"Keep An Eye On The Sky" by BIG STAR - A Box Set Containing A Selection of Tracks from their Three Seventies US Studio Albums "No. 1 Record" (April 1972), "Radio City" (January 1974) and "3rd" (March 1978) alongside 52 Previously Unissued Big Star Recordings, Solo Material by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, Songs from Previous Incarnations of the Band as Icewater and Rock City, Live Material from 1973 and the only known Video of the group as a Bonus Track on Enhanced CD4 (September 2009 US and UK Rhino 4CD 96-Song Box Set with Andrew Sandoval and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Unbelievable Odds..." 

You would have to call a 4CD 96-song blow-out given over to the plant-a-tune-in-a-film-darlings BIG STAR - a winner. With a whopping 52 Previously Unreleased and their only known video footage - "Keep An Eye..." was always a shoe-in for unsightly stroking of male goatees in scholarly abandon. It's not all genius in my books, especially that droning "3rd" album that dominates CD3, but there's more than enough goodies in-between the output cracks to warrant five-stars. 

 

Also, September 2009's "Keep An Eye On The Sky" has had its detractors because if you want to actually hear the 24 songs that make up their utterly brilliant first two albums - you get only four from "No. 1 Record" and nine from "Radio City" - all other cuts represented by Alternate Versions, Demos, Single Mixes or Live Material. That has irritated some, but Rhino have countered by saying that reissuing what is widely available in top notch George Horn Remasters elsewhere anyway was not part of the game. So they've gone for the unissued splurge instead. Luckily we get the whole of "3rd" (called "The Third Album" in the UK) - their rare and difficult third LP of original material recorded in 1975 but unreleased at the time only to see light of day in late 1978 on both sides of the pond (PVC Records USA, Aura Records UK). 

 

But make no mistake - this Rhino compilation is a labor of love - you can feel it in the presentation, the audio, trying to dissemble the notorious lack of documentation at Ardent Recording Studios, finding that footage on enhanced CD4. So let's deal with what we do have...details maestro please...

UK-released 15 September 2009 - "Keep An Eye On The Sky" by BIG STAR on Rhino 8122-79858-7 (Barcode 081227985875) is a 4CD Remastered Box Set with 98-Songs (52 Previously Unreleased Audio Tracks Plus One Video on Enhanced CD4) and a 102-Page Booklet. The original US Edition on Rhino R2 519760 (Barcode 081227985875) was also issued 15 Sep 2009. Both versions were subsequently reissued 24 Nov 2014 in the USA (Rhino RF2 519760) and 12 February 2015 in the UK (Rhino 8122-79562-0) with the same packaging and tracks. "Keep An Eye On The Sky" plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (79:32 minutes):

1. Psychedelic Stuff (Original Mix, 1968) - CHRIS BELL

2. All I See Is You - ICEWATER

3. Every Day As We Grow Closer (Original Mix) - ALEX CHILTON 

4. Try Again (Early Version) - ROCK CITY  

5. Feel 

6. The Ballad Of El Goodo 

7. In The Street (Alternate Mix) 

8. Thirteen (Alternate Mix)

9. Don't Lie To Me 

10. The India Song (Alternate Mix) 

11. When My Baby's Beside Me (Alternate Mix)

12. My Life Is Right (Alternate Mix) 

13. Give Me Another Chance (Alternate Mix)

14. Try Again 

15. Gone With The Light 

16. Watch The Sunrise (Single Version)

17. St 100/6 (Alternate Mix)

18. The Preacher (Excerpt) - ROCK CITY 

19. In The Street (Alternate Single Mix)

20. Feel (Alternate Mix) 

21. The Ballad of El Goodo (Alternate Lyrics)

22. The India Song (Alternate Version) 

23. Country Morn 

24. I Got Kinda Lost (Demo) 

25. Back Of A Car Demo (Demo) 

26. Motel Blues (Demo)

NOTES: 

All tracks by BIG STAR except where noted

Tracks 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 26 PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

Tracks 2, 3, 19, 24 and 25 first issued on the 2008 UK CD compilation "Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story" on Ace/Big Beat CDWIK2 273 (Barcode 029667427326)

Tracks 5, 6, 9 and 14 are from their debut album "No. 1 Record" released April 1972 on Ardent Records ADS-2803 in the USA (no UK release). 

