2/04/01 to 5-26-01

Title: Very Best Of Paul Anka
Label: RCA 67998


Comments: Before you get your hopes up of a great compilation of Paul
Anka's hits, let me add that all titles included that were originally
recorded by Paul Anka on the ABC-Paramount label have been rerecorded
on this package! The following titles are all stereo rerecordings:
Diana, You Are My Destiny, Crazy Love, Lonely Boy, Put Your Head On
My Shoulder, Time To Cry, Puppy Love, My Home Town, Summer's Gone,
Tonight My Love Tonight and Dance On Little Girl. Recorded in stereo
and are original hit recordings: Love Me Warm And Tender, A Steel
Guitar, Eso Beso, Love Makes The World Go Around and Remember Diana.


Posted By: Pat Downey 2/04/01 patdowney@qwest.net

Title:Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas - The Very Best Of…
Label:Music For Pleasure 7243 8 57419 2 0 (UK import)

Comments:If you don't know Billy J. Kramer, he's one of the coattail hangers
of the Beatles who managed to make a few hits in '64 and '65 then seemingly
disappeared. For many, a single would suffice as a hits collection ("Little
Children" and "Bad To Me"). If you are a British Invasion fanatic like yours
truly, however, you will need to buy this new 29 track collection for a few
rarities not found elsewhere. First, it needs to be said that the definitive
collection of Kramer is still Ron Furmanek's great EMI USA 25 track set from
ten years ago: The Best Of Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas-the definitive
collection. Every CD in that series was/is incredible with first time
stereo/great notes&pictures/hot sound and more tracks than most U.S. packages
and this set was no exception. This new CD reverts to the stereo mixes
generally and the sound is not as hot, but you get both sides of all three
Dakotas (without Kramer) singles including the tragically overlooked George
Martin penned instrumental "Magic Carpet" which reminds me of "Apache."
There also are two '70s Kramer singles which have more in common with
Englebert Humperdink (if I didn't spell it right I apologize to all you many
fans) than the Beatles, but are nice to have: "San Diego" and "Ships That
Pass In The Night." The set ends with the autobiographical '80s song "You
Can't Live On Memories" which already was another U.K. compilation The Best
Of The EMI Years. That set can pretty much be jettisoned from your
collection if you don't mind the loss of "Going, Going, Gone" which is the
only track not on this new CD. The notes are ok if factually challenged
(they claim that "Sneakin' Around" was not released in the '60s which comes
as a surprise since my old Trains&Boats&Planes LP includes it. Also they say
that "It's A Mad Mad World" makes it's debut on CD which you also know is
wrong if you have the EMI USA disc.).

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 2-4-01

Title:Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band - The Anthology…So Far
Label:EMG 12003-2 (EU import)

