"Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (August 2017 Esoteric Recordings 3CD Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Tear Down The Wall..."

Featuring albums by Stray, Marsupilami, Pentangle, Jan Dukes De Grey
Gerry Rafferty of The Humblebums and Stealer's Wheel 
Peter Bardens of Camel, Mr Fox and Unicorn from 1971

For those of us who wouldn't know a Belgian 'Marsupilami' from a Mushrump 'Gryphon' or indeed a Marxist 'Humblebum'  - thank God there's Cherry Red Records of the UK and their Satanically loony as a Buckled-Pentangle label offshoot – Esoteric Recordings.

Men of twisty beards and impeccable taste, ladies of dangerously short skirts and Laura Ashley Saleswoman of the Year Awards and paisley-trousered accountants who really should stop doing Peruvian dancing dust in the bijou toilet area - have put together the 3CD Mini Box Set that is "Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976".

It's the kind of barmy musical journey that will have your partner wondering why she married you - and as she listens over Sunday's Brisket to The Deviants rabbiting on about a "Metamorphosis Explosion" or CMU waffling omnipotent about a "Song From The 4th Era" (what happened to the other three you ask) worry that maybe the mercury that's been in your teeth all these years really does need to finally come out. It's all a bit mad and very eccentric and fantastically tear-down-the-barriers adventurous stuff - if you feel my planetary drift man. Let's get to the English Underground before the Eurocrats in Brussels tell us it’s the wrong shape and colour...

UK released Friday, 25 August 2017 - "Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32600 (Barcode 5013929470040) is a 39-Track 3CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:31 minutes):

1. We Can Swing Together - ALAN HULL (non-album A-side of a December 1969 UK 7" single on Big Tree Records BIG 129, B-side is Track 8)

2. 11 B.S. - CIRCUS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "Circus" on Transatlantic Records TRA 207)

3. Midsummer Nights Happening - THE SALLYANGIE [with Mike & Sally Oldfield] (from their 1968 UK debut LP "Children Of The Sun" on Transatlantic Records TRA 176)

4. Light Flight - PENTANGLE (from their 1969 third UK LP "Basket Of Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 205)

5. Billy The Monster - THE DEVIANTS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "The Deviants" on Transatlantic Records TRA 204)

6. Paint It Black - JODY GRIND (from their 1969 UK debut LP "One Step On" on Transatlantic Records TRA 210, a Rolling Stones cover)

7. Norwegian Wood - CIRCUS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "Circus" on Transatlantic Records TRA 207, a Beatles cover)

8. Obadiah's Grave - ALAN HULL (non-album B-side of a December 1969 UK 7" single on Big Tree Records BIG 129, A-side is Track 1)

9. Lucifer's Cage - GORDON GILTRAP (from his 1969 UK LP "Portrait" on Transatlantic Records TRA 202)

10. Once I Had A Sweetheart - PENTANGLE (from their 1969 third UK LP "Basket Of Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 205)

11. Metamorphosis Explosion - THE DEVIANTS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "The Deviants" on Transatlantic Records TRA 204)

12. Saturday Roundabout Sunday - THE HUMBLEBUMS [Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty] (non-album A-side to a 1969 UK 7" single on BIG T Records BIG 122 (B-side was "Bed Of Mossy Green")

13. Makin' Time - LITTLE FREE ROCK (from their 1969 UK debut LP "Little Free Rock" on Transatlantic Records TRA 208)

14. Mona (A Fragment) - MICK FARREN [of The Deviants] (from his 1970 UK debut solo LP "Mona - The Carnivorous Circus" on Transatlantic Records TRA 212, a Bo Diddley cover)

15. Plastic Shit - JODY GRIND (from their 1970 UK 2nd LP "Far Canal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 221)

Disc 2 (78:34 minutes):

1. All In Your Mind - STRAY (from their 1970 UK debut LP "Stray" on Transatlantic Records TRA 216)

2. Born To Be Free - MARSUPILAMI (from their 1970 UK debut LP "Marsupilami" on Transatlantic Records TRA 213)

3. We've Had It - JODY GRIND (from their 1970 UK album "Far Canal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 221)

4. Mice And Rats In The Loft - JAN DUKES DE GREY (from their 1971 UK album "Mice And Rats In The Loft" on Transatlantic Records TRA 234)

5. Homage To The God Of Light - PETER BARDENS (from his 1970 UK album "The Answer" on Transatlantic Records TRA 222)

6. Around The World In 80 Days - STRAY (from their 1970 UK debut album "Stray" on Transatlantic Records TRA 216)

7. Mendle - MR. FOX (from their 1971 UK album "The Gypsy" on Transatlantic Records TRA 236)

8. Prelude To The Arena - MARSUPiLAMI (from their 1971 UK album "Arena" on Transatlantic Records TRA 230)

9. Don't Ever Give Up Trying - UNICORN (from their 1971 debut album "Uphill All The Way" on Transatlantic Records TRA 238)

10. Reflection - PENTANGLE (from their 1971 UK album "Reflection" on Transatlantic Records TRA 240)

11. Skin Valley Serenade - SKIN ALLEY (from their 1972 UK album "Two Quid Deal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 260)

Disc 3 (73:33 minutes):

1. Tear Down The Wall - PETER BARDENS (from his 1971 UK debut LP "Peter Bardens" on Transatlantic Records TRA 243)

2. Son Of The Father - STRAY (from their 1971 UK LP "Suicide" on Transatlantic Records TRA 233)

3. Don't Count Me Out - GERRY RAFFERTY (from his 1971 UK debut solo LP "Can I Have My Money Back" on Transatlantic Records TRA 241)

4. Rick's Seven - SKIN ALLEY (from their 1972 UK LP "Two Quid Deal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 260)

5. Song From The 4th Era - CMU

6. A Distant Thought, A Point Of Light - CMU (tracks 15 and 16 from their 1973 UK LP "Space Cabaret" on Transatlantic Records TRA 259)

7. The Ungodly - DECAMERON (from their 1975 UK LP "Third Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 304)

8. Fair Fortune's Star - CAROLANNE PEGG [of Mr. Fox] (from her 1973 UK debut LP "Carolanne Pegg" on Transatlantic Records TRA 266)

9. Move It - STRAY (non-album version on the A-side of a 1973 UK 7" single on Transatlantic/Big T BIG 516 - B-side was "Crazy People")

10. Shelter - RENIA (from the 1973 UK LP "First Offenders" on Transatlantic Records TRA 261)

11. Opening Move - GRYPHON (from their 1974 3rd UK LP "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" on Transatlantic Records TRA 287)

12. Journey's End - DECAMERON (from their 1975 UK LP "Third Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 304)

13. Criminal World - METRO [featuring Duncan Browne] (from their 1976 UK LP "Metro" on Transatlantic Records TRA 340)

The Mini LP Sized Clamshell Box contains a jam-packed 48-page booklet where compiler, co-ordinator and researcher MARK POWELL deals with each artist and band in alphabetical order (taking a leaf from the booklets within the Decca. Deram and Vertigo box sets from Universal). Paragraph after paragraph provides deep insider detail and all of it sided by stacks of repro'd memorabilia- album covers, UK, US and European Trade Adverts, concert tickets and even hand-written bills on headed Transatlantic Records paper. It's beautifully done and must have involved serious amounts of research hours (well done to all involved). Long-time label associate and Audio Engineer BEN WISEMAN has done the transfers - each Remaster full of air and muscle. The sources as you can imagine vary, but little of it feels underwhelming - stuff like the Hard Rock of Stray vs. the delicacy of Unicorn by way of the full-on Prog of Peter Bardens - it's all strong and most times belies the labels limited Production budgets. To the mixed-up confusion...