CD2 (79:42 minutes):

1. There Was A Light (Demo) 

2. Life Is White (Demo) 

3. What's Going Ahn (Demo)

4. O My Soul 

5. Life Is White 

6. Way Out West 

7. What's Going Ahn

8. You Get What You Deserve

9. Mod Lang (Alternate Mix)

10. Back Of A Car (Alternate Mix) 

11. Daisy Glaze 

12. She's A Mover 

13. September Gurls 

14. Morpha Too (Alternate Mix) 

15. I'm In Love With A Girl 

16. O My Soul (Alternate Version)

17. She's A Mover (Alternate Version)

18. Daisy Glaze (Rehearsal Version)

19. I Am The Cosmos - CHRIS BELL 

20. You And Your Sister - CHRIS BELL 

21. Blue Moon (Demo)

22. Femme Fatale (Demo)

23. Thank you Friends (Demo) 

24. Nightime (Demo) 

25. Take Care (Demo) 

26. You Get What You Deserve (Demo)

NOTES: 

Tracks 4 to 8, 11 to 13 and 15 are from their second studio album "Radio City" released January 1974 in the USA on Ardent Records ADS-1501  

Tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of a 1978 US 45-single by Chris Bell on Car Records CRR6

CD3 (72:03 minutes):

1. Lovely Day (Demo) 

2. Downs (Demo)

3. Jesus Christ Demo)

4. Holocaust (Demo)

5. Big Black Car (Alternative Demo)

6. Manana 

7. Jesus Christ 

8. Femme Fatale

9. O, Dana 

10. Kizza Me 

11. You Can't Have Me

12. Nightime 

13. Dream Lover 

14. Big Black Car

15. Blue Moon 

16. Holocaust 

17. Stroke It Noel 

18. For You 

19. Downs 

20. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 

21. Kanga Roo 

22. Thank you Friends

23. Take Care 

24. Lovely Day 

25. Till The End Of The Day (Alternative Mix) 

26. Nature Boy (Alternative Mix)  

NOTES: 

Tracks 7 to 12, 14 to 18 and 21 to 23 are their third studio album "3rd" due for release 1975, but belated issued March 1978 in the USA on PVC Records PVC 7903 as a 14-Track LP and August 1978 in the UK as "The Third Album" on Aura Records AUL 703 in different artwork and with a different rearranged track listing (only 12-songs).

 

The US 14-Track LP "3rd" can be sequenced using the following tracks from CD3:

Side 1: Tracks 17, 18, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 23

Side 2: Tracks 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 21 and 22

The UK 12-Track LP "The Third Album" can be sequenced using the following from CD3:

Side 1: Tracks 10, 11, 7, 19, 20 and 22

Side 2:  Tracks 9, 8, 17, 16, 12 and 21

CD4 (69:53 minutes): 

Live at Lafayette's Music Room, Memphis, Tennessee, January 1973

1. When My Baby's Beside Me 

2. My Life Is Right 

3. She's A Mover 

4. Way Out West 

5. The Ballad Of El Goodo 

6. In The Street 

7. Back Of A Car 

8. Thirteen

9. The India Song 

10. Try Again 

11. Watch The Sunrise 

12. Don't Lie To Me 

13. Hot Burrito No. 2

14. I Got Kinda Lost 

15. Baby Strange 

16. Slut 

17. There Was A Light 

18. St 100/06 

19. Come On Now 

20. O My Soul 

 

ENHANCED CD Content:

1. Thirteen (Alternate Mix Video)  

 

 

Roughly the size of an oversized seven-inch single, the card box is admittedly way too flimsy for its own good. Inside is a foldout card slipcase with colour photos of the boys in the band on each flap (CDs inside slots) - ALEX CHILTON, CHRIS BELL, JODY STEPHENS and ANDY HUMMEL. But the meat is in a gorgeous 102-page booklet that goes for it - the grocery chain across the street from the studios called BIG STAR (complete with star neon) that they took their name from graces the cover. Inside are five distinctive parts - A Message From John Frey their Producer at Ardent (Page 3) - Big Star: The More You Learn, The Less you Know by Robert Gordon (Page 7) - The Great Crusade Birthing The Cult Of Big Star by Bob Mehr (Page 42) - A Certain Magic: Track Notes by Alex Palao (Page 67) and Credits (Page 96).

There are fantastic photos of heroes like Chilton by his Big Black Car in Tennessee's Shelby Forest in the summer of 1973, a promo photo as threesome in 1974 by Front Street - by the Mississippi River with the BIG STAR neon logo hanging from a tree, loads in the studio, outtakes from the Radio City cover photoshoot, Chris Bell's solo 45-single "I Am The Cosmos" and of course track-by-track annotation (where possible). But truthfully, the audio is what takes your breath away too when you clap ears on this ANDREW SANDOVAL and DAN HERSCH Remasters. Over on Disc 2, it opens with three demos - mostly acoustic - and they sound amazing. Or shuffle up to "What's Going Ahn" (Track 7, CD2) and the glorious production whomps your speakers with audio most bands would quietly kill a close relative to attain. They even have photos from the live stuff on Disc 4 at the Lafayette Room in 1973. It's a typically exemplary compilation from reissue champs Rhino of the USA doing their forgotten sons and their musical legacy proud. To the tunes...

