"We Have Met Together" by MICK MALONEY – February 1973 UK Debut Solo Album [ex The Johnstons] on Transatlantic Records (August 2023 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Reissue onto CD with Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0C7V3J941&asins=B0C7V3J941&linkId=ff3b779f78fd32eb242c3601257c8b38&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

This Review And 225 Others Is Available In My AMAZON E-Book 

BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

And Genres Thereabouts

Your Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

For the 1960s and 1970s

All Reviews In-Depth and from the Discs Themselves

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08FFVZKH7&asins=B08FFVZKH7&linkId=eb23bbcba447d1fd50617da642401b60&show_border=true&

"…Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair…"

Limerickman, Banjo and Mandolin playing Folky Mick Maloney had already done his Irish Traditional Music time with The Johnstons between 1966 and 1972 – a very fondly remembered Folk/Folk Rock act on Transatlantic Records. Apart from lead vocalist Adrienne Johnston, Mick Maloney and the American Chris McCloud - The Johnstons were also the six-album home to one of Ireland's truly great songwriters - Paul Brady. 

Time to go solo - and for his Transatlantic Records debut in early 1973 - Maloney ditched that old crew and roped in a six-piece outfit of International players – Friedemann Witecka from Germany on Guitar, Dave O'Docherty from Dublin on Flute and Whistles, Dave Moses and Mal White from England on Bass Guitar, Recorder and Bodhran respectively with Ian (Jan) Inge Rasmussen from Norway on Guitar and Second Vocals and Scotsman Aly Bain from the Shetland Islands on Fiddle. Maloney played Tenor Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar and sang Lead Vocals on eight of its seventeen tunes. Adam Skeaping (one of the Engineers on the album) plays Synthesiser on the final lament to eerie effect on Side 2. Beat Goes On Records of England (commonly known as BGO Records) has also managed a first time on CD for this forgotten rarity with both beautiful Presentation and clear Audio. Here are the heady traditional details…

UK released Friday, 4 August 2023 (18 August 2023 in the USA) - "We Have Met Together" by MICK MALONEY on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1498 (Barcode 5017261214980) Remasters his 1973 debut solo album onto CD and plays out as follows (45:51 minutes):

1. Two Jigs [Side 1]

2. The Invisible Man

3. The Pipe On The Hob

4. Belfast Town

5. Bodhrán Solo

6. Don't Cry In Your Sleep

7. Reel On Mandolin

8. Farewell To The Rhondda

9. Vi Skal Ikkje Sova Burt Sumar Natta

10. Bean Pháidín [Side 2]

11. Bodhrán Solo

12. Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair

13. Avondale

14. The Leitrim Fancy

15. An Gaoth Andheas

16. Flute Solo

17. The Fields Of Vietnam

Tracks 1 to 17 are his debut solo LP "We Have Met Together" – released February 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 263. Produced by MICK MALONEY – it is first time on CD

NOTES: 

"The Invisible Man" is a Leon Rosselson song and features Friedemann Witecka on Second Guitar with Dave Moses on Bass

"Belfast Town" features Ian Inge Rasmussen on Second Guitar

Mal White plays the Bodhran on "Bodhrán Solo"

"Bean Pháidín" is Irish for Paddy's Wife

"Don't Cry In Your Sleep" features Ian Inge Rasmussen on Second Guitar and Vocal with Dave O'Docherty on Flute

"Reel On Mandolin" features Ian Inge Rasmussen duetting on Guitar

"Farewell To Rhondda" is a Frank Hennessy song about the Welsh mining strikes in 1972 and features Friedemann Witecka and Ian Inge Rasmussen on Guitars with Dave Moses on Bass

"Vi Skal Ikkje Sova Burt Sumar Natta" is a 1960s Norwegian Song (and not Traditional Folk as misdescribed in the original LP liner notes) and features Friedemann Witecka on Second Guitar with Dave Moses on Bass and Recorder

"Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair" features Ian Inge Rasmussen on Guitar with Dave O'Docherty on Flute and Mal White on Bodhrán (the Molloy in the title refers to Irish Flutist legend Matt Malloy of Planxty and The Bothy Band)

"Avondale" is a Dominic Behan song about Charles Stewart Parnell and features Second Guitar by Friedemann Witecka and Dave Moses on Bass

"An Gaoth Andheas" translates as The South Wind and features Aly Bain on Fiddle (Late with The Boys of the Lough)

"Flute Solo" features Dave O'Docherty on Flute only

"The Fields Of Vietnam" is a Ewan MacColl song with Adam Skeaping on Synthesiser

Quite apart from the lovely card slipcase that lends these stand-alone album reissues a real sense of visual class – the 20-page accompanying booklet with new JOHN O'REGAN liner notes goes deep on Maloney’s history with Folk, the album and beyond. Many Net sources are quoted – the original LP's liner notes are reproduced as is its artwork. O'Regan and Musician friends of Maloney note how he made the layout of the album tracks something of a template for future releases – Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh, Euro and American Roots tunes sat alongside instrumentals on the Bodhrán, Flute or Banjo. 

