MICK SOFTLEY/SUNRISE S 64098 (-70) UK

 Mick Softley (1939-2017) was a singer-songwriter of Irish origin. He early became a force behind the English folk music scene by setting up his own folk music club and working with later big names as Maddy Prior and Donovan. After his debute LP -  the 1965 "Songs For Swinging Survivors" - he quit the music business, worked as a marked trader, spent time with his family and only played gigs at nearby clubs. Late sixties he met Donovan again, who persuaded him to make another album and this is it. I've seen it tagged as psych, but don't agree. It's hard to describe. The closest I can think of is folky with arty and proggy elements woven in. I hear a very pleasant journey between rock, eastern-inspired and stripped guitar-vocal pieces, all emotionally performed. I'm still rather new to this so too early to pick absolute favourites, but the folk type rocker "Can You Hear Me Now?", the arty "You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine" and the Indian inspired "If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You Must Be Part Of The Problem" caught me alredy at first listen. Early seventies issues also in Italy and Japan (Epic ECPL-30). Japan 2020 CD in paper sleeve on Vivid sound (VCSD-5932). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matte fold/out cover. 

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

                                                                                       

                                                                                     

                                                                                       

 
                                            


 

 

DEEP PUPLE/DEEPEST PURPLE - THE VERY BEST OF DEEP PURPLE EMTV 25 (-80) UK

 Title promising the very best of Deep Purple. But is it really? I'd say maybe most of the best from the Harvest years. I would have liked at least one from their sadly underestimated third eponimous LP and maybe some of my other personal favourites, like "No One Came" from Fireball, "Maybe I'm A Leo" from Machine Head, or why not "Listen, Learn, Read on" from Book Of Taliesyn. But as a twelve track single LP the compiling is pretty good. I do get their breakthrough 45 only "Black Night", also"Speed King" and "Child In Time" from In Rock, title track and "Demons Eye" from Fireball and "Highway Star" and "Smoke On The Water" from Machine Head. Also the audio on this press is just dandy all the way through - loud and clear - making the cuts well as hard and rude as they were intended when first recorded. I guess if You're reading this You already have some of those albums, or at least some of the many other band compilations that's been issued since. But if You for some reason are new to the band, or maybe having a hard time finding something close to their best efforts fitting Your wallet and wan't good analog listening for just a couple of bucks, this comes recommended. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. The 30th Anniversery Edition 2xCD (50999 9475712 5) came with thirtyone tracks.  First UK had label as shown here in a thin matte cover. (DHÄ*) (HÄVL*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                   

                                                                                            

 

ELTON JOHN/GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD DJLPD 1001 (-73) UK

 Up to today his most admired and loved album. It would be easy to just join the quire and cheer, but I rather write something personal. When I first heard "Candle In The Wind" in the seventies I thought it was cute, not fantastic yet a very listenable song about Marylin Monroe. But when a re-written version showed up again late nineties to celebrate Diana Spencer after her death, topping lists and played about a zillion times on radio, TV and at events I got enough and started to dislike. I understand if it provided some kind of support for people that mourned her, but I didn't that much. I mourn when dear friends and relatives pass away, sometimes deeply, but can't feel the same when a patrician lady in another country perish. People all around the world die all the time under a lot more dire circumstances and she wasn't special to me. Luckily there are sixteen other tracks on this album and larger part of them very good. E.g. the title track is far more elaborated than CITW, more emotional and his singing there is tremendous, "Bennie And The Jets" a very heartfelt about rock song and "Jamaica Jerk Off" a funny and catchy reggae-ish tune. Also both the Gus Dudgeon production and audio on this press fits like a charm. So in all a very good album. Such a pity I just can't stand one of the songs. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. I can't count them all. First UK had labels as shown here on red translucent vinyl (just hold it against a light and you'll see the red) in a triple fold/out cover with lyrics, credits and pics inside. 

                                                                                

                                                                                   

                                                                                

                                                                                           

                                                                                          

                                                                                    

 

STATUS QUO/BEST OF STATUS QUO NSPL 18402 (-73) UK

 Band who's had over sixty chart hits in UK. Started as a pop group early sixties, then moved over to psych rock. Signed by Pye label 1967 and got a breakthrough with "Pictures Of Matchstick Men", which reached #7 in UK and #12 on Billboard. After that they changed direction again and played hard dirty blues rock for a couple of years before leaving Pye for Vertigo, cleaned up their act a little and became the world's most prominent boogie rock band. There's a lot more to say about their early history, but I don't have time or space to get into it all. If You want more details please check the Wikipedia article  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_Quo_(band) . This compilation covers their late Pye years with four cuts from Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon and four from Dog Of Two Head, coupled with some non-LP 45 tracks. "Down In The Dustpipe" and "Tune To The Music" comes in fake stereo, the rest true. I really like this part of their carreer - right on hard blues rock, a lot more grubby than what they later would do for Vertigo. If You're new to the band or just into their later stuff this can be an ear opener. Adding a couple of songs below as proof. Issued and/or reissued on vinyl all over Europe, Downunder, Japan, South Africa and South America. Also as UK cassette and 8-track. To my knowledge the absolutely first UK came on blue label, so this purple is probably somewhat later. It came in a thin glossy cover. (STÄQ*)

