"The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues" by MUDDY WATERS – January 1966 and January 1967 US LPs on Chess Records featuring Little Walter, Junior Wells, Jimmy Rogers, James Cotton, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Walter Horton, Ernest "Big" Crawford, James "Pee Wee" Madison, S.P. Leary and more (June 2002 US MCA/Chess CD Compilation - Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited Series featuring 2LPs onto 1CD – Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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This Review Along With Over 215 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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****

"...You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had... "

 

I loved every release in this classy CD Reissue Series - most of which appeared across the years 2001 and 2002 on MCA/Chess in the States – their archival Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited Series (see list below).

 

Hardly surprising then that the mighty McKinley Morganfield aka MUDDY WATERS was going to be in that list more than a few times. So, what you have here are two albums that appeared on Chess Records in the USA in January 1966 and January 1967 – both capitalizing on his fabulous "Folk Singer" LP of January 1964 that brought him a whole new audience of Sixties hipsters cottoning on to the Blues. Loads to discuss – to the details...

 

US released 12 March 2002 - "The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues" by MUDDY WATERS on MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226) offers 2LPs from 1966 and 1967 Remastered onto 1CD and it plays out as follows (69:31 minutes):

 

1. Mannish Boy [Side 1] – May 1955 Recording

2. Screamin' And Cryin' – July 1949 Recording

3. Just To Be With You – June 1956 Recording

4. Walking Thru The Park – Late 1958 Recording

5. Walkin' Blues – February 1960 Recording

6. Canary Bird – July 1949 Recording

7. The Same Thing [Side 2] – April 1964 Recording

8. Gypsy Woman – 1947 Recording

9. Rollin' & Tumblin' Part One – February 1950 Recording

10. Forty Days And Forty Nights – February 1956 Recording

11. Little Geneva – July 1949 Recording

12. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "The Real Folk Blues" – released January 1966 in the USA on Chess LP 1501. Guest Musicians include Little Walter on Harmonica (Track 1), Jimmy Rogers on Guitar (Tracks 1, 3 and 10), Walter Horton on Harmonica (Tracks 3 and 10), James Cotton on Harmonica (Track 4), Otis Spann on Piano (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 10 and 12), "Pee Wee" Madison on Guitar (Tracks 7 and 12), Willie Dixon on Bass (Tracks 1, 3, 7, 10 and 12), Ernest "Big" Crawford on Bass (Tracks 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11) and more

 

13. Sad Letter Blues [Side 1] – June 1950 Recording

14. You're Gonna Need My Help I Said – June 1950 Recording

15. Sittin' Here And Drinkin' (Whiskey Blues) – Fall 1948 Recording

16. Down South Blues – Fall 1948 Recording

17. Train Fare Home Blues – Fall 1948 Recording

18. Kind Hearted Woman – Fall 1948 Recording

19. Appealing Blues (Hello Little Girl) – June 1950 Recording

20. Early Morning Blues – June 1950 Recording

21. Too Young To Know – January 1951 Recording

22. She's Alright – December 1952 Recording

23. Landlady – December 1952 Recording

24. Honey Bee – January 1951 Recording

Tracks 13 to 24 are the album "More Real Folk Blues" – released January 1967 in the USA on Chess LP-1511. Guest Musicians include Little Walter on Harmonica and Ernest "Big" Crawford on Bass (Tracks 13, 14, 21 and 24), Little Walter on Harmonica and Jimmy Rogers on Guitar (Tracks 22 and 23), Ernest "Big" Crawford on Bass Only (Tracks 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) and more.

 

The 12-page booklet reproduces the front and rear artwork of both LPs with their respective period liner notes; that is supplemented with new notes from PAUL WILLIAMS of Crawdaddy Magazine with Remastered Audio from one of Universal's Top Audio Engineers - ERICK LABSON (see List Below). While it's not genuinely substantial, it's a pretty booklet nonetheless and there's a colour photo of Morgan in full-flow on stage beneath the see-through CD tray at the rear with the 'Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited' Logo on the inlay spine. To the music...