Subject matters included the dread emigration, labour woes once in cheap work, unemployment hunger once out of casual jobs, occupying armies and alienation at home and all roads to and from similar socially aware themes. Maloney sings with his very nasal Tĩr na n'Óg vocals on eight songs (all others are instrumentals) – Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 17. Audio is a New Remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON and it is clean, warm and a lovely listen – the real simple instruments given space to shine.

Some will find the barricades and gelignite lyrics in "Belfast Town" an open-wound – a brave and horribly realistic song about the Northern Ireland troubles – its author wanting to remain anonymous in 1973 no doubt fearing reprisals from both side of the paramilitary divide. The same anchor's away to a better place doom permeates "Don't Cry In Your Sleep" while a jolly-roger lilt fills the colliery pit-men song "Farewell To The Rhondda" – the mines all closing and the population falling – all heading towards the big smoke of London to get work. Side 1 ends with a 60ts Norwegian song sung in the native tongue – it's pretty and features floating recorder, accented Bass and lovely acoustic soloing from guest Guitarist Friedemann Witecka. It's contemporary Folk and not Traditional at all.

A Traditional does open Side 2 – sung in Gaelic, "Bean Pháidín" is Irish for Paddy's Wife and Maloney makes light-work of the speedily sung impenetrable lyrics as the Mandolin and Acoustics strum and pick. After a short Bodhrán solo, the band gets to show its instrumental chops on "Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair" – a Banjo, Whistle and Bodhrán tapping set of reels learned from Flutist Matt Molloy. Things return to plaintive ballad with the lovely "Avondale" – Dominic Behan singing of tall trees and ancient glory in the vales – Maloney sounding completely at home with the lead only to be joined on the second chorus by the other lads (very nicely done, Parnell would have approved). 

Two instrumentals highlight Acoustic Guitars, Banjo, Fiddle and Flute whilst "An Gaoth Andheas" is about a Southern Winter where Aly Bain of Boys of the Lough plays a binder on plaintive fiddle. The album ends of probably its best shot at greatness – a cover of the Ewan MacColl political ballad "The Fields Of Vietnam". It opens with lonesome solo vocals but is soon joined by an ominous synth drone (Adam Skeaping) – the Vietnamese taken on by the invading armies of the French and the Americans – none of them succeeding. "The Fields Of Vietnam" brings to an end a strong debut – not a masterpiece by any means – but superbly presented here for those who have waited decades for it to show on decent digital.

Having toured since the Sixties and been involved in nearly forty albums – Mick Maloney made the USA his home and sadly passed in July 2022 aged 77 – a lifetime given over to all forms of Folk music and its rich history, academia and philanthropy. Although his name may not reverberate around the annals of Music Fame outside of the Traditional genres – inside it – Maloney was beloved and spread the gospel far and wide – some saying he chronicled and championed all forms of Roots Music with a passion and warmth that was infectious. Much like this rather lovely CD Reissue and Remaster…

"Mae McKenna/Everything That Touches Me/Walk On Water plus Bonus Tracks" by MAE McKENNNA [ex Contraband] – August 1975 Debut, June 1976 Second Album and May 1977 Third Studio Albums on Transatlantic Records UK (November 2023 UK Beat Goes On Compilation – 3 Solo LPs Plus 2 'Contraband' Single Sides onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0CBNLJ8HY&asins=B0CBNLJ8HY&linkId=623cd101e62416d26990a7850de5d00a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
 

"...Thinking Of You..."

 

MUSIC RATING: *** AUDIO: ***** PRESENTATION: *****

 

Along with George Jackson, Billy Jackson, John Martin, Pete Cairney and Alex Baird – Scottish lass MAE McKENNA had formed CONTRABAND who signed to Transatlantic Records in 1973. As their lead singer, they put out one self-titled album of Irish and Scottish music called "Contraband" on Transatlantic TRA 278 in May 1974. McKenna then went Poptastic solo with her 1975 self-titled debut while Billy and George Jackson along with John Martin formed a full-on Traditional Folk outfit called OSSIAN and they put out their debut in 1977 on a tiny label - Springthyme Records SPR 1004.