Disc 1 opens with Lindisfarne's Alan Hull issuing a solo 45 in 1969 on Transatlantic's 'Big T Records' - "We Can Swing Together" (the B-side is Track 8 on Disc 1 "Obadiah's Grave"). The lyrics are angry - the law breaking down doors, county judge sending the boys to jail, laughing as they walk towards the cell - all of it acting as a defiant-attitude opener. Just as you were about to get comfortable with all that witty Newcastle swinging from the rafters in natty pubs - in creeps Circus with six and a half minutes of the challenging "11 B.S." - a very Prog-Jazz instrumental featuring Mel Collins on Saxophone (he would shortly after depart for King Crimson). English countryside prettiness come sin the shape of the dreadfully twee yet sweet "Midsummer Right's Happening" by The Sallyangie - famous for housing Sally and Mike Oldfield - one of them dreaming of bells and ridges etc. Far better is the sexy swing of "Light Flight" from Pentangle followed neatly by two wild covers - Jody Grind going hell for leather at the Stones' "Paint It Black" - a version mad enough that surely Jagger would approve of it - and then Circus giving us seven minutes of Rubber Soul's "Norwegian Wood" like you've never heard it (fuzzed-up guitars ala Crimson saxophone) - nice. Other Disc 1 goodies include Gordon Giltrap's wonderful acoustic slasher "Lucifer's Cage" where he lays into what sounds like a twelve-string - virtuosity and Bert Jansch flourishes coming at you from every angle. Tim Hinkley of Jody Grind guests on "Makin' Time" by Little Free Rock - easily one of the weakest cuts here. Better is Mick Farren of The Deviants going at Bo Diddley's "Mona" in a suitable grungy shimmering guitar manner accompanied by clever Cello slashes ("hey Mona, let me run away and lie with you..."). It ends on the very Punky "Plastic Sh**" from Jody Grind where our boy goes all Stooges-angry on environmental destruction (wicked raw guitar). 

Disc 2 is the longest playing time of all three so Stray's "All In Your Mind" may run to over eight minutes - but don't let that fool you into thinking its some Prog-tastic minuet - it's a straight-up rawk tune with more than a few elements of Stooges Punk in its effected guitar solos - very impressive stuff. Things return to trippy on the excellent "Born To Be Free" by Marsupilami - great musical ideas abounding. Acoustic Guitars and English madrigal melody greet us on "We've Had It" - Holland's melodious instrumental beginning then becoming a sort of early Gryphon meets Genesis Prog Rock moment. "...Moonbeams danced on the night..." we're informed in a high-pitched voice during "Mice And Rats In The Loft" - Jan Dukes De Grey giving it some nine-minute guitar-and-drums wig out. Camel's Peter Bardens gets to show his inner doom on "Homage To The God Of Light" - another fast-paced Prog number where guitars vs. keyboards battle it out for thirteen and half minutes (Van Der Graaf Generator fans will eat this up). Things calm with Stray's mellow "Around The World In 80 Days" - together on our magic carpet ride. Other highlights include the melodic acoustic Folk-Rock of "Don’t You Ever Give Up Trying" by Unicorn – a proper-tunes band (like say Badfinger) admired by Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour who would go on to produce Unicorn’s next three albums - "Blue Pine Trees" in 1974 on Charisma and two on Harvest - 1976's "Too Many Crooks" and 1977's "One More Tomorrow". And don’t get me started on the genius of "Reflection" – the title track to their fifth and last album for Transatlantic Records where Pentangle use violins and Danny Thompson’s Double Bass in what could be described as a Prog Rock ethereal drifter (all eleven minutes-plus of it). Skin Alley tidy up Disc 2 with the very Jethro Tull flute-driven "Skin Valley Serenade".

Disc 3 brings us from 1973 onwards and the production values increase even though Peter Barden's opener "Tear Down The Walls" flanges your speakers to a point where it grates the listen. Better is Stray's "Son Of The Father" which starts out like an anti-war chant but soon becomes enveloped in Mellotron and Guitars (yeah baby). Stepping out of his Humblebums duo - Gerry Rafferty shows an early sign of melody-writing brilliance in his "Don't Count Me Out" - a cut off his debut LP. Skin Alley gives us "Rick's Seven" sounding not unlike early Rush with a restrained Steve Marriott at the microphone. Contemporary Music Unit (CMU to you and I) are probably the most 'out there' melodic Prog outfit on here (which is saying something) and their brilliant and imaginative twofer "Song From The 4th Area" and "A Distant Thought, A Point Of Light" are full of bodies changing, astral travelling through the Universe and generally becoming one with galactic consciousness (as you do at the cosmetics counter in Boots on a Saturday). Folkies Decameron follow with "The Ungodly" – questioning authority types and ‘may God forgive them’ unholy decision-making. Carolanne Pegg of Mr. Fox gives us ten minutes of "Fair Fortune’s Star" – a master in the woods tale of woe and warning that feels like Fairport Convention giving it some "Tam Lyn". Another ten-minute extravaganza of playing virtuosity screams of out your speakers in gorgeous remastered form in the shape of Gryphon and one part of their four-piece Chess Suite "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" – very Greenslade meets Genesis meets – well Gryphon. It all ends on the odd Folk-Pop of Metro – a Duncan Browne band that is held in affection to this day – their Brian Protheroe Eighties sounding music defying its 1976 recording date.

What a ride – even though I'm fairly sure some will say of bands on here - what a pile of indulgent tut. But isn't that the point. "Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976" is aimed at those who want to explore – remember days when music like this could be recorded – when we actually did tear down the walls - when we reached for it and sometimes got 'there'.

"...Flowers...coming into bloom again...as lovers and as friends...there’s no reason now to be afraid..." – Decameron sing on the lovely "Journey's End". This stuff should be remembered and I for one will welcome Electric Play 2...

"Bitter Green/Colours Of The Dawn/If I Sang My Song + Bonus Tracks" by THE JOHNSTONS (September 2017 Beat Goes On 2CD Set - 3LPs and More onto 2CDs - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

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

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"...So Long Ago..."

