JOHN MAYALL/MOVING ON 2391-047 (-72) UK

A kind of follow-up to the 1971 "Jazz Blues Fusion" live album with abourt the same crew, this time recorded live at the Whiskey A GoGo, Los Angeles, July 10 1972. I'm seeing reviews it's in many ways subpar to the JBF forerunner, but since not familiar with that so far I can listen and enjoy without prejudice. All songs signed "Mayall" and though non of them can be called catchy or especially memorable - that's not what makes the record. I get top musicians doing good fusion in a cozy club atmosphere. Audio and mixing top notch, providing true connection. And this record bringing me close is what makes it. I am at that club and they're playing for me. Mayall himself may not have the most beautiful vocals, but we already knew that and at least it's personal. Some of the solos are really great - I especially like the soft flute in "Christmas '71" and perky guitar in "Red Sky". As a whole maybe not the best album carrying his name, but still enjoyable listening and a time travel as good as any. Early issues on vinyl in all parts of the world. First US on Polydor (PD 5036). 2009 UK CD on Lemon Recordings (CDLEM 116). Premiere UK had label as shown here and thin glossy cover. (LYBÖ*) (MÄH*)

SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS/WOOLY BULLY MGM-C-1007 (-65) UK MONO

Following is what I wrote about the US mono 3,5 years ago - "This is personal. The song 'Wooly Bully' is connected to some strong memories from my early teens. I remember school dances and first puppy loves with sweaty hand palms and blushing cheeks at a loss for words. I must have sat through hundreds of Truth or Dares or bottle spins just to get a little closer to some sweet girl. Always akward, never really there. In other words a rather normal mid-sixties teenager. A few years on things would change considerably with drugs and the sexual revolution, but this was still innocent days. Back then 'Wooly Bully' was as wild as it got in the northern town where I grew up - a simple melody with nonsense lyrics to an enthralling bouncy rythm. Perfect for our first meetings with alcohol and early trials on the dance floor. No skill or preparation needed - just jumping up and down and shouting was enough. Good times. I've worn out a couple of singles through the years, but never had the LP till I found this copy a while ago. Listening today it's surprisingly good thoughout. Messy party music with a true garage feeling - uninhibited yet confident. 'Haunted House' reminds of early Them, 'Go-Go Girls' feels like a latin Bo Diddley and 'Every Woman I Know' is pure fifties rock. In many cases an album follow-up to a million selling '45 just contained that and nine or eleven fillers, but this is more. A tophole party LP filled with positive vibrations". I see no reason to change any of that when describing this UK mono now. It sounds exactly the same with the same joyful atmosphere and the connected memories remain. Only differences are this has the first design MGM LP label, skipped in US 1959 but used in UK up to 1968, and wrapped in a common Garrods & Lofthouse laminated flip/back cover instead of the US plain. That could maybe make it a little yummier for some collectors, but if it's just the music and audio you're after...it's a tie. (CPYC*) (ÖGÄ*)

ROLLING STONES/THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY UK (-69) STEREO SKL 5019 VS. MONO LK 5019

On the former UK compilation "Big Hits (High Tide And Greeen Grass)" mono was all true and most of the stereo fake. Here mono version is a fold (see earlier post), while the stereo comes through a lot better though some of the mixes - like "Jumping Jack Flash" - sounds primitive and "You Better Move On" is rechanneled. I do get a kick from listening to the true two-channel versions of such great songs as "Ruby Tuesday", "We Love You" and "Let's Spend The Night Together" on a fairly early compilation, but also annoyed they didn't handle the mono properly as many of the recordings included sounds a lot better mixed that way. Or why not a single issue with a mixed bag of monos and stereos, picking the most highlighting versions. But it is what it is and however besotted I may be in those late rare monos, here I prefer the stereo all the way. US version (LONDON NPS-3) was a ten track issue, omitting "We Love You", Sittin' On A Fence" and "You better Move On, replacing them with a fake stereo version of "Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In the Shadow". First UK had unboxed labels as shown here, octagonal laminated cover with flips inside and mono/stereo die-cut hole on rear plus octagonal blue or red rim inners. (RÅ*) (YMÖ*) (CPYC*) (MÅW*)

RHYTHMUS VON HEUTE FUR JUNGE LEUTE GL 14040 (-64) MONO GERMANY

Eng. translation of the title would be "Contemporary Rhythms For Young People". One of the odder compilations from the time. German domestic issue containing fourteen 45 cuts by six Swedish bands and one Norwegian. From todays perspective a collection of outmost rarities. A couple of The Streaples tracks have surfaced on later band compilations and I guess some of the rest has showed up spread on CD:s, but as a vinyl compilation carrying all those together with original mono mixes close to the fact it's unique. A blend of guitar rock instrumentals - like both sides of The Shanes "Gun Rider"/"Banzai" 45, Norwegian The Climbers EP only "The Cossack Patrol", The Boots one-off "Volga", Öjvinds B-side "Lazy River" - and a couple sung in English. You also get both sides of The Craftones Combo's non-selling debute single and one 45 A+B from Sleepstones, at the time a starting point for actor and comedian Ted Åström and guitarist Janne Schaffer (who later have played with Toto, ABBA and Bob Marley among others). The mixes are pristine and the audio tophole, so even if you don't care about rarity it is a good time travel back to more positive times when guitar rock ruled and future still seemed bright. To my knowledge this was German only and never reissued. It came with label as shown here and laminated cover. (The corresponding 45 sleeves shown below are not from my own collection, just ones I found on different places on the net.) (GÖXÄ*) (SÄM*).

