"Mental Train: The Island Years 1969-71" by MOTT THE HOOPLE (November 2018 Universal/Island 6CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Thunderbuck Ram..."

Featuring the albums "Wildlife" (USA) 
and "Brain Capers" (UK) from 1971

I was both looking forward to and in some ways dreading this MOTT THE HOOPLE Box Set - an odd thing to say when you're spending over £40 of your pensioner’s pre-Brexit allowance. And typically "Mental Train..." both delivers and disappoints is several weird ways.

What’s good - the new Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters have massively improved on what went before - as their skills always seem to do (see my reviews for Free, Budgie, Rory Gallagher, ELP  – a very long list of great work). Some of the unreleased stuff is shockingly magnificent - check out Take 6 of "Angel Of Eight Avenue" on Disc 5 mixed from faders-up multi-tracks - whilst Kris Needs once again nails it with wickedly insightful liner notes that feature new contributions from key players (Campbell Devine and Kris Needs compiled the set). But there's fluff too aplenty, the mock distressed look card artwork is horribly presented and the actual albums themselves have always left so much to be desired – piano-plonking tedium often sitting uncomfortably alongside thundering Rock brilliance. Guy Stevens would have been proud even if the band weren't selling jack for four whole LPs.

There's an absolute ton of Buffin details to crawl through, so Mad Shadows and Willard Manus paperbacks ahoy (they took their name from one of his novels) – let’s get Overend Watts mental on this huge haul...

UK released Friday, 2 November 2018 - "Mental Train: The Island Years 1969-71" by MOTT THE HOOPLE on Universal/Island MOTTBOX 001 (Barcode 602547869623) is a 89-Song 6CD Box Set of New Remasters (30 Previously Unreleased) with a 52-Page Hardback Book, Single Sleeve Mini LP Artwork for all Six Discs and a fold-out Colour Poster all housed in a 10x8 Box with Ribbon. It breaks down as follows:

CD1 "Mott The Hoople" (79:13 minutes, 17 Tracks):

1. You Really Got Me [Side 1]

2. At The Crossroads

3. Laugh At Me

4. Backsliding Fearlessly

5. Rock And Roll Queen (Full Album Version, 5:10 minutes) [Side 2]

6. Rabbit Foot & Toby Time

7. Half Moon Boy

8. Wrath And Wroll

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Mott The Hoople" - released 22 November 1969 in the UK in Stereo on Island Records ILPS 9108 and June 1970 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 8258. Produced by GUY STEVENS - it didn't chart in the UK but peaked at No. 185 in the USA in July 1970. 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. If Your Heart Lay With The Rebel (Would You Cheer The Underdog) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED INSTRUMENTAL

10. Rock And Roll Queen [Single Edit, 3:20 minutes] - October 1969 debut UK 7" single on Island WIP 6072, non-album version

11. Road To Birmingham - non-album B-side to their October 1969 UK debut 7" single on Island WIP 6072

12. Road To Birmingham (Guy Stevens Mix) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

13. You Really Got Me (Full Take, 11:14 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

14. You Really Got Me (Guy Stevens Vocal Mix, 2:51 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

15. Rock And Roll Queen (Guy Stevens Mono Mix, 3:21 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

16. Rock And Roll Queen (Kitchen Sink Instrumental, 5:22minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

17. Little Christine [Recorded 24 June 1969] - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8

CD2 "Mad Shadows" (73:24 minutes, 15 Tracks):

1. Thunderbuck Ram [Side 1]

2. No Wheels To Ride

3. You Are One Of Us

4. Walkin' With A Mountain

5. I Can Feel [Side 2]

6. Threads Of Iron

7. When My Mind's Gone

Tracks 1 to 7 are their second studio album "Mad Shadows" - released September 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9119 and October 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8272 (didn't chart in either country)

BONUS TRACKS:

8. Thunderbuck Ram - BBC Session, Top Gear, 21 February 1970 [John Walters Producer]

9. Thunderbuck Ram (Original Take with Organ Solo, 4:50 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

10. No Wheels To Ride (Demo Version, 6:29 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

11. Moonbus (Baby's Got A Down On Me) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

12. The Hunchback Fish (Vocal Rehearsal, 6:01 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

13. You Are One Of Us (Take 9, 5:12 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

14. Going Home [recorded 16 Jan 1970] - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8

15. Keep A Knockin' (Studio Version, Take 2, Little Richard cover, 2:30 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD 3 "Wildlife" (73:30 minutes, 17 Tracks):

1. Whiskey Women [Side 1]

2. Angel Of Eight Avenue

3. Wrong Side Of The River

4. Waterflow

5. Lay Down

6. It Must Be Love [Side 2]

7. Original Mixed Up Kid

8. Home Is Where I Want To Be

9. Keep A Knockin' (Live 1970 at The Fairfield Hall, Croydon in London)

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "Wildlife" - released 19 March 1971 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9144 and April 1971 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 8284 (didn't chart in either country); the Live Version of "Keep A Knockin'" also includes an uncredited version of "What I’d Say" by Jerry Lee Lewis

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Midnight Lady – 9 July 1971 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6105, Non-album A-side

11. The Debt – Non-album B-side of "Midnight Lady"

12. Downtown – 17 September 1971 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6112, Non-album A-side (B-side was the Mick Ralphs album track "Home..."); A-side is a Crazy Horse cover version originally written by Danny Whitten and Neil Young on his backing band's self-titled debut album from 1970

13. Brain Haulage (Whiskey Women) (3:55 minutes) – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

14. Growing Man Blues (Take 10, 3:40 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

15. Long Red (Demo, 3:53 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

16. The Ballad Of Billy Joe (3:38 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

17. Lay Down (Take 8, 5:08 minutes, Melanie cover) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD4 "Brain Capers" (68:58 minutes, 16 Tracks):

