"Morning Brings The Light/John James/Sky In My Pie/Head In The Clouds" by JOHN JAMES (June 2017 Beat Goes On Reissue - 4LPs Remastered Onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review is available along with many others in my e-Book

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD Volume 2 of 3

Specialising in Folk and Reggae

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Features the "John James" Album from 1971 on Transatlantic Records 

"...Through The Lanes..."

Now here's an obscuro. And once again England's Beat Goes On Label (BGO) has done our unsung hero a Welsh Guitar Picker solid (if that's not too rude).

Stretching from 1970 to 1975 – you get full four albums originally on Transatlantic Records in the UK remastered in 2017 by long-standing Audio Engineer Andrew Thompson onto 2CDs – the first two containing some vocals but the last two strictly instrumental with genres crossing between straight-up Acoustic Folk to Bluegrass, Dixieland Jazz and Ragtime (all on Acoustic Guitar). Here are the skies in the pie...

UK released 16 June 2017 (23 June 2017 in the USA) - "Morning Brings The Light/John James/Sky In My Pie/Head In The Clouds" by JOHN JAMES on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1301 (Barcode 5017261213013) offers 4 full LPs originally on Transatlantic Records (UK) in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1975 newly remastered in 2017 onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (75:05 minutes, 22 Tracks):

1. If Only I [Side 1]

2. One Long Happy Night

3. Pickles And Peppers

4. Liverpool Lullaby

5. Hogan's Alley (Black Eyed Blues)

6. Once I Lived By The Sea

7. Picture Rag [Side 2]

8. A Little Blues

9. So Long Since I Was Home

10. Ostrich Walk

11. Lampeter

12. Morning Brings The Light

Tracks 1 to 12 are his Debut album "Morning Brings The Light" – released August 1970 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 219 (produced by Chris Golby).

13. To Meet You I Hurry Down [Side 1]

14. Original Rags

15. Jazzbo's Holiday

16. Evening Comes Quickly

17. Three Through The Lanes

18. Tim E Whay

19. Song Around A Square [Side 2]

20. Rolling On Down

21. Stoptime

22. Daughter Of The Wind

Tracks 13 to 22 on Disc 1 and Track 1 on Disc 2 are his second album "John James" - released November 1971 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 241 (produced by John Whitehead).

Disc 2 (79:56 minutes, 27 Tracks):

1. Listening To That Old Rag/Ragtime Dance

Tracks 13 to 22 on Disc 1 and Track 1 on Disc 2 are his second album "John James" - released November 1971 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 241 (produced by John Whitehead).

2. And Sam Came Too [Side 1]

3. Sailor's Farewell

4. Mammy O'Mine

5. Easy Street

6. Out On The Rolling Sea

7. Sky In My Pie

8. Conquistador

9. Bach Goes To Town [Side 2]

10. Kicking Up The Dust

11. Nola

12. Quiet Days

13. Weeping Willow

14. Blap Bam Boom

15. Be Mine Or Run

16. Turn Your Face

Tracks 2 to 16 are his third album "Sky In My Pie" (credited to JOHN JAMES and DAVE BERRYMAN) – released 1972 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 250 (produced by Stephan Grossman).

17. Georgemas Junction [Side 1]

18. Black And White Rag

19. Head In The Clouds

20. Slow Drag

21. Wormwood Tangle

22. Stranger In The World

23. Rags To Riches [Side 2]

24. Blues For Felix

25. Heliotrope Bouquet

26. Secrets In The Sky

27. Stretching Of A Young Girl’s Heart

Tracks 17 to 27 are his fourth album "Head In The Clouds" – released November 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 305 (produced by Ritchie Gold).

The outer card slipcase lends these BGO reissues a classy feel whilst long-time associate to the label JOHN TOBLER has penned the new 12-page liner notes and interviewed John James especially for the project. Anyone who knows the original vinyl platters – their rear sleeves had a few words but little by way of any meaty info (the 1970 and 1971 Jeremy Gilbert and Robin Denselow original liner notes are here nonetheless). I say this because James now enlightens of many of the tunes and their genesis and his collaborations with Berryman on the 3rd LP and John Renbourn on the fourth. The ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters are quietly lovely – strings pinging - sweetly done – the original tapes clearly in very good shape. To the music...

