"The Hi Records Singles A's & B's" by ANN PEEBLES (June 2002 Demon/Hi Records 2CD Reissue and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Love Power…"

Forty-seven Soul killers across 2CDs and hardly a duffer amongst them - not a bad track record by any reckoning for a decade long slew of hits. Ann Peebles knew how to milk a groove. Here are the 'give me some' credits...

UK released June 2002 - "The Hi Records Singles A's & B's" by ANN PEEBLES on Demon/Hi Records HEXD 54 (Barcode 740155205423) is a 2CD set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (67:47 minutes):

1. Walk Away

2. I Can't Let You Go (1969, tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B of Hi 2157, B-side non album)

3. Give Me Some Credit

4. Solid Foundation (1969, tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B of Hi 2165)

5. I'll Get Along

6. Generation Gap Between Us (1970, tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B of Hi 2173)

7. Part Time Love

8. I Still Love You (1970, tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B of Hi 2178)

9. I Pity The Fool

10. Heartaches Heartaches (1971, tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B of Hi 2186, B-side non-album)

11. Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love

12. 99 Lbs (1971, tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B of Hi 2198)

13. Breaking Up Somebody's Home

14. Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness (1971, tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B of Hi 2205)

15. Somebody's On Your Case

16. I've Been There Before (1972, tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B of Hi 2219)

17. I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

18. One Way Street (1973, tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B of Hi 2232)

19. I Can't Stand The Rain (1973, track 19 is the A of Hi 2248, B-side was "I've Been There Before" (see 16))

20. (You Keep Me) Hangin' On (1974, track 20 is the A-side of Hi 2265, US B-side was "I Pity The Fool" (see 9))

21. Run, Run, Run (1974, track 21 is the B-side of "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" in the UK on London HLU 10468)

22. Do I Need You

23. A Love Vibration (1974, tracks 22 and 23 are the A&B of Hi 2271)

24. Put Yourself In My Place

25. Until You Came Into My Life (1974, tracks 24 and 25 are the A&B of Hi 2278)

Disc 2 (72:38 minutes):

1. Beware

2. You Got To Feed The Fire (1975, tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B of Hi 2284)

3. Come To Mama

4. I'm Leavin' You (1975, tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B of Hi 2294, B-side non- album)

5. Dr. Love Power (1975, track 5 is the A-side of Hi 2302, the B-side was "I Still Love You" (track 8 on Disc 1))

6. I Don't Lend My Mind

7. I Needed Somebody (1975, tracks 6 and 7 are the A&B of Hi 2309)

8. Fill This World With Love

9. It Was Jealousy (1976, tracks 8 and 9 are the A&B of Hi 2320)

10. If This Is Heaven

11. When I'm In Your Arms (1977, tracks 10 and 11 are the A&B of Hi 77502)

12. Old Man With Young Ideas

13. A Good Day For Lovin' (1978, tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B of Hi 78509)

14. I Didn't Take Your Man

15. Being Here With You (1978, tracks 14 and 15 are the A&B of Hi 78518)

16. If You Got The Time (I Got The Love)

17. Let Your Lovelight Shine (1979, tracks 16 and 17 are the A&B of Hi 79528, A-side non-album)

18. Heartaches

19. I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love (1980, tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B of Hi 80533 - Single-only release)

20. Be For Me (Alternate B-side for "Heartaches" - track 19)

21. Mon Belle - Amour

22. Waiting (1981, tracks 21 and 22 are the A&B of Hi 81534, Single-only release, both sides feature DONALD BRYANT)

The 12-page booklet features track-by-track writer credits, catalogue numbers and chart placing. Well-written Mick Patrick & Malcolm Baumgart liner notes give a detailed history of her stay at Hi Records with Producer Willie Mitchell - and the excellent mastering has been done by PETER RYNSTON at Tall Order in the UK.

Along with Al Green, Syl Johnson, O.V. Wright and Otis Clay (her label mates at Hi) - Peebles had an extraordinary 7" singles career on the American Billboard R&B charts - eight in the top fifty (" Pity The Fool" and "I Can't Stand The Rain" hitting 7 and 6 respectively) with the rest inside the Top 100. The Missouri Gospel singer struck a chord with buyers when her gritty Soul songs filled the airwaves - "Breaking Up Somebody's Home" and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" having since been covered by numerous artists (many in the Rock sphere).

