The Albums 1978-1979 is a 38 track 2CD digipack featuring all of the recordings made by TRB for EMI Records between 1977-79.
Disc one features TRB’s debut album, Power In The Darkness, that was originally released in 1978. I still regularly play my original vinyl, that came with a famous stencil (which you can download from Tom’s site), so obviously I am a fan. Up Against The Wall is a powerful opener, and one of the best singles of 1978, whilst the gentler Rhodes driven Too Good To Be True sounds as good today as it did back in ’78.
My two favourite, and most played tracks from the album, sit together in the track list. The searing Long Hot Summer and the anthemic The Winter of ’79 send me back in time to those heady late 70s days. Tom’s powerful lyrics and the late Danny Kustow’s finest guitar performance shines so bright on this classic album track.
“Yes a few of us fought And a few of us died In the winter of ’79”
The Man You Never Saw passed me by at the time, but in recent years, now resonates with such power. The extra tracks on the first disc are as strong as the main album. 2-4-6-8 Motorway was a top 5 single in 1977, and was an ever-present on the radio for most of that year. 1978’s live Rising Free EP is included here in it’s entirety, the highlights of which are the Wilko Johnson like frenzied guitar driven Don’t Take No For An Answer and the hugely influential, and as powerful now as it was back in 1978, (Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay. It is hard to imagine now, but this was such a brave song to release by Tom and the band, and the album notes have a lovely quote from Tom:
“Middle aged people still come up to me and say, ‘I’m so glad you did that song. It made a real difference to my life.’ That’s a fantastic feeling – having risked sticking my neck out – to find out how much it meant to people at the time.”
The album closes with three live songs not included on the original live EP – Winter Of ’79, I’m All Right Jack and Waiting For My Man.
Disc two is the band’s second and final studio album, TRB TWO from 1979. TRB Two is an underrated rock/pop album, with a sympathetic production from Todd Rundgren. All Right All Night has some sharp classic-rock guitar lines, added to the new wave energy. Let My People Be features warm keyboards from Ian Parker and a powerful performance from former Kate Bush drummer Preston Heyman.
Bully For You (a co-write with Peter Gabriel) is the album’s stand-out track, with a raw and impassioned vocal from Tom. The final track of the original album, Hold Out, points at some of the future directions his music would take.
Highlights of the extra tracks included on the second disc include Our People, that harks back to the first album in its arrangement, the B-side Getting Tighter, with its Steely Dan-esque arrangement and the two versions (7″ and 12″) of the Philly soul single Never Gonna Fall In Love… (Again), that was written with Elton John. I first heard the song on the 1981 Tom Robinson Band compilation, though I’ve long since lost my vinyl copy. Elton released his own version of Never Gonna Fall In Love… (Again) in 1980 on his 21 at 33 album.
This 2 CD collection is the perfect way to collect the music of the Tom Robinson Band, and a great way to escape back to the late 70s, preferably by car with 2-4-6-8 Motorway blasting out of the FM radio.
“2-4-6-8, ain’t never too late Me and my radio truckin’ on through the night”
DISC ONE POWER IN THE DARKNESS Up Against The Wall Grey Cortina Too Good To Be True Ain’t Gonna Take It Long Hot Summer The Winter Of ’79 Man You Never Saw Better Decide Which Side You’re On You Gotta Survive Power In The Darkness BONUS TRACKS 2-4-6-8 Motorway I Shall Be Released I’m All Right Jack Don’t Take No For An Answer (live) (Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay (live) Martin (live) Right On Sister (live) Winter Of ’79 (live) I’m All Right Jack (live) Waiting For My Man (live)
DISC TWO TRB TWO All Right All Night Why Should I Mind Black Angel Let My People Be Blue Murder Bully For You Crossing Over The Road Sorry Mr. Harris Law And Order Days Of Rage Hold Out BONUS TRACKS Our People Bully For You (Rough Mix) Suits Me Suits You (LP Demo) Never Gonna Fall In Love… (Again) (7” version) Getting Tighter Never Gonna Fall In Love… (Again) (12” version) 2-4-6-8 Motorway (Original demo)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
As a recent covert to the Qobuz hi-resolution streaming service, I thought it would be a good idea to make some playlists of some of the songs that highlight the wow factor of lossless streaming.
What does the hi-resolution experience sound like? Hi-res audio offers greater detail and texture, bringing listeners closer to the original recorded studio or live performance. Bass hits deeper and harder, vocals are clearer, percussion is crisper and the songs sound fuller, more expansive and richer. Parts of the recording that you may not have noticed in a lossy format become more visible, and at times its like hearing the music through new upgraded ears!
I’m a couple of weeks in, and this playlist is made up of some of the tracks that jumped out straight away as being a huge upgrade on the audio quality of songs that I have known and loved for years.
Qobuz uses the tagline “Rediscover Music” and that is what I have been doing over the past few weeks. For those new to hi-res music, you need extra equipment to hear beyond CD quality – so a DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) is needed. Streaming from mobiles / tablets works without a DAC up to CD quality, so better than the MP3 quality of Spotify (that I will be ditching!) but if you add a portable DAC such as the DAC I use – AudioQuest DragonFly DAC (and for Apple / iPhone users a Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter is needed), you can listen to hi-res from your phone or tablet.
If you are planning to listen through your hi-fi setup, through your amp and speakers, you will need a DAC streamer such as the Cambridge Audio MXN10.
There are other services, such as Tidal and Apple Music, but I have settled on Qobuz due to the added features such as the editorial options that are provided, along with a great online community and the easy way to get track / recording details for songs and albums.
The catalogue is not perfect – there are some hi-res gaps that I hope will be filled over the next year. The main catalogue is comparable in volume to Spotify, with music available in CD quality but not all of it is in hi-resolution / lossless at the moment. Notable hi-res omissions (although they do have lots of these in CD quality) for me include The Police, The Stranglers, some Steely Day (what, no Aja, once of the best sounding albums of all time?), Porcupine Tree’s Deadwing (another sonically amazing album), Thomas Dolby and some Prince releases.
I’ve spent the past week browsing the hi-resolution catalogue and have added lots of favourites to go back to savour, so Qobuz have already succeeded on the re-discovery front. If you are a Qobuz subscriber, please have a listen to my playlist and let me know what you think. I hope you find some music you like, that you may not have been aware of before.
Hi-res Revelations (part 1) tracks
Peter Gabriel – The Rhythm Of The Heat
The Rhythm Of The Heat had to be the song to open my playlist. Taken from Peter Gabriel 4: Security from 1982, the song sounds stunning in this lossless format. Gabriel’s vocals are clear, and the arrangement builds slowly, with a stark, restrained backing until the percussion explodes on the 3/4 mark.
The Who – Who Are You
Who Are You, the title track from The Who’s 8th studio album, was released in 1978 and was the last album to feature Keith Moon. The synths really bubble in this hi-res version, and Entwistle’s bass has a more prominent role, showing how the bassline really fed into the groove on the final chorus. Townshend’s guitar work in the stripped back middle section is one of my favourite Who moments.
Issac Hayes – Theme From Shaft
Theme From Shaft is one of my favourite songs. Whenever I hear this track, I am instantly transported back to the early 70s. I treasure my original double vinyl version of the Shaft soundtrack, but this hi-res stream is by far the best sounding version I have heard of this iconic and influential single. The hi-hat and wah-wah guitar interplay sounds like you are in the studio as the track was being recorded. I have heard this song hundreds of times and I never tire of it. Can you dig it?