 

While I will never want to hear the 1968 Chris Bell solo cack that is "Psychedelic Stuff" ever again - it's an indication of how good this release is that even a slight 'alternative mix' to "Try Again" on CD1 by the band is greeted by my soppy noggin with tears and chills. A version first showed on the July 2003 American CD compilation for Rock City as "Rock City" on Lucky Seven Records - a rare disc too. You can hear Chris Bell's serious melodic chops deep inside Icewater's rather good "All I See Is You" too. Then the count-in to an Alternate of the stunning "Thirteen" - it's acoustic picking clean and clear and gorgeous to behold. You can unfortunately hear why the Alternate of "My Life Is Right" didn't work, but then again you get a winner in the beautifully done "Give Me Another Chance" - a different mix that rivals the officially released version. 

 

You're then reminded of the first time you laid tired lugs on the strum of No.1's "Try Again" - wow! The audio on this sucker is astonishing - John Fry's production values shining like an Abbey Road Remaster. Fans will enjoy the 'Single Version' of "Watch The Sunrise" (issued February 1973 in the USA on Ardent 2904) - what a tune and why wasn't it a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young type crossover hit? And I wasn't prepared for good the No. 1 closer "St 100/6" would sound as an 'Alternate'. Fans will also notice that the Single Mix proper for "In The Street" is a Bonus Track on the 2009 CD reissue for "No 1. Record" only and is represented here in 'Alternate Single Mix' form.

Three Demos open CD2 of which "Life Is White" is gorgeous, but its the audio bringing out their musicality that gets you time and time again - "Radio City" track "You Get What You Deserve" being a primo example of all these elements colliding in one glorious racket (dig that so subtle guitar solo and the crystal clear drums) - 10cc mates with Todd Rundgren and The Byrds and its offspring is playing in your living room. There's a great gruff guitar nastiness to the Stonesy Alternate Mix of "Mod Lang" and a huge almost overwhelming jangle to the Alternate of "Back Of A Car". Deep LP cuts like the so-pretty yet so-sad "Daisy Glaze" sound anew while who can deny the sheer Power Pop glory that is "September Gurls". And is there a more beautiful song - "I'm in Love With A Girl" flooring all the pretenders in its acoustic path - finest girl in the world indeed. 

 

I must admit that I never know what to do with "I Am The Cosmos" - it's swirling production and stoned faraway Chris Bell vocals - half of me thinks its a glorious mess while the other half wants the song to get its act together. No complaints about the acoustic guitars in the B-side "You And Your Sister" - stunning audio and more than a touch of that old Big Star magic shuffling around its 1978 Beach Boys soundscape. Fans with lose it for Tracks 21 to 26 that tail-end CD2. Both the Demos of "Blue Moon" and their cover of The Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale" are thrilling stuff and again with shocking audio clarity. Each is just acoustic ditty essentially (no dates are given) but with intimacy abundant - emotion raw - stuff like "Nightime" as lovely as you could want a Demo to be. 

After the abject and hurtful commercial failure of "No. 1 Record" in 1972 and its follow-up "Radio City" in 1974 - it was hardly surprising (though no less gauling) that the band found themselves with record number three and no one wanting to release it. Recorded n 1975, Page 89 of the booklet devotes a whole page to the Ardent Recording Studios letter from John S. King to Martin Cerf at the Phonograph Recording Magazine telling him that test pressings for their latest offering are enclosed (probably done February 1975 with white labels and Stax matrixes) which they would 'peddle' in the L.A. area the second week in march. But the wildly unimaginatively titled "3rd" (or "The Third Album" as it was known in the UK) would have to wait until 1978 to see the light of day. I mention all of this because CD3 is dominated by its darker disjointed presence. 

