"Another Monday" by JOHN RENBOURN (April 2002 Castle Music CD Reissue - Andy Pearce and Sean Magee Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Gonna Blow My Blues Away..."

After the shaky but promising start of his debut "John Renbourn" in February 1966 - along came album No. 2 "Another Monday" in December of that amazing year and things really started cooking for Marylebone's finest Acoustic Guitar virtuoso.

This seriously hard-to-find album is still only listed at £30 in the 2018 Edition of The Record Collector's 'Rare Record Price Guide' but try finding one in any condition for that money. With this CD reissue hovering at around four to eight quid - I suppose these days we're a little blasé as to just how rare this record is – but what is for sure – via digital Joe Public has access to a great rarity that would have been otherwise out of their reach.

At a piddly twenty-eight minutes exactly, Renbourn's second is hardly guilty of Prog excess when it comes to playing time, but it does 'throw its arms around you like a circle around the sun' as the great man sings in "I Know My Babe". "Another Monday" is a beautifully even-handed album - a cool breeze listen all the way through and I for one love his voice even though there were those at the time that slagged it off and would have paid him good money to never open his gob again (one went ballistic generous, taking all of his might to describe JR as a 'pleasant enough singer'). That cruel assessment was balls IMO because when you listen to his three duets with future Pentangle leading light Jacqui McShee on "Lost Lover Blues", "Can't Keep From Crying" and "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - the combo of their voices produced magic to my ears. Throw in the instrumental "One For William" where he accompanies himself on Oboe of all things using the ponderous pseudonym 'Jennifer d0e Montforte-Jones' and you get some trippy Acid Folk moments that also touch on a slight Jazz vibe. There's so much to love here - let's get to the weeklies...

UK released April 2002 (re-issued March 2008) - "Another Monday" by JOHN RENBOURN on Sanctuary/Castle Music CMRCD436 (Barcode 5050159143627) is a straightforward CD transfer and Remaster of the original 12-track 1966 Stereo LP and plays out as follows (28:00 minutes):

1. Another Monday [Side 1]

2. Ladye Nothinge's Toye Puffe

3. I Know My Babe

4. Waltz

5. Lost Love Blues

6. One For William

7. Buffalo [Side 2]

8. Sugar Babe

9. Debbie Anne

10. Can't Keep From Crying

11. Day At The Seaside

12. Nobody's Fault But Mine

Tracks 1 to 12 are his second studio album "Another Monday" - released December 1966 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 149 (unreleased in the USA). Produced by BILL LEADER - it didn't chart. NOTES: All tracks written by Renbourn except 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 which are Traditional Song and Blues covers. Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11 are instrumentals; Renbourn sings Lead Vocals on Tracks 3 and 8 and duet vocals with Jacqui McShee [later with Pentangle] on Tracks 5, 10 and 12.

The 12-page booklet has wonderfully informative liner notes from COLIN HARPER author of "Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch And The British Folk Blues Revival" from 2000 (Bloomsbury Books). There are some photos of a beardy John looking suitably pensive (one on a chair with his acoustic miked-up and ready to take the English music scene by the scruff of the neck), a two-page advert spread for Sanctuary's reissue program for Renbourn and the band he would be most famously associated with. Speaking of which - on Page 8 is a photo of the 'blond-haired' singer Jacqui McShee – a Folky on the scene since 1960 and introduced to Renbourn in 1965 - thereby beginning a musical partnership that blossomed with Danny Thompson, Terry Cox and Bert Jansch into the mighty Pentangle.

But the big news here is a gorgeous Remaster from two fave Audio Engineers of mine – ANDY PEARCE and SEAN MAGEE. Pearce has done wads of great transfers across a large set of genres - Rory Gallagher, Free, Spooky Tooth, Wishbone Ash, ELP, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, John Renbourn, Pentangle, Budgie, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, The Bible and many more. Magee has been involved in the prestigious and much-praised Beatles Remasters as well as Lennon solo reissues. This is a lovely sounding CD – warm and inviting and as much of it consists of simple acoustic instrumentals – songs ping out of your speakers with real clarity.

It opens with two short instrumental originals - "Another Monday" and "Ladye Nothinge's Toye Puffe" - loveliness that flows over you sweetly (he revisited "Ladye..." on "The Nine Maidens" album in 1985). Renbourn sings "I Know My Babe" - a Blues Traditional that James Taylor based "Circle 'Round The Sun" on when he covered it too on his 1968 Apple Records debut "James Taylor". Renbourn's picking, his warm-toned vocal delivery and the "...sun's gonna shine..." lyrics all combine to make a fast-paced Acoustic mini masterpiece out of "I Know My Babe". But of all the instrumentals on the LP - his own "Waltz" is by far the most hair-raisingly brilliant - feeling like some lost Blues Speeder on some forgotten Folkways LP of the early Fifties (and you can so hear where Page nicked a few licks for Zeppelin). A cover of Blind Boy Fuller's "Lost Lover Blues" becomes the first of three featuring Jacqui McShee on duet vocals with Renbourn - sure ain't got no lovin' baby now. Combined with Renbourn moonlighting as the po-faced pseudonym Jennifer de Montforte-Jones the 'Oboe' player - the Acid Folk instrumental of "One For William" ends Side 1 on a high.