 

A quick scan of the tracks lists provided above and you will see that these January 1966 and 1967 American LPs had little to do with Sixties Blues – for the most part they were a mixed brew of late Forties and mid Fifties Chess oldies and sounded like it too. Across the first LP only two songs - "The Same Thing" and "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" hailed from the Sixties (both 1964) whilst the second album had none at all. As a result, the audio on the 1948 and 1950 tracks is crude to say the least and no amount of ERICK LABSON Remasters is going to bring them up to fidelity. Even the liner notes of the day alluded to this – claiming they were not flawless – but that the spirit was there.

 

Having acknowledged that, Labson does a great job anyway (he has remastered thousands of Chess tracks and has a long line of Remastering accolades). To counter all the originals, those two 1964 nuggets have astonishing audio – the kind of Blues thrill that is rare – fab full sound elicited by players like Otis Spann (Piano), James "Pee Wee" Madison (Guitar), Willie Dixon (Bass) and S.P. Leary (Drums) – sessioned Blues dudes who would play with Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac at the Chess Studios in 1969. On the second LP Little Walter gets to shine while Muddy Waters gets to attack that guitar – Ernest "Big" Crawford pumping up the bottom end with a Double Bass.

 

I actually prefer the second album – Muddy and Guitar and Voice with Harmonica accompaniment – moody and real indeed. A good entry in the series, but just don't go expecting audio miracles, but more authenticity...

 

The "Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited" CD Series

A LIST in ARTIST ALPHABETICAL ORDER

1 and 2 Remastered SUHA GUR, 3 to 11 Remastered by ERICK LABSON

 

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

Debut US Album from December 1972 on Gordy Records G 964L (no UK) - Featuring Ray Goodman and Paul White

April 2001 US CD Reissue on Universal/Motown 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727) with 4 Previously Unreleased Bonuses - SUHA GUR Remasters (56:10 minutes)

 

2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

Second US Album from July 1974 on Gordy G 967V1 (no UK) – featuring Bob Goodman and Gene Block

April 2001 US CD Reissue on Universal/Motown 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925) with 3 Previously Unreleased Bonuses – SUHA GUR Remaster (70:32 minutes)

 

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

January 1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke DLP 74

February 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Duke-Peacock 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628) with 2 Bonus Tracks – ERICK LABSON Remaster

(35:12 minutes)

 

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

October 1966 and September 1991 US LPs on Chess LP 1508 and MCA/Chess-9329

March 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Chess 088 112-821-2 (Barcode 008811282127) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (79:47 minutes)

 

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

January 1966 and January 1967 US LPs on Chess LP 1502 and Chess 1512

March 2002 US CD Reissue on Universal/MCA/Chess 088 122 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028) – ERICK LABSON Remaster (66:45 minutes)

 

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet LPS 802 (Stereo and Mono)

May 2001 US CD Reissue on Universal/MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826) – ERICK LABSON Remaster with 10 Bonus Tracks (57:11 minutes)

 

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

September 1990 US 13-Track LP on MCA Records MCA 6103

March 2001 US CD Reissue 13-Track CD Compilation on MCA America 088 412 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (64:11 minutes)

 

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

November 1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess LP 1449 with Tracks 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as Bonuses

March 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529) – ERICK LABSON Remaster (44:43 minutes)

 

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends

Tracks 1 to 10 of the CD (studio recordings) combined with 15 to 20 (live recordings) make up the "Fathers And Sons" double-album issued August 1969 on Chess LPS-127 in the USA and October 1969 on Chess CRL 4556 in the UK (both 2LP vinyl sets). Tracks 11, 12, 13 are previously unreleased - and 14 is previously unreleased in the USA and are Bonuses on this CD

October 2001 US CD Reissue on MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826) – ERICK LANSON Remaster (77:38 minutes)

 

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

January 1966 and January 1967 US LPs on Chess LP-1501 and Chess LP-1511

March 2002 US CD Reissue (2LPs onto 1CD) on MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (69:31 minutes)

 

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess LP 1503 and Chess LP 1509

May 2002 US CD Reissue (2LPs onto 1CD) on MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325) – ERICK LABSON Remasters (65:26 minutes)

"The Chess Box" by ETTA JAMES – Single Sides, Album Tracks, Ten Previously Unreleased Recordings, Three New To An Album and Three from Post MCA/Chess CD Compilations. Releases cover March 1960 to April 1975 on Argo, Cadet and Chess Records and Guests Include Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Lowell George of Little Feat (June 2000 US MCA/Chess Records 3CD 72-Track Digibook Compilation with Inner Attached 40-Page Booklet, Previously Unreleased Tracks and Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review Along With Over 215 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...At Last My Love Has Come Along..."