Paul McCartney Goodnight Tonight (single version)
This 1979 single is included on the Pure McCartney compilation on Qobuz, a quick and easy way to dive into Macca’s post-Beatles catalogue.
Featuring one of McCartney’s finest basslines, the backing vocals and Rhodes piano on Goodnight Tonight is timeless.
The Carpenters Rainy Days And Mondays
Considering how well-known Rainy Days And Mondays has become, its surprising to note that it wasn’t a big hit in the UK, though it did reach number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A lot of the songs that blew me away during my first few weeks of using Qobuz were often beat driven, with complicated arrangements, but that was not the case here. The simplicity of the arrangement is pure pop perfection.
Karen Carpenters lead vocal before the strings kick in, is a performance of real beauty. Tommy Morgan’s plaintive harmonica lines just add to the magic.
Mike Oldfield – Five Miles Out
Mike Oldfield has a fair collection of lossless albums on Qobuz, but at the time of writing is missing hi-res versions of Platinum (my favourite Oldfield release), Incantations, Ommadawn, Hergest Ridge and criminally, Tubular Bells. I am hoping they get these early albums in hi-resolution soon. Qobuz do have a hi-res version of one of my favourite Oldfield albums from the early 80s, and I have included the title track from Five Miles Out in this playlist.
Five Miles Out featured Maggie Reilly and a heavily vocoder’d Mike Oldfield on vocals. I have always loved Oldfield’s guitar work, especially his sharp solos, and he is joined by Rick Fenn (10cc) on additional guitar here.
Five Miles Out has never sounded better, with a power and clarity that makes listening to this song an absolute joy.
Kate Bush – Breathing
It was difficult to pick just one song from one of my favourite artists, Kate Bush, who is well-represented in hi-res on Qobuz. It would be too obvious to pick Running Up That Hill (which admittedly does sound wonderful in hi-res) so I went with another personal favourite, the 1980’s post-apocalyptic Breathing. Mood killer!
The Rhodes sparkle and the bassline from the late John Giblin works so well with Kate’s intelligent and emotional multi-layered vocal arrangement.
Kate is not given enough credit for her production skills, which shine on the Never For Ever album. The subtle reverb on the snare, and the placement in the mix of all instruments give this track a rare power. Turn the lights off and turn up the volume if you are a Qobuz subscriber, and prepare to be moved.
Steven Wilson – Drive Home
The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories) sounds delicious in hi-resolution, and I could easily have chosen any of the album’s tracks to highlight the power of hi-res audio, but I went for the single Drive Home for my playlist.
You can hear the scrape of fingers on guitar, and the drums have real depth. The production is stellar on Drive Home, and the guitar solo from Guthrie Govan takes this song to another level, making this one of Wilson’s most exquisite songs to date.
This Mortal Coil – I Come And Stand At Every Door
Beauty can also be found in darkness. The trilogy of albums from This Mortal Coil can be found in hi-res on Qobuz, and I have chosen I Come And Stand At Every Door from the final This Mortal Coil album, Blood.
Musically a million miles away from The Byrds version of the song, that was based on a poem by Nazim Hikmet. The discordant drums cut through the vocals from Deirdre and Louise Rutkowski, who deliver a gothic choral performance that sends shivers down my spine.
Tim Bowness / Giancarlo Erra – Change Me Once Again
Tim Bowness / Giancarlo Erra remixed and re-released their Memories of Machines album on it’s 10 year anniversary in 2022, and I have included one of the albums key tracks here. Change Me Once Again (featuring Julianne Regan on backing vocals) has a real lightness of touch, with thick acoustic guitars, and a mid-paced tempo, that sounds delicious in hi-resolution.
“Forget the heartache, forget the past”
The Cocteau Twins – Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires
The Cocteau Twins are also well-represented in hi-resolution on Qobuz, and I’ve included one of their most beautiful pieces, Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires from the bands sixth studio album Heaven Or Las Vegas, from 1990.
The jittery percussion and heavily processed guitars are more noticeable in lossless form, and listening to this song in this quality almost feels like an out-of-body experience.
The Pretenders – Kid
This single from 1979 sounds so much more vibrant in hi-resolution. The production by Chris Thomas is warm and bright, with the drums and the multi-layered guitars (those harmonics 😍) topped by Chrissie Hynde’s unique vocals make this my favourite early Pretenders song.
Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight
I simply had to include this song from Face Value. The beauty of hi-resolution audio is the lack of compression – with room for the quieter parts to breathe, so when that iconic drum break smashes through your speakers, your whole soul shakes.
The Knack – My Sharona
It’s all about the drums, baby! My Sharona is another groove-led song. This American new wave classic was always one of the best produced songs of the genre, and the scratchy guitar solo screams out of the speakers in hi-res.
Squeeze – Slap & Tickle
Now we go over to one of the UK’s finest bands, and a 1979 single from Squeeze. The band have never sounded better, with percussive guitar and swirling Kraftwerk / Giorgio Moroder inspired synths.
Donna Summer – Now I Need You
And talking of Giorgio Moroder… Donna Summer has a few hi-resolution albums on Qobuz, including what I think is her greatest album, the double Once Upon A Time from late 1977.
Summers vocals switch from warm and sensual to detached and clinical, depending on the mood of each track. The songs were written by Summer, Moroder and Pete Bellotte, and Now I Need You, with its massed choir like backing and pulsing electronic beat, oozes an alluring synthetic warmth.
I may have to include I Feel Love in my next Qobuz playlist, as it sounds so good at volume on this hi-res streaming platform.
Prince – If I Was Your Girlfriend
One of the more experimental tracks from 1987’s Sign “O” The Times double album. If I Was Your Girlfriend makes good use of the Fairlight and Prince’s favoured (at the time) Linn drum machine.
The bass (both slap and deep note) really cut through in hi-res, and the complexity of the vocal arrangement shines like never before. A perfect headphone song.
Tears For Fears – Mothers Talk
Mothers Talk was the first single from Songs from the Big Chair, and is not a favourite of the band, so is rarely performed live.
The guitars and drums cut clean through the sample-heavy song, and like the aforementioned Shaft, Mothers Talk takes me back to the time of its original release, and I’m wearing white jeans and a Relax t-shirt. In my dreams.
Porcupine Tree – Russia On Ice
I could have chosen so many Porcupine Tree songs, as they are always an example of quality production, but I went with Lightbulb Sun‘s Russia On Ice due to the complexity of the arrangement, and the peaks and troughs that highlight the beauty of hi-resolution audio.
Richard Barbieri contributes some of his strongest soundscapes, with synths, mellotrons and organ adding mood setting textures, whilst Steven Wilson delivers pitch-perfect harmonies and emotive guitar solos.
Lightbulb Sun is the last Porcupine Tree tree studio album to feature original drummer Chris Maitland, with Gavin Harrison taking over for In Absentia in 2002.
Electric Light Orchestra – Night In The City
Night In The City is from 1977’s massive selling Out of the Blue. The whole album sounds beautiful, but one of its lesser known tracks highlights the clarity afforded to it in hi-resolution.
