HUMBLE PIE/BACK HOME AGAIN IML 1005 (-76) UK

 

 This can be a fine used bin find for fans who can't locate of don't wanna pay full price for the band's first two Immediate LP:s.  Three cuts from "As Safe As Yesterday Is" and seven from "Town And Country" plus the then 45 only "Natural Born Woman".  So you get most numbers from their rarest second album, but also some very good ones from the debute. To my taste the cover version of Steppenwolf's "Desperation" hits harder than the original, made in a way it could as well have been a late Small Faces recording.  I also get a remaining SF feel from tracks as "As Safe As Yesterday" and "Silver Tounge". "Down Home Again" good catchy rock and "Natural Born Woman" tight boogie.  So even if a compilation it's still a good rock album, ready to please both Humble Pie lovers and die-hard Small Faces fans. Audio somewhat cleaner than the originals, but still gripping. Also issued on Immediate vinyl 1976 in Australia (IML 1005) and South Africa (IML 1009), but to my knowledge never reissued in any shape. UK came with label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover.  (SXÅH*) (YDÄ*)

                                                                                 

                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                              

THE RED SQUARES/IT'S HAPPENING KSX 6 (-67) DENMARK

 

 Band founded 1964 in Boston, England. After a couple of years struggling without securing a record contract or getting any kind of breakthrough on home turf they moved to Denmark 1966, and there within only six months succeeded to be one of the most auspicious outfits in Scandinavia at the time. For exemple their 1966 cover of The Four Seasons "Sherry " topped the Swedish list and the 1967 "Lollipop" reached #2. Between 1966-69 the original setting released eight singles and two albums. Later the band has seen a fair share of hiatuses and member changes, but as I understand they're still at it in some form. This was their second album, for the eponimous debute check earlier post. Musically rather ordinary garage pop mixing self-penned with cover versions, but what makes it special are the vocals. These guys could really hit the high notes and do it with the honor.  Both leads and backgrond quires works beautifully and they even manage to create their own remarkable versions of already perfectly harmonized originals as "Silence Is Golden" and "When I Grow Up".  It certainly works for this old lover of male high-pitch vocals and I guess could do it for a couple of others into that rather special genre.  Favorite tracks apart from the two mentioned - "Walk Like A Man" and "Don't Laugh If I Cry".  To my knowledge this was the only vinyl issue. Also on Danish EMI CD (Elap-46513CD). First had label as shown here in a fully laminated flip/back cover.  (SCÄ*)  (CCÖ*) (BRBÄ*)

                                                                                   

                                                                               

 

BLUES LEFTOVERS IMLP 024 (-69) UK MONO

 

 In my world a necessary compilation. Filled with rare cuts from acts and/or constellations long forgotten, but also oddities by more famed artists. I get a one-off from the brief Fleetwood Mac spinn-off "Earl Vince And The Valiants", which included Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and Jeremy Spencer - "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonite" - earlier flip side of the "Man Of The World" 45.  Rod Stewart's  "So Much To Say" flip side to his 1968 "Little Miss Understood" 45.  Albert Lee's "Water On My Fire" has Paul Williams (later with Juicy Lucy and Aynsley Dunbar) on vocals.  The Simon & Steve act here was Simon Prager and Steve Rye (Groundhogs).  Add to that some obscure blues recordings by the siblings Dave  and Jo-Ann Kelly and I'm all in.  Usually when labels dig deep in the vaults for samplers like this the audio may suffer, but here it's surprisingly good. So not only for the blues/rock archeologist, it's also quite enjoyable listening. 1969 mono issues in UK and Downunder. US 1971 as "British Archives - Volume 4"  (RCA Victor LSP-4549(e)) in fake stereo.  To my knowledge never released like this on CD.  Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin matt cover.  (SÄM*) (YDÄ*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                   

                                                                              

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

 

THE BEACH BOYS/SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS !!) ST 2354 (-66) UK STEREO

 

