ROXY MUSIC/SIREN ILPS 9344 (-75) UK

As a follow-up to the close to perfect art rock LP "Country Life", this is slightly smoother. A little less experimental and not so varied, but with such great songs and enough adventure involved to make it another killer. And though they did good stuff even later this is, as far as I'm concerned, the last great Roxy Music album. A mix of sweet and salt candies politely served by an artfully intoxicated crooner and his band of merry men. All tasty on a level very few groups have had the skill or fortune to reach during their existence - making the quirky and difficult appear like simple and catchy with commercial qualities. Cause that is what I get here - superficially inviting, but those who dig deep will find odd chord changes and a darker shade of lyrics carried by a progressive art backing. So an exterior that grabs immediately and interior making it stick for a very long time. I guess that's the reason it's been equally embraced by both critics and buyers, doing well on the charts at release and still appearing on a large number of public "best album" lists. Personally I'm a little more intrigued by "Country Life", but this comes close...very close. Favorite tracks - "She Sells", "Both Ends Burning", "Whirlwind" and "Just Another High". Issued and reissued on vinyl and CD world wide through the years, also originally on cassette and 8-track. First US on ATCO (SD 36-127). Premiere UK had label as shown here and thin glossy cover with black Island inner. (ÄNÖ*)

DAVID AND JONATHAN SCX 6031 (-66) UK

One-off LP from this Bristol duo consisitng of no others than Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, together or apart responsible for a large number of big selling and well known hits, among them 25 UK top ten. Too much to go through all here, following are just a couple of early ones - "You've Got Your Troubles", "Green Grass", "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman", "The Way It Used To Be", "Melting Pot", "My Baby Loves Lovin", "Gasoline Alley Bred", "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress", "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing"...and many many more. After writing the "You've Got Your Troubles" and "This Golden Ring" UK hits for The Fortunes they teamed up with George Martin to do a cover of "Michelle", a Rubber Soul cut not released on single by Beatles in US or UK at the time. Apart from reaching #1 in Canada and #11 in UK, that also became their only US charter at #18, while "Lovers Of The World Unite" got to #7 in UK and managed #42 in Australia. They continued to do fairly well downunder for a while, but for the rest of the world that was it. Kind of ironic that the biggest selling recording by one of Britains most renowned songwriting duos was a cover version. You'd think that had someting to do with their recorded outcome at large back then, but judging from this album it wasn't so. Produced by George Martin, who also arranged the "Michelle" and "Yesterday" cuts. Style is contemporary orchestrated British pop, rather kind and smooth with a scent of "Swinging London", ranging somewhere between The Fortunes and Peter & Gordon. Vocals are soothing with a fair share of high-pitch. The stereo mix is excellent and the audo tophole. All the above put together makes it very good listening. Maybe not the most exciting, but a fine sign of the times. This version was originally also issued in Italy (Columbia CPSQ 511). US/Canadian 12-track, as "Michelle" (Capitol T/ST 2473), omitted "See Me Cry", "Be Sure" and "A Little Like You", replacing them with "Lauging Fit To Cry". To my knowledge non of the versions made it to CD, though some of it can be found on the 23-track 2006 UK CD "David & Jonathan". Many of the cuts also showed up on the UK vinyl compilation "Lovers Of The World Unite" (See For Miles Records CM 129). Premiere UK had label as shown here and laminated flip-back cover.

PACE UP

Have a lot to go through right now and want to get it on asap so I'm changing the schedule to posting five items per week. From now on it'll be Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (local Swedish time). See You then/Erik

UK 1969 ALBUMS WITH DEDICATED MONO MIXES

In 1968 mono was on retreat in Britain as stereo mixes improved with new studio possibilities and cheaper home equipments started to appear, so by 1969 the labels that still did monos mostly relied on compatibles for the format as an easy way out. Still even this late separate mono mixes were included or specially made, partly or as a whole, for some albums. The ones mentioned below are far from all, just a couple I had a chance to confirm along the way. More will come eventually. For details please check the links. (ÖXX*)

BeeGees "Odessa". https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/08/bee-geesodessa-58204950-69-uk-mono.html

 

Mary Hopkin "Postcard". https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/03/mary-hopkinpostcard-sapcor-5-apcor-5-uk.html

Caravan 1st. https://monolover.blogspot.se/2013/02/caravan-vlp-6011-69-uk-mono.html

Joe Cocker "With A Little Help From My Friends.  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/03/joe-cockerwith-little-help-from-my.html

                                                  

Kinks "Arthur".  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-kinksarthur-npl-18317-69-1st-press.html

Lulu "Lulu's Album". https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/04/lulululus-album-69-uk-mono-sx-6365-vs.html

Ten Years After "Stonedhenge".  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/11/ten-years-afterstonedhenge-uk-mono-dml.html

JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES/STORMSVILLE HA-I 2269 (-60) UK MONO

For more background also check post on the debute. With this their third original LP not much had changed. Most of it happy instrumental rock with sax, organ or guitar in the lead and songs building on or developing well know tunes or licks. Biggest contemporary 45 hit "Reveille Rock" and its flip "Time Bomb" included plus the "Catnip"/"Rockin' T" single and three more EP cuts. So style samo-samo though still positive enough to make it good and probably on the spot for most fans back then. Lightweight and ingratiating perhaps, but you need that too sometimes to get around. Audio loud and crystal clear providing very good listening. Favorite tracks - "Reveille Rock", "Rockin' T" and "The Hep Canary". Premiere US and Canadian on Warwick (W 2010/W 2010ST). Also originally issued on London label in Australia and South Africa. German 1999 CD on Repertoire (REP 4740-WY) came with fourteen bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here and laminated flip-back cover. (FÖGÄ*)