He advises in the rear-sleeve liner notes that Side 2's "Buffalo" is from the repertoire of Davy Graham - yet it’s credited as a Renbourn original on the label. "Sugar Babe" is another Blues Traditional that he admits is a thinly disguised "Lost Lover Blues" where our poor chap has to leave on the morning train (woman troubles you know). "Debbie Anne" is an instrumental picker that precedes the second Jacqui McShee collaboration - a Blues Traditional called "Can't Keep From Crying" taught to Renbourn by Mike Rogers. As he speeds up and down the frets - she hits a low chorus duet vocal that works perfectly. At only 1:11 minutes "Day At The Seaside" is very short but also very lovely. And it all comes to a wicked finishing line – John on the bottleneck guitar as he slides through the Blues Standard "Nobody's Fault But Mine" with Jacqui on her final vocal contribution. If the poor girl singing the song doesn't read her Bible - her soul will be lost and it'll be... Well I'm not so sure about that - but I love the way it finishes "Another Monday".

Sometimes albums aren't overly flashy or chock to the monkey-nuts with obvious zippy-lick brilliance - sometimes they're just sweet and good on the brain - and yes – on the soul too. The quietly lovely "Another Monday" is one of the records.

"...The sun's gonna shine on my back door someday..." - Renbourn sang on "I Know My Babe". Let in this ray of light shine into your home someday. And remember sinners - if you don't - it ain't "Nobody's Fault But Mine"...

"Imagine" by JOHN LENNON and THE PLASTIC ONO BAND (October 2010 EMI/Apple 'Signature Collection' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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JOHN LENNON and THE PLASTIC ONO BAND - "Imagine" 

Featuring George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins, Klaus Voorman, Tom Evans and Joey Molland of Badfinger, King Curtis, Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues and Alan White of Yes

"...When You're Crippled Inside..."

Some albums come loaded with their own legend and in the case of John Lennon's extraordinarily patchy solo work - it's easy for fans and admirers alike to start throwing around 5-star appraisals at 1971's "Imagine".

His famous second solo LP and most commercially successful (No. 1 on both sides of the pond) - "Imagine" is a good John Lennon album. I didn't think it was amazing back then as a teenager and 46 years later it hasn't morphed across time into a latter day masterpiece either (none of his Seventies solo LPs are five-star load-outs to me). But man oh man when Lennon's songwriting talent hits that sweet spot - he could articulate affection with a tenderness that would disarm an atheist ("Oh My Love"). Liverpool's finest could be a genuinely adoring husband in "Oh Yoko!" - only to become a poisonous spoiled little retch riling against a former friend and musical journeyman in "How Do You Sleep?" – his famous vitriolic attack on Paul McCartney for perceived slights on his "Ram" album released earlier in the year (May 1971).

I suppose that's what makes "Imagine" something you keep coming back to despite its flaws. Lennon was the most captivating of the post Beatles - a man plagued with all manner of demons both mental and physical that came out in his music - hitting you with an embarrassing honesty that often felt like an open wound with a neon above it saying 'smack me and smack me hard'. "Imagine" was truthful – reflecting both him and Yoko and their place in the world in 1971. Personally tender one moment - politico ranter the next – constantly searching for a truth that always seemed elusive and out of his/their grasp. "Imagine" is a ramshackle thing really despite nowadays being perceived as a coherent whole. And frankly would we have it any other way...

Which brings me to this latest 2010 CD Remaster in its natty gatefold card sleeve. Here are the head-in-the-clouds reissue details...

UK released October 2010 - "Imagine" by JOHN LENNON and THE PLASTIC ONO BAND on EMI/Apple 5099990650222 (Barcode 5099990650222) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1971 Apple Records album that plays out as follows (39:47 minutes):

1. Imagine

2. Crippled Inside

3. Jealous Guy

4. It's So Hard

5. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier

6. Give Me Some Truth [Side 2]

7. Oh My Love

8. How Do You Sleep?

9. How?

10. Oh Yoko!

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Imagine" - released 9 September 1971 in the USA on Apple Records SW 3379 and 8 October 1971 in the UK on Apple Records PAS 10004. Produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector - it peaked at No. 1 in both countries.

This CD leaves out video and bonus tracks – so we don't get that self-indulgent and self-obsessed pair wandering around white rooms like they're all deep and in touch with greater forces than you or I. We're just left with the music as was presented – and a thoroughly excellent new remaster.

