"Living/True Stories And Other Dreams/Judith" by JUDY COLLINS (October 2018 Beat Goes On 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Send In The Clowns..." 

The album "Living" is from 1971 (USA), 1972 (UK)

This gorgeous-sounding 2018 twofer from Beat Goes On of the UK offers Judy Collins fans a tasty triple whammy - three of her most popular albums from the first half of the Seventies remastered onto 2CDs in proper style after years languishing in the Nineties and Naughties digital dust.

First up is, "Living", released late 1971 on Elektra Records which peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard Top 100, then "True Stories And Other Dreams" from early 1973 (peaked at No. 27 and was called just "True Stories" in the UK) and the one she’s probably most remembered for – the "Send In The Clowns" album simply called "Judith" from 1975.

Bolstered up by that mammoth-selling single – the album "Judith" was a real seller for her peaking at No. 17 in the USA but marking her biggest chart presence in the UK since "Amazing Grace" went to No. 3 in November 1970 – an impressive No. 7 on the UK LP charts. I can remember the power of that almost spiritual ballad in 1975 – its pained sadness seemed to be literally everywhere (Radio and TV) and many were moved to cover it for years to come. Here are the living details...

UK released Friday, 12 October 2018 - "Living/True Stories And Other Dreams/Judith" by JUDY COLLINS on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1352 (Barcode 5017261213525) offers 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

CD 1 (64:03 minutes):

1. Joan Of Arc [Side 1]

2. Four Strong Winds

3. Vietnam Love Song

4. Innisfree

5. Song For Judith (Open The Door)

6. All Things Are Quite Silent [Side 2]

7. Easy Times

8. Chelsea Morning

9. Famous Blue Raincoat

10. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

Tracks 1 to 10 are her album "Living" - released November 1971 in the USA on Elektra EKS 75014 and January 1972 in the UK on Elektra K 42102.

11. Cook With Honey [Side 1]

12. So Begins The Task

13. Fisherman Song

14. The Dealer (Down And Losin')

15. Secret Gardens

Tracks 11 to 15 are Side 1 of the album "True Stories And Other Dreams" - released January 1973 in the USA on Elektra EKS 75053 and February 1973 in the UK on Elektra K 42132 as "True Stories".

CD2 (65:30 minutes):

1. Holly Ann

2. The Hostage

3. Song For Martin

4. Che

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of the album "True Stories And Other Dreams" - released January 1973 in the USA on Elektra EKS 75053 and February 1973 in the UK on Elektra K 42132 as "True Stories".

5. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress [Side 1]

6. Angel, Spread Your Wings

7. Houses

8. The Lovin' Of The Game

9. Song For Duke

10. Send In The Clowns

11. Salt Of The Earth [Side 2]

12. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime

13. City Of New Orleans

14. I'll Be Seeing You

15. Pirate Ships

16. Born To The Breed

Tracks 5 to 16 are the album "Judith" - released March 1975 in the USA on Elektra Records 7E-1032 and May 1975 in the UK on Elektra Records K 52019.

The card slipcase gives these BGO reissues a classy and luxurious feel whilst the 24-page booklet repro's all the album artwork including the lyrics for the "Judith" LP alongside new liner notes from noted writer and Music historian JOHN TOBLER. Releasing sixteen albums that reached the US charts between 1964 and 1982 alone (her career started in 1961) - Tobler is right to call Collins that most overused word - a legend. His notes go into her entire career so you don't actually get to the albums on hand until the last few pages, but its a fascinating read potted with loads of great observations and details.

But the big news has to be the new 2018 ANDREW THOMPSON remasters which make these already beautifully produced platters shine better than ever before. 

Her own tunes like "Fishermen Song" or "Secret Gardens" or the November 1971 single "Open The Door (Song For Judith)" flipped with her adaptation of a W.B. Yates poem put to music in "Innisfree" show her skills of a songwriter (it preceded the "Living" album on both sides of the pond). And as I rehear Joni's "Chelsea Morning", Jim Webb's "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", Leonard Cohen's "Joan Of Arc" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" or Stephen Stills' "So Begins The Task" - all sat alongside Tom Paxton's "The Hostage", Danny O'Keefe's "Angel, Spread Your Wings" and even The Stones in "Salt Of The Earth" - you're also reminded of her uncanny ear for a tune - Judy Collins with her nose to the ground - covering contemporary songs of the day that would have legs long past their recent release dates. The three albums all sound great, lively and full of instrumentation filling your speakers - a very nice job done...