 

Opening CD3 on a lighter note is another gorgeous acoustic demo - "Lovely Day" which first surfaced on the "Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story" CD set from 2008. The demo of "Downs" introduces the electric guitar - choppy strums and harsh lyrics. Twelve-string opens an unrecognisble "Jesus Christ" (a lighter song than its title suggests) while piano and melancholy vocals fill the deeply sad "Holocaust" - Chilton's voice a mixture of child/adult hurt. The Previously Unissued Alternate Demo to "Big Black Car" features both acoustic and light electric guitar with doubled vocals. Tracks 6 to 25 are essentially the duo of Alex Chilton and Jody Stephen accompanied by additional musicians. The shimmering cover of the Velvet's debut album classic "Femme Fatale" is nice, but stuff like "O, Dana" and "Kizza Me" feel like they don't fit in anywhere and it's not surprising to me that no-one wanted to release this. 

"You Can't Have Me" is inflicted with awkward horns flitting in and out - "Nightime" softening the scene with acoustics and echoed slide guitar notes that 'dance' like the eyes of the girl he's admiring. "Dream Lover" comes off the 1985 PVC CD for "3rd/Sister Lovers" - a druggy heavy love song with deft string-arrangements that grows on you every time you hear it. The general aimlessness of the album is summed up in the drippy "Big Black Car" while the almost unfinished demo sound of the piano in "Stroke It Noel" feel like a man far too close to death. The second of the "3rd/Sister Lovers" takes comes in the Tom Waits-sounding "Downs" - a depressing fall from the musical grace of before. Love the distorted electric guitars of "Kanga Roo" that then combine with acoustic strums and floating mellotron notes - the song almost like a drunk let loose in the studio. "Thank You Friends" at least does a stab at a hit - its Pop feel undermined by openly antagonistic lyrical jabs. 

 

"3rd" comes to a close with "Take Care" - but again Chilton sounds like Kevin Ayers too stoned to concentrate. A decidedly mixed bag - CD3 ends on two differently paced cover versions - a raucous very Big Star-sounding stab at The Kinks' 60ts anthem "Till The End Of The Day" - an Alternate Mix that is Previously Unreleased - while the 50ts standard "Nature Boy" gets a piano and voice-only jab. I'll admit straight up that "3rd" has always been a blot on their copybook legend for me - an album that just doesn't work because it feels like falling apart disgracefully. Which brings us to the uplifting live set...

 

The live set (recorded 1973) opens up with a 'Thank You' and they're off into "When My Baby's Beside Me". Although Chris Bell isn't in the line-up, Rhino offers up two explanations for its inclusion. This is the only known live recording apparently out there that features the band that made the first two albums - the second reason being its intact audio quality (not audiophile, but not bootleg either). BIG STAR was a support act to Atlantic's Soul artists Archie Bell & The Drells - so the audience's palatable silent disinterest to a Rock band they don't know is present as they count in tunes without any audience fanfare. You can hear punters talking throughout "The Ballad Of El Goodo" as Chilton slowly grabs their attention with its lovely musicality. There are claps after "Back Of A Car" and even though there's incessant talking throughout the gorgeous "Thirteen" - you can feel the crowd beginning to notice the quality of the songs and the playing. The big twelve-string and tambourine of "Watch The Sunrise" are a little too far back in the mix - which is a shame because the audience noise overwhelms this precious artifact. And on it goes...

 

Why did they fail? I think the naff artwork didn't help, the name of the group you couldn't quite work out from the first LP's front cover, the piss-poor distribution and the dissolution of Stax adding to it all. A sound that was not the Prog, Funk or Heavy Rock of 1972 - diminishing songs and a third LP that didn't capture the magic of the first two? Whatever you look at it and despite my niggling feelings that I'll never play CD3 or 4 very much at all - "Keep An Eye On The Sky" does more than enough on its other fabulous parts to warrant our adoration.

 

What could have been - I say buy into what is - and marvel at music that still amazes 50-years after it was laid down by a combo of geniuses in front of and behind the glass booth... 

"Rock Of Age: The Band In Concert" by THE BAND – August 1972 US 2LP Live Set on Capitol Records (November 1972 in the UK) – Featuring Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson with guests Bob Dylan, Snooky Young, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell, Earl McIntyre, J.D. Parson and Horn Arrangements by Allen Toussaint (May 2001 UK Capitol Records Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue – Ron McMaster and Andrew Sandoval Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sweeter Than Ever..."

You were nowhere in Rock if you hadn't had a double live album by 1972 - and debuted since 1968 - The Band struck on a cool idea to make their first foray into the obligatory 2LP arena circuit souvenir stand out.