While the 16-page booklet is pretty to look at and tactile - it bears little resemblance to the Apple Records LP we all grew up with and loved. The track list wasn't on the rear sleeve and since when did "Give Me Some Truth" become 'Gimme Some Truth' or "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier" start to be called 'I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die'. The stunning inner bag that came with 1971 vinyl LPs with the lyrics on one side and the musician credits on the other (both in circles) is not pictured - the lyrics now in the booklet followed by a more readable credits section. I get why that was done – both are now readable. But I still miss it not being here. Why couldn’t a repro version of that paper inner been used as a protective inner bag for the picture CD in the left part of the card digipak (a bit of imagination on the part of EMI would have lifted this flimsy thing out of the ordinary). The foldout black and white poster of John at a piano and the postcard of him holding a pig by the ears that came with original 1971 Apple pressings are built into the booklet and the gatefold card sleeve too. And although it doesn't actually say so anywhere on the packaging or disc as an official title – these 2010 CD reissues have become known as 'The Signature Collection' because of that signature design on the left side of the front card sleeve – signed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

The new liner notes by PAUL DU NOYER give a potted history of the album including his ludicrous attack on McCartney's looks and songwriting gift in the vicious "How Do You Sleep?" Compared to the austere and bare bones debut solo LP in 1970 "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" – Noyer rightly concludes that "Imagine" did feel like George Harrison’s "All Things Must Pass" – the actual launch of a solo career and not the noodlings and experimentation that preceded it. There are lovely black and whites of John with Yoko, John with Phil Spector on the headphones in the studio and best of all is a witty snap of Lennon with George Harrison larking about with a Yoko Ono Grapefruit mug – his cheeky chappy working-class hero grin as evident as ever.

Overall - I find these card gatefold reissues and their glossy feel a string mix of the classy and nastily cheap – nice to look at – but oddly unsubstantial. I can’t help thinking die-hard fans will want the inevitable Japanese SHM-CD of "Imagine" with its Mini LP Repro Artwork using this 2010 remaster when it shows up (legendary reissues famed for their attention to fan-pleasing detail).

Meanwhile back here in cheapoville - the big news for us is the audio on "Imagine" - a notoriously lo-fi album now given the best transfer possible. PAUL HICKS, SEAN MAGEE and SIMON GIBSON – part of the team that handled the Apple Label catalogue and all the Stereo and Mono Remasters of the Beatles catalogue in 2009 – are once again at the master tapes helm. With Yoko Ono and Alan Rouse as Producer and Project Co-Ordinator – the boys have done the transfer deeds at Abbey Road Studios and the results are impressive. There’s a sudden power and clarity to all the tracks without ever being over-trebled or rammed on the loudness gauge – just subtle and present. If anything its made "Crippled Inside", "Jealous Guy" and "I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier" all the more eerie and spaced out on the Production front.

While Klaus Voorman (Bass) and Yes’ Alan White on Drums gently fill in the anthemic "Imagine" – it’s those ‘the world will live as one’ strings that now sound so sweet – tugging on your heart like never before - and those lyrics that make you cry. Lennon’s electric guitar opening to "Crippled Inside" is now even more otherworldly and I’m loving that superb Dobro solo from George Harrison - followed shortly after by Nicky Hopkins plinking away like a drunken sailor on the old Joanna in an East End pub at closing time. In a strange way – it took his loss and Bryan Ferry’s cover version in 1980 for me to really love "Jealous Guy". Jim Keltner on Drums, Klaus Voorman on Bass, Alan White providing Vibes – but its that Harmonium played by John Barham that leaps out of the new remastered mix.

I'd forgotten how cool "It's So Hard" is especially that brilliant string introduction - taking the song to places you hadn't expected. I've always found the near seven minutes of "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier" hard work - a jam that's trying to be something but never quite gets there. It has George Harrison on Guitar, Tom Evans and Joey Molland of Badfinger on Acoustic Guitars, Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues on Tambourine, Nicky Hopkins giving it some keyboard and even King Curtis on Saxophone. "Give Me The Truth" that opens Side 2 gives me the same creeps - a self-righteous rant without ever saying what it is he expects (George Harrison plays lead guitar). You're then clobbered with beauty - "Oh My Love" - as gorgeous a song as he's ever written. It's also beautifully produced - no gimmickry - just great music played sweetly and taped as such. It's a shame he vented in "How Do You Sleep?" because musically it’s good too. I always thought of "How?" as one of the album's truly brilliant moments – with its complimentary strings and simple piano-melody – it’s a beautiful song that would have elevated the "Let It Be" album into the stratosphere. And it ends on the jaunty "Oh Yoko" - Nicky Hopkins adding so much with his rolling piano while John impresses with those Mouth Organ flourishes.

"...My love will turn you on..." - John Lennon sang on "Oh Yoko". Despite its presentation flaws - I suspect this 2010 CD Remaster of the mighty "Imagine" LP will have you doing the same. R.I.P. you wonderful dreamer and thanks for all the imagining memories...

"Dog Of Two Head" by STATUS QUO (2003 Sanctuary/Castle Music 'Expanded Edition' CD - Sean Magee Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Something's Going On..." 

If 1970's "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" started the Status Quo Boogie Blitz of the Seventies rolling - November 1971's "Dog Of Two Head" is where 'From The Makers Of' began to win real legions of devoted fans.

