"Shook, Shimmy And Shake: The Complete Recordings 1966-1970" by WYNDER K. FROG (February 2018 RPM Records 3CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3

- Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Psych, Avant Garde, Underground

Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Country Rock and more

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"...Dancing Frog..."

Lincolnshire lad Michael Weaver hailed out of Bolton and his weirdly named band WYNDER K. FROG (with one 'g' mind you and never two) had a couple of albums of instrumental keyboard-driven groovers in 1966 and 1968 on Island Records in the UK and one belatedly on United Artists in the USA in 1970.

They also managed some straggler tracks in movies, stand-alone singles beloved of Mods and Club-Going Dancers alike and an ultra-rare unreleased second album (recorded 1968) that makes its way into the public domain for the first time ever via a Dub from a surviving-acetate (tracks 9 to 17 on Disc 3). For fans of his groovy 60ts Hammond-Organ sound (the lad is still with us and provides new liner notes for this release) - "Shook, Shimmy And Shake..." from RPM Records has gathered together the whole caboodle and presented the shimmering lot to us in this rather spiffing little 3CD Box Set.

At times sounding not unlike a glorified Booker T & The MG's covers band from South Ealing giving it some sugar-shaker on a Woolworths LP sporting a scantily-clad nubile to pull in male shoppers on a Saturday afternoon - it’s not all undiluted hippy-hippy-shake genius for sure. But the good stuff is great fun, Island Records 7" singles fans will love those catalogue-hole-filling tracks (great talcum powder shuffling B-sides like "Zooming", "Dancing Frog", "Shook, Shimmy And Shake" and "Baldy") and you have to say that the overall presentation here is top notch (as it is with all RPM stuff). And who doesn't love a cool Hammond Organ groove-tastic neck-jerker. Out of the fire and into the frying pan – time to Boogaloo folks and do the Harpsichord Shuffle...

UK released Friday, 23 February 2018 (2 March 2018 in the USA) - "Shook, Shimmy And Shake: The Complete Recordings 1966-1970" by WYNDER K. FROG on RPM Records RPMBX 540 (Barcode 5013929554009) is a 3CD Box Set containing three period albums (1966, 1968 and 1970) along with other Bonus Material and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Sunshine Super Frog" (46:50 minutes):

1. Sunshine Superman [Side 1]

2. I Feel So Bad

3. Oh Mary

4. Blues For A Frog

5. Somebody Help Me

6. Mercy

7. Hold On, I'm Coming [Side 2]

8. Shook, Shimmy And Shake

9. Incense

10. Walking Into New Orleans

11. (Don't Fight It) Feel It

12. Dancin' Pain (alias Dancing Frog)

Tracks 1 to 12 are the debut album "Sunshine Super Frog" - released December 1966 in the UK on Island Records ILP-944 in Mono only (no US release).

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Turn On Your Lovelight

14. Zooming - Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of a non-album UK 7" single released July 1966 on Island WI-280

15. Green Door (Mono Version) - non-album A-side of a UK 7" single released February 1967 on Island WIP 6006 (Track 12 on the LP is the B-side)

16. I'm A Man - non-album A-side of a UK 7" single released June 1967 on Island WIP 6014 (Track 8 on the LP is the B-side)

17. Henry's Panter - originally released 1966 on a UK 7" Flexidisc on Lyntone LYN 1109 (credited to Wynder K. Frogg (And Henry) and has an Ed Stewart ‘Dog’s Life’ spoken intro)

18. Wade In The Water (BBC Radio Version) - originally broadcast 15 October 1966 on the BBC's "Saturday Club"

Disc 2 "Out Of The Frying Pan" (56:19 minutes):

1. Jumping Jack Flash [Side 1]

2. Gasoline Alley

3. Willie And The Hand Jive

4. Harpsichord Shuffle

5. Baby I Love You

6. This Here

7. Green Door [Side 2]

8. Bad Eye

9. Alexander's Ragtime Band

10. Tequila

11. The House That Jack Built

12. Hymn To Freedom

13. Hi-Heel Sneakers

Tracks 1 to 13 are their second studio album "Out Of The Frying Pan" - released December 1968 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9082 in Stereo and April 1969 in the USA on United Artists UAS 6695.

BONUS TRACKS:

14. Jumping Jack Flash (Mono Version)

15. Baldy - Tracks 14 and 15 are the non-album A&B-sides of an August 1968 UK 7" single released on Island WIP-6044

16. Dancing Frog (Stereo Version)

17. Blues For A Frog (Stereo Version) - Tracks 16 and 17 remixed from Mono into Stereo and released February 1969 on the UK Soundtrack LP to "The Touchables" on Stateside SSL 10271 (Stereo only)

Disc 3 "Into The Fire" (70:37 minutes):

1. Into The Fire [Side 1]

2. Howl In Wolf's Clothing

3. F In Blues

4. Cool Hand Stanley

5. Eddie's Tune

6. Why Am I Treated So Bad

7. Hot Salt Beef

8. Warm And Tender Love  

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third and last album "Into The Fire" - released April 1970 in the USA on United Artists UAS 6740 in Stereo. The album was to be called "Accrington Mushroom" and due for UK release November 1969 on Island ILP 9109 but was withdrawn (no test pressings have ever surfaced).