 I really like their "Today" album (see earlier post) and this, issued just three or so months later, keeps on delivering goodies. A bunch of classic songs -  "Then I Kissed Her",  "Help Me Ronda" (here the 45 version), "California Girls" and "You're So Good To Me" - coupled with playful tracks like "The Girl From New York City", "Amusement Parks U.S.A." and "I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man". The a-capella "And Your Dreams Come True" is beautiful and "Let Him Run Wild" has some of the build-up and atmosphere that later would hit the world with "Pet Sounds". In my world a top album.  The only bummer is I haven't been able to locate a mono in any of the local bins and after searching for a long time I finally gave up and bought this "duophonic" stereo - i.e. faked in a way so you get most of the treble in one speaker and most of the darker parts in the other...and connecting the channels makes it sound even worse.  Though in this case the "stereo" isn't a total disaster. As long as I dont use the listening chair and just hear it from another room or as background it can still make me happy. But I will continue my search for a mono.  Issued and reissued on every possible format all around the world through the years.  Premiere US 1965 vinyl (Capitol T/DT 2354). Japan 2016 remastered CD (Capitol UICY-25594) came with three bonus tracks.  This UK was for some reason released a year after US. It came with label as shown here with logo to the left in a laminated flip/back cover.  (BÅB*)

                                                                                  

                                                                           

                                                                                  

    

                                                                                     


 

BO DIDDLEY, MUDDY WATERS, LITTLE WALTER/SUPERBLUES CRL 4529 (-67) UK MONO

 

 One of many attempts by a revered blues label to survive in the midst of the sixties rapidly changing zeitgeist.  Classic black blues was replaced by white r&b, pop, psych and more experimental stuff on the lists and sales kept dropping. So here they gathered some of their old heroes - Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Buddy Guy, Frank Kirkland, Sonny Wimberly and Otis Spann - to save the day. I don't have a black blues background and therefore usually don't feel aquainted to the genre, but this is a lot of fun.  Right on live in the studio and you can hear they enjoy it. So tight and bursting with emotions I can't help being caught.  The groove is just right and there's a friendly wrangle going on between Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters to the rhythm, like it was part of the songs, but it's all spontaneous. And they're doing some of the songs that many a younger outfit had covered before -  e.g. "Who Do You Love", "I'm A Man", "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" - as they wanted to set it straight and show how it'd be done.  The audio comes very natural, seemingly direct in without any further meddling.  Guess this recording must have been inspirational to many later black or white practitioners. I can't help thinking that Rolling Stones "Blue And Lonsome" must have been triggered by it in some way. Issued and reissued in US, Canada, Europe and Downunder on vinyl and CD through the years, also cassette and reel. Premiere US on Checker (LP/LPS 3008). German 1992 CD on Chess (CHD 9168) came with three bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here on heavy vinyl in a laminated flip/back cover. 

                                                                                     

                                                                                

SMALL FACES UK MONO IMLP 008 VS. UK STEREO IMSP 008

 

                                                                                    

 The band's third UK album, first on Immediate and also first to be mixed in stereo. Mildly successful at release, but revalued through the years and today regarded a jewel by many collectors and lovers of sixties music, including me (see earlier post on the stereo).  Both variations known to have separate mixes so no need for a customary format collation.  Just thought I'd share my own listening chair impression. Had the stereo since long ago and now after finally finding a mono copy fitting my wallet I can't help comparing them anyway. As expected the mono hits a bit louder and sturdier while the stereo is more open and detailed. Even if made with relatively primitive equipment this two-channel mix comes totally fine even to a modern ear, offering ok  balance and healthy overlapping most of the time.  Both sound great by themselves, yet if I was forced to choose it'd be the stereo.  It allows me to get in a little deeper and thus feeling more acquainted.  When from this period my rule is to always go for the mono, but the surprisingly welcoming two-channel mix makes this a rare exception. Originally issued as a fourteen track on Stateside in New Zealand (SSLM 6034), Columbia in Germany (SMC 74292), Immediate in France (SIMX 340596) and South Africa (IMLJ 008). US made their own version - "There Are But Four Small Faces" (Immediate Z12 52002) - a twelve track semi-compilation carrying seven tracks from this coupled with five UK non-LP single cuts, also released in some South American countries. Both formats frequently reissued, separately or together on vinyl and CD through the years. EU 2013 2xCD came with original mono and stereo versions plus seventeen bonus tracks - einght mono and nine stereo. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matt or laminated flip/back cover. (SXÅH*) (YDÄ*) (CPYC*) (YMÖ*) (MÅW*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                                

 

TALKING HEADS/REMAIN IN LIGHT SIR 56867 (-80) GERMANY

 

