QUEEN/THE WORKS EMC 24 0014 (-84) UK

  To me the last all good Queen album was the 1978 "Jazz"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2019/06/queenjazz-1c064-61820-78-germany.html . But this, their eleventh, also has some tasty moments to imbibe. After a couple of very synth infected try-outs here it seems they at least partly were back to genuine melodic rock. My jury is still out concerning the synthy but catchy "Radio Gaga", but till that is decided I rather listen to the the rockier parts - like the ruthless "Tear It Up", the classic style "Man On The Prowl" and "Hammer To Fall" with its archetypical Queen sound. The power ballad "I Want To Break Free" is also very appealing. So to my taste rather uneven, but with enough good moments to make it worth while. They were a great rock band and whichever album You choose there's always something to enjoy. Issued and reissued all over the world through the years on all possible formats. First US vinyl on Capitol (ST 12322). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover with red lyric/credit inner. Apparently the earliest issued inners either had straight, cut or rounded corners and I've seen debates which was first. I don't have a clue and I don't care, but the one here has rounded ones.  (QÄN*)

                                                                             

                                                                               

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                           
                                                                                 

                                                                                   

 

PROCOL HARUM/PROCOL'S NINTH CHR 1080 (-75) US PROMO

  For more on the album itself check post on the UK original  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/02/procol-harumprocols-ninth-chr-1080-75-uk.html . The second US Procol Harum promo posted here so far. As with the other one https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/10/procol-harumexotic-birds-and-fruit-cht.html the audio is the same as on the UK original. This also includes a sleeve sticker and a green stapled booklet, here with some history, a review of the band's album catalogue and a short song audit. Special for this is a b/w 28x22 cm group image, a variation of the front sleeve pic, probably from the same photo session. Further it's not on the white promo label, instead the common green with promo text. It may not be my absolute favorite PH album, but with enough killer cuts to secure love and an urge to look for interesting variations...like this. My favorite tracks below.  (YZÄ*)  (ÖRJ*)  (PRÖX*)

                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                            

 

FREDDIE & THE DREAMERS/I'M TELLING YOU NOW T-5003 (-65) US MONO

  Don't be fooled by the title and sleeve. This is a sampler with only two cuts by Freddie & The Dreamers (more on them here  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/03/freddie-and-dreamers-33sx1577-63-uk.html ) , the rest from some very obscure UK acts. Guess the reason was that by 1965 they were the most popular band the Tower label had rights to and the others then far from the public grid.  Anyway this is goody for the vinyl collector who love to find odd sixties stuff on LP. Liverpool band Four Just Men issued three singles, here's the A and B of their 1964 debute, recorded at Abbey Road and produced by George Martin. You also get A and B-sides of The Troggery Five's debute 45 ( http://www.toggery-five.com/index.html ), plus both sides of London band Mike Rabbin & The Demons one-off 45 and both sides of a  Linda Laine & The Sinners 1964 single.  All those songs were new to me. Heinz probably better known by sixties lovers, but the Joe Meek produced tracks here aren't that easy to find on a close to the fact LP anyway. This is all good period pop and r&b, just from today lesser known acts. If to pick a favorite it'd be Linda Laine & The Sinners "Low Grades & High Fever", which also became a minor hit in the US. Music below if You wanna hear. To my knowledge this US was the only issue, also as duofonic stereo (DT-5003). Mono came with label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (SÄM*)  (YZÄ*) (FÄV*) (ÖXCÅ*)

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                            

                                                                            

                                                                          

                           
                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                

 

MANFRED MANN/ AS IS STL 5377 (-66) UK

 

