CILLA BLACK/BEST OF CILLA PCS 7065 (-68) UK STEREO

Even if not all in with her vocals at the time this release is a must for me because of the George Martin production, the four Lennon/McCartney covers and the atmosphere. I would like a mono as most of the cuts were 45 only prior to this and you'd expect that to come with all the original mixes, but haven't found any such yet so this stereo will do for now. It brings both good and bad news. On the positive side - all cuts are true stereo, some may have been previously unissued picks from the EMI vaults while others were mixed by Martin especially for this. In any case most of them had their two-channel premiere here and that's worth something. On the negative side - at least this very first press copy (-1/-1 matrixes and 1/G 1/G mother-stamper) seems to suffer from adjustments problems with bass/treble and volume. The calmer tracks plays ok, while a couple of the powerful ones come out borderline too loud with so much treble they hurt my ears. It's a pity. The new mixes could have made it a very nice listening experience if treated right. Well maybe this very early copy just had growing pains and later pressings came through better. If anyone reading this knows - please comment and tell. Originally also issued in New Zealand (PCSM 7065) and Australia (PCSO-7065). UK 2002 CD (Parlophone 7243 5 41444 24) came with eleven bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (CÄLÄ*) (PÖX*)

CILLA BLACK/YESTERDAY ST. 1100 (-69) UK EXPORT

One of many Cilla Black compilations issued all over the world from 1968 and on. It's hard to find hard fact about this particular release so it'll be conclusions derived from surrounding circumstances. After UK EMI took over the British branch of World Record Club 1965 it became a small subsidiary used for mail-order and then mainly serving countries in the old commonwealth. So as this is on that label and hardly ever shows up in bins or on listings I guess it was one of those mail-order releases for export only. Can't be absolutely sure about release year, but since the latest cuts on it are from 1966 and the whole package has a genuine sixties feel I'm thinking 1969, give or take a year or so. In any case it's a good selection of early numbers, all in true stereo produced by George Martin and the audio is a-ok. Personally I prefer when she goes soft so my favorites here would be "Yesterday", "I've Been Wrong Before" and "Don't Answer Me". I don't believe it was ever released on CD, though a UK vinyl reissue came 1989 on C5 Records (C5-547). Premiere UK had label as shown here, thick vinyl and matt flip/back Garrod & Lofthouse cover. (CÄLÄ*) (FÄV*) (ÖXÄP*)

CILLA BLACK/SWEET INSPIRATION PCS 7103 (-70) UK

(For background check posts on her debute "Cilla" and the 1968 "Sher-ooo" album.) Cilla Black (1943-2015) may not have carried Britains most beautiful voice in the sixties, but compensated that through vocal energy, good looks and by surrounding herself with aces. However with the previous, in UK non-charting, "Surround Yourself With Cilla" 1969 it seemed her singing carreer was decelerating. It sold OK downunder, but failed in other parts of the world. I guess this was meant as a comeback cause they sure went all in with the handeling. Produced by George Martin (1926-2016) and including him using six different conductors/arrangers for the orchestral backings (most by Mike Vickers - earlier with Manfred Mann and the one who conducted the orcherstra for Beatles "All You Need Is Love" TV broadcast). Don't know what inspiration was sweeter - the session support or the fact that she was pregnant during the recordings - but this comes out a lot cooler and more intimate than any of her previous albums. Her voice more naked, for better or worse, which brings it closer and me enjoying it a lot more than anything else she'd done so far. I'm also slightly intrigued by some of the track choices. Rather unexpectedly she does a song by Swedish singer/songwriter Olle Adolphson (1934-2004) - "Det Gåtfulla Folket" - here translated by Hal Sharper to "Mysterious People". With "I Can't Go On Living Without You" she became the first artist covering an Elton John song and she was by far the first covering Beatles "Across The Universe". Bed may have been made by George Martin and the boys, but it's comfortable and she seems to enjoy every minute in it. Favorite tracks - "April Fools", "Mysterious People" and "Sweet Inspiration". To my knowledge only originally released in UK and Australia (World Record Club S/5490). EMI also did a special edition of the album for download 2009, including a digital booklet and three bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here and matt flip/back cover. (FÄV*) (PÖX*) (CÄLÄ*)

CILLA BLACK/CILLA PCS 3063 (-65) UK STEREO

 This was her debute album. But as I already have and am very pleased with the the mono - please check that for more on the release itself  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/06/signed-by-brian-epstein-1961-cilla.html - why would I need the corresponding stereo? Because it was produced and partly arranged by George Martin, who also oversaw the mixing. This was recorded at about the same time as "Beatles For Sale"   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-beatlesbeatles-for-sale-pcs-3062-64.html    and with the, for its time, very enjoyable two-channel mixes on that I wished the ones here would come out as good. And they actually do, at least to my ears. One of the better UK 1964 stereo mixes I've heard so far. The equipment they used very primitive compared with todays standards. From back then you often got vocals and music divided between the speakers or rhythm section in one and the rest in the other. But this comes all very well balanced. There are nice stereo effects, but lead vocals mostly centered to a fully fledged background. Maybe not my all time favourite female singer, she could sound a little strained sometimes, but the production, arrangements, mixes and audio here are just dandy, so good listening and a keeper for sure. Originally issued like this also in Germany, Downunder, Israel, Rhodesia and South Africa. Japan 2017 CD on Oldays Records (ODR 6450) came with four bonus tracks. This copy seems to be one of the first pressed as it has -1/-1 matrices and 1/G 1/G mother stampers  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=%28ZLE%C3%84*%29  . It came with label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover with "EMITEX" inner.  (FÄV*)  (CÄLÄ*)  (PÖX*)