Featuring the album "Colours Of The Dawn" from 1971

A companion volume to the 2CD reissue "The Johnstons/Give A Damn/The Barley Corn" from May 2013 on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1086 (it gave fans three studio LPs from 1968 and 1969 on Transatlantic Records) - what you get here are the remaining three JOHNSTONS albums for that iconic British Folk label before they disbanded in 1973 - "Bitter Green" (1969), "Colours Of The Dawn" (1971) and "If I Sang My Song" (1972) as well as Thirteen Bonus Tracks spanning their entire career from 1966 to 1972 – twelve singles sides and a rare US-only LP track.

The Irish Folk and Folk-Rock band combined the singing, playing and songwriting talents of Paul Brady, Adrienne Johnston and Mick Maloney as well as the American Chris McCloud for the final two platters - the last of which saw Paul Brady's songwriting talent fully emerge. Here are the colourful tales...

UK released Friday, 8 September 2017 (15 Sept 2018 in the USA) - "Bitter Green/Colours Of The Dawn/If I Sang My Song + Bonus Tracks" by THE JOHNSTONS on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1297 (Barcode 5017261212979) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster offering three full albums and 13 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (78:23 minutes):

1. Jesus Was A Carpenter [Side 1]

2. The Gypsy

3. Lord Thomas & Fair Ellender

4. The Kilfenora Jig

5. Fiddler’s Green

6. The Story Of Isaac [Side 2]

7. Bitter Green

8. The Penny Wager

9. Marcie

10. Reels: The Fair Haired Boy/Kiss The Maid Behind The Barrel/The Dawn

11. The Spanish Lady

Tracks 1 to 11 are their fifth studio album "Bitter Green" - released December 1969 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 211 (no US release).

PAUL BRADY - Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer and Harmonica

ADRIENNE JOHNSTON - Lead Vocals

MICK MALONEY - Vocals, Guitar, Banjo and Mandolin

DARYL RUNSWICK - Bass

12. Hello Friend [Side 1]

13. Crazy Anne

14. Brightness She Came

15. If I Could

16. Angela Davis

17. Colours Of The Dawn [Side 2]

18. I'll Be Gone In The Morning

19. Seems So Long Ago, Nancy

20. The Old Man's Tale

Tracks 12 to 20 are their sixth studio album "Colours Of The Dawn" - released January 1971 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 231 and March 1971 in the USA on Vanguard VSD 6572.

PAUL BRADY - Lead Vocals and Guitars

MICK MALONEY - Lead Vocals and Guitars

ADRIENNE JOHNSTON - Lead Vocals

CHRIS McCLOUD - Produced and Wrote "Crazy Anne" and "Angela Davis" - co-wrote "Colours Of The Dawn" and "I'll Be Gone In The Morning" with Paul Brady

Note: the 1971 US version of "Colours Of The Dawn" on Vanguard Records was a 10-track LP and had a different running order to the 9-song UK version. The extra song was "Aiseiri" and the US LP can be sequenced from this 2CD set using the following:

Side 1: Tracks 16, 15, 18, 19 from Disc 1 and Track 22 from Disc 2

Side 2: Tracks 17, 12, 14, 13 and 20 from Disc 1

Disc 2 (76:42 minutes):

1. The Wind In My Hands [Side 1]

2. Won't You Come With Me

3. Border Child

4. If I Sang My Song

5. December Windows

6. I Get To Thinking [Side 2]

7. Continental Trailways Bus

8. Bread And Wine

9. You Ought to Know

Tracks 1 to 9 are their seventh and final studio album "If I Sang My Song" - released 1972 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 251 (no US issue).

PAUL BRADY - Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Harmonium, Electric Piano, Whistle and Backing Vocals

ADRIENNE JOHNSTON - Lead Vocals

JOSEPH TEMPLETON - Fiddle / FRANK NOLAN - Flute / HALLVARD KVALE and PETER ABRAHAMSEN - Kazoo

RICK KEMP - Bass / KEITH BLEASBY - Congas / PHIL CHESTERTON - Drums

TIM HART (of Steeleye Span) and ROYSTON WOOD (of The Young Tradition) - Backing Vocals

BONUS TRACKS (single-sides and LP rarities from 1966 to 1972):

10. Going Home

11. The Travelling People

Tracks 10 and 11 are the non-album A&B-sides of their debut 7” single released July 1966 in the UK and Ireland on Pye Records 7N 17144.

A-side by Geiff - the B-side is a Ewan MacColl song

12. The Alamo

13. The Life Of The Rover

Tracks 12 and 13 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released November 1966 on Pye Records 7N 17205.

A-Side is a Traditional arranged by The Johnstons - the B-side is a Ewan MacColl song

14. I Will Never Marry

15. Banks Of Claudy

Tracks 14 and 15 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released November 1967 on Pye Records 7N 17430

Both sides are Traditional Songs arranged by The Johnstons

16. The Curragh Of Kildare

17. Leaving London

Tracks 16 and 17 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released May 1967 on Pye Records 7N 17315

The A-side is a Traditional - the B-side is a Tom Paxton cover

18. My House

19. The Wherefore And The Why

Tracks 18 and 19 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released April 1969 on Big T Records BIG 121

The A-side a Peter Sarstedt cover - the B-side is a Gordon Lightfoot cover

20. Streets Of London

Track 20 is the A-side to a UK 7" single released April 1970 on Big T Records BIG 132 - re-issued September 1972 on Transatlantic Records BIG 505 - it's a Ralph McTell cover - the B-side in both cases was "The Spanish Lady" from the "Bitter Green" album

21. The Morning Of Our Love

Track 21 is the non-album B-side to "Continental Trailways Bus" released a UK 7" single March 1972 on Transatlantic Records BIG 501

22. Aiseiri

Included on the US LP version of "Colours Of The Dawn" on Vanguard VSD 6572 (for placing see 'Note' above)

An outer card slipcase (default for most BGO releases these days) and a 24-page booklet await you with hugely informative set of liner notes from noted writer JOHN O’REGAN (includes words with Paul Brady). The artwork is there – musician and production credits, the song-by-song breakdown on the rear sleeve of "Bitter Green" – the Chris McCloud liner notes to the "Colours Of The Dawn" album and the lyrics to the "If I Sang My Song" LP that were printed on the inner gatefold of its striking red cover. Long-standing BGO Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON has handled the Transfers and Remasters and they gorgeous – especially the first time on CD "If I Sang My Song" album.

Starting out a 4-piece Folk Band from Ireland’s Co. Meath (just north of Dublin)  – Adrienne and her young sister Lucy Johnston teamed up with the multi-instrumentalist lads – Paul Brady and Mick Moloney. The "Bitter Green" album is the most 'Traditional' of the LPs on offer here. While you would expect such a band to tap into Ewan MacColl's beautiful Folk melodies ("Jesus Was A Carpenter") - it's impressive to see the young Johnstons covering and introducing future songwriter lights-in-the-darkness like Gordon Lightfoot ("The Gypsy" and "Bitter Green"), Joni Mitchell ("Marcie") and Leonard Cohen ("The Story Of Isaac") amidst all those Reels, Jigs and tales of penniless immigrant woe.