Fresh from an invigorating recording experience with New Orleans Soul Man and Brass Arranger Allen Toussaint on their September 1971 "Cahoots" album with the Little Feat-funky "Life Is A Carnival" – the much-respected Toussaint prepped horn charts for their forthcoming end of year concerts in 1971 at the Academy Of Music in New York. The Band did four nights with the shows split in two. So after the intermission, the five-piece group of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson would come back on stage – but this time bolstered up by a five-strong brass section consisting of Snooky Young, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell, Earl McIntyre and J.D. Parson. And so along with a smattering of cleverly re-arranged cover versions, old tunes and familiar melodies were made new again and that collaborative magic was captured on "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" finally issued August 1972.

This 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and Remaster only compounds that triumph with 10 Previously Unreleased tracks - the final four of which feature special guest and musical soulmate Bob Dylan. To the lighted candles...

UK released 8 May 2001 - "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" by THE BAND on Capitol Records 530 1812 (Barcode 724353018122) is an Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1972 2LP Live Album with 10 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:53 minutes):

1. Introduction [Side 1]

2. Don't Do It

3. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

4. Caledonia Mission

5. Get Up Jake

6. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

7. Stage Fright [Side 2]

8. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

9. Across The Great Divide

10. This Wheel's On Fire

11. Rag Mama Rag

12. The Weight [Side 3]

13. The Shape I'm In

14. Unfaithful Servant

15. Life Is A Carnival

16. The Genetic Method [Side 4]

17. Chest Fever

18. (I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes

Tracks 1 to 18 are the double-album "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" - released August 1972 in the USA on Capitol SABB 11045 and November 1972 in the UK on Capitol E-STSP 11. Peaked at No. 6 in the US LP charts (didn’t chart UK)

CD2 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks (45:14 minutes):

1. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

2. I Shall Be Released

3. Up On Cripple Creek

4. The Rumor

5. Rockin' Chair

6. Time To Kill

7. Down In The Flood - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

8. When I Paint My Masterpiece - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

9. Don't Ya Tell Henry - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

10. Like A Rolling Stone - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

With liner notes penned by ROB BOWMAN in January 2001 - the 20-page booklet reproduces all the artwork of the original tri-gatefold double album as well as providing new interviews with key players (Toussaint still alive when the reissue was being compiled). It's a superbly detailed read – guest musician backgrounds, song choices discussed etc - and also shows repro promo labels of the two US 45s issued from the 2LP set - September 1972's "Don't Do It" b/w "Rag Mama Rag" on Capitol 3433 and December 1972's "(I Don't Want To Hang Up) My Rock And Roll Shoes" b/w "Caledonia Mission" on Capitol 3500. There is even a Tracking Sheet for "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" as well as the usual in-depth reissue compilation credits (Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval). This set of liner notes actually deals with the item in hand and doesn’t fill 75% of its pages with a history of the group.

All Tracks are 24-Bit Digital Remasters by RON McMASTER and ANDREW SANDOVAL - both names familiar Audio Engineers on both The Band and The Kinks catalogues. The Audio is stunning, lifting up material I once thought I knew too well. To the shows and the music...  

"W'’re gonna try something we've never tried before..." - Robbie Robertson announces as they arrive back on stage and he introduces the pumping newcomers. Horn Section Leader and Flugelhorn player Snooky Young had cut his teeth with some huge big band names – Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Benny Carter – while Baritone Saxophonist Howard Johnson had sessioned and recorded with Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Gil Evans and new kid on the Blues Rock/Americana block - Taj Mahal. So first up is a cover version and what a smart choice it is. Marvin Gaye's barnstorming September 1964 Tamla R&B smash "Baby Don't You Do It" gets reduced in name to "Don't Do It" – the Holland-Dozier-Holland winner a standout before we even get to Band material. It's clear within seconds that the whole ensemble is tight – Levon Helm whacking the drums and signing with gusto while Rick Danko plucks that Bass with precision. Capitol edited it down for a 45 that made No 34 on the US singles charts.

Next up is a Soulful take on "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" - the bass lovely in the remaster. Their particular Soul-Rock sound emerges again in Robbie's "Caledonia Mission" - can't get to you through your garden gate - him channelling Otis Redding in this great tune. Both "Get Up Jake" and the rocking Side 1 finisher "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" benefit from the oomph the brass section adds them.

Side 2's "Stage Fright" comes from the first half of the show (minus the brass) and acts as perfect lead-in for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - that trumpet adding a sense of history to an already loaded song. The crowd cheers the lyrics "Standing by your window...a pistol in your hand..." as they launch into "Across The Great Divide". More cheers for the Bob Dylan/Rick Danko written "This Wheel's On Fire" while "Rag Mama Rag" explodes out of familiarity into something exciting and new with the brass boys going all New Orleans on its Americana ass.

Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free, and put the load right on me - "The Weight" feeling epic even in 1971. One of my faves is the Little Feat Funk of "The Shape I'm In" – again filled out by a band cooking and enjoying themselves. Things get plaintive with "Unfaithful Servant" – gotta be sent away – left her key – gone to pack. Back to Soul-Rock with the fantastic "Life Is A Carnival" – the Horn Section elevating The Band sound into Little Feat live. We romp to the end with a church organ vs. synth solo for seven minutes of "The Genetic Method" – then go into a lethal one-two pair of enders – the fantastic "Chest Fever" with stunning Toussaint brass jabs and the crowd pleaser "(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes".

For many CD2 will call to them - feel warm and fuzzy like a chance meeting with a friend you haven't seen since collage. Shocking is a word that jumps to mind when you think how good these are. It opens with a cover of the Four Tops Tamla hit penned by Ivy Hunter and Stevie Wonder "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever". Things mellow big time with the Soulful "I Shall Be Released" – that squeaky vocal strangely beautiful and drug-haunted in ways. Funky returns with "Up On Cripple Creek" and so misused song "The Rumor" could easily have been on the album or even a B-side of one of the single. Out comes the Harmonica for the whole-life-at-sea song "Rockin' Chair" - take me home to sooth away the rest of my years. Dylan had just released "Greatest Hits Volume II" (a month before the concerts) with five new cuts on it - one of them was the excellent "Down In The Flood" (a Basement Tapes tune) while a second was the now much-loved "When I Paint My Masterpiece" - both versions given throaty versions his Bobness. Levon Helm duets with Dylan on "Don't Ya Tell Henry" - while Robbie Robertson lets rip too. The crowd get a cracking Band/Dylan version of "Like A Rolling Stone" - huge cheers - the tune still fresh to 1971 ears.

A cracking great live double-album bolstered up with ten Bonus Tracks actually worthy of the moniker - no longer a complete unknown. "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" - ain't that the truth...

THE BAND on Capitol Records 1968 to 1977

UK Series of Expanded Edition CD Reissues and Remasters

(September 2000 and May 2001 Release Dates)

1. Songs From Big Pink (July 1968 Debut Album) – Sept 2000 on Capitol 525 3902 (Barcode 724352539024)

2. The Band (September 1969 USA, January 1970 UK) - Sept 2000 on Capitol 525 3892 (Barcode 724352538928)

3. Stage Fright (August 1970) - Sept 2000 UK CD on Capitol 525 3952 (Barcode 724352539529)

4. Cahoots (October 1971) – Sept 2000 UK CD on Capitol 525 3912 (Barcode 724352539123)

5. Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert (August 1972 2LP Live Set) – May 2001 UK 2CD Set on Capitol 530 1812 (Barcode 724353018122)

6. Moondog Matinee (October 1973) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3932 (Barcode 724352539321)

7. Northern Lights-Southern Cross (November 1975) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3942 (Barcode 724352539420)

8. Islands (March 1977) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3922 (Barcode 724352539222)

"The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" by THE KINKS – November 1968 UK Sixth Studio Album on Pye in Stereo and February 1969 US LP on Reprise in Stereo – featuring Ray Davies (October 2018 UK BMG/Sanctuary 50th Anniversary 2CD Deluxe Edition – Andrew Sandoval and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Big Sky..."

  

Arguing the merits of this cracking British album is probably something of a mute point 52 years after the November 1968 event. But I would like to shout to the top about the stunning job BMG and its assembly teams have done for the 50th Anniversary celebratory reissue of "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society". Let us break it down first...

Formats: for punters, it can appear that there are a dizzying amount of variants (there are). Yet setting aside Downloads and Vinyl Represses – there are three digital shots worth your spondulicks - all newly Remastered for 2018 in what BMG is calling a first in their 'The Art Of The Album' Series. Here goes...

UK released 26 October 2018 - '1CD Standard Edition' of "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" by THE KINKS is on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09CD (Barcode 4050538402179) and that offers you the STEREO version of the 15-Track album on a single CD in limited edition '50th Anniversary' Book packaging and retails for about eight quid or less. There is also a VINYL Variant of the STEREO LP in gatefold repro artwork on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09LP (Barcode 4050538402216) retailing for about £22.00.

The one I'd buy is the next grade up, the 2CD Deluxe Edition on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09DCD (Barcode 4050538402186). That peach (which I'm reviewing here) offers you the STEREO album on Disc 1 with 9 Bonus Tracks and the MONO Album on Disc 2 with a further 10 Bonus Tracks. Seven of the nineteen Bonuses are Previously Unreleased Mono and Stereo versions while the rest are either stand-alone singles mixes or from rare Kinks compilation LPs from the early Seventies. There is the hard card book sleeve and more in the way of presentation – an attached 20-page booklet, new liner notes, unseen photos and of course those new 2018 HD Remasters. It's about thirteen quid or less secondhand.