 

Between 1988 and 1991 on MCA/Chess - Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and even Bassist and Songwriter Willie Dixon all had their LP-Sized multiple CD Box Sets released in "The Chess Box" series. But because it came late to the reissue dancehall (June 2000 in the USA) – when Etta James finally did get her "Chess Box" set - it turned out to be 3CD Digibook presentation that few seemed to notice at the time or even care about.

 

Which is a damn shame because Etta's 'Chess Box' is chockers with goodies and boasts stonkingly great Remastered Audio by ERICK LABSON – an Audio Engineer with over 1000 credits to his name including almost all of the famous Chess Records catalogue. I seek out Erick Labson transfers - see my reviews for Buddy Holly, Steppenwolf, The Crusaders, The Mamas & The Papas, Three Dog Night, Neil Diamond, Bo Diddley, Bill Haley & His Comets, Bobby Bland, The Dells, John Lee Hooker, The Who and loads more. This is the very best you have ever heard the 1960 Etta James classic "At Last" in all its romantic swooning passion. Despite its title - "The Chess Box" may only be a book, but it rocks like something bigger. To the pain-drenched details...

 

US released 27 June 2000 - "The Chess Box" by ETTA JAMES on MCA/Chess Records 088 112 288-2 (Barcode 008811228828) is a 3CD Long Digibook of Remastered 1960 to 1974 Argo and Chess Mono and Stereo Recordings that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 1960-1962 (75:58 minutes):

1. All I Could Do Was Cry (March 1960, Argo 5359, A-side)

2. My Dearest Darling (August 1960, Argo 5368, A-side)

3. If I Can't Have You (Etta James and Harvey Fuqua, July 1960, Chess 1760, A-side)

4. I Just Want To Make Love To You (December 1960, Argo 5380, B-side of "At Last" – for A-side see Track 9 on CD1)

5. Anything To Say You're Mine (March 1961, Argo 5385, B-side of "Trust In Me" – for the A-side see Track 11 on CD1)

6. In My Diary (from her 2nd album "The Second Time Around" released September 1961 in the USA on Argo Records LP 4011 (Mono) and Argo LPS 4011 (Stereo) - the MONO mix is used)

7. Spoonful (Etta James and Harvey Fuqua, November 1960, Chess 1771, A-side)

8. A Sunday Kind Of Love (July 1961, Argo 5393, B-side of "Don't Cry Baby" – for the A-side see Track 12 on CD1)

9. At Last (December 1960, Argo 5380, A-side – for B-side see Track 4 on CD1)

10. Stormy Weather (from her Debut Album "At Last!" released November 1960 in the USA on Argo Records LP 4003 (Mono) and Argo LPS 4003 (Stereo) – MONO Mix is used)

11. Trust In Me (March 1961, Argo 5385, A-side – for the B-side see Track 5 on CD1)

12. Don't Cry Baby (July 1961, Argo 5393, A-side of– for the B-side see Track 8 on CD1)

13. Fool That I Am (May 1961, Argo 5390, A-side)

14. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (from her 2nd album "The Second Time Around" released September 1961 in the USA on Argo Records LP 4011 (Mono) and Argo LPS 4011 (Stereo) - the MONO mix is used)

15. Waiting For Charlie (To Come Home) (January 1962, Argo 5409, B-side of "Something's Got A Hold On Me" – for the A-side see Track 19 on CD1)

16. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (from her 2nd album "The Second Time Around" released September 1961 in the USA on Argo Records LP 4011 (Mono) and Argo LPS 4011 (Stereo) - the MONO mix is used)

17. Next Door To The Blues (September 1962, Argo 5424, A-side)

18. I Don't Want It – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded Dec 1961)

19. Something's Got A Hold On Me (January 1962, Argo 5409, A-side – for the B-side see Track 15 on CD1)

20. Stop The Wedding (July 1962, Argo 5418, A-side)

21. These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) (from her 3^rd studio album "Etta Sings For Lovers" on Argo LP 4018)

22. You Got Me Where You Want Me – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded June 1962)

23. I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You) (from her 3^rd studio album "Etta Sings For Lovers" on Argo LP 4018)

