JAN ROHDE & THE WILD ONES/PLAY LETKISS SLP 43 (-64) MONO NORWAY

 

One of probably very few full length albums filled with a blend of rock'n'roll and the Finnish dance letkajenkka (sometimes called "letkiss"). The guitar band The Adventurers (not sure about origin or members, but got from a source they were Swedish so I go with that) already had a hit in Finland with a version of Erik Lindstöm's original "Letkajenkka" song, before teaming up with Norwegian singer Jan Rohde (1942-2005) and recording this LP, then renaming as The Wild Ones.  So a Norwegian singer backed by a Swedish band doing rock'n'roll variations of a Finnish dance.  A very Scandinavian construction, yet built on an American foundation.  Six of the cuts with vocals by Rohde and six instrumentals, all very perky and positive. The audio is absolutely smashing, loud and natural with perfect clarity and separation. To me beyond good or bad. I'm just happy a record like this exists and listen with a big smile on my face.  Also released in Germany on Metronome (MLP 15 194). Don't know of any other issues. Premiere Norwegian had label as shown here on very heavy unflexible vinyl in a laminated flip/back cover.  (SCÄ*)  (CCÖ*) (SÖNÄ*)

                                                                            

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                                            

PROCOL HARUM/THE PRODIGAL STRANGER PL 90589 (-91) GERMANY

                                                                   

               

Procol Harum was and still is one of my favorite bands from back in the days. So it took curage to give this a first spin. Considering the many half-ass or bad reunions made by other acts long after their heydays I didn't know what to expect and feared to be disappointed. But I needn't have worried. Fourteen years after their last full lengther "Something Magic" most of the old magic remains. Recorded after the death of original drummer Barrie James Wilson (1947-90) and also dedicated to him. Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, Robin Trower and Keith Reed were there from the old gang, reinforced by Mark Brzezicki on drums and David Bronze on Bass. I get twelve band-penned tracks, all including Brooker/Reid. More a pop than a rock album, yet with some burning moments, like the guitars in "All Our Dreams Are Sold". It's all very well written and performed with Brookers familiar warm vocals on top and even if the arrangemets may be precieved as partly too bombastic, the songs are so strong they hit anyway. Favorite tracks - the very catchy "The Truth Won't Fade Away", the cool yet emotional "One More Time" and "All Our Dreams Are Sold" for the guitars. Issued and reissued all over the world on CD and cassette and also existing on 12xFile MP3. Only vinyl releases apart from this German seems to have been in Argentina (RCA TLP 90293) and Brazil (BMG 150.4034). First (only?) German had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (GÖXÄ*)  (PRÖX*)

                                                                                       

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                             

                                                                              

                                                                                   

                                                                           

 

16 TOP TITLES + 9 GREAT GROUPS RECORDED LIVE AT THE CAVERN LK 4597 (-64) UK MONO

Due to Cavern's reputation there's been a whole number of live takes from there recorded and issued through the years. This is to my taste one of the most compelling. Apart from The Fortunes, who's had following and struggled on more or less to this day, the participants were acs that either had fame or fought for first approval, but then got lost somewhere in the sixties and today is unknown to many.  Beryl Marsden, The Marauders, The Dennisons, Heinz, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, The Big Three, Bern Elliott & The Fenmen, Lee Curtis & The All-Stars - names very seldom mentioned by modern rock and pop fans.  It's interesting to know that one of The Big Three - Johnny Gustafson - had later fame with acts as Roxy Music, Quatermass, Ian Gillian Band and Hard Stuff. Also that Lee Curtis & The All Stars among others consisted of former Beatles drummer Pete Best and George Peckham (later famed as lacquer cutter and mastering engineer with the signatures "Porky" and "Pecky"). Listening 2021 it's striking how good the performances comes through, not only for its time but also giving lots of enjoyment for modern ears. You get the club atmosphere, but also a clarity bringing them near. Closing my eyes in the listening chair it's nice to take part and being there.  As a big fan of early sixties music I'm enjoying every minute and finding it hard to pick a favorite, but I do like getting rare female vocals so why not Beryl Marsden "Everybody Loves A Lover".  1964 Decca vinyl issues in a couple of European countries and Downunder. In Canada on  London (LL 3369). UK 1994 CD on See For Miles Records (SEECD 385) came with two bonus tracks.  Premiere UK had label as shown here, with "Recording First..." and "Made In England" only on top, in a thin laminated cover.  (SÄM*) (FÄV*) (LYBÖ*)

                                                                      

                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                    

                                                                            

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                             

                                                                          

 

THE BEATLES/HELP! ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK MAS 2386 (-65) US MONO

                                                                                