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Happy Jack

10. We Can Work It Out

11. Funky Broadway

12. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

13. A Memory Of Bruce

14. The House That Jack Built

15. I'll Go Crazy

16. Tequila

17. Baldy

Tracks 9 to 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED - an unreleased second album recorded in 1968 and dubbed here from surviving acetate

To my knowledge and outside of a long deleted CD reissue by Edsel in 1995 for the second LP "Out Of The Frying Pan" – none of these Frog albums have made it officially onto CD before - so well done to compiler and true son of the Modfather JOHN REED for his bang up job at compiling what fans have been after for decades. Each singular card sleeve repro’s the three rare album covers and a tasty attention to detail had CD1 with the Red and White colour scheme of the Island Records label from late 1966, CD2 is the Pink variant of 1968 and the third has the United Artists Orange and Pink colours of 1970.

The 28-page chunky booklet has wonderfully detailed liner notes courtesy of NICK ROSSI that include valuable and first hand accounts by MICK WEAVER in new interviews. These are complimented by the usual plethora of trade adverts, that rare promo-photo of the six-piece band where Island misspell the name with two ‘g’s’ instead of one, repros of the those fab UK Island 7” singles, a Belgium single on Philips and a cool French EP sleeve where Weaver is flogged as a teen-idol singing Donavan’s "Sunshine Superman" alongside three other hits from the first album. The band also featured on two desirable Island Records label sampler LPs – "Green Door" on the 1967 compilation "British Blue-Eyed Soul" (ILPS 9066) and "Gasoline Alley" on the wonderful "You Can All Join In" from 1969 (IWPS 2 was yours for only 14/6d) – so they're both pictured. Traffic fans will love the Jimi Hendrix London Tour Date Poster on Page 23 where on the 18th of February 1969 you can see The Soft Machine and 'Mason, Capaldi, Wood & Frog' supporting the great man at The Royal Albert Hall (2/6d for a ticket!). This ill-fated four-piece moniker for Traffic (featuring Mick Weaver as the Frog and once muted to called Wooden Frog) didn't last of course past this public appearance. There are also photos of "The Touchables" soundtrack on Stateside and a US 45 promo on UA of WKF doing the Stones hit "Jumpin' Jack Flash". It is indeed a gas, gas, gas...

The Audio comes courtesy of SIMON MURPHY over at Another Planet and these notoriously crude recordings are full of beans even if the first album's Mono has all the subtlety of an overworked transistor radio. They're not audiophile but they are punchy and absolutely full of that 60ts shoutin' 'n' roarin' party-hard shing-a-ling. Being an Acetate I’m amazed at how good that unreleased LP sounds and the Stereo of the second LP is wonderful too. For sure his one-dimensional instrumental-after-instrumental set up on the LPs may grate some after a while – but I'm honestly loving how damn good much of this stuff is - music I honestly haven't listened to in decades and now feel I've been missing out on something fab and period-groovy.

Apart from Syd Dale's "Blues For A Frog" (itself a derivative of a James Brown groove), the Mick Weaver/Jimmy Miller penned "Dancing Frog" and the Fallon/Miller track "Incense" - the other nine are R&B covers and contemporary pop hits of the day - Donovan's "Sunshine Superman", a variant of Jackie Edward's "Somebody Help Me" (a hit for The Spencer Davis Group with Stevie Winwood), Owen Gray's fantastic "Shook, Shimmy And Shake", Fats Domino's "Walking To New Orleans", the Sam & Dave hit "Hold On, I'm Coming" penned by Isaac Hayes and David Porter and so on. The six Bonus Tracks on Disc 1 are actually that – the first four being killer Mod sides – Mono and Marvellous as they mumble through Jim Lowe’s "Green Door" (a number 1 hit for Shakin’ Stevens in 1981) – while the BBC’s Ed Stewart tries to sound cool as he sells some kind of dog product on "Henry's Panter".