1971's "Colours Of The Dawn" debuts a radically re-arranged band and sound - more Folk Rock than just purist Traditional interpretations. The album was all done with the domineering American Chris McCloud at the helm - who by all accounts doesn't come out of anything well. Brady describes writing songs and working with him as a sort of 'oil poured over my soul' moment that took him years to recover from - and after McCloud's marriage to Adrienne Johnston and her sad and controversial death in 1981 (which apparently only came to light a decade later) - his name took on darker tones indeed. The album does however mark the first flowering of Brady's knack with a melody where he pens "Brightness She Comes" on his own and co-writes "Colours Of The Dawn" and "I'll Be Gone In The Morning" with McCloud. The album also taps into Folkies Ian Campbell with "The Old Man's Tale", Pete Seeger with "Hello Friend" and again Gordon Lightfoot with his lovely but cutting "If I Could".

First time on CD for "If I Sang My Song" and again Paul Brady spreads his songwriting wings. He co-writes four with Chris McCloud - "The Wind in My Hands", "Won't You Come With Me", "If I Sang My Song" and "You Ought To Know. He also co-authored "Bread And Wine" with Adrienne Johnston while penning "December Windows" and "Continental Trailways Bus" on his own. The LP was a conscious effort to get away from Traditionals (only "Border Child" gives that a nod) so is almost entirely original material and is impressive for being so. I love the gorgeous Acoustic Guitar, Penny Whistle interludes and harmonies between Paul and Adrienne on "Won't You Come With Me" – the duo searching for gentler times. Even the Traditional "Border Child" comes over like a James Taylor or plaintive Bob Dylan strum where politics and borders make you feel he’s hurting for what was happening to his friend and family in the Six Counties. Elton John type piano notes complete with arranged Strings make both "The Wind in My Hands" and "December Windows" moving experiences – such a long way from the Folk of old. And amidst the plentiful single-sides in the Bonus Tracks on Disc 2 is the Irish No. 1 from 1966 "The Travelling People" (a flipside that caught a nation's heart) and many more tunes/covers that will please his Folk Music based fans.

Never the coolest or hippest of groups (Pentangle jump to mind) - nevertheless the harmonies and clever arrangements (the three voices would often make the most beautiful Mellow Candle kind of vibe) - the smart songwriter choices they covered and championed until they ultimately branched out into their own original material - means that The Johnstons should be reassessed and given a bit of musical TLC (for me the "If I Sang My Song" set is an undiscovered nugget of an album on this reissue).

The best you can say is that this fab-sounding jam-packed twofer for THE JOHNSTONS from those nice chappies over at Beat Goes On has done their unfairly forgotten musical legacy a proper solid. Paul Brady would go on to have cover versions of his Rock sides done by huge artists Tina Turner, Santana and Bonnie Raitt - but this is where that great soulful singer-songwriter journey really began to flourish. Nicely done and recommended...

"Sing Lesley Sing: The RCA and CBS Recordings 1968-1972" by LESLEY DUNCAN (July 2017 RPM Records 2CD Anthology - Michael Taylor and Simon Murphy Remasters) - 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)

"...Don't Forget Love..."

Featuring the album "Sing Children Sing" from 1971

RPM Records have been servicing collector's needs in the digital domain for yonks and once again they've come up trumps on an artist that deserves recognition and whose catalogue has either been ignored by the majors or is deleted and clocking up extortion prices on auction sites - Durham's sweet-voiced LESLEY DUNCAN.

What you get here are her highly-revered 1971 and 1972 platters "Sing Children Sing" and "Earth Mother" and six rare 7" single sides she cut for RCA and CBS between 1968 and 1969. Let's get to the intricate details...

UK released Friday, 21 July 2017 - "Sing Lesley Sing: The RCA and CBS Recordings 1968-1972" by LESLEY DUNCAN on RPM Records RETRO D991 (Barcode 5013929599918) is a 2CD anthology that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (62:04 minutes):

1. Chain Of Love [Side 1]

2. Lullaby

3. Help Me Jesus

4. Mr. Rubin

5. Rainbow Games

6. Love Song [Side 2]

7. Sunshine (Send Them Away)

8. Crying In The Sun

9. Emma

10. If You Won't Be Mine

11. Sing Children Sing

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut album "Sing Children Sing" - released June 1971 in the UK on CBS Records S 64202 and November 1971 in the USA on Columbia Records C 30663. Produced by JIMMY HOROWITZ - all songs by Lesley Duncan except "Chain Of Love", "Sunshine (Send Them Away)", "Crying In The Sun" and "Emma" which were co-written with Jimmy Horowitz. Horowitz also plays Organ, Celesta and Piano. GUESTS include Elton John on Piano with Ray Cooper of Elton's band on Tambourine - Tristan Fry of Sky on Percussion - Chris Spedding and Joe Moretti on Guitars - Toni Compo on Bass - Terry Cox of Pentangle on Drums.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Lullaby (Single Version)

13. I Love You, I Love You

Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a 27 September 1968 UK 7" single on RCA Victor RCA 1746 - both songs LD compositions and non-album

14. A Road To Nowhere

15. Love Song (1969 Version)

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A&B-sides of a 24 January 1969 UK 7" single on RCA Records RCA 1783.

Both sides are non-album. The A-side is a Carole King/Gerry Goffin song and is a cover of a Carole King US single on Tomorrow Records 7502 from March 1966. The B-side "Love Song" (1969 Version) is her own composition and was re-sung and re-recorded for the 1971 "Sing Children Sing" album. It was the 1969 version that Elton John heard and covered on his 1970 album "Tumbleweed Connection" which actually featured Lesley guesting on piano. Elton repaid the compliment by guesting on piano on her 1971 version and LP.

16. Sing Children Sing (Single Version)

17. Exactly Who Are You

Tracks 16 and 17 are the A&B-sides of a 16 October 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 4585 - both sides are non-album and the song "Sing Children Sing" differs to the 1971 album version

Disc 2 (42:59 minutes):

1. Times [Side 1]

2. Queen To Your King

3. Love Will Never Lose You

4. Thunder

5. God Is Real (In My Soul)

6. Fortieth Floor

7. Old Friends [Side 2]

8. Sorry Living

9. If It's All The Same To You

10. Earth Mother

11. By And Bye

Tracks 1 to 11 are her second studio album "Earth Mother" - released September 1972 in the UK on CBS Records S 64807 (no US release). Produced and Arranged by JERRY HOROWITZ - he also played Organ, Piano and Flute. GUESTS included Chris Spedding on Guitar - Alan Bown of The Herd, Judas Jump and Status Quo on Guitar and Bass with Barry De Sousa on Drums. All songs by LD except "Old Friends", "Earth Mother" and "By And Bye" co-written with Jerry Horowitz. "God Is Real (In My Soul)" is a Traditional cover version arranged by Jerry Horowitz - while "If It’s All The Same To You" is an Alan Bown song. Bown released his own version on his debut solo LP "Gone To My Head" on Mercury Records in 1972.