                                                                                       

                                                                                 

                                                                              
                                                                                 

                                                                                   

                                                                                

                                                                                     

 

K-TEL'S HIT MACHINE/22 ORIGINAL HITS 22 ORIGINAL STARS TE 713 (-76) UK STEREO + MONO

 Continuing my K-Tel marathon.This time with songs popular in Britain around mid-seventies. Of course Small Faces "Itchycoo Park" was first released 1967, but I guess the reason it's included here is the 1975 re-issue, which also became popular. That is by far my favourite track on here, but I also dig Bay City Rollers raw "Money Honey", Paul Davidson's odd reggae "Midnight Rider", Surprise Sisters perky "La Booga Rooga" and Mary Hopkins emotional "If You Love Me". "Itchycoo Park" comes in mono, the rest stereo and the audio very good all through. So to my ears a very nice one from K-Tel with upstanding cuts providing all over good listening. Reason I'm doing so many K-Tel issues here is I can't believe that in the midst of vinyl revival it's still possible to get so much good analog music for almost nothing. It seems nobody is interested in vinyl compilations nowadays and they're always in the cheapest bins. Good luck for me and anyone who don't care if it's on some fancy label as long as they get good music in listenable shape. To my knowledge this was UK and Irish only, also on cassette (CE 813). UK vinyl had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (SÄM*)  (KÄJT*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                               

                                                                                   

                                                                                

                                                                                        

 

TEMPTATIONS/MASTERPIECE G965L (-73) US

 The combo's twentyfourth LP, including the ones they did together with The Supremes. Though checking the credits it seems more like a Norman Whitfield album with Temptations on vocals, as Whitfield wrote all songs, produced and took part in the mixing. So is it the masterpiece the title promises? Listening to the presentation it is in a way - all floating out sweet and soft, perfectly mixed with audio very good to the ears and mind, also instrumentation and vocals are excellent. When it comes to the songwriting I'm not all that taken. I do appreciate the 13:54 title track - soul prog with an eastern flavour - and the partly adventurous "Ma". The rest pretty good, but not overly catchy, just ordinary Temptation stuff carried by odd arrangements. However that may be the atmosphere alone is enchanting enough, making it easy to curl up in the listening chair and slowly dream away. A keeper for sure. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. First US had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with embossed frame and band faces on front and embossed frame on rear.  (YZÄ*) (ÄIÖ*) (TÖMÖ*)

                                                                                      

                                                                                     

                                                                               

                                                                                    

 

 

THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL/20 SUPER HITS 6.23487 AP (-78) GERMANY

 One of those compilations that may come somewhat cheapish to the eye and often found in the lower priced bins, but turns out to be a real gem. If you're a vinyl lover that haven't heard them before, fancy catchy melodic music with lots of warmth and see this for sale - don't hesitate. Lovin' Spoonful was one of the most successful US bands in the sixties, recording a substantial string of international hits in just a couple of years, and here you get most of their absolutely best with very fine audio. Personally I love it. Listening through today awakes so many memories and I'm still touched by the melodies after all this time. Big smile. Of course there are many other vinyl compilations from this band, some closer to the fact, but few this comprehensive. To pick out favourites here would be to go through most of the tracks, so you get them if you check the song list. But to mention a few - "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Darling Be Home Soon", "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?", "She's Still A Mystery" and "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice". The only one I miss here is "Younger Girl", though that can be found elsewhere. To my knowledge this was on German vinyl only, but spread over the European continent as imports. First had label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover. (GÖXÄ*) (JÖV*)

                                                                                      

                                                                              

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

 

BRITISH STEEL - ENGLAND'S LATEST HEAVY METAL INVASION JCI 1100 (-84) US

 I'm well aquainted with and have lots of love for early hard rock and bands like Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath and Uriah Heep, but not that familiar with late seventies and eighties music in the genre. This has a lot of stuff I never listened to before. The reason I picked it was Mötörhead "Ace Of Spades" and Hawkwind "Kings Of Speed", both close to home for me. The rest of the bands I've never even heard of and listening through I realise I'm old and way too set in my old ways. Most of the songs very fast and energetic with flashy guitars and screamy vocals and sounding very much alike, conveyed by a kind of thin converted audio. I guess if you grew up with that kind of music it's close to your soul and you dig, though I don't get much of my kind of soul in there. But I do like Venom's "Warhead", so dark it makes the room fade, and Alaska's "Suzie Blue" which is more tough blues than classic hard rock. So not all bad and certainly a keeper and maybe I'll warm up to the rest given time. Also issued in EU (same number) and Brazil (Top Tape PORT 601008) plus as US cassette. First US vinyl had label as shown here in a glossy cover. (YZÄ*)  (SÄM*)

                                                                               

             
                                                                                 

                                                                                    

                                                                                

                                                                                     

 

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD/AGAIN SD 33-226 (-67) US STEREO