Album number two does the same - the Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash", Johnny Otis' "Willie And The Hand Jive", Tommy Tucker's "Hi-Heel Sneakers", The Champs "Tequila" and so on. But there are very cool self-penned tunes like Weaver's own "Gasoline Alley" where both he on the organ and Dick Heckstall-Smith of The Graham Bond Organisation on Saxophone play up a storm. It's funny also to hear "Willie And The Hand Jive" sound like The Benny Hill Show Theme song - but that's what happens track after track - groovy organ and a driving rhythm section making you want to strut your ancient stuff across some dancefloor somewhere making an unholy tit of yourself. Weaver's own "Harpsichord Shuffle" is pretty much a Ray Charles keyboard riff turned up a notch while Chris Mercer of The Keef Hartley Band gives it some cool Sax and Kokomo's Neil Hubbard gets Ike Turner funky on his guitar (what a belter). For sure "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a Hammond groove too far but that’s immediately followed by a kick-ass take on "Tequila" that’s liable to make your mother shimmy those voluminous hips as she vacuums Dad’s cigarette ashes off the living room carpet.

But the real surprise here is the American-only album that died a death on its initial release. Weaver stumped up most of the instrumentals for the April 1970 LP "Into The Fire" which has a decidedly Funkier feel than the first two albums - like his band just discovered Sly & The Family Stone and Clarence Carter. Choppy guitars, sexy sax work and a backbeat that just won't quit infest the songs. Favourites include the Bluesy Harmonica of "Howl In Wolf's Clothing" - another fab workout - while "F In Blues" is a rare excursion into actual Blues - a slow late-night lounge-lizard lurch on the organ punctuated by great Sax blowing. I also dig his cover of The Staple Singers stunning "Why Am I Treated So Bad" - a tune that still has power even if there are no words to ram home the message of equality - his new Hammond Organ sounding loud and clear. For sure there is an audible drop in the sonic attack as we’re treated to The Who's "Happy Jack" and The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" from the Acetate of the unreleased album - but it's not as bad as you would imagine. "Funky Broadway" feels more of an inspired choice than the obvious Who and Fabs choices.

For sure the band Wynder K. Frog and its main-man Mick Weaver are a footnote in Pop's history and few in 2018 will probably know their names or even care. But if you've any penchant for 60ts Groovers and that driving Hammond Organ Sound - then the little 3CD Box Set "Shook, Shimmy And Shake" is the fried hot potato that needs to be on your shopping list. Well done to RPM and all involved...

"Fragile: Definitive Edition CD/BLU RAY" by YES (November 2015 Panegyric Reissue - Steve Wilson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 

- Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

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"...Heart Of The Sunrise..."

The fifth release to date to receive the twinkle-fingers jiggery-pokery remix-magic of Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson – 1971's "Fragile" was always going to inject a flying-jalopy flutter into the Prog Rock trousers of YES fans – make their scaly Schindleria Praematurus Space Ark hearts beat a little faster (if you get my fishy drift). And you have to say that the dapper gent has done another sterling job - even if I personally find the remixes just a tad too squeaky clean (1971's "The Yes Album", 1972's "Close To The Edge", 1973's double "Tales From Topographic Oceans" and 1974's "Relayer" are the other four Wilson revamps).

Firs up there are two versions of this November 2015 'Definitive Edition' Reissue for "Fragile" – the CD and DVD-A variant on Panegyric GYRSP50009 (Barcode 633367900722) and its bigger brother – the CD and BLU RAY Version – the one we are about to dance a jig too. There is a mountain of detail to be crossed, so onwards into the Heart of the Sunrise…

UK released Friday, 6 November 2015 - "Fragile: Definitive Edition CD/BLU RAY" by YES on Panegyric/Atlantic GYRBD50009 (Barcode 633367900821) is a 2-Disc Reissue (CD and BLU RAY) with New 5.1 Surround, Stereo and Instrumental Album Remixes and Remasters by Steve Wilson – it plays out as follows:

CD Definitive Edition (64:38 minutes):

2015 STEREO MIXES

1. Roundabout [Side 1]

2. Cans And Brahms

3. We Have Heaven

4. South Side Of The Sky

5. Five Per Cent For Nothing [Side 2]

6. Long Distance Runaround

7. The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)

8. Mood For A Day

9. Heart Of The Sunrise

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fourth studio album "Fragile" - released 26 November 1971 in the UK on Atlantic Records 2401019 and 4 January 1972 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7211. Produced by EDDIE OFFORD - it peaked at No. 7 in the UK and No. 4 in the USA and was the first Yes album to use Roger Dean's artwork (something that became synonymous with the band's image)

ADDITIONAL TRACKS:

10. Roundabout (Rehearsal Take, Early Mix)

11. We Have Heaven (Full Version, Steve Wilson Mix)

12. South Side Of The Sky (Early Version, Steve Wilson Mix)

13. All Fighters Past (Steve Wilson Mix)

14. Mood For Another Day (Previously Unreleased Take)

15. We Have Heaven (Acapella, Steve Wilson Mix)

All tracks mixed and produced from the original multi-track tapes by STEVE WILSON

BLU RAY Definitive Edition:

2015 STEREO MIXES

Tracks 1 to 9 as per CD - LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)

5.1 SURROUND MIXES

Tracks1 to 9 as per CD - LPCM and DTS-HD MA (24bit/96khz)

