LULU/MELODY FAIR SD 33-330 (-70) US

 Follow-up to her "New Routes" album  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/12/lulunew-routes-sd-33-310-70-us.html  . Listening back then I didn't think that did her justice. Though backed and handeled by some of the best I thought it came out a bit uneven and she didn't use her voice full out. But then five years or so ago I might still have been too much into her early records to be fair about the new pesona, cause when listening many moons later I liked it a lot better. And with a more open mind I dig this a lot too. Handeled and backed by about the same crew, bringing top audio and arrangements, it is very good listening all through. Already found a couple of favorites. Like the slow "Good Day Sunshine" cover with its very creative bass to perfectly balanced brass and organ, the sentimental "To The Other Woman" and the loaded "Move To My Rhythm" where you do recognize some of the "old" Lulu. Personally I would have preferred more power and up-tempo, yet it's all so well done there's no need to jump tracks. Released on vinyl in Canada, UK, Downunder, Italy and South Africa. Also as US cassette and white label mono promo. To my knowledge never issued like this on CD, but all cuts can be found on the UK 2007 2xCD "The Atco Sessions 1969-72 (Rhino 8122-79948-8). First US had label as shown here in a glossy cover with ATCO ad inner. (YZÄ*)  (FÄV*)  (LÅL*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                  

                                                                                         

                                                                 
                                                                                       

                                                                                 

 

THE VENTURES/KNOCK ME OUT! LBY 1252 (-65) UK MONO

 

 The worlds most successful guitar band back then. Formed in Seattle 1958 and broke through internationally already with their first single, the 1960 "Walk, Don't Run". Up to the early sventies they had over thirty albums and a number of 45:s on Billboard and high on the lists in other countries. They were also pioneers in using fuzz and twanging and became an inspiration to many other bands. I listened a lot to guitar bands first half of the sixties, but for some reason Ventures wasn't on my list. The Shadows, Violents and early Shanes were a lot more common in the shops and on the turntables where I lived. I've wanted to get in to their music for a while now, though it's been almost impossible to find genuine sixties originals in playable nick in the bins here. But now I have and it was certainly worth the hunt. A mix of self-penned and covers from acts like Beatles, Argent, Jackie DeShannon, Roy Orbison and Everly Brothers. Some performed in a softer "classic" guitar band style, others stone hard with lots of fuzz. All conveyed by stunning audio - big and strong with top separation. Good listening all through, but if to choose favorites it'd be the fuzz filled ones - "Love Potion Number Nine" and "Bird Rockers" plus the fully fledged "I Feel Fine". Issued and reissued on every possible format pretty much all over the world through the years. Premiere US and Canadian on Dolton (BLP 2033/BST 8033). Japan 1999 CD on Liberty (TOCP 65225) came with both mono and stereo versions plus four bonus tracks. Fisrt UK (also as stereo SLBY 1252) had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover.   

                                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

 

FOUR TOPS/FOUR TOPS ON BROADWAY M-657 (-67) US MONO

  Motown is a favorite label and whenever I see an original issue, especially from one of its more prominent acts, I try to buy. Like this Four Tops one - recorded as an attempt by Barry Gordy to present the label to a wider audience. Not from a Broadway performance, but ten of the cuts handeled in Los Angeles 1966, with addition of two earlier recordings - "Make Someone Happy" and Nice 'N' Easy". What I get is covers of old show tunes, faithfully performed and orchestrated. Very well sung of course, though without a trace of the customary Motown spirit I like so much. An ably done cover album, but doesn't add anything to the originals and if I wanna hear the songs again I prefer to get back to those. Still it is a good mono mix with top audio so very good to the ears. And as a part of Motown and Four Tops history it is important. I don't think it will be listened to a lot in the future, but I'm happy to have it and it will fit right in with its siblings. Also originally issued in Canada (MO/MS 657) and Germany (Tamla Motown STM 657), plus US reel and cassette, but to my knowledge never on CD. Early US (stereo MS 657) had label as shown here in a laminated cover with Motown ad inner.  (YZÄ*)  (ÖXCÅ*)  (FÖRH*) (TÖMÖ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

                                                                                
                                                                                 



 