Their last studio effort for Pye Records (the label would issue a cash-in 'Best Of' in 1973) - the quirkily named "Dog Of Two Head" album is a good old Rock record and a hair's breath away from the sheer head's down riffage of "Piledriver" in late 1972 (their first LP for England's Vertigo Records). In fact re-listening to it in 2016 and I'm brought back to zits, jeans and throwing embarrassing shapes with tennis racquets in the front room of my Dublin home as my poor parents looked on in their Black and White Minstrel Show amazement (and moral despair). I'd also forgotten how good it is (even the three "Nanana" extracts). Here are the Mean Girls, Gerdundula's and Railroads...

UK released February 2003 (reissued August 2013) - "Dog Of Two Head" by STATUS QUO on Sanctuary/Castle Music CMQCD 755 (Barcode 5050159175529) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with five Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (56:13 minutes):

1. Umleitung

2. Nanana (Extraction)

3. Something's Going On In My Mind

4. Mean Girl

5. Nanana (Extraction)

6. Gerdundula [Side 2]

7. Railroad

8. Someone's Learning

9. Nanana

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 4th studio album "Dog Of Two Head" - released 5 November 1971 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 18371 and Pye Records PYE 3301 in the USA. It didn't chart in either country.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Mean Girl (Early Rough/Alternate Mix)

11. Tune To The Music (7" Single) - 18 June 1971 UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N 45077, A - Non-album track

12. Good Thinking (7" single) - 18 June 1971 UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N 45077, B-side to "Tune To The Music" - Non-album track

BBC Session for the John Peel Show 3 March 1972

13. Mean Girl

14. Railroad

The 8-squares-per-side foldout inlay is a feast of fan memorabilia that is itself bolstered up by superlative and seriously detailed liner notes from DAVE OXLEY. Chief-mover and idea's man on the reissue was JOHN REED who has been behind so many great reissues and is a compiler fans trust and admire. SEAN MAGEE at Masterpiece did the superbly muscular Remasters and there's a special thanks to LIAM MOORE at the BBC for the Sessions. There are repro's of pictures sleeves for singles I've never seen - a Euro version of "Railroad" cut into a Part 1 and 2 - "Tune To The Music" with the boys at astride a car and a fab live shot of the boys 'heads down' on stage for "Mean Girl". In-between those are press adverts and uber-rare gig posters with them and Nazareth. It's beautifully done...

As with the "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" LP in 1970 – the numbskulls at Pye didn't prep the new and far better November 1971 album with any singles that would tempt and despite initial good sales - "Dog Of Two Head" failed to chart on either side of the pond. But as with Kelly’s it did increase a growing legion of fans both in Blighty and in Europe (especially Germany).

It's amazing even now to think that an obvious winner like "Something's Going on In My Head" with its hugely catchy guitar chords wasn't considered as a 45 (it would take Pye until 1973 to release "Mean Girl" as a single and that was only to promote their sour-grapes LP 'The Best Of'). They tried the stand-alone Rock/Bopper "Tune To The Music" as a Pye single in June 1971 and backed it with the cool Bluesy instrumental "Good Thinking" (both non-album at the time) - but it tanked and has proved a 45 rarity ever since. Even an edit of the seven-minute Boogie fest that is the LP opener "Umleitung" (German for diversion) would surely have elicited interest in the album - but wicked LP artwork in a gatefold sleeve or no - the album failed to sell.

"Nanana" turns up three times on the LP across two sides - the first two stabs are short acoustic/piano 'Extractions' that last less than a minute - until the final version simply called "Nanana" ends the album on Side 2 as a 2:25 minute full song. In a strange way the snippets make for brilliant interludes between the rockers like the brilliant "Someone's Learning" - apparently a comment on the Northern Ireland war raging in the six counties at the time. The other huge tune for Quo nuts is "Railroad" - a five and half-minute rocker with a catchy-as-a-cold hook that just won't quit.

I can't quite make up my mind as to which take of "Gerdundula" I like the most - the original October 1970 more acoustic-based 7" single mix (a Bonus Track on the "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" CD reissue that also came out in February 2003 also on Castle Music) or the re-recorded more filled-out album version presented here? July 1973 would see the 'Dog' version from 1971 belatedly released as a 45 on Pye 7N 45229 with "Lakky Lady" from 'Kelly's' on the B-side. Whichever take - the nonsensically-titled "Gerdundula" is a total winner - a clever and endlessly cool little Quo tune...

"Dog Of Two Head" is a great Seventies Rock album and this CD Reissue does it proud. The 'Quo' folks - would we have them any other way...

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"Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" by STATUS QUO (2003 Sanctuary/Castle Music 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Junior's Wailing..."

Across many decades of record collecting and buying/selling rarities for Reckless Records in London - I can count on one-hand the number of times I've seen a British original of Quo's "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" August 1970 LP with it's 'S/Quo' black and white poster inside. I suspect like the poster in The Who's "A Quick One" - the number is under 1000 - possibly even only 500. But it's a measure of how comprehensive and well thought out this superb 2003 CD reissue from England's Sanctuary Records is - that said rarity is pictured in all its hairy-rocker glory on Side 2 of the foldout inlay - along with a huge array of other relevant memorabilia much of which is seriously hard to find.

