"The Story Of The Clash Volume 1" by THE CLASH – Includes Album Tracks and Singles from 1977 to 1982 on CBS and Epic Records (October 1999 UK Columbia Records 2CD Compilation - Originally Issued late February 1988 – 1999 Reissued Here In The Same Packaging and With The Same Tracks, But Newly Remastered by Bob Whitney, Ray Staff & Bob Price) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review and 317 Others Like It 

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GOODY TWO SHOES

2CD Deluxe Editions (Occasional Threesome), Expanded Reissues and Compilations 

All Info From The Discs Themselves 

No Cut and Paste Crap

Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer 6 Times

 

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"...Bullet Holes In The Cemetery Walls..."

 

When "The Story Of The Clash Volume 1" was originally released 29 February 1988 – even though it was a Best Of Compilation in all but name – it still felt like something of an acknowledgement of their greatness – an event even. I loved it. I had all their stuff, but I bought the bugger anyway.

 

Cut to the October 1999 Remastered 2CD Reissue in the same artwork and with the same tracks (just better audio) and you look at the total playing times on both CDs (49:40 minutes and 50:41 minutes) – and could argue that a bolstering-skywards was in order. They could easily have rejiggered both discs and popped on "Remote Control", "Hitsville UK", "Know Your Rights", "The Call Up" or even deep LP cuts like "Overpowered By Funk" or "Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad" or "Something About England" (plus many more). And the stingy you-will-own-nothing-and-be-glad swinehunts didn't.

 

But I would argue, that there is a listening precision here that I like. I hate to use the phrase 'less is more' on anything by The Clash – but mwah, mwah – I like it like that my son. I'm afraid I am working for the Clampdown. To the Spanish Bombs in Andalucía...

 

UK re-released October 1999 in Restored Remastered form (original was 29 February 1988, reissue uses same artwork) - "The Story Of The Clash Volume 1" by THE CLASH on Columbia 495351 2 (Barcode 5099749535121) is a 2CD 28-Track compilation that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (49:40 minutes):

1. The Magnificent Seven

2. Rock The Casbah

3. This Is Radio Clash

4. Should I Stay Or Should I Go

5. Straight To Hell

6. Armagideon Time

7. Clampdown

8. Train In Vain

9. Guns Of Brixton

10. I Fought The Law

11. Somebody Got Murdered

12. Lost In The Supermarket

13. Bank Robber

NOTES on CD1:

Track 1 from the album "Sandinista!", a 3LP set released December 1980 in the UK on CBS Records FSLN 1 and Epic E3X 37037 in the USA

Tracks 2, 4 and 5 from the album "Combat Rock" - released May 1982 in the UK on CBS Records FMLN 2 and Epic FE 37689 in the USA

Track 3 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 20 November1981 on CBS Records CBS A1797, A-side

Track 6 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 7 December 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 8087, B-side to "London Calling" (see Track 12 on CD2 for A-side)

Tracks 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are from the album "London Calling", a 2LP set released December 1979 in the UK on CBS Records CLASH 3. The track "Train In Vain" on the end of Side 2 was not listed on the sleeve of original copies even though it was on the album (the run-out groove gave you the name of the track). Released January 1980 in the USA on Epic E2 36328 (initial copies were the same regarding "Train In Vain")

Track 10 was on the "The Cost Of Living E.P.", a 4-Track Extended Play 45-single released 11 May 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 7324, Track 1, Side 1

 

CD2 (50:41 minutes):

1. (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais

2. London's Burning

3. Janie Jones

4. Tommy Gun

5. Complete Control

6. Capitol Radio

7. White Riot

8. Career Opportunities

9. Clash City Rockers

10. Safe European Home

11. Stay Free

12. London Calling

13. Spanish Bombs

14. English Civil War

15. Police & Thieves

NOTES on CD2:

Track 1 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 16 June 1978 on CBS Records S CBS 5293, A-side

Tracks 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 15 are on their debut album "The Clash" released April 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 82000 and July 1979 on Epic Records JE 36060 in the USA (with different tracks and artwork). A live version of Track 2 was also a UK 45-single released 13 May 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 6383, B-side of "Remote Control". Track 7 was also their debut UK 45-single released 18 March 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 5058, A-side. Track 9 was also a UK 45-single released 17 February 1978 on CBS Records S CBS 5834, A-side. Track 15 is a Junior Murvin cover version originally released April 1980 as a UK 45-single on Island Records WIP 6539, A-side

Tracks 4, 10, 11 and 14 are on their second album "Give 'Em Enough Rope" - released October 1978 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 82431 and February 1979 in the USA on Epic JE 35543

Track 5 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 23 September 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 5664, A-side (see Track 2 on CD2 for the B-side)

Track 6 was on the "The Cost Of Living E.P.", a 4-Track Extended Play 45-single released 11 May 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 7324, Track 2, Side 2