Comments:I love Ringo. Who of our generation doesn't love Ringo? To say
that Ringo can be somewhat vocally challenged at times doesn't downgrade that
love. Heck, that may be a lot of his charm - everyman can be a rock with
the right songs (ok, he was a pretty fair drummer too). This new three CD
set of 45 tracks (and one "Really Serious Introduction") celebrates the
concept Ringo has trotted out on the road every few years and that is an old
style revue featuring players doing their hits to any adoring crowd not
interested in hearing anything but the hits done faithfully. That can get a
bit dicey depending on who is in the band as Ringo/Beatles fans likely have
less than no interest in hearing Dr. John doing "Iko Iko" or Todd Rundgren
doing "Black Maria" as you get on this set. Much better choices are like
minded Eric Carmen's "Hungry Eyes" or "All By Myself" and even Jack Bruce
doing the old Cream tracks "Sunshine Of Your Love" and "I Feel Free" (which
really sounds great here). I wish Ringo would have called me up before he
compiled this set as let's face it, anybody who will buy this new set already
has the previous three live All Starr Band CDs from which the lions share of
the first two discs in the box are drawn from. One would assume that many
more shows where recorded over the years which would have allowed different
versions of "Photograph" or "Honey Don't," etc. to be included here for the
collector. Heck, I shouldn't admit it, but I have a quasi-legit CD live in
Montreaux 1992 that has great versions of songs that do not appear here in
any form: Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way," Poco's "Keep On Tryin'" and a
really hot version of the Guess Who's "No Time." At any rate, there is a
reason to buy this new box and that is generally disc three which is 72
minutes of music not found on any earlier release. Peter Frampton checks in
with a nice "Show Me The Way" and "Baby I Love Your Way" while Gary Brooker
does the obligatory "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and a haunting solo "A Salty
Dog." With all the 'fixing up' that usually goes into live albums, all the
duff notes and out of tune singing ("Yellow Submarine") plus out of tune
guitar strings (Dave Edmunds' awesome "I Hear You Knocking" is marred by a
badly flat string - either the G or D). I really can't abide by Joe Walsh
doing "Desperado" which isn't his song (when he has so many other choices) or
Simon Kirke singing Paul Rodgers leads (though the version of "All Right Now"
is really cookin' here), but oh well. Mark Farner's hits didn't make it (so
what), but you do get Randy Bachman doing "Takin' Care Of Business," Felix
Cavaliere "Groovin'" and Peter Frampton's solo acoustic "Norwegian Wood" as
the only songs on the first two discs not previously released. Too bad that
the Denver shows don't turn up here as Ginger Baker guested on "Sunshine Of
Your Love" once while Kenny Passarelli of Barnstorm guested with Joe Walsh on
"Rocky Mountain Way" another time (and there had to be other similar guest
shots elsewhere). Another gripe is that there is no indication anywhere as
to which version of the band play on each song which would have been easy
enough to indicate in the package (the songs are generally in chronological
order with a few exceptions). So, good news and bad news from Ringo, but you
need to buy it - still, call me next time you want to compile this stuff, ok?

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 2-4-01

Title:Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies - Deluxe Edition
Label:Warner Archives/Rhino R2 79791
 

Comments:Finally, the Warner Brothers labels are getting some much needed
reissue attention with help from Rhino. This new two CD set easily renders
the old CD obsolete by improving the sound, adding a second disc of 11
vintage live tracks (plus three b-sides and outtakes) and almost totally
reproduces the original packaging (sadly m.i.a. is the faux billion dollar
bill insert here present only printed on the cover). The original album was
a '70s American hard rock and roll masterpiece featuring the hits "No More
Mr. Nice Guy" and "Elected" not to mention a guest appearance by an unlikely
Donovan on the title track. While the rock and roll Dentist cringes a bit at
the dental torture images conjured on "Unfinished Sweet," there isn't a duff
cut on the album. The live versions don't add that much to the set except to
prove that the band could play their music (with a little sideman help) on
stage. Most of the live songs are from this album though you do get "I'm
Eighteen," "My Stars" and "Dead Babies" from other LPs. Of the three other
bonus tracks, "Coal Black Model T" and the b-side "Slick Black Limousine" are
essentially the same bluesy rock song while "Son Of Billion Dollar Babies" is
an early version of "Generation Landslide" that reprised elements of the
title track. Frankly, it's not the bonus tracks that make the package.
Without the second disc fans would still have needed to replace their old CDs
since this sucker looks and sounds so much better.
 

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 3-1-01
 

Title:Procol Harum - Grand Hotel , Exotic Birds and Fruit
Label:Repertoire Rep - 4916 , 4917
 

