MADDY PRIOR/WOMAN IN THE WINGS CHR 1185 (-78) UK

 

                                                                                   

   I posted the Dutch issue here a couple of years ago. That has brought me lots of joy, but since she is British I still wanted a UK press. Now that I've found one I'm doing a slightly altered re-post, this time with added songs. So here I go again...With a background of being main vocalist in Steeleye Span and taking part in three collaboration albums with Tim Heart and one with June Tabor  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2014/01/maddy-prior-june-taborsilly-sisters-chr.html  , she issued two great solo albums 1978 -  this and Changing Winds  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/07/maddy-priorchanging-winds-chr-1203-78-uk.html  . Both bursting with well written catchy songs, nicely performed, produced and arranged. Already declared my love for the latter here and now it's time for this debute. Apart from being a top female vocal album it's also christmas for us Jethro Tull lovers. Produced and arranged by Ian Anderson and Dave Palmer, who also provides backing with the rest of JT including Ian Anderson's wife Shona. All songs penned by Prior with a blend of popish up-tempo, folky, twenties style and jazz. No doubt a Maddy Prior LP, but with an unmistakable taste of Jethro Tull. "Cold Flame" with some distinctive Martin Barre guitars, the signature Ian Anderson flute solo in "Gutter Geese" or "Rollercoaster" where Ian and the boys sing in the background. Those would also be my favorite tracks, together with the very catchy "Rosettes", "I Told You So" and "Baggy Pants". So here I get one of my favorite female vocalists working with one of my all time favorite bands and doing lots of good together. I'm taking it all in with erected ears and a big smile. Happy times. 1978 releases also Downunder and a couple of European countries. US 1980 on Tacoma (TAK 7078). UK 1994 CD on BGO (BGOCD 215). First UK had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with lyric/picture inner. (FÄV*) (SÖPX*) (BRYF*) (YÖHT*)  

                                                                         

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

                                                                             

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                 

    
                                                                              

                                                                                   

      
                                                                            

                                                       

THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS/HITS OF GOLD SSL 5007 (-69) UK

 I really dug their music back then. In the midst of all psych and garage I usually listened to they offered a plenty of sweet melodies conveyed by soft arrangements which worked as some kind of spa treatment for my weary teen mind. I haven't listened a lot to them lately and therefore it was a delight to find this compilation in a bin a while ago. The title doesn't lie. It really is a gold plate, among others containing their biggest hits, which also happens to be my favorites - "California Dreaming", "Dedicated To The One I Love", "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" and "Monday Monday". Closing my eyes in the listening chair they all take me back and make me reminisce less complicated times. A couple of the stereo mixes may sound a little primitive by today's measures, but the audio is overall tophole so good listening anyway. A place for healthy escapism, much needed in this dark uncertain age. Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl, cassette and 8-track. Premiere US as "16 Of Their Greatest Hits" (Dunhill 50064) had slightly different sleeve design. UK 1990 CD came  with four bonus tracks (MCA MCLD 19050). First UK (also as mono SL 5007) had label as shown here with "Sold in UK..." in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*)

                                                                              

                                                                                  

                                                                            

                                                                                

                                                                             

 
                                                                                 

 

OTIS REDDING/TELL THE TRUTH SD 33-333 (-70) US

 

  His forth posthumous album issued almost three years after his death. Often when great artists pass away their demise is followed by more or less legit recordings whereof many far from the quality they signified when alive. But there's no need for such worry here. Apparently all these tracks were recorded 1967 and part of a plan for a new album. He's backed by the usual crowd, including Booker T. & The M.G.'s members, and the whole thing efficiently produced by Steve Cropper with top audio.  So there'd been no deep vault digging and thus no horse flogging going on. This can be counted as a regular Otis Redding album and a good one too. To my ears a bit ruder than his previous ones. More pushy and his vocals sounding rawer than before. Most songs self-penned, but also including the James Brown cover "Out Of Sight" and the Little Richard one "Slippin' An Slidin'". I can hear no fillers or falters, this is just high quality Redding fitting for dancing as well as close listening. Favorite tracks - the cool "Wholesale Love" and the haunting "Demonstration". Whole album below. Please also check two other great posthumous LP:s from the man -  "The Immortal Otis Redding"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/11/otis-reddingthe-immortal-otis-redding.html  and "The Dock Of The Bay"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/10/otis-reddingthe-dock-of-bay-volt-s-419.html . This was originally issued on vinyl pretty much all over the world, also as US 8-track and cassette. First UK on ATCO (2400 018). EU CD on Rhino Records (8122-70295- 2) came with an 8-page booklet. Premiere US had label as shown here in a fully structured cover with ATCO ad inner. (YZÄ*)  (ÖRÖ*)

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                          

 

WISHBONE ASH/BEST OF WISHBONE ASH 6.22279 (-75) GERMANY

 

In my world one of the better rock bands of the early seventies (for full background check here  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishbone_Ash ) . Their first four albums still stands as unique with the combination of experimenting and emotive, mostly carried by top guitar duo Andy Powell and Ted Turner. The eponymous premiere album must be regarded as one of the best debute LP:s ever  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/07/wishbone-ash-mkps-2014-70.html and then the good things just kept coming record after record. To my taste this German compilation has a couple of their very best songs - "Blind Eye", "Queen Of Torture" and "Errors Of My Ways" from the debute, "Jail Bait" from Pilgrimage plus "The King Will Come" and "Blowin' Free" from Argus. Lovely listening all through. If You're not familiar with them yet, listen to the music below and be dazed. To my knowledge this was German only, also on cassette, and reissued multiple times there on vinyl. Dutch "Masters Of Rock" came with same tracking in different sleeve design. Premiere German had label as shown here in a thin glossy cover.  (GÖXÄ*)