The 12-page booklet has a lovely array of colour photos - the two album covers - rare European 7" single picture sleeves for "Love Song", "Sing Children Sing" and "Earth Mother" - a demo for one of RCA 45s and all of it rounded off with superb new liner notes from KIERON TYLER. Good names like ANDY DAVIS and JOHN REED were involved in the compiling/research and a duo-team carried out the excellent Transfers and Remasters - MICHAEL TAYLOR and SIMON MURPHY. The Audio is ace and I'm certain that LD worshipers who love the sheer prettiness of say "Love Song" will chew it up.

The six 'Pop' singles are interesting but you can see that they're too far removed from her singer-songwriter style and soul to make any real impact. And how odd is it to see the initial 1969 version of the gorgeous "Love Song" relegated to a B-side. The initial version was good (enough to famously catch Elton John's eyes and ears) - but the remake is sensational - surely as good as anything on Carole King's 1971 masterpiece "Tapestry" (one of Lesley's heroes). But I suspect fans will make a beeline to the albums on this twofer.

"Chains Of Love" is a melodic opener setting the tone for the whole debut album - songs, songs and more songs. While I can live without the Holy Roller of "Help Me Jesus" - the rolling Nilsson "I Guess That's Why God Loves New York City" feel to "Lullaby" is captivating as she sings "...I watch you dance and play...a little prince of all you survey..." Even better is "Mr. Rubin" - a slow Gospel organ plea for public figures to 'don't forget love' - their 'them or us' attitudes make her feel genuinely ashamed. I think it's one of the album's greats - along with the beautiful "Love Song". The Remaster allows the Acoustic Guitars of "Rainbow Games" and "Love Song" shine like wee diamonds. So by the time you reach the re-recorded title track "Sing Children Sing" - the positive 'don't give in' message feels precious and her loss to us in 2010 crushingly sad.

Already so much more sophisticated than the debut - 1972's "Earth Mother" reunites her with Arranger, Producer and Co-Writer Jerry Horowitz. I think it’s a bit of a forgotten nugget. You can hear the maturing songwriting in the opener "Times" - a Faces type organ softly under-pining the melody in the background. "Queen To Your King" is very Carole King and is perhaps over-orchestrated for its own good. "Love Will Never Lose You" slinks in a waft of echoed keyboard notes before a squeaking Acoustic takes it up a notch - it's very "Loving and Free" Kiki Dee – sweetly swaying as she sings "...to hold on to love...you've got to let it go..." Lyrically and musically "Thunder" is another album highlight - sincerely believing that Nature will 'get us back to where we're going'. The Traditional Gospel song "God Is Real (In My Soul)" is more closely associated with Mahalia Jackson - yet here Lesley gives it just as good with a churchy organ and slow piano in tandem - a beautiful tune steeped in her obvious and genuine belief. "Fortieth Floor" is confessional and accusing at one and the same time - our hero watching to stem those enemies within. "Old Friends" is a superb melody featuring Chris Spedding making his guitar work sing and feel soulful like the song. The other tune I turn to is Alan Bown's "If It's All The Same To You". The ex Herd, Judas Jump and soon to become member of Status Quo Bassist and Guitarist - put out the song on his debut solo LP "Gone To My Head" in 1972 on Mercury Records (not that many noticed). As the Acoustic Guitar strings rattle on this clever cover version – once again the Remaster is gorgeous - as it is on the Pink Floyd sounding environmental-plea title track "Earth Mother" and the brilliant Beach Boys Acapella finisher "By And Bye" – a perfect end to a hugely accomplished album.

Duncan was 28 when her debut LP "Sing Children Sing" hit the shops in 1971 - and notoriously gig-shy neither it nor the even better 1972 follow-up "Earth Mother" did much business outside of small circles. But across the following years and decades both gathered warmth and affection from a growing band of passionate fans – people who played those British Orange CBS labels on their turntables like both LPs were secret infusions of joy they’d greedily kept to themselves. 

Lesley Duncan passed in 2010. Well done to RPM for honouring her memory with this cracking twofer...

"The Elektra Years: The Complete Albums Box" by BREAD featuring David Gates and James Griffin (October 2017 Rhino 6CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

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"...Reach Out To The Other Side..."

Featuring the album "Manna" from 1971

BREAD albums used to sit in our racks in Reckless Records in Soho for months on end – poo-pooed by hairy badge-laden yet discerning buyers as Los Angelinos Soft Rock or worse – lovey-dovey schlock (yew).

But then you were also aware of those nice love songs Bread did – tunes that used to populate the charts in the early Seventies. Hell you might even have snogged to one or two of them and become animated in the trouser area (not by David Gates you understand). So years later and miles away from 'the pubic-years' - most curious types would opt for the monster 1977 compilation LP "The Sound Of Bread" on Elektra K 52062 as a one-stop (when none of your mates was looking mind). Sporting one of the most boring and lazy corporate sleeves ever to disgrace a Woolworths shelf on a Saturday - "The Sound Of Bread" nonetheless had all the hits anyone would want emanating from its Butterfly Elektra Records label. And played tune-after-tune you could 'so' hear why this nondescript looking album caught the imagination of the public - it was such a lovely listen and became an unexpected No. 1 in Blighty in a year when Punk and New Wave was busy gobbing at this kind of music. Which brings us to this rather dinky 2017 mini box set reissue...

Sporting dapper-looking mini LP repro sleeves – Rhino's "The Elektra Years" allows us to dig a little deeper into their six forgotten albums from 1969 to 1977 before both David Gates and James Griffin went solo after the first 1973 break-up. A nice touch is that the CD labels reflect the original colouring and designs - Red Elektra for the 1969 debut and the Butterfly label variant for each thereafter. Five have their lyric inserts reproduced and although “Manna” doesn’t have its original die-cut triple gatefold artwork – both "Baby I'm-A Want You" and "Lost Without Your Love" do have their gatefolds. A couple of key singles are missing namely the re-recording of the gorgeous "It Don't Matter To Me" - a US No. 10 hit in October 1970. A far better version than the original 1969 LP cut – it's an omission for sure. But outside of that - what we have here is a rather pleasant piece of musical toast and jam. Here are the crusty details...