 I've done it again, buying a record I already have in some other variation. In this case I've had both UK mono and stereo for a long time, which by all means should be enough  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/10/buffalo-springfieldbuffalo-springfield.html  . Still I always wanted the US stereo and mono as those were the true originals of this sixties classic and therefore closest to the source. Also having a first press from the same country as the band originated from can audibly be better as you then hopefully get a press from the first generation of tapes. Now at last I've grounded the US stereo. The audio on the UK and US differ very little. At least to my ears the US comes out a tiny bit louder and clearer, but so faint I guess most listeners wouldn't take notice. So I guess the biggest differences is in the sleeve designs, where the UK front has the US stereo number blocked and the fonts and flower frame on rear are black, while the US has all of that in green. However my favourite tracks are still the same - Neil Young's sweet and dirty "Mr Soul" and Stephen Stills beautiful "Rock'n'Roll Woman". First US stereo had label as shown here in a laminated cover with ATCO ad inner. (YZÄ*)  (ZHÄ*)

                                                                             

                                                                                     

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                     

 



 

HISTORY OF BRITISH POP - VOLUME 13/THE MERSEY AND THE BEAT II 5C 052-24732 (-75) MONO NETHERLANDS

 Issue belonging to a fourteen part set handeling British sixties pop and rock. Seen this and others from that in bins earlier. Most of them Dutch, but still not sure if the whole thing was an exclusive Dutch production or some of the vinyls were released in other countries too. Anyway the reason I eschewed this particular issue before was the "stereo" on label. Most of tracks on it were recorded in mono only and I've heard too many seventies collections desecrating tophole sixties recordings by reissuing them in bad fake stereo. Though in this case I needn't have worried cause all cuts here come in mono. The audio shifts a little bit between tracks, but all sound very good and some even fantastic. I get much of the best from the Merseybeat era - melodic pop from Hollies and Hermans Hermits, sweet ballads from Gerry And The Pacemakers, amphetamine rock from Swinging Blue Jeans, catchy silly pop from Freddy And The Dreamers and the Lennon/McCartney cover "Bad To Me" from Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas. Only band new to my collection here is Roulettes. Never set my ears on them before, but this first encounter makes me wanna hear more. So in the future I won't shy away from later collections of early sixties tracks just because the label say "Stereo". Better listen first and decide then. To my knowledge this particular item was Dutch only, also as cassette (5C 234-24732). Vinyl came with label as shown here in a thin laminated cover.  (SÄM*)  (HÖLX*)

                                                                                     

                                                                              

                                                                               

 

WILSON PICKETT/THE MIDNIGHT MOVER SD 8183 (-68) US

 The eleventh of his albums I'm posting here. For all of of them please check  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=%28P%C3%96C*%29 . Always liked his stuff, heartfelt ballads or hard soul rock always adorned with emotional vocals, here backed by the Atlantic crew and produced by legendary Tom Dowd. Mostly I go for his mono LP:s, but this stereo sounds so right with all over top audio so I doubt I need that here. Six of the cuts penned or co-penned by Pickett himself. Those are what I like most on this -  the muscular soul ones like "The Midnight Mover", "I Found A True Love" and "Let's get An Understanding", but also the sweet yet powerful ballad "Down By The Sea". So for the soul lover a dynamic album, fitting for both dance parties and holding hands in front of the fire place. But even if you're not into any such it's good listening nevertheless. Originally issues also in Canada, Downunder, UK, Taiwan, Germany, Brazil, Barbados, Japan, Italy and Argentina plus as US mono promo.  Japan 2013 remastered limit ed. CD on Atlantic (WPCR-27615). Premiere US had label as shown here in a glossy cover. (YZÄ*) (PÖC*)

                                                                                        

                                                                                   

                                                                                   
                                                                                 

                                                                               

                                                                                     

                                                                                      

 

LOVE VRM 36038 (-66) MONO ITALY

 Last couple of years I've been very lucky to obtain both their second LP "Da Capo" and third "Forever Changes" as first press US monos  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=love+forever+changes  . Those are mostly very good stuff so since I've been dying to find this debute in the same format. I was primarily looking for a US or UK issue at a price I could afford, but those almost never show up here. When I saw this Italian mono I doubted at first, but after listening it was a no-brainer to catch - big, strong and perfectly clear, without a trace of muffling of any kind. Loud and Proud. And it certainly is a tophole psych garage album. I love it all, but if to pick out some - "My Little Red Book" haunting with a tiny bit of eastern influence, "You I'll Be Following" and "And More" intense with sweet background vocals, "Can't Explain" has very good bass play and creamy guitars. The cover of "Hey Joe" maybe not all up there with the Jimi Hendrix one, still fierce and catchy enough. This is certainly one of my favorite musical whereabouts - unpolished, seemingly right on in the studio without safety net. Sixties issues also in US, Canada, Downunder, UK, France, Germany and Taiwan, plus US reel, 4-track and 8-track. EU 2001 CD on Electra ( 8122 73567-2) came with all mono and stereo mixes plus two bonus ones. First Italian had label as shown here in a laminated cover.  (ÖTALÖ*)