CLIFF RICHARD WITH THE SHADOWS/WONDERFUL LIFE 33SX 1628 (-64) UK MONO

 

This is the twelfth album from Cliff Richard and/or The Shadows I'm posting here. They were a large part of my early teens, forming a kind of connection still valid today. I can't be a critic and say their albums from that time are good or bad in any way, just that I feel at home with the music and therefore it's good to me. This is a soundtrack from one in a serie of musical movies made in the sixties involving the combo. Ten of the cuts has Cliff singing to orchestral backing, two with him and The Shadows and two by The Shadows alone. The orchestral tracks sounds far from pop, then more like ordinary late fifties or early sixties musical tunes with him singing very sweet or even crooning. The ones with him and/or the Shadows perks it up a bit, sounding just as expected from them and then. As a whole it doesn't make me wanna jump up and down and scream with joy, but as it all is so well done - performance, production, arrangements, mix and audio - it's good to the ears and very soothing. And the package is lavish with rear sleeve having eleven colour pics from the movie and the inner sleeve twentyfour b/w ones. Favorite tracks - "On The Beach", "Theme For Young Lovers" and "Wonderful Life". Originally issued like this over Europe, Downunder, Japan, India, South Africa, Turkey and Israel. US version as "Swingers' Paradise" (Epic LN 24145) had different sleeve design. UK 2005 CD on EMI (7243 4 77718 2 8) came with four bonus tracks. Premiere UK (also as stereo SCX 3515) had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover with picture/credit inner.  (CXÄ*)

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                       

                                                                                      

                                                                              

                                                                                

                                                                                   

 

SIMON STOKES AND THE NIGHTHAWKS SE 4677 (-70) US

 

                                                                                   

When going through the bins I always follow the huge want list kept in my brain and pick accordingly. But sometimes I come across vinyls I've never seen before that looks interesting and give them a listen in the shop. This is one of those and one that went directly to my gut. Apparently Simon Stokes (1938-2020) worked as a song writer from the late fifties up to 1965, when he started a carreer as singer and issued a couple of singles with separate settings under different names for various labels. He worked as a staff writer for Electra 1968-69 before splitting with the label and signing a new contract with MGM for which he recorded this one-off album with The Nighthawks. Up to 2011 he would release six more albums and a couple of more singles either as solo artist or under differing group names, but that's another story. This is good rock'n'roll - very raw with screamy vocals, killer guitars and adaptive rhythm section. Primitive without being too simple, in a way reminding me of early Captain Beefheart. All cuts but two - "Jambalaya" and "Down In Mexico" - penned by the band. A mix of rude and piped down that goes very well with me. Also the stereo mix and audio here is very good to my ears. Favorite tracks - "Big City Blues", "Sugar Ann" and "Rhode Island Red".  Also originally issued in Germany (MGM 2315 016). UK 2007 CD on Rev-Ola (CR REV 219). Premiere US had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (YZÄ*)

                                                                                

                                                                                    
                                                                                    

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

 

DEEP PURPLE/STORMBRINGER PR 2832 (-74) US PROMO

 

   Though still very caught by the Mk I and II wonders I was totally ok with the first MK III offering "Burn"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2020/04/deep-purlpleburn-tps-3505-74-uk.html   as that had parts reminding of the old gang. This follow-up is even further away from the Purple I have lots of raunchy teen memories to. To my ears little less melodic and not as profound, but with enough other qualities to get by. Though missing Ian Gillian and Roger Glover I must admit David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes (the latter formerly in Trapeze   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/04/trapezemedusa-ths-4-70-uk.html  ) are doing good too. Most of it comes very intense, the power ballads as well as the harder pieces, and Richie Blackmoore's guitars rules. The stereo mix is mostly very centered and sometimes pressing the mono button makes no difference at all. Don't know if that's the original mix, or if it was made especially for the promo. I don't have any 1st press US stock copy to compare with now, but guess time will tell. In any case the audio is very good and I like the whole thing for what it is. Not unconditionally as it doesn't sound like "my" Deep Purple, but it sure is an enjoyable hard rock record well worth to be spun many times. Favorite tracks - "Stormbringer", "Lady Double Dealer" and "Soldier Of Furtune". Issued and reissued all over the world on all possible formats through the years. Premiere UK on Purple Records (TPS 3508). EU CD on Purple Records (TPSX 3508) came with five remixes, the quad version of the album and a DVD as bonus. First US had label as shown here (though of course without the promo line) in a glossy cover. (DHÄ*)  (YZÄ*)  (ÖRJ*) 

                                                                                

                                                                                       

 
                                                                             

