FACES/THE FIRST STEP WS 1851 (-70) US

 For facts on the bands background and history please check post on their second LP "Long Player"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2019/08/faceslong-player-ws-1892-71-us.html .  I'm a big fan of all their albums cause they always offer positive down to earth rock'n'roll and always putting me in a joyful mood feeling I'm with friends. The recordings may sound casual, but with so much warmth sipping through I'm there...or at least wanna be. On this debute I'm getting lots of luscious organ and slide guitar to hard working bass and drums, most of it topped by Rod Stewarts back then still young and hungry vocals.  One cover - Dylans "Wicked Messenger" - the rest penned by the band. A couple of the songs can be called ballads, but most of it sweet unpolished rock'n'roll. Can't pick any favorites as I'm listening through now with a big smile on my face, but will try to add a few below. This US package may seem confusing as front sleeve has "Small Faces" only, the spine "First Step/Small Faces" and the label "The First Step/Faces". Probably a clash between someone who thought the old name would sell better and others who wanted to stick with the UK original. Having a hard time to establish an exact time line for this copy, but just checking the logos it's clear the very first copies came on the "W7" one, which was removed 1970 and replaced with the one shown here, which in its turn existed between 1970-72. Issued and reissued all over the world on all possible formats through the years. Premiere UK on orange label (WS 3000). Japan 2010 lim. ed remstered CD in cardboard sleeve (WPCR 13839). Early US had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover.  (YZÄ*)  (SXÅH*)

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

                                                                                     

                                                                            

                                                                               

                                             
                                                                            

                                                                          

                                                                              

 

KINKS/SLEEPWALKER SPARTY 1002 (-77) UK

 

 Their sixteenth studio album and first for Arista label. It was also a departure from the line of rather introvert theme albums they'd produced a couple of years before and here seemingly aiming for a more commercial outcome. I mostly enjoyed those former theatrical LP:s and when this arrived back then it felt wrong and I didn't buy. It was first with the next album "Misfits" https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=kinks+misfits   I found my way back and my earliest copy of this came many years later. Now after spinning it for the first time in decades I'm starting to like. In my world not measuring up to masterpieces as "Village Green...", "Arthur" or "Muswell Hillbillies", but lots of the old Kinky atmosphere remains, the special vocals and quite a few good moments. "Juke Box Music", "Life On The Road" and "Sleepwalker" all catchy melodic rock and "Brother" a very touching ballad. So I'm glad I gave it another try and rediscovered.  Issued and reissued around the world on every possible format through the years. First US on Arista (AL 4106). Japan 2013 CD on Konk (UICY 25362) came with five bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matt cover with glossy pic/credit inner.  (KYX*)

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

                                                                       

 Hoping we all can duck evil viruses and weather monsters 2022...and that even the cheaper bins will be filled with rare records in top nick.  All the Best/Erik

 

HOLIDAY BREAK

 

Have to take a pause over Christmas and New Years, but back with a new stack 2022. Wishing You Happy Holidays wherever You are. Love/Erik

 

PHIL SPECTORS CHRISTMAS ALBUM APCOR 24 (-72) UK MONO

"A Christmas Gift For You", first released on US Phillies label (4005) 1963, is a classic Christmas album, well embraced by most lovers of red nosed reindeers and sleigh bells in the snow.  Since then reissued several times through the years on different labels. This on Apple was the first nine years later, still with the glorious mono mixes and a nice unaltered original sound. Audio very Spectoriously bombastic and  rather dense so it may come through as archaic to many modern ears, but that's the way it was and how it always should be. Favorite tracks -  The Ronettes "Frosty The Snowman" and  "I Saw Mammy Kissing Santa Claus".  The Apple reissue was a hit in US (SW-3400) and peaked at #5 on Billboard while the original only reached #13. The UK version didn´t do that well and can be a little harder to locate today. But whatever version you have - there's no rock'n'roll Christmas without it. Premiere UK had dark label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover. (FÄV*) (SÄM*) (CXÅ*) (ÄPLÄ*) 

