SPENCER DAVIES GROUP/THE BEST OF THE SPENCER DAVIES GROUP FEATURING STEVIE WINWOOD ILPS 9070 (-68) UK MONO + STEREO

 Compilation issued after Stevie Winwood decided to leave the band at age 18 and instead join Traffic. For me Spencer Davies Group was an essential part of British sixties music. Always well performed, melodic and catchy with a string of hits and lots of radio play during the short time - 1963-67 - Winwood was part of the combo. As this British issue was the first hit collection I've been trying to find an original on "eye" label for a long time. But since it didn't sell very well on home turf initially and had separate presses in other countries it hardly ever shows up like this in ok nick, at least not in my search area. But now I've found one and truly rejoicing. Even if the label say stereo, what I hear is a mix of mono and true stereo cuts and the audio is very warm all the way, no doubt from original tapes. So now I can enjoy "I'm A Man", "Gimmie Some Lovin", "Keep On Running", "When I Come Home", "Somebody Help Me" and many more as they were meant to be heard. I even get two rare 45 B-sides - "Waltz For Lumumba" and "Trampoline" - in original shape. I'm aware sixties music is starting to lack attraction nowadays as some of us who were there then are passing away and others are getting rid of their vinyl collections, favouring CD:s and downloads instead. But I'm still here and I wont let go. This has been issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. Premiere UK (also as mono ILP 970) had label as shown here on heavy vinyl in a laminated flip/back cover. (TXÄW*)  (ÖSÄP*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                       

                                                                                          

 

THE BEATLES/REEL MUSIC 1 C 064-07 611 (-82) GERMANY

 This has been called the most unnecessary Beatles compilation and I guess it can be seen as trial by EMI to flog just a couple of more cents out of the then dead formation. Compiled with cuts earlier figuring in various movies by the band. All tracks earlier both issued and reissued muliple times. All that said I do think it has positive sides. I get fourteen very good songs and even if I heard them many times before getting them in a new kind of constellation actually adds something. Also the audio is smashing all over so very good to the ears. And since it is an official release by EMI I guess it has to take place in any serious Beatles collection. So even if it might be regarded as futile by some I still think it's worth having and even be enjoyed at occations. For more details on the issue I recommend the Wikipedia page  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reel_Music . Issued and reissued on every possible format all over the world through the years. First German had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with picture inner. Some also with a "The Beatles Souvenir Program" insert, sadly missing with this copy.  (GÖXÄ*)  (BÄ*)  (LGÅ*)

                                                                                   

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                                                     

 

ROXY MUSIC/FLESH+BLOOD EGLP 46 (-80) UK

 Been a Roxy Music ever since their debute LP all the way up to "Avalon". Every album with lots of catchy moments and alluring atmosphere. But even for a band held in such high regards I have gradings. And the two albums that doesn't please me all the way are "Manifesto"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/11/roxy-musicmanifesto-polh-001-79-uk.html   and this. Compared to much other music released at this time they rule, yet to my taste doesn't keep up with their other albums. This is maybe just me, but I don't understand the need for disco versions of Byrds "Eight Miles High" or Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour". The originals are so good by themself, so presenting them to synthesized dance beat only diminish them, at least to my taste.  On the other hand there are two killers here - "Flesh And Blood" and "Oh Yeah" - both among the best they produced. The rest comes rather middle-of-the-road to my ears, but these two saves the album and make it a welcome addition to the collection. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. First US on ATCO (SD 32-102). There are many CD:s with this released in a number of countries, but I can't find any with bonus tracks to recommend. First UK was 1980 on Polydor (POLH 002). This, marketed by Virgin, showed up later in the eighties, but even if not original it has enough quality to be enjoyed. Top audio with label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with hard glossy lyric/credit inner.  (ÄNÖ*)

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                     
                                                                               

                                                                                    

 

NANCY SINATRA & LEE HAZLEWOOD/DID YOU EVER? SF 8240 (-71) UK

 Follow-up to the duos 1968 "Nancy & Lee"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2019/05/nancy-sinatra-lee-hazlewood-nancy-lee.html . In US and some other countries titled "Nancy & Lee Again" . This was not a then newly recorded album, instead a compilation of earlier unreleased material from the sixties. Knowing that you could expect some half-ass material and/or unfinished stuff, but this comes out a lot better than that. Maybe not containing any obvious hits, but all so very well executed it sounds original. Seven of the ten tracks penned by Hazlewood and the orchestral backing is all over superb. No clue why these tracks were originally rejected. Maybe they had too many recordings at occations and had to choose. The audio and mixes are smashing providing good listening all the way. Hard for me to pick favorite tracks, though "Down From Dover" and "Arkansas Coal" has some unusually naked and emotional vocals from Nancy, making them stick, and the simple and seemingly private "Got It Together Again" is quite fun. So knowing about the circumstances for this vinyl I didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised. A keeper for sure. Issued as ""Nancy & Lee Again" with different track order in US, Downunder and Japan, while this version was released in Canada and over Europe. First US on RCA-Victor (LSP-4645). US 2023 CD on Light In The Attic (LITA 199-2) came with two bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover.  (FÄV*) (ÄZL*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                     

