WILSON PICKETT/I'M IN LOVE ATL-LP 08021 (-68) MONO ITALY

 For background please check post on his debute  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/11/wilson-pickettits-too-late-dl-2300-63.html . One of the most powerful men in American soul back in the days. This is the eighth Wilson Pickett album I'm posting here and a little different since many of the songs are sincere love ballads rather than potent up-tempo. I do get power with "Stagger Lee", "That Kind Of Love", "Don't Cry No More" and "She's Looking Good", but also languishing in cuts like "Jealous Love", I'm In Love" and "I've Come A Long Way". I like this blend for close listening where the calmer parts allow your mind to rest between the fervent ones. Also good at the dance party, offering both upbeat and slow movers. In comparison to all the other tophole soul coming out of America in the sixties maybe not top ten, but certainly good enough for me. The audio on this Italian press is beautiful - big and strong with perfect separation - so without doubt from the US mono tapes. Issued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and/or CD through the years, also US reel.  Premiere US in both mono and stereo (Atlantic (SD/8175). UK mono and stereo (Atlantic 587/588 107). EU 2002 CD on Rhino Records (8122-72218-2) came with original mono versions and three bonus tracks. Italian had label as shown here on heavy vinyl in a fully laminated cover. (PÖC*)  (ÖTALÖ*)

                                                                                

                                                                                     

                                                                                     

                                                                                   

                                                                                     
 

MOUNTAIN/THE BEST OF MOUNTAIN ILPS 9236 (-73) UK

 A band that only existed a couple of years, but during that short time succeeded to secure an obvious place in music history. The brush between singer/guitarist Leslie West's ragged rock'n'roll and singer/bassist/producer Felix Pappalardi's sweet melodic approach resulted in a special blend of sugar and salt, still unique today and still very tasty. This was the only original compilation, released a year after the band broke up. Containing tracks from their first three LP:s - "Climbing", "Nantucket Sleighride" and "Flowers Of Evil" - recorded 1970-71  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=%28M%C3%96U*%29   . With compilations one can have differing opinions about tracking - which songs doesn't belong and which should be there instead - but here I'm very pleased. A representative collection of songs showing their full range. Go so many favorites, but to choose two - "Nantucket Sleighride" and "Crossroader".  Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. Premiere US on Columbia/Windfall (KC 32079). US 2003 CD on Columbia/Legacy (CK 61574) came with four bonus tracks.  First UK had label as shown here in a matt fold/out cover.  (MÖU*)

                                                                                   

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                      

                                                                                 

 

 

ELMORE JAMES/TO KNOW A MAN S7-63224/25 (-69) UK

 

  Elmore James (born Elmore Brooks 1918-63) was one of the first and certainly most influential electric guitarists. His songs and riffs have been covered, copied and sampled ever since and he's been acknowledged and praised by later guitar celebrities like Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, George Harrison and Frank Zappa. His full story is too much for this blog, so for that I recommend  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmore_James#Biography . This 2-LP set is probably not his most fully fledged vinyl, but in a way one of the more historical as it was his last session, recorded live in the studio by a three-piece late 1962. You do get a number of sincerely performed blues numbers, old favorites as well as new stuff, but also alternate takes, false starts and conversations between the musicians. Perfect for us who want that "being there" feeling from a studio recording, cause here you're there for sure. As I understand this record is considered valuable mostly by "Blue Horizon" collectors who're just after the label, but to me it's a lot more than that. A chance to visit his last session, as it was.  Also originally released on vinyl in Holland (same number) and 1983 in Germany (Line OLDLP 8018 DX), but to my knowledge never on CD.  (BLÖH*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                

                                                                                

 

DEEP PURPLE/BOOK OF TALIESYN T-107 (-68) US

  Since Deep Purple was a British band and this was recorded in London it seems most collectors fancy the UK original  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/08/deep-purplethe-book-of-taliesyn-shvl.html  more than this. But as the US was rushed to coincide with an American tour and therefore issued six months earlier (October 1968 vs. May 1969), carries unique band member pics on rear and has one retitled song - "Wring That Neck" became "Hard Road" - I guess a must in any serious band collection. The audio differ a lot. While the UK sounds quite levelled coming out good to the ears all through, this appears less prepared, partly with an almost garagey outcome. There's also more reverb and treble than on the UK. I can find no proof of differing versions. Maybe the dissimilarity has to do with the Americans wanted to rush the release and therefore were sent one of the first "rawer" tapes, while the Brits had a lot more time to adjust the result. I don't know for sure, but if You do - please comment and tell! To me this is a very interesting version with some good history attached, but for listening I do prefer the UK, or the much belated EU mono. Also issued like this on vinyl in Canada (Polydor 543 016) and a couple of South American countries. Premiere US had label as shown here on heavy vinyl in a matt cover.  (YZÄ*)  (DHÄ*)

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                  

 

THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP/DIMPLES GP 9916 (-67) MONO SCANDINAVIA

 

  Scandinavian budget compilation with a rather odd track choice. Most major hits were avoided. Instead side one is exact same as side one of their UK debute "Their First LP", which was already issued in Scandinavia 1966 (Sonet SLP 1401), while side two consists of more or less obscure 45 cuts. So 50% a budget version of the debute and 50% a regular compilation. Good for all fans who don't have the debute or the 45:s and can pick this from a cheap bin, though trackwise not that rewarding for the already gifted band collector. But guess some of those would want one anyway for the label and sleeve design...and getting a bevy of very good tracks partly in new order. All tracks are true mono and audio super clear. Issued in both mono and stereo in Canada (Stone Records S/SX 1700) with band pics or rear, while this Scandinavian was mono only with ad back. First had label as shown here on thick unflexible vinyl in a fully laminated cover with top opening.   (SÖNÄ*)  (CCÖ*)  (TXÄW*) 