Comments:All four Chrysalis label albums by prog rockers Procol Harum have
just been released as gorgeous looking and sounding digipaks with bonus
tracks. The glossy covers are beautifully rendered and the booklets include
interviews about each track plus a history of each album (also the Grand
Hotel booklet is reproduced faithfully). After the success of their live
album and "Conquistador" Gary Brooker and company changed labels and
proceeded to put out the lushed album of their career in Grand Hotel.
Utilizing orchestra on the title track, Christianne Legrand of the Swingle
Singers on "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)" and the Pahene Recorder Ensemble on
the stomping "Bringing Home The Bacon," this album had a lot of varied
texture. While Mick Grabham played some fine guitar, this was more a
keyboard dominated record which perhaps caused the band to emphasize the loud
guitars on the next album Exotic Birds and Fruit. While perhaps not as
consistently strong, this album still is great featuring "Nothing But The
Truth" and a swipe at their record label in "Butterfly Boys." Returning to a
song from earlier in their career proved a winner in "Monsieur R. Monde"
while even the obligatory 'funny' song "Fresh Fruit" (essentially a "Boredom"
redux) comes off as a good listen. The bonus tracks on Grand Hotel are
single edits of the title track and "Robert's Box" while on Exotic Birds and
Fruit you get a single version of "As Strong As Samson" and the rockin' blues
b-side "Drunk Again." The sound, however, is revelatory and if you don't get
goosebumps while listening, you're not a Harum fan. (By the way, the next two
albums are given similar treatment, but I ran out of money.)
 

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 3-1-01

Title:Fabulous Thunderbirds - Girls Go Wild
Label:Benchmark 8002-2
 

Comments:This is the first Fab T-birds album originally self-titled and on
the Takoma label now retitled and given three bonus tracks for this reissue.
The blues-rock team of harpist/singer extraordinaire Kim Wilson and guitar
wizzmo Jimmy Vaughan were what made these guys special peaking later with
"Tuff Enuff." On this record you get the prototype in "She's Tuff," but the
kids weren't ready yet. The Slim Harpo slip-and-slide "Scratch My Back" is a
highlight as is Wilson's workout on "Pocket Rocket." This album always
sounded a bit thin to yours truly thanks to Mike Buck's Pete Best drumming
(Fran Christina would take over next time out and improve the skin-work), but
the sound is improved on this reissue. The bonus tracks feature Christina on
drums and are more of the same rockin' blues in "Look Whatcha Done," "Please
Don't Lie To Me" and "Things I Forgot To Do." The booklet has a nice band
history. The rest of the early catalog are getting similar welcome treatment
so look for the whole set. If only Vaughan and Wilson could see clear to
reunite, the world would be a better place.
 

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 3-1-01

Title:Steve Hackett - Feedback 86
Label:Camino CAMCD 21
 

Comments:This is one really spiffy package. First of all you get a
previously unreleased 8 song album featuring Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's
Earth Band) and Bonnie Tyler on vocals plus Brian May of Queen on guitar.
The songs are prog-commercial rock ala Asia or 90125 era Yes with "Cassandra"
and especially "Slot Machine" songs that could have been AOR hits back in the
'80s (why wasn't this thing released before??). There is some classic
Hackett acoustic guitar work later in the album for non-rockers. The cover
has another fine Kim Poor drawing (a veddy British couple having tea
underwater with their cheshire cat and some assorted swimmy things). By
popping the disc in your computer, however, a whole new world of fun opens up
with 16 Hackett songs, two Chester Thompson songs and two Ian MacDonald songs
available for sampling while viewing album covers, biographies, reviews, etc.
The sound on my computer was a bit rough (it's called an MP3 jukebox and
perhaps it sounds better if you have an MP3 player), but it was still a great
idea and one that is sure to sell some of the records sampled (I already want
the Ian MacDonald solo album).
 

