THE SEEKERS/LIVE AT THE TALK OF THE TOWN SX 6278 (-68) UK MONO

 The group's first live album, recorded during four weeks at the London "Talk Of The Town" theater just before they broke up. Had a soft spot for them ever since I first heard them on Swedish radio mid-sixties. Never heavy or hard-core, but very well performed folky stuff with lots of melody and feeling. Though even if I didn't like them I would have acknowledged this as a very good live album. The performance is 100%, it's clear they love what they're doing and the communication with the audience is amazing. Sixteen numbers with lots of talking and joking inbetween, all forwarding a very warm feeling. Add to that good mono audio - well separated and clear - and I just have to close my eyes in the listening chair and I'm there. Not absolutely certain if it's a separate mix or a fold, but as produced by Mickie Most 1968 I guess it's true mono. Listening through with a smile on my face, especially to the classics "A World Of Our Own" and "Georgy Girl". No reason to jump tracks here, it all fits. Sixties releases in US and Canada (Capitol ST 135), Downunder, South Africa, Japan and over Europe. Japan 2015 CD on Parlophone (WPCR 16850) came with eight bonus tracks. Premiere UK (also as stereo SCX 6278) had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover.  (LYBÖ*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                       

                                                                                      

                                                                                   

                                                                                

 

JACK BRUCE/THINGS WE LIKE 2343-033 (-70) UK

 Album recorded 1968 and according to Bruce himself containing tracks he composed already 1955, at age twelve. In that case he must have been a true jazz wizz kid back then, cause this sounds pretty advanced even for now. Hard to know how much of this still capture his original intentions and how much is due to the expert musicians involved. Drummer John Hieseman and sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith must have had a busy year as they then assisted John Mayall on his "Bare Wires" album and also were starting the Colosseum project. Guitarist John McLaughlin, who earlier had played with Alexis Korner, Georgie Fame, Grahame Bond and Brian Auger, would later be famed for his work with Mahavishnu Orchestra and becoming a sought after jazz fusion guitarist, playing with the best in the genre. To me this mostly sounds like free form jazz, jamming built around preset themes. Though I can appreciate the skill performed through Bruce's double bass and the others instrumental treatment as well as the tophole mix and audio making it all come out very natural, I'm not 100% in. I do appreciate experimental music, but need more melody, more catchy stuff, to fully connect...like what I hear on his "Songs For A Taylor" album  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/05/jack-brucesongs-for-taylor-583-058-69-uk.html  . This is a little too off for me. Yet I enjoy having the LP and maybe with time I will learn to love. Released on vinyl early seventies over Europe, Downunder, US, Canada and Japan. EU 2003 CD (Polydor 065 604-2) came with one bonus track. Also on cassette, 8-track and as US mono promo (ATCO 33-349). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover. (CÄRÄ*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                              

                                                                                    

 

IKE & TINA TURNER /NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS UA-LA180-F (-73) US

The couple's nineteenth album and to my taste an excellent one. Five cuts penned by Tina, two by Ike and three covers, among the latter a re-recording of "River Deep, Mountain High". Among Tina's songs are the autobiographical title track, about the Mississippi town where she grew up, and "Club Manhattan", an ode to the place where she first met Ike. Both those tracks stone hard soul and that goes for most of the rest of the album too. Slow or up-tempo it's all with lots of nerve and tons of feeling. She sings like her life depended on it and the backing is soo tight. Good listening all through. My only reservation would be the rough re-recording of "River Deep, Mountain High". Not that it's bad in any way, but I prefer the original version as more melodic with more sentiment. They would go on to record two more albums before breaking up 1976 - allegedly due to Ike's cocaine addiction and violent behaviour - but here they still sound very together, producing an harmonic result. Full album below. Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl and CD, in some countries cassette and/or 8-track. Australian 1988 CD on EMI (432010-2). Also as Capitol 10xFile, AAC. Premiere US had label as shown here in a glossy cover. (YZÄ*)  (FÄV)

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                

                                                                                  
                                                                               

        

                                                                                                                                                       