Tracks 12 and 13 are from the album "London Calling", a 2LP set released December 1979 in the UK on CBS Records CLASH 3. The track "Train In Vain" on the end of Side 2 was not listed on the sleeve of original copies even though it was on the album (the run-out groove gave you the name of the track). Released January 1980 in the USA on Epic E2 36328 (initial copies were the same regarding "Train In Vain"). Track 12 was also a UK 45-single released 7 December 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 8087, A-side (see Track 6 on CD1 for B-side "Armagideon Time")

 

THE CLASH was:

JOE STRUMMER – Guitar, Lead Vocals

MICK JONES – Guitar, Lead Vocals

PAUL SIMONON – Bass

TOPPER HEADON - Drums

 

Valet, Roadie and all-round save-them-from-themselves-and-the-British-press good guy ALBERT TRANSOME supplies the witty and brutally honest liner-notes/memories of life at the beginning with the band. There are car-shops in Camden Town whilst rehearsing three-minute wonders every day (the paint dribbles stayed on their clothes as a fashion choice) to fights with German TV Crews in Hamburg beside radiators and Hotel Carpet Replacement bills of £1,400 that chased them around for years, 350 smashed seats at the Rainbow in Finsbury Park in May 1977. There are also unsung heroes – like Alex Michon – a quiet girl who handmade all the Stage Togs. The text is peppered with suitably rebel-yell photos of our four reprobates in various I’m going-to-kill-the-chip-shop-owner for his underwhelming Saveloy supply poses. It's all very Rock 'n' Roll as you can imagine, but I can't help think that an upgraded booklet would have been better.

 

But that's a by-the-by because the real meat and veg comes in new RAY STAFF, BOB WHITNEY and RAY PRICE Remasters done at Whitfield Street Studios that rawk with a panache these recordings needed. For sure the earlier more-crudely recorded years have always felt like sonic compromises in some way and the later material subject to better Production Values, but here they have tackled both with strength and space.

 

It's genius really to start this CD1 listen with "The Magnificent Seven" - it's not Punk Rock, as straightjacket descriptions would have us define it - and yet it is. Coming off the splurge that was "Sandinista!" in 1980 – the count-in, the Bass Notes, the angry 'you lot – wot!' chant in the chorus – the workingman drinking his wages – vacuum cleaner sucking up Budgie – brilliant! And the Remaster is punching it out with real power when you give it some welly. Degenerate but faithful with that crazy Casbah Sound – the opener is cleverly followed with the hugely popular "Rock The Casbah" where you can bet that Sharif don't think its Kosher (he don't like it either). The echoed Reggae tinge continues with "This Is Radio Clash" – deadly exhibitions of murder in Vietnam by Napalm – the snarl of Joe Strummer lifting the tune out of parody.

 

Is it possible to resist "Should I Stay Or I Should I Go" – I doubt it! Armed with a fantastic Rock-Punk riff and lyrics that make you laugh and uncomfortable at the same time (don't know which clothes even fit me). If I am honest, I've always been on the shelf about "Straight To Hell" – though I will say that all that drum patting crossing your speakers with treated guitars is clearer in the Remaster. One million times better and in my Top Five Greatest B-sides evah out of hundreds of thousands with an irration in the nation  - "Armagideon Time" comes storming across your speakers. Lot of people getting no supper tonight – its equally brilliant A-side "London Calling" is on CD2 (I cannot imagine how many movies about the Capitol this song has featured in).

 

At last we get genuine Punk brilliance - "Clampdown" riffing into your living room as the boss men at the factory tell you how lucky you are to have a job. It makes you want to race back one more time to the wonder that is the 2LP-set "London Calling". Clever sequencing now Funks it up with that double’s hidden song "Train In Vain" that ended Side 4 without announcing itself. What a fantastic song – The Clash in brilliant form. Smart sequencing too with the Big Bass almost Dub Rock of "Guns Of Brixton" – politics seeping through their every breath – those wavy guitar fills clearer too.

 

CD1 ends with a run of four that is surely a claim to their greatness in itself. First up is the incendiary cover of The Bobby Fuller Hit from the Sixties - "I Fought The Law" suiting their gang-of-four ethos (you and me against the world). The following two are what made me love the "London Calling" album – angry, smart, topical, mainlining the zeitgeist – barber getting coshed – but elsewhere - "Somebody Got Murdered" – someone dead forever. Perfectly winding the CD down comes two different Clash Sounds - "Lost In The Supermarket" (Joe looking for a guaranteed personality) while I can now no longer hear "Bank Robber" without thinking about Johnny Quid (played by a brilliantly deranged Toby Kebbell) in the underrated Guy Ritchie movie "RockNRolla". Daddy was a Bank Robber, but he hurt nobody, he just loved to take your money. Love it!