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 3-1-01

Title:John Wetton - Welcome To Heaven
Label:Avalon MICP 10207
 

Comments:John Wetton comes from Asia - not the country, but the band for
those no-prog rockers in the bunch (not the mention King Crimson, but I'm not
gonna mention it now). This new solo album finds Wetton working in the same
loud guitar commercial prog vein as Asia which begs the question: why not
reunite Asia and make more money since that album would have sounded just
like this album and would have been an easier sell perhaps than a solo album?
Whatever the reason, however, this is a fine album and perhaps the strongest
solo release ever from Wetton. Working generally with Jim Vallance (Bryan
Adams' partner) or Jim Peterick of Survivor, Wetton has crafted a lot of
memorable hooks and screaming guitar tracks here. While not as heavy on the
keyboards as Asia, the layered vocal choruses are here as they were in that
band. Steve Hackett guests, but strangely not on guitar - he plays harmonica
instead. One track is composed with Ringo Starr and another features a new
agey sound created by Wetton on keys, Robert Fripp on guitar and Ian
MacDonald on flute (King Crimson without Bill Bruford).
Unfortunately you need to buy the pricey Japanese import to get two bonus
tracks which are actually better than the last few regular tracks on the
album (especially good is "Love Is" with a prominent Hammond organ chord as
the hook).

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 3-1-01

Title:Graham Gouldman - And Another Thing…
Label:For Your Love FYL CD 14 (UK import)

Comments:Not as quirky as his old band 10CC and perhaps more poppy and
relaxed than his outings with Andrew Gold as Wax UK, the title of this new
disc refers to his first solo album many years ago - The Graham Gouldman
Thing. This album finds Gouldman teamed with Gold again on many of the songs
(Rick Fenn from a later edition of 10CC on others) and is manna from heaven
for Beatle-pop fans. "You Stole My Love" starts things off with the
strongest track on the album. The next song "Walking With Angels" is a
pretty Beatle ballad copy. Other highlights are "Walking Away" (which sounds
like a George Harrison track from his last album) and a heavier update of
Gouldman's composition for the Yardbirds "Heart Full Of Soul." This album
stands well beside such pop gems as Gold's - Fraternal Order of the All,
Taxiride or Tal Bachman.

Posted By:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-12-01
 

Title:The Everly Brothers - The Complete Cadence Recordings 1957 - 1960
Label:Varese Sarabande 302 066 217 2

Comments:Scattered over two compact discs are 27 tracks from one of the
greatest acts early rock and roll produced. Seemingly without effort, the
Everly Brothers layed the framework for the British invasion vocal harmonies
and for the country/rock blend of bands like Poco and the Eagles. Don and
Phil still sound fabulous in concert, by the way, so feel free to check them
out if they come to a concert hall in your town.
This set is so obvious it's surprising that no U.S. label has done it before
- the reissue of all three Cadence records albums plus non-LP single tracks
on one package. A great collection of Everly Brothers music can be built by
simply buying this and finding the 1993 Warner Archives two disc set Walk
Right Back: The Everly Brothers On Warner Brothers 1960 To 1969. Of course
if you are an obsessive like myself you need the Rhino box from 1994 plus the
outtakes disc All They Had To Do Was Dream, but don't let me influence you.
On this new set you get all the usual suspects like "Bye Bye Love" and "Bird
Dog," but Varese has also packed in a few choice rare tracks. While not
essential, there are four unreleased Phil Everly solo acoustic demos ("Sally
Sunshine," etc.), duet demos of "Give Me A Future" and "Life Ain't Worth
Living," the U.K. hit version of "Poor Jenny" (where she stays out till one
AM instead of 10 PM) and on track from Rhino's outtakes CD "Oh, True Love."
Stereo and mono is the same as has been on all other releases and the sound
is generally fine. The booklet contains some nifty pictures of the boys plus
a new interview conducted by Andrew Sandoval talking about many of the
individual songs. This collection is essential Americana rock and roll music
and every red-blooded patriot needs to own it. Was that a bit strong?. Now,
if we can get two-fers on the Warner Brothers catalog…

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-18-01

Title:Johnny Tillotson - 25 All-Time Greatest Hits
Label:Varese Sarabande 302 066 210 2