1. Death May Be Your Santa Claus [Side 1]

2. Your Own Backyard

3. Darkness Darkness

4. The Journey

5. Sweet Angeline [Side 2]

6. Second Love

7. The Moon Upstairs

8. The Wheel Of The Quivering Meat Conception

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album "Brain Capers" - released 19 November 1971 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9178 and January 1972 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 8304 (didn't chart in either country)

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Mental Train (The Moon Upstairs) (5:16 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

10. How Long (Death May Be...) (4:10 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

11. Darkness Darkness (3:04 minutes, Jessie Colin Young song, Youngbloods cover) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

12. Your Own Backyard (Complete Take, 4:12 minutes, Dion Cover) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

13. Where Do You All Come Front? (Backing Track, 3:16 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

14. One Of The Boys (Take 2, 4:22 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

15. Movin' On - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8 (mastered from a cassette)

16. Black Scorpio (Mamma's Little Jewel) - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8 (mastered from a cassette)

CD5 "The Ballads Of Mott The Hoople" (Exclusive compilation, 73:18 minutes, 12 Tracks):

1. Like A Rolling Stone (Fragment, 1:29 minutes)

2.  No Wheels To Hide (Live, 1st House Fairfield Hall, Croydon, 7:25 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

3. Angel Of Eight Avenue (Take 6, Mastered from faders-up multi-tracks) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

4. The Journey (10:24 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

5. Blue Broken Tears (3:11 minutes, Mastered from faders-up multi-tracks) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

6. Black Hills (Full Ralphs Version, 4:07 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

7. Can You Sing The Song That I Sing (15:54 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

8. Till I'm Gone - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8 (mastered from a cassette)

9. The Original Mixed Up Kid - BBC Session, Mike Harding, 16 March 1971

10. Ill Wind Blowing - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8 (mastered from a cassette)

11. I'm A River (Rehearsal, 10:40 minutes) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

12. Ride On The Sun (Sea Diver) - first UK released March 1981 on the Mott The Hoople compilation LP "Two Miles From Heaven" on Island Records IRSP 8 (mastered from a cassette)

CD6 "It's Live And Live Only" (Exclusive Compilation, 78:18 minutes, 12 Tracks):

1. Rock And Roll Queen

2. Ohio

3. No Wheels To Ride/Hey Jude

4. Thunderbuck Ram

5. Keep A Knockin'

6. You Really Got Me

Tracks 1 to 6 recorded 1 September 1970 at The Fairfield Hall in Croydon, London

"Ohio" is a Neil Young song - a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover; "Hey Jude" is a Beatles cover; Keep A Knockin' is a Little Richard cover and "You Really Got Me" is a Kinks cover

7. The Moon Upstairs

8. Whiskey Women

9. Your Own Backyard

10. Darkness, Darkness

11. The Journey

12. Death May Be Your Santa Claus

Tracks 7 to 12 recorded 30 December 1971 for the BBC's Radio 1 "In Concert" programme (produced by Guy Stevens)

MOTT THE HOOPLE was:

IAN HUNTER (Ian Hunter Patterson) – Lead Singer, Piano

MICK RALPHS – Lead Guitars and Second Lead Vocals

VERDEN ALLEN (Terence Allen) – Organ and Other Keyboards

OVEREND WATTS (Pete Overend Watts) – Bass

DALE “Buffin” GRIFFIN (Terence Dale Griffin) – Drums

Guests:

Guy Stevens – Production, Song Contributions

James Archer of the LSO – Violin on "Angel Of Eighth Avenue"

Jess Roden (of Bronco) – Backing Vocals on "Lay Down"

Stan Tippins (of Doc Thomas Group) – Backing Vocals on "Lay Down"

Jerry Hogan – Pedal Steel Guitar on "It Must Be Love" and "Original Mixed-Up Kid"

Jim Price – Trumpet on "Second Love"

The box looks the part and ribbon allowing you to access the six single card sleeves in the inner well is a nice touch – but as already said and noted by other buyers – none of the card sleeves actually reflect the original British albums. The gatefolds for the first three are gone – removed to the book. The five pinched faces on the inner debut gatefold is spread across the back pages of the hardback, the child and lions photo inside "Mad Shadows" is on the inside of the front, the live shot of the band on the inner gatefold of "Wildlife" is behind text on Pages 36 and 27 and the airplanes inner for "Brain Capers" and the gimmick mask appear at both ends of the book too. The colouring of the CDs reflects the original British LP pressings - the Pink Island 'Pink I' Logo for the first two – the Palm Tree Pink Rim Logo Label for the other two and so on...

The book may seem a little slight at first but there’s a lot of info inside and period stuff to peruse (a fab promo photo on Page 13 for the Doc Thomas Group which featured a young Mick Ralphs and Pete Watts before Guy Stevens altered their names for Mott). Renowned writer KRIS NEEDS provides the tangled and at times chaotic history of the British Band – informative and entertaining reading, as always. The uber rare British picture sleeve for the 1969 "Rock And Roll Queen" single in on Page 48 as is the front sleeve for the final Island album from the period – the 9-Track "Rock And Roll Queen" compilation from 1972 on Island ILPS 9125. It was issued to cash in on the success of the "All The Young Dudes" single and LP on CBS Records (their first chart single courtesy of a song gifted to them by David Bowie). The LP is pictured on Page 48 (along with other European single picture sleeves) and if you want to sequence the popular "Rock And Roll Queen" compilation as a CD from this Box Set use the following tracks:

Side 1:

1. Rock And Roll Queen (Disc 1, Track 5, Album Version)

2. The Wheel Of The Quivering Meat Conception (Disc 4, Track 8)

3. You Really Got Me (Disc 1, Track 1)

4. Thunderbuck Ram (Disc 2, Track 1)

5. Walkin' With A Mountain (Disc 2, Track 4)

Side 2:

