the truly fantastic guitar riffage of "The Rocker" and I’m a goner. Ludicrously great playing, saucy lyrics via the spirit of Bon Scott - the whole thing just screams out of your speakers with the joy of the ladies hitting the town. Even songs I used to slightly dismiss like "A Song For While I'm Away" suddenly feels alive and beautiful - the acoustic strums and those strings are so good. After the 8-track album - CD1 adds on seven Bonuses that arguably make up an even better LP No.2. Drums, guitars, Phil’s treated vocals - "Whiskey In The Jar" sounding fantastically alive (ring dum a doo dah indeed). That symbol intro/riffage intro to one of their very best Non-LP B-sides "Black Boys On The Corner" is huge as is Eric Bell and that electrifying playing. 

MATERIAL:

You’re struck time and time again as to how tight they were and what a stunning axeman Bell was. With Lynott out-front looking and sounding every inch like the Rock Star he always was - this massive haul puts up a good argument in the hearing as to why they were loved - even then. All three were in blistering form and hammering out new/better material that would leave many a band of the time gasping in awe. The original recording work of great BBC names like Jeff Griffin, Tony Wilson, Bernie Andrews and John Walters ensured that storming singles "Black Boys On The Corner" and "The Rocker" allow stunning warbling guitar solos from Eric Bell while Phil and his Bass sound precise on "Little Girl In Bloom" and confidant on the massively extended EP track "Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm" stretched out in a live environment to nearly eight minutes. For sure, there is repetition, but bluntly – if the Trio of Thin Lizzy is playing any of this stuff fresh and new – I want it all - again and again. 

One truly astounding discovery has the be the RTE Radio Eireann Session that features the Trio sometime in 1973 in emerging brilliance - Eric Bell and Phil introducing embryonic versions of songs we love. The Remaster is great - Eric Bell and his echoed guitar turning "Broken Dreams" into a sort of 1969 Fleetwood Mac and Peter Green "Then Play On" period feel - fantastic stuff. The 'Gtr Needles and Pins Jam' has the riff from "Suicide" possibly altered via the Searchers 60ts hit "Needles and Pins" while the Acetate Recording at the end of CD3 (very well restored frankly) turns out to be an earlier version of "Suicide" entitled "Baby's Been Messin'" with less than enlightened lyrics that Phil probably knew had to be ditched (and were). The song turned up years later with the riffage and hooks worked out which only goes to show how smart he was working out the kinks on Demos and Live Sessions. But one of the unreleased that will surely turn heads and maybe even make fans laugh out loud is the extended mix of "Here I Go Again" stretched to nearly seven minutes. Lynott starts saying the f-word and rhyming 'pissed' with 'kissed' in verses that were left out for obvious reasons. And Eric Bell shows in an early Instrumental of "The Rocker" that he had most of its wild soloing already in the can - brilliant. And on it goes (I do not have an ATMOS playback facility so I cannot review that - but from what I have heard from other punters - they are revelatory). 

SUM UP:

A gorgeous reissue then – cool artwork, toppermost Audio remasters from men who care and that book finally affording our heroes the respect and affection they have always warranted and engendered. I know it could have had more (couple of those American single edits on CD1) and after getting the 4LP box in Nov 2023 with full LP-sized packaging, the ten-inch sized CD/BR variant feels like a wee bit of an anti-climax - but for me at least its still something I love and will love owning.  

The single "Whisky In The Jar" from 1972 (that charted 1973) and the third LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" from 1973 started the Lizzy success story for real – and this 50^th Anniversary Series (2LPs, 4LP Box Set and this 3CD/BLU RAY Box) is surely one the best for 2023. I'm going to be canning these brutes for months on end.

A beautiful thing – buy it, treasure it and miss our hero/heroes one more time…scratch plates shining into the audience…whooping and hollering…bippin' and boppin' and tellin' a dirty joke or two...