24. Prisoner Of Love (from her 3^rd studio album "Etta Sings For Lovers" on Argo LP 4018)

25. Pushover (March 1963, LP 4018)

26. Be Honest With Me (July 1963, Argo 5445, B-side of "Pay Back" – for the A-side see Track 3 on CD2)

NOTES:

Tracks 18 and 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Track 26 is Previously Unreleased on Album

 

CD2 1962-1969 (76:56 minutes):

1. Would It Make Any Difference (December 1962, Argo 5430, A-side)

2. Look Who's Blue? (March 1964, Argo 5465, B-side of "Loving You More Every Day" – Previously Unreleased on Album – A-side is Track 7 on CD2)

3. Pay Back (July 1963, Argo 5445, A-side – for the B-side see Track 26 on CD1)

4. Two Sides (To Every Penny) (September 1963, Argo 5452, A-side)

5. At Last (Live) – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded September 1963 at The New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee)

6. Baby What You Want Me To Do (Live) (From the 1963 US LP "Etta Rocks The House" on Argo LP 4032)

7. Lovin' You More Every Day (March 1964, Argo 5465, A-side – the B-side is Track 2 on CD2)

8. I Wish Someone Would Care (from the 1964 US LP "Queen Of Soul" on Argo LP 4040)

9. Bobby Is His Name (November 1964, Argo 5485, B-side of "Mellow Fellow")

10. Only Time Will Tell (January 1966, Argo 5526, A-side)

11. (I Don't Need Nobody To Tell Me) How To Treat My Man – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded 4 August 1965)

12. In The Basement, Part 1 - with SUGAR PIE DeSANTO (July 1966, Cadet 5539, A-side)

13. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can He Be?) (First issued on the 1995 US CD compilation "These Foolish Things: The Classic Balladry Of Etta James" on Chess CHD-9354 – originally recorded September 1965)

14. Do I Make Myself Clear – with SUGAR PIE DeSANTO (December 1965, Cadet 5519, A)

15. I Prefer You (December 1966, Cadet 5552, A-side)

16. It Must Be Your Love (May 1967, Cadet 5564, A-side)

17. 842-3089 (Call My Name) (July 1967, Cadet 5568, A-side)

18. I'd Rather Go Blind (October 1967, Cadet 5578, B-side of "Tell Mama" – see Track 19 on CD2)

19. Tell Mama (October 1967, Cadet 5578, A-side – for B-side see Track 18 on CD2)

20. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (First issued on the 1993 US 2CD Chess Masters Compilation "The Essential Etta James" on MCA/Chess CHD2-9341 – November 1967 recording)

21. Security (February 1968, Cadet 5594, A-side)

22. I Worship The Ground You Walk On (May 1968, Cadet 5606, B-side of "I Got You Babe" – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on Album)

23. You Took It – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (recorded 2 August 1968)

24. Almost Persuaded (December 1968, Cadet 5630, A-side)

25. You Got It (September 1968, Cadet 5620, A-side)

26. Light My Fire – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Doors cover version, recorded 29 and 30 April 1969)

NOTES:

Tracks 2 and 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on Album

Tracks 5, 11, 23 and 26 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

CD3 1969-1974 (76:16 minutes):

1. Slow And Easy – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded 29 and 30 April 1969)

2. The Soul Of A Man – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded 29 and 30 April 1969)

3. Miss Pitiful (September 1969, Cadet 5655, A-side)

4. Losers Weepers, Part 1 (September 1970, Cadet 5676, A-side – also on the December 1970 US LP "Losers Weepers" on Cadet LPS 847 in Stereo)

5. I Found A Love (March 1972, Chess 2125, A-side)

6. W.O.M.A.N. (May 1972, Chess 2128, A-side)

7. Never My Love – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Recorded March 1973)

8. I Never Meant To Love Him (First issued on the 1993 US 2CD Chess Masters Compilation "The Essential Etta James" on MCA/Chess CHD2-9341 – March 1973 recording)

9. You Lost That Lovin' Feelin' – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Righteous Brothers cover, Barry Mann, Cynthia Well and Phil Spector song, recorded March 1973)