The next up is the big daddy and an object of serious lust for KINKs aficionados - the '50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set' on BMG/Sanctuary BMGAA09BOX (Barcode 4050538402049) which BMG allocate a whole page advert to in the 2CD booklet. A 12" x 12" behemoth - it offers the 2CDs of the Deluxe Edition with a further 3CDs, Remastered VINYL LPs in both Mono and Stereo, 3 x Repro 7" singles, 52-page hardback book, memorabilia poster and quite possibly (if they could) - original 1968 underpants signed and authenticated by Ray Davies. In May 2020 Barcode 4050538402049 is technically still available and ranges from £90 to 140 depending on what site you use. Just to annoy fans further, in October 2018 the first 1000 came with an exclusive single and in June 2019, Ray Davies signed 50 copies that were only available on the Kinks website - all of course, sold out now.

Let's get back to the twofer Deluxe Edition we can have...

CD1 Stereo Album 2018 Remaster (65:44 minutes):

1. The Village Green Preservation Society [Side 1]

2. Do You Remember Walter?

3. Picture Book

4. Johnny Thunder

5. Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains

6. Big Sky

7. Sitting By The Riverside

8. Animal Farm [Side 2]

9. Village Green

10. Starstruck

11. Phenomenal Cat

12. All Of My Friends Were There

13. Wicked Annabelle

14. Monica

15. People Take Pictures Of Each Other

Tracks 1 to 15 are their sixth studio album (seventh overall) "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" - released 22 November 1968 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 18233 in STEREO and February 1969 in the USA on Reprise RS 6327.

BONUS TRACKS:

16. Days (Mono Single Mix) - 28 June 1968 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17573, A-Side

17. She's Got Everything (Original Stereo Mix) - first issued on the 25 March 1972 US 2LP set "The Kinks Kronikles" on Reprise 2XS 6454

18. Mr. Songbird (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

19. Wonder Boy (Mono Single Mix) - 5 April 1968 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17468, A-side

20. Polly (Original Stereo Mix) - first issued on the 25 March 1972 US 2LP set "The Kinks Kronikles" on Reprise 2XS 6454

21. Berkeley Mews (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

22. Rosemary Rose (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

23. Misty Water (Stereo Mix) - 2018 Previously Unreleased

24. Till Death Do Us Part (Mono Mix) - first issued on the 25 January 1972 LP "The Great Lost Kinks Album" on Reprise MS 2127

CD2 - Original MONO Album, 2018 Remaster (66:55 minutes):

1. The Village Green Preservation Society [Side 1]

2. Do You Remember Walter?

3. Picture Book

4. Johnny Thunder

5. Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains

6. Big Sky

7. Sitting By The Riverside

8. Animal Farm [Side 2]

9. Village Green

10. Starstruck

11. Phenomenal Cat

12. All Of My Friends Were There

13. Wicked Annabelle

14. Monica

15. People Take Pictures Of Each Other

Tracks 1 to 15 are their sixth studio album (seventh overall) "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" - released 22 November 1968 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18233 in MONO and February 1969 in the USA on Reprise RS 6327 (Stereo Only).

BONUS TRACKS:

16. Lavender Hill (Mono Mix)

17. Rosemary Rose (Mono Mix)

18. Pictures In The Sand (Mono Mix)

19. Where Did My Spring Go? (Mono Mix)

Tracks 16 to 19 first issued on the 25 January 1972 US LP "The Great Lost Kinks Album" on Reprise MS 2127

20. When I Turn Off The Living Room Light (Mono Mix) - first issued in April 1970 on the Promotional-Only Various Artists 2LP Compilation "The Big Ball" on Warner Bros PRO 358. First commercial issue (like tracks 16 to 19) on the 25 January 1972 US LP "The Great Lost Kinks Album" on Reprise MS 2127

21. Did You See His Name (Original Stereo Mix) - first issued on the 25 March 1972 US 2LP set "The Kinks Kronikles" on Reprise 2XS 6454

22. Time Song (Monitor Mix - Stereo) - March 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions, remixed by Ray Davies in May 2018 - 2018 Previously Unreleased

23. The Village Green Preservation Society (Preservation Version - Stereo Mix) - February 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions - 2018 Previously Unreleased