 

CD2 is the genuinely PUNK disc. It opens with "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" giving it some angry British Working Class via a Jamaican Sound System - those piano and harmonica and jagged rhythms combo already showing their song-construction chops. Another smart choice comes with the bored-youth of "London's Burning" – yellow lights in the dim night offering a way forward. Love those layered vocals on "Janie Jones" and the Joe Jackson hard Bass line. Riffage and feedback come a stomping into your den with "Tommy Gun" – nutters shooting up the place just for fun. "Complete Control" is so British Punk it hurts, while the discussion about seeing The Pistols for the first time foretells what was to come for The Clash - "Capitol Radio" explaining their beginnings and history in a rough-as-it-comes interview style. It sets up the simple rip-em-up of "White Riot" – the sort of Punk Missile many felt they should have stuck with (but the band was smarter than that).

 

The rage against the establishment machine continues with "Career Opportunities" and "Clash City Rockers" – crude but so powerful the pair of them. The production values go through the roof for "Safe European Home" – the power of the band suddenly captured for real. But then I go into rapture when I play "Stay Free" – that fantastic riff woven into lyrics about school and smoking menthols and ignoring teachers and making plans down at The Crown & Anchor – burn it fucking down (to the annoyance of everyone).  The final four revert to well-known hits – the underworld and phoney Beatlemania biting the dust in the epoch-making "London Calling" – bullet holes in the cemetery walls with "Spanish Bombs" – everyone including Johnny comes marching home in "English Civil War". It all comes to an end with a Junior Murvin cover version – the oh-yeah guns and ammunition of "Police & Thieves" – Joe Strummer worrying about the next generation.

 

THE CLASH were a great band – not a good one – and every fan knows why this compilation avoids even a single song from the sorry swan-song that was the "Cut The Crap" album in 1985 after they broke up. But what you do get here is a gluttony-fest – and it sounds banging...

"Nothing Has Changed" by DAVID BOWIE – July 1969 to November 2014 'Very Best Of' Career Retrospective With An Emphasis On Single Mixes (November 2014 UK Parlophone 39-Track 2CD Compilation of Remasters with One Previously Unreleased 1972 Demo and One New 2014 Song) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 317 Others Like It 

Are Available in My Amazon e-Book

GOODY TWO SHOES

2CD Deluxe Editions (Occasional Threesome), Expanded Reissues and Compilations 

All Info From The Discs Themselves 

No Cut and Paste Crap

Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer 6 Times

 

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"...Moonage Daydream..."

 

Here in late 2023, there are probably too many David Bowie compilations on the market (and we are talking four decades now). But one or two stand above the melee. There is an Expanded 3CD variant of "Nothing Has Changed" – but I dig this twofer because it does the business where I want it.

 

As you check out the track lists on CD1 and CD2 below, you will notice that a lot are either 'Single' Edits or Versions and therefore avoid the excess of some longer Album cuts. Throw in an unreleased version of 'All The Young Dudes', those tasty duets with Queen, Mick Jagger, The Pat Metheny Group and Pet Shop Boys - alongside one new epic orchestrated tune worthy of the great man – and it all feels so damn good the whole way through. To the Moonage Daydreams...

 

UK released 14 November 2014 (17 November 2014 in the USA) - "Nothing Has Changed" by DAVID BOWIE on Parlophone 825646205745 (Barcode 825646205745) is a Very Best Of 2CD 39-Track Compilation of Newly Remastered Material Released between July 1969 and November 2014 (with One Previously Unreleased and One New Song) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (78:56 minutes):

1. Space Oddity (5:14 minutes)

(11 July 1969, UK 45-single, Philips BF 1801, A-side – also on the "David Bowie" album – released 14 November 1969 in the UK on Phillips SBL 7902 and in the USA as "Man Of Words/Man Of Music" on Mercury SR-61246 with different artwork)

 

2. The Man Who Sold The World (3:57 minutes)

(From the "The Man Who Sold The World" album – released 4 November 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR 61325 and 10 April 1971 in the UK on Mercury 6338 041)

 

3. Changes (3:35 minutes)

(On the "Hunky Dory" album – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623 – also 14 January 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2160, A-side)

 

4. Oh! You Pretty Things (3:12 minutes)

(On the "Hunky Dory" album – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623)

 

5. Life On Mars? (3:49 minutes)

(On the "Hunky Dory" album – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623 – also 22 June 1973, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2316, A-side)

 

6. Starman (Original Single Mix) (4:12 minutes)

(April 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2199, A-side – also on the "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" album – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702)

 

7. Ziggy Stardust (4:39 minutes)

(On the "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" album – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702 - also 24 November 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2302, B-side of "The Jean Genie")

 

8. Moonage Daydream (4:39 minutes)

(On the "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" album – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702)

 

9. The Jean Genie (Original Single Mix) (4:05 minutes)

(24 November 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2302, A-side – Full Version on the album "Aladdin Sane" – released 13 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1001 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4852)