Songs like on "Once I Loved By The Sea" and "A Little Blues" are like pretty John Renbourn or Bert Jansch vignettes - plaintive, lovely and peaceful on the ear and head. Scott Joplin is never far from James' thoughts either - his own "Picture Rag" a beautifully gut-string-picked nod to the great Ragtime man - whilst "Ostrich Walk" is another instrumental but this time more in the Dixieland style. On the second self-titled album his then wife Jo James joins him on two tunes in duet vocals - the awful hippy claptrap of "Rolling On Down" which is rescued by "Daughter Of The Wind" - a James original Ralph McTell might have looked at with envy. Pete Berryman who would share a credit on the third album "Sky In My Pie" turns up on album two having written the playful travelling song "Jazzbo’s Holiday".

The third LP "Sky In My Pie" is a co-credit with another guitarist – PETE BERRYMAN (don’t you just love that gorgeous John Ashcroft artwork). JOHN RENBOURN of Pentangle guests as Second Guitarist on three songs (all instrumentals) – two by James called "Georgemas Junction" and "Stranger In The World" and a Renbourn original called "Wormwood Tangle". Parts of the melody in the fab "Stranger In The World" almost come across as Acoustic Prog while the Charlie Byrd cover of "Blues For Felix" feels very Leon Redbone without the voice. Scott Joplin turns up once again in the lazy afternoon mint-juleps-on-the-lawn feel to "Hellotrope Bouquet" – the very accomplished fourth album then ending in four and half minutes of "Stretching Of A Young Girl’s Heart" where some of the playing actually mimics such young hurt.

So hard to find on original vinyl now and unlikely to see reissue on the format (even in these vinyl is cool days of 2019) – this BGO 2CD twofer is a superb reissue and welcome too. John James will probably never be a household name – but this is a sweetly stacked reminder of what we all missed first time around...

"Second Album" by CURVED AIR (August 2018 Esoteric Recordings CD+DVD 'Expanded Edition' Reissue - Francis Monkman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

As featured in my e-Book 

"...Back Street Luv..."

"Second Album" by CURVED AIR from September 1971 (UK), November 1971 (USA)

There's nothing like a big fat hit single and Pans People on Top of the Pops doing a sexy lingerie routine to its groove to put an otherwise difficult band on the map. And June 1971's tan label Warner Brothers UK 7" single "Back Street Luv" was that doozy. When the album followed in September of that amazing year (see my e-book "There's Something About 1971...") the single had caused a flurry of interest and pushed its elaborate 'multiple flaps' sleeve presentation up to No. 11 in the UK LP charts – impressive stuff for a band that came on like a precursor to Roxy Music with a hot girl singer out front instead of a man sporting glitter and a squinty face. Warners even gave the American gatefold sleeve different artwork when they finally put the album out there in November 1971 - but Curved Air never made any real waves Stateside and it didn't chart.

Which brings us to 2018 and Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) who have clearly developed a passion for the band because like their exemplary Greenslade and Colosseum reissues – they've gone the full Prog Hog on England's CURVED AIR with dusted off archive recordings from the BBC and even Promotional/Euro Pop Programme footage on DVDs – much of it Previously Unreleased. They are even declaring that the fourth album "Air Cut" from 1973 is only now being released with the use of real master tapes (all other variants have been dubbed from vinyl apparently). Let's get the ever dance...

UK released 24 August 2018 (September 2018 in the USA) - "Second Album" by CURVED AIR on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22637 (Barcode 5013929473744) is a CD + DVD 'Expanded Edition' Reissue/Remaster that plays out as follows:

DISC ONE - CD (71:26 minutes):

1. Young Mother [Side 1]

2. Back Street Luv

3. Jumbo

4. You Know

5. Puppets

6. Everdance [Side 2]

7. Bright Summer's Day '68

8. Piece Of Mind

Tracks 1 to 8 are their second studio album "Second Album" – released September 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46090 and November 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1951 (in different artwork). Produced by Colin Caldwell and Curved Air – it peaked on the UK LP charts at No. 11 (didn't chart USA).