Listen to the separation of the acoustic and electric guitars, alongside Rhodes keyboard and string riffs. Its a joy to hear, either loud on speakers or at night via headphones.
Harry Nilsson – Jump Into The Fire
One of the older songs on my playlist, Jump Into The Fire was given a second lease of life by being featured in a tense, paranoid scene in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 classic gangster film Goodfellas.
The track is taken from the album Nilsson Schmilsson, which features appearances from top session musicians Chris Spedding (guitar), Herbie Flowers (bass) and on the wild drum break that sounds top class here, Jim Gordon.
St. Vincent – The Nowhere Inn
The Nowhere Inn is from the soundtrack to the film of the same name. When compiling the playlist, it quickly became obvious that I was choosing lots of older music, so I added this song as an example of the improvement in audio quality from a more recent release. The twists and turns in The Nowhere Inn constantly surprise and delight.
Daddy’s Home is another recent St. Vincent album, with its stylistic nods to the early 70s, that sounds glorious in lossless format.
I hope you enjoy listening to my Qobuz playlist. Please follow me on Twitter if you want to be informed of part 2.
NOW Yearbook ’78 is a new 4CD or 3LP collection that covers one of the greatest years for UK pop singles. The compilation is available on vinyl – with a 3LP limited pink vinyl release featuring 46 tracks, and two versions of the CD release: the limited hardback 4CD version (including a 28-page booklet featuring a summary of the year, a track-by-track guide, a quiz, and original singles artwork) and a standard 4CD version, both featuring the same 85 tracks.
It is worth noting that the limited editions (vinyl and hardback) usually sell-out, and if you don’t want to pay a premium tracking down more expensive copies on Discogs or eBay, if you are interested, get your order in quick!
1978 was a great year for so many genres. Look at the new wave hits (mostly congregating on LP 2 side B and CD disc 2). Siouxsie and The Banshees debut single Hong Kong Garden jostles for attention with The Clash’s (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais, an early classic from The Jam with the chilling Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, alongside one of Ian Dury and The Blockheads finest singles What A Waste. The Bruce Springsteen / Patti Smith song Because The Night is a track that sounds as powerful today as it did back in 1978. Great music is timeless.
The rock and roll revival of the late 70s is represented by Darts with The Boy From New York City, and one of the biggest films of the year in Grease features with two of the soundtracks ballads, Olivia Newton-John’s Hopelessly Devoted To You and John Travolta’s Sandy.
Disco was one of the most popular genres in 1978, and some absolute classic are featured on NOW Yearbook 1978. Donna Summer features twice with MacArthur Park and the classic pop of I Love You. Instant Replay from Dan Hartman and the Michael Zager Band’s Let’s All Chant will get you on your feet as well as singing along. Eruption’s I Can’t Stand The Rain was all over the airwaves in 1978 and is deservedly included here, as is Earth, Wind and Fire’s Fantasy along with a couple of soul ballads in Heatwave’s Always And Forever and Love Don’t Live Here Anymore from Rose Royce.
Classic Rock and progressive pop also features strongly. An often overlooked band from this era, City Boy, contribute 5.7.0.5., their only hit single. One of the last great singles from The Who (Who Are You) is well-sequenced in this compilation next to Cold As Ice by Foreigner, a staple of FM radio in Life’s Been Good by Joe Walsh and the finest Blue Oyster Cult single, (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, a song used to wonderful effect in the TV adaptation of Steven King’s The Stand from 1994.
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds was a massive selling album in the late 70s, and one of the key songs in Justin Hayward’s Forever Autumn features in NOW Yearbook ’78. Renaissance and their top 10 hit single Northern Lights is rarely played on oldies stations these days, but its a fine single. A Taste Of Honey with Boogie Oogie Oogie was another that was a much-played song on the radio and yet seems to have been forgotten as the years have passed.
Some songs that do still feature on 70s themed stations make a welcome appearance. Gerry Rafferty and Baker Street with one of the most iconic sax solos in pop and Mr. Blue Sky, a signature song from Electric Light Orchestra, are well-known, yet some less celebrated singles such as Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young and the late Andrew Gold with the pop nugget that is Never Let Her Slip Away are just as rewarding.
The only mis-step is the inclusion of Father Abraham’s Smurf Song. I know it was a hit but does anyone really want to hear this novelty song in 2023? The CD will be switched off before the song comes on, and I’m sure I won’t be alone in doing this. It was wisely programmed as the final track on the CD set.
NOW Yearbook 1978 is available now.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? 10cc – Dreadlock Holiday Justin Hayward – Forever Autumn Wings – With A Little Luck Kate Bush – The Man With The Child In His Eyes
LP 1 Side B
Bonnie Tyler – It’s A Heartache Suzi Quatro – If You Can’t Give Me Love Clout – Substitute Crystal Gayle – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Elton John – Part-Time Love Billy Joel – Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) Joe Walsh – Life’s Been Good Blue Öyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
LP 2 Side A
Donna Summer – MacArthur Park Chic – Le Freak A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie The Three Degrees – Givin’ Up Givin’ In Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You Odyssey – Native New Yorker Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy
LP 2 Side B
The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap The Undertones – Teenage Kicks Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) Siouxsie And The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden The Rezillos – Top Of The Pops Elvis Costello & The Attractions – (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight Patti Smith – Because The Night
LP 3 Side A
ABBA – Take A Chance On Me Baccara – Sorry, I’m A Lady Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking Blondie – Denis Olivia Newton-John – Hopelessly Devoted To You Renaissance – Northern Lights Dean Friedman w/ Denise Marsa – Lucky Stars
LP 3 Side B
Marshall Hain – Dancing In The City Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip – I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper Hot Chocolate – Every 1’s a Winner Commodores – Three Times A Lady Rose Royce – Wishing On A Star
4CD Track listing
Disc: 1
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? ABBA – Take A Chance On Me Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon 10cc – Dreadlock Holiday Althea and Donna – Uptown Top Ranking Donna Summer – MacArthur Park Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You Chic – Everybody Dance Odyssey – Native New Yorker Rose Royce – Wishing On A Star Commodores – Three Times A Lady Marshall Hain – Dancing In The City Clout – Substitute Bonnie Tyler – It’s A Heartache Suzi Quatro – If You Can’t Give Me Love Wings – With A Little Luck Kate Bush - The Man With The Child In His Eyes
Disc: 2
The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap The Undertones – Teenage Kicks Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) Siouxsie and The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden The Rezillos – Top Of The Pops Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone Elvis Costello and The Attractions – (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea The Clash – (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight Ian Dury and The Blockheads – What A Waste Patti Smith – Because The Night The Cars – My Best Friend’s Girl The Motors – Airport City Boy – 5.7.0.5. Sweet – Love Is Like Oxygen Elton John – Part-Time Love Billy Joel – Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) The Who – Who Are You Foreigner – Cold As Ice Joe Walsh – Life’s Been Good Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper Justin Hayward – Forever Autumn
Disc: 3
Chic – Le Freak A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie Tavares – More Than A Woman Alicia Bridges – I Love The Nightlife (Disco ‘Round) Dan Hartman – Instant Replay Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant Raffaella Carrà – Do It Do It Again (A Far L’Amore Comincia Tu) Baccara – Sorry, I’m A Lady Sheila and B Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain Voyage – From East To West Donna Summer – I Love You The Three Degrees – Givin’ Up Givin’ In Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover Sarah Brightman and Hot Gossip – I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper Crown Heights Affair – Galaxy Of Love Gladys Knight and The Pips – Come Back And Finish What You Started Hot Chocolate – Every 1’s A Winner Earth, Wind and Fire – Fantasy Heatwave – Always And Forever Rose Royce – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Disc: 4
Blondie – Denis Olivia Newton-John – Hopelessly Devoted To You John Travolta – Sandy Darts – The Boy From New York City Bill Withers – Lovely Day John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air Barry Manilow – Copacabana Renaissance – Northern Lights Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words Boney M. – Brown Girl In The Ring Brotherhood Of Man – Figaro Co-Co – Bad Old Days Dollar – Shooting Star Andrew Gold – Never Let Her Slip Away Dean Friedman w/ Denise Marsa – Lucky Stars The Manhattan Transfer – Walk In Love David Soul – Let’s Have A Quiet Night In Crystal Gayle – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Elkie Brooks – Don’t Cry Out Loud David Essex – Oh What A Circus Brian and Michael – Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs Father Abraham – Smurf Song
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
Cherry Red are releasing a 3CD/Blu-Ray Remastered & Expanded version of Barclay James Harvest’s second album, Once Again on 27 January 2023.