 

10. All The Young Dudes (3:08 minutes)

(Previously Unreleased Stereo Mix of the song Bowie gave to the British rock Band Mott The Hoople who released their version on UK 45-single and had a hit with it, thereby reviving their careers)

 

11. Drive-In Saturday (4:30 minutes)

(6 April 1973, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2352, A-side – and on the album "Aladdin Sane" – released 13 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1001 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4852)

 

12. Sorrow (2:53 minutes)

(28 September 1973, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2424, A-side (a Merseybeats song) – also on the album "Pinups" - an entire LP of cover versions released 19 October 1973 in the UK on RCA RS 1003 and in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0291)

 

13. Rebel Rebel (4:30 minutes)

(On the album "Diamond Dogs" - released 31 May 1974 in the UK on RCA Victor APL1 0576 and in the USA on RCA Victor CPL1 0576 – an earlier mix was issued 14 February 1973 as a UK 45-single on RCA Victor LPBO 5009, A-side – the album version is used here)

 

14. Young Americans (Original Single Mix) (3:13 minutes)

(21 February 1975, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2523, A-side – Full Version is on the album "Young Americans" - released 7 March 1975 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1006 and in the US on RCA Victor AQL1-0998)

 

15. Fame (4:16 minutes)

(On the album "Young Americans" - released 7 March 1975 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1006 and in the US on RCA Victor AQL1-0998 – also issued as an edited 3:30 minutes UK 45-single, 18 July 1975 on RCA Victor RCA 2579, A-side)

 

16. Golden Years (Single Version) (3:27 minutes)

(21 November 1975, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2640, A-side – Full Version on the album "Station To Station" - released 23 January 1976 in the UK and USA on RCA Victor APL1 1327 and in the USA)

 

17. Sound And Vision (3:03 minutes)

(On the album "Low" - released January 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12030 and in the USA on RCA CPL1-2030 – also released 11 February 1977 as a UK 45-single, RCA Victor PB 0905, A-side)

 

18. Heroes (Single Version) (3:33 minutes)

(23 September 1977, UK 45-single, RCA Victor PB 1121, A-side – Full Version on the album "Heroes" - released October 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12522 and in the USA on RCA AFL1-2522)

 

19. Boys Keep Swinging (3:17 minutes)

(27 April 1979, UK 45-single, RCA Victor BOW 2, A-side – also on the album "Lodger" - released May 1979 in the UK on RCA PL 13254 and in the USA on RCA APL1-3254)

 

20. Fashion (Single Version) (3:26 minutes)

(31 October 1980, UK 45-single, RCA Victor BOW 7, A-side – Full Version on the album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" - released September 1980 in the UK on RCA BOWLP 2 (PL 13647) and in the USA on RCA AQL1-3647)

 

21. Ashes To Ashes (Single Version) (3:35 minutes)

(8 August 1980, UK 45-single, RCA Victor BOW 6, A-side – Full Version on the album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" - released September 1980 in the UK on RCA BOWLP 2 (PL 13647) and in the USA on RCA AQL1-3647)

 

CD2 (75:19 mnutes):

1. Under Pressure – Queen and David Bowie (2011 Remaster) (4:08 minutes)

(30 October 1981, UK 45-single, EMI Records EMI 5260, A-side)

 

2. Let's Dance (Single Version) (4:08 minutes)

(14 March 1983, UK 45-Single, EMI America EA 135, A-side – Full Version on the album "Let's Dance" – released 14 April 1983 in the UK on EMI America Records AML 3029 and in the USA on EMI America SO-17093)

 

3. China Girl (Single Version) (4:15 minutes)

(11 June 1983, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 157, A-side - Full Version on the album "Let's Dance" – released 14 April 1983 in the UK on EMI America Records AML 3029 and in the USA on EMI America SO-17093)

 

4. Modern Love (Single Version) (3:56 minutes)

(12 September 1983, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 158, A-side - Full Version on the album "Let's Dance" – released 14 April 1983 in the UK on EMI America Records AML 3029 and in the USA on EMI America SO-17093)

 

5. Blue Jean (3:11 minutes)

(14 September 1984, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 181, A-side – also on the album "Tonight" – released 24 September 1984 in the UK on EMI America Records DB 1 and in the USA on EMI America SJ-17138)

 

6. This Is Not America – With The Pat Metheny Group (3:51 minutes)

(January 1985, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 190, A-side – also on the Soundtrack Album "The Falcon And The Snowman" released April 1985 in the UK on EMI America FAL 1)

 

7. Dancing In The Street (Clearmountain Mix) – David Bowie and Mick Jagger (3:07 minutes)

(27 August 1985, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 204, A-side)

 

8. Absolute Beginners (Edit) (4:46 minutes)

(3 March 1986, UK 45-single, Virgin VS 838, A-side – also Full Version on the Motion Picture Soundtrack Album "Absolute Beginners – The Musical" released 7 April 1986 in the UK on Virgin V 2386)