24. Medley: Picture Book/People Take Pictures Of Each Other (Preservation Version - Stereo Mix) - February 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions - 2018 Previously Unreleased

25. Village Green Overture (Preservation Version - Stereo Mix) - February 1973 outtake from the "Preservation Act 1" sessions - 2018 Previously Unreleased

The 20-page attached booklet is beautifully done. As a Rarities Buyer for Reckless Records in London's Islington and Soho branches for nearly 20 years – I saw my fair share of Kinks 45s from all corners of the world (there are two pages of them here). And you would see the Reprise Records double-album "The Kinks Kronikles" turn up because it was a US swap-meet staple. But I've honestly never seen most of the international covers for the LP displayed in a set of nine on Page 16 (Norway and Sweden and even a Mexican reissue). Another nice touch is that both CDs feature the original Pye Records LP colouring (separate card flaps for each at the back of the booklet). There are colour photos of the band on Hampstead Heath in August 1968, trade adverts for the Record Mirror and NME along with a concert poster and more (lovely things). ANDY NEILL provides a superb and knowledgeable appraisal of the album and its out-of-step place in the landscape of November 1968 – Ray Davies hankering not for change (like everyone else) but instead to put a stay of execution on a way of British life that was fast disappearing under the big city wrecking ball of progress (God save strawberry jam and all its different varieties). Pye had in fact vetoed a 20-track double-album, so Ray edited it down to a paltry 15. But as the LP charts show – neither side of the pond seemed particularly interested. Village Green didn't chart in either England or the USA – a famous flop that somehow seems a wee bit myopic on our parts.

A team of four have done the Audio - longtime associate with Kinks 2CD Deluxe Editions ANDREW SANDOVAL did the mixing and audio restoration, tape transfers fell to RICHARD WHITTAKER and KEVIN VANBERGEN while Final Mastering was carried out by Rhino's long standing Audio Engineer - DAN HERSCH. It's all so good - even the unreleased "Misty Walter" in Stereo boogies with power and shocking presence. To the music...

The album opens with Ray wanting Desperate Dan, Donald Duck and the village green saved from progress in the opening title track. The Stereo separation in "Do You Remember Walter?" is fab but my heart went straight to the wicked groove of "Picture Book" which sounds so damn good. Re-hearing its Scooby-dooby-do chipper chorus - you can't help but feel that Pye missed a serious trick here by not issuing it as a lead in single for the album. Reprise USA did just that when they coupled "Picture Book" with "Starstruck" in January 1969 (Reprise 0806) - a month before the album hit the shops there in February. Everyone tried his or her best but "Johnny Thunder" rides the highway - another cracking melody that easily could have been single No. 2. 

I'm sure there are many Kinks fans who have their blood moved by the cool harmonica R 'n' B of "Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains" - a once mighty puffer now gathering dust in a museum (the remaster rocks). The feeling that you're in the middle of a great album continues with the one-day-we'll-be-free "Big Sky" - a fabulous tune with spoken and sung lyrics. The piano-jaunty "Siting By The Riverside" conjures old English bars while at the same time segueing into Psyched-up Guitars and Accordions. Take me where the animals are playing, Ray sings on "Animals" - another 'wanna be back there in the easier past' song. Churches with steeples and a girl called Daisy fill up "Village Green" while another woman is "Starstruck" drinks deep because she can't have what the famous man she wants. Whimsy returns with the fat moggy song "Phenomenal Cat" while "All Of My Friends Were There" begins with a how's-yer-father rhythm only to go into a softer melody. The album races to a close with the rocky "Wicked Annabella", the shuffling Salsa rhythms of "Monica" and the rapido-shaking tambourine of "People Take Pictures Of Each Other".

Of the Bonus tracks my remote went not to the overplayed "Days" in Mono but the "Kronikles" Stereo Mixes of "She's Got Everything" and (pretty) "Polly" and they're every bit as Kinks-Kool as I remember them including that wild guitar solo in "She's Got Everything" that seems to encompass both 60ts Rock and Psych in one 15-second outburst. I can't believe how cool the Previously Unreleased Stereo Mixes are - the 'you make me happy' Stereo Mix of "Mr. Songbird" and the piano-rolling "Berkeley Mews" - previously unreleased variants fans will have to have. And on it goes on CD2...

Re-listening to the album now, I can hear why a 1968 young audience weren't taken - too much going on in the present and future to be focusing on the old English past. But make no mistake, in 2020 the Kink's past has been brought to life by this exemplary big sky set of reissues. Top marks to all involved...

The SUPER DELUXE BOX SET Edition