 US variation of the "Help!" album. Instead of doing one side with songs from the film and one with unrelated cuts, as was done in UK and most other countries, this American was a genuine soundtrack, combining the seven Beatle movie ones with five instrumentals by Ken Thorne And His Orchestra. I'm all for it. Though the remaining UK cuts were spread over a couple of future US albums it's not like any regular "butchering", instead resulting in a by all means legit alternative.  I guess the Ken Thorne versions only can fully satisfy the movie lovers, but the album sticks together with a fine flow even for the regular fans. It is a little annoying that the title song here is a fold from the stereo, but you do get it with a kind of James Bond intro, not hearable on the UK, so it's ok. The rest of the Beatle tracks sounds like the true mono versions and plays just fine, though somewhat more damp than on the UK LP. Biggest plus for me is the sleeve with a whole bunch of nice pics and some extra writing, but even without that it's a must, just because of the different tracking. Issued this way in Canada, Russia, Japan and a couple of Southamerican  countries. EU limited ed. 2014 CD on Capitol (B0019706-02). Premiere US (also as stereo SMAS 2386) had label as shown here in a glossy fold/out cover.  (BÄ*)  (YZÄ*)  (LGÅ*)  (ÖXCÅ*)  (ZÖNT*)

                                                                             

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                       

                                                                               

                                                                                    

                                                                                 

                                                                               

SANDY DENNY/LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ ILPS 9258 (-73) UK

                                                                              

For more background please check posts on her first Island solo album "The North Star Grassman And The Ravens" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/04/sandy-dennythe-north-star-grassman-and.html and second "Sandy" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/10/sandy-dennysandy-ilps-9207-72-uk.html . This was the third in a solo trilogy that, together with her inputs for Fairport Convertion and Strawbs, cements her position as one of the best British female singer/songwriters ever. I've seen it been met with lukewarm or even bad reviews and didn't sell a lot back then, which doesn't make any sense to me. Even if maybe not totally up there with the former two it's still very good Sandy Denny. Seven of the nine songs are self-penned and she's supported by many from the old gang. Apart from the two covers - "Whispering Grass" and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" - performed in a soft jazzy style, it's mostly mellow and embracing with strings superbly arranged by Harry Robinson, occational background quires and lucid guitars, then crowned by her sensible vocals. Audio on this UK is excellent providing cozy listening all way through.  Hard to pick favorites out of so many good tunes, but I'll try -  "Solo" (oh goosebumps!), "No End", "Carnival" and "Like An Old Fashioned Waltz". Reading what I wrote so far I realise this is more of a love letter than a regular post, but so be it. It is Sandy Denny and with her I'm positively slanted.  Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years. First US on Island (SW-9340). Japan 2012 2xCD in paper sleeve (Island UICY 75197/8) came with fourteen bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matt fold/out cover with embossed frame around front pic and a plain green inner (missing with this copy).  (FÄV*)  (FÄHZ*) 

                                                                              

                                                                             

                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                

 

                                                                                

THE 70s POP ANNUAL/2 DEMRECOMP 019 (-18) UK

 

The second attempt by BBC:s Demon label to make a fair mapping of seventies hits. As with the first  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-70s-pop-annual-demrecomp-007-17-uk.html  you get quality vinyl with top audio in a dull sleeve, though in this case the black package makes it a little better to the eyes and the label's almost flashy. Also here I hear some I really liked all those moons ago - like Sweet "Blockbuster", Patti Smith "Because The Night", T. Rex "Telegram Sam", The Jacksons "Shake Your Body" and Art Garfunkel "Bright Eyes" - coupled with others that I thought less of or didn't notice at all. But when listening today, forty to fifty years later, as my mind and taste has softened, I find myself actively listening to stuff like Bonnie Tyler "It's A Heartache", Dolly Parton "Here You Come Again" and Christie "Yellow River".  One that for some reason totally passed me by back then, but I'm now very happy to get into and discover is Lulu's version of "The Man Who Sold The World",  where she's accompanied by the entire then Bowie group with Ronson, Garson, Bolder, Dunbar and Bowie himself on sax and backing vocals. I'm enjoying that a lot at the moment. Very laid-back, yet envigored by Bowie's saxophone and Mick Ronson's guitar. Maybe not up there with the original, but certainly worth to be mentioned at the same time as other Bowie-included classic covers like "All The Youg Dudes" and "Satellite Of Love".  Good stuff! This 2LP set was UK vinyl only, pressed on 180 g. vinyl in a glossy cover with glossy inners.  (SÄM*)

                                                                             

                                                                                   

                                                                                     

                                                                                    

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                                 

                                                                         

ALMA COGAN/ALMA SX 6130 (-67) UK MONO

 