1. Death May Be Your Santa Claus (Disc 4, Track 1)

2. Midnight Lady (Disc 3, Track 10)

3. Keep A Knockin' (Live, Full Album Version) (Disc 3, Track 9)

The Audio is fabulous and as these hirsute/girl-leering gents were prone to Rocking out big time like Spooky Tooth with spiked Vodka or a demented Free in a graveyard after dark – both Pearce and Wortham capture all that bottled power so well. The listen is also surprisingly downbeat – way too many slow ballads – ill-advised Country Rock stints on "Wildlife" and a 15-minute outtake from Hunter that will test his mother’s patience. Having said that – I actually think that Disc 4 with the Previously Unreleased material is one of the strongest discs on here – fantastic alternate versions – that Take 6 of the Manhattan morning ballad "Angel Of Eight Avenue" brought a tear of joy to my demonically-possessed elderly-person’s eyes. Let’s get to the content...

The self-titled debut always felt to me like a rudderless beginning - the opening three covers (The Kinks "You Really Got Me", Doug Sahm's "At The Crossroads" and Sonny Bono's "Laugh At Me") displaying a band that seemed to be recording whatever they liked as they were rehearsing. For sure there's power in the sheer riffage on offer as they turn the Kink's proto-punk anthem into an instrumental - whilst Hunter's "Backsliding Fearlessly" sounds like a bad Dylan cover. The first sign of a genuine 'rawk' hit comes with Mick Ralphs "Rock And Roll Woman" presented here in two variants - the full and clear stereo album cut at 5:10 minutes and the severely muffled single edit of 3:20 minutes that sounds like it was mastered in a bucket. "Rabbit Foot And Toby Time" is another rockin' Ralphs tune, but it's an instrumental of two minutes duration that goes absolutely nowhere. Side 2 and the album in general is dominated by the 10:39 minutes of Ian Hunter's "Half Moon Bay" - a slow boiler with great organ playing from Verden Allen that at times feels both epic and indulgent with just the right measures of both. The debut ends with a mad Guy Stevens contribution called "Wrath And Roll" (a habit they would repeat again and again) and unfortunately you can't help thinking it might have been a better idea to include something possibly resembling a tune. Way more interesting is the Previously Unreleased and catchy-titled "If You Lay With The Rebel (Would You Cheer At The Underdog)?" - a riffage instrumental with better Production values than some of the album tracks. Die-hard fans will appreciate 11:17 minutes of "You Really Got Me" where the take descends into guitar mayhem and the fruity "Little Christine" from the "Two Miles..." compilation actually feels like the Faces circa their debut.

From the axe of Mick Ralphs, "Mad Shadows" opens with the wild "Thunderbuck Ram" where England’s Mott The Hoople suddenly thinks it’s a hybrid between MC5 and The Stooges with a bit of melodic Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac thrown in for the middle eight. As Ian Hunter delivers the brooding, epic and even sad "No Wheels To Ride" – only two songs in and the second album already feels like the band has found something – their own MTH sound. A trio of Hunter songs - the reverential "You Are One Of Us", the Chuck Berry boogie of "Walkin' With A Mountain" and the warbling seven-minute keyboard ballad that opens Side 2 "I Can Feel" (complete with Uriah Heep drama vocals) stamps his songwriting authority on proceedings (lovely solo too from Ralphs). "Threads Of Iron" is a jaunty little number from guitarist Ralphs with a catchy 'you are what you are' vocal line. The album closes with Hunter's unnerving and funereal composition "When My Mind's Gone" - a six-and-half-minute piano plonk that sounds as casket-inducing as its title suggests. It's a good album. Amidst the extras - Radio 1's Fluff Freeman introduces an in-the-distance BBC Session version of "Thunderbuck Ram" immediately indicating what an exciting prospect this band must been - live and in yer face. Far better however is the 'Original Take with Organ Solo' of the same song where Mott start to sound dangerously close to Peter Green's "Oh Well" with a disgruntled Hammond playing in the background (have to say this is a highlight amongst the unreleased). Another goody comes in the guise of the Kossoff-sounding riffage for "Moonbus (Baby's Got A Down On Me)" – a very tasty period find. It's also cool to finally hear their fast and furious studio take for Little Richard Penniman's "Keep A Knockin'" – here kept down to a boogie baller of just two and a half minutes (the Georgia Peach would approve).

They try to go American-ish with the very Steppenwolf guitar vs. organ boogie of "Whiskey Women" – the opening track to the infuriating every-musical-direction-will-do third album "Wildlife". But that boys-own beginner is solidly trounced by what I believe to be Ian Hunter's first moment of musical magic – the gorgeous ballad "Angel Of Eight Avenue" where he describes waking up in New York on the first Mott US tour with a lady who is as fragile and as beautiful as the Manhattan morning he's gazing out upon (what a lovely transfer too – great work boys). The cover of Melanie's "Lay Down" features a chorus contribution from Bronco's Jess Roden but the Country-Rock of "It Must Be Love" is awful (the "Downtown" stand alone single wasn't much better - a cover of a Crazy Horse song). The album ends of what feels like a different group - a crowd rousing 11-minute live take on Little Richard's "Keep A Knockin'" with Mick Ralphs showing what he can do when let rip. Late 1971's "Brain Capers" was always their best album and it seems the band thinks so too. "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" opens the record in raucous Rock fashion and this time covers of Dion's "Your Own Backyard" and The Youngbloods "Darkness Darkness" (a Jessie Colin Young song) actually sound like Mott made the right choices. Both "The Journey" and "Sweet Angeline" see Hunter in a melancholy mood (there's a man on a bridge called Suicide) - while Verden Allen provides a rare lead vocal on his own "Second Love". A damn good album "Brain Capers" - wee bit of a lost masterpiece really. I hadn't expected either CD5 or CD6 to provide much but they're full of goodies – especially those unreleased studio outtakes on disc five.