Beat Goes On have gotten awfully good at this sort of release and outside of an all-encompassing Rhino box set of her entire Elektra Records catalogue (something WEA artists like Joni Mitchell, Ry Cooder, Little Feat and America have all enjoyed) - BGO of England has provided Judy Collins fans with a steady stream of decent Remasters in quality presentation - and this you have to say is another winner. Tasty and then some...

"See/Search And Nearness" by THE RASCALS (September 2018 Beat Goes On Reissue - 2LPs from 1969 and 1971 Remastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Carry Me Back..."

Featuring the March 1971 Album "Search And Nearness"

Having dropped the 'Young' moniker in 1968 for their fourth platter "Once Upon A Dream" (thereafter simply known as The Rascals) – the American band’s sixth and seventh albums (reissued here) were originally issued Stateside in December 1969 and March 1971 on Atlantic Records. But whilst the 'groovin' on a Sunday afternoon' troupe might have been trying to spread out artistically - commercially they were bombing in leaps and bounds.

Few now remember the slightly trippy "See" or "Search And Nearness" LPs - 1969's effort making No. 45 on the Billboard album charts whilst 1971's platter barely registered at No. 198 and then for only 1 week. In fact by the time "Search..." had come round (recorded late 1969 and into 1970) - the four-piece was down to three (Brigati left) and they would soon be signing to Columbia Records for "Peaceful World" - a supposed new start double-album released in the early summer of 1971 but one that again only registered mild public interest.

Neither of these final records for Atlantic were well received by the critics of the day – most saying the band was either languishing on their positive sunshine vibe of 1966 and 1967 that now sounded old hat in 1969 and 1971 or were offering too many styles on their new outings (Country Rock, Sunshine Pop, Psych and Jazz Rock are just some on platter number two alone) which conversely had the backwards effect of making them seem directionless and not expansive.

But Rascals fans see "See" or "Search And Nearness" differently – liking them precisely because of the stretching-out and the range of genres. For instance, my particular poison is a truly stunning Jazz Fusion Rock instrumental called "Nama" which ends Side 1 of "Search And Nearness" (written by the drummer Dino Danelli). Its 5:34 minutes of Keyboards, Saxophones and Drum solos would make most people double-take if they were shown the authors of such a piece as being by 'The Rascals'. Sounding not unlike War meets Billy Cobham meets Earth Wind And Fire – the band of "Good Lovin'" or "Groovin'" are absolutely unrecognisable here.

Availability-wise too both albums have been hard to find on deleted CD for years now - so this card-slipcase September 2018 Double-Disc Remaster by England’s Beat Goes On is a welcome addition to their increasingly impressive reissue catalogue (even if some will feel that this is a five-Star reissue of three-Star material – which it is). So coming to a digital nirvana portal near you - here are the all-seeing all-enlightening details...

UK released Friday, 21 September 2018 - "See/Search And Nearness" by THE RASCALS on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1357 (Barcode 5017261213570) offers two albums (1969 and 1971) Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

CD1 "See" (42:12 minutes):

1. See [Side 1]

2. I'd Like To Take You Home

3. Remember Me

4. I'm Blue

5. Stop And Think

6. Temptation's 'Bout To Get Me

7. Nubia [Side 2]

8. Carry Me Back

9. Away Away

10. Real Thing

11. Death's Reply

12. Hold On

Tracks 1 to 12 are their sixth studio album "See" - released December 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8246 (Stereo only) and in the UK on Atlantic 588 210. Produced by THE RASCALS - it peaked at No. 45 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

THE RASCALS for "See" were:

FELIX CAVALIERE – Keyboards (Organ, Piano), Lead and Backing Vocals

GENE CORNISH – Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals

EDDIE BRIGATI – Percussion, Lead And Backing Vocals

DINO DANELLI – Drums

Guests:

Chuck Rainey – Bass on all tracks except...

