THE BEATLES/GREATEST HITS PMCS 306 (-65) MONO SWEDEN

 

 One of numerous Beatles compilations released around the world 1965, most including 45 cuts not appearing on any of the UK LP:s  at that time.  Some countries issued their own variations in tracking and/or sleeve designs, many of them worth while for any Beatle fan still into vinyl. To my taste this is one of the better. It is on black/yellow Parlophone and I get some of my most loved single cuts - like "I Feel Fine", "I Call Your Name", "She's A Woman", "Slow Down", "Thank You Girl", "I'll Get You" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" - conveyed by absolutely smashing audio...big and perfectly clear, like they didn't use any kind of limiting, just took them as they were. And on rear sleeve I get their full Swedish discography up to print - thirteen singles and thirteen EP:s, well worth to contemplate for the collector who wants it all. Only downer is the front sleeve design isn't unique, but same as on the US "Something New". Apart from that it's a killer in my world and one I listen to often. Also issued in Denmark as "Hottest Hits" on black/silver Parlophone label with totally different front sleeve design.  Premiere Swedish had label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover.  (BÄ*)  (LGÅ*) (CCÖ*)  (PÖX*)

 

SAVOY BROWN/JACK THE TOAD TXS 112 (-73) UK

 

 To my taste their last five star album was "Looking In". After that Kim Simmonds remained the only original member and had to recruit a whole new group to carry the name.  It turned out very lucrative with better sales on both sides of the Atlantic, but even if they continued in the same hard blues genre something had changed and I went from being hard core fan to just OK them.  The magic I'd felt all the way up to then was partly gone. I still bought the albums and listened, but without being astonished. Like with this one. Heavy blues, very well performed with good guitars, conveyed by tophole production and audio. Listening now while writing and even if not 100% caught I get a feeling...nothing for shy love meetings, but may do it for beer drenched man talk when the party is over. So dirty enough for us who like such, but not magnetic enough to make me sing and dance. 1973 issues in US and Canada (Parrot XPAS 71059), Germany and Downunder, also as US reel and 8-track and UK cassette.  Japan 2017 CD on Decca (UICY-78593).  Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover with blue box stereo inner.  (SÄVX*)

 

THE GODS/FEATURING KEN HENSLEY IMP 1012 (-76) US MONO + STEREO

 

 For more on the band please check rear notes below or post on their debute LP "Genesis" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-godsgenesis-sx-6286-68-uk-mono.html .  This compilation was a much welcome addition for me as I for the first time got four former 45 only tracks on LP - the 1968 flip side "Somehwere In The Street", the 1969 A-side "Maria" and the whole "Hey Bulldog"/Real Love Guaranteed" single - all in original mono. There are also six stereo cuts from the debute and five from the following "To Samuel A Son". So a rather fullfilling exposé over a band that only existed a couple of years, before its core first was transformed into Toe Fat and somewhat later making success as Uriah Heep. Even better if the compilers somehow had got access to the 1967 Polydor "Come On Down To My Boat Baby"/"Garage Man" single, which then included Mick Taylor on guitars, but you can't have everything and it is a very good chunk of rock history even without. Audio comes somewhat dense, but enjoyable still. Hard to pick favorites from such a rewarding musical excavation, but why not "Hey Bulldog", since odd Beatles covers always tickles me.  This also saw 1976 issues in UK (Harvest SHSM 2011) and Japan (EMI EMS-80789). French 1989 reissue on C5 Records (C5 537) with other front sleeve design. To my knowledge never released like this on CD. Premiere US had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (ÖRHÄ*)

 

GEORGIE FAME/THE TWO FACES OF FAME SBPG 63018 (-67) UK

 

 To me a somewhat misleading album title, cause even if one side is live and the other studio I can only hear one of his faces -  the cool jazzy one with slight features of blues and soul.  Side one, where he's backed by Harry South Big band at a concert in Royal Festival Hall, London, sounds like a live continuation of the studio sessions they made for the 1966 "Sound Venture LP https://monolover.blogspot.com/2014/03/georgie-fame-harry-south-big-bandsound.html. And listening to the side two studio recording with The Georgie Fame Band it comes out almost the same, maybe a tiny bit more bluesy yet with the same warmth and kindness.  Audio is excellent, especially the concert section comes out top of the line for its time. Feeling very connected in my listening chair.  Don't think it will do 100% for all fans of his early r&b efforts, but if you want something suitable for cozy evenings, with or without the love of your life, it might just fit.  Vinyl issues also in Germany, South Africa and Downunder. UK 2017 2xCD on RPM Records (RETRO D990) came with both mono and stereo mixes plus twentyfour bonus tracks. Premiere UK (also as mono BPG 63018) had structured label as shown here in a laminated cover.   (FGÖ*)  (LYBÖ*)

 

KLAUS RENFT-COMBO/RENFT 8 55 396 (-74) EAST GERMANY

 