 For her success story with the tragic ending please check post on her Swedish album https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/05/alma-cogan-pmes-535-65-72-mono-sweden.html. Though very sick in stomach cancer at the time she made attempts to record this LP, trying for a second breakthrough with a more modern style.  Sadly she passed away during the sessions so a couple of earlier 45 cuts was thrown in to make a full album. Posthumously released almost a year after her death. I'd wish it to be a perfect farewell where she really could flaunt her stronger sides, but apparently the illness had got a lot of her already so instead it turns out rather uneven. What saves the record for me are four strong Beatles covers. "Eight Days A Week" very slow and very emotional, "Ticket To Ride" playful in a jazzy way, "I Feel Fine" bossa style and a hardcore orchestrated "Yesterday".  There are also good versions of "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Don't You Know,  Yockomo?". But why oh why did they use so much reverb? This mono is absolutely swamped with it, creating a distance to her almost impossible to beleap. Maybe an attempt to cover up if her voice was fading, but it's so wrong and I bet all old fans would have preferred her vocals naked, as they were at that moment. But it is what it is and maybe the stereo comes out more dry and close. Also issued on vinyl Downunder on Columbia (330SX 6130). UK 1997 CD on EMI (72438556026). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*) 

                                                                         

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

UNDERSOUND/UPPERSOUL C162 92101/2 (-71) FRANCE

 

 French 2LP sampler with US Dunhill artists, but released on Stateside and never in the US. Not that complicated really, just one of many compilations issued late sixties and early seventies to pave way for American acts in Europe.  And as they were meant to increase both love and sales for contemporary US music larger part came with both alluring tracking and very good audio. Like this. Listing well known acts as Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Mamas & Papas and Thelma Houston, mixed with some that today may be more or less unknown by many, like Pure Love And Pleasure, Shango, Grassroots and Smith. In any case it's a good collection of tracks, showing the high level of US pop and rock back then and the audio is just fine, providing enjoyable listening. A few favorites for my own stroll down memory lane - Richard Harris "Mac-Arthur Park", Mamas & Papas "Dedicated To The One I Love", Thelma Houston "Jumping Jack Flash" and Steppenwolf "Screaming Night Hog".  Also issued in Italy (Probe 3C 162-92.101/02 Y) and Spain (Stateside 1J 146-92101/02), but to my knowledge never elsewhere or on CD.  Premiere French had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover.  (SÄM*) (MFÄX*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                              

                                                                                 

                                                                             

                                                                             

DENNY GERRARD/SINISTER MORNING DN 10 (-70) UK MONO

 

 Much needed update of an old favorite, with added songs. Denver Gerrard was a South African guy who following his student years  moved to England and became part of the British music industy.  After working with Jimmy Page and Anrew Loog Oldham among others and taking part in the combos The Fifth Avenue and Warm Sounds he also helped out on the prog/psych group High Tide's LP "Sea Shanties" in the late sixties. They returned the favour by providing instrumental backing on this his one-off album. Even if seemingly made in a haste with rather let-go production, there's something about it that goes directly to my heart. Standing on a solid singer-songwriter ground with simple yet beautiful and very catchy melodies, sung by him and/or female duo Lyn Husband/Sue Young. The High Tide backing gives it a slight psych garage feeling, almost sloppy at times yet balanced by his soft voice. He is a poet for sure and the lyrics can both sadden and bring smiles. All the songs has become personal favorites, then especially two - "Hole In My Shadow" and "Native Sun". This mono is a fold, sounds ok though a little damp in places. The record didn't sell at all back then and quickly disappeared from the shops. It's sad on such great stuff and I would have paid dearly for a follow up and more of the same, but can't find anything to suggest he continued like this. Also issued on vinyl in France (Deram Nova SDN 10). UK 2008 Remastered CD on Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2045). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover with red rim inner and die-cut hole on rear.  His face pic below is not from the sleeve, just a detail from a "Warm Sounds" pic I found on the net.  (UKÖ*) (SYSÖ*) (FÄV*) (YMÖ*)  (DÄN*)

                                                                              

                                                                                      

                                                                            

                                                                               

                                                                            

                                                                               

                                                                            

THE 70s POP ANNUAL DEMRECOMP 007 (-17) UK

 

 Issue in the same serie as "The 60s Pop Annual" and "Sixties Alternative" 2LP sets I posted earlier   https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=the+60s+pop+annual, but here directed to the music lover with firm roots in the seventies. Even if I'm more of a sixties buff myself there's too much goodies here to let be. And like with the former two the audio here is superduper and in many cases better than what you got from the originals. What I didn't notice before with the sixties ones was the fine print on the labels telling that The Demon Music Group, responsible for the serie, is a part of BBC, which would explain the high quality. Only downer is the dull label and sleeve designs, but you forget all about that as soon as the vinyl starts to spin. Thirty cuts all clear yet good to the ears. I may not remember them all, but enough to listen attendingly all way through without jumping tracks. Hard to choose favorites, so I go with the most obvious. The Jacksons "Blame It On The Boogie", T. Rex "Metal Guru", Sweet "Ballroom Blitz", Dolly Parton "Jolene", Mott The Hoople "All The Young Dudes" and many more.  This was UK vinyl only, pressed on 180 g. vinyl in a glossy cover with glossy inners.  (SÄM*)