                                      

 

A BAND CALLED O/O EPC 80120 (-74) UK

 Apart from picking stuff high on my want list the most fun I have in the bins is finding stuff from sixties and seventies bands I haven't heard or even heard of before. This is what I learned about this combo so far. Formed in Jersey on the Channel Islands as "The Parlour Band" and released one album - "Is A Friend" - on Deram under that name. Then releasing two albums as "A Band Called O" - this and "Oasis" - both on Epic. Finally recording two more albums as "The O Band" - "Within Reach" and "The Knife" - both on United Artists. After disbanding 1977 all members went on to solo carreers and/or playing with different other settings. Here I hear a very well performed album, largely in a kind of prog/hard rock mood with a little glam pitched in. The guitars are good and I like their ideas so it ought be my cup of tea, but in spite of many listenings I haven't got in yet. It sounds very good, but I don't feel it. They were  liked by John Peel and I've seen some good reviews of the album, so maybe it's just me and if I give it more time I might connect, but for the time it'll stay in my "maybe pile". Example below. To my knowledge issued on vinyl in UK only. Japan2019 CD on Vivid Sound (VSCD 5862) came in paper sleeve. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a glossy cover with CBS/Epic ad inner.

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

 

THE SHANGRI-LAS/LEADER OF THE PACK RB20 101 (-65) MONO SCANDINAVIA

 Girl group from Queens, Ney York, active 1963-68, consisting of sisters Mary (1948-2024) and Betty (1946-) Weiss and twin sisters Marge 1948-96) and Mary-Anne (1948-70) Ganser. Between 1963-66 scoring a number of hits, among those the US #1 "Leader Of The Pack". They have been refered to as influencing many punk rock bands - as Ramones, New York Dolls and Blondie - and also been covered by acts like Johnny Thunders, Aerosmith, Beach Boys and Blondie. Checking facts I see there's so much interesting stuff written about them, a lot more than I can squeeze in here, so for more I recommend the Wikipedia article  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shangri-Las . I had and liked the "Leader Of The Pack" 45 back in the days, but never heard the album before, so this is a first for me. As most of the tracks also figured as A:s and B:s on Rare Bird label 45:s, it can also bee seen as a part compilation. What first strikes me is the attitude. These were teenage girls, still in school, when recordings were made. Yet there's lots of spunk, at the time more than from most male groups. The up-tempo cuts are very good garage rock and you can also understand why they are liked by many later punk bands. According to rear sleeve side one is studio recordings and side two live...so they obviously worked well in front of an audience too. Favorites are of course title track, but also the up-tempos "Give Him A Great Big Kiss", "Bull Dog" and a very good "Twist And Shout" cover. Originally issued in US, Canada, UK, Downunder, South Africa and Scandinavia. Japan 2016 CD on Oldays Records (ODR6144) came with seven bonus tracks. Scandinavian had label as shown here on thick inflexible vinyl in an imported UK laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*)  (CCÖ*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                     

                                                                               

                                                                         

                                                                                       
 

THE LORDS/IN BLACK AND WHITE IN BEAT AND SWEET SMC 83859 (-65) GERMANY

 German beat band from Berlin, first existing between 1959-71, later reunited several times from 1976 up to today. Started as a skiffle group, but after Beatlemania took off they turned to beat, won the "Berliner Beatles" competition and was later named "Germany's Beat Band No. 1". Continuing as a great domestic success they had eleven hits on the West German pop chart and also became the first western band allowed to perform in the Eastern Bloc, playing for a public of  25.000 in Warsaw 1967. This was their debute LP. I hear a well played cover album doing common rock standards - a couple sung in German, the rest in English. The performance always tight, though some of it almost sounds parodic, like they're doing it with a wink rather than resolute. Guess they had fun doing it and it actually brings something extra for this guy used to listening to dead serious versions of those songs. Maybe not one for daily listening, yet a welcome variation to the collection. Favorite track - "Shakin' All Over". This was German only. Vinyl reissue 1967 as "Deutchlands Beatband Nr. 1" on Die Volksplatte (SMVP 6102) with different sleeve design. 2010 CD on Bear Family Records (BCD 17127) came with four mono mixes and one live take as bonus tracks. First release had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover. (GÖXÄ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                               