Tunes like Clay Hammond's "Part Time Love" and George Jackson's "Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love" are typical of her groove - the Ann Peebles sound - gutsy vocals, real world lyrics about heartache, lust and cheating backed up by tight guitars and complimentary brass. But what's so cool about this compilation is getting to hear those 'just as good' B-sides like the aching "I Still Love You" and Don Bryant's "99 Lbs". And then there's those low end chart songs you've forgotten about like Earl Randie's "Somebody's On Your Case" and her superb Soulful take on the Gosdin Brothers country classic "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On".

Like Al Green - the sides Ann Peebles did at Hi Records never seem to date - but only get better as the decades pass as more and more Soul searchers stumble on her musical legacy. Start tearing your playhouse down right here...

"Hermit Of Mink Hollow" by TODD RUNDGREN (2014 Edsel 'Case Bound Book Edition CD' Reissue - Rhino/Peter Rynston Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Heartbreak’s Never Easy To Take..."

Back in May 2014 - Edsel of the UK began celebrating TODD RUNDGREN albums with ‘Deluxe Edition’ packaging upgrades – hardback book editions of key albums in his extensive back catalogue. The first three were "Something/Anything?" (a double-album from 1972), "A Wizard A True Star" (a single album from 1973) and "Todd" (another double from 1974). So here’s the next batch of three for September 2014 – "Runt" - his debut solo album from December 1970 on Ampex Records now extended into a double-CD edition with bonuses – "Initiation" from June 1975 (see review) and this - "Hermit Of Mink Hollow" from May 1978 on Bearsville Records – one of his most popular Seventies albums. Here are the people who can’t be friends…

UK released 9 September 2014 (16 September in the USA) - "Hermit of Mink Hollow: Deluxe Edition" by TODD RUNDGREN on Edsel EDSA 5033 (Barcode 740155503338) is a single-CD reissue of their February 2012 2CD set which combined  "Healing" and "The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect" - only this time it's just the album straight in a 'Case Bound Hardback Book' Edition (35:48 minutes).

1. All The Children Sing

2. Can we Still Be Friends?

3. Hurting For You

4. Too Far Gone

5. Onomatopoeia

6. Determination

7. Bread [Side 2]

8. Bag Lady

9. You Cried Wolf

10. Lucky Guy

11. Out Of Control

12. Fade Away

The attached 12-page booklet within has liner notes by Paul Myers from his superb tome "A Wizard, A True Star – Todd Rundgren In The Studio" and is an excellent read. There's photos of Rundgren's house on Mink Hollow Road in Lake Hill where he built his Utopia studio and recorded the album. The front and rear sleeve artwork of the May 1978 Bearsville vinyl album is here (BSR 6981 in the USA and K 55521 in the UK) – as are the lyrics. The hard card case bound book has a details sticker on the outer shrink-wrap that easily peels off (if you want to attach it to the book cover). There are no extras.

There is no new remaster that I can hear – this is the Edsel February 2012 version - that in itself was a Peter Rynston UK master using the 1993 American Rhino remasters. Don't get me wrong – the sound is superb. The only upgrade here is the cool-looking book packaging – which is a rather lovely thing to behold…

After the full-on Synth and Prog excesses of "Todd Rundgren's Utopia" (1974) and "Initiation" (1975) – Rundgren seemed to get back to 'tunes' with 1978's "Hermit Of Mink Hollow" – containing as it does some of his most beloved songs to this day – "Hurting For You" and the magical "Can We Still Be Friends?" (lyrics above). Other goodies include "Too Far Gone" – even the silly-word song "Onomatopoeia" is great fun. "Determination" combines that 'guitar-and-keyboards' sound he gets into a cool upbeat song that would have made a great single too. He called Side 2 "The Difficult Side" and it opens with a song about poverty – the brilliant "Bread". But my favourite – and for my money one of his greatest songs – is the aching homeless anthem "Bag Lady" ("...fifty cents rent goes pretty far when you live in a subway car…"). The hurting "Lucky Guy" is excellent too. It finishes with "Out Of Control" and "Fade Away" – a superb duo of layered deep melodies.