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, WISHBONE ASH, MOTT THE HOOPLE/ THE HISTORY OF ROCK VOL 27 HRL 027 (-84) UK

 2-LP set part of one of the many compilation series that emerged in the seventies and eighties. I don't especially collect any of those and seldom look twice when spotting one in a bin. However this caught my eye and made me wanna buy. One side each from four of the most prominent UK rock bands of the early seventies, each originally on different UK labels - Vertigo, Harvest, CBS and MCA - but here figuring all together. With all the good these outfits produced it would be impossible to get everyone in on any choice of tracks and I do miss some of my favorites, but as a whole it works fine with me. Deep Purple "Black Night" originally 45 A-side only and "When A Blind Man Cries" B-side of the "Never Before" 45. Mott The Hoople "Saturday Gigs" a 45 only A-side. The rest from albums. Sometimes with this kind of late compilations you can get parts with subpar audio, but this sounds surprisingly good, providing pleasant listening all the way. Impossible to chose favorite tracks but I do like they included "Saturday Gigs", Mott The Hoople's last single and the only one including Mick Ronson. To my knowledge this was the only issue. It came with label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with colour images and stories of the bands inside. (SÄM*)  (BLÄC*)  (DHÄ*)  (MÖHÖ*) 

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

 

TOM JONES/FROM THE HEART SKL 4814 (-66) UK STEREO

 This is the eighth Tom Jones album I'm posting. Even if a lover of garage and early hard rock, one have to pipe down sometimes and just go with a flow. And then why not a musical flow of the highest quality. And this sure is, on every level. His voice sometimes powerful sometimes soothing, the orchestral backing on the spot, the stereo mix and audio tophole. But what I like most about this are the production and arrangements, partly adveturous though without making a mess, giving some of the tracks an odd yet very appealing expression. I especially like the versions of "Begin The Beguine", "Georgia On My Mind" and "A Taste Of Honey" here. Even if covers they are inventive enough to stand proud on their own. In short a very nice piece to relax to, or as background when meeting someone special. It was a while since I met someone special to me, but when/if I do this will certainly be on the turntable. Released like this 1966 all over Europe and Downunder. Later reissued in Japan and a couple of South American countries. Also on cassette in Germany, Australia and Indonesia. German 1989 CD on London Records (820 557-2 RT) came with four bonus tracks. The US Parrot versions of his albums was so different from UK it's hard to say which corresponds, but it may be "Green, Green Grass Of Home" (PA 61009/PAS 71009). Premiere UK stereo had label as shown here in a laminated cover showing him looking out over his old home town Pontypridd.  (TÖJX*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

     
                                                                          

                                                                              

                                                                                  

 

JACKIE WILSON/TWISTIN' AND SHOUTIN' CORAL 97036 (-64) MONO GERMANY

 German only variation of his US "Somethin' Else" LP (Brunswick 7/54117), having the same tracking but different name and sleeve design. I hardly knew anything about Jackie Wilson (1934-84) before I found this copy, so instead of me just copying facts from the vast Wikipedia article you can go there if curious  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Wilson . This his already thirteenth album since the debute 1958 is my first real try on the man and even if it's not the music I usually listen to I'm charmed. Though with a clear rock signature to my ears it's a lot more rock'n'soul than rock'n'roll. I get a couple of sincere ballads but most of the time it's full speed ahead with earnest lead and backing vocals to a superb setting, including brass, piano and organ. It's happy and positive making me smile all the way. Further the audio on this press is superb, clear yet warm. I picked this copy unheard cause I was curious and now just after one listen I'm all in. Yummy! Also issued 1964 as "Somethin' Else" in Canada, UK and France. UK 1999 CD on Edsel (DIAB 885) coupled this with his 1963 "Baby Workout" album. First German had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover. (GÖXÄ*)

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                            

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

 

SANDIE SHAW/THE GOLDEN HITS OF SANDIE SHAW GGL 0360 (-66) UK MONO

 One of the most successful British female singers. With twentyseven 45:s on the UK list 1964-94, where of eight top ten and three number ones, and also doing well over Europe, South Africa and Downunder, she's sold tons of records and obviously still ranked high among many sixties lovers. For more please check post on her debute LP "Sandie" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/09/sandie-shawsandie-npl-18110-65-uk-mono.html . This compilation contains twelve 45 A:s and B:s from 1964-65. All but one - the Burt Bacharach "There's Always Something There To Remind Me" - penned by Chris Andrews. Later she would be a world name with her million selling "Puppet On A String", but here it's early days and a music I still feel very much at home with. A mix of perky up-tempo and languishing ballads, orchestrated in a style typical for the period and sung with her personal and very honest voice. And though some of the songs are slow and some of the lyrics downright despondent it all comes very positive to me, like greetings from more hopeful times when the future was still bright. All cuts are original mono mixes and the audio excellent. Favorite tracks "There's Always Something There To Remind Me", "Long Live Love", "Message Understood" and "Girl Don't Come". Also released 1966 in Australia (Astor GG 680) and New Zeeland (Pye PNZL 27005). Later on Marble Arch in UK, Canada and New Zeeland. Third UK on Picadilly (PH-30187). To my knowledge never issued like this on CD or in US. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*)  (PÖY*)