ORIGINAL STEREO MIXES

Tracks 1 to 9 as per CD - Flat Transfer from Original Master - LPCM Stereo (24bit/192khz)

ADDITIONAL TRACKS

1. Roundabout (Rehearsal Take, Early Mix)

2. We Have Heaven (Full Version, Steve Wilson Mix)

3. South Side Of The Sky (Alternate Take, Steve Wilson Mix)

4. All Fighters Past (Steve Wilson Mix)

5. Mood For Another Day (Previously Unreleased Take)

6. We Have Heaven (Acapella, Steve Wilson Mix)

Tracks 1 to 6 LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)

BLU RAY EXCLUSIVE

1. Roundabout (Early Rough Mix from "Fragile" 2003 CD Reissue)

2. South Side Of The Sky (Early Take)

3. Roundabout (Headphones Mix for Vox Overdubs)

Tracks 1 to 3 LCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)

2015 STEREO INSTRUMENTAL MIXES

Tracks 1 to 9 as per the CD - LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)

ORIGINAL 5.1 MIX

Tracks 1 to 9 as per CD (with 6 and 7 as one track) plus "America" as Track 10

Mix from the Rhino DVD-A release - LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)

NEEDLE-DROP

A1/B1 (Matrix) first -pressing UK original vinyl LP transfer

Tracks 1 to 9 as per the CD - LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)

10. Roundabout (US Single Edit)

11. Long Distance Runaround (US Single Edit)

YES was:

JON ANDERSON – Lead Vocals

STEVE HOWE – Electric and Acoustic Guitars and Vocals

RICK WAKEMAN – Organ, Grand Piano, Electric Piano, Harpsichord, Mellotron and Synthesizer

CHRIS SQUIRE – Bass Guitars and Vocals

BILL BRUFORD – Drums and Percussion

PACKAGING: Using a Mini-LP replica gatefold sleeve (slightly oversized compared to the CD variant) – you get the original Roger Dean artwork - gatefold sleeve with the lyrics on one side and the album credits on the other with the mini booklet of the original LP now detached) - as well as archive material (evolution of the Fragile logo) and new Roger Dean front-cover images used on both discs (they are housed in plain black card sleeves). Noted Progressive Rock writer and enthusiast SID SMITH provides new liner notes in the 16-page booklet and there are Audio Source notes about the Transfers, Remixes and BLU RAY Set-up (Headless Operation) and so forth.

The booklet also has the usual original/reissue credits, the lyrics to the four worded tracks, repro's of a UK, USA and French original 1971 LP labels (a white label promo for the American issue on Atlantic SD 7211), period colour photos of each band member, concert tickets for the October 1971 Tour (Jonathan Swift was the support act), photos of the rare and unique artwork to French, Dutch, German and Spanish edited singles for "Roundabout" (called "Carrusel" in Spain) most with "Long Distance Runaround" as its flipside - as well as a Melody Maker magazine full-page advert for the album. Sid Smith interviews Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Roger Dean and others and of course discusses the sad passing of original Bassist Chris Squire in 2015 only months before the reissue – noting quite rightly that the big man and the unique Bass sounds he made came from a mere 23 year-old back in August and September 1971. The whole shebang is nicely presented and feels substantial – especially the sheer amount of material on the BR disc. If I were to criticise - I'd say that some of the BLU RAY 'Exclusive' material is mildly superfluous whilst other parts of it should have been made available on the CD too (the single edits would easily have fit). But others would argue that if you buy this BR version – then you know what it is that you're getting - and fair enough. To the music...

The album "Fragile" consisted of four centrepieces – the short "Long Distance Runaround" and the long "Roundabout", "Heart of the Sunrise" and "South Side Of The Sky". But realising they hadn’t enough material, each was sent off to write a solo piece - and they did. Personally I find Bruford’s "Five Per Cent For Nothing" (named after a dodgy publishing deal) and Wakeman’s "Cans And Brahms" both superfluous to anyone’s requirements. The individual stuff is saved by Chris Squire’s ingenious "The Fish" where every sound is from some sort of Bass Guitar, Howe’s delightful Spanish guitar piece "Mood For A Day" and Anderson’s voice-crescendo "We Have Heaven".

What is fascinating though (apart from the staggering clean audio provided by Wilson – disarmingly perfect almost) is the unexpected quality of the extras which are thankfully worthy of the moniker Bonus and not just reissue padding. Apparently found at the end of one of the master tapes whilst Steve Wilson was researching the reissue - the snippet "All Fighters Past" turns out to be a work-in-progress abandoned at the sessions. But on hearing it fans will immediately recognise that it was used for passages in both "Siberian Khatru" on 1972's "Close To The Edge" and in parts of "The Revealing Science Of God" on Side 1 of 1973's double-album "Tales From Topographic Oceans". The piano-to-the-fore/at-the-beginning of the Early Mix for "South Side Of The Sky" almost makes me wonder did the boys make an arrangement mistake. I can understand why the clever finished version was chosen but there’s something about this Rick Wakeman led cut that I find a hundred times more endearing than the released version. The two versions of Anderson's beautiful vocal tour-de-force "We Have Heaven" are fascinating - but although the 'Headphones Mix' on the BLU RAY is a trip - I thought the rehearsal variant of "Roundabout" on the CD didn’t seem radically different.