10. Sail Away (from the July 1973 US LP "Etta James" on Chess CH 50042 – Randy Newman cover version)

11. Down So Low (from the July 1973 US LP "Etta James" on Chess CH 50042 – Tracy Nelson cover version)

12. All The Way Down (September 1973, Chess CH 2144, A-side)

13. God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) (from the July 1973 US LP "Etta James" on Chess CH 50042 – Randy Newman cover version)

14. Feelin' Uneasy (from the July 1973 US LP "Etta James" on Chess CH 50042 – Also July 1974 US 45-single on Chess CH 2153, B-side of "Out On The Streets, Again" – Track 19 on CD3)

15. St. Louis Blues (from the June 1974 US LP "Come A Little Closer" on Chess CH 60029 – W.C. Handy cover version)

16. Let's Burn Down The Cornfield (from the June 1974 US LP "Come A Little Closer" on Chess CH 60029 – Randy Newman cover version)

17. Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight (from the June 1974 US LP "Come A Little Closer" on Chess CH 60029 – Trevor Lawrence and Gabriel Mekler song)

18. Sookie Sookie (from the June 1974 US LP "Come A Little Closer" on Chess CH 60029 – a Steppenwolf cover version)

19. Out On The Street, Again (from the June 1974 US LP "Come A Little Closer" on Chess CH 60029 – Trevor Lawrence and Gabriel Mekler song)

20. Lovin' Arms (April 1975, Chess CH 2171, A-side)

NOTES:

Tracks 1, 2, 7 and 9 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

The look on the outside of the tall Digibook is almost of Hessian – that famous publicity photo of a young Jamesetta Hawkins centring the text – the whole set compiled and produced by ANDY McKAIE – a trusted name associated with loads of archival Box sets and Anthologies. Inside is a rather lovely and carefully put-together 40-page attached booklet with a History of her career by LEE HILDEBRAND (Pages 3 to 19) with the rest taken up by Track-By-Track info and Discography Details. Etta died January 2012, so she was still alive when the set was compiled and contributed new interviews to Hildebrand that were in turn wrapped around new photos from her own archive and that of Chess. But the big news is ERICK LABSON Transfers and Remasters from Mono and Stereo Tapes which are amazing. The crooner material of the early Sixties did not really suit – so you will (like say Sam Cooke) struggle a tad with material not up to her potential. But make no mistake – it will at least sound beautifully clean and present and it adds so much enjoyment to the music. To the chunes...

 

Of the overall seventy-two tracks, 10 are Previously Unreleased, 3 Previously Unreleased on Album and 3 from later MCA/Chess CD Compilations - the remainder are Single and LP-sides - many being rare Non-LP B-sides and so on. The overall listen as regards songs is not all great as I said already, but when she the material matched the passionate voice, sparks flew. Tracks on CD1 like "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" are too close to bad cabaret – but then you get tingles from the Bluesy almost female Sinatra vibe to "Fool That I Am" – and in beautifully clear audio. The unreleased "I Don't Want It" on CD1 is OK and you can hear why it was canned – better unreleased is the Brassy Bopper "You Got Me Where You Want Me" – a genuine find – gorgeous Stereo Audio too. The orchestra swirling around "I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)" is beautifully presented here even if the sentiment is a tad too syrupy for Etta. Better is the punchy Organ-driven Tony Clarke/Billy Davis kitty-kitty-purring bopper "Pushover" (look out Romeo). A Gene Autry/Fred Rose Country shuffler gets the Etta piano R&B treatment from Etta on "Be Honest With Me" – a single side that has never been on an album until this 2000 Anthology.

 

As you can see from the credits on CD1 - the singles include duets with Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows and I am fairly sure that that is his spoken voice introducing "Stop The Wedding" like a courtroom judge about to don his executioner cap. "A Sunday Kind Of Love" is a cover of The Harp-tones 1953 Vocal Group classic on Bruce Records – Etta doing it justice. What can you say about "At Last" - a song that still touches and tingles after all these decades. Other highlights include the let's get frisky "I Just Want To Make Love To You" - a Willie Dixon song made famous by Muddy Waters on Chess in 1954 and covered by hundreds of band since. But as I already said, CD1 is slightly let down by too many sappy crooner tunes clearly hustling for that female Sam Cooke/Frank Sinatra marketplace – she feels like Aretha pre Atlantic Records – waiting to be given the right material and then unleashed.