Originally released in February 1971, Once Again was recorded at Abbey Road studios and was produced by Norman Smith.
This new expanded edition features three CDs and an all-region blu-ray disc and comprises 44 tracks on the box-set. The set features the original UK stereo mix remastered from the original master tapes and also includes new 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo mixes by Stephen W. Tayler, a new remaster of the 1972 SQ Quad mix of the album and a multi-channel version of the 1972 Quad mix.
In addition, there is also a rare live performance recorded for BBC Radio One’s John Peel show in February 1971, and seven further rare bonus tracks, including an early version of Mockingbird and the full version of the unreleased piece White Sails (A Seascape).
This release includes a lavishly illustrated booklet with a new essay from Barclay James Harvest experts Keith and Monika Domone and a replica of a 1971 promotional poster.
The original album contains a remaster that is faithful to the original mix along with two bonus cuts and three live John Peel Sunday Concert performances. If you already know and love the album, there’s not much to add that you don’t already know, other than this is the album presented in its original form, sounding at it’s best.
Once Again was described by Prog magazine in 2020 as one of the fifty ‘most influential albums in the development of Progressive Rock’. The album includes an early BJH progressive classic in Mockingbird and one of the first recorded appearances from Alan Parsons, before he engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon and recorded the hugely successful Alan Parsons Project album series.
The remasters from the original master tapes were carried out by Ben Wiseman at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire.
The new Stereo Mixes and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes are by Stephen W Tayler at Chimera Arts, Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire.
Much like the recent Bill Nelson’s Red Noise box-set, the new stereo mixes by Stephen W. Tayler offer the biggest surprises and rewards. The scene is set with the expanded to 10 minutes opening track. The mixes are very different, whilst keeping the feel and the mood of the original songs. With a wider mix, the album asserts itself further as a progressive classic.
The main difference is the removal of the hard-panning of the original tracks, and more prominent and powerful vocal mixes, meaning that I am drawn to these new stereo mixes. I love that Tayler has totally turned the mixes on their head, whilst avoiding the temptation to move the songs into a more modern setting, so the overall feeling remains faithful to the era.
Song For Dying, always one of the stronger tracks, uses new instrumentation that gives the song a different pace. Galadriel is more faithful to the original arrangement, but parts of the song, such as the horns, are noticeably more prominent.
Mockingbird is a revelation. With reverb adding to the percussive power, whilst keeping the performance intact, there is an added power to this career highlight from the band. The strings and vocal harmonies lift this new mix to unheard highs, removing the fog of time from the original mix.
Ball and Chain also benefits from the production tools available in 2022, with a widescreen production. The bonus tracks also benefit from the wider technological palette, with this early 70s rocker given more colour and depth.
White Sails (A Seascape) clocks in at just under the 12 minute mark, with aching strings giving the song a timeless feel. This abandoned from the original album piano and strings instrumental acts as a beautiful prelude to the second version of Mockingbird, Stephen W. Tayler’s reimagining of the powerful May 1970 version of the song.
The third disc offers a stereo mix of the quad version, with the 4th disc (not supplied for review) featuring a blu-ray containing the 96 kHz / 24-bit new 5.1 Surround Sound mix / new Stereo mixes /original stereo mix & 1972 Quadrophonic Mix.
The stereo quad mix adds further volume to the vocals and instrumentation, which is at it’s most effective on Mockingbird, with an added potency to the percussion.
The Cherry Red box-set is the definitive version of Once Again, and even if you own the original album, the new Stephen W. Tayler stereo mixes deliver a powerful, welcome additional version of these classic well-loved songs.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
She Said Happy Old World Song for Dying Galadriel Mocking Bird Vanessa Simmons Ball and Chain Lady Loves
Bonus tracks
Too Much on Your Plate Happy Old World (Take One) She Said (BBC John Peel Concert 1971) Mockingbird (BBC John Peel Concert 1971) Dark Now My Sky (BBC John Peel Concert 1971)
DISC TWO
Once Again – The new stereo mixes
She Said (new stereo mix) Happy Old World (new stereo mix) Song for Dying (new stereo mix) Galadriel (new stereo mix) Mocking Bird (new stereo mix) Vanessa Simmons (new stereo mix) Ball and Chain (new stereo mix) Lady Loves (new stereo mix)
Bonus tracks
Mocking Bird (first version – May 1970) Too Much on Your Plate (new stereo mix) White Sails (A Seascape) (complete version)
DISC THREE
Once Again – The 1972 SQ Quadrophonic mix
She Said (1972 SQ Quad mix) Happy Old World (1972 SQ Quad mix) Song for Dying (1972 SQ Quad mix) Galadriel (1972 SQ Quad mix) Mocking Bird (1972 SQ Quad mix) Vanessa Simmons (1972 SQ Quad mix) Ball and Chain (1972 SQ Quad mix) Lady Loves (1972 SQ Quad mix)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
NOW Yearbook Extra 1979 is a 3 CD (sadly no vinyl for these “extra” releases”) compilation, highlighting an additional 67 tracks from the charts of 1979, and acting as a companion piece to the recently released NOW Yearbook 1979 (orange vinyl / CD).
As I constantly mention (on this blog, to my cats and to anyone who will listen), 1979 is my favourite year for music, so if I was in charge of compiling these collections they would be 10 CD sets at least. The main collection and now this “extra” companion compilation, collect some of the essential singles from the year, along with some less obvious (and sometimes skippable) tracks to highlight the diversity of the charts in 1979.
The three CDs contain some absolute classics – Kid by The Pretenders, Roxy Music’s Angel Eyes, Reasons to Be Cheerful (Pt. 3) by Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Sparks The Number One Song in Heaven, Lost in Music from Sister Sledge and that’s just disc one.
The first 12 songs on disc two would make a great new wave compilation in their own right. Featuring a run of amazing singles from The Jam, The Stranglers, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash and the Skids finest single in my eyes, Working for the Yankee Dollar, plus one of my favourite singles from 1979, Milk and Alcohol by Dr. Feelgood.