YES broke American with "Fragile" in January 1972 when an edit of "Roundabout" was played on US Radio and its angular yet funky rhythms caught the listener's fascination. The album eventually made No. 4 there – better than they did in their native Blighty. YES had truly arrived and with a different kind of music made on their own terms – an amazing achievement.

"…Mountains come out of the sky…" – Jon Anderson sang on the opening musical carousel "Roundabout". Well, having loved "Fragile" back in those heady days - I'm so pleased to report that this superb-sounding 2015 reissue warrants another ride on the 1971 Space Ark. Letting in the sunshine indeed...

"Closing Time" by TOM WAITS (March 2018 Anti Records CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

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Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

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"...Old Shoes And Picture Postcards..."

Virtually unnoticed in Blighty until Asylum reissued much of his Americana catalogue in the summer of 1976 (June to be exact) – Tom Waits' debut album "Closing Time" has had cover-version legs way beyond its humble Stateside beginnings in March of 1973. Marc Cohn did a gorgeous version of "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" as an exclusive track on the 2004 soundtrack to "The Prince & Me" - Juliet Turner and Brian Kennedy touched on the same song for her 2001 CD album "Burn The Black Suit" - Andrew Murray (vocalist with De Danaan) did "Old Shoes (And Picture Postcards)" for his fabulous "Hell Or High Water" Folk-Rock CD in 2005.

Even if the public didn't notice Waits and his battered-and-beautiful ballads at the time - other major artists did. Tim Buckley covered "Martha" on his 1973 Discreet Records set "Sefronia" - and a year after his debut was released - the Eagles did "Ol' '55" on their third album "On The Border" in March 1974 - the royalties from which probably kept TW in sausage and beer for a decade.

But when it comes to digital "Closing Time" has always been an album that has had occasional songs remastered onto well-meaning CD compilations and not the Full Monty. Here (at last) is the whole enchilada – even if the bare-bones nature of this 2018 reissue does let the side down a tad (no extras, two blank canvasses on the inside digipak, a functional booklet etc).

This new March 2018 variant now comes at us on Anti Records – home to his music since the much-praised "Mule Variations" album in 1999. You get a card digipak, a 16-page booklet that mimics the lyric-bag inner sleeve of the original 1973 American LP and best of all - a new upgraded Remaster (with artist involvement) done at Infrasonic Mastering in California by Peter Lyman that gives this under appreciated little nugget of an album a genuinely improved audio scrub-up.

There are seven titles in the reissue series covering his output on Asylum Records between 1973 and 1980 (see list below) – Anti releasing the debut "Closing Time" and his second "The Heart Of Saturday Night" on 9 March 2018 with the other five having followed 23 March 2018. All have CD and DL entries as of now with the 180-GRAM VINYL LP issues being spread out across the year. The bad news is that there’s nothing new – the booklets and digipaks are nice enough but offer no updated liner notes, no history, no photos and worse – no extras at all - when his catalogue from this period has been screaming out for Deluxe Editions for decades. But the audio is sensational. So let's deal with what we do have...

UK released Friday, 9 March 2018 - "Closing Time" by TOM WAITS on Anti 7565-2 (Barcode 8714092756524) is a straightforward CD Remaster of his 12-track 1973 Debut LP and plays out as follows (49:37 minutes):

1. Ol' '55 [Side 1]

2. I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You

3. Virginia Avenue

4. Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)

5. Midnight Lullaby

6. Martha

7. Rosie [Side 2]

8. Lonely

9. Ice Cream Man

10. Little Trip To Heaven (On The Wings Of Your Love)

11. Grapefruit Moon

12. Closing Time

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Closing Time" - released March 1973 in the USA on Asylum Records SD-5061 and May 1973 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9007 (re-issued June 1976 on Asylum K 53030). Produced by JERRY YESTER (of The Lovin' Spoonful) - it didn't chart in either country.