For sure "Mental Train..." is not for the casual browser and it would take until album number five ("All The Young Dudes") to awaken record buyers to MOTT THE HOOPLE. But their is a strange kind of bloody-minded heroism on offer here - a time when bands were allowed to sound nuts - grow with each release - until that initial magic someone saw before they signed them - finally broke through.

Leaping lizards but it's astonishing any of them survived given the times and acrimony within the ranks. Ralphs would go on of course to form Bad Co. with Paul Rodgers of Free whilst Ian Hunter would enjoy a massive solo career and aged 79 in 2018 is still rocking, touring and writing.

Always nuts but glam loveable - on the musical evidence presented here - you may find yourself seeking out Mott The Hoople and "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" this Christmas...

"The Trojan Albums Collection (1971-1973)" by LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY & THE UPSETTERS (September 2017 Trojan/BMG Reissue - 4LPs onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT 1971... - Exceptional CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Rhythm Shower..."

Featuring the album "Africa's Blood" from 1971

What a cool little reissue this is.

Having worked in Reckless Records for nigh on 20 years (most spent in the busy Berwick Street shop in Soho) - I can confidently say that these four early Seventies albums were not exactly growing on Woolworth’s trees. In the 2018 issue of 'The Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide' – sloppily only "Africa's Blood" from 1971 gets mentioned at a paltry £25 and the other three are ignored. Secondhand Scratch albums not listed in Reggae Mad Britain - what a crock!

Original Lee Perry albums are gold dust and hugely prized by collectors, always shifting for money. And when you think that the "Rhythm Shower" album (the 3rd LP here) was only ever a White Label on Trojan in the UK and Upsetter in Jamaica - at a retail price of fewer than six quid for 4LPs onto 2CDs (53 Tracks) - this fully-loaded Trojan double-disc reissue offers up some seriously amazing value for money. Throw in some better-than-before Andy Pearce mastering and I-and-I is sorted. Ras Skanking indeed. Here are the Easy Snapping details...

UK and USA released Friday, 29 September 2017 - "The Trojan Albums Collection (1971-1973)" by LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY & THE UPSETTERS on Trojan/BMG TJDCD565 (Barcode 4050538305111) offers 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (78:17 minutes):

1. Do Your Thing - DAVE BARKER [Side 1]

2. Dream Land - THE UPSETTERS

3. Long Sentence - THE UPSETTERS

4. Not Guilty - THE UPSETTERS

5. Cool And Easy - THE UPSETTERS

6. Well Dread Version 3 - ADDIS ABABA CHILDREN

7. My Girl - THE UPSETTERS

8. Saw Dust - THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

9. Place Called Africa Version 3 - WINSTON PRINCE

10. Isn't It Wrong - THE HURRICANES

11. Go Slow - THE UPSETTERS

12. Bad Luck - THE UPSETTERS

13. Move Me - THE UPSETTERS

14. Surplus

Tracks 1 to 14 are the album "Africa's Blood" - released December 1971 in the UK on Trojan Records TBL 166

15. Battle Axe - THE UPSETTERS [Side 1]

16. A Place Called Africa - JUNIOR BYLES

17. Cheerio - THE UPSETTERS

18. Picture On The Wall - RAS DARKINS

19. Cool Operator - DELROY WILSON

20. Knock Three Times - THE UPSETTERS

21. Pop A Pop - ANDY CAPP

22. Earthquake - THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

23. Don't Cross The Nation - MARK & LUKE

24. Dark Moon - THE UPSETTERS

25. Rough And Smooth - THE UPSETTERS

26. Groove Me - THE UPSETTERS

27. Easy Snapping - THE UPSETTERS

28. I'm Yours - DELROY WILSON

Tracks 15 to 28 are the album "Battle Axe" - released January 1972 in the UK on Trojan Records TBL 167

Disc 2 (74:51 minutes):

1. Tighten Up - DILLINGER & THE UPSETTERS [Side 1]

2. Django Shoots First - SIR LORD COMIC& THE UPSETTERS

3. Uncle Charley - THE UPSETTERS

4. Sokup - THE UPSETTERS

5. Double Power - THE UPSETTERS

6. Lover Version - THE UPSETTERS

7. Rumpelsteelskin - THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

8. Skanking - DILLINGER

9. Kuchy Skank - THE UPSETTERS

10. Connection - DILLINGER & THE UPSETTERS

11. Operation - THE UPSETTERS

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Rhythm Shower" - issued 1973 as a WHITE LABEL ONLY TEST-PRESSING LP in Jamaica on Upsetter IBL 135 and in the UK as Trojan TBL 195. First officially released in "The Upsetter Box Set" on Trojan PERRY 1 in July 1985 (3LP Box Set)

12. Kentucky Skank - LEE PERRY & THE UPSETTERS [Side 1]

13. Double Six - U ROY & THE UPSETTERS

14. Just Enough - DAVID ISAACS & THE UPSETTERS

15. In The Iaah - THE UPSETTERS

16. Jungle Lion - THE UPSETTERS

17. We Are Neighbours - DAVID ISAACS & THE UPSETTERS

18. Soul Man - LEE PERRY & THE UPSETTERS [Side 2]

19. Stick Together - U ROY & THE UPSETTERS

20. High Fashion - I ROY & THE UPSETTERS

21. Long Sentence - THE UPSETTERS

22. Hail Stones - THE UPSETTERS

23. Ironside - THE UPSETTERS

24. Cold Weather - THE UPSETTERS

25. Waap You Waa - THE UPSETTERS

Tracks 12 to 25 are the album "Double Seven" - released January 1974 in the UK on Trojan Records TRLS 70

The 16-page booklet is nicely laid out - the three official album sleeves and the Promo-Only "Rhythm Shower" from 1973 all given a page each to shine. There are photos of the key players – singers David Isaacs, Dave Barker and Junior Byles, singer, producer and DJ Doctor Alimantado, Carl Dawkins, U Roy and I Roy, The Righteous Flames, Dillinger and of course a couple for our hero – Lee Perry. In-between the text you get colour shots of those gorgeous 45 repros - rare Jamaican labels like Justice League and the plain white Upsetter variant – stippled British labels like Jackpot, Upsetter, Bullet and Down Town.