                                                                                

                                                                            

 

CHÉR SLBY 3081 (-66) UK

 Her third solo album, here collaborating with Harold Battiste (who also worked with Sam Cooke and Dr. John among others) and Sonny Bono, though only one of the songs here are by him - "I Feel Something In The Air" - the rest covering stuff from artists like Donovan, Dylan, Goffin/King, Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach and Buffy Sainte-Marie. It wasn't a big hit back then, only reaching #59 on Billboard and even less successful in the rest of the world. Listening today with mixed emotions. Bono's production, much inspired by Phil Spector, even if powerful still very dense and partly even muddy, at least to my ears. And even if it was brave to cover songs then still big hits with the original artists I can't hear she's adding much to them. On the plus side is her unique voice and the killer "Sunny", which makes it all worth it. So to my taste far from her best effort, yet with enough to make it a keeper. Issued and reissued on vinyl pretty much all over the world through the years. First US on Imperial in mono and stereo (9320/12320). French 2001 CD on EMI (5 31698 2) came with eight bonus tracks. First UK (also as mono LBY 3081) had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*) (XLÄ*)

                                                                          

 

WILSON PICKETT/HEY JUDE SD 8215 (-69) US

 The tenth Pickett album I'm putting up here, check  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=(P%C3%96C*)&max-results=20&by-date=true . When I see for me new stuff by the man in a bin I just pick and don't even bother to listen, cause I know it'll be to my taste - a blend of well executed hard and sweet soul with at least a couple of catchy moments. Here I get power ballads like "Back In Your Arms", "Search Your Heart", "People Make The World" and not least a very competent "Hey Jude" cover, mixed with uptempo incorporating a version of Steppewolf's "Born To be Wild". Backing by southern soul masters Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and also including a young Duane Allman as session guitarist. This is to my ears very good Atlantic soul, played by the best and crowned by all over puissant vocals. Nuff Said! Issued and reissued all over the world on all possible formats through the years. First UK on Atlantic (588 170). Japan 2025 CD on Oldays Records (ODRIM 1157) came with two bonus tracks. First US had label as shown here in a glossy cover with Atlantic ad inner. (YZÄ*) (PÖC*)

                                                                                  

                                                                            

 

SANDIE SHAW/THE GOLDEN HITS OF SANDIE SHAW MALS 781 (-68) UK STEREO

 Oops I did it again..was my first thought whan I came home with this and realized I already had it...well kind of...in shape of a UK twelve track mono compilation on Golden Guinea label  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2024/09/sandie-shawthe-golden-hits-of-sandie.html   . It happens more and more these days that I buy stuff I already have in some form and it can be a waste. Do I really need a ten track stereo with cuts recorded 1964-65 when I already have and enjoy a twelve track with original mono takes? As it turns out - yes! Didn't expect all mixes here to be true stereo, but as it turns out they are. And not conveyed as crude and/or unbalanced as expected from this early UK stereos, instead coming out well balanced and natural. Are these mixes really from as early as 1964-65, or are they later makes made to fit the then growing British demand for two-channel outcome? Not sure, but if anyone reading this knows - please comment and tell! So instead of this becoming another doubleton in the collection, reminding me of my failing memory, it actually adds something and therefore a welcome addition. This stereo version was also released in Canada and Downunder. UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*)  (PÖY*)

                                                                                   

                                                                                         

                                                                                    

                                                                                 

 

THE LITTER/EMERGE SPB 1004 (-70) UK

 US garage psych band from Minneapolis initially existing between 1966-72, thereafter reforming several times during the nineties with shifting settings. During their first period they recorded three albums whereof this was the last and most successful, reaching #175 on Billboard. There's a vast article on the band on Wikipedia, too much to compress here, so if You wanna know more go there  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Litter#  . I'm having a great time listening to this now. If you fancy garage psych and acid rock this is it. Mostly frantic rhythms with howling guitars, pumping bass and wild drumming. There are a couple of calmer parts just enough to catch your breath, but most just wild. No elaborated melodies and not catchy in some common way, though with tons of raw feeling guaranteed to affect. It's all very toghether so I'm having a hard time picking favourite tracks, but I do feel especially uplifted by "Journeys" and "Blue Ice". This is probably not for those raised with songs neatly arranged in a caressing sythesized flow, as many big hits are today, but if you long for something real and borderline disturbing with an analog punch it might be something. Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on LP and/or CD through the years, also US 8-track and cassette plus 9xfile MP3 world wide. Premiere US on Probe (CPLP 4504). US 2015 CD on Purple Pyramid (CLP 2242) came with one bonus track. First UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (CÖLÖ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                 

                                                                             

                                                                                    

 