TOM WAITS –Vocals (All Tracks), Piano (Tracks 1, 3 and 5 to 12), Guitar (Tracks 2 and 4), Harmonium (Track 2), Harpsichord (Track 6) and Celeste (Track 9)

PETER KLIMES – Guitar (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 10), 6-String Guitar and Pedal Steel Guitar (Track 7)

SHEP COOKE – Guitar (Track 4) and 6-String Guitar (Track 2)

DELBERT BENNETT – Trumpet (Tracks 3, 5 and 10)

BILL PLUMMER – Bass (Tracks 1 to 5, 7, 9 and 10)

JOHN SEITER – Drums (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9)

JESSE EHRLICH – Cello (Track 12)

ARNI EGILSSON- Double Bass (Track 12)

TONY TERRAN – Trumpet (Track 12)

JERRY YESTER – String Arrangement (Track 11)

The 16-page booklet reproduces the lyrics from the single-sleeve LP – something many British fans never saw because they weren't in either of the UK issues on vinyl (the 1973 Asylum SYL 9007 pressing is incredibly rare because it sold absolute zip) and you also get musician credits and basic reissue details – but naught else.

TOM WAITS, KATHLEEN BRENNAN and KARL DERFLER supervised the new remaster with final mastering done by the award-winning PETER LYMAN at his Infrasonic Mastering Studios in California. In keeping with the simple and uncluttered production values Jerry Yester (of The Lovin' Spoonful) gave the album in the first place - this transfer sounds beautiful in every way. There's very little hiss but loads of presence and body and at times the intimacy is spine tingling - a gorgeous job done...

Asylum tried the opener "Ol' '55" as a lone US 7" single two months before the album's release - January 1973's Asylum AS-11014 having the LP's "Midnight Lullaby" as its flipside - but it tanked. Amazingly Waits would have to wait until April 1979 in the UK to see a 45-release - "Somewhere" b/w "Red Shoes From The Drugstore" from his masterpiece "Blue Valentine" album (Elektra K 12347) and even then word is that that release was withdrawn. What’s not in dispute here is the Audio - as he counts in one, two, three, four and the piano kicks in – the effect is fantastic. Riding with lady luck is right – lead the parade indeed. For me though his songwriting genius begins with the crowded bar song "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" – Tom lights his cigarette (hasn't the guts to bum one), orders another stout and tries to contain his tom-cat feelings for the girl on the next stool. The fantastic sleaze-bag poor-boy piano Blues of "Virginia Avenue" features end-of-the-night guitar licks from Peter Klimes and boozy Trumpet phrases from Delbert Bennett - both of which are now more pronounced.

I've never heard the Shep Cooke acoustic guitars of the truly beautiful TW ballad "Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)" sound so good as TW revels in the spark, the girl with the sun in her eyes, but the call of the road is too strong - so it's tears, farewell and then - he's gone. Guy Davis does a wonderful cover of "Midnight Lullaby" on his 2007 CD set "Down At The Sea Hotel" - singing a song of sixpence with a pocket full of rye. Speaking of covers - "Martha" has been tapped by so many - Ireland's gravel-vocalist Freddie White in 1981 - Scotland's Hue & Cry in 1994 and Hell even Meatloaf had a go on his "Welcome To The Neighborhood" album in 1995. Here it’s Tom, his piano, harpsichord, a string section and unidentified vocals. Quiet evenings trembling close to you - the Remaster on "Martha" is so damn good – fans will indeed be a wee bit achy to this.

Side 2's "Rosie" is even better - a song I've never heard sound so sweet. There's a wonderful Eagles amble to the melody as Robert Klimes does some lovely understated pedal-steel guitar - Tom singing about loving Rosie of the Moon until the day he dies (if he can persuade here that is to return the compliment). The weary and eerie "Lonely" has acoustic piano notes lingering around your speakers as Tom's voice mumbles about Melanie Jane's eyes and face - both looking lonely in a lonely place. "Ice Cream Man" is the only song on the album where it sounds odd - like he's trying too hard - the fast pace and one-man-band lyrics all feel forced and unconvincing. Better is "Little Trip To Heaven (On The Wings Of Your Love)" where Tom doesn't have to go to outer space - all he has to do is gawk at her face - Delbert Bennett's trumpet playing mimicking his hoppity-skippity shoe-be-do heart. A fabulous debut closes with two winners - the no-star-shining "Grapefruit Moon" and the do-one-for-posterity instrumental "Closing Time" - both sounding utterly glorious - bigger than they've ever been. Wowser... 

Could these 2018 reissues have been Deluxe Editions with Bonus Tracks and Unreleased – of course! But given the immense Audio upgrade – I’d still say they’re worth the money and are absolute must-haves for fans.

I know I can't be rational about Tom Waits - I've always thought him God and re-listening to this forgotten nugget only hammers home that assertion with a mallet and a bullet with my name on it. Explore this man’s work – the payoff will be immense and expect to be at that shopping basket for the other six...