Co-author of the fantastic 2003 Sanctuary/MPG book "Young, Gifted And Black: The Story Of Trojan Records" (see review) - LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT provides the entertaining, affectionate and hugely informative liner notes. As anyone will tell you info on Reggae is a rare beast and writers/musicologists like Laurence Cane-Honeysett, Marc Griffiths and Michael de Koningh (Griffiths and De Koningh wrote "Tighten Up: The History Of Reggae In The UK") have brought swaths of that hitherto unknown knowledge into the public domain. Hell people don't even know when or where Rainford Hugh Perry (Lee Scratch to you and I) was born except that he has made claims to have been a champion Domino player growing up in a bustling Forties/Fifties Kingston. Perhaps a little bit of mystery only adds to his legend. Anyway the booklet is a sweet read and for the most part rightly praises the young Producers quartet of albums on Trojan.

ANDY PEARCE is a fave-rave Audio Engineer to me. More well known for his Rock stuff (Rory Gallagher, Free, Spooky Tooth, Wishbone Ash, ELP, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, John Renbourn, Pentangle, Budgie, Black Sabbath and more) - he's a dab hand at this master-tape malarkey. And as anyone who knows their Reggae - much of this was recorded in Aunty Flo's scullery with a broom and a borrowed microphone from Butlins - so Pearce has done well to get more out of these sonically challenging recordings. Let’s get to the rough and smooth...

Although the four albums are credited here to Lee Perry (the Producer) - all are actually Various Artist compilations with Upsetters involvement. Highlights on "Africa's Blood" include Dave Barker's sung opener "Do Your Thing" - a chipper little dancer. Organ instrumentals follow (loving that Bass punch) of which "Long Sentence" is a standout while the brassy "Not Guilty" feels more Rocksteady. Disguised as the Addis Ababa Children - The Upsetters give it some spoken Ras at the beginning of "Well Dread Version" - a Perry composition that unfortunately threatens more than it delivers. It's followed by a lively instrumental go at The Temptations classic "My Girl" - much better however is Perry's own "Saw Dust". Winston Prince explains about the 'great place' in "Place Called Africa Version 3" - but my heart goes instead to the Rocksteady wickedness of a killer trio - "Go Slow", "Bad Luck" and especially "Move Me" – fab bopping instrumentals you want to impress your friends with.

Released within weeks of each other - 1972's "Battle Axe" followed the same 14-track layout of its end-of-year predecessor - a smattering of vocal cuts nestling beside driving Upsetter instrumentals. Trojan had tried the excellent organ groover "Earthquake" as a 45 A-side as far back as May 1971 on Upsetter US 365 in the UK with Junior Byles singing a version of "A Place Called Africa" on the flipside. Delroy Wilson gives it some girly-walking-admiration on the short buy nice "Cool Operator" while Tony Orlando's Dawn sees "Knock Three Times" get a welcome if not cheesy instrumental makeover by a clearly unenthusiastic Upsetters. Better is the-monkey-speaks-his-mind "Pop A Top" with Andy Capp. Another instrumental highlight similar to "Earthquake" was also given a UK 7" single release in August 1971 - Rogers & Hart's "Blue Moon" done up as "Dark Moon" on Upsetter US 370 - another great trombone neck-jerking groover. Sexy guitar flicks accompany an in-the-pocket Upsetters rhythm section on the sneakily cool "Groove Me" while an underrated Delroy Wilson gets to shine vocally on the pretty oh-baby "I'm Yours"

The unreleased album "Rhythm Shower" opens with a weird update on "Tighten Up" followed quickly by a funky organ cut "Django Shoots First" where Sir Lord Comic speaks in his best Dracula vs. Monster Mash voice (actually dates from 1968). The Production values for "Uncle Charley" aren't the greatest but the echoed instruments of the organ-led "Double Power" show Perry moving on. Dillinger gets to shout 'Dread!' on "Skanking" - better is "Kuchy Skank" where at least the Bass and Guitar are more upfront. While "Operation" feels right - the whole album feels disjointed somehow and you hear why it remained unreleased. The final album has cool covers of a lesser-heard Chi-Lites winner "We Are Neighbours" and that old Stax stalwart Sam & Dave's "Soul Man". U Roy gives it some duet echoes on "Stick Together" while I Roy begs for togetherness (I would say) on "High Fashion". The bending notes of synths turn up for a remake of "Long Sentence" pointing to the future.

"The Trojan Albums Collection" by Lee Perry is not all unmitigated genius for certain - but there's enough here to make this an essential purchase. And certainly enough to make your Jah Love for the great man groove and grow...

"Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (July 2016 BMG/Leadclass/Manticore 2CD Reissue - Steve Wilson and Andy Pearce Remixes/Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"Emerson, Lake & Palmer" was released 1971 in the USA (1970 UK)

"...Oh What A Lucky Man He Was..."

In many ways Emerson, Lake & Palmer's November 1970 debut LP (Island Records in the UK and Cotillion in the USA) was Part 2 of the Prog explosion set off in earnest by another extraordinary debut - King Crimson's "In The Court Of The Crimson King" in October 1969.