Ron Carter – Bass on "Nubia" and "Carry Me Back"

Hubert Laws – Flute on "Nubia", Danny Labbate – Soprano Sax on "Nubia"

CD2 "Search And Nearness" (38:44 minutes):

1. Right On [Side 1]

2. I Believe

3. Thank You Baby

4. You Don't Know

5. Nama

6. Almost Home [Side 2]

7. The Letter

8. Ready For Love

9. Fortunes

10. Glory Glory

Tracks 1 to 10 are their seventh studio album "Search And Nearness" - released March 1971 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8276 and in the UK on Atlantic 2400 113. Produced by THE RASCALS - it peaked at No. 198 in the USA (didn't chart UK).

THE RASCALS for "Search And Nearness" were:

FELIX CAVALIERE – Keyboards (Organ, Piano), Lead and Backing Vocals

GENE CORNISH – Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals

DINO DANELLI – Drums

Others:

Eddie Brigati (left the band during recordings) – Lead Vocals on "You Don’t Know", "The Letter" and "Fortunes" (Felix Cavaliere Lead on all others)

Ron Blanco – Bass on Track 4

Chuck Rainey – Bass on Tracks 1, 2, 5, 7 and 9

Howard Cowart – Bass on Tracks 3, 6, 8 and 10

Joe Newman (Trumpet) with Joe Farrell and Seldon Powell (Saxophones) on "Nama"

David Brigati – Backing Vocals

The Sweet Inspirations – Backing vocals on "Glory Glory"

Cissy Houston and Tasha Thomas – Backing Vocals on "I Believe"

The card-slipcase adds the reissue a classy/luxurious look - Mojo contributor CHARLES WARING does his usual bang-up job with the liner notes gamely describing some of the not-so-brill songs with imaginative adjectives - whilst the big draw will be new 2018 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters. I've always found the band's own productions a tad clumsy - panning the three vocalists between the speakers like a badly recorded Three Dog Night - but there's no doubt to my ears of the improvement. Even when the guitars are fuzzy and the vocals bucket-deep, the overall stereo imaging is great and at last there's really power to the rhythm section. These CDs are upgrades and contain real oomph on recordings that needed it.

Lead Vocalist and founder member Felix Cavaliere came up with 8 of the 12 compositions on "See" – guitarist Gene Cornish proffering "Remember Me" and "Away Away" - while "I’m Blue" is a co-write between FC and Eddie Brigati - leaving only a lone cover of the Soul masterpiece "Temptation’s ‘Bout To Get Me" – a James Diggs song made a hit by The Knight Brothers in 1965 on Checker Records. Despite its yeah-man image of a silhouette dove on the front cover – the album seemed more full of short songs trying to be hits rather than messages of love and racial integration. Atlantic has issued "Carry Me Back" as a lead-in 45 in August 1969 with the album cut "Real Thing" as its flipside and it reached a respectable No. 26 on the Billboard 100.

They covered The Box Tops hit "The Letter" on "Search And Nearness" LP – a gorgeous gatefold sleeve on original release (the rear child-face artwork is the inlay beneath the CD trays whilst the front cover is the front page of the 16-page booklet). They psych it up although not perhaps as brilliantly as one would hope – but there is not doubt of their passion for the huge social changes taking place in the USA in the opener "Right On" – sort of Three Dog Night does inequality with a Norman Whitfield groove.

For sure not everything here is going to be worshipped from afar, but I can't help think that the second LP especially has stuff worthy of rediscovery and even an occasional rant ("Nama" baby - you heard it here first). Yes its 3-star material, but man what a 5-star presentation of it. Well done to all involved...

"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...

"All In Your Mind: The Transatlantic Years 1970-1974" by STRAY (October 2017 Esoteric Recordings 4CD Box Set - Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Time Machine..."

Featuring the album "Suicide" by STRAY from March 1971 

For such a prolific British band - Acton’s finest never once saw the fruits of their LP labours chart in any meaningful way. West London's hard-rockers STRAY put out a whopping eight studio albums on two huge record labels between 1970 and 1976 (Transatlantic Records first and then Dawn) and all of it made up of almost entirely original material (the only cover version is one of Cliff Richard’s 50ts classic "Move It"). And yet despite a passionate and loyal college circuit following and years of relentless gigging – not a snifter. Welsh three-piece Budgie placed loads – Space Rock mavericks Hawkwind the same - Ireland's Skid Row with a very young Gary Moore and their weird variant of Speed Rock even nabbed one in 1970 against all the musical odds - but not STRAY.