 

9. Jump They Say (Radio Edit aka 7" Version) (3:54 minutes)

(15 March 1993, UK Promo-Only 45-Single, Arista 74321 13942 7 JB, A-side – also March 1993, UK CD-Single on Arista 74321 139422– the Full Version (4:22 minutes) is on the "Black Tie White Noise" album from April 1993)

 

10. Hello Spaceboy (PSB Remix) – with The Pet Shop Boys (4:25 minutes)

(February 1996 UK CD-Single on RCA 74321353842 – Full Version (5:14 minutes) on the CD album "1. Outside (The Nathan Adler Diaries: A Hyper Circle" released 25 September 1995 on Arista 74321303392)

 

11. Little Wonder (Edit) (3:42 minutes)

(January 1997 UK CD-single 1 on RCA 74321452072 – Full Version (6:02 minutes) on the CD album "Earthling" released 3 February 1997 on RCA 7432144944 2)

 

12. I'm Afraid Of Americans (VI) (Radio Edit) (4:25 minutes)

(October 1997 US CD-single on Virgin USA 7243 8 38618 2 8 – Full Version (5:00 minutes) on the CD album "Earthling" released 3 February 1997 on RCA 7432144944 2)

 

13. Thursday's Child (Radio Edit) (4:26 minutes)

(20 September 1999 UK CD-single 2 on Virgin VSCDF 1753 – Full Version (5:24 minutes) on the CD album "Hours..." released 4 October 1999 on Virgin CDVX 2900)

 

14. Everyone Says 'Hi' (Edit) (3:29 minutes)

(September 2002 UK CD-single on Columbia 673134 3 – Full Version (3:58 minutes) on the CD album "Heathen" released 10 June 2002 on Columbia/ISO Records 508222 2)

 

15. New Killer Star (Radio Edit) (3:43 minutes)

(September 2003 UK CD Single, from the CD album "Reality")

 

16. Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA Edit) (4:07 minutes)

(October 2013 CD Single – also on the CD album "The Next Day")

 

17. Where Are We Now? (4:09 minutes)

(January 2013 CD Single - also on the CD album "The Next Day" 

 

18. Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) (7:23 minutes)

(New song released as a November 2014 CD Single, exclusive to the compilation "Nothing Has Changed")

 

Although it doesn't say so on the actual CDs or inlays – the sticker advises this is 'The Very Best Of' David Bowie - and as it contains material to 2014 – that was true at the time. The 16-page booklet has basic track entries and release dates but unfortunately none of them go into personnel or guests – Rick Wakeman of Yes playing Mellotron on "Space Oddity" – Mick Ronson giving it some wild English axe on "The Jean Genie" while co-writer Carlos Alomar does his guitar magic on "Fame" too – and so on. Most of the 2014 Remasters are by RAY STAFF who has been synonymous with Bowie's catalogue (some are 2009) and Mastering is by another venerable engineer VIC ANESINI – a huge name over at BMG with Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Aerosmith, Mountain, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King and loads more under his Audio belt. So it sounds the part through and through. To the chunes...

 

Even after all these years – the dip and dive thrills. I get so used to his White Boy Soul period being on album tracks from "Young Americans" and "Station To Station" that the brevity and punch-power of Single Versions for "Golden Years" and "Fame" come as a welcome diversion. "Ziggy Stardust", "Sound And Vision", "Heroes" and "Ashes To Ashes" all still amaze – but spare a dime for his brilliant cover of The Merseybeats tune "Sorrow" or the tart-with-a-heart "Boys Keep Swinging".

 

You might even think that "Under Pressure" (his duet with Queen) followed by a lethal one-two of "Let's Dance" and "China Girl" are too over-played by Hits Radio – but the single edits of the last two keep it fresh and zippy and all three still contain such extraordinary pizzazz – a young energy that does not seem to dissipate with the years but rather grow with them. For sure the musically lean period of "Tonight" in the Eighties where many lost faith in him ("Blue Jean" is too slight by far) is offset by those one-off nuggets - "This Is Not America" (with ace Fusion Guitarist Pat Metheny) and the Live Aid benefit single "Dancing In The Streets" with good old rubber lips (Mick Jagger) still lift the heart and the feet.

 

His 1993 to 2104 phase had its challenging slots too – so "Jump They Say", "Hello Spaceboy" with The Pet Shop Boys and "Little Wonder" may not roll off the tongue as easily as his hits-packed Seventies titles did – but they are still crackers and worthy of rediscovery frankly. And on it goes to the Martin Schneider Orchestra joining Bowie on the new song "Sue (Or in A Season Of Crime)" which has its lyrics on the second last page of the booklet. At seven-minutes plus, its lush orchestration has a humungous roll call of guest Trumpeters, Saxophonists, Flutists and Flugelhorn players as to make the eyes water. The lady Sue is informed by the singer that our boy got a loan so they can buy a house and the doctors have said that his results are good but she left him a note – she exited with a clown and his thoughts are now of crime and gravestones and what kissing her face felt like.