 

SUMMER HIATUS

 Taking a short break from posting, to rest my ears and mind in the calming summer sun. With all evil that's going on in the world now I still hope You'll have a good season filled with the music of Your choice. I'll be back with a new stack in just a while. Wishing You a nice summer wherever You are./Erik

 

HERMANS HERMITS/20 GREATEST HITS NE 1001 (-77) UK MONO + STEREO

 Always had a week spot for Heman's Hermits. Always uncomplicated, always catchy and almost always bringing a smile to my face. So even if I have most of these cuts before I couldn't resist this uncostly compilation, originally sold through a UK TV-shop. What first made me pick was singer Peter Noone's sweet cover of Bowies "Oh You Pretty Things", which predated the Hunky Dory release and had involvement by Bowie himself on piano (uncredited). Then playing through the whole thing got me in a very good mood. Only tracks I miss are "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" and "Leaning On The Lamppost", otherwise I get it all - "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter", "No Milk Today", "I'm Into Something Good", "Sleepy Joe", "There's A Kind Of Hush", "A Must To Avoid" and many many more. Most of the tracks true mono, but also a couple enhanced mono and some true stereo. It may seem hazardous to cram in twentyone cuts on a single LP and the audio would probably have been better if they'd been distributed on a double, but most sounds surprisingly good and non bad. So if you want a joyride for just a buck or two without being too particular about the audio this comes highly recommended. To my knowledge this was UK only, also as cassette (K-tel CE 2001). It came with label as shown here in a thin laminated cover.  (HÄHX*)

                                                                                          

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                              

                                                                                
                                                                               

                                                                                 

                                                                                     

 
                                                                                


 

THE ZOMBIES/THE WORLD OF THE ZOMBIES SPA 85 (-70) UK STEREO

 The mono variation of this  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-zombiesthe-world-of-zombies-pa-85.html is a complicated story, with what it seems folds from both fake and true stereos. And because The Zombies Decca stuff in UK mostly had been mono only up to this I was curious how many of these cuts was actual stereo and not "electronically reproduced" as the square on the label address (see below). It is hinted by asterisks on rear sleeve, but I've seen too many exemples from the past where fake stereo or mono is advertised as "stereo" or folds as "true mono", so I wanted to hear for myself. To my great joy only three here are fake - "Sticks And Stones", "Road Runner" and "Just Out Of Reach" - the rest true. And it's for four-channel recordings very good stereo too. Not sure about the origins, but could it be at least some of them were mixed especially for this issue? In any case it's variations I didn't have before in my Zombies collection and therefore a very welcome addition. Happy days! For more on the issue and hints on other band compilations please check the link above. First UK stereo had label as shown here in a laminated cover with die-cut hole on rear and "blue box" inner. (WÖF*) (ZÖZ*)

                                                                               

                                                                             

     

 

THE SHADOWS/ANOTHER STRING OF HOT HITS 7C 062-07325 (-80) SCANDINAVIA

 When the 1979 "String Of Hits" became a success in many European countries, among other things earning platinum in UK and topping the list there for several weeks, this compilation of earlier recordings was given a similar name and choosed as a follow-up. For this guy, who was a fan already in the early sixties it is an enjoyable collection, with tracks recorded between 1967-80, counting songs by Stones, Beatles, Elton John and  Beach Boys among others. With exception of the almost psychedelic "Good Vibrations" cover all kind of simple and right on instrumentals bringing a positive feel making you realise that sometimes you don't need lyrics since the melody itself is quite enough. Not one I long to sit down and listen closely to, but a nice background to any home chore. Guess it won't do it for newer generations, used to listen to synthesized productions and computerized correctives, but if you were there when the cuts first happened and appreciate the more rudimentary it might be something. Originally released all over Europe, Downunder and a couple of African countries. EU CD on Music For Pleasure (CD-MFP 6002) came with seven bonus tracks. First Scandinavian had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (CCÖ*)  (CXÄ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                              