When I posted the Puhdys album earlier ( https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/04/puhdys-855-404-75-east-germany.html ) I wrote - although lyrics would be censored in East Germany, the musical expression was free. As it shows in this case I was wrong and even certain styles and melodic junctures could be banned. Klaus Renft Combo was formed 1958, before the Berlin wall. After the country split they remained a popular act in the east, but always on the edge with Stasi hoovering over them. The eponymous debute came 1973 and this second album a year later became their last up to the 1990 state reunion. A while after its release they were called up to Ministry of Culture to renew the licence to play. They were informed their music was "insulting and abusive" and that the group didn't exist anymore. The album was withdrawn and the songs didn't have any further issues until the wall came down. It's such a pity. To me it remains a prog/psych gem, performed with about everything I want from the genre - beautiful melodies, odd riffs, howling psych guitars, tempo changes, cheeky rock'n'roll and jazzy interludes. I don't understand much German, but couldn't care less - the music says it all. I like it all, so it's hard to choose favs...for now it would be - "Gelbe Strassenbahnballade", "Nach Der Schlacht" and "Mama". The recording has relatively few overdubs and the audio is very fine - clear and natural. After the reunion it has been  reissued on vinyl, cassette and CD. German 2006 CD on Unionton (8031-2) came with three bonus tracks. First DDR press had label as shown here in a thin glossy cover. (BÅC*) (GÖXÄ*) (ÄMY*) 

 

24 X TIO I TOP/VOLUME 1-5 SLPD 2694/95/96/97/98 (-82) MONO + STEREO SWEDEN

 

 If you follow this blog you know I'm a sucker for sixties compilations where I can both enjoy series of contemporary hits and maybe get a couple of rarities to top it off.  And this has about as much of that anyone can sip in one sitting.  A serie of five 2xLP volumes, together counting 120 hits as situated on the Swedish Top Ten list 1961-74. Most from UK, US and Swedish acts, but also oddities from elsewhere.  Going from early sixties successes as Lonnie Donnegan, Emile Ford, Duane Eddy and Jerry Lee Lewis, over somewhat later Honeycombs, Move, Kinks, Donovan and Spencer Davies, up to Procol Harum, Traffic, T. Rex, Joe Cocker and Cat Stevens. Those were just a few exemples, for more check the listings below. Swinging Blue Jeans "Hippy Hippy Shake", "Good Golly Miss Molly" and Duane Eddy "Guitar Man" are different takes than on the first 45:s. The rest as it was, mono or stereo. Audio shifts a little depending on original recordings, Not all top of the line but most come out just fine and non bad,  A minus would be the abscense of Beatles and Stones stuff, which probably has to do with Sonet label lacking rights to those at the time, but the rest is so overwhelming I don't miss those guys at all.  Favorites for now would be the ones I didn't have on vinyl before - like Millie "My Boy Lollipop", Paul & Paula "Hey Paula", Sir Henry & The Butlers "Let's Go" - plus twenty or so more.  I realise it can be hard to find all five volumes at once, but each has so much in itself for any sixties lover they're worth getting one by one. To my knowledge this was the project's only issue. All volumes had labels as shown here in laminated fold/out covers with pics of and facts (in Swedish) on the involved artists.  (SÄM*)  (SÖNÄ*)  (CCÖ*)

                                                                                  

THE BEATLES 8 50 962 (-83) MONO EAST GERMANY

 

 A compilation uniqe to East Germany with two separate issues. First one in the sixties (8 50 040) on old style red/white label and slightly different sleeve design - front pic with the boys against an all green background instead of the park one shown on this and partly other fonts. The twelve track choice there was quite ordinary - a couple of hits mixed with album cuts. That is rarer and considered more collectible, but to me this -83 version is far more interesting. It has eighteen tracks, same as the first plus six, whereof four are from the Polydor sessions - "Cry For A Shadow", "Ain't She Sweet", "Why" and "Sweet Georgia Brown". As far as I know it's the only legit Beatles vinyl blending Polydor and Parlophone stuff on the same album. One can always argue what's legit or not or what was actually approved by the mother labels. Still this was a domestic issue, made by a big European record company and sold in regular shops, which makes it legit to me. The audio is fine, maybe not totally up there with the UK originals, but very enjoyable as it is. I suppose this is an early press with label as shown here in a thin glossy cover. (BÄ*) (BÅC*)(PÖP*) (GÖXÄ*) (ÄMY*) (LGÅ*) 

 

                                                                                

ROXY MUSIC/THE ATLANTIC YEARS 1973-1980 815 849-1 (-83) GERMANY

 