                                                                                  

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                                   

                                                                          

                                                                                  
                                                                                

 

WOWIE ZOWIE!/THE WORLD OF PROGRESSIVE MUSIC PA 34 (-69) UK MONO

A compilation dedicated to late sixties progressive as issued on contemporary UK Decca or Deram LP:s. Blending acts that now fifty years or so later seems to be more or less forgotten by the large public - like Touch, William R. Strickland, John Cameron Quartet, East Of Eden, Keef Hartley and Johnny Almond - with more familiar ones as Genesis, John Mayall, Moody Blues and Savoy Brown. Since all albums involved are today sought after and in some cases sold for big bucks it is a chance to at least get a taste of what was going on without losing shirt. You can always discuss track choices on compilations, but to my taste this is a quite all right mix of melodic and adventurous. As far as I know the original mono versions of these tracks were in most (all?) cases folds, so it's safe to say the ones here are too. Audio shifts depending on original recordings, but most sounds good and non bad. Never heard its stereo counterpart, but guess that could take me even further. Originally also released on vinyl in France, Germany, Israel and Downunder, but to my knowledge never on CD. Premiere UK mono had label as shown here in a laminated cover with die-cut hole on rear and red rim inner.   (SÄM*)  (YMÖ*)                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                            

                                                                                 

 
                                                                            

                                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                                      

                               

JOHN DEEN AND THE TRAKK/BEAT 69 E 351 (-69) GERMANY

 UK band first formed early sixties as Johnny Dean And The Crestas, then following some member changes emerging as Johnny Dean And The Deacons (among others including guitarist Phil Sawyer - later in Spencer Davies Group). They released a couple of unsuccessful singles for UK CBS - one with covers of the Beatles tracks "Hey Bulldog"/"All Together Now" - after which they were ditched by the company and went on to record this album for the German budget label Europa. It didn't sell well and became their final effort. As it seems all tracks were penned by Dean, offering a blend of pop and soul rock. Listening through I don't get any wow moments, but not put down either. The soul rock parts are not reaching up to any US forerunners and some of the poppier stuff sound dated, but I do like the garage quality of it all.  Apparently they didn't get much time in the studio and no time for adjustments. So it isn't overdone in any way, just them doing their thing. And I do get quite a lot good organ and some very able guitars and vocals. I've seen this dismissed as a one-off album from a band that didn´t make it, but to me it's more something from one of many fine bands that struggled for years without hitting the big times and then finally gave up. In a way more interesting than being showered with songs, facts and poses from blockbuster acts.  Favorite tracks -  the borderline psych cut "Who Knows", "I'll Show You" has some nice vocal harmonies and the (too) short "High Fen" instrumental blending flowing organ with sharp guitar. This seems to have been the only vinyl issue. French unofficial 2003 CD release on Red Fox Records (RF 653) came with the same songs.  Premiere German had label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover.  (GÖXÄ*)  (BRBÄ*) 

                                                                    

                                                                                 

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                        

                                                                                
                                                                          

                                                                              

KEVIN AYERS/YES WE HAVE NO MAÑANAS - SO GET YOUR MAÑANAS TODAY SHSP 4057 (-76) UK

 

 Ayers first album after leaving Island and returning to his old alma mater Harvest, produced by Muff Winwood with paricipants as Tony Newman, Zoot Money, B.J. Cole, Ollie Halshall (Patto) and Rob Townsend (Family) among others.  Coming out far more commercial than Soft Machine or his early seventies experimenting it has been called a regular pop album, but to me there are things lifting it above just regular.  In comparison to most of his previous stuff rather simple, but also more melodic and catchy. Production and arrangements have a number of fitting quirks and the guitars are excellent all through. His special vocals also provides a nice balance to the songs.  So even if I sometimes prefer the younger art probing Ayers I like this a lot too...just in another way.  It's not one you have to struggle with or admire from afar, just dive in and be treated as a friend. Favorite tracks - "Star", "The Owl" and "Mr Cool".  Issued and reissued on vinyl and/or CD all over the world through the years, also US cassette and 8-track.  First US on ABC (AB 1021). Japan 2014 CD on Parlophone (WPCR 15529) came with nine bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a fully structured cover with stiff glossy picture/lyric inner.  (HÄVL*)  (ÖYÄL*)