Comments:This set comes the closest of any U.S. package to getting all 25 of
Tillotson's pop charters in one place. The only songs missing are "Well I'm
Your Man," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Then I'll Count Again." The
three songs in their place on this disc are actually pretty good choices so
it's pretty hard to gripe. The single flips "Judy, Judy, Judy" (Doc Pomus,
Mort Shuman and Tillotson) and "(Wait Till You See My) Gidget" were fine
choices as was the LP track "Cling To Me" written by P.F.Sloan which could
have used a little less bongo drums in the mix. Tillotson had the requisite
boyish pop tenor (think Neil Sedaka with less pizzazz) for pre-Beatles
America. What made his career was a collection of fine songs such as "Poetry
In Motion" and "Talk Back Trembling Lips." Tillotson also managed to make
country palatable for the teens by covering "Send Me The Pillow That You
Dream On" and "Funny How Time Slips Away" among others. The sound is mostly
stereo with mono on the expected titles. "Out Of My Mind" which has been mono
on other sets is in stereo here which is welcome though it does overmodulate
a bit at times (vinyl source perhaps?). "Poetry In Motion" and the great
"You Can Never Stop Me Loving You" (a "Can't Get Used To Losing You" staccato
strings sound a-like) jump out of the speakers at you due to remixing from
three track masters. This is an excellent set if you're a Tillotson fan.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-18-01

Title:Ray Stevens - All-Time Greatest Hits
Label:Varese Sarabande 302 066 201 2

Comments:Fans of Ray Stevens wanting a complete overview of his career may be
better advised to purchase another package, but if your main interest is the
hits and misses Stevens recorded for Monument and Barnaby - this set is for
you. The first Stevens near-hit is included here from NRC ("Sergeant Preston
Of The Yukon"), but then the Mercury era goes begging with newer live
versions of "Ahab The Arab" and "Harry The Hairy Ape" substituting for the
harder to license hit versions (and "Jeremiah Peabody…" is missing
all-together. OK, but what you do get is 23 total tracks with of prime
period Stevens. With those wacky novelty records, you'd think that the bulk
of the songs would be in that vein, but actually more than half are more
serious including "Mr. Businessman," "Everything Is Beautiful," "America
Communicate With Me" and the fun down-home version of the old Errol Garner
hit "Misty." In the goofy vein you do get "Gitarzan," "The Streak" and my
fave "Bridget The Midget" (political correctness be damned). Other goodies
are "Unwind" (which changes tempo too much for a big hit, but is well-done)
and "Freddie Feelgood (And His Funky Little Five Piece Band)." The set ends
with "Indian Love Call" and "Young Love" after which he had a couple of
charters on Warner Brothers not included here. The booklet is informative
and has some nice pictures.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-18-01

Title:Then - Totally Oldies 1
Label:Varese Sarabande 302 066 219 2

Comments:A glimpse at the current Billboard album charts shows one of the
volumes in the singles collection series Now riding at the top. Collections
of forgettable pop by forgettable artists is nothing new (anybody have those
awful sounding K-Tel albums in their vinyl stash?). Varese has decided to do
the same sort of thing with the similarly titled Then - putting together a
set of 18 totally unrelated songs mainly from the '70s. The way these sets
go, if you like enough of the songs and don't already have them - you buy.
So, here's what you get: M ("Pop Music"), Shaun Cassiday ("Hey Deanie"),
Amii Stewart ("Knock On Wood"), Smokie ("Living Next Door To Alice"), Maxine
Nightingale ("Lead Me On"), etc. Either you love Jim Croce ("Bad Bad Leroy
Brown") and Starbuck ("Moonlight Feels Right") or you want to tear off
somebody's eyelids when you hear them. Still, there is no denying that they
were big hits and a lot of people liked them. If you like the concept then
buy and look for other volumes. Frankly, you would rather buy this than a
Samantha Sang album to get "Emotion" anyway - wouldn't you?