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Young Mother In Style

BBC Radio One JOHN PEEL 'Top Gear' Session – Recorded 5 Jan 1971

10. It Happened Today

11. Blind Man

12. Propositions (including What Happens When You Blow Yourself Up)

13. Vivaldi

Tracks 10 to 13 are BBC Radio One 'John Peel Sunday Concert' Recordings from 4 March 1971, recorded at the BBC Paris Theatre, Regent Street, London – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

DISC TWO - DVD (75 minutes, NTSC, All Regions):

Curved Air On The Air – Television Recordings 1971

1. It Happened Today

2. Vivaldi

3. Screw

Tracks 1 to 3 are a 'Warner Brothers Present Curved Air' – A 1971 Promotional Film – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

4. Back Street Luv

5. Propositions

6. Interview

7. Vivaldi

Tracks 4 to 7 are 'Pop Deux' – Recorded at Taverne de l'Olympia, Paris on 6 July 1971. First Broadcast 4 September 1971 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

8. It Happened Today

9. Propositions

10. Vivaldi

Tracks 8 to 10 are 'Beat Club' Radio Bremen TV Sessions 1971 recorded March 1971

11. Back Street Luv (Version 1)

12. Piece Of Mind

13. Back Street Luv (Version 2)

Tracks 11 to 13 are 'Beat Club' Radio Bremen TV Sessions 1971 recorded September 1971

CURVED AIR was:

SONJA KRISTINA (Linwood): All Lead Vocals

DARRYL WAY: Vocals, Electric Violin and Piano on "Puppets"

FRANCIS MONKMAN: Guitar, Keyboards and VCS3 Synthesizer

IAN EYRE: Bass Guitar

FLORIAN PILKINGTON-MIKSA: Drums

The three-way foldout digipak and booklet reproduce all aspects of the John Kosh original album artwork – a many-flaps sleeve with the rainbow design that mirrored the concept of Terry Riley's "A Rainbow In Curved Air" US album from 1969 on Columbia Masterworks from whence the band took their name. Although they had no input into the design, it certainly made the LP feel substantial and combined with that lightning-in-a-bottle single – propelled the 12" record out of the racks into onto Garrard SP25s everywhere. There are also lots of great black and white photos of the band from the period – most of which I've not seen before and the May 2018 liner notes by MALCOLM DOME are typically excellent and informative. The only thing I would say is that the US gatefold card sleeve had different artwork and it seems a tad remiss not to have reproduced it here.

The Remaster has been done by band member FRANCIS MONKMAN and compared to my 2008 Rhino Encore version is a big improvement. The opener "Young Mother" explodes on so many levels – those violin and keyboard passages and the power in "Back Street Luv" with that right speaker keyboard separation is almost disconcerting.

Speaking of which - in the 24-page booklet that features new interviews – Sonja recalls how the "Back Street Luv" seven-inch single changed everything for the band – coverage, acceptance and even screaming from the front rows of subsequent tours. Originally released 18 June 1971 (ahead of the LP) as Warners WB 8029 with the album track "Everdance" on the B-side – when distribution of the Warner Brothers 'Kinney Music' catalogue started 1 July 1971 (previously done by Pye) – somewhere in there the single for the British "Back Street Luv" 45 was re-pressed as Warner Brothers K 16092. Using this catalogue number, it entered the charts for the week ending 7 August 1971 at No. 34, dropped out for a week and returned 21 August 1971 at No. 30 and thereafter quickly rose to a peak of No. 4 for the chart week ending 18 September 1971. Sitting comfortably alongside The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again", Family's "In My Own Time", T. Rex's number 1 "Get It On" and Atomic Rooster's "Devil's Answer" (similar sounds around those same weeks) – the Funky Prog Rock groove of "Back Street Luv" grabbed the listener by the short and curlies and didn't let go (the sultry looks of lead vocalist Sonja Kristina helped matters too). The album of course benefitted from this hugely as did the size of gigs they were now playing.