                                                                              

                                                                                      

                                                                                     

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

 

THE ANIMALS SSX 1016 (-65) MONO SWEDEN

 

 Swedish only compilation of eleven UK non-LP tracks. All original 45 mono mixes as they were with top audio. The first UK compilation by the band "The Most Of The Animals" - https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-animalsthe-most-of-animals-sx-6035.html - came one year later and had cuts not yet released when this arrived. Eight of the songs coincides, while "Club A-Go-Go", "I Can't Believe It" and "Take It Easy" only appeared on this. The audio of the common tracks are almost identical between the issues, though sensitive ears may conceive this as a tiny bit clearer. The Americans had their own Animal agenda with separate albums, versions and edits making a brief collation impossible, but the one with closest tracking would be "The Best Of The Animals" (MGM E/SE 4324). I guess many prefer the UK 1966 issue and just see this as a complement. To me it's more than that - the timing, tracking,  audio and sleeve design makes it valuable by own means. 1967 re-issue on HMV (SGLP 530) came with different band pics on sleeve. First had label as shown here, thick vinyl and thin, fully laminated cover with Swedish discography on rear. (ÄNÄ*)  (SWÄU*)  (PÖP*) (CCÖ*) 

 

THEM HT-1004 (-70) US

 

  Don't be fooled by the name. Four years after Van Morrison left the only original member here would be bassist Alan Hendersson and the rest played by studio musician Jerry Cole (who also worked with Beach Boys, Byrds and Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew) handeling guitars, drums and lead vocals. If so it could as well have been tagged as a Jerry Cole solo LP, but it was probably assessed that the name "Them" would lead to bigger sales. It didn't and listening today it has almost nothing in common with the old band. This is not so much melodic catchy r/b. Instead you get a good chunk reckless garage psych with screamy vocals, pumping drums and scorching fuzz guitars. A couple of the songs are calmer - like the cover of Rolling Stones "I Am Waiting" - but the apt part right-on gritty garage. I wouldn't call it all magic though there are moments that, together with the attack and atmosphere, at least makes it worth while for this old garage lover.  Favorite tracks - the Jerry Cole-penned songs "I Keep Singing" and "Memphis Lady".  Originally only released in US and Canada. EU vinyl reissue on Klimt Records (MJJ 314). UK 2008 CD on Fallout (FOCD 2100). Premier US had label as shown here in a glossy cover.   (YZÄ*)  (VMÖ*)

 

CAT STEVENS/THE WORLD OF CAT STEVENS PA 93 (-70) UK MONO

One of the last "World Of..." released in both mono and stereo, first available late 1970. My favorite Cat Stevens period is his Island years - from "Mona Bone Jakon" up to "Numbers". Of what he did for Deram I like the singles best and therefore this is exactly what the doctor ordered.  Apart from one cut each from the "Matthew And Son" and "New Masters" albums  all here were A:s or B:s of 45:s. As with many other monos from this serie it's hard to tell exactly which versions were folded and which were true, but this sounds about right most of the time so if they're all folds it's still very nicely done and good to the ears.  Got many favorites here and then especially the non-LP "Where Are You". His last Deram single and to my gut one of his most touching songs. Released just before he was changing label with hardly any promotion and was soon forgotten by fans who rather dove in to the new Island adventure.  Great tune about longing, still relevant. This album has been issued and reissued all over the world on LP and cassette through the years.  German CD on Spectrum (844 068-2). Premiere UK mono had label as shown here in a laminated cover with die-cut hole on rear and red rim inner.   (WÖF*)  (UKÖ*)  (YMÖ*)