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-18-01

Title:Freddie Cannon - The Explosive!
Label:Swan CD-502

Comments:This is the generally stereo version of the 12 track Freddie Cannon
album devoted to songs about various cities ("Indiana," "California, Here I
Come," etc.) Two singles are in mono: "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" and
"Okefenokee." While "Tallahassee Lassie" is in stereo, it's not the hit
version. "Boston (My Home Town)" at least is in stereo. The mixes are a bit
odd sounding. Generally you get all the instruments on one channel and the
vocal on the other with occasional overdubs like piano, percussion and bass.
Still, if you're a stereo buff like me, you need it since this stuff
generally appears in mono elsewhere. The sound is excellent and one assumes
from tape.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-30-01

Title:Terry Sylvester - Complete Works 1969-1982
Label:Magic 3930048 (French import)

Comments:The compact disc revolution has sparked some amazing releases you
would never expect to see reissued. While Terry Sylvester of the Hollies put
out a wonderful solo album in 1974 of pretty love ballads, it sold squat.
So, of course, in 2001 we get a two disc set with 43 tracks of everything
Sylvester did in 1969-82 which includes that solo album, more tracks from his
1976 import release, his Hollies tracks, six tracks from his album with
Bread-man James Griffin, single sides and even three previously unreleased
songs. Wow! If you like the Hollies lush harmony driven ballads, this is a
set made in heaven. The sound is a bit lower key than I'd have expected, but
ok. The package looks great with reproductions of covers and a short
biography on the jacket. My faves have always been "For The Peace Of All
Mankind" and "If You Change Your Mind." Of the tracks I've not heard before,
"I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)" and "Undecided" are my
new faves. Bonus points for including the great "Jesus Was A Crossmaker"
from the Clarke-less Hollies period.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-30-01

Title:Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent - Out Of The Shadows
Label:Redhouse REDHCD 2 (UK import)

Comments:The two ex-Zombies who teamed up so perfectly in that band and on
the first couple of Colin Blunstone solo albums have put out another winner
with this new album. You get Blunstone's gorgeous breathy vocal work and
Argent's prog keyboards and background vocals on 10 new tracks. The first
half of the disc is the best. Highlights are "Home" which sorta builds with
an almost Procol Harumish organ break and the single should-be track
"Sanctuary." If you want the best album from these guys, get Odessey &
Oracle by the Zombies and perhaps Blunstone's One Year, then buy this one.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-30-01

Title:Swag - Catch-all
Label:Yep-Roc YEP 2023

Comments:Take a Cheap Trick bassist, a Mavericks guitarist, a pop soloist and
players from Wilco and Sixpence None the Richer and mix them together then
you get this fabulous power-pop album which deserves a place on the radio
(but doesn't stand a prayer against the N'syncStreet Boys of the world).
Sounding a lot like a tougher Squeeze or even the Kinks at times, this is
manna for a guy raised on the Beatles and New Wavers like the Knack.
Highlights are "I'll Get By" and "Please Don't Tell." This will be in my top
10 list at the end of the year, you can rest assured.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-30-01
 

Title:Go-os - God Bless The Go-os
Label:Beyond 70182-2

Comments:Who'd have expected a new release from the Go-os in 2001 and for it
to be perhaps the best album of their career? The songs are great power pop
slabs of guitar driven by Belinda Carlisle's sweet vocals. The songs are a
whole lot tougher than anything they did before (at least the sound seems
louder and thicker). Check out "La La Land" and "Stuck In My Car" which
should be all over the radio in a few weeks if there is any justice in the
world. This stands up against songs like "Vacation" and "Our Lips Are
Sealed" which says a lot. Most reunions should never happen, God Bless the
Go-Gos indeed.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-30-01

Title:Los Straitjackets - Damas Y Caballeros!
Label:Cavalcade YEP 2025

Comments:This is a 20 track live album (ok, one track is a fun intro) by the
best guitar instrumental Ventures-like band in 2001. Guitarists Danny Amis
and Eddie Angel are flat-out guitar gods and drummer Les James Lester (late
of Webb Wilder's band - whre are you Webb?!) is the best drummer currently in
rock. This amounts to a greatest hits of the band live with several fun
covers. You get two Link Wray covers "I'm Branded" and "Rawhide" which
absolutely burn. You also get a Ventures cover "Driving Guitars" (next time
how 'bout "The Creeper"?) and Santo and Johnny's "Sleepwalk." Want more?
How's about "Squad Car," "Last Date" and "Tempest" for rarities. "Kawanga"
stomps and props for the cover of "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From
Titanic)" which is better than Celine Dion. This shows that the guys can
play the songs in concert just as they recorded them. The sound is tougher
than the album versions and you get the goofy Spanish language inbetween song
jabber (what are they saying? - anyone?).