 

Back to the case in hand - these Mae McKenna solo LPs are 'not' Folk Records. They were issued August 1975 (TRA 297), June 1976 (TRA 321) and May 1977 (TRA 345) on Transatlantic Records in the UK - but despite its famous-for-it All Things Folk label identity, these albums are far removed from that genre on all three counts. The listen is more mid Seventies Lady Pop and Rock by way of Linda Ronstadt or Helen Reddy or the syrupy acrobatics of Barbra Streisand.

 

Most of the songs across these two crammed CDs are cover versions - pianos mingling with strings and professionally played drums with good session-players putting in quality playing – but not a lot else. It's about as un-Folk as you can get and unfortunately very mid-Seventies nondescript. I recall we could never sell copies of Mae McKenna albums in Reckless because it was not Folk or Folk Rock. However, fans will love the first time availability on CD, the classy presentation and the super clear audio. There is a lot to get through – to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 10 November 2023 - "Mae McKenna/Everything That Touches Me/Walk On Water plus Bonus Tracks" by MAE McKENNA on Beat Goes On BGOCD1499 (Barcode 5017261214997) offers 3LPs and Two 45-Single Sides (by Contraband featuring Mae McKenna) onto 2CDs. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (43:56 minutes):

1. Dying To Live [Side 1]

2. Once In The Morning

3. All In Love Is Fair

4. The Other Side Of Me

5. Song For Simon

6. Together We Get By

7. Elderberry Wine [Side 2]

8. How Could We Dare To Be Wrong

9. Imagine

10. Black-Eyed Susan

11. Said The Major

12. Old Man

Tracks 1 to 12 are her debut album "Mae McKenna" – released August 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 297. Produced by PETE SAMES – it featured Martin Briley and Paul Keogh on Guitars, BJ Cole on Pedal Steel Guitar and Graham Prescott on Bass.

 

CD2 (78:44 minutes):

1. For Shame Of Doing Wrong [Side 1]

2. My Town

3. Thinking Of You

4. Crying In The Rain

5. Late For The Sky

6. Love Hurts [Side 2]

7. I Have Waited 

8. (I Ended Up) Losing You 

9. Everything That Touches Me

10. Lady For Today

11. Sixty Seconds Got Together

Tracks 1 to 11 are her second solo album "Everything That Touches Me" - released June 1976 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 321. Produced by RITCHIE GOLD - musicians included Elliott Randall and Isaac Guillory on Guitars with Pat Donaldson of Fotheringay on Bass and Timi Donald of Blue on Drums (String Arrangements by Pete Wingfield). 

12. Driven Away [Side 1]

13. Love Me Tomorrow

14. There's Been A Mistake

15. What Becomes Of The Broken Heart

16. Sailin'

17. Love Struck [Side 2]

18. He's A Man After My Own Heart

19. Love Hangover

20. For You My Love

21. I Want To Believe In You

Tracks 12 to 21 are her third solo album "Walk On Water" - released May 1977 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 345. Produced by RITCHIE GOLD - featuring Elliott Randall, Iassac Guillory Ronnie Leahy, Alan James, Gerry Conway and Pete Willsher.

BONUS TRACKS:

22. Lady For Today

23. On The Road

Tracks 22 and 23 are the A&B-sides of a 1974 UK 45-single by CONTRABAND featuring the voice of Mae McKenna on Transatlantic Records BIG 518

The card slipcase is lovely to look at (they are standard now with all Beat Goes on CD Reissues) - as is the 20-pages of the chock-a-block booklet with new liner notes by one of BGO's longstanding scribes JOHN O'REGAN. The album credits for all three are reproduced and the history is his usual plethora of details and interview segments. ANDREW THOMPSON has done the Remasters and as professionally produced albums from 1975, 1976 and 1977 - the CD Audio is top notch. You just wish the material warranted it. To the songs...

 

The debut has covers of Stevie Wonder's "All In Love Is Fair", Elton John's "Elderberry Wine", Randy Newman's "Old Man", Edgar Winter's "Dying To Live" and John Lennon's "Imagine" but few of them really click. A rare moment of beauty comes in her cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Song