 

As CD2 starts with a Roy Orbison-good sounding "Would It Make Any Difference" where our EJ wonders if her man would stay away ever she was in trouble bad (he would, the snake) – you are hit with clarity that is stunning. Etta would not like any person to experience "Pay Back" – a cautionary bopper tale – another playing him for a fool in "Two Sides (To Every Story)". The Previously Unreleased live version of "At Last" was recorded in September 1962 and in some ways is bizarre – a rough and rowdy crowd where you cannot make out of they are just drunk or actively against and talk all the way through the performance – it’s like she’s singing to a crowd with a band that is just trying to get through the set. The raucous live version of "Baby What You Want Me To Do" is the same – only the crowd seems more in her boogie favour – her voice and delivery just fantastic (Janis Joplin smiling from ear to ear).

 

The "Etta James" Soul, Funk and Seventies R&B relaunch album from July 1973 on Chess Records saw EJ cover three Randy Newman songs - "Sail Away" from the RN album of the same name from 1972 being the first choice here (the other is "God's Song" – they left off "Leave Your Hat On"). But with just her name in block capitols on the cover of "Etta James", it is hardly surprising that this uninspired and uninspired-looking artwork did the LP no favours. Few Soul fans even knew of its existence. Hip-O Select finally did a Reissue CD of it in 2006 remastered superbly by Gavin Lurssen, but even that is hard to find and expensive in 2023. Thankfully this "Chess Box" also includes the excellent "Down So Low" from the same album – a Tracy Nelson cover version that includes Ken Marco on Guitar, William D. Smith on Keyboards and master sessionman Chuck Rainey on Bass. Another is the Gabriel Mekler (Producer) and Trevor Laurence written opening cut "All The Way Down" which Chess issued as an American 45-single in September 1972 with the album cut "Lay Back Daddy" on the flipside.

 

But perhaps most astonishing of all inclusions on CD3 is the gut-wrenchingly moving almost creepy "Feelin' Uneasy" where she literally sings no words but moans through the music with guttural pleas that have risen up the surface (she was in withdrawal from drugs). "Feelin' Uneasy" was not surprisingly relegated to the flipside of a July 1974 US 45 for "Out On The Street, Again" (Track 19 on this CD) – but what an astonishing moment and somehow a microcosm for her whole troubled life. Little Feat fans will probably know that amongst the guitar players for the 1974 "Come A Little Closer" album sessions was Lowell George (Danny Kortchmar – long associated with James Taylor and Carole King – was in there too as was Wah Wah Watson). Lowell George turns up on three 1974 cuts – the W.C. Handy traditional "St. Louis Blues" and another Randy Newman cover version "Let's Burn Down The Cornfield" – both from the "Come A Little Closer" on Chess. That album ably attacks the old 60ts Steppenwolf/John Kay-written chestnut "Sookie Sookie" – very cool and one that suited EJ.

 

"The Chess Box" is by no means all genius (hence the 4-star rating), but it has 5-star Remastered Audio and enough released and unreleased goodies to satisfy. And frankly anything by the great lady on the many fab labels around Chess Records is nectar to me. Get uneasy with this one...

"Anthology" by JOHN HIATT - Forty Album Tracks from 1974 to 2000 featuring Guests Nick Lowe of Brinsley Schwarz and Little Village, Martin Belmont of Ducks Deluxe, Paul Carrack of Ace, Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics, Glen Ballard of Argent, Benmont Tench of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Mac Gayden of Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry, Ry Cooder, Rosanne Cash, Sonny Landreth and many more (7 August 2001 US-Only Hip-O Records 40-Track 2CD Career Anthology with Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Have A Little Faith In Me..."

There are some artists/songwriters that should be huge. And in some ways - especially among other singers who know the real tunesmith deal when they hear it - they actually are. It's just that the public has been a tad slow in picking up on the good news (think John Prine, Shawn Phillips or even Randy Newman in the 60ts and 70ts). 

 

Indianapolis' JOHN HIATT is one of those artists. His first two albums on Epic Records - the debut "Hangin' Around The Observatory" and its follow-up "Overcoats" hit American record shacks in 1974 and 1975, but did little business. Unbelievably Hiatt would have to wait until the brilliant (and commercial) "Bring The Family" album on A&M Records in 1987 before he charted on Billboard - a full seven albums into his output. In fact, the year 2023 celebrates 50 years of recording for JH as that debut was put down in July 1973, the LP released January of the next year (1974).