UK released 27 October 2017 (3 November 2017 in the USA) - "The Elektra Years: The Complete Albums Box" by BREAD on Elektra/Rhino 081227933869 (Barcode 081227933869) is a 6CD Mini Box Set with Six Studio Albums from 1969 to 1977 (all in Stereo and minus any bonus tracks). It plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "Bread" - 36:07 minutes:

1. Dismal Day [Side 1]

2. London Bridge

3. Could I

4. Look At Me

5. The Last Time

6. Any Way You Want Me

7. Move Over [Side 2]

8. Don't Shut Me Out

9. You Can't Measure The Cost

10. Family Doctor

11. It Doesn't Matter To Me

12. Friends And Lovers

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Bread" - released August 1969 in the USA in Stereo on Elektra Records EKS 740144 and November 1969 in the UK with the same catalogue number (reissued November 1971 in the UK on Elektra K 42029). It peaked at No. 127 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK)

BREAD was:

DAVID GATES - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Organ, Piano, RMI Electric Piano, Moog, Violin, Viola and Various Percussion

JAMES GRIFFIN - Lead Vocals, Guitars and Various Percussion

ROBB ROYER - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, RMI Electric Piano, Piano, Flute, Recorder and Various Percussion

Disc 2 - "On The Waters" – 37:29 minutes:

1. Why Do You Keep Me Waiting [Side 1]

2. Make It With You

3. Blue Satin Pillow

4. Look What You've Done

5. I Am That I Am

6. Been Too Long On The Road

7. I Want You With Me [Side 2]

8. Coming Apart

9. Easy Love

10. In The Afterglow

11. Call On Me

12. The Other Side Of Life

Tracks 1 to 12 are their second studio album "On The Waters" - released July 1970 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 74076 and September 1970 in the UK on Elektra 2469 003. It peaked at No. 12 in the USA - No. 34 in the UK. Same line-up as "Bread" with MIKE BOTTS added.

Disc 3 - "Manna" - 36:13 minutes:

1. Let Your Love Go [Side 1]

2. Take Comfort

3. Too Much Love

4. If

5. Be Kind To Me

6. He's A Good Lad

7. She Was My Lady [Side 2]

8. Live In Your Love

9. What A Change

10. I Say Again

11. Come Again

12. Truckin'

Tracks 1 to 12 are their third studio album "Manna" - released March 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 74086 and July 1971 in the UK on Elektra Records EKX 74086 (reissued 1972 in the UK on Elektra K 52001). It peaked at No. 21 in the USA - didn't chart UK. Same band line-up as "On The Waters"

Disc 4 - "Baby I'm-A Want You" - 34:51 minutes:

1. Mother Freedom [Side 1]

2. Baby I'm-A Want You

3. Down On My Knees

4. Everything I Own

5. Nobody Like You

6. Diary

7. Dream Lady [Side 2]

8. Daughter

9. Games Of Magic

10. This Isn't What The Governmeant

11. Just Like Yesterday

12. I Don't Love You

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 4th studio album "Baby I'm-A Want You" - released February 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records 75015 and March 1972 in the UK on Elektra Records K 42100. It peaked at No. 3 in the USA and No. 9 in the UK.

Disc 5 - "Guitar Man" - 43:15 minutes:

1. Welcome To The Music [Side 1]

2. The Guitar Man

3. Make It By Yourself

4. Aubrey

5. Fancy Dancer

6. Sweet Surrender

7. Tecolote [Side 2]

8. Let Me Go

9. Yours For Life

10. Picture In Your Mind

11. Don't Tell Me No

12. Don't Even Know Her Name

Tracks 1 to 12 are their fifth studio album "Guitar Man" - released November 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS-75047 and November 1972 in the UK on Elektra Records K 52004. It peaked at No. 18 in the USA - didn't chart UK. First LP to feature LARRY KNECHTEL who replaced ROYER

Disc 6 - "Lost Without Your Love" - 36:21 minutes:

1. Hooked On You [Side 1]

2. She's The Only One

3. Lost Without Your Love

4. Change Of Heart

5. Belonging

6. Fly Away

7. Lay Your Money Down [Side 2]

8. The Chosen One

9. Today's The First Day

10. Hold Tight

11. Our Lady Of Sorrow

Tracks 1 to 11 are their sixth and final studio album "Lost Without Your Love" - released January 1977 in the USA on Elektra Records 7E-1094 and January 1977 in the UK on Elektra Records K 52044. It peaked at No. 26 in the USA and No.17 in the UK

There is no booklet nor mastering credits but the Audio is superb throughout so these must be the Rhino Remasters of old. Outside of the obvious hits like "Make It With You", "If", "Guitar Man" and "Baby I'm-A Want You" (proper tunes one and all) - it's those album cuts that interest me. Great guitar work on "Call On Me" from "On The Waters" and the ethereal slightly trippy vibe achieved on "I Am That I Am" where Bread gets all mystical. There's amazing punch on "Could I" and beautiful Acoustic guitar-pings coming off "Look At Me" (both from the debut LP) and you hear Gates the hitmaker already peering through. Elektra tried "Move Over" in early 1970 as a US and UK 7" single but its flanged guitars and treated chorus didn't catch the public's ear ("Friends And Lovers" might have been a better choice).

By the time you get to 1971's "Manna" and 1972's "Baby I'm-A Want You" - Bread are a bona fide hit-single making machine. While I never liked the heavy-handed "Let Your Love Go" (the lead-off 45 from "Manna" still made No. 28 in the USA) - "Too Much Love" could easily have tapped into that America audience. The lovely "If" was a deserved No. 4 hit and the audio on it and tracks like "Take Comfort" and "She Was My Lady" is beautifully done. "Manna" album sleeper is the piano-pretty "Come Again" - a typically sweet melody from Gates although the strings threaten to over egg the 'tears welling up inside'.

Can't say "Mother Freedom" floats my boater but the title track to the "Baby I'm-A Want You" album sounds fabulous here (and still such a tune) while the boppin' David Gates and James Griffin countrified "Down On My Knees" could easily have come of the more Pop side to "Desperado" by the Eagles. Although its been mucked about with by too many cover versions over the years - "Everything I Own" is still a great David Gates song - as is the truly lovely "Diary" - both sounding dapper and spangly-new here. The anti-establishment "This Isn't Want The Governmeant" and the unusually acidic "I Don't Love You" now feel a little clunky despite some cool harp blowing and harmony vocals in the latter – whilst "Games Of Magic" might just be the album's sleeper.

Their second album in 1972 "Guitar Man" saw the departure of Robb Royer and the arrival of Larry Knechtel and opens with a band already used to jets and Carnegie Hall. The rollicking "Welcome To The Band" soon gives way to a far-better winner – the album’s title track – a No. 11 hit Stateside while it made a respectable No. 16 in England a couple of months prior to the LP’s release. The smoochy "Aubrey" provided them with a No. 11 hit in America while "Sweet Surrender" managed No. 15. But even with these Summer-easy tunes (the jaunty "Yours For Life" could easily have been another hit) – Bread were no longer making the Top Ten and beyond and the end seemed on the cards. Both Gates and Griffin went solo with two albums each only to reform in late 1976 for 1977's well-received "Never Let Her Go" (and again the audio rocks on this one too).