Hindsight however has seen a growing-warmth towards our head-banging heroes that has transcended decades. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden and Neil Peart of Rush have sung their praises and name-checked Stray's more Prog elements as a seminal influence. The respected and artist-orientated Angel Air Records of the UK put out a live set of the classic line-up in 2014 and fans of hard-hitting Blues Rock mixed with a tinge of Psych and complicated time-phrases have been discovering their forgotten albums for decades.

Hardly surprising then that here comes Cherry Red's much-praised Esoteric Recordings with another overhaul - a 4CD Mini Box Set covering the first period of their output on Transatlantic Records – five albums and a heap of rarities (thirteen to be exact). Although the outer clamshell looks the part – the inner card sleeves decidedly let the side down with no original artwork and albums split across discs. But even despite these iffy presentation choices (not something I ever say of Esoteric Recordings who along with Ace Records are amongst my favourite British reissue labels) - there's much to be praised here – especially the new Ben Wiseman Remastering. So once more my hirsute hobbit-obsessed friends unto the suicidal past, mind trips, moving on Mudanzas and flicks on a Saturday morning...

UK released 20 October 2017 - "All In Your Mind: The Transatlantic Years 1970-1974" by STRAY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42607 (Barcode 5013929470743) is a 4CD Mini Clamshell Box Set containing five albums plus rarities that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:30 minutes):

1. All In Your Mind [Side 1]

2. Taking All The Good Things

3. Around The World In 80 Days

4. Time Machine

5. Only What You Can Make It [Side 2]

6. Yesterday's Promise

7. Move On

8. In Reverse/Some Say

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Stray" - released June 1970 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 216 (no USA release) - Produced by HUGH MURPHY

9. Son Of The Father [Side 1]

10. Nature's Way

11. Where Do Our Children Belong

12. Jericho

13. Run Mister Run [Side 2]

14. Dearest Eloise

15. Do You Miss Me?

Tracks 9 to 15 on Disc 1 and Track 1 on Disc 2 are their 2nd studio album "Suicide" - released March 1971 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 233 and September 1971 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-611 with the same track list but different artwork

Disc 2 (70:05 minutes):

1. Suicide (as per Tracks 9 to 15 on Disc 1)

2. Our Song [Side 1]

3. After The Storm

4. Sister Mary

5. Move That Wigwam

6. Leave It Out [Side 2]

7. How Could I Forget You?

8. Mr. Hobo

9. Queen Of The Sea

Tracks 2 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "Saturday Morning Pictures" - released February 1972 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 248 and in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-624 - Produced by MARTIN BIRCH and STRAY

10. Changes [Side 1]

11. Come On Over

12. Alright Ma!

13. Oil Fumes And Sea Air

14. Gambler

15. Hallelujah

Tracks 10 to 15 are Side 1 of their 4th studio album "Mudanzas" - released May 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 268 (no USA release) - Produced by WILF PINE

Disc 3 (64:08 minutes):

1. I Believe It [Side 2]

2. Pretty Things

3. Soon As You've Grown

4. Leave It To Us

Tracks 1 to 5 as Side 2 of "Mudanzas" (as per Tracks 10 to 15 on Disc 2)

5. Tap [Side 1]

6. Move It

7. Hey Domino

8. Customs Man

9. Mystic Lady

10. Somebody Called You

11. Give It Up [Side 2]

12. Like A Dream

13. Don't Look Back

14. Right From The Start

15. Our Plea

Tracks 5 to 15 are their 5th studio album "Move It" - released May 1974 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 281 (no USA issue) - Produced by WILF PINE

Disc 4 (43:17 minutes):

Demos & Rarities

1. Change Your Mind

2. The Man Who Paints The Pictures

3. In The Night

4. Outcast

Tracks 1 to 4 are Pye Studio Demos recorded November 1968 and Produced by JOHN SCHROEDER

5. All In Your Mind (Single Version) - released 1971 in Italy as a 7"single on Transatlantic TN 111

6. Encore - recorded during the sessions for "Suicide"

7. Our Song (Single Version)

8. Mama's Coming Home

Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of a January 1972 UK 7" single on Big T Records BIG 141 in a picture sleeve