                                                                            

                                                                                 

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                                  

                                                 
 

MARSHA HUNT AND THE DIRTY MAC

 Noticed a while ago I've already posted all in my collection interesting enough for me to write about and it's also getting harder to find worthy stuff it the bins here. Lacked new things for a while, but now I've just found a couple worth doing. Unfortunately I haven't had time to process them yet, but till I do please enjoy my two favorite videos from Youtube. Even if You've seen them already they're certainly worth to be watched many times still. Dirty Mac has to be the greatest super group that ever existed - John Lennon, Keith Richard, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell playing a Beatles song live and it's stunningly good. And that Marsha Hunt video is among the sexiest I've ever seen, oozing with sensuality. I'm sure Mick Jagger would agree...and Marc Bolan...if he could. More on that and her here https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/11/marsha-huntwoman-child-2410101-71-uk.html

FLYBACK 1 - BIG ONES TON 1 (-71) UK MONO + STEREO

 

One of my favorite samplers, containing cuts earlier issued on Regal Zonophone, and since I did a bad job when first posting it years ago now feel it's time for an update. So much good music here. Not only do I get top numbers by some of the best acts on the British music scene in the sixties - Procol Harum, Move, Joe Cocker and T.Rex. I can also enjoy then very rare cuts from Juniors Eyes, Richard Henry and Tucker Zimmerman. To my taste a perfect mix. The Move "Blackberry Way" and "Fire Brigade" plus Richard Henry "Oh Girl" are the 45 mono mixes, the rest true stereo, and the audio excellent. I guess many fans of the there and then music are totally ok getting those tracks from CD compilations and/or downloads, but for me this is it. The label design, the arty sleeve, the analog audio and that it was released close to the fact just makes me happy. Also issued in Norway on Karussell with picture sleeve   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-best-of-big-ones-2345023-72-mono.html   , in Germany on Ariola (85 073 IT) and in Netherlands on Stateside (5C048.92 456). Premiere UK had label as shown here on sturdy vinyl in a glossy sleeve.  (SÄM*)  (FXÖ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                    

 

WILSON PICKETT/I'M IN LOVE SD 8175 (-68) US

 After finding this good soul album in a bin I was happy and went home just to find I already had it in shape of an Italian mono with tophole audio, no doubt using the US tapes. Buying stuff I already have has become more common last decade. No doubt coming from a combination of an ever growing collection and getting more forgetful with growing age. So now I ask myself - why keeping and keep adding to a collection too big for my brain to comprehend? I know there are records somewhere in there I haven't played for a decade or so. Maybe a silly question cause the anwser is self-evident. It's not the having that's most important, it's finding and exploring new stuff, enjoing the music and audio for the first time. Then the record often goes into the shelf and sometimes forgotten, but at least I had a very good time getting acquainted. And when it comes to this - even if the mono comes out very good, this stereo has a lot going for it too. A for its time superb mix - wide with very good balance and top separation, providing very enjoyable listening. So maybe it was a good buy after all. For more on the record itself and music from it, check post on the mono  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/05/wilson-pickettim-in-love-atl-lp-08021.html . (PÖC*)  (YZÄ*)

                                                                                       

 

DR. GOLDFOOT & THE GIRL BOMBS/ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE T 5053 (-66) US MONO

 Soundtrack to film which allegedly was a kind of parody of at the time popular spy movies, but also seems to have been a chance to show pretty girls running around more or less naked and to make sly sexual comments (more on that in this Wikipedia article   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Goldfoot_and_the_Bikini_Machine#Cast ). I haven't seen it and have no desire to do that, but since this soundtrack has a couple of for me hitherto unknown combos I'm curious if it has something to offer. Starting with a dramatic title song by girl trio The Sloopys, who apart from this only issued one more single 1967 on Sidewalk label. The contribution from the more productive American singer-songwriter Terry Stafford  (1941-96) is a sweet love ballad and quite all right for its time and place. The Bobby Lile track heavily orchestrated perky easy listening. The Paul & The Pack cut rather catchy light pop and the male/female duo The Candles provides some orchestrated tralala to uptempo rhythms. The rest instrumentals by a combo called Mad Doctors, who apparently didn't record anything except this. Those sound rather bland to me now, but I guess meaning a lot to the plot. So a rocky road listening through, but to me the ones by The Sloopys, Terry Stafford and Paul & The Pack makes it ok and a keeper after all. To my knowledge this US was the only issue, also as duophonic stereo (DT 5053). It had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (YZÄ*)  (FÄV*) (ÖXCÅ*)  (ZÖNT*)