THE SEEKERS ST 422 (-64) UK STEREO

One of Australias most successful pop exports with a total record sale of over 50 million. During their first period of existence 1962-68 managing ten international top hits - e.g. "I'll Never Find Another You", "A World Of Our Own", "The Carnival Is Over" and "Someday One Day". It wasn't really my music back then, but I do remember liking "A World Of Our Own", where the combination of the guitar riff with a catchy melody and Judith Durham's voice made it impossible to resist even for a young rock'n'roll lover. Still today I think that comes out as a very good combination of folk and pop. Listening to this their second original album I get a more traditional atmosphere, reminding of contemporary US and UK folk acts as they were before the genre clashed with modern pop and rock. Some traditional tunes - like "Whiskey In The Jar" and "South Australia" - coupled with well known standards as "Waltzing Matilda", "Cotton Fields", "Danny Boy" and "Plaisir d'amour". Simple, smooth and good to the ears. It may not stirr today's market, but still have a lot to give for us who outlived those days and need something to reminisce by. The stereo mix is among the best I've heard from a 1964 record - wide and balanced giving an undisturbed picture - and the audio strong and very natural. Audiophile quality. Originally also issued in Australia (W&G WG-B/BS-2341) and New Zealand (Columbia 33MSX 6061). Later world-wide reissues on MFP came as "Roving With The Seekers". Don't know of any CD releases. First UK stereo had label as shown here and laminated flip-back mono cover with stereo sticker and ad inner.

ARTHUR CONLEY/SWEET SOUL MUSIC 587069 (-67) UK MONO

Arthur Conley (1946-2003) was an American soul artist, today mostly seen as a one hit wonder. After some unsuccessful 45:s with various constellations on a couple of different labels he was spotted by Otis Redding who saw his talent and offered support. 1967 they rewrote and pumped up Sam Cooke's "Yeah Man", turned it into "Sweet Soul Music" and got a world wide hit, reaching #2 in US and top ten in a number of other countries. Following two years he released three more albums and a couple of near hit singles, but never reached the same hype again. As the story goes - Conley was more or less openly gay and felt that hampered his artistic expression on home turf, so he moved to Europe in the seventies, eventually ending up in Holland where nobody cared about sexual orientations. Changing his name to Lee Roberts he got a domestic carreer there with successful live performances and as promotor for other artists. He stayed in Holland till his death 2003, aged 57. "Sweet Soul Music" is a killer. The lyrics may be concieved as nonsense as it's just an enumeration of soul artists, telling how good they are, but the pumping energy and emotional vocals together makes it one of the best party tracks ever. Just turn up the volume and try to sit still. The rest of the album isn't bad either. A blend between uptempo and slow movers, performed with passion and skill. The vocals sincere and backing fully adaptable. Good listening either you're in the chair, jumping up and down or squeezing a partner. Audio on this UK is tophole - big and clear with prominent bass. Premiere US in mono or fake stereo on ATCO (SD/33-215). Also originally issued in Canada (AT 33-215), Germany (same as US). Japan 2012 remastered CD on Warner Music (WPCR 27546). First UK issued in mono only. It came with label as shown here and laminated cover. (ÄTHP*) (ÄHU*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                  

                                                                            

 

ROLLING STONES/EXILE ON MAIN STREET UK COC 69100 VS. US COC 2-2900.

Probably the greatest rock album ever made and a must have, whatever issue or format best fitting your ears. Had an early US copy (etched matrixes ST-RS-722507C/8A/9B/10A) for decades and always been totally content with that. Top press with awesome audio and robust wrapping. But through the years I've also seen the original UK issue being a lot more cherished and sold for bigger bucks. So when this early press (stamped matrixes A1/B2/C1/D1 also with etched US numbers ST-RS 722507/8/9/10) showed up a while ago in nice nick at a price fitting my wallet I decided to buy it and see what the fuzz was all about. As it turned out...not much. US outer sleeve may be perceived as a tiny bit sturdier, text on spine situated differently, fonts on the UK postcard fronts uncolored and there's variation in label designs. That's about it. They sound very much the same to me - couldn't tell them apart in a blind test - both come out absolutely great and offer equally tophole connection. I understand if die-hard Stones fans are willing to cough up big to get the UK 1st as that is rarer and it's also important for some collectors to get a British band on British vinyl. But if you're only in it for the music and audio you'll be as happy listening to an early US issue. That is in fact the original, high class all the way and since it is more common you can also get it a lot cheaper. (RÅ*) (CPYC*) (YZÄ*)

ROXY MUSIC/COUNTRY LIFE ILPS 9303 (-74) UK

Rediscovered this gem a while ago and been spinning it a lot since. I'm in love again and that will be the main theme of today's post. Follow-up to the borderline masterful "Stranded" with an even greater impact. An amazing collection of songs, without doubt their best post-Eno effort and a (or maybe the) pinnacle of British art rock. Stylistically a blend of glam, psych, prog and art rock, sometimes glancing even further - like the medieval feeling in "Triptych", or the Brecht/Weill inspired part of "Bitter-Sweet". Every song is an adventure, combining challanging with catchiness in a very good way. Impossible for me to use as background, because whatever I'm trying to do at the same time the record draws my attention and push me into the listening chair, so loaded with emotions all I can do is sit still and take it in...while watching one of the sexiest LP sleeves ever. I like everything on it, but maybe "Out Of The Blue", "Prairie Rose" and "Casanova" a bit more. If I must say something negative - this UK 1st is cut so damn loud the audio almost cracks at a few tracks. I can live with that, but will look for an early Polydor reissue as those mostly came with better audio than the Island originals. Premiere UK had label as shown here, fully laminated cover and glossy lyric/ad inner. (ÄNO*)