9. Georgia

10. Get Out Right Away

Tracks 9 and 10 were featured on and exclusive to the Stray compilation LP "Tracks" released September 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA SAM 33

11. Brand New Day - non-album B-side to the UK 7" single of "Hallelujah" released 1973 on Transatlantic/Big T Records BIG 512

12. Move It (Single Version)

13. Crazy People

Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a 1973 UK 7" single on Transatlantic/Big T Records BIG 512

STRAY was (same four-piece line-up for all five LPs):

STEVE GADD - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and Percussion

DEL BROMHAM - Lead Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica, Percussion and Second Vocals

GARY GILES - Bass

RITCHIE COLE - Drums and Percussion

Guests: 

Mike Evans - Violin, Andy Bearne – Harmonica, Keith Bleasy – Congas - all on the "Suicide" LP 

Barry St. John, Kay Gardner, Lisa Strike and P.P. Arnold - all Backing Vocals on the "Suicide" LP

Jimmie Helms - Brass on "Hey Domino" and Backing Vocals on "Customs Man" on the "Move It" LP

Castle Music/Sanctuary first issued these five rare albums onto CD in Remastered form in 2005, 2006 and 2007 with the first four as Expanded Edition single CDs whilst the fifth album "Move It" became a double. Disc 4 of this 2017 reissue gathers up 13 of the Bonus Tracks from those Castle reissues but misses out on eleven BBC Sessions – one on the "Mudanzas" issue in 2006 and ten on the "Move It" double from 2007. With the total playing time on Disc 4 clocking in at 43:17 minutes - there was clearly room for some – but probably licensing rights have disallowed their inclusion here – which is a damn shame. 

Another problem (if you can call it that) is that with five LP covers to represent and only four CD card sleeves to use – Esoteric have decided to do themed artwork for all four cards with background images of the original LPs. They’re black and white and are quite awful really (see photos provided). You lose the impact of the die-cut debut gatefold "Stray" – the gatefold for the hugely popular "Saturday Morning Pictures" – the die-cut van sleeve for "Move It" and so on. Worse – as you can see from the Disc listings provided above – the second LP "Suicide" has its last song on Disc 2 with the bulk of the album on Disc 1 (others are similar). Hardly the greatest way to listen to or look at the albums as they were issued. It would of course have been far better to have had five card sleeves with all the original artwork and the bonuses spread out evenly across them – but alas.

So what do you get? The 20-page booklet has new liner notes from noted writer and rocker extraordinaire MALCOLM DOME that illuminate the band’s hurried and prolific output - whilst principal songwriter and Stray stalwart throughout the decades DAVE BROMHAM provides insider details that are both informative and witty. There are reproductions of Marquee posters, trade adverts for various albums, live shots of the four piece in full flow, snaps of the five album sleeves, a Country Club poster where they shared the venue with an eclectic choice of different-genre bands like Dando Shaft, Osibisa, Mike Westbrook and the Faces. But what I do really like is the BEN WISEMAN Remasters – 24-Bit Digital Versions done at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire – full of piss and vinegar – rocking out like the music does but without being overly bombastic. To the music...

Stray had been rehearsing, gigging and writing since 1968 so when they signed to Transatlantic in late 1969 (the label by then looking to expand their predominately Folk and Blues roster into the latest trends) - their self-titled debut was ready to rock. Recorded across only four days of first and second takes - "Stray" carries this Box Set's title track "All In Your Mind" - a huge fan fave and a Del Bromham song that was given prominence on the much-praised "I'm A Freak, Baby" 3CD Mini Box Set on the Grapefruit label in 2016 (goodies galore for fans of Underground Heavies). Barely into their twenties – the songs and playing belie their youth and inexperience with Bromham especially way past his Hank Marvin fixation judging by the heavy-heavy wah-wah "Time Machine". The slow and brooding "Yesterday’s Promise" sounds like Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig meets Black Sabbath getting mellow with their surprisingly trippy "Planet Caravan". The manic guitar pyrotechnics of "Move On" feels like Procol Harum letting Robin Trower out of his amplifier cage. It’s pretty remarkable stuff for such youngsters.