TOM WAITS - March 2018 

Reissue Series of CDs, LPs and Downloads on Anti Records

All CDs are in Card Digipaks, come with Booklets and Pic CDs but No Extras

"Closing Time" and "The Heart Of Saturday Night" released Friday, 9 March 2018 

- The others all released Friday, 23 March 2018

1. "Closing Time" (1973) - Anti 7565-2 (Barcode 8714092756524) - CD/LP is Anti 7565-1 (Barcode 8714092756517)

2. "The Heart Of Saturday Night" (1974) - Anti 7566-2 (Barcode 8714092756623)/LP due May 2018

3. "Nighthawks At The Diner" (1975 Live Double onto 1CD) - Anti 7567-2 (Barcode 8714092756722)/LP due May 2018

4. "Small Change" (1976) - Anti 7568-2 (Barcode 8714092756821)/LP due May 2018

5. "Foreign Affairs" (1977) - Anti 7569-2 (Barcode 8714092756920)

6. "Blue Valentine" (1978) - Anti 7570-2 (Barcode 8714092757026)

7. "Heartattack And Vine"(1980) - Anti 7571-2 (Barcode 8714092757125)

"Blue Valentine" by TOM WAITS (March 2018 Anti Records CD Reissue - Waits/Brennan/Derfler/Lyman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Take A Rusty Nail And Scratch Your Initials On My Arms..."

Last reissued February 1993 by Elektra Records on CD in a jewel case with 20-page booklet and a lovely Zal Schreiber Remaster (done at Atlantic Studios in New York) – this new March 2018 variant now comes at us on Anti Records – home to his music since "Mule Variations" in 1999. You get a card digipak, a 24-page booklet and best of all - a new upgraded Remaster (with artist involvement) done at Infrasonic Mastering in California by Peter Lyman that gives this great album a genuinely improved audio scrub-up. And man - am I one excited little 2018 Easter Bunny!

In fact between 1973 and 1980 - Tom Waits put out a string of seven fabulous albums on Asylum Records - and I've long argued a case for owning the whole damn shooting match. But if I was dragged through a thorn bush packed with wasp nests in my delightful and beautifully proportioned altogether and unless I named a meisterwerk I'd be dragged back again but this time smeared in natural honey and crushed bits of Cadbury’s Crunchie - 1978's "Blue Valentine" would be my desert island disc.

Everything about this record is magical to me (the trio of "Small Change", "Foreign Affairs" and "Heartattack And Vine" gave it a good run for the money too) because this is where his Bukowski persona gelled in every way. The whimsical tunes - the jagged rhythms - the astonishing and knowing lyrics - even finding space to evoke beauty amidst the rubble, used needles and down-at-heel street types ("Kentucky Avenue"). I love this album and as the vinyl has become a known rarity since its release - this remastered CD, DL and Vinyl LP reissue gives me another excuse to extol its divinity-like healing properties. Here are the red shoes at the drugstore...

UK released Friday, 23 March 2018 - "Blue Valentine" by TOM WAITS on Anti 7570-2 (Barcode 8714092757026) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 10-track 1978 LP and plays out as follows (49:37 minutes):

1. Somewhere (From "West Side Story") [Side 1]

2. Red Shoes By The Drugstore

3. Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis

4. Romeo Is Bleeding

5. $29.00

6. Wrong Side Of The Road [Side 2]

7. Whistlin' Past The Graveyard

8. Kentucky Avenue

9. A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun

10. Blue Valentines

Tracks 1 to 10 are his fifth studio album "Blue Valentine" (6th LP overall) - released November 1978 in the USA on Asylum Records 6E-162 and December 1978 in the UK on Asylum K 53088. Produced by BONES HOWE - it peaked at No. 181 in the USA but didn't chart in the UK (the lady slumped over the Thunderbird car on the rear sleeve is his then girlfriend Rickie Lee Jones).

TOM WAITS –Vocals (All Tracks), Acoustic Piano (Tracks 3 and 8), Electric Guitar (Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10)

GERGE DUKE as DA WILLIE GANGA – Yamaha Electric Piano (Track 2) and Yamaha Electric Grand Piano (Tracks 3 and 5)

ROLAND BAUTISTA – Electric Guitar (Tracks 2, 5)

“Shine” ROBINSON – Electric Guitar (Track 9)

RAY CRAWFORD – Electric Guitar (Tracks 4, 6 and Solo on Track 10)

CHARLES KYNARD – Organ (Tracks 4, 6)

HAROLD BATTISTE – Piano (Tracks 7 and 9

FRANK VICARI – Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 4, 6)

HERBERT HARDESTY – Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 7 and 9)

JIM HUGHART – Double Bass (Tracks 4, 6)

BYRON MILLER – Bass (Tracks 2, 5)

SCOTT EDWARDS – Bass (Tracks 7 and 9)

RICK LAWSON - Drums (Tracks 2, 5)

CHIP WHITE – Drums (Tracks 4, 6)

EARL PALMER – Drums (Tracks 7and 9)

BOBBYE HALL – Congas (Track 4)

BOB ALCIVAR – Conducted and Arranged Orchestra on Track 8

The 1993 CD reissue comes with an unusually classy 20-page booklet filled with those all-important and all-consuming lyrics but no photos unfortunately. Here we don’t really get much more (24 pages), except of course a slightly different re-issue credits page and the centre-page spread reflecting the photograph on the LP’s inner gatefold. But we do get is a new Remaster supervised by TOM WAITS, KATHLEEN BRENNAN and KARL DERFLER with mastering done by the award-winning PETER LYMAN at his Infrasonic Mastering Studios in California. In keeping with the lush production values Bones Howe gave the album in the first place - this transfer sounds beautiful in every way. There's very little hiss but loads of presence and body and at times the intimacy is spine tingling - a gorgeous job done...