As all Quo fans know - "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" was the band's 'real' beginning. Gone were the garish coats and frilly shirts and the 60ts Psychedelic warbling about Matchstick men and what not - and in came the start of their head's down no-nonsense Rock Boogie that Status Quo became so famous for (and have been continuing into 2016). Along with England's Slade and The Rolling Stones - they can claim to be a band for over 50 years. In fact I'd argue that the "Ma Kelly's..." album is actually more diverse and shows a group maturing rapidly and not just finding their twelve-bar feet - a flowering that would explode on "Dog Of Two Head" in 1971 (their final LP for Pye) and enter British hearts on "Piledriver" in late 1972 (their first LP for Vertigo). Here are the egg and chips...

UK released February 2003 - "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" by STATUS QUO on Sanctuary/Castle Music CMQCD 754 (Barcode 5050159175420) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with ten Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (71:58 minutes):

1. Spinning Wheel Blues

2. Daughter

3. Everything

4. Shy Fly

5. (April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays

6. Junior's Wailing [Side 2]

7. Lakky Lady

8. Need Your Love

9. Lazy Poker Blues

10. Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" - released August 1970 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 18344. The American copy on Janus Records JLS-3018 wasn't released until March 1971 so dropped the last track on Side 2 "Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home" and replaced it with the single "In My Chair" as Track 1 on Side 2 (followed by 6, 7, 8 and 9 above). The front sleeve was the same but the 'table/menu' photo on the back of the British LP was replaced with a black and white photo of the band as a four-piece (minus Roy Lynes who is shown on the 'S/Quo' poster in UK copies - he officially resigned the band).

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home (Early Rough Mix)

12. Daughter (Early Working Mix)

13. Down The Dustpipe - 6 March 1970 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17987 (B-side was "Face Without A Soul" from the 1969 "Spare Parts" LP)

14. In My Chair - 23 October 1970 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17998 - A-side

15. Gerdundula - 23 October 1970 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17998 - B-side to "in My Chair" - features the 'Original Version' which is different to the cut on the 1971 "Dog Of Two Head" LP

16. Down The Dustpipe (BBC Session)

17. Junior's Wailing (BBC Session)

18. Spinning Wheel Blues (BBC Session)

19. Need Your Love (BBC Session)

20. In My Chair (1979 Pye Promo Flexidisc)

STAUS QUO were:

FRANCIS ROSSI - Guitar and Lead Vocals

ALAN LANCASTER - Guitar and Lead Vocals

RICK PARFITT - Bass and Lead Vocals

JOHN COUGHLIN - Drums

The outer card-wrap/slipcase gives this reissue a classy feel and the 8-squares-per-side foldout inlay is a feast of fan memorabilia that is in itself bolstered up by superlative and seriously detailed liner notes from DAVE OXLEY. Chief moved on the reissue was JOHN REED who has been behind so many great reissues and is a compiler fans trust and admire. SEAN MAGEE at Masterpiece did the Remasters and there's a special thanks to LIAM MOORE at the BBC for the Sessions.

There's a repro of the 'wolf in sheep's clothing' advert for the UK single of "In My Chair" with the brill "Gerdundula" on the B-side (Pye 7N 17998) - it depicts the ludicrously hard-to-find British picture sleeve for "In My Chair" which they wittily refer to as 'a pretty bag' (I've never seen one in 45 years and sure its £45 price tag in the RC 2018 Price Guide is a tad low).

Even though the bopping "Shy Fly" was considered as a 45 - the album actually produced no singles. But the then non-album 45's for "Down The Dustpipe" and "In My Chair" in March and October of 1970 changed everything for the band - getting them radio play and crucial sales. Written by Australian songsmith Carl Groszmann - apparently the initial demo Quo heard for "Down The Dustpipe" was none other than an uncredited MAN - the Welsh Rock Band. Initially ignored by Radio - Quo toured and pushed the catchy "Dustpipe". Two months later it debuted in May 1970 and eventually crept up to a healthy No. 12 on the British charts. And although the non-album follow-up "In My Chair" only made it to No. 21 (hit the charts in November of 1970) - it signalled 'their sound' - a fabulous slow Boogie Rocker with the boppy and unpronounceable "Gerdundula" on the B-side. Their inclusion as 'Bonus Tracks' on this CD ups the listening ante in a big way (Tracks 11 and 12 are Previously Unreleased).

Album tracks like "Spinning Wheel Blues", "Lakky Lady" and "(April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays" would be used by Pye to sell a "Best Of" in May 1973 after the band had broken huge with their debut Vertigo album "Piledriver" in December 1972 (afforded the luxury of an eye-catching gatefold sleeve) and the single "Paper Plane" which busted the UK Top Ten in January 1973 by landing at No. 8.

British proto-metal band Steamhammer provided the cover version of "Junior's Wailing" and Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac the slow burner cover of "Lazy Poker Blues" - but the rest are band originals. The other great unsung hero of the band in the early years was songwriter and occasional Harmonica player BOB YOUNG who co-wrote "Spinning Wheel Blues",  "Shy Fly", "(April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays" and "Need Your Love" with Rossi while Lancaster trumped up two in the shape of "Daughter" and "Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home". Parfitt co-wrote "Everything" and "Lakky Lady" with Rossi.