Despite the obvious killer sexiness of the single - for me one of the LP's best melodies is "Jumbo" – a ballad by Darryl Way and Sonja Kristina that feels like a string quartet is accompanying all those keyboard moments – it's almost Tom Waits in its gorgeousness (stay in your room after dark, don't venture outside, Sonja warns her young listener). We're back to rocking with the guitar-driven "You Know" – a deadringer for a second 45 from the album but Warners never went with it (Monkman plays a blinder here and a huge Remaster too). Side 1 ends with another Way/Kristina composition – five and half minutes of "Puppets". It opens with giggles, then keyboard phasing and I must admit I found the Remaster has somehow made that rhythm section seem even discombobulating and not necessarily in a good way. Monkman provides all three on Side 2 beginning with the manic "Everdance" – sort of like The Flock let loose at the local school hall. I've always had an aversion to the three-minute manic-jaunt that is "Bright Summer's Day '68" – a relationship disintegrating in a disconcertingly happy-go-lucky sunshine-shining-down kind of a way. It ends on the album's undoubted monster – the near thirteen minutes of "Piece Of Mind" - an opus sounding not unlike ELP meets Blood, Sweat and Tears via Linda Hoyle's Affinity (over on Vertigo Records). The Remaster has made that pounding piano and violin duo feel even more eerie and powerful and when that keyboard solo comes in and the pace kicks up a notch – the effect is spectacular – Sonja talking the lyrics (wish they'd reproduced them in the booklet).

The opener BBC track "Young Mother In Style" features a typically excited BBC intro at a new song from the ‘sensational’ band. The following Peel Session (recorded in March 1971 and Previously Unreleased) features four songs from their "Airconditioning" debut alum released in November of the previous year – one of which "Propositions" incorporates the non-album B-side "What Happened When You Blow Yourself Up" (the flipside to their first British 45 "It Happened Today"). The audio is a wee bit distorted for the beginning of "Blind Man" as Sonja warbles her voice but thereafter it’s really rather shockingly good. The heavy guitar and bass "Propositions" stretches to six and half minutes as it incorporates the funky keyboard groove of "What Happened When You Blow Yourself Up" towards the end (the essence of creation baby). There’s hiss too on "Vivaldi" but the performance is all out at eight and half minutes. Which brings us to the visuals...

The DVD is pleasingly long at one hour and fifteen plus minutes - beginning with a decidedly ragged-looking lead in to a 1971 Warners Promotional film that gives us three tunes from their debut. Both Bassist and Guitarist sport plastic see-through body instruments (oh you're so cool boys) while Darryl Way dangles a scarf from the tuning screws of his violin – Sonja looking absolutely gorgeous in silver tassels. There doesn't appear to have been any restoration to the footage of newspaper clippings as the band plays "It Happened Today" nor as Way goes on a wild violin whig-out during "Vivaldi" (impressive playing by the way). Better is the French footage that begins at 16 minutes with a storming live cut of "Back Street Luv" – Curved Air singing "...ragged back streets...head on a wall..." and sounding/looking like a band that's arrived. There's a short between tunes interview with Sonja and Trevor that's translated into French on screen before we're back to the best footage of all – the three at the end that feature great image and sound combined – the Version 2 of "Back Street Luv" simply showing more visual effects than Version 1 because someone no doubt thought it looked cooler.

All in all – this is a great reissue of an album that’s been all but forgotten except by the faithful. Fans will adore it and Prog investigators will need to dive in and get air-conditioned. Well done to all...