Dorset Guitarist and Singer GREG LAKE had been a founder-member of Crimson and featured on that first LP – Yorkshire keyboard virtuoso KEITH EMERSON had played with Gary Farr, The V.I.P’s and done his five-album stint with The Nice (even adding keyboard touches to Rod Stewart's "I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing" on his debut album "An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down" released February 1970 in the UK) - whilst Brummie Drummer CARL PALMER had whacked his sticks for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and formed Atomic Rooster with Vincent Crane. When these three huge forces of 60ts Avant Garde came together as a band in June 1970 - their initial album was always going to be an event.

But before they unleashed that beast on a fractured counter-culture - a spot of Proggy grandstanding was in order. On the 29th of August 1970 - they took to the stage at the Isle Of Wight Festival with suitably bombastic crowd-pleasing results - cannon fire mixed with neo-classical arrangements and squealing keyboards with more wires and jump leads than Mission Control at Cape Canaveral. Island Records immediately thought - that's the band for me. They signed ELP pronto and in November the record was out - peaking at No.4 in the UK album charts with the Yanks waiting until February of 1971 to eventually push it up to No. 18 (it stayed on their charts for an impressive 42 weeks only to be replaced in July 1971 with the similarly challenging "Tarkus"). Which brings us to an equally tortured history of this first ELP album on CD...

In truth I've lost count at how reissues/remasters of their catalogue there's been – seven or eight hundred maybe – but I'm sure that this 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' for 2016 will offer fans what they've always wanted – the album in its best sound and tastily presented too. But therein again lies another battle. Some felt that the 2012 remix done by Reissue Godhead Steve Wilson was clean for sure but also sonically neutered from the waist down. Others loved it. What you get here is two versions – the 2012 Remaster carried out by an Engineer I hugely favour – ANDY PEARCE (who works in tandem with MATT WORTHAM) on Disc 1 – with the STEVE WILSON Alternate Version of Disc 2. Andy has even mastered this release for both discs. If the Wilson Mix is too clinical for your tastes – the warmer Pearce version is the baby for you. Pearce and Wortham have twiddled the knobs on CD reissue catalogues for Rory Gallagher, The Kinks, Frankie Miller, Pentangle, Thin Lizzy, Wishbone Ash, Budgie and the recent Free reissues (all praised) and are currently tackling Deep Purple's Seventies output as we speak (a knicker-wettingly exciting prospect). Wilson has transformed Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and Yes catalogues with universally worshipped outcomes. All three Audio Engineer names are about as respected as it can get these days. So let's knuckle down to the details at hand...

UK released 29 July 2016 (1 September 2016 in the USA) - "Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Deluxe Edition'" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on BMG/Leadclass/Manticore BMGCAT2CD1 (Barcode 4050538179897) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' which features the Andy Pearce Remaster of the album on Disc 1 (2012) and the Steven Wilson 'Alternate Album Stereo Remix' from 2012 - both mastered in 2016 by Andy Pearce. It plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - The Original 1970 Album (2012 Remaster) - 41:18 minutes

1. The Barbarian

2. Take A Pebble

3. Knife-Edge

4. The Three Fates [Side 2]

(i) Clotho - Royal Festival Hall Organ

(ii) Lachesis - Piano Solo

(iii) Atropos - Piano Trio

5. Tank

6. Lucky Man

Tracks 1 to 6 are their debut album "Emerson, Lake & Palmer" - released November 1970 in the UK on Island ILPS 9132 (Pink Label Pressing) and February 1971 in the USA on Cotillion SD-9040. Arranged by ELP and Produced by GREG LAKE (Eddy Offord of Yes fame was the Engineer) - it peaked at No. 4 in the UK and No. 18 in the USA. "The Barbarian" is based on "Allegro Barbaro" by Bela Bartok (arranged by ELP), "Take A Pebble" by Greg Lake (arranged by Keith Emerson), "Knife-Edge" by Leos Janacek and Johann Bach (arranged by ELP), "The Three Fates" by Keith Emerson (all three-parts), "Tank" by Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer with "Lucky Man" by Greg Lake.

Disc 2 – The Alternate Album (2012 Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) – 55:41 minutes

1. The Barbarian

2. Take A Pebble

3. Knife-Edge (With Extended Outro)

4. Promenade

5. The Three Fates: Atropos

6. Rave Up

7. Drum Solo

8. Lucky Man

9. Take A Pebble (Alternate Take)

10. Knife-Edge (Alternate Take)

11. Lucky Man (First Greg Lake Solo Version)

12. Lucky Man (Alternate Version)

The three-way foldout card digipak has a series of three black and white photos of the boys larking about (ELP Archives) – various live shots of all three – a superlative worldwide 7” singles display on the centre-pages of the album's lone 45 "Lucky Man" b/w "Knife-Edge" (Holland, Germany and Japan are in there) – as well as new liner notes from noted writer and music buff CHRIS WELCH. The reissue is dedicated to Keith Emerson who died 14 March 2016 – and released in July 2016 – couldn't have known of Greg Lakes' sad passing on 7 December 2016. There's a full page trade advert for the album on Page 13 – the usual reissue credits – and interviews with Emerson and Lake regarding the recordings (Keith was only just learning the Moog when he played his solo on "Lucky Man" – done in one take – it was owned by Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann). Downsides - both CD labels are Manticore only - the reissue label from the mid Seventies - where's the British 'Pink I' Label or the American Cotillion original? The liner notes are good as I say but there's not a word on Disc 2 – no insights into the Alternates or Remix process. But that all goes out the window once you hear the actual audio on 'both' CDs...