 

Kiss this bride if you get the chance and wonder will we ever see such variety and wit and genius and sheer funk in the one place again. God, I hope so...

"A New Career In A New Town [1977 - 1982]" by DAVID BOWIE (September 2017 Parlophone 11-CD Box Set - Ray Staff and Tony Visconti Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Subterraneans...Shine Bright..." 

Having reviewed and loved Box Sets 1 and 2 in this ongoing series covering his entire output - like most diehard David Bowie fans I'd pre-ordered Box 3 with more than a degree of finger-licking excitement. And in recognition of my contributions to Dublin, London, Margate and humanity in general – Parlophone had kindly arranged to have it especially released the day after my birthday - Friday, 29 September 2017 (swear to God).

It arrived, I cracked "A New Career..." open, enjoyed "Low" (way better than I remember) and then I get to "Heroes" and the proverbial contaminant hit the fan. At a hundred quid - I couldn't believe what I was hearing - volumes up and volumes down in an obvious mastering glitch not mentioned anywhere in the liner notes. Then like so many others affected by his horrible loss - a certain disgust and anger crept in. Truthfully Box No. 3 sat on my desk unloved and un-reviewed for two weeks - and then unable to bear looking at what I perceived to be a sloppy and exploitive little bugger anymore - I finally sent it back for a refund.

Months passed - Brexit lingered - builders drank strong tea with three sugars - and then Amazon did one of those surprise culls of stock. Suddenly Box No. 3 was dropped in price to sixty-five quid (bloated racks no doubt from all the enraged reviews and returns). So I thought maybe they've rectified the mastering problem in abject shame - and even if they haven't - I'd live with the glitch on his most beloved song "Heroes" and dig the rest anew.

Well here we are in March 2018 – and we’re still left with what was issued. But now on re-examination and totally digging the fabulous new Ray Staff/Tony Visconti audio throughout - my real problem is not "Heroes" at all - but the dog that is "Lodger" which we're laughably given here in two useless dollops masquerading as 'Bonus' material. Even the catalogue padding that has always been "Stage" sounds better (Visconti’s very clever re-sequencing of it as a 2017 Version is a revelation – way better than I expected as I’m sure many fans are discovering). So before I get a hernia and lose even more hair in my delicate medical and mental state - let's get to the 'Vorsprung Durch Technik's - if you know what I'm saying...

UK released Friday, 29 September 2017 - "A New Career In A New Town [1977 - 1982]" by DAVID BOWIE on Parlophone DBX 3 - 0190295843014 (Barcode 0190295843014) is an 11-Disc Box Set (4 Studio Albums, 2 Live Double-Albums, 1 EP, 1 Remixed Album and 1 Compilation) with a Hardback Book that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Low" (39:03 minutes):

1. Speed Of Life [Side 1]

2. Breaking Glass

3. What In The World

4. Sound And Vision

5. Always Crashing In The Same Car

6. Be My Wife

7. A New Career In A New Town

8. Warszawa [Side 2]

9. Art Decade

10. Weeping Wall

11. Subterranean

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 11th studio album "Low" - released January 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12030 and in the USA on RCA CPL1-2030. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 11 in the USA.

Disc 2 "Heroes" (40:44 minutes):

1. Beauty And The Beast

2. Joe The Lion

3. Heroes

4. Sons Of The Silent Age

5. Blackout

6. V2 Schneider [Side 2]

7. Sense Of Doubt

8. Moss Garden

9. Neukoln

10. The Secret Life Of Arabia

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 12th studio album "Heroes" - released October 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12522 and in the USA on RCA AFL1-2522. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 35 in the USA.

Disc 3 "Heroes E.P." (19:25 minutes):

1. Heroes/Helden (German Album Version)

2. Helden (German Single Version)

3. Heroes/Heros (French Album Version)

4. Heros (French Single Version)

First of four exclusive to this CD set

Disc 4 "Stage" (Double-Live Set):

CD1 (34:09 minutes)

1. Hang On To Yourself [Side 1]

2. Ziggy Stardust

3. Five Years

4. Soul Love

5. Star

6. Station To Station [Side 2]

7. Fame

8. TVC 15

CD2 (39:32 minutes)

1. Warszawa [Side 3]

2. Speed Of Life

3. Art Decade

4. Sense Of Doubt

5. Breaking Glass

6. Heroes [Side 4]

7. What In The World

8. Blackout

9. Beauty And The Beast

CD1 and CD2 is the original mix of the live album "Stage" - released September 1978 in the UK on RCA PL 02913 and in the USA on RCA CPL2-2913 as 2LP sets. Produced by TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 5 and No. 44 in the UK and USA