2018 CURVED AIR Reissues on Esoteric Recordings

Francis Monkman Remasters

Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 'Expanded Editions' - No. 4 is album-only

1. Airconditioning (November 1970 UK Debut LP)

2CD Remaster UK released 26 January 2018 on Esoteric Records PECLEC 22616 (Barcode 5013929471641)

2. Second Album (September 1971 UK LP)

CD + DVD Remaster released 24 August 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22637 (Barcode 5013929473744)

3. Phantasmagoria (April 1972 UK LP)

CD + DVD Remaster released 27 July 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22638 (Barcode 5013929473843)

4. Air Cut (April 1973 UK LP)

CD Remaster (no Bonus material) released 26 January 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 2617 (Barcode 5013929471740) First Use of Original Tapes

"Living Game" by MICK GREENWOOD (June 2001 Voiceprint CD Reissue (Denis Blackham Remaster) and 2006 Japan Mini LP Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Truth Seeker…"

Mick Greenwood's debut album "Living Game" was released in the UK in September 1971 on MCA Records MDKS 8003 (November 1971 in the USA on Decca DL 75318) and was the 1st of his 3 albums in the early Seventies. The other two are "...To Friends" from 1972 on MCA MKPS 2026 (March 1973 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-307) and "Midnight Dreamer" from 1974 on Warner Brothers K 56059 (no USA release).

June 2001 saw all three reissued on CD (straightforward transfers in all cases) by the Voiceprint Label here in the UK with "Living Game" dubbed as Part One of 'The Mick Greenwood Teenage Trilogy' - the other two albums being Part Two & Three.

"Living Game" is Voiceprint VP222CD (Barcode 604388305629) - "...To Friends" is Voiceprint VP223CD (Barcode 604388305728) and "Midnight Dreamer" is Voiceprint VP224CD (Barcode 604388305827). There is also a box set containing all three CDs - 'The Mick Greenwood Teenage Trilogy' on Voiceprint VPBOX99CD.

Born in the UK but raised in the States from the age of 12 - Greenwood returned to London in 1970 in his early 20s to make music. He knew members of the FAIRPORT CONVENTION and their offshoot Folk Rock group FOTHERINGAY so when he went to make "Living Game" he was able to call on them - and along with keyboardist/producer Tony Cox - made up the band that feature on the album:

1. Taxi [Side 1]

2. Friend Of Mine

3. Living Game

4. My Life

5. To The Sea

6. After The First World War [Side 2]

7. To The Farside

8. Truth Seeker

9. Situation Number Four

10. Keep Coming Back

11. Sight

MICK GREENWOOD - Vocals & Acoustic Guitar

JERRY DONAHUE - Electric Guitar

PAT DONALDSON - Bass Guitar

GERRY CONWAY - Drums, Percussion

TONY COX - Piano & Harmonium

(Tony Cox and Martin Cook produced the album with all songs written by Mick Greenwood)

The album also has a quietly impressive list of guests from the Folk and Avant Jazz circuits of the time. Jazz session man and multi-instrumentalist LYNN DOBSON of THIRD EAR BAND adds flute to "Taxi", tenor sax to "Keep Coming Back" and plays sitar on "Sight".  CHRISTINE QUAYLE of the deeply underground DAYLIGHT adds lovely backing vocals to both "Situation Number Four" and "My Life". ANDY SMITH of THE IAN CAMPBELL FOLK GROUP also plays Banjo on "Situation Number Four". DAVE PEGG of FAIRPORT CONVENTION plays bass on "Situation Number Four" and "Sight". Later to appear with ASSAGAI on Vertigo and SPEAR on Virgin - South African avant-garde jazzman DUDU PUKWANA adds alto sax to "Keep Coming Back". KARL JENKINS of CENTIPEDE (would later form NUCLEUS) and his pals DEREK WADSWORTH (GINGER BAKER’S AIRFORCE) and BUD PARKES also play horns on the off-center "Keep Coming Back".

The artwork has been altered slightly; the original front cover of the gatefold LP had the name and title of the album in script writing centered in the top window - Mick Greenwood Living Game - now it's been shortened to Living Game with his name removed - don't know why! The full-face photo that graced the rear of the gatefold sleeve is reproduced under the see-through tray and the same typo style used on the inner gatefold is also used to reproduce the lyrics and band credits in the booklet - nice touches on both counts.