An often overlooked part of the mighty Quo's career and yet an album held in real affection by true fans. A wolf in sheep's clothing indeed and the beginning of a classic LP run with those 'From The Makers Of' logos on the back on each album sleeve. Ah them was the days...

"T.Rex: Deluxe Edition" by T.REX [feat Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn] (2014 Universal/A&M 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Reissue - Sean Magee Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Jewels Upon Her Lips..."

In May 1970 - Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn were still TYRANNOSAURUS REX for "Beard Of Stars" (their fourth platter under that Jurassic band name). But by the release of their self-titled fifth LP in December of that same year – the dynamic Hippy-Folk duo had wisely shortened it to T. REX and began to 'Bolan Boogie' for real. And that's where this uplifting yet oddly infuriating Universal 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' comes in.

The December 1970 album "T. Rex" was Marc Bolan going Electric – itching to rock 'n' roll your daughter and wear spangly stuff in his hair on Thursday night's 'Top Of The Pops'. And followed by the brilliant and uber-catchy "Ride A White Swan" 7" single in October 1970 – the tail end of 1970 really was the first time the British Public began to sit up and notice a genuine Pop Star in their midst. "...Wear your hair long baby..." as Bolan urged in the lyrics. Let's get to the details and the jewels on his lips...

UK released March 2014 - "T. Rex: Deluxe Edition" by T. REX on Universal/A&M 534 732-2 (Barcode 600753473221) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remaster and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (58:34 minutes):

The Original Album

1. The Children Of Rarn

2. Jewel

3. The Visit

4. Childe

5. The Time Of Love Is Now

6. Diamond Meadows

7. Root Of Star

8. Beltane Walk

9. Is It Love?

10. One Inch Rock

11. Summer Deep

12. Seagull Woman

13. Suneye

14. The Wizard

15. The Children Of Rarn

Tracks 1 to 15 are their fifth album (first as T. Rex) "T. Rex" - released 18 December 1970 in the UK on Fly Records HIFLY 2 and in the USA on Reprise RS 6440

BONUS TRACKS:

16. Ride A White Swan - 1st single as T. Rex - 9 October 1970 UK 7" single on Fly Records BUG 1, Non-Album Track, A-side

17. Summertime Blues - Non-Album Track, 2nd B-side to "Ride A White Swan" - the LP track "Is It Love?" was Track 1 on the B-side

18. Jewel - BBC Radio One, Top Gear, Recorded 26 Oct 1970, Broadcast 7 Nov 1970

19. Woodland Bop Medley (i) Woodland Bop (ii) Conesuala (iii) The King Of The Mountain Cometh (iv) Woodland Bop

BBC Radio, John Peel's Sunday Concert, 20 Dec 1970

20. Beltane Walk - Backing Track, Mixed For BBC Radio One Club, 29 March 1971 (prepared on 2 March 1970)

21. Summertime Blues - BBC Radio One, Dave Lee Travis Show, 9 December 1970

Disc 2 (59:36 minutes):

1. The Children Of Rarn Suite

2. Jewel (Alternate Take)

3. The Visit (Alternate Take)

4. The Time Of Love Is Now (Alternate Take)

5. Diamond Meadows (Alternate Take)

6. Root Of Star (Alternate Take)

7. Beltane Walk (Alternate Take)

8. Is It Love? (Alternate Take)

10. Summer Deep (Alternate Take)

11. Seagull Woman (Alternate Take)

12. Suneye (BBC Radio One, Top Gear, 26 Oct 1970)

13. The Wizard (Alternate Take)

14. The Children Of Rarn (Take 6)

15. Ride A White Swan (Mono) - BBC TV, Top Of The Pops, 12 November 1970

16. Dark Lipped Woman (Home Demo)

17. Deep Summer (Alternate Take)

18. Meadows Of The Sea (Electric Demo)

All PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED except Tracks 1 and 12

The four inner flaps of the gatefold card digipak are filled with repro's of NME reviews, Fly Records promotional leaflets and sepia-tinted photos of MARC BOLAN and MICKEY FINN. The original British LP came with a die-cut front sleeve where the colour photo of the two on the front would come away from the cover and is pictured on the front of the jam-packed 24-page booklet. CLIVE JONES conceived, compiled and did the Tape Research - co-ordinating his extensive efforts with JOE BLACK at Hey Joe! and NIGEL LEES at Thurderwing Productions. MARK PAYTRESS - former leading light at the Record Collector Magazine well known worldwide authority on all things Marc Bolan did the hugely detailed liner notes. They’re peppered with a large number of unseen photos, memorabilia, the lyrics and a repro of a rare "Ride A White Swan" picture sleeve. SEAN MAGEE did the mastering at Abbey Road Studios using original tapes and the Audio is different to Gary Moore's version from 2004 for the single disc reissue that came in a card slipcase. There's wonderful clarity on this new go-round of familiar material.