Life in Tokyo by Japan and Electricity from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark hint at the electronic wave that was starting to crash into the charts, heralding the eventual new romantic movement that followed over the next few years.
Disc 3 has a few easy listening and novelty hits, but is otherwise filled to the brim with wonderful tracks such as Blondie’s Sunday Girl, Billy Joel’s Honesty (meaning The Boys Hughie Campbell will buy this compilation), plus Get It Right Next Time from Gerry Rafferty, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan by Marianne Faithfull, Toto’s Hold the Line, BA Robertson’s Knocked It Off and one of the last great Thin Lizzy singles Waiting for an Alibi.
So if you can’t afford (or invent) a time-machine, this wonderful compilation is the next best thing and it will transport you back to one of the great years for pop singles. Strap yourself in.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen Message in a Bottle – The Police Union City Blue – Blondie Kid – The Pretenders Last Train to London – Electric Light Orchestra Angel Eyes – Roxy Music Them Heavy People – Kate Bush Up the Junction – Squeeze Diamond Smiles – The Boomtown Rats Reasons to Be Cheerful (Pt. 3) – Ian Dury and The Blockheads The Number One Song in Heaven – Sparks The Runner – The Three Degrees Dim All the Lights – Donna Summer Lost in Music – Sister Sledge My Feet Keep Dancing – Chic Is It Love You’re After – Rose Royce Gotta Go Home – Boney M. Let’s Fly Away – Voyage The Prince – Madness Duke of Earl – Darts Blue Peter – Mike Oldfield Daytrip to Bangor (Didn’t We Have a Lovely Time) – Fiddler’s Dram
Disc: 2
The Sound of the Suburbs – The Members Babylon’s Burning – The Ruts Strange Town – The Jam English Civil War – The Clash Duchess – The Stranglers Playground Twist – Siouxsie and the Banshees Death Disco – Public Image Ltd Working for the Yankee Dollar – Skids Jimmy Jimmy – The Undertones C’mon Everybody – Sex Pistols Milk and Alcohol – Dr. Feelgood Banana Splits – The Dickies Time for Action – Secret Affair Back of My Hand – Jags The Loneliest Man in the World – The Tourists Life in Tokyo – Japan Electricity – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Take That to the Bank – Shalamar This Is It – Dan Hartman H.A.P.P.Y. Radio – Edwin Starr It’s a Disco Night (Rock Don’t Stop) – The Isley Brothers My Forbidden Lover – Chic The Boss – Diana Ross Take Me Home – Cher
Disc: 3
Sunday Girl – Blondie Painter Man – Boney M. My Simple Heart – The Three Degrees Sail On – The Commodores After the Love Has Gone – Earth, Wind & Fire Just the Way You Are – Barry White Honesty – Billy Joel The Ballad of Lucy Jordan – Marianne Faithfull Get It Right Next Time – Gerry Rafferty Hold the Line – Toto Whatever You Want – Status Quo Waiting for an Alibi – Thin Lizzy Car 67 – Driver 67 Knocked It Off – BA Robertson Luton Airport – Cats U.K. Some Girls – Racey Get It – Darts Who Were You With in the Moonlight – Dollar Mirrors – Sally Oldfield One Day at a Time – Lena Martell Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
The Bowie estate have released details of the official soundtrack to the new David Bowie documentary from Brett Morgen, Moonage Daydream.
The 2 CD collection and the 3 LP vinyl version features live versions, album tracks, interview excerpts, orchestral performances, and some film-specific remixes.
You can listen to one of the soundtrack’s exclusive Moonage Daydream mixes now, in the form of Modern Love (Moonage Daydream Mix).
The soundtrack includes a previously unreleased 1973 live medley of The Jean Genie and The Beatles Love Me Do, featuring Jeff Beck on guitar, recorded during Bowie’s farewell Ziggy Stardust concert at Hammersmith Odeon in 1973, along with an unreleased 1974 live recording of Rock n’ Roll With Me from Bowie’s 1974 ’Soul Tour’ and an early demo of the Hunky Dory fan-favourite Quicksand.
There were no other details released about soundtrack specific mixes at this stage, but we will be able to find out for ourselves on September 16 2022, when the digital version of the soundtrack arrives on streaming platforms, prior to a physical release.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
“Time… one of the most complex expressions…” Ian Fish U.K. Heir (Moonage Daydream Mix 1) Hallo Spaceboy (Remix Moonage Daydream Edit) Medley: Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud / All The Young Dudes / Oh! You Pretty Things (Live) Life On Mars? (2016 Mix Moonage Daydream Edit) Moonage Daydream (Live) The Jean Genie / Love Me Do / The Jean Genie (Live) (featuring Jeff Beck) The Light (Excerpt) Performed by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop Warszawa (Live Moonage Daydream Edit) Quicksand (Early Version 2021 Mix) Medley: Future Legend / Diamonds Dogs intro / Cracked Actor Rock ‘n’ Roll With Me (Live in Buffalo 8th November, 1974) Aladdin Sane (Moonage Daydream Edit) Subterraneans Space Oddity (Moonage Daydream Mix) V-2 Schneider
CD2 Sound And Vision (Moonage Daydream Mix) A New Career In A New Town (Moonage Daydream Mix) Word On A Wing (Moonage Daydream Excerpt) “Heroes” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit) D.J. (Moonage Daydream Mix) Ashes To Ashes (Moonage Daydream Mix) Move On (Moonage Daydream acappella Mix Edit) Moss Garden (Moonage Daydream Edit) Cygnet Committee/Lazarus (Moonage Daydream Mix) Memory Of A Free Festival (Harmonium Edit) Modern Love (Moonage Daydream Mix) Let’s Dance (Live Moonage Daydream Edit) The Mysteries (Moonage Daydream Mix) Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide (Live Moonage Daydream Edit) Ian Fish U.K. Heir (Moonage Daydream Mix 2) Word On A Wing (Moonage Daydream Mix) Hallo Spaceboy (live Moonage Daydream Mix) I Have Not Been To Oxford Town (Moonage Daydream acappella Mix Edit) “Heroes”: IV. Sons Of The Silent Age (Excerpt) Performed by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop ★ (Moonage Daydream Mix Edit) Ian Fish U.K. Heir (Moonage Daydream Mix Excerpt) Memory Of A Free Festival (Moonage Daydream Mix Edit) Starman “You’re aware of a deeper existence…” Changes “Let me tell you one thing…” “Well, you know what this has been an incredible pleasure…”
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
Art / Empire / Industry: The Complete Red Noise is a new six disc boxed set of the complete recordings made by Bill Nelson’s Red Noise – comprising four CDs and two NTSC/region free DVDs. The boxed set is released by Cherry Red on 26 August 2022.
The collection features a newly remastered edition of the album Sound On Sound along with new 5.1 surround sound and new stereo mixes by Stephen W Tayler (Rush, Peter Gabriel, Howard Jones, Kate Bush, Rupert Hine).
Sound on Sound was originally released in February 1979 on Harvest / EMI and spawned the singles Furniture Music and Revolt Into Style. One of my favourite albums from the late 70s, this collection from Cherry Red is the definitive Red Noise release. Disc one comprises an excellent remaster from the original master tapes. It packs more of a punch and has a sonic sparkle missing from previous CD re-issues.