 

It's also worth pointing out that when "Bring The Family" was issued in 1987 (early days for CD) - that digital outing had an ok-to-good reputation sound-wise. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab of the USA picked up on this and in Nov 1994 reissued "Bring The Family" on one of their Original Master Recording, Ultradisc II formats - and to much praise. But being a limited edition, it has been deleted years and steadily accruing huge price tags. So here on this 2001 2CD set - fans can at least get five of the "Bring The Family" album tracks in superior Erick Labson Remastered sound for online prices that are more than reasonable.

Which brings us to this fantastic-sounding US-only 2CD career overhaul from Hip-O Select issued in August 2001 (trading then as Hip-O Records). You get forty albums cuts from the 1974 debut right up to 2000's "Crossing Muddy Waters" CD album on Vanguard Records. There is much to savor...

 

US-only released 7 August 2001 - "Anthology" by JOHN HIATT on Hip-O Records 314 556 134-2 (Barcode 731455613421) is a 40-Track 2CD Career Retrospective of New Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (78:08 minutes):

1. Sure As I'm Sittin' Here 

2. Hangin' Around The Observatory 

3. Down Home

4. Washable Ink

5. Slug Line

6. Radio Girl

7. Pink Bedroom 

8. It Hasn't Happened Yet

9. Spy Boy

10. Doll Hospital

11. My Edge Of The Razor

12. Riding With The King

13. She Loves The Jerk

14. I Don't Even Try

15. The Love That Harms

16. The Way We Make A Broken Heart (Duet Vocals with Rosanne Cash)

17. When We Ran

18. The Usual

19. She Said The Same Things To Me (Duet Vocals with Frieda Woody)

20. Lipstick Sunset

21. Thank You Girl

22. Have A Little Faith In Me

NOTES:

Tracks 1 and 2 from his US debut album "Hangin' Around The Observatory", January 1974 on Epic KE 32688 

Track 3 from his second US studio album "Overcoats", April 1975 on Epic KE 33190

Tracks 4, 5 and 6 are from his third studio album "Slug Line", August 1979 on MCA Records MCA-3088 

Tracks 7 and 8 are from his fourth studio album "Two Bit Monsters", October 1980 on MCA Records MCA-5123

Track 9 from the Original Soundtrack Album "Cruising" from 1980

Tracks 10 and 11 are from his fifth studio album "All Of A Sudden", April 1982 on Geffen GHS 2009

Tracks 12 to 15 are from his sixth studio album "Riding With The King", April 1984 on Geffen GHS 4017

Track 16 from the compilation album "The Best Of John Hiatt", August 1998 on Capitol CDP 7243 8 59179 2 9 - featuring Rosanne Cash on Duet Vocals - song recorded during the "Riding With The King" sessions in 1984 

Tracks 17 to 19 are from his seventh studio album "Warming Up To The Ice Age", September 1986 on Geffen GHS 24055 

Tracks 20 to 22 are from his eighth studio album "Bring The Family", May 1987 on A&M Records SP 5158 in the USA, Demon Records FIEND 100 in the UK

 

CD2 (77:17 minutes):

1. Memphis In The Meantime

2. Thing Called Love

3. Tennessee Plates

4. Slow Turning 

5. Drive South 

6. Feels Like Rain

7. Paper Thin

8. Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder

9. Real Fine Love

10. Perfectly Good Guitars

11. Buffalo River Home

12. Angel Eyes

13. Cry Love

14. Shredding The Document

15. Don't Think About Her When You're Trying To Drive

16. Pirate Radio

17. Crossing Muddy Waters

18. Take It Down

Tracks 1 to 2 are from his eighth studio album "Bring The Family", May 1987 on A&M Records SP 5158 in the USA, Demon Records FIEND 100 in the UK

Tracks 3 to 7 are from his ninth studio album "Slow Turning", August 1988

Tracks 8 and 9 are from his tenth studio album "Stolen Moments", June 1990

Tracks 10 and 11 are from his eleventh studio album "Perfectly Good Guitar", September 1993

Track 12 from the live album "Hiatt Comes Alive At The Budokan?", November 1994 by John Hiatt & The Guilty Dogs