SONNY & CHER/THE BEST OF SONNY & CHER 587083 (-67) UK MONO

  For more on the duo check post on their debute album https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/12/sonny-cherlook-at-us-587034-66-uk-mono.html  . I wasn't all in with that when listening to it for the first time in decades. One smash hit coupled with other more or less ok numbers, of which some had undergone a severely bombastic production, clearly inspired by Bono's former employer Phil Spector though not as attuned. To my ears this "Best Of" compilation does better on most levels. I get a number of my Sonny Bono-penned favorites - "The Beat Goes On", "I Got You Babe", "Little Man", "Just You" and "Laugh At Me". Also the audio on this is partly a bit drier and cooler than on the debute so it's better listening...at least for me. They were a big international hit during a couple of years in the sixties, then continued to make successful TV-shows in America, whereafter Cher went on to a successful solo carreer and Sonny Bono got into politics, becoming a member of U.S. House Of Representatives. But whatever they did later years, it's that period 1965-67 that still does it for me, with songs that over fifty years later can catch and remain. And on here I get a couple their best. Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl through the years, also cassette, 8-track, 4-track and reel. Premiere US on ATCO (SD/33-219). First UK had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover.  (ÄTHP*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                         

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                            

                                           
                                                                              

                                                                                

 

THE BEACH BOYS/SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!) T 2354 (-66) UK MONO

 Bought the UK duophonic stereo a couple of years ago  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-beach-boyssummer-days-and-summer.html  and been quite all right with that, but at the same time looking for a US or UK mono, as that was the original mix. Now I found one and feel I can enjoy it as it was meant to be. It is one of those sixties albums that felt fresh and creative when first released and still today offers good listening with its blend of very catchy numbers - like "Help Me, Rhonda", "California Girls", "You're So Good To Me" and "The Girl From New York City" - with more adventurous but beautiful ones as "Let Him Run Wild" and the a capella "And Your Dream Comes True". And there's so many nuances to enjoy, not only in the perfectly balanced vocals but also in production and arrangements. Not many albums have the ability to both grab you at first listen and then grow with every spin, but this is certainly one of those. Listening now as I write this with a big smile on my face. Issued and reissued on every possible format all over the world through the years. First US 1965 on Capitol (DT/T 2354). Japan limited ed. in paper sleeve (Capitol TOCP 50857) came with mono versions. First UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover with EMI ad inner. (BÅB*)

                                                                                    

                                                                              

                                                                              

                                                                                

                                                                                 

                                                                         

                                                                                 

 

DAVE CLARK FIVE/DAVE CLARK FIVE AT THE SCENE SSX 1023 (-66) MONO SWEDEN

 

When first spotting this I thought it was another of those Swedish issues compiling odd UK non-LP cuts. I'm very fond of those and have so far posted ones by Beatles, Zombies, Manfred Mann, Yardbirds, Animals, Hollies, Herman's Hermits, Paul Jones and Alma Cogan. But when doing research on the tracks I could only trace a couple to UK 45:s, most of the rest seems to be from the US 1965 "I Like It Like That" LP (Epic LN 24178). It has the same front sleeve pic as the Canadian "At The Scene" (Capitol T 6180), but the rear and tracking is different. Still whatever its origins it doesn't sound like anything else I've heard from this combo. There are a couple of ballads, but also raw up-tempo . From the fuzz filled "Maybe It's You" over the frenzied "I Need Love" and the mersybeat-ish "It's Not True" to the rockin' "Blue Suede Shoes" cover. This has nothing to do with the more posh outcome the combo became known for in their later days, instead true garage. Some of the tracks on this issue sounds slightly off-speed and it's all cut very loud. So not entirely pleasant to the ears, yet interesting enough and a sure keeper for me.  To my knowledge this was the only release. It came with label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover.  (CCÖ*)  

                                                                                    

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                     

 

BLACK SABBATH/LIVE IN BRUSSELS 1970 VER77 (-19) FRANCE

  I don't usually buy bootlegs or counterfeits. Too often they're crippled by bad audio and/or sloppy covering. But this is something else. A top concert from Black Sabbath, originally recorded for Belgian television 1970 in Brussels, contained in a fully laminated sleeve with four clear group images and a picture label. According to rear sleeve it's an "excellent quality master recording". And it sure sounds like it, cause the audio is absolutely tophole. Here I get numbers from their first two albums, just with a much rawer sound than from the studio recordings. The guitars are fiercer and the drums sharper, while Ozzy's just being Ozzy. What I appreciate most in live records is presence - when the artist come so near I can be there. And here I am, just closing my eyes in the listening chair I'm in Theatre 140 in Brussels, 3rd October 1970, and enjoying it to the fullest. The concert originally issued on vinyl 1989 as "Copper", a "Luxembourg" unofficial release, with different sleeve and track order. There have been many unofficial releases since all over the world with differing titles and sleeve designs on vinyl, CD, cassette and DVD. Too many to get in to here. First French had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (LYBÖ*)  (BLÄC*)  (ÖRJ*)