Their third studio album. Here with new members Klaus Voorman  and Mike D'Abo replacing Jack Bruce, who eventually would go on to Cream, and Paul Jones leaving for a solo carreer  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-best-of-paul-jones-ssx-1056-68.html . It was also the first after they left HMV for Fontana and new producer Shel Talmy. And what I can hear it's also musically a new chapter for the band. The jazz/blues foundation from their previous albums are almost gone. The instrumental "Autumn Leaves" (with double bass played by one of the band's founding members Dave Richmond, who left 1964) is jazzy and "You're My Girl" best described as psych, but the rest positive melodic pop. I do like their earlier stuff though this is not bad either. Well performed and nicely arranged it's quite embracing with lots of catchy moments. Good listening all through. Favorite tracks apart from the aforementioned would be "Trouble And Tea" and the Dylan cover "Just Like A Woman". Originally issued like this over Europe, Downunder, Canada and a couple of South American countries - some as "Manfred The Musicmann" with other sleeve and same tracking - but not in US where instead the "Pretty Flamingo" LP was released 1966  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/08/manfred-mannpretty-flamingo-ual-3549-66.html . Japan 2003 Fontana CD (UICY-9246) came with both mono and stereo versions of the LP.  Very first UK copies (also as mono  TL 5377) had a "locomotive" cover that for some reason was quickly replaced with the one shown here. Otherwise this copy seems to be rather early with low matrix number, structured labels and laminated flip/back cover.  (MÄNÄ*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                               
                                                                                   

                                               
                                                                             

                                                                                 

 

PROCOL HARUM/EXOTIC BIRDS AND FRUIT CHT 1058 (-74) US PROMO

   For more on the album itself and better sleeve pics please check post on the UK original  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/11/procol-harumexotic-birds-and-fruit-chr.html .  I'm always looking for odd stuff in the bins and finding US promos is epecially rewarding. Most fun are the mono ones, but also the stereos if they come with exclusive add-ons. And here I get the white label and promo sticker, but also a green stapled booklet containing perceptive descriptions of the songs and some band history. Sadly I can hear no difference in mixes or audio when comparing with the UK, they come out very much the same. The original cuts are very close to mono or good compatibles anyway so guess they didn't have to do any adjustments for AM radio play in the US. But I can live with that. The label, sticker and booklet makes it worth while regardless. (YZÄ*)  (ÖRJ*)  (PRÖX*)

                                                                              

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                          

                                                                             

                                                                                

                                                                             

             


      
 

JETHRO TULL/STORMWATCH 6307 670 (-79) GERMANY

  Their twelfth studio LP. Reading about it on the net today I see it is dissed by quite a few, even band fans. I don't get that at all. To my taste it's well up there with the much celebrated precursors Heavy Horses https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/04/jethro-tullheavy-horses-chr-1175-78-uk.html and Songs From The Wood https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/09/jethro-tullsongs-from-wood-chr-1132-77.html , just from a slightly different angle. I get the same warm heartfelt vocals, playful flute and superb guitars to potent backing. And songwriting as good as ever with many magical moments. Like "North Sea Oil" jauntily catchy with a message - just listen to how he pronounces the word "oil", it's almost onomatopoeic. "Orion" a very touching ballad, "Dark Ages" a sweet mix of hard and soft, "Warm Sporran" with a very inviting melody loop and "Flying Dutchman" filled with magic flute. In my world a fully fledged piece, designed to be listened to with open ears and minds all through.  Full album below if you wanna get caught. Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years, also cassette, reel and 8-track. Premiere UK on Chrysalis CDL 1238, first US on Crysalis (CHR 1238). EU 2004 remastered CD on Chrysalis (7243 593399 2 4) came with four bonus tracks. First German had label as shown here in a glossy sleeve with glossy pic/lyric inner. (GÖXÄ*) (YÖHT*)

                                                                               

                                                                             

                                                                                

                                                                                

 

CHAMBERS BROTHERS/THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS GREATEST HITS SLP-135/2 (-70) US

  After falling in love with their albums "Groovin Time" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-original-chamber-brothers-groovin.html  and "A New Time - A New Day" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-chambers-brothersa-new-time-new-day.html  I felt hot finding this 2LP collection of some of the combo's earliest recordings. But listening to it cooled me down a bit. Not sure if the stereo versions here were unissued originals or much later afterthought, but some of the cuts don't offer good connection. A couple drowned in reverb and others cut so loud they burst all seams. Luckily there are quite a few coming out just fine. Like "Just A closer Walk With Thee", "Call Me" and "Seventeen" natural enough to forward the feelings. It is a pity it's not all good listening, but I guess a must for die-hard collectors of the combo anyway and I will keep mine. If You wanna hear early recordings from them with ok audio I also recommend  the "Groovin Time" album.  This was also issued on vinyl in Canada on Quality (SV 1851), but to my knowledge never on CD. (YZÄ*)