MCA/Decca released no less than three hard-to-find 7" singles in the USA and UK to promote the album but none did any chart business:

1. "Living Game" b/w "To The Sea" was on Decca 32922 in the USA and MCA MKS 5074 in the UK (November 1971)

2. "Friend Of Mine" b/w "Situation Number Four" was on MCA MKS 5082 in the UK (February 1972)

 3. "After The First World War" b/w "Nobody Knows Me" on Decca 32962 in the USA and MCA MKS 5092 in the UK (May 1972)

As you can see from the album track list and my seven-inch singles discography provided above - "Nobody Knows Me" is a non-album B-side. But unfortunately it's not featured as a bonus track on the CD - a damn shame that.

But the big revelation is the superb sound quality. DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering in Scotland) has digitally remastered the first generation tapes and he's achieved a beautiful job - warm, clean and full - far clearer than the cackles coming off my battered old vinyl copy.

If you were to describe the music, it would be a cross between Matthews Southern Comfort and Elton John circa "Madman Across The Water".  It isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination and the hammy hippy-lifestyle lyrics on some of the songs irritated me then and may make many cringe now - but there's also a lot to love on here and isn't as dated as I feared it might be. The flute driven rock of the opener "Taxi" is excellent, the plaintive "Friend Of Mine" very Clifford T Ward, while the opening piano chords of "Living Game" are "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" three years before it was recorded.  For me "My Life" is gorgeous and will be gracing a 70's Fest CD-R somewhere near you soon. It's a truly lovely song and to hear the clarity of Pat Donaldson's bass playing on this excellent remaster is a genuine blast.

Then two lost classics appear, the strange yet funky "To The Farside" and the lovely string-driven ballad "Truth Seeker" - gems awaiting rediscovery for sure. The funky five-piece brass section on "Keep Coming Back" is superb and may even appeal to soul boys who like the funky side of rock, while Lynn Dobson's sitar combined with Ned Balen's Tablas on "Sight" will have you running for the joss sticks on Sunday morning. It ends the album on a lovely trippy up-note. Pretty impressive stuff really - 45 years on and it still sounds good.

To sum up, this is a four-star folk/rock album given a five star remaster and is well worth your checking out. If you wanted to get a lay of the land and hear snippets of the music, iTunes has 25 second-blasts of each track (the other two albums aren't on there yet). Recommended to those looking to explore an underrated and forgotten songsmith from the Seventies...

PS: As a further addendum – 20 September 2006 saw all three albums reissued in repro Mini LP artwork in Japan by Air Mail Archive Recordings. Using the 2001 remasters – they are standard CDs (‘not’ SHM-CDs) and have the same tracks. "Living Game" is a gatefold sleeve.

"Living Game" is AIRAC-1 251 (Barcode 4571136372508) - "...To Friends" is AIRAC-1 252 (Barcode 4948722299318) and "Midnight Dreamer" is AIRAC-1 253 Voiceprint VP224CD (Barcode 4571136372522).

"Tapestry" by CAROLE KING (June 2008 Epic/Legacy 2CD 'Legacy Edition' Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"Tapestry" album from February 1971

"…Of Rich And Royal Hue…"

I can vividly remember a girlfriend I had in the early Seventies in her faded jeans, cheesecloth smock and fabulous crimped long hair. She was far too pretty for me to be with - looking like one of those dream babes in Cameron Crowe's Seventies homage movie "Almost Famous" - the ones that inspire songs and poetry and a serious amount of effort in the 'trying-to-impress-with-how-witty-I-am' department. But I also remember her baggage as she walked towards me that sunny summer afternoon - clutching not a satchel full of hairbrushes and makeup - nor a copy of Tolkien's "Lord Of The Rings" (how odd) - but her used vinyl copy of Carole King's "Tapestry" album on A&amp;M/Ode Records. She was clutching it tightly under her right arm so that it didn't fall from her grasp onto the unforgiving Dublin pavement below - protecting the LP like it was girly life itself. And smiling as she got closer - I kind of knew that its presence under her arm had a purpose - this nice but slightly dim guitar-mad Irish boy would need to be educated on something other than Deep Purple and Black Sabbath...