Tracks 13 and 14 are from the album "Walk On", November 1995

Track 15 from the CD album "Little Village" by Little Village, 1992

Track 16 from the album "Little Head", June 1997

Tracks 17 and 18 are from the album "Crossing Muddy Waters", October 2000 

 

The 16-page booklet features new June 2001 liner notes SCOTT SCHINDER mixed in with period photos and interviews with a clearly happily married man and a musical career he's proud of. But the big news is without doubt the talents of a Universal Audio Engineer I've raved about before - ERICK LABSON. As of 2023 I think he's amassed over 1,000 reissue credits including Buddy Holly, The Who, Neil Diamond, Wishbone Ash, The Mamas and The Papas, Etta James, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and the bulk of the Chess/Cadet/Checker catalogue. When this guy gets nears the tapes, magic is going to happen and it does here. I had the album "Warming Up To The Ice Age" when I was in the thralls of buying everything and anything I could get my hands on in 1985 - I wanted the riffing "The Usual". It always had a weedy punch - here it leaps and snarls as it was always meant to do. To the array...

 

I would be the the first to admit that as you play the start of CD1 and the end of CD2, a 5-star rating seems a tad high. And with that in mind it is unfortunately easy to hear why the early LPs came and went, the songs are good but never great or particularly memorable. It isn't until you get to the cod Rock 'n' Roll of "Doll Hospital", the hurting and pleading ballad "My Edge Of The Razor" and that very John Hiatt chug of "Riding With The King" (in the early 80ts) do you start to get really interested. I know these tracks from vinyl and to hear them now finally punching above their audio weight on these fantastic Remasters is a blast. 

 

You can feel the songwriting prowess growing with cool shuffles like "She Said The Same Things To Me" and his Indie-Punk-New Wave heart in the fab riffage of "The Usual" - a highlight on the "Warming Up To The Ice Age" album from 1985. But everything changed with the undeniable "Bring The Family" album produced with warmth by John Chelew in 1987. Even as the gorgeous melody of "Lipstick Sunset" plays - Ry Cooder playing a blinder as ever on Slide Guitar - you can hear all those years grafting and honing his songs come full circle to the absolute classic that is "Have A Little Faith in Me". Jewel did a cover of this impassioned piano pleader on the John Travolta movie "Phenomenon" soundtrack that brought its beauty to everyone's attention a few years later. 

 

British songwriting and humorist hero Nick Lowe of Brinsley Schwarz and later Little Village fame joined Hiatt's recording entourage for the "Bring The Family" album on Bass and Harmony Vocals. And dig that Ry Cooder guitar on "Thank You Girl" - gritty and chunky with the Remaster - so damn good. Bonnie Raitt covered "Thing Called Love" for her 1989 comeback album "Nick Of Time" on Capitol Records and once again - a cool woman brought Hiatt's songwriting brilliance to the masses. 

 

Hiatt's witty lyrics come roaring out of the sick-of-mandolins romp that is "Memphis In The Meantime" where he tells his girl that he needs to hear the guitars of a real band. Sonny Landreth adds his fabulous and unique slide guitar prowess to the rocking "Tennessee Plates". Although it was inexplicably perceived as a bit of a disappointment after the overall quality of "Bring The Family" - I love the four from 1988's "Slow Turning" album that are featured here. First up is the rollicking upbeat vibe to the title track "Slow Turning", then the very John Mellencamp big acoustic sound to the motor-running "Drive South". CD2 now provides us with his other undisputed classic - the slow shimmering guitars of "Feels Like Rain" - what a gem and sounding glorious too. 

 

"Paper Thin" is a rocker that again wouldn't be amiss on Mellencamp's "Big Daddy" album say - guitars from Sonny Landreth and Eagles original Bernie Leadon. We go big-eyed for the happy and catchy "Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder", but that is whomped by my fave-of-faves - "Real Fine Love" - both it and "Child..." from the underrated "Stolen Moments" album of 1990. And on it goes to other goodies like the lovely "Buffalo River Home", even if it does taper out a bit for me towards 2000. 

 

"What did I do...what did I say...to turn your Angel Eyes my way?" Hiatt sings on the cleverly chosen live version of "Angel Eyes" taken from his lesser-seen Budokan show with his band of the moment, The Guilty Dogs. Well, I am guilty, sign me up to the wild blue yonder and bring all the family too...