Disc 5 "Stage (2017)"

CD1 (49:16 minutes):

1. Warszawa

2. "Heroes"

3. What In The World

4. Be My Wife

5. The Jean Genie

6. Blackout

7. Sense Of Doubt

8. Speed Of Life

9. Breaking Glass

10. Beauty And The Beast

11. Fame

CD2 (47:51 minutes):

1. Five Years

2. Soul Love

3. Star

4. Hang On To Yourself

5. Ziggy Stardust

6. Suffragette City

7. Art Decade

8. Alabama Song

9. Station To Station

10. Stay

11. TVC 15

Exclusive to this set

Disc 6 "Lodger" (34:58 minutes):

1. Fantastic Voyage [Side 1]

2. African Night (Flight)

3. Move On

4. Yassassin

5. Red Sails

6. D.J. [Side 2]

7. Look Back In Anger

8. Boys Keep Swinging

9. Repetition

10. Red Money

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 13th studio album "Lodger" - released May 1979 in the UK on RCA PL 13254 and in the USA on RCA APL1-3254. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 4 and No. 20 in the UK and USA.

Disc 7 "Lodger (2017 Tony Visconti Mix)" (35:05 minutes):

As per Disc 6 - Disc 7 is exclusive to this set

Disc 8 "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" (45:48 minutes)

1. It's No Game (No. 1) [Side 1]

2. Up The Hill Backwards

3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

4. Ashes To Ashes

5. Fashion

6. Teenage Wildlife [Side 2]

7. Scream Like A Baby

8. Kingdom Come

9. Because You're Young

10. It's No Game (No. 2)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 14th studio album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" - released September 1980 in the UK on RCA BOWLP 2 (PL 13647) and in the USA on RCA AQL1-3647. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 12 in the USA

Disc 9 "Re:Call 3" (67:38 minutes):

1. "Heroes" (Single Version)

2. Beauty And The Beast (Extended Version)

3. Breaking Glass (Australian Single Version)

4. Yassassin (Single Version)

5. D.J. (Single Version)

6. Alabama Song

7. Space Oddity (1979 Version)

8. Ashes To Ashes (Single Version)

9. Fashion (Single Version)

10. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (Single Version)

11. Crystal Japan

12. Under Pressure (Single Version) - QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE

Bertolt Brecht's BAAL:

13. Baal's Hymn

14. Remembering Marie A.

15. Ballad Of The Adventurers

16. The Drowned Girl

17. The Dirty Song

18. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (Soundtrack Album Version)

19. Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (Mono) - DAVID BOWIE and BING CROSBY

Exclusive compilation to this Box Set

Like Box 1 and 2 - the hardback book of 150+ pages for Box 3 is a thing of beauty and something fans will lap up. Again each album is discussed and pictured in release date order with rare posters, unused artwork, single picture sleeves, release info and track-by-track info distributed amidst the text. Bud Scoppa's article on "Low" is here, Matt Damsker's April 1978 review of Bowie's return to the live setting with his concerts at the Spectrum Stadium in Philadelphia in front of 18,000 adoring fans (used for the "Stage" double) - but more important to real Bowie lovers are Tony Visconti's first hand accounts of recording iconic sets like "Heroes" and "Scary Monsters..." as well as his mission to remix "Lodger" which he's made fractionally longer. The oversized Mini LP replica sleeves are sweet – the stickered track-list on the back of "Low" with the Fan-Club invite too – the Euro-Sleeve for the German and French language versions of "Heroes" - inners and inserts for "Stage", "Lodger", "Scary Monsters..." and a pensive Bowie in the Studio on the cover of the new "Re:Call 3..." compilation (itself with an inner sleeve). Very tasty.

But for me what is most thrilling is the RAY STAFF and TONY VISCONTI Remasters - I had the 1999 versions of "Low" and "Heroes" and these new cuties are 'huge' in comparison. The rhythm sections on each CD are in your face and not amped for the sake of it. Yet when I look at the huge number of names and contributors thanked on the last pages - that mastering mistake on "Heroes" seems all the more inexplicable. Still, there is the music...

I can recall feeling that a year after the high of 1976's soulful "Station To Station" - the new jagged-sounding 1977 Bowie (watching walls in Berlin with his pals Brian Eno, producer Tony Visconti, guitarist Carlos Alomar and occasional drop-in vocalist Iggy Pop) - was a disappointment. I've always thought the instrumental "Speed Of Life" a waste of space – but improvement wasn’t far away with "Breaking Glass", "What In The World" and the funky "Sound And Vision" – an obvious single and rightly deserved hit. But my poison here is the fabulous "Always Crashing In The Same Car" - a very human song wrapped around typically innovative Bowie sounds that somehow worked for it and not against. The audio here is superb - huge bass from George Murray.