                                                                            

                                                                              

                                                                                

                                                                             

                     
                                                                                       

                                                                              



 

MOUNTAIN/NANTUCKET SLEIGHRIDE ILPS 9148 (-71) UK

  One of my all time favorite hard rock albums and now after finding a complete update for my old copy I think it's also worth an update of my old post with added pics and music. In my teens I was hit by British hard rock and bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath ruled my world for a while. The combination of good melodies, driving beats, raw guitars and old fashioned rigorous production caught me 100%. After a while my ears were also opened to the American version of the genre and this album soon became a darling. It's a perfect mix of the beauty and the beast - sensitive melodies and interesting lyrics to a background of heavy beats and howling guitars. Vocals divided equally between Leslie West's harsh voice and Felix Pappalardis more romantic approach. At this time Pappalardi was already an experienced producer (among other things known for his excellent work with Cream). And his handeling here is top notch, allowing both hard and soft to bloom. This was their third album and the most successful, peaking at Billboard #16. They were most hailed for their live act and had a large following, but drug abuse and Pappalardi's increasing hearing disorder made the setting break up 1972. I see today this great band is forgotten by many and not appreciated enough. I'm hoping this will be re-discovered and recognized as the true classic it is. Full album below. Enjoy! Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years, also cassette, reel and 8-track. Originally released in US on Windfall (5500). UK 2004 CD on Repertoire Records (RES 2322) came with three bonus tracks. 1:st UK had label as shown here in a EJ Day stiff laminated f/o cover with a 16 page picture/lyric booklet and two band photos. (MÖU*) 

                                                                            

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

                                                                          

                                                                              

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                              

                                                                             

   








 

REVOLUTION/ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE ULP 1226 (-68) UK MONO

  A soundtrack to a semi-documentary about youth life in sixties US, but also a very good compilation of early cuts from now very collectible acts Steve Miller Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Mother Earth. For more details please check post on the US stereo https://monolover.blogspot.com/2020/03/revolution-original-motion-picture.html . Even if that is rewarding enough when it comes to audio and package I couldn't resist this UK when it showed up in a bin a while ago with enough variations to make it special. Totally different label design, laminated flip/back sleeve with other disposition on rear and, of course, that it's mono. Since I don't have the UK stereo and comparing US pressings with UK:s can be missleading I can't be 100% this mono is true, but it sure sounds all right to me. Cut very loud, yet coming out clear with good balance. So however you choose to embrace it - soundtrack or compilation, in mono or stereo - it's a nice piece of art and probably especially rewarding for fans of the involved bands. It sure is for me. (SÄM*)  (ZÖNT*)

                                                                                

                                                                            

                                                                                  

                                                                        

                                                                         

                                                                            

 

HAWKWIND/ROADHAWKS UAK 29919 (-75) UK

 

First of two Hawkwind compilations covering the years 1970-75, the second "Masters Of The Universe" issued 1977. To my taste this is the most interesting with three of the eight cuts previously non-LP. Two '45 A-sides - the withdrawn "Urban Guerrilla" and the UK #3 "Sliver Machine" - plus a live leftover from the "Space Ritual" recordings - "You Shouldn't Do That". There's also two from their first album, of which the folky "Hurry On Sundown" also was released as a single with alternate edit. To me they did their absolutely best up to 1973 - "In Search Of Space" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/05/hawkwindin-search-of-space-uag-29202-71.html and "Doremi Fasol Latido"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/12/hawkwinddoremi-fasol-latido-uag-29364_4.html albums being totally magic. Don't care much for the later critically acclaimed mushier style with softer melodies and synthesized strings so I can be without last two cuts on side two, but the rest here is right up my alley. Originally released in Europe, Canada and Downunder, but to my knowledge not in US. UK 2020 CD on Atomhenge (QUATOMCD 1045) came with mini poster. First UK had label as shown here, matt fold/out cover and poster. My poster has been long gone, but it did adorn my student dorm in Uppsala late seventies, as shown by the mixological pic below. (ÄZC*)(HÖWK*)