The spikey new wave / drums and guitar of Stay Young sound newly powerful with this remaster. The album delivers a mix of glam / art rock and new wave styles that populated so much good music from 1979, which also happens to be my favourite musical year. Sorry for repeating myself, I know I’ve said that before in this blog.
Feeling at home with the likes of The Stranglers, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Skids and Magazine, Sound On Sound is the only album Bill Nelson released with this art-rock spiked with new wave hybrid style. Subsequent releases headed off into a more synth driven style with Quit Dreaming And Get on the Beam (1981), The Love That Whirls (Diary of a Thinking Heart) (1982) and one of my other Bill Nelson favourites, the mini-LP Chimera (1983). Such a rich vein of form.
“Your relatives are white and all your children have record players They listen to Tom Robinson, the Beatles and the Byrds and Leo Sayer” A Better Home In The Phantom Zone
Sound On Sound would have still been popular with fans of Be-Bop Deluxe, as the music was a natural evolution, not a cash-in on the popularity of the late 70s new wave acts that were a feature of the charts during this era. Nelson’s guitar work shines through, his solo on The Atom Age remains one of his finest from this period. The arrangements are rich, with new layers and moods rising to the surface throughout the songs, which are short and sharp. Nelson’s pop sensibility remains intact, even though the edges are rougher than what came before.
The original album ends with Art / Empire / Industry, with its delightful Autobahn meets Buzzcocks end section and the song that was my introduction to Red Noise, the classic single Revolt into Style. I’ve still got my treasured 7″ vinyl copy, and it still sounds so like the future.
“And though I know the time is almost 1984 It feels like 1965″
The bonus tracks are not just included to pad out the release. The slower pace of Wonder Toys That Last Forever and Acquitted by Mirrors feels like a bridge between Red Noise and what would come next for Bill Nelson. The urgency displayed in the February 1979 BBC Friday Rock Show session tracks is a delight, and the performances sound fresh and representative of the Red Noise live sound, more of that on the next disc in the boxset.
“Oh, Oh Here comes the red noise Absolute a go-go Wonder toys that last forever”
Disc Two is Red Noise Live At The De Montfort Hall, in Leicester, recorded on 8 March 1979. This previously unreleased live set is a delight, and was originally engineered by John Leckie. The recordings for this disc were mixed from the original 24-track master tapes at Chimera Arts, Box, Wiltshire in March 2022 by Stephen W Tayler. I often find that live albums included in deluxe editions are the discs I rarely return to, but not in this case. The concert is one of the most exciting parts of the boxset. The arrangements and vocals differ enough to bear up to repeated listening. For Young Moderns is a highlight, as is the inclusion of Red Noise’s take on two tracks from Be-Bop Deluxe’s Drastic Plastic album, Possession and Superenigmatix.
Disc Three is where things get really interesting. These new stereo mixes, with all tracks remixed from the original 24-track master tapes in March 2022 by Stephen W Tayler, are an important part of the boxset. Comparing the two mixes, I’ve lived with the original album since 1979, so it is always going to be my preferred version, but these new mixes are wonderful. They are in the main slightly less abrasive and more widescreen, with drums processed more than on the original release and synths / keyboards often pushed to the fore. The difference with tracks such as For Young Moderns is very noticeable. Its almost Be-Bop Deluxe play Red Noise!
Stay Young is a standout of the new stereo mixes, with the bass more prominent, along with the enhanced synth and organ lines. The Atom Age sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday, and the early Roxy Music influence on the album shines bright on this track, more than any other.
I was not so keen on the new mix of Revolt Into Style, which does not hit the mark for me (I don’t like the effects on the drums), but its the only minor mis-step for me of these fresh new mixes. Wonder Toys That Last Forever feels superior to the original mix, with a fuller sound and a great bass upgrade. My Light is a previously unreleased song, recorded for the Sound On Sound album. I can see why it was not included. Its a good song, but would not have fitted with the frenetic pace of the original album. New mixes of Instantly Yours, Ideal Homes and Disposable, tracks recorded at RAK Studios, London during May 1979, are welcome additions and would possibly have formed part of the shelved follow-up to Sound On Sound.
The new mixes are never going to replace the original album, here in all its remastered glory, but the idea and the execution is good.
Discs four and five (not supplied for review) features a 96 Khz/24-Bit 5.1 Surround Sound Mix of Sound On Sound and 96 Khz/24-Bit 5.1 Surround Sound Mixes of the bonus material, plus video content – a promo video for Revolt into Style, plus Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric), Furniture Music and Stay Young from BBC TV’s Old Grey Whistle Test, originally broadcast in 1979.
Disc 6 consists of Bill Nelson’s original 1978 demos for Sound On Sound. They are a fascinating insight into the original thoughts behind the songs, but are not recordings that are likely to be returned to often, unlike the other discs in the collection.
The booklet includes an introduction written by Steven Wilson, and a lengthy piece about the background to the formation of Red Noise and the Sound On Sound album and live shows.
Art / Empire / Industry: The Complete Red Noise is a well put together box-set, and will appeal to all fans of the Red Noise era. If you are new to the album, but are a fan of late 70s new wave and art-rock, I would recommend the 2 CD version of the album, that includes the remastered album plus the new stereo mixes.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
Art / Empire / Industry: The Complete Red Noise (6 disc box-set)
Disc One: Sound On Sound Remastered
Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) For Young Moderns Stop / Go / Stop Furniture Music Radar in My Heart Stay Young Out of Touch A Better Home in the Phantom Zone Substitute Flesh The Atom Age Art / Empire / Industry Revolt into Style
Bonus tracks
Wonder Toys That Last Forever Acquitted by Mirrors (B-side of ‘Furniture Music’ EP) Stay Young (BBC session 17.02.1979) Furniture Music (BBC session 17.02.1979) Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (BBC session 17.02.1979) Out of Touch (BBC session 17.02.1979)
Disc Two: Live At The De Montfort Hall, Leicester 1979 Previously Unreleased
Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric)(live) For Young Moderns (live) Furniture Music (live) Out of Touch (live) Stop-Go-Stop (live) Atom Age (live) Possession (live) Superenigmatix (live) Substitute Flesh (live) Phantom Zone (live) Radar in My Heart (live) Art / Empire / Industry (live) Revolt into Style (live) Stay Young (live) For Young Moderns (Encore) (live)
Disc Three: Sound On Sound New Stereo Mix
Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) For Young Moderns Stop / Go / Stop Furniture Music Radar in My Heart Stay Young Out of Touch A Better Home in the Phantom Zone Substitute Flesh The Atom Age Art / Empire / Industry Revolt into Style
Bonus tracks
Wonder Toys That Last Forever Acquitted by Mirrors My Light (previously unreleased) Recorded for the “Sound on Sound” sessions Instantly Yours Ideal Homes Disposable
Disc Four: Sound On Sound
96 Khz/24-Bit 5.1 Surround Sound Mix
New Stereo Mix Original Stereo Mix
Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (5.1 mix) For Young Moderns (5.1 mix) Stop / Go / Stop (5.1 mix) Furniture Music (5.1 mix) Radar in My Heart (5.1 mix) Stay Young (5.1 mix) Out of Touch (5.1 mix) A Better Home in the Phantom Zone (5.1 mix) Substitute Flesh (5.1 mix) The Atom Age (5.1 mix) Art / Empire / Industry (5.1 mix) Revolt into Style (5.1 mix)
Disc Five Additional Red Noise Sessions 96 Khz/24-Bit 5.1 Surround Sound Mixes
New Stereo Mixes Original Stereo Mixes