I'd love to state categorically that "T. Rex" is an undiscovered masterpiece - even as a fan I couldn't say that with a straight face. After a 53-second intro in "The Children Of Rarn" (the final version also under the same name is 36-seconds) - we soon get down to something way more Funky-Rock - the wickedly good "Jewel" - a nasty groove that's still exciting to me - especially that grungy sound he gets and that wild ending. That promising start is followed by five Folkies - "The Visit", "Childe" and "The Time Of Love Is Now" amongst them - those warbling acoustic strums a little clearer. It's not until we reach "Beltane Walk" does that 'commercial' T. Rex start to register and I've always loved "Is It Love?" - another clever groover. But the side and even the whole album is dominated by the nine-minute new Rex sound of "The Wizard". The "...what's it called Marc?" dialogue that preceded the 'studio chatter' version of "Ride A White Swan" along with "Poem", Take 4 of "The Visit" and the Alternate Take of "One Inch Rock" that tail-ended the 2004 Remaster are oddly absent - replaced with BBC stuff - the best of which for me is their great cover of Cochran's "Summertime Blues". Amidst Disc 2's rarities - the fifteen and a half minute version of "The Children Of Rarn" is hard to take in one swallow but that "Dark Lipped Woman" demo is fascinating as is the Electric demo of "Meadows Of The Sea".

The precursor to "Electric Warrior" in September 1971 – "T. Rex" had that hangover Tyrannosaurus material that Bolan did well to ditch. So it’s a transitional album and has always suffered from that. In fact I’d argue that the now forgotten British compilation LP "Bolan Boogie" from May 1972 (a UK No. 1) was the LP "T. Rex" wanted to be all along but just never got there.

Still there’s much to love and even though it may cost you a wee bit more than its initial LP price of 42s 5d - this T. REX 'DE' has wickedly good audio and transitional stuff worth shelling out on...

"Past Masters" by THE BEATLES - 1962 to 1970 Singles - 33 Tracks - 29 in STEREO - 4 in MONO with Two Sung in German (September 2009 UK EMI/Apple 2CD Reissue with GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKE, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

September 2009 UK EMI/Apple Reissue and Remaster as a 2CD Set

ORIGINAL 1988 SINGLE CD ISSUES

"...Arrive Without Travelling...See All Without Looking..."

After the 13 official British albums by The Beatles were first reissued on CD (February to October of 1987), all the non-album tracks on UK 7" singles, the exclusive 4-songs on the "Long Tall Sally" EP and any other stragglers were then gathered up onto two separate CD compilations called "Past Masters" (Vol. 1 & 2) and issued globally on 8 March 1988 to compliment the main catalogue.

 

This 9 September 2009 reissue of "Past Masters" on EMI 50999 2 43807 2 0 (Barcode is the same number) combines both of those Volumes into one 2CD set. They've been taken out of their clunky jewel cases and given a tri-gatefold card sleeve (black in colour), new 2009 remastering and a vastly upgraded booklet. Of the 33 tracks - 29 are in STEREO with 4 being in MONO - "Love Me Do", "She Loves You", "I'll Get You" on Disc 1 - and "You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)" on Disc 2.

 

However - there are differences between the old and new issues. The 1988 version of Disc 1 had 7 MONO tracks and not 3 (Disc 2 has remained the same) - the 4 now replaced with STEREO versions are "From Me To You", "Thank You Girl", and the two singles sung in German. But therein lies a further anomaly...

 

Beatles chroniclers will know that prior to the issue of "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" in May 1969 - ALL of their UK 7" singles were issued in MONO-ONLY ("The Ballad Of John & Yoko" was their first STEREO single in the UK, while their first STEREO 7" in the US was as late as "Get Back"). So while the vastly improved liner notes talk knowledgably about each British single - this set is in STEREO when they were only ever issued in MONO! Some would therefore say that this whole compilation only compounds the mistake of the 1988 issues and is a further historical travesty. But I'd argue that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain - because these NEW STEREO REMASTERS are simply astonishing soundwise - they really are.

 

GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKE, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE remastered the original masters tapes with the whole project overseen by ALLAN ROUSE - and they've all done a stunning job. Here are the intimate track-by-track details...

 

Disc 1 (42:31 minutes):

1. Love Me Do

5 October 1962 debut UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4949

Track 1 is the A-side - the mix has Ringo on the drums - the album version has sessionman Andy White - it's sometimes referred to as the "Original Single Version"

 

2. From Me To You

3. Thank You Girl

11 April 1963 3rd UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5015

Tracks 2 and 3 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

4. She Loves You

5. I'll Get You

23 August 1963 4th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5055

Tracks 4 and 5 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

6. I Want To Hold Your Hand

7. This Boy

23 November 1963 5th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5084

Tracks 6 and 7 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

8. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand

9. Sie Liebt Dich

March 1964 German 7" single on Odeon 0 22 671

Tracks 8 and 9 are German sung versions of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" [A & B]. "I Want To..." is the UK backing track with German vocals simply overdubbed on top, but the "She Loves You" version is an entirely different take. It was recorded in EMI's Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris in late January 1964 - both tracks were then issued in a picture sleeve in March 1964 in Germany on Odeon credited as Die Beatles. "Komm..." later turned up as an album track on the US and German Stereo versions of the "Something New" LP in August and September of 1964 (Capitol ST-2108 and Odeon STO/SMO 83756). "Sie Liebt Dich" was later issued on the October 1979 UK compilation LP "Rarities" on Parlophone PSLP 261.