1978's "Hermit Of Mink Hollow" was a 'return to form' for many (a return to songs). Personally I think Rundgren never left – like Bowie he just went in musical directions most wouldn’t have tried - and I for one dug them all.

I’ve loved rehearing this gem of an LP again – a very sweet and pretty looking CD reissue…

PS: see also my reviews for "Runt" (1970), "Something/Anything?" (1972), "A Wizard, A True Star" (1973) and "Todd" (1974) in this series of 'Book Edition' CD reissues...

"Initiation" by TODD RUNDGREN (2014 Edsel 'Deluxe Edition' Hardback Book CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CLASSIC ROCK & POP 1970 to 1974 - Exceptional CD Remasters  

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"…I’d Rather Live By A Dream..." 

Back in May 2014 - Edsel of the UK began celebrating TODD RUNDGREN albums with ‘Deluxe Edition’ packaging upgrades – hardback book editions of key albums in his extensive back catalogue. The first three were "Something/Anything?"(a double-album from 1972), “A Wizard A True Star” (a single album from 1973) and "Todd" (another double from 1974). So here’s the next batch of three for September 2014 – “Runt” - his debut solo album from December 1970 on Ampex Records now extended into a double-CD edition with bonuses – “Hermit Of Mink Hollow “ from May 1978 on Bearsville Records – and this – “Initiation” from June 1975. Here are the Internal Eyes, Cosmic Treatises and Stellar Fires…

UK released 9 September 2014 (16 September in the USA) - Edsel EDSA 5032 (Barcode 740155503239) is a single-CD reissue of their October 2011 twinning with “Faithful” - only this time it’s in a case bound hardback book (67:40 minutes). The attached 12-page booklet within has liner notes by Paul Myers from his superb tome "A Wizard, A True Star – Todd Rundgren In The Studio" and is an excellent read. The front and rear sleeve artwork of the June 1975 Bearsville vinyl album is here (BS 6957 in the USA and K 55504 in the UK) – as is the inner sleeve that came with original copies. The hard card case bound book has a details sticker on the outer shrink-wrap that easily peels off (if you want to attach it to the book cover). There are no extras.

There is no new remaster that I can hear – this is the Edsel October 2011 version - that in itself was a Peter Rynston UK master using the 1993 American Rhino remasters. Don’t get me wrong – the sound is superb. And famous at the time as being the longest vinyl album ever made at 67:40 minutes – the original LP was always a dreadful compromise as a listening experience. So the CD remaster alters all of that and so much for the better. The only upgrade here is the cool-looking book packaging – which is a rather lovely thing to behold…

I loved November 1974’s “Todd Rundgren’s Utopia” – for me one of the true Prog masterpieces of the Seventies (with “The Ikon” on Side 2) – so I was frothing at the gash when this album came out. But it’s a tale of two cities – the brilliant and the indulgent. Side 1 is superb - opening with the catchy “Real Man”. It was actually released as a single in September 1975 with “Prana” the cool opening guitar/synth combo bit on Side 2 as its B-side. There’s even a stab at boogie in “The Death Of Rock’n’Roll” and the frantic guitar soloing in “Initiation” is amazing. The lovely vibes of “Eastern Intrigue” are peppering with humorous lyrics but Todd genius comes in the shape of the gorgeous “Fair Warning” – as brill a Rundgren song as he’s ever written (lyrics above).

But then unfortunately you’re hit with the sort of indulgence that only an artist with total control can produce – the 35-minute synth/keyboard extravaganza that is the whole of Side 2 – “A Treatise On Cosmic Fire”. He plays every imaginable keyboard in his own Studio and it’s hard to swallow in one sitting. There are cool parts like the opening “Prana” which is returned to in the dying minutes of the piece – but most of it is endless wailing synth solos that irritate in stead of illuminating. It’s not all un-listenable nonsense of course -but once past the opening eight minutes or so - it’s not far off of it either. Ah the Seventies…

So there you have it – two sides to every story. And yet even now – nearly 40 years after the event – I still get a kick out of just looking at its sleeve…