15 weeks at Number 1 when it was released in 1971, Rolling Stone's coveted album of the year award, four Grammy nominations, selected by the American Library of Congress for placing in The National Recording Registry and 20 gazillion sales ever since. And that's not to mention in the 11's an entire Broadway Musical based around it that regularly brings audiences to their feet with tears streaming down their cheeks (the Tony winning show "Beautiful") - it doesn't get much more iconic than Carole King's mighty "Tapestry" album. And I'm thrilled to say that this 2008 2CD "Legacy Edition" does that singer-songwriter milestone an audio solid. Here are the bare feet and the cat in the windowsill details...

Released June 2008 - "Tapestry" by CAROLE KING on Ode/Epic/Legacy 88697 11455 2 (Barcode 886971145526) is a 2CD 'Legacy Edition' Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (44:37 minutes):

1. I Feel The Earth Move [Side 1]

2. So far Away

3. It's Too Late

4. Home Again

5. Beautiful

6. Way Over Yonder [Side 2]

7. You've Got A Friend

8. Where You Lead

9. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

10. Smackwater Jack

11. Tapestry

12. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Tapestry" - released February 1971 in the USA on Ode/A&amp;M Records SP-77009 and in the UK on Ode/A&amp;M Records AMLS 2025

Disc 2 (38:19 minutes):

1. I Feel The Earth Move

2. So Far Away

3. It's Too Late

4. Home Again

5. Beautiful

6. Way Over Yonder

7. You've Got A Friend

8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

9. Smackwater jack

10. Tapestry

11. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Tracks 1 to 11 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED live versions featuring Carole just on a piano - they were recorded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1973, Columbia Maryland, Central Park in New York and in the San Francisco Opera House in 1976 (no dates nor other details given).

In a rather nigglesome but understandable move - the Side 1 and Side 2 LP labels repro'd under the see-through plastic CD trays on either side of the digipak are for Epic PE 34946 - the 1977 Epic/Ode Records reissue version (when Columbia took over its distribution). They should be for the 1971 Ode/A&amp;M SP-77009 original. The 22-page colour booklet is pretty, reproducing the text and lyrics to every song in the same typography as the album artwork. There's a repro of "The Hollywood Reporter" from 15 March 1972 when she swept the Grammy boards (along with a snap of her clutching the same), period photos of Carole with Engineer HANK CICALO and Producer LOU ADLER, backing musicians JONI MITCHELL and JAMES TAYLOR - as well as her band - DANNY "Kootch" KOTCHMAR (Guitars), RUSS KUNKEL (Drums), CHARLES LARKEY (Bass) and RALPH SCHUKETT (Keyboards). There's short but informative liner notes on the album and its legacy by HARVEY KUBERNIK - a well known contributor to Rolling Stone and author of two books on Rock Music.

But the big news is a new BOB IRWIN and VIC ANESINI remaster which to my ears has given the notoriously low-fi album a beautiful fulsome polish - her voice and the instruments are lovely - warm and clear. Not to be outdone - my heart sank when I saw that Disc 2 was filled with 'live' versions - but as they're just her and a piano - they're beautifully intimate ("Way Over Yonder" in particular is gorgeous and features a storming vocal). Her voice cracks on a few and she hits a few bum notes here and there (probably why they've been in the can up until now) but most are well worthy of inclusion.

Even as the opening keys of "I Feel The Earth Moves" hit you - you're tingling. Once into "So Far Away" and "It's Too Late" - resistance is pretty much futile. James Taylor's acoustic guitar on the gorgeous "Home Again" is so subtle yet underlies the whole song as it aches its way into your heart. And those Sixties classics done by someone else now get their owner's touch - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" and the sublime "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". And the title track never ceases to move me (lyrics above).