Collection that can be counted as a kind of follow-up to the 1977 Polydor "Greatest Hits"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/09/roxy-music-greatest-hits-2302-073-77-uk.html . That turned out to be a killer due to its imporoved audio and inclusion of the former non-LP singles "Virginia Plain" and "Pyjamarama" plus a special version of "The Thrill Of It All". Unfortunately no such oddities on this one.  You get ten LP tracks with crystal clear audio and that's it.  It is a good collection of songs for those who don't care to get the original albums, but I can't help thinking - just ten lousy cuts from such a blooming song book...it's way too chary.  And since eight of the songs were picked from "Manifesto" and "Flesh And Blood", why didn't they add the excellent title tracks from those albums? That would have made it a lot better for me. But it is what it is and even like this it's probably something a true fan can't miss.  Issued and reissued on vinyl, CD and cassette all over the world through the years. UK LP on EG (EGLP 54). It seems all came with the same songs, except the US 1987 CD which for some reason only had nine tracks, omitting "Do The Strand".  First German had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with dark blue inner.  (GÖXÄ*)  (ÄNÖ*)

 

MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS/DANCE PARTY G-915 (-65) US MONO

 

 Third LP from one of Motown's at the time most successful girl groups (for more on them check post on the "Watchout" album https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=watchout ). Though released as an original album this is more of a semi-compilation as including A+B:s of three singles issued 1963-64 - "Wild One"/"Dancing Slow", "Dancing In The Street"/"There He Is (At My Door)" and "Nowhere To Run"/"Motoring" - combined with six cuts recorded especially for the release.  As the title implies a dance album for sure with most of the tracks up-tempo balanced by some slow movers. But whatever the song's origins, listening through I'm very glad to be in Motown land again, a place I visit often nowadays when in need of positive reinforcement. And I'm getting a lot of that here. Recordings may seem primitive in comparison with today's standards, but that also brings me near and closing my eyes in the listening chair I can picture the girls in the studio and be there.  So no need for picking favorite tracks. I just like to take part...all through. Sixties issues in Canada, UK (Tamla Motown TML 11013) and a couple of Southamerican countries, also as US 8-track and cassette. Japan 2012 lim. ed. CD in paper sleeve on Gordy (UICY-75334). Early US had ridged label as shown here on heavy vinyl in a cover with laminated front.  (YZÄ*) (TÖMÖ*)  (ÖXCÅ*)

 

PAUL McCARTNEY UND WINGS 855 785 (-81) EAST GERMANY

 

For some reason East European pre-glasnost issues are mosty not considered very collectible and when they show up you can get them relatively cheap. I don't understand that. The originals are getting rarer with time and with a little luck you can get either very good releases by domestic bands or exclusive ones from UK or US acts, not possible to find anywhere else.  This is an example. A DDR McCartney compilation that, at least to my taste, remains one of the better.  Twelve tracks dating from1970-80, ones that were 45 only back then  coupled with many LP favorites. "Mull Of Kintyre", "Another Day" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" were some of the best singles of their times and to get those together with "Getting Closer", "Band On The Run", "My Love", "With A Little Luck" and the others at least makes my day. Only one personal reservation - if they'd choosed "Arrow Through Me" instead of "Coming Up" it would have been consummated. The audio is very good offering enjoyable listening and the sleeve design exclusive enough. So if You're a Macca fan and happen to find it to a reasonable price...don't hesitate.  I guess this was the only issue, also on AMIGA cassette (055 785). Vinyl had label as shown here in a very thin glossy cover.  (BÄ*)  MÄCC*)  (BÅC*)  (ÄMY*)  (GÖXÄ*)

                                                                                     

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

                            

                                                                           

                                                                                               

 

 

ERIC BURDON AND THE ANIMALS/POP HISTORY VOL. 6 2625011 (-73) GERMANY

 

 One from the Polydor "Pop History" serie, responsible for around thirty issues with popular sixties bands, issued 1972-74 in Europe, Southamerica and Downunder, but not in US or UK other than as imports. Most of them with tophole tracking, counting both big hits and rarities.  I have never collected them especially myself, just had a couple to and from. This German 2xLP is certainly worth a special post though, gathering good stuff from one of my sixties favorite bands. Very well sung and performed melodic psych, mostly catchy carrying some kind of message.  Some of the lyrics, about love and drugs, may seem obsolete in this day and age, but works so well with the music they pass anyway.  To my taste it's a very good collection of songs. I do miss the trippy "Poem By The Sea" and sweet "San Franciscan Nights", but  can enjoy other favorites as "Winds Of Change", "The Black Plague", "Orange And Red Beams" and "When I Was Young". I also get no less than four former flip sides - "A Girl Named Sandoz", "You're On My Mind", "Cheating" and "She'll Return It" - that wasn't on any original LP.   Audio is enjoyable all through, strong and well separated.  Recommended not only to old vinyl freaks who can't find the first press records, but also to those who wasn't there but wanna get flushed with a true sixties feeling.  Also issued like this in Spain and Downunder.  German re-press as "Once Upon A Time" came with different sleeve design.  To my knowledge never released on CD. Premiere German had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover.  (ÄNÄ*)  (GÖXÄ*)