THE CLIQUE WWS 7126 (-69) US

 Texas sunshine pop band active in the late sixties and mostly relying on cover versions. After releasing one 45 each for Cinema and Scepter records they got a contract with White Wale, for which they released six more singles before breaking up early seventies. As many of the WW 45 A:s and B:s can be found on this their one-off LP it's most of all a compilation. Decades ago this issue was common in the cheapest bins here and I never looked twice, but it was a while since I saw a copy now and when this showed up I decided to give it a chance. And in all it offers a pretty enjoyable mix of sunshine and bubblegum pop, sometimes gravitating towards psych and sometimes towards soul. Well performed and arranged, most with some kind of orchestral backing involved, and the audio is smashing. Good listening both close and as background. And a couple of the songs are certainly worth to be played more than once - like the two psychish "Sugar On Sunday" and "Superman" and the hard hitting "Little Miss Lucy". Glad I finally decided to give it a try cause it's a keeper for sure. Issued on vinyl in US, Canada and Australia. Also as US 8-track. UK 2006 CD "Sugar On Sunday: The Definitive Collection" on REV-OLA (CR REV 162) came with the full album plus ten bonus tracks. First US had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (YZÄ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                     

                                                                                    

 

WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT?/ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE UAL 4128 (-65) US MONO

 Soundtrack to a 1965 romantic comedy, starring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Ursula Andress, Romy Schneider and Woody Allen among others. Haven't seen it myself, though the cast seem very promising so I might try it some day. Reason I bought this album was the combination of songwriter Burt Bacharach and acts like Tom Jones, Manfred Mann and Dionne Warwick. It just couldn't be all bad. And it isn't. The instrumental cuts as expected well written and performed with some light twist here and there, but I guess you have to be familiar with the movie to appreciate them fully. The title track with Tom Jones became a world wide hit, Dionne Warwick's "Here I Am" a very sweet and well sung ballad and Manfred Mann's "My Little Red Book" dramatic with Paul Jones on vocals. The audio very good, though to my taste there's a tiny bit too much reverb at places. So as an album maybe not the best I've heard, but as a soundtrack not bad at all. Those can be downright boring and only valuable as souvenirs for lovers of the movies, but this has more to offer. Originally issued on cassette and/or reel and/or 8-track in US, Canada, Downunder and all over Europe. Japan 1998 CD on Rykodisc (VACK 3021) came with one bonus track. First US (also as stereo UAS 5028) had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (YZÄ*)  (ÖXCÅ) (ZÖNT*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                           

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

    


 

BLACK SABBATH VO6/847 903 VTY (-70) GERMANY

                                                                                  

 An LP that's been written and discussed to pieces ever since it first emerged. Regarded as the first heavy metal as well as the first doom metal album, therefore a creator of genres and inspiration to hundreds of combos up to this day. Dark and repetative, yet melodic, it's catchy in a way that most other heavy metal bands have failed to reach afterwards. Listening to much of what the genre offer today I get the structure, but have a hard time to find something alive within. Here I can immediately hear feelings and even warmth bubbling under the harsh surface, drawing me in and keeping me there. It's like when you really get to know a superficially very tough and hard person and then find out there's a heart of gold hidden in there. I had a UK 1:st press back in the days when you could get them for a couple of bucks, then lost it in a trade decades ago, thinking I could easily find a new one. But then the prices started to rise and it eventually became too dear for me. Realizing I could probably never spot a fine UK original within my price range I was very happy to find this German original. The audio is very good, but to my recollection coming out somewhat brighter and with slightly more reverb that the UK, which I remember being both darker and drier. I may be wrong, but if someone reading this had a similar impresson please comment and tell. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. First US and Canadian (Warner Bros. WS 1871) replaced "Evil Woman" with "Wicked World". It seems most CD issues came with both those tracks. First German had labels as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (GÖXÄ*) (BLÄC*) (WLÖ*)