Uplifting, life affirming, nourishment for the soul - its all on "Tapestry". And now that touchstone in all our lives is better....

"How Come The Sun (1971) + Tom Paxton EP (1967)" by TOM PAXTON (November 2018 Beat Goes On 'Expanded' CD Reissue - Andrew Thompson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"How Come The Sun" LP from July 1971

"...Little Lost Child..."

Having punched out no less than seven albums (a debut in 1962 Gaslight Records and six on Elektra) - "How Come The Sun" was the US Folkie's first set of studio recordings for his new signing Reprise Records - capitalising on the popular double-album "The Compleat Tom Paxton: Recorded Live" issued in March of 1971 that preceded it.

Strangely for such a high profile singer-songwriter - July 1971's "How Come The Sun" is only now seeing the CD light of day (47 years after the event) and this time by England's Beat Goes On (BGO) who have chucked the 4-track EP "Tom Paxton" [aka "The Marvellous Toy EP"] from 1967 on Elektra Records onto the end as a Bonus Item (a UK-only release at the time). This forgotten LP has been a firm fan want for decades and while I don't think it's the lost masterpiece some say it is - there's much to love here and BGO have once again done its subject matter the reissue the business. Let's get to radiant details...

UK released 23 November 2018 (30 November 2018 in the USA) - "How Come The Sun + Tom Paxton EP" by TOM PAXTON on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1364 (Barcode 5017261213648) offers the 9-Track 1971 LP and a Bonus 4-Track 1967 EP (issued only in the UK) that plays out as follows (44:07 minutes):

1. I Had To Shoot That Rabbit [Side 1]

2. Icarus

3. Little Lost Child

4. General Custer

5. She's Far Away

6. Prayin' For Snow [Side 2]

7. Louise

8. A Sailor's Life

9. How Come The Sun

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 8th studio album "How Come The Sun" - released July 1971 in the USA on Reprise RS 6443 and July 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44129. Produced by TOM PAXTON and DAVID HOROWITZ - Tracks 2, 8 and 9 are co-writes between Paxton and Horowitz (all others are TP originals) and the album peaked on the US LP chart in August 1971 at No. 120 (didn't chart UK).

10. The Marvellous Toy [Side 1]

11. Beau John

12. Deep Fork River [Side 2]

13. My Dog's Better Than Your Dog

Tracks 10 to 13 are the UK-only 4-Track 7" single EP "Tom Paxton" [aka "The Marvellous Toy" EP] released 1967 on Elektra Records EPK-802

The outer card slipcase always lends these BGO reissues a classy look and the new 16-page JOHN O'REGAN liner notes illuminate much of Paxton's hugely productive career to his 80th birthday in 2017 (a total of 63 albums) - but its the ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that will be the big draw here. The LP had a cast of six or seven musicians so it feels like a Folk-Rock record more than just a straight-up Acoustic picker - this Remaster picking out the lovely playing and better melodies like the gorgeous "She's Far Away" that ends Side 1 or the aching-melodica lament that is "A Sailor's Life" over on Side 2. The EP is stark (I'd swear its Mono) - straight up Acoustic renditions and although I can understand that its on here as a UK-only release - its sound and (childish) themes seem a world away from the 1971 album. Still it all sounds great. Other LP highlights are "Little Lost Child" and the Fred Neil timbre of "Deep Folk River" on Side 2 of the EP.

After a mid July 1971 release, by the very end of that month the "How Come The Sun" LP was bubbling under at No. 213 on the US Billboard Album charts. Come 14 August 1971 his LP had pushed up to No. 120, stayed there another week and then sank out of the listings rather quickly. Paxton would go on to "Peace Will Come" in 1972 and "New Songs For Old Friends" in 1973 - completing his Reprise run of studio albums - two more rarities that remain firmly off the digital radar some four and a half decades after release. 

For sure Tom Paxton's voice was never the strongest and admittedly some of the 1971 material may be dated in 2019 - but having waited so many decades, fans will adore this reissue (especially the quality presentation) and the curious will learn why he's held in such esteem...