                                                                         

                                                                          

                                                            

 

CILLA BLACK/CILLA PMC 1243 (-65) UK MONO

Signed by Brian Epstein after a tip from John Lennon Liverpool singer Cilla Black (born Priscilla White 1943-2015) started touring and released her first single -63. She quickly became known and popular in England and after a few more chart singles got to record this debute LP 1965 wich reached #5 on the UK album list. I've never been a big fan of her voice, but she was surrounded by such a fine crew and everything else on her records is so good it's still worth having. The song choices are ordinary and the singing a little too perky for my ears, still it comes out rather nice. Most tracks are conducted by Johnny Scott, a multi talent who worked with Tom Jones, Hollies and Yehudi Menuhin, played sax on the Goldfinger soundtrack and flute on Beatles "You've Got To Hide That Love Away" among many other things. "Sounds Incorporated" plays on one track, a group that sometimes toured with the Beatles and also (uncredited) helped them in the studio. The whole thing is produced and partly arranged by George Martin who also conducted two of the tracks. This mono sounds great, I haven't heard the stereo mix but doubt it has the same quality. Not issued in US, but the -65 Capitol release "Is It Love?"( T-2308) had a few tracks in common with this. (FÄV*) (PÖX*) (CÄLÄ*)

CILLA BLACK/SHER-OO! PCS 7041 (-68) UK

At the time this was recorded she'd become a household name in England. Her two previous albums went top five on the UK list and she had eight top ten singles, whereof two #1. The biggest public break was her TV-show "Cilla", running 66 episodes between 1968-76, guested by the cream of the contmporary pop/rock scene. As a young teen I was mesmerized by the pretty girl with the sparkling eyes and perky style, today it's an admiration with reservations. She has a nice voice as long as it sticks to ballads and calm tunes, but when it gets too strained and chirpy I close my ears. The main reason I still have her sixties albums is the George Martin productions, top notch mixes and clever arrangements - here made by Mike Vickers (former Manfred Mann member and the guy who conducted the orchestra for The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" broadcast and recording). Todays producers and studio engineers should listen to records like this and learn from the best - the audio beats modern digital anytime. Also issued as mono (PMC 7041) - usually I would go for that, but this stereo is a good strong one so it's OK. Don't know of any original US issue. First UK had label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*) (PÖX*)(CÄLÄ*)

CILLA BLACK/CILLA SINGS A RAINBOW PMC 7004 (-66) UK MONO

Her 1965 debute LP "Cilla" became an immediate success in Britain, there reaching #5 on the album list, and eventually also sold well in Europe, downunder and South Africa. As a Liverpudlian she was a pre-fame friend of The Beatles and as first signed by Brian Epstein and produced by George Martin an important early part of the Parlophone crowd. Three of her UK hit singles were Lennon/McCartney compositions given directly to her by The Beatles - "Love Of The Loved" (#35), "It's For You" (#7) and "Step Inside Love" (#8). Apart from that she also managed eight more top ten singles in Britain during the sixties, where of two #1. This second album did even better than the first and confirmed her place as one of the most popular female singers in Britain at the time. Back then I was in love with the pretty girl and her perky performance, embellished by short skirts and big smiles. Today listening with older ears I'm not enthralled in the same way. The orchestral arrangements and George Martin's production oozes sixties Swinging London - Carnaby Street, Mary Quant and mod culture - a pleasant scent that can take you back to more positive times. But as usual I'm not all in with her vocals, some of it sounding too youthfully strained for my taste. So my favorites here would be a couple of the calmer songs - "Sing A Rainbow", "My Love Come Home", "When I Fall In Love" and "Yesterday" - showing a more sensitive side and allowing me to get closer to the person. Originally also issued in Australia (SPMEO 9591). 2002 mono CD through EMI:s "60s 2 on 1" serie had this coupled with her debute "Cilla". 2009 issued in a special edition for digital downloads, including a booklet with track info and rare photos. Premiere UK had label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (PÖX*) (FÄV*) (CÄLÄ*)

CILLA BLACK/SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CILLA PMC 7079 (-69) UK MONO

To my ears not much different from her three earlier UK albums, larger part well produced and arranged British pop with a slight soul influence. What I find most interesting with it is the mix. A separately mixed true mono album this late is very unusual, but it sure sounds like that to me and if so apparently producer George Martin thought it was needed (I will be back to confirm either way asa I find a 1st press stereo). In UK at the time there was still some demand for mono, pro artists in the "easy listening" genre, or those appealing to a somewhat older audience. Released in autumn -69 it's one of the last (or maybe final) double issue on Parlophone. (YMÖ*)(FÄV*) (PÖX*) (CÄLÄ*)