The second single from the album "Be My Wife" features piano runs from Roy Young that are suddenly audio-new. The album’s other winner is the Box Set's chosen title - "A New Career In A New Town" - Ricky Gardiner joining Alomar on guitar whilst Eno plays all keyboards and synths. Bowie plays everything on "Weeping Wall" and here the Audio is spectacular - almost a goof-off of a tune - like Todd Rundgren on a Prog "Initiation" tip - I love it. But that is merely a prologue to the album's masterpiece "Subterraneans" - and again Murray's bass is in your face for all the right reasons as are Bowie's 'ah' voices swirling around the speakers before he goes into that Soulful Sax solo (I never did find out who 'Peter and Paul' on Piano and A&P are?). "Low" divides people (I know some who can’t abide it) - but this Ray Staff/Tony Visconti Remaster is the very best I've ever heard the album – nice one.

As Bowie goes into his ooh intro to "Beauty And The Beast" – the Remaster is fantastic – can’t say no to this one. But half way through the six-minute album version of "Heroes" – there’s a sudden surge in sound then a dropdown in volume that ruins an otherwise improved track. It’s maddening because those background guitars and noises are more to the fore and in all the right ways. The shame was on the other side indeed. At least "V-2 Schneider" kicks, as do the doomy piano chords that open "Sense Of Doubt". There’s a pronounced serenity to those plucked notes in "Moss Garden" where our David goes all Osaka on our Berliner butts (always loved this dreamy soundscape of a tune). Sand in my eyes for "The Secret Life Of Arabia" – a forgotten chugger (could have been a single) on an album dominated by its epic title tune. Speaking of which – the 4-track 2-languages "Heroes E.P." feels like a bit of a Box Set faff – single and album tracks that could easily have been tagged onto the UK LP proper and the box’s price dropped. In fact as you play the German version – you’re left wondering when the foreign language is going to kick in (2:15 roughly).

Keyboard whizz-kid Roger Powell of Todd Rundgren’s UTOPIA joined up with guitarists Carlos Alomar, Adrian Belew and Violinist Simon House as part of Bowie’s house band for the "Stage" double live. I have to say that I’ve mixed feelings towards this perennial rack-filler (always the first to be sold when a punter is stuck for a few bob). Even though the recordings and band are tight – the hugeness of the venue is obvious in the vibe and I’ve always thought it did for the recordings. The echoed-vocals on "Five Years" try to lift the song while "Star" just feels ever so slightly yesterday for David Bowie. Side 2 starts to feel better with a trio of tracks he actually wanted to play – the huge train synths of "Station To Station" eliciting wolf whistles (amazing guitar work from the boys). But its the in-keeping with the times Funk-Rock of "Fame" and "TVC 15" that suddenly elevate proceedings (loose and hard to swallow). But it’s not until you get to Visconti’s new sequencing of the double that you begin to understand. He includes more and starts with tracks from "Heroes" rather than earlier crowd-pleasers. Following "Station To Station" with "Stay" and putting the winner of "Fame" at the end of Disc 1 is a very smart play. And the inclusion of "Alabam Song" works better too.

I can remember Bowie's light and rep dipping with "Lodger" - an album that mostly annoyed people instead of thrilling. Tony Visconti clearly feels that this much-maligned album deserves reappraisal as his 2017 versions of "Fantastic Voyage" and "D.J." are filled with new oomph. They sound huge all of a sudden (massive rhythm sections) - his mix of "Boys Keep Swinging" being better too. The inner gatefold of the new version foregoes the strange collage of photos that greeted fans on the 1979 original - instead we get a slight outtake of the crooked-nose shot and the white-insert of the original LP becomes black for the new 2017 version. But tracks like "African Night Flight" and the mock Buddy Holly of "Move On" feel like they're still testing my patience. I still can't quite say whether "Yassassin" (Turkish for "Long live" apparently) and the finisher "Red Money" are dead rhythms or genius ahead of its time.

"Scary Monsters..." and the awesome video to "Ashes To Ashes" made him a star all over again - revisiting Major Tom also putting him back at the top of both the singles and LP charts. Between it, "Under Pressure" and the economic single edits on "Re:Call 3" all of which feel punchier for their brevity - it's enough to replenish your faith in his greatness. And Mono or not - but that duet with a crooner (Bing Crosby for Gawd's sake) has to be one of the best and most unlikely hits imaginable. But then we're talking about David Bowie.

Typical of corporate greed - the price has returned to its former rip-off status just to ranker us once more. But at least I'm coming around to owning it - mistakes and all. I just wish that someone would actually do the original Space Kid the solid he so obviously deserves and fix this. And maybe even release the "Re:Call" sets from all 3 as stand-alone compilations.

"Art Decade" he sang on "Low" 41 years ago - busy inventing Art Rock and everything else musically chameleon as he went along. Will we ever see his extraordinary like again. RIP you genius...