ANDY PEARCE did the Remaster for Disc 1 back in 2012 – while Disc 2 is Porcupine Tree's STEVEN WILSON version also from 2012 – with both now mastered by ANDY PEARCE is 2016. I take on board what some have said about the cleanness of Wilson's take in 2012 – but frankly whatever Andy has done with this slight tweak in 2016 - I think most will absolutely love it. So if you want more breathing - AP's take is the one for you – if you want a more humane clean cut – then Disc 2 is your go-to. Either way – you're quids in. And I'm also shocked at the quality of the outtakes on Disc 2...superb stuff we'll get into later...

As the heavy-heavy monster sound of "The Barbarian" comes stomping into your living room (based on "Allegro Barbaro" by Bela Bartok and arranged by ELP) – in less than 20-seconds you’re immediately aware of the power of the band and that this is no-prisoners Progressive Rock. The audio is amazing – full and in your face – not over-trebled – but thumping you in the chest and making you think – this is probably what that Isle of Wight audience felt. "...Then watch the ripples that unfold into me..." – Greg Lake sings on the undeniably pretty "Take A Pebble" – for me one of their greatest moments on record. Opening with piano-frame strums that are soon followed by Bass and Drums – the Audio on this 12-minute album centrepiece is fabulous – Emerson showing beautiful piano delicacy as he plays – Palmer snaking his percussive way over those hi-hats. Then you get that distant acoustic guitar section – a very sweet transfer where Lake’s playing comes sailing out as the hand-claps build – finally followed by Keith showing his musicality. Before all the pomp took over – this is surely the ELP many fans want to remember – minus all the flashy synths – there’s just the three of them and their virtuosity making a sound that is Emerson, Lake & Palmer. For a band that’s (let’s face it) so often derided – I often play this track alone to prove the opposite – a piece of music that warrants respect. Again amazing clarity on the Bass and treated-vocal of Greg Lake as he sings about spread-eagle claws on "Knife-Edge" – a very Crimson song and the one chosen to represent ELP on the 2005 Island Records 3CD Mini Box Set "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal".

Based on a Greek legend of three sisters who could control a person’s destiny and fate - Side 2 opens with the "The Three Fates" Suite by Keith Emerson. The first part is suitably grandiose utilising the Royal Festival Hall’s Organ for the massive chords of "Clotho" (special permission sought and given) while Part 2 is pure Emerson – sat at Advision Studios' seven-foot long Yamaha grand piano giving it some finger-plonking welly. Palmer and Emerson then join forces for the frenzied Piano/Percussion battle of "Atropos" that again feels like King Crimson having an epiphany moment. The near seven-minutes of "Tank" is a big ELP fan fave – a dancing Clavinet perfectly matched by Lake and Palmer – rounded off by Palmer giving it some Ginger Baker – a drum solo. Quite aside from the naff nature of Drum Solos in the live environment for the whole of the Seventies – you have to say that the audio here rocks. "Lucky Man" was apparently the first-song Greg Lake wrote after his mum bought him an Acoustic Guitar at the age of 12 (nice one Mrs. L). An obvious single with its ‘ooh what a lucky man he was’ voices and those lovely acoustic guitars – and of course the rupture-the-sky Moog solo that to this day sends chills up my arms (he used the Moog Mike Vickers from Manfred Mann had left in the studio).

Disc 2 offers up a lot more than I’d bargained for. The very hissy “Promenade” features Lake and Emerson duetting on Vocals and Organ for one and half minutes – while track 5 cleverly isolates "Atropos" in "The Three Fates" Suite and accentuates that rattling percussion as Keith hammers those piano keys. Of real interest is the near five-minute "Rave Up" where Lake flicks about on an Electric Guitar as Emerson and Palmer keep jabbing with Keyboards and Drums – like they’re searching for something interesting to happen. It descends into a go-as-fast-as-you-can-go race to the instrumental finish – but I love it and the Audio is absolutely blistering. The three minutes of "Drum Solo" pretty much does what it says on the tin – Carl hitting his kit like he’s doing Brand’s Hatch in a E-Type Jag and needs to get round in a hurry. If I’m truthful I prefer Wilson’s version of "Lucky Man" – gorgeous Audio that seems to get more out of the Vocals. The Alternate "Take A Pebble" is preceded by some studio banter (let’s do it from the top) but despite its wickedly good sound quality – it disappointingly only lasts just under four minutes. But that’s not to say that I don’t think ELP fans will be chewing this up for breakfast – Keith’s playing – Greg on a clear Bass while Palmer caresses those cymbals. It ends quickly because someone fluffed their part and they giggle about it in some more dialogue. It’s fantastic stuff. The Alternate Take of "Knife-Edge" has huge sound and Keith’s extraordinary playing. Another prize is surely Greg Lake’s First Acoustic Solo Version of "Lucky Man" – those voices different yet still beautiful and no Moog break - while the final Alternate Version of the song has a thrashing Electric Guitar solo instead of that keyboard moment we all know and love – interesting

ELP would conquer the Prog world with "Tarkus" in 1971, "Trilogy" in 1972 and the delightfully titled "Brain Salad Surgery" in 1973 – before it all went preposterous and OTT. But there was a reason why they were huge – and that’s more than evident of this timely 2016 reissue. And with the 2012 version deleted and now starting at £50+ on the used marketplace – this is a ten-spot well spent.

PS: This review is affectionately dedicated to Keith Emerson and Greg Lake who both passed in 2016 - thanks for the pebbles and the ripples...

"Tarkus: Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (2016 Mastered BMG 2CD Set Reissue - With 2012 Steve Wilson/Andy Pearce & Matt Wortham Remixes/Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 240 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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Over 1530 E-Pages 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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"...A Time And A Place..."

Some fans have noticed that this reissue malarkey has gone a bit Donald Trump on ELP - spend, spend, spend – then blame someone else.

'Deluxe Edition' 2CD sets of Emerson, Lake &amp; Palmer's Island Records catalogue appeared in 2012 with Steve Wilson and Andy Pearce Remasters and Remixes galore. Those supposed 'definitive' issues were going to put out to pasture numerous reissues on Sanctuary that went before in the 80s through to the 00's.