 

10. Long Tall Sally

11. I Call Your Name

12. Slow Down

13. Matchbox

Tracks 10 to 13 are the 4-track British EP "Long Tall Sally" issued 19 June 1964 on Parlophone GEP 8913. "Long Tall Sally" is a Little Richard cover, "I Call Your Name" a Lennon/McCartney original while "Slow Down" and "Matchbox" are Larry Williams and Carl Perkins cover versions. All tracks were non-album at the time.

 

14. I Feel Fine

15. She's A Woman

27 November 1964 8th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5200

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

16. Bad Boy

Track 16 is another Larry Williams cover version; this stereo version first appeared in the USA on "Beatles VI" in May 1965 on Capitol ST-2358; it's UK debut was on the December 1966 compilation LP "A Collection Of Beatles Oldies" on Parlophone PCS 7016.

 

17. Yes It Is

9 April 1965 9th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5265

Track 17 is the non-album B-side to the UK single "Ticket To Ride"

 

18. I'm Down

23 July 1965 10th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5305

Track 18 is the non-album B-side to the UK single "Help!"

 

Disc 2 (51:00 minutes):

1. Day Tripper

2. We Can Work It Out

2 December 1965 11th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5389

Tracks 1 and 2 were a Double A-side; both tracks were non-album

 

3. Paperback Writer

4. Rain

10 June 1966 12th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5452

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B - both tracks were non-album

 

5. Lady Madonna

6. The Inner Light

15 March 1968 17th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5675

Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B - both tracks were non-album

 

7. Hey Jude

8. Revolution

30 August 1968 18th UK 7" single on Apple R 5722 (1st on Apple)

Tracks 7 and 8 are the A & B - both were non-album

(The tracks "Revolution 1" and "Revolution 9" on "The Beatles" double-album (The White Album) are different versions)

 

9. Get Back [with Billy Preston]

10. Don't Let Me Down [with Billy Preston]

11 April 1969 19th UK single on Apple R 5777

Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B credited to THE BEATLES with BILLY PRESTON - A is a different version to the LP cut; B is non-album

 

11. The Ballad Of John And Yoko

12. Old Brown Shoe

30 May 1969 20th UK 7" single on Apple R 5786 [1st UK 7" in STEREO]

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B - A features vocal lead by John Lennon with backup from Paul; B-side is a George Harrison song with him on Lead vocals; both tracks were non-album

 

13. Across The Universe

This is the version that preceded the more famous "Let It Be" LP cut (released May 1970); this "birds & nature" version was given to a charity album for the World Wildlife Fund called "No One's Gonna Change Our World" released 12 December 1969 in the UK on one of EMI's budget labels - Regal Starline SRS 5018. It has none of the strings or choir added by Phil Spector to the LP cut...and was said to be the take favoured by John Lennon who wrote the song

 

14. Let It Be

15. You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)

6 March 1970 22nd UK 7" single on Apple R5833 (Last Release as a Band)

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A&B - A is in STEREO; B is in MONO; A-side is credited to THE BEATLES with Billy Preston and features a different guitar solo by George Harrison than the album cut - both tracks were non-album

 

Regarding the astonishing Audio. George Harrison's B-side "The Inner Light" ("Lady Madonna" was the A) is a good example of the sound improvement - it's just beautifully clear. It's loud yes, but not amplified to a point where hiss drowns out the song (there's none). And listening to Disc 2 especially - you're struck with awe at how good they were. Most of these tracks were only SINGLES back in the day - yet most bands these days would kill a beloved granny for 10% of such craft and talent. Double whammies like "Hey Jude" and "Revolution", "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down", "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" are just amazing.

 

Of the earlier stuff - the three part harmonies of "This Boy" and "Yes It Is" sound so young and fresh - while the Rock 'n' Roll stuff exudes their passion for the music. And that guitar on "Paperback Writer" packs a mean left hook. By the time you get to "Let It Be" and "Across The Universe" - the 'best band ever in the history of the world' doesn't seem like an accolade too far. Soundwise literally everything seems up for grabs here - and in a thrilling new way...

 

For me this rather dull looking double "Past Masters" is one of the best 09/09/09 releases. The song quality is incredible from start to finish and it also rather eloquently shows The Beatles extraordinary development from pop ditty songsters in 1963 to pure rock genius by 1969. 

 

OK - so "Past Masters" is not historically accurate - but I suspect for the average listener this will not matter - they'll be too busy enjoying the brilliance coming out of their speakers to care about chronology...and isn't that exactly how the boys would have wanted it...