                                                                                       

                                                                             

                                                                               

                                                                                      
                                                                                   

                                                                                        

                                                                                  

 

THE SHADOWS/SHADOW MUSIC SX 6041 (-66) UK MONO

 

The band's fifth album, among other things containing three tracks earlier part of "The Babes In The Wood" pantomime, performed at the London Palladium Christmas 1965. The rest a mix of self-penned and Shadows signature cover versions of known jazz, art music and pop numbers. I've seen it getting luke warm or even bad reviews. To my ears maybe not their most exciting moment, but still a well executed effort providing good listening. The vocal tracks "Stay Around", "In The Past", "One Way To Love" and "I Only Want To Be With You" are all good period pop, the guitar version of Serbian Stanislav Binicki's "March On The Drina" quite catchy and the covers of "Fly Me To The Moon" and "Razzmataz" entertaining enough. I know this kind of guitar band music is seen as dated by many today and maybe you must have been there then to appreciate it fully. I'm glad I was cause that allows me to enjoy this from first track to last. Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and/or CD through the years, though I can't find a trace of any US release. EU 1998 CD on EMI (7243 4 95151 23) came with all tracks in both mono and stereo. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (CXÄ*)

 

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                            

DORIS/SVENSSONS DORIS 4E 054-34039 M (-69) MONO SWEDEN

 An artist today mostly known by jazz/soul connaisseurs for her only solo album "Did You Give The World Some Love Today, Baby"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/09/dorisdid-you-give-world-some-love-today.html . This is a collection of some of her earlier 45 tracks. A-side with five covers of international hits - "Your Mother Should Know", "Boom Bang-A-Bang", "Never My Love", "Long Long Road", "Think It All Over" plus the Hungarian song "Kicsit Szomorkás" - all sung in Swedish to very well arranged orchestral background. B-side with six cuts sung in English, one with the band Dandys and five with the group Plums (for which check rear sleeve below). That is to me more interesting. The three covers - "Go Back To Daddy", "A Lovers Concerto" and "The Loco-Motion" all works well, but what really get me going are the tracks  "You Made A Fool Of Me" and "Wouldn't That Be Groovy". The former with its psych ending and the latter in the rather special blue eyed soul style that made her solo album fly. So either you're into sixties schlager pop or odd soul numbers you might find something here. All cuts are the original mono recordings with tophole audio and very good to the ears. To my knowledge this was the only vinyl release, though the Swedish 2013 2xCD issue of "Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby" (RPM Internat RETROD 925) came with all her singles 1966-69, including the ones here, as bonus. Vinyl had label as shown here in a thin matt cover. (FÄV*) (SCÄ*)  (CCÖ*)

                                                                                       

                                                                            

                                                                                         

                                                                            

 

THE BEATLES/WITH THE BEATLES PCS 3045 (-63) UK STEREO

 For more details on the issue and different early pressings please check post on the mono  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-beatleswith-beatles-pmc-1206-63-uk.html  . After finding and truly enjoying the UK stereo mixes of "Beatles For Sale" and "A Hard Days Night" (see earlier posts) I've been curious to find a WTB original to hear if there was something that could add to the mono. Reason I didn't wanna go with a later press is those could come out different and I wanted to compare two originals pressed at the same time. Mint stereo copies tend to go for a lot more than I can afford so I was happy to find a vinyl that looked VG- but played a lot better in a somewhat later sleeve (probably swapped along the way), thus getting enjoyable listening from an early press for just a couple of bucks.  I've read bad reviews about this stereo, like it being too primitive since all songs having vocals mixed hard right. That is true and can be a little annoying, but the rest is quite all right for its time - ok balanced with good separation and lots of power. As a whole I do prefer the mono, but as this comes out a bit wider with mostly clearer vocals it mustn't be shunned and I guess any real Beatles fan can embrace it as an interesting historical fact and enjoy. I sure do. This is not a very first press, but it is from 1963. One reason to know that is it's got "Recording First Published..." only on label. In 1964 "Sold In UK..." was added and from 1965-69 the label had "Sold In UK..." only. (BÄ*)  (LGÅ*)