For sure you could say that a 15-track 'Hits Set' is all anyone really needs for BREAD – but having revisited this six-pack of albums – I find enough in-between the cracks to be more than pleasantly surprised. David & Co I’m-A Want You indeed (oh dear)...

"Sleeping For Years: The Studio Recordings 1970-1974" by ATOMIC ROOSTER (December 2017 Esoteric Recordings 4CD Box Set - Ben Wiseman Remasters) - 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  

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

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"...Clue To The Answer..."

Features the album "In Hearing Of" from 1971

I'm fast thinking that Cherry Red's 'Esoteric Recording' could soon pip 'Ace Records' as being the best re-issue label England has (traitor you say). They've gotten frightfully good at this 'sort of thing' - they really have. And 2017's "Sleeping For Years..." is adding even more fuel to that retrospective fire.

ATOMIC ROOSTER came out of the ashes of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown when VINCENT CRANE and ELP master-drummer CARL PALMER formed the band in early 1970. Palmer left of course for bigger more Proggy pastures becoming EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on Island Records scoring number one albums galore whilst AR had to settle for two hit singles (the fondly remembered "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer") and low placed albums - the first of which lasted one whole week on the British LP charts. But that's not to say that those who dig their Rock with a bit of Head in the Sky Prog, Friday the 13th Doom and screeching men in unfeasibly tight-trousers don't remember Vincent Crane's rocking Atomic Rooster with huge affection. They do. Hell they even went AWB-Funky for the Chris Farlowe albums on Dawn Records – overlooked little nuggets in my books.

So what do you get - five hard-to-find British vinyl albums in full from 1970 to 1973 (the bank won't thank if you're looking for Mint originals), alternate takes for an American debut LP that never materialised and different versions put on German, French and US albums, two Demos as well as five non-album single-sides - and all of it newly remastered into one clamshell box for under an apple core. Made in England indeed. Let's get in hearing of...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2017 (8 December 2017 in the USA)- "Sleeping For Years: The Studio Recordings 1970-1974" by ATOMIC ROOSTER on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42612 (Barcode 5013929471207) is a 4CD clamshell-shaped Box Set containing five newly remastered studio albums, single sides and other rarities. It plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (66:44 minutes):

1. Friday The 13th

2. And So To Bed

3. Winter

4. Decline And Fall

5. Banstead

6. S.L.Y.

7. Broken Wings

8. Before Tomorrow

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Atomic Rooster" - released February 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1010 (no US release).

The original British album running order can be sequenced as follows:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 7 and 8

Side 2: Tracks 5, 6, 3 and 4

Three tracks had guitars overdubbed for a planned US-album variant but it was never released (see Bonus tracks 9, 10 and 11)

9. Friday The 13th (US Album Version)

10. S.L.Y. (US Album Version)

11. Beyond Tomorrow (US Album Version)

12. VUG (1970 Demo with Carl Palmer)

13. Devil's Answer (1970 Demo Version)

14. Tomorrow Night (Single Version) - released September 1970 as a UK 7" single on B&C Records CB 131 with "Play The Game" as the B-side (see Disc 2). Charted February 1971 and rose to No. 11

Disc 2 (73:22 minutes):

1. Death Walks Behind You [Side 1]

2. VUG

3. Tomorrow Night (Album Version)

4. 7 Streets

5. Sleeping For Years [Side 2]

6. I Can't take No More

7. Nobody Else

8. Gerschatzer

Tracks 1 to 8 are their second studio album "Death Walks Behind You" - released September 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1026 and June 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS-74094 in a different sleeve

9. Play The Game - non-album B-side of "Tomorrow Night" - see Track 14 on Disc 1

10. Devil's Answer (Single Version) - A-side of a May 1971 UK 7" single on B&C Records CB 157 ("The Rock" was its B-side)

11. Breakthrough

12. Break The Ice

13. Decision/Indecision

14. A Spoonful Of Bromide Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down

Tracks 11 to 14 are Side 1 of the album "In Hearing Of" - released August 1971 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 1 and November 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 74109 (see also Track 5 on Disc 2 - an extra on the American LP)

Disc 3 (65:47 minutes):

1. Black Snake

2. Head In The Sky

3. The Rock

4. The Price

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of the album "In Hearing Of" - released August 1971 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 1 and November 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 74109 (see also Track 5 below)

5. Devil's Answer (Pete French Vocal Version) - appeared as Track 5 on Side 1 of the US LP for "In Hearing Of" on Elektra EKS 74109

6. Take Your Time [Side 1]

7. Stand By Me

8. Little Bit Of Inner Air

9. Don't Know What Went Wrong

10. Never To Lose

11. Introduction /Breathless [Side 2]

12. Space Cowboy

13. People You Can't Trust

14. All In Satan's Name

15. Close Your Eyes

Tracks 6 to 15 are their fourth studio album "Made In England" - released October 1972 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3038 and October 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 75039. Initial copies of the UK LP came in a stitched denim sleeve hiding an insert and the LP inside (no cover art. The 1972 US LP has cover art, which was eventually used in 1973 in the UK also to replace the limited edition denim sleeve.

Disc 4 (58:48 minutes):

1. All Across The Country [Side 1]

2. Save Me

3. Voodoo To You

4. Goodbye Planet Earth

5. Take One Toke [Side 2]

6. Can't Find A Reason

7. Ear In The Snow

8. Satan's Wheel

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fifth studio album "Nice 'n' Greasy" - released September 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3049 and December 1973 in the USA as "IV" on Elektra Records EKS 75074. The American LP replaced "Goodbye Planet Earth" with "Moods" as fourth and last track on Side 1 whilst "Satan's Wheel" was replaced with "What You Gonna Do?" as fourth and last track on Side 2

9. What You Gonna Do?

10. Moods

The American LP of "Nice 'n' Greasy" was called "IV" and replaced "Goodbye Planet Earth" with "Moods" as the fourth and last track on Side 1 – with "What You Gonna Do?" replacing "Satan's Wheel" as the fourth and last track on Side 2

11. Tell Your Story (Sing your Song)

12. O.D.

Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-album A&B-sides of a March 1974 UK 7" single on Decca FR 13503 credited to Vincent Crane's Atomic Rooster

I dig these clamshell box sets - they allow a label to spread out and Esoteric has done so here. The four card sleeves reflect the artwork of four albums - the exception being the denim cover of "Made In England" which is pictured in German and US forms on Pages 21 and 22. The whole 32-page booklet is a feast of colour photos of the band in its many incarnations whilst rare Euro, US and Japanese 7" single picture sleeves pepper the text. The band's long and tangled history is tackled in September 2017 liner notes from noted writer MALCOLM DOME - where he describes Vincent Crane (the band's backbone for all five albums and after that too) as a 'troubled genius' - sadly succumbing to his mental demons in February 1989 when he took his own life. Particularly good is the albums pictured and discussed towards the end where Dome calls on previous Crane interviews to explain almost every song. It's properly in-depth and you feel Dome's enthusiasm as he makes the case for this unfairly sidelined British band.