SUPERTRACKS SPORT 1 (-76) UK

 Time for a slightly re-made re-post of a vinyl I first did seven years ago. So specially compiled it's still one of a kind and therefore well worth to be reminded of. So here I go again...though vinyl compilations today seems less popular than their CD counterparts or downloading I still see reasons to pick and collect many of them. More than a few offer very rare tracks and edits, sometimes only appearing on that special issue, and for some the compiling is so perfect you can't stop listening, or maybe the composite itself so odd it's worth it just because of that. This certainly covers the latter two of these alternatives. A charity sampler for the benefit of UK Sports Aid Foundation, where they succeeded to gather classic cuts from some of the then most famed UK artists. Combining killers by Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Rod Stewart, Yes and a couple more with tophole audio. Compiled by Charisma founder Tony Stratton Smith and released on Vertigo. I got all but the Monthy Python one before, but getting such an array on a collectible label is more than enough for keeps. Original versions of "Brown Sugar", "Trampled Underfoot", "Money", "Carpet Crawlers", "Bungle In The Jungle" and "And You And I" on the same LP...Wow! To my knowledge this vinyl was issued in UK and Ireland only, also as UK cassette (SPOC 1). UK came with label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover. (SÄM*) (WLÖ*) 

                                                                                 

                                                                                     

                                                                                       
                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                                     

                                                                                  

 

DIANA ROSS/THE BOSS WL 72095 (-79) EU

 Her tenth LP after quitting The Supremes. Whole album written and produced by Motown marvels Valerie Simpson and Nickolas Ashford, who also provided background vocals.  It continued her long lasting solo success as the album went to #14 on Billboard, while all tracks reached high on the dance charts. It is a fitting title because it doesn't matter where you stand on disco or Motown, this is all so self-evident she rules and you have to surrender anyway.  I get two emotional ballads - "All For One" and "Sparkle" - coupled with six disco cuts, of which "No One Gets The Prize" and "Once In The Morning" works extra fine, at least to my ears. I'm not out dancing anymore since my legs stopped being that obedient a decade or so ago, but sometimes I do lurch to the music alone in my living room and this is certainly one I can do that to. The ballads do fit for closer listening while the up-tempo tracks help to move my feet. One may argue it all maybe comes too glossy or too neatly arranged and maybe so, but still so well done it's hard to refuse.  Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. Premiere US (M8-923MI) and UK (STML 12118) on Motown. This EU press seems to have come a couple of years later, with label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover.  (ZYZÖ*) (TÖMÖ*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                       

                                                                                   

                                                                                      

                                                                                 

                                                                                     

                                                                                 

 

HOLLIES/THE HISTORY OF THE HOLLIES - 24 GENUINE TOP THIRTY HITS EMSP 650 (-75) UK MONO + STEREO

 Not the first Hollies compilation I'm posting here, yet this is so well done I have to make a special mention. To my taste they were one of the most melodic and catchy UK bands of the sixties. Always brought that little extra into their songs and always with smashing vocals, making their work kind of timeless, still making me smile and I guess also still cherished by most lovers of British sixties music. Here's a 2-LP set carrying twentyfour of their best tracks, from the 1963 "(Ain't That) Just Like Me" to the 1971 "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress"). Fourteen of the cuts original mono, the rest true stereo. And instead of cramming in as many cuts as possible on a single LP they spread six each on four sides, bringing top audio all the way. As extra features I also get exact release dates of the songs and a long well written band story inside fold/out. So if you were a fan back then and want to reconnect or just a lover of well performed positive tunes this comes highly recommended. Mid seventies releases in UK, Netherlands, Israel, South Africa, Yugoslavia and a couple of South American countries. Also as UK cassette (EMI TC2-EMSP 650), but to my knowledge never issued like this on CD. First UK had label as shown here in a fully laminated fold/out cover.  (HÖLY*)

                                                                                

                                                                                   

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

 

TOMMY STEELE WITH THE STEELMEN/THE TOMMY STEELE STORY LF 1288 (-57) UK MONO

 For background on the man please check post on his debute LP "Tommy Steele Stage Show"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2020/12/tommy-steele-and-steelmentommy-steele.html . Even this early he was in musicals and acting, so while the debute was from a live performance recorded at Café de Paris in London this follow-up was in fact a soundtrack from a movie about Steele's rise to fame as a teen idol, no doubt inspired by US movies like "Rock Around The Clock". I haven't seen the film, but can truly enjoy the record anyway. This is good fifties rock'n'roll, blending ballads with uptempo. Fourteen well performed cuts all penned by Steele himself, with or without co-writers. It may seem hazardous to squeeze in seven tracks on each side on a 10 inch, but the audio here is surprisingly fine - big, strong and natural. As usual I like the uptempo songs best, like "Take Me Back Baby", "You Gotta Go", "Cannibal Pot" and "Teenage Party". You can, with all right, argue that he's got nothing on the much heavier American rock stars that started to emerge at this time, like Little Richard, Chuck Berry or Elvis, but to me that's not the point. This is the beginning of British and European rock'n'roll and even if inspired by US giants it comes idiomatic for its place. Originally released like this also in Scandinavia, South Africa, Downunder, France and Spain. In US and Canada issued as "Rock Around The World" (London LL 1770) as a 12 inch with other sleeve design. EU 2008 CD on Hallmark (706872) came with nine bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with crescent flips and a Decca c/o inner. (ZÖNT*)