Wonder Toys That Last Forever (5.1 mix) Acquitted by Mirrors (5.1 mix) My Light (5.1 mix) Recorded for the “Sound on Sound” sessions Instantly Yours (5.1 mix) Ideal Homes (5.1 mix) Disposable (5.1 mix)
RAK Studios, London May 1979
Video Content
Previously Unreleased
Revolt into Style (Promotional video 1979) Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test – 1979) Furniture Music (BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test 1979) Stay Young (BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test 1979)
Disc Six Bill Nelson Red Noise Demos
1978 – Previously Unreleased
Acquitted by Mirrors (demo) For Young Moderns (demo) Stop Go Stop (demo) Furniture Music (demo) Radar in My Heart (demo) Stay Young (demo) Out of Touch (demo) A Better Home in the Phantom Zone (demo) Substitute Flesh (demo) The Atom Age (demo) Revolt into Style (demo) Waiting for the Night (demo) My Light (demo)
Sound On Sound (2 CD set)
Disc One: Sound On Sound Remastered
Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) For Young Moderns Stop / Go / Stop Furniture Music Radar in My Heart Stay Young Out of Touch A Better Home in the Phantom Zone Substitute Flesh The Atom Age Art / Empire / Industry Revolt into Style
Bonus tracks
Wonder Toys That Last Forever Acquitted by Mirrors (B-side of ‘Furniture Music’ EP) Stay Young (BBC session 17.02.1979) Furniture Music (BBC session 17.02.1979) Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (BBC session 17.02.1979) Out of Touch (BBC session 17.02.1979)
Disc Two: Sound On Sound New Stereo Mix
Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) For Young Moderns Stop / Go / Stop Furniture Music Radar in My Heart Stay Young Out of Touch A Better Home in the Phantom Zone Substitute Flesh The Atom Age Art / Empire / Industry Revolt into Style
Bonus tracks
Wonder Toys That Last Forever Acquitted by Mirrors My Light (previously unreleased) Recorded for the “Sound on Sound” sessions Instantly Yours Ideal Homes Disposable
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases via this website.
NOW That’s What I Call Punk & New Wave is a new compilation that features 89 tracks across 4 CDs, and also collects 34 tracks across 2 punk-tastic neon pink vinyl LP’s.
The CD offers a mouth-watering 88 tracks (plus the Toy Dolls!) and includes most of the eras heavy-hitters (The Stranglers, The Jam, Skids, The Police, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, The Cure, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Ramones) but delves deeper with slightly less well-known but equally as important songs from this golden era for singles.
I was impressed to see my favourite Generation X single King Rocker, plus a song I never tire of hearing in Milk And Alcohol from Dr. Feelgood. I was also pleased to see many songs from my favourite year for music, 1979.
Ultravox! feature with Rockwrok whilst Magazine’s Shot By Both Sides hints at the greatness to come from this seminal Manchester band. Mink DeVille deliver the Latin flavoured rock ‘n’ roll of Spanish Stroll, whilst New Zealand’s Split Enz serve up a fine slice of new wave pop with I Got You.
Midge Ure’s Rich Kids are a welcome addition along with one of my all-time favourite new wave singles in The Knack’s My Sharona.
Honourable mentions also go to Eddie & The Hot Rods with Do Anything You Wanna Do (featuring the best use of handclaps in a pop single), The Motors Airport (what, no Dancing The Night Away I hear you say?), the pop infused psychedelia of Reward from Liverpool’s The Teardrop Explodesand Blondie’s 60s beat influenced Denis. Has there ever been a more perfect pop single?
The vinyl version weighs in with a leaner 34 tracks, and for the most part sticks to the more well-known artists, but this just means you need to buy the vinyl for that authentic 70s listening experience and the CD version to wallow in this energetic late 70s time-capsule.
Buy NOW That’s What I Call Punk & New Wave CD from Burning Shed or Amazon
Buy NOW That’s What I Call Punk & New Wave neon-pink vinyl from Burning Shed or Amazon
The Clash – London Calling The Undertones – Teenage Kicks Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) The Stranglers – No More Heroes Siouxsie And The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden The Rezillos – Top Of The Pops Ramones – Sheena Is A Punk Rocker Iggy Pop – Lust For Life Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Roadrunner X-Ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents The Damned – Love Song Skids – Into The Valley XTC – Making Plans For Nigel Squeeze – Cool For Cats Tom Robinson Band – 2-4-6-8 Motorway Elvis Costello – Watching The Detectives Joe Jackson – Is She Really Going Out With Him? Jags – Back Of My Hand Secret Affair – Time For Action The Motors – Airport The Cars – My Best Friend’s Girl Patti Smith – Because The Night
CD 2
The Jam – Going Underground The Police – Can’t Stand Losing You The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone Pretenders – Brass In Pocket Dexys Midnight Runners – Geno Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick Lene Lovich – Lucky Number Toyah – Ieya Adam & The Ants – Dog Eat Dog Bow Wow Wow – Go Wild In The Country Hazel O’Connor – Eighth Day Tenpole Tudor – Swords Of A Thousand Men Generation X – King Rocker Dr. Feelgood – Milk And Alcohol The Barracudas – Summer Fun The Piranhas – Tom Hark Sham 69 – If The Kids Are United The Vibrators – Automatic Lover Department S – Is Vic There? The Only Ones – Another Girl, Another Planet Mink DeVille – Spanish Stroll Yellow Dog – Just One More Night
CD 3
The B-52’s – Rock Lobster Devo – Whip It The Flying Lizards – Money Martha And The Muffins – Echo Beach The Cure – A Forest Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart Joe Jackson – It’s Different For Girls The Regents – 7 Teen Squeeze – Up The Junction The Tourists – I Only Want To Be With You Split Enz – I Got You The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink Simple Minds – Love Song Ultravox! – Rockwrok Marianne Faithfull – Broken English Grace Jones – Private Life The Slits – I Heard It Through The Grapevine Ian Dury & The Blockheads – What A Waste Rich Kids – Rich Kids Sham 69 – Angels With Dirty Faces The Dickies – Banana Splits Jilted John – Jilted John
CD 4
U2 – I Will Follow The Members – Sound Of The Suburbs The Ruts – Babylon’s Burning The Boomtown Rats – She’s So Modern X-Ray Spex – Identity Siouxsie And The Banshees – Christine The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight Ramones – Baby, I Love You Blondie – Denis Pretenders – Kid The Stranglers – Duchess The Teardrop Explodes – Reward Adam & The Ants – Kings Of The Wild Frontier Bow Wow Wow – C30 C60 C90 Go Public Image Limited – Public Image Magazine – Shot By Both Sides The Runaways – Cherry Bomb The Knack – My Sharona Eddie & The Hot Rods – Do Anything You Wanna Do Skids – Working For The Yankee Dollar The Vapors – Turning Japanese Toy Dolls – Nellie The Elephant
Disc A The Clash – London Calling The Undertones – Teenage Kicks The Stranglers – No More Heroes Siouxsie And The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden The Rezillos – Top Of The Pops Ramones – Sheena Is A Punk Rocker The Members – Sound Of The Suburbs The Ruts – Babylon’s Burning Iggy Pop – Lust For Life
Disc B The Jam – Going Underground The Police – Can’t Stand Losing You The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone Pretenders – Brass In Pocket X-Ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Roadrunner The Runaways – Cherry Bomb Jilted John – Jilted John
Disc C The B-52’s – Rock Lobster Devo – Whip It The Flying Lizards – Money Squeeze – Cool For Cats XTC – Making Plans For Nigel Tom Robinson Band – 2-4-6-8 Motorway Joe Jackson – Is She Really Going Out With Him? Patti Smith – Because The Night
Disc D U2 – I Will Follow Skids – Into The Valley Adam & The Ants – Dog Eat Dog Dexys Midnight Runners – Geno Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick Martha And The Muffins – Echo Beach The Cure – A Forest Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
Cherry Red Records are releasing a deluxe 4 disc boxed set of Al Stewart’s 1978 album, Time Passages. A 2-CD version (without the extra live disc / 5.1 DVD) is also available.