Compiled and co-ordinated by Mark and Vicky Powell - the big news is new 24-bit digital remasters from original tapes by an experienced Audio Engineer - BEN WISEMAN. Ben has handled wads of reissues - The Flock, Audience, Help Yourself, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Patto, Unicorn, Spooky Tooth and many more. I had the "Heavy Soul" 2CD Atomic Rooster set from 2002 and to my ears these masters are meatier - more bang for your buck. The sound is really great.

The "Atomic Rooster" debut felt like the three-piece band was a variant of Focus vs. ELP - way more Prog Fusion than Hard Rock. And with Carl Palmer's involvement and Crane's ever-looming organ and piano (no guitars) - songs like "Before Tomorrow" could easily have been outtakes from ELP's self-titled first outing on Island Records (also in 1970). In amongst the Vincent Crane, Carl Palmer and Nick Graham originals - I love the cover of John Mayall's "Broken Wings" (from his 1967 set "The Blues Alone" on Decca's Ace Of Clubs label) where ex Skin Alley frontman Nick Graham lets rip on throaty vocals while Crane gets all soulful come the solo. You get the pretty 'flute' version of "Winter" and I actually prefer the overdubbed guitars of ex Andromeda axeman John Cann on the 'US Version' of "S.L.Y." (his guitars replace Crane's piano parts). The demo of "Devil's Answer" is a fascinating slice - the grungy guitar on this rough cut rightly replaced with a more direct axe attack and that slide-intro sharpened up. The "Tomorrow Night" single version is fab too - what a Rock winner. And I’m a complete sucker for a cool B-side - the wickedly Funky instrumental "The Rock" delivering my crave.

The second platter is a massive jump forward - "Death Walks Behind You" - where a recognisable 'Atomic Rooster sound' emerges. As the seven minute title track opens you might be forgiven for thinking you've stumbled on a Hammer Horror haunted parlour scene where someone's gonna get a knife in the back (or some other unpleasant part of their anatomy) - but it soon settles down into a great Rock groove (new drummer Paul Hammond playing up a storm while John Cann makes his guitar presence known). The instrumental "VUG" is very Colosseum - a Prog jaunt dominated by Crane and Cann battling it out on Keyboards and Guitars. The full four-minute album cut of "Tomorrow Night" has amazing punch here - and 45-seconds more than the single edit is alright by me. The near seven-minutes of "Seven Streets" features Crane getting an almost church-like sound out of his Hammond while John Cann slashes away on an array of riffs. Love that faded guitar opening of the box set's namesake "Sleeping For Years" - how very Led Zeppelin - before it turns into a dirty gritty rocking monster. Some vocal madness precedes the clear-as-a-bell piano of "Nobody Else" - a surprisingly mellow and pretty offering for such a heavy album (Crane already finding his whole world is going away). Although a tad hissy in places - Drummer Paul Hammond gets his magnificent Bonzo moment on the lengthy but strangely beautiful "Gerschatzer" - a song you just know will have slaughtered 'live' as each member of the band gets to show what they can do during their solos (and it did).

Newly signed to Pegasus Records – the three piece of Crane, Cann and Hammond took on body number four - the ex Leafhound vocalist Pete French and quickly produced what many feel is their best moment – 1971's "In Hearing Of". It would be their last album to chart in the UK reaching No. 18 in August of that mercurial year. Sat nestling alongside The Who’s mighty “Who’s Next” and Vertigo Spiral Prog obscuros like Ben and Gravy Train in shop racks – the third Atomic Rooster album seemed to capture British Rock in all its grungy, snot-nosed swagger and came complete with 'an old dear' cover courtesy of Roger Dean - artwork man of the moment for those special years. Both "Breakthrough" and "Break The Ice" are excellent with the crushed-and-broken piano melody of "Decision/Indecision" sealing the album's greatness. Piano vs. Organ vs. Gee-tar Prog Rock comes roaring out of your speakers on the fantastic conclusion to Side 1 - the instrumental "A Spoonful Of Bromide Helps The Pulse Go Down" - an album highlight for me where everyone in the band plays a blinder.

Perhaps it seemed like a good idea in 1972 but the gimmick 'denim' sleeve for Rooster's fourth LP "Made In England" probably did for sales rather than encouraged them. Listed in the 2018 RC Price Guide at a cool £100 - I can honestly say I've seen a UK original maybe twice in my collecting/rarities manager life - which is a shame because I thought it was a worthy follow-up. Ex Colosseum lead vocalist Chris Farlowe joined Vincent along with Steve Bolton on Guitars and Ric Parnell on Drums. Two of Elton John’s fave backing singers Doris Troy and Liza Strike bolster up "Stand By Me" and "People You Can't Trust". I'm amazed Dawn didn't try the fabulous Soul-Rock of "Time Take My Life" as a lead-off 45 – not surprisingly they went instead for the hookier and just as Funky "Stand By Me" in May 1972 (Dawn DNS 1027 with "Never To Lose" on the B-side). Not to be confused with the Percy Sledge classic – Crane’s own "Stand By Me" was a Crane go by him at a Rotary Connection-type groove. Farlowe then goes Dr. John on the vocal to the R&B shuffler "Little Bit Of Inner Air" while he takes the false-preacher Michael on the introduction to the furious "Breathless". Said to be one of Crane's faves on the album (probably because his piano playing is on fire throughout) - "Breathless" also has Steve Bolton let fly with an amazing guitar solo worthy of Tommy Bolin. I also love the very American Rock Funk of "People You Can’t Trust" – another sleeper with the ladies giving it some Labelle in the background. Maybe because the LP seemed like a complete turnaround in sound - Fun to Funky and away from Prog – perhaps that saw "Made In England" fail. Their fourth is all but forgotten now when I'd argue that it shouldn't be.

Farlowe stayed for album number five "Nice ‘n’ Greasy" with Johnny Mandala replacing Steve Bolton on Guitar (Crane and Parnell made up the other two). Farlowe’s vocals now sounded like Bobby Harrison of Snafu as did the band’s sound – a sort of Blues, Funky, Rock-Soul combo. If "Made In England" is forgotten then so too is "Nice ‘n’ Greasy" – an album that feels like the cigarette butt in the friend egg on the cover. I like "Voodoo In You" and the impossibly funky "Take One Toke" – an encore number at gigs for years.

For sure Atomic Rooster are not going to be everyone’s idea of bliss on a Sunday morning – but this box set brings a Hell of lot of great Prog Rock and Funk-Rock-Soul into my home and I’m down with both. Well done to all involved...