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 4-30-01

Title:P.F.Sloan - Child Of Our Times - The Trousdale Demo Sessions 1965-1967
Label:Varese Sarabande 302 066 157 2

Comments:For a short period of time the team of Phillip Sloan and Steve Barri
were everywhere in music. They were a surf band (the Fantastic Baggies -
"Tell 'em I'm Surfin'"), a folk/pop band (the Grassroots - "Where Were You
When I Needed You"), solo pseudo-Dylan protesters (P.F. Sloan - "The Sins Of
A Family") and potent songwriters ("Eve Of Destruction," "A Must To Avoid,"
etc.). This 20 song set showcases the studio demos Sloan and Barri cut
during a two year period (Sloan sang hence the release is under his name) and
the results are impressive. Turtles fans will recognize at least three of
the songs ("You Baby," "Is It Any Wonder" and "Can I Get To Know You Better")
and note that the arrangements are already there (including the vocal
harmonies) in the demo versions. The booklet notes that "You Baby" was
written for the Vogues originally but they passed on it - dumb move. Most of
the songs are in mono and sound slightly unfinished compared to the released
versions, but that doesn't mean these versions are not exceptional recordings
that are worth a listen to. The best tracks here are the less familiar ones
such as "Another Day, Another Heartache" which the Fifth Dimension charted
with. Many of the songs are 'unplugged' sounding with just acoustic guitars
and a few percussive elements. Other songs sound like full band productions
- with perhaps a calliope or harpsichord overdub, "Say It Again" could well
have been released in this form as a single. Several of these songs are
familiar from the fabulous 1994 Varese release Where Were You When I Needed
You - The Grassroots (VSD 5511) which is essential to own if you're a fan of
great '60s pop (track down a copy if you can). "Look Out Girl," "You Baby,"
I've Got No More To Say" and "You're A Lonely Girl" are all on both CDs with
the Grassroots versions getting the nod for production values. In the
booklet, each song is discussed and there are some great rare pictures (its
amazing to see how young Sloan and Barri looked considering how sophisticated
their musical skills were at the time). This is a great '60s folk/rock LP.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS 5-9-01

Title:The Best of The Boston Sound/The Very Best Of Orpheus/The Very Best Of
Ultimate Spinach
Label:Varese Sarabande 302 066 235/6/7 2