It opens with Bernstein's "Somewhere" from West Side Story - strings and his gargled-gravel-for-breakfast vocals - a perfect start to this lounge lizard of an LP. "...There's a dark huddle at the bus stop...umbrellas arranged in a sad bouquet..." - the lyrics to "Red Shoes By The Drugstore" are typical of his observational brilliance - scenes are full of rain-washed sidewalks - dogs baying at the moon and Santa Claus drunk in the ski room. Even better is "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis" which gives us a pregnant 'lady of the night' living on 9th street above a dirty book store who has quit drinking whiskey (while her old man works out down at the track) but has misplaced her Little Anthony and The Imperials album. Waits songs are like this - you laugh one moment - but the next you think about that someone with all their hopes and dreams and how his conduit music has chronicled their shot at happiness - not laughed at them - but told their story with heart and an admiration that isn't some politician condescending.

"…They all know they could be like Romeo…if they only had the guts…" - Waits croaks admiringly on a sleazy "Romeo Is Bleeding" – a tale about a street rat who puts out cigarettes in his hand but comes a cropper when he tackles the law. Bleeding now in his car – Romeo finally ends up on the balcony of a local movie house that has Jimmy Cagney doing his tough guy Mobster routine on an oldies re-run. Romeo watches in admiration and dies without a whimper. Side 1 ends on a long slow jazz-shuffle masterpiece – all caressed high-hats and rolling piano notes - the barroom slink of "$29.00". Waits sets-the-scene with lyrics like "...it's cold back in Chicago...but in Los Angeles it's worse...when all you got is $29.00 and an alligator purse..." And then rubs sand in the ointment when a shyster convinces the girl of the story that he knows a good hotel in West Hollywood – smiling like a good Samaritan as he plays Pharaoh Sanders on his 8-track thinking about his future financial reimbursements...

Songs like "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" and "A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun" gives us more of the same - but the tune that genuinely moves me to tears is "Kentucky Avenue". Our family has a son with Autism who is 25 now – each of us having clocked up a lifetime of hurt and pain that is part and parcel with this impenetrable condition. And somehow hooking into that - there's something about the lyrics to this cry for understanding "...I'll steal a hacksaw from my Dad...and cut the braces from your legs...and we'll bury them tonight in the cornfield..." that slaughters me every time. This is a song where someone take the spokes from a young boy’s wheelchair and then "... we'll hop a freight train in the hall...and we'll slide down the drain...all the way to New Orleans in the fall…" Beautiful and poetic – like TW’s soul.

A rare and precious talent - mad as a camel on LSD that spits twice as much - Tom Waits is all these things. But what gets me is that he does just that - all the greats do - they get to you - and his 1978 album "Blue Valentine" still does.

Could these 2018 reissues have been Deluxe Editions with Bonus Tracks and Unreleased – of course! But given the immense Audio upgrade – I’d still say they’re worth the money and are absolute must-haves for fans.

Explore this man’s work – the payoff will be immense and expect to be at that shopping basket for the other six...

TOM WAITS - March 2018 

Reissue Series of CDs, LPs and Downloads on Anti Records

All CDs are in Card Digipaks, come with Booklets and Pic CDs but No Extras

"Closing Time" and "The Heart Of Saturday Night" released Friday, 9 March 2018 

- The others all released Friday, 23 March 2018

1. "Closing Time" (1973) - Anti 7565-2 (Barcode 8714092756524) - CD/LP is Anti 7565-1 (Barcode 8714092756517)

2. "The Heart Of Saturday Night" (1974) - Anti 7566-2 (Barcode 8714092756623)/LP due May 2018

3. "Nighthawks At The Diner" (1975 Live Double onto 1CD) - Anti 7567-2 (Barcode 8714092756722)/LP due May 2018

4. "Small Change" (1976) - Anti 7568-2 (Barcode 8714092756821)/LP due May 2018

5. "Foreign Affairs" (1977) - Anti 7569-2 (Barcode 8714092756920)

6. "Blue Valentine" (1978) - Anti 7570-2 (Barcode 8714092757026)

7. "Heartattack And Vine"(1980) - Anti 7571-2 (Barcode 8714092757125)