By the time of the second LP "Suicide" in 1971 – founder member Dave Bromham had added an increasing array of instruments to his Electric and Acoustic Guitars of the debut - Mellotron, Organ, Piano, Harpsichord and Harmony Vocals - whilst simultaneously supplying all the songs except "Dearest Eloise" which was a Steve Gadd tune. His songwriting prowess was taking leaps as both the lovely and lonely "Where Do Our Children Belong" and the Stranglers-hooky guitar-chug of "Run Mister Run" testify. At just under 2:20 minutes "Dearest Eloise" has both Harpsichord and Mellotron at its quietly pretty core – more Moody Blues than Stray. And finally things go Funky with the near seven-minute "Do You Miss Me?" – a song I’d swear The Jam’s Paul Weller was listening to as he tried on long trousers for the first time. A doomy feeding-back guitar opens the album’s coolest and yet most dated rocking moment – the Side 2 finisher "Suicide" – 7:42 minutes of very 70ts angst.

For many their 3^rd album from February 1972 "Saturday Morning Pictures" was like discovering "Argus" by Wishbone Ash – a band hitting a creative stride with the gatefold visuals to go along with the thrill. You can hear the Soulful Backing Vocals of Lisa Strike and Immediate’s P.P. "First Cut Is The Deepest" Arnold on the opener "Our Song" – a much more melodic Stray suddenly sounding like their bursting with confidence and the tunes to match the braggadocio. As if discovering Prog by Track 2 - "After The Storm" opens with rain and other ethereal soundscapes only to slip niftily into a wicked Ten Years After strut-fest for the rest of its seven-minutes (Bromham giving it some Tony McPhee on his axe). "Sister Mary" could be Focus, The Moody Blues, The Strawbs or even a speeding Groundhogs – it’s a frantic acoustic-guitar strummer that encompasses all manner of styles whilst at the same time remaining a cute little rocker at heart. Another fave of mine is the loose-lips swagger of "Move That Wigwam" sounding not unlike the Faces rehearsing circa “Long Player” – brill little rocker with clever changes and a catchy doubled-vocal. They go a tad yee-haw Country-Rock with the Terry Stamp sounding "Leave It Out" – better is the fuzzed up blitz of guitars that is "How Could I Forget You" – flanged plucking and vocals ahoy. Both "Mr. Hobo" and "Queen Of The Sea" bring the melodic Rock proceedings to a very satisfying close.

Album four from the spring of 1973 "Mudanzas" (the title comes from a Spanish word for moving on/changing) opens with gorgeous string arrangements from Andrew Powell on the one-minute "Changes" only to return to Rocking business with "Come On Over" – a grungy rocker with some uncomfortable string passages thrown over the top that sound both right and wrong at one and the same time. Clearly listening to The Who - "Alright Ma!" starts our kerranging before settling down into a melodic chorus and cute tune. Going all Ronnie Lane vs. Lindisfarne - "Oil Fumes And Sea Air" is a song about freedom, ships in the bay and the sound of the water going away somewhere new. "Gambler" features some Harmonica warbling and brass jabs but both "Hallelujah" and "I Believe It" have Brass and Strings powered over them to a point where it feels they’re trying too hard.

Album five from May 1974 saw them shake it and groove it – opening with a Drum Solo called "Tap" only to segue into an almost unrecognisable but cleverly boogiefied cover of the Cliff Richard and The Drifters 1958 hit – "Move It" (let me tell you baby it’s called Rock ‘n’ Roll). But after four albums stuff like "Hey Domino" sounds like second-rate Man looking for a hit and failing. Neither here nor there rhythms and badly recorded vocals on "Customs Man" only add to the ordinariness. "Mystic Lady" also tries to be a hit single and actually gets there in a Byrds jangly guitar way.

After signing to Pye Records (covered by another Esoteric Recordings CD compilation called "Fire & Glass: The Pye Recordings 1975-1976" issued November 2017) - Transatlantic Records dragged two compilations out of the band - "Tracks" in September 1975 with two exclusive tracks that appear as Bonuses on Disc 4 and a final comp called “Reflecting & Generation” in July 1977 on Transatlantic TRA SAM 44 that sampled the five albums.

So – a lot of rare 70ts music on offer and despite the presentation carps - there is a lot to savour here and more than a niggling feeling that the British LP charts (and by extension, the British public) lost out to STRAY and not the other way around...