The album has been newly remastered from the original first generation master tapes by Alan Parsons, and features bonus tracks, including single versions, demos and live tracks.
Disc four is a high resolution 96 Khz / 24-Bit 5.1 Alan Parsons surround sound mix, from the original multi-track tapes and the comprehensive booklet includes an exclusive interview with Al Stewart.
I (slightly) prefer Time Passages to it’s predecessor, the still wonderful Year Of The Cat. It captures that late 70s pop / rock feel so well.
The title track features some fine guitar work from Tim Renwick and the drums on the album are provided by Stuart Elliott (Kate Bush / Paul McCartney), with an appearance from the legendary Jeff Porcaro on the second track, Valentina Way.
Time Passages was recorded in Los Angeles, and the sound of the city seeps through on many of the tracks. The Palace of Versailles is an exception to this – with a European feel befitting the subject matter. Almost Lucy is driven by a fabulous percussion arrangement and contains one of the album’s most affecting vocal performances.
The acoustic flavoured Timeless Skies could have sat comfortably on one of America’s earlier albums. The second single from the album, Song on the Radio, has a delicious chorus, accompanied by a very much of it’s time sax solo. End of the Day is a gentle, jazzy end to the album. Disc one is complete with the up-tempo bonus track, Tonton Macoute, one of those songs where once you’ve heard it, it sticks in you brain for hours.
Disc two collects together single mixes, demos and live tracks. The demos are decent quality. Life In A Bottle reminds me a little of John Lennon in it’s arrangement. It’s a shame that a studio version of this song was not included on the main album. The Palace of Versailles demo is largely intact, but obviously lacking the final technicolour magic that would be applied by Alan Parsons.
The Hollywood Sign (on St. Stephen’s Day) aka TimeLess Skies finishes off the demo cuts (that also include an early demo of Tonton Macoute)
The remainder of disc two and the whole of disc 3 is made up of a good quality recording of Stewart’s show in Chicago from late October 1978. Al Stewart being a storyteller pays dividends in a live setting, with lots of gentle between song chat and background info for some of the tracks. Time Passages, The Palace of Versailles, a 10 minute Year of the Cat and The Pink Panther Theme (as a way of introducing the band) are my favourite live cuts in this collection.
Disc 4 (not supplied for review) contains the new high resolution 96 Khz / 24-Bit 5.1 surround sound mix & original re-mastered stereo mix By Alan Parsons. This is the definitive version of a classic late seventies album, that still hits the spot if you love music from this era.
Al Stewart is releasing a 45th Anniversary limited edition box-set of his 1976 Year Of The Cat album, on 26 February 2021 as a 3CD/1DVD edition and a 2CD expanded version.
Year Of The Cat is newly re-mastered for the very first time from the original first generation master tapes by original producer Alan Parsons.
As well as the remastered album, the set includes a new 5.1 Surround sound mix from the original multitrack tapes and a previously unreleased concert recorded at the Paramount Theater, Seattle in October 1976, which is spread over 2 CD’s.
This is the definitive version of the album. Year Of The Cat has always sounded majestic, and was often the album used for hi-fi demonstrations, it sounded that good. Alan Parson’s remaster sounds so much more sympathetic than the previous 2001 remaster, which was a little too loud and forced. This is a lovely warm and colourful mix. Strings sound fresh and luscious, with amazing clarity.
One of the highlights of the album is the guitar work from longtime Al Stewart sidekick Tim Renwick, who also contributed stellar performances on the recent Sutherland Brothers & Quiver box-set.
On The Border is as good as the more well-known title track, and shines even brighter with this remaster. The Rhodes throughout Midas Shadow and the drums and percussion from Stuart Elliott (who also worked with Kate Bush on five of her early albums) sound wonderful.
In hindsight, If it Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It has a hint of the E-Street Band in it’s arrangement, especially the piano, but obviously not the vocals! I could go on and on about this album, but if you are reading this you probably know and love Year Of The Cat, so rest assured this is a must have version. Perfectly capturing a gently progressive meets pop sound, that sum up this aspect of the mid 70s airwaves, this is an album that fans of seventies music will have to add to their collection.
The other two CD’s in this deluxe reissue feature live recordings, which considering they are from 1976, are of very high audio quality, and offer lots of song explanations between tracks from Stewart.
The final disc (not supplied for review) contains the new 5.1 Surround Sound Mix & Original 96 Khz / 24-Bit Re-Mastered Stereo Mix By Alan Parsons. The set also comes with a 68-page book with a new essay featuring an interview with Al Stewart and a facsimile promotional poster plus a set of four postcards.
A cut-down version is also available – consisting of the remastered album plus a second disc with nine live tracks and without the 5.1 version.
Al Stewart: Year Of The Cat 45th Anniversary Limited Edition Box Set
Disc One:
Lord Grenville On The Border Midas Shadow Sand In Your Shoes If It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It Flying Sorcery Broadway Hotel One Stage Before Year Of The Cat Bonus Track Belsize Blues (Recorded At Abbey Road Studios September 1975)
Disc Two: Live At The Paramount Theater, Seattle – October 1976 Previously Unreleased
Apple Cider Re-Constitution (Live 1976) The Dark And The Rolling Sea (Live 1976) One Stage Before (Live 1976) Soho (Needless To Say) (Live 1976) Not The One (Live 1976) On The Border (Live 1976) Broadway Hotel (Live 1976) Roads To Moscow (Live 1976)
Disc Three:
Live At The Paramount Theater, Seattle – October 1976 Previously Unreleased
Nostradamus (Live 1976) Sirens Of Titan (Live 1976) The Post World War Two Blues (Live 1976) Year Of The Cat (Live 1976) Sand In Your Shoes (Live 1976) Carol (Live 1976) If It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It (Live 1976)
Disc Four:
Year Of The Cat: New 5.1 Surround Sound Mix & Original 96 Khz / 24-Bit Re-Mastered Stereo Mix By Alan Parsons
Lord Grenville (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) On The Border (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) Midas Shadow (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) Sand In Your Shoes (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) If It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) Flying Sorcery (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) Broadway Hotel (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) One Stage Before (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) Year Of The Cat (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