Yet here we are again in July 2016 (itself reissued March 2017 too). But there's a subtle difference that I feel should be pointed out - the 2016 mastering fro both discs is new and just that bit sweeter in my less than humble opinion. These reissues sound utterly amazing – but let's get to the gun-totting armadillo details first...

UK released 27 July 2016 (reissued 1 March 2017) - "Tarkus: Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE &amp; PALMER on BMG/Leadclass BMGCAT2CD2 (Barcode 4050538179996) is a 2CD Reissue containing both 2012 Versions by Steve Wilson and Andy Pearce with new 2016 Andy Pearce mastering and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Original 1971 Album (2012 Remaster)" - 38:42 minutes:

1. Tarkus [Side 1]

(i) Eruption

(ii) Stones Of Years

(iii) Iconoclast

(iv) Mass

(v) Manticore

(vi) Battlefield

(vii) Aquatarkus

2. Jeremy Bender [Side 2]

3. Bitches Crystal

4. The Only Way (Hymn)

5. Infinite Space (Conclusion)

6. A Time And A Place

7. Are You Ready Eddy?

Tracks 1 to 7 are their second studio album "Tarkus" - released June 1971 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9155 and June 1971 in the USA on Cotillion SD 9900. Produced by Greg Lake and Engineered by Eddy Offord - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 9 in the USA. 

Disc 2 - "The Alternate Album (2012 Steven Wilson Stereo Mixes)" - 50:47 minutes:

1. Tarkus [Side 1]

(i) Eruption

(ii) Stones Of Years

(iii) Iconoclast

(iv) Mass

(v) Manticore

(vi) Battlefield

(vii) Aquatarkus

2. Jeremy Bender [Side 2]

3. Bitches Crystal

4. The Only Way (Hymn)

5. Infinite Space (Conclusion)

6. A Time And A Place

7. Are You Ready Eddy?

8. Oh, My Father

9. Unknown Ballad

10. Mass (Alternate Take)

The 16-page booklet includes new 2016 interviews with all three musical prodigies – and just before Keith Emerson passed in March 2016 and then tragically – Greg Lake in December 2016. Well-known writer and musicologist CHRIS WELCH fills in the rest of the details – William Neal's amazing drawings of flying pterodactyls with guns, missile-bearing lizards and a scorpion-tailed Manticore (they'd adopt their record-label name from this track) - all of which are complimented by the Armadillo Tank with Propulsion Tracks out front. With the album's title 'Tarkus' spelt out in parched animal bones – the three musician names didn't even appear on original album covers. There's witty anecdotes about the no English Greek sandwich lady who kept interrupting sessions no matter what – so much so that her cries of 'am or cheese' to the band was left on the record ("Are You Ready Eddy?"). There's discussion on the organ at St. Mark's Church in Finchley that's featured on "The Only Way (Hymn)", the influence of Jazz Musicians Lenny Tristano and Dave Brubeck on Keith's playing and style - Greg coming up with the name (a possibly more vengeful Tarka The Otter). The inner gatefold artwork of the 1971 album is reproduced in the centre pages - but it's sloppily a Manticore reissue version and not the 1971 Island Records original.

The audio was done by Andy Pearce fro Disc 1 and Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson for the Alternate Album on Disc 2 - but hey key here is that both have been mastered in 2016 by ANDY PEARCE for this reissue and I'd swear that his tweaking has made the transfers more substantial, clearer and given them less of a clinical sheen. I've never heard this Progressive Rock LP sound so good. Let's get to the music...

Side 1's 21-minute 7-part "Tarkus" Suite opens with a real dawn-of-man lead in - before exploding into wild keyboard stabs in 5/4 time. It soon settles into a prolonged solo - and when those staccato Moog and Drum jabs kick in at about eleven minutes - the remaster is huge. Lake gets his guitar parts towards the end and his 'let there be no sorrow...be no pain' lyrics. "Jeremy Bender" is a fictional London Spiv brought to life my Keith's barrelhouse piano and Greg's witty lyrics. Inspired by Dave Brubeck's "Count Down" - "Bitches Crystal" races along in 6/4 time - Lake singing of tortured spirits and ghostly images while Keith lashes into more alehouse piano. Bach's "Toccata In F Major" provides the inspiration for the churchy "The Only Way (Hymn)" which in itself segues into the funky Prog swing of "Infinite Space" - a piece of Piano Jazz inspired by Lennie Tristano. ELP get King Crimson heavy with the buttermilk cream of "A Time And A Place" before they bring it all to a finish with the rather silly and out-of-place cod Rock 'n' Roll of "Are You Ready Eddie?" (turn those faders down).

I wasn't expecting the "Oh, My Father" Bonus Track to be so good - four minutes of Greg Lake examining his relationship with his Dad - the words never spoken - no more time left to speak them. It's an Acoustic/Electric Guitar ballad - sad and beautiful and moving. Both it and the equally melodic "Maybe It's Just A Dream" simply don't fit in with the Pure Prog of the LP - but that doesn't step from being alarmingly pretty given the harsh iconoclast music that's preceded them. The harmony vocals and pretty piano playing will thrill ELP fans. There's a count-in to the Alternate of "Mass"  - section four of the seven-part "Tarkus" suite. It's really good - especially Keith's virtuoso playing and Palmer's skin-tight drumming - but you can also hear why the more lively finished version was chosen. 

"Tarkus" will not be everyone's favourite ELP album for damn sure (I prefer the first and "Trilogy") - and there are those who will dismiss it as very much of its 1971 Progressive Rock time. But it was a Number 1 for a reason. And fans are going to need this superb sounding version of it on CD. Another reissue I know – but this is the one worth buying...