Comments:On the old Polygram Chronicles CD ads from nearly a decade ago was
listing for a Boston Sound compilation. After spending time fruitlessly
searching for this disc, it was determined that it had never been released
(much to this reviewers' disappointment at the time). Finally, Varese
Sarabande seems to have rescued the project from the clutches of time (wish
someone would rescue my Colorado '60s rock project - contact me at
rockdent@aol.com if you can help, labels) with these three new CDs. The best
place to start is with the first overview CD which collects 18 songs by
different bands from Boston mostly circa 1968. While bands like Earth Opera,
Beacon Street Union, Fabulous Farquar, et al were lumped together at the time
due to their regional origins, a listen to these songs shows a diversity of
style ranging from the light pop of Orpheus to the harder sounds of Listen.
In general you are given the penultimate track by each band (very few
charted). This reviewer is partial to the psychedelic classicism of "Silver
Children" by Front Page Review and "Off With The Old" by Chamaeleon Church.
The liner notes are penned by producer Alan Lorber. Why he chose to ignore
any details about the individual bands in the notes is regrettable and leaves
the listener to guess about the origins of bands like Phluph and Puff (sounds
like a cartoon show actually). Varese might be wise to make this the first
in a series devoted to '60s regional music scenes rescuing ignored singles
(like an Autumn/Vault San Francisco CD, a Detroit rock CD and of course a
Colorado rock CD - can't blame a guy for trying can you?).
More in depth sets have been released on Ultimate Spinach and Orpheus.
The former is perhaps best remembered as the starting point for guitarist
Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter while the latter had the bigger chart presence with two
top 100 singles in "Can't Find The Time" (#80) and "Brown Arms In Houston"
(#91). The first two Ultimate Spinach albums were 'Skunk-less' and featured
the poetic classicism of Ian Bruce-Douglas. Stylistically you get
mini-suites built around guitar and organ with philosophical musings about
the state of the U.S. at the end of the '60s. "Baroque #1" and "Fragmentary
March Of Green" are excellent examples of a musical talent in Bruce-Douglas
curiously overlooked by many (and strangely absent from music after 1968 -
Lorber's liner notes offer no clues as to his fate since he gave up Spinach).
The third Spinach album features virtually a whole new group and a more
commercially oriented direction (songs like "Just Like Romeo & Juliet"
replaced earlier adventures like "Fifth Horsemen Of The Apocalypse"). On the
other extreme musically were Orpheus who sounded very light pop not unlike
the Sunshine Company or the Association. This 16 track CD represents all
four albums from their career including the 1971 Bell album with a revamped
line-up (which put out a decent single in "Big Green Pearl"). All three CDs
sport attractive packaging with color reproductions of album covers and rare
pictures.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 5-26-01

Title:The Beach Boys - Hawthorne, CA
Label:Capitol 72435-31583-2-3

Comments:This two CD 57 track set continues in the same vein as Endless
Harmony and the boxsets of rare Beach Boys material by throwing out another
generous helping of new stereo mixes ("Dance Dance Dance" and "Heroes &
Villains"), live goodies ("Shut Down") and other ephemera including various
interview pieces. A Cappella or instruments only mixes are pretty heavily
weighted on this set which may or may not appeal to you (this reviewer began
skipping ahead midway through - and instrumental version of "Sail On Sailor"
seems a bit superfluous), but with so much wealth of unreleased tracks there
really is something for every fan. The amazing thing is how the sound keeps
getting better and better (just check out the clarity on the new stereo mix
of "Salt Lake City" compared to the old Capitol 2-fer which was so great at
the time - makes you wish for a fully stereo version of the Summer Days (and
Summer Nights) LP).
If there was a competition at the time between the Beach Boys and the
Beatles, this serves the ball firmly back to the Beatles' court - how's about
some more Anthology releases, guys? - or, horrors, stereo versions of the
first four albums. Capitol has done a great job by Beach Boys fans with the
material and the booklet.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 5-26-01

Title:Fleetwood Mac - Show Biz Blues - 1968 to 1979 Vol. 2
Label:Receiver RDPCD 15

Comments:Very much in the same spirit as Vol. 1 (Vaudeville Years), this two
CD set lays out more Reprise era Peter Green driven Mac. Disc two is all
live while disc one starts is studio starting with three Booker T-like tracks
with Green playing guitar in the Peter B's. In general, Jeremy Spencer
dominates the proceedings with more of his great old rock and roll covers
(unreleased versions of "Tiger," "Great Balls Of Fire," Don't Be Cruel" and
"You're The One"). Many of the songs are alternates from the great Live In
Boston series ("Jumpin' At Shadows" and "Black Magic Woman") and the versions
sound pretty similar (though the stereo mix is artificial sounding here
compared to the crispness of the Boston set). This set is definitely for
completists only, but is welcome just the same. It would be nice if someone
would put out the cruelly overlooked first solo Jeremy Spencer album if they
want to do fans a favor. There is a generous booklet included with lots of
rare black and white photos.

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 5-26-01
 

01/20/09