ROXY MUSIC ILPS 9200 (-72) UK - GERMAN LICENCE PRESS VS. UK DOMESTIC PRESS

A subject maybe just interesting to me and a very limited number of vinyl anoraks, but I can't resist doing it anyway. For more on the album itself check earlier post. All UK 1:st came with label as shown here and laminated Robor f/o cover, but have different matrix no. settings - one kind is same as record no. the other starting with a "C". This has been a mystery for a long time, but maybe it can be explained. UK Island didn't have a pressing plant so most of their records were pressed by EMI. At the same time this was made EMI changed facilities and moved to a bigger plant. The moving affected the whole market and due to low capacity lots of pressings were leased out, not only in England but also to other European countries. As I understand the one used here with matrixes C 586259 A-1/B-1 is a German press, while the one having the ILPS number ending with a -u is made in England. As they look and feel the same and both recognized as UK I thought it would be fun to compare the audio and see if there's any difference at all. And there is some. The German is a little more compressed, making it somewhat smoother with less edge. Not by much but it's there. To my ears the UK sounds better separated and more natural. I guess it takes big ears and a meticolous mind to notice or even care, but now I have and it feels good. (ÄNÖ*) (CPYC*)

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER/BRAIN SALAD SURGERY SD 19124 (-73) US

The band's fourth studio effort. When I bought it at first release I was still all in with "Pictures..." and "Trilogy", basing in the melodic warmth of those two albums. In comparison I thought this sounded aloof and less inviting and since not getting a direct connection I put it aside. Had a number of copies through the years and though I've tried still can't get aboard 100%. Always liked Greg Lake's vocals so "Jerusalem", "Still...You Turn Me On", "Benny The Bouncer" and parts of "Karn Evil 2" gets to me, but I can't feel most of the rest. Very intellectual, progressive and well played indeed, still not grasping and I'm sure I've heard many of those keyboard licks before. Maybe some of my hesitation has to do with the audio. In comparison to their previous albums it's colder, sometimes squeekyish, and that doesn't help the acquainting. To my ears this US press works a little better than a UK 1st, but not by much. Most US copies I've come across was on Manticore. Don't know how this Atlantic press relates, probably an early reissue (both matrixes ends with -M, no number). It came with label as shown here, glossy gimmic fold/out cover and fold/out picture/credit/lyric poster. (ÄPY*) (YZÄ*)

THE BEACH BOYS/BEST OF THE BEACH BOYS T 20856 (-66) UK MONO

Issued as a British version of the homonymous US 12 track Capitol compilation (T/ST 2545). But apart from title and sleeve design they don't have a lot in common. This has 14 tracks and only five coinciding - Surfin USA/Little Deuce Coupe/In My Room/Fun Fun Fun/You're So Good To Me. So even if the wrapping is about the same tracking makes it a unique album. As I understand the UK tapes was first prepared by EMI as a DJ sampler for radio play only. But as imported US copies started to show up they decided to make it public, then five months after the US version. I wonder if the aiming for radio play is what makes the audio so great on this - clear and naural with top separation. In any case it's all good listening making it impossible to pick any favorites. This is sixties Beach Boys sounding so good to me and every track is fun fun fun. To my knowledge the 14 track version was originally UK only while the rest of the world used the US 12 track, not to be confused with any of the about a zillion later Beach Boys compilations. Premiere UK had structured label with Capitol logo on the left as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (PÖP*) (BÅB*) (CPYC*)

BEATLES' SINGLE MIXES ON LP

Some decades or so ago I stopped collecting 45:s and at the same time decided to get as many original single mixes from favorite acts as possible on LP. Finding the Beatles ones started as an easy task. UK and US issues differed a lot and what you didn't have on one you got from the other. There were also a large number of compilations issued all over the world mid-sixties, outside UK and US, where some of the more odd B-sides and EP cuts showed up. But even with help from those there were still mixes that didn't seem to appear anywhere in original shape on regular compilations. Following are a couple that helped me almost all the way. (Addition 2018-11-20) Since I wrote that part I've also come across "The Beatles Mono Masters" tripple vinyl, filling all possible holes in any Beatles mono collection. Long after the fact indeed, but as transferred analog according to initial notes with pristine audio it is a killer and well worth checking out. See link below. (LGÅ*)

Brazil "Hey Jude" mono, where they for some reason didn't fold the stereo tapes, but used all the original 45 mixes. https://monolover.blogspot.se/2013/01/beatleshey-jude-btl-1009-70-mono-brazil.html

Spanish "Por Siempre Beatles" mono with original mixes, including the elusive "The Inner Light" and "I'm Down". https://monolover.blogspot.se/2013/02/por-siempre-beatles-j060-04973m-71-mono.html

The US "Magical Mystery Tour" mono. https://monolover.blogspot.se/2017/07/the-beatlesmagical-mystery-tour-mal.html

Swedish "Greatest Hits" mono. https://monolover.blogspot.se/2012/05/the-beatles-greatest-hits-pmcs-306-65.html

Only track missing on any reasonably early LP is "You Know My Name...". It does come on the "Rarities" issues and of course on the "Mono Masters" tripple. But should You know any legit pre-Rarities LP with that mono - please tell! For those interested in getting true stereo versions of some of those cuts on vinyl with very good audio I recommend...

Early press of UK "Rock'n'Roll Music" https://monolover.blogspot.se/2017/02/the-beatlesrocknroll-music-pcsp-719-76.html

and the German A1/B3 matrix issue of "Magical Mystery Tour" https://monolover.blogspot.se/2014/06/the-beatlesmagical-mystery-tour-shze.html (BÄ*) (PÖP*)

https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-beatlesmono-masters-lc-0299-14-eu.html