                                                                          

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                                 
                                                                           

                                                                                

                                                                               

NEPTUNES EMPIRE PPX 01 (-71) UK

 Songwriting and performing trio existing a couple of years early seventies, consisting of Norwegians Arne Dahlö and Björn Gjerström plus British Charles R Forbes. This one-off album is sometimes by sellers tagged as a private press and sometimes as a legit one on an obscure budget label. No sure which myself, but in any case not pressed in many copies. As the story goes recorded in London and backed by members of Norwegian prog band Junipher Green. Often when non-sellers from the past show up as rarities today you can hear a reason they didn't do that well - blunt songs, bad performance, subpar audio or all of those. But that's not the case here. This is high quality all through. A strange mix of jazzy, folky, prog and psych. Never on the edge, more soft and dreamy, sung by both male and female vocals to organ, piano, flute or even full orchestra. I can hear some resemblance with US sunshine pop of the late sixties and some slightly reminding of Brazil bossa. So a rather unique blend very good to the ears. Favorite track - "Wichita Falls", which also was released as a 45. Full album below. Also reissued on Norwegian CD 2021 (Norske Albumklassikere NACD 121). To my knowledge this was the only vinyl release, with label as shown here in a laminated cover.  (SCÄ*)  (FÄV*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                     

                                                                                  

                                         
 

EASYBEATS/FRIDAY ON MY MIND UAL 3568 (-67) US MONO

 

After reaching star status in their homeland Australia, with three top ten albums and two #1 singles plus four more top ten, all on Parlophone, the band secured a contract with US United Artists for an international carreer. This debute LP on the new label was handeled by Who/Kinks producer Shel Talmy and released in USA, England and a couple of other countries, but not originally in Australia due to contractual problems. First single from it "Friday On My Mind" became a world wide hit - apart from #1 downunder, #6 in UK, #16 on Billboard also #1 or top five in a number of other countries - while the LP didn't do as well. Listening today I find it strange the album wasn't a list topper. High quality sixties rock - diverse and melodic with attractive vocals and very catchy guitar licks. You can hear slight resemblance to Kinks or The Who, probably inspired by producer Talmy, yet as a whole totally unique. It sure would have sold big in Australia if issued there at first, but as it was "Friday On My Mind", "Pretty Girl" and "Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It" showed up on the domestic "The Best Of The Easybeats + Pretty Girl" album https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/05/the-best-of-easybeats-pretty-girl-pmco.html    and some of the rest was spread on EP:s. As I can figure out the true mono mixes only had LP release in USA, Canada and South America while the "monos" issued as "Good Friday" in England and a couple of other countries were folds from the stereo tapes. There are many exemples where US recordings came as true mono in the States while the UK counterparts were folds, but it seems odd cuts recorded in England would end up that way. Maybe it had to do with the original mono tapes were sent to America while the British version was rearranged - one cut replaced and others in different order - or the Americans made their own version and mixed it themselves. In any case if you want true mono this US issue is it. Sounds beautiful - distinct and balanced. Finally released in Australia 1970 as stereo only on World Record Club (S-4801). 2005 CD reissue on Repertoire (REP 3058) came with twelve bonus tracks, including mono single mixes and alternate versions. Premiere US had label as shown here in glossy cover with U.A. ad inner. (YZÄ*) (ÖXCÅ*)  

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                    

                                                                               

       

                                                                             

 




 

JETHRO TULL/THE ZEALOT GENE IOMLP 609 (-22) EU

 

Always been a big JT fan, following them from the debute 1968 "This Was" and on. So how do they sound 55 years later with a 75 y.o. Ian Anderson leading a whole new line up through novel material? I'd say very very good! A string of lovely melodies and concerned lyrics performed by his now full-grown vocals to tophole backing including emotional flute passages and shiny guitars. I'm guided through hard rock, sweet ballads, folky and art music, all the time moved yet perfectly safe. Already with the first track - "Mrs. Tibbets" (about the mother of Paul Tibbets, the guy who dropped the atomic bomb over Hiroshima 1945) - I'm in.  Archetypical Jethro Tull, though from a slightly new angle, and then it just goes on song after song blending familiar with innovative. Not going into every single track here, instead you can enjoy the full album below. Guess this will satisfy every old fan of the band and also help to recruit new ones. In my book one of the best albums so far this millenium. Issued all over the world on vinyl, CD and 12xFile. 2xLP version came on different colored vinyls - blue, red, green and clear. There was also a white 3xLP version including demo versions and alternate mixes as bonus tracks. This blue vinyl one was EU. It had label as shown here in a stickered matt fold/out cover with black polylined inners, CD and a large booklet containing pics, tracknotes, credits and lyrics.  (YÖHT*)

                                                                            

                                                                                     

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

 

THE ROLLING STONES/PRECIOUS STONES SM-10005 (-81) US

  A record containing radio DJ Ed Rudy doing interviews with the five original members of the Rolling Stones and their then manager Erik Easton at Kennedy Airport, New York, October 1965. No music in earsight and the talking coming through quite polite without any rebellious outbursts. There are tons of other interviews with the band on the net and these particular ones can be found on Youtube anytime. So question is - do I really need this vinyl? Well of course I do! Not that impressed by "Limited Edition" on sleeve, since I can't find how limited it was - 5000 or 50.000. That it seems to be related to the band's fan club do tick one box and the uniqe pic collages on both sides of the record another. But as a band fan and collector I would have embraced it with even fewer ticks. It is a legit Rolling Stones issue with at least some twist and that's good enough for me. Also issued on picture disc in Canada, Holland and Japan. Since it was a US radio project from the start I guess this US was the original.  (RÅ*)  (YZÄ*)