 I may be spanked by die-hard Talking Heads fans for writing this, but even if a band effort with other prominent guests -  e.g. Robert Palmer (earlier in Alan Bown and Vinegar Joe) and Adrian Belew (who also played with David Bowie, Frank Zappa and King Crimson among others) - I still recieve it as mostly an Eno LP.  It seems he was everywhere there. Apart from managing production and part of the arrangements he also co-wrote all the songs plus supplied background vocals, keyboards and a couple of other instruments. And to me the album do sound more like a violent sibling to "Another Green World" or "Before And After Science" than any surronding TH LP.  But however all that may be or not I like it a lot.  It has the very rare combination of innovative and catchy that always gets me. Like taking a journey through the unknown though with familiar rest stops showing up here and there along the road.  I'm especially enthralled by two of the cuts -  "Once In A Lifetime" and  "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)". Even if adveturous and rather oddly presented they go directly to my heart and both have a sure place on my ever growing "best listening" list.  Issued and reissued around the world on every possible format through the years. Premiere US and UK on Sire (SRK 6059). Japan 2009 CD on Sire (WPCR 13292) came with four unfinished outtakes as bonus tracks.  Apparently my copy wasn't the the very frist German, but a 1981 issue. It came with label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with picture/credit inner and lyric insert. (GÖXÄ*)  (FÖF*)

                                                                                 

   

                                                                                

                                                                                 

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

 

PAUL MCCARTNEY/CHOBA B CCCP A60 00415 006 (-89) USSR

 

  After the, to my taste, rather bad synth splotched "Press To Play" this felt as a breath of fresh air (eng title  - "Back In The USSR"). An album recorded live in the studio during two days in Sussex, July 1987.  Apparently he wasn't sure how to release it at first, so the original idea was to make a fake Soviet release, seemingly smuggled to UK.  But after EMI cancelled those plans they got contact with the actual Soviet Melodiya label and an agreement that it was to be pressed and released there exclusively. First batch came 1988 as an eleven-track with red label and yellow rear. The one shown here is the second press which added the songs "Summertime" and "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday", making it a thirteen-track.  In my world this has about everything going for it.  A kind of garage recording where McCartney and players like Mick Green (The Pirates, Dakotas, Rebel Riousers), Mick Gallagher (Ian Dury, Clash), Nick Garvey (Ducks Deluxe, Motors) and a couple of studio musicians cover old favorite rock songs. And they emulate the atmosphere of a an older recording perfectly. If it wasn't for the partly very mean guitars it could as well have been cut 1959. Right on and 100% honest carried by unembellished audio make it sound authentic, like they were here. Don't think this can disappoint any lover of classic rock, or fan of McCartney. Favorite tracks - "Kansas City" and "Lucille".  From 1991 and on also released in the rest of the world on vinyl, CD and cassette. UK lim. ed. CD box set (Parlophone CDPCSD 117) came with one more bonus track.  (BÅC*)  (MÄCC*)  (BÄ*)

                                                                                      

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                            

 

WE'VE GOT YOUR MUSIC/ATLANTIC IN-STORE SAMPLER PR 273 (-77) US

A 2-LP compilation I was about to leave in the bin, but couldn't help picking for some obscure (or not) reasons. A US white label issue, marked "not for sale" and/or "for in-store play only" can be interesting to the right price and with this combination of bands thought it could be worth a try.  Lovely to get old UK heroes like Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Peter Gabriel, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin and Bryan Ferry on the same place.  There are also cuts I hadn't noticed earlier, but now starting to embrace - like the two emotional rockers from Foreigner or Steve Hunter's  guitar spangled cover of Beach Boys "Sail On Sailor".  And the audio is absolutely tophole throughout - crystal clear yet sweet to the ears - making it good both for background and the listening chair.  So it turned out to be a healthy buy after all.  Won't be played every day, but good to know it's there when I need.  Guess this was the only release. It came with label as shown here in a dull black and white fold/out cover.  (SÄM*)  (YZÄ*)  (ÖRJ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                            

                                                                              

 

THE ROLLING STONES/GOT LIVE IF YOU WANT IT SHZT 547 (-67) GERMAN STEREO

 

 You can't always get what you want.  Thought the mix that appeared on the UK export stereo version was ugly (see earlier post), so when spotting this German in a bin a while ago I couldn't help hoping for a miracle, or at least something slightly better.  Germany was by far the biggest record market in Europe back then, offering a large number of domestic pressings that sometimes presented better outcome than both US and UK.  Though in this case - no.  Both probably offsprings from the same orginal tapes, but to my ears the UK comes out a tiny bit louder and clearer with slightly better balance while this German sounds even less natural.  Not a huge difference if hearing them from an adjacent location, yet obvious in the listening chair with ears open wide.  Not the audible lift I was hoping for, but still nice to have a HörZu Stones original in the collection so it'll stay.  German 1976 reissue on Nova (622429 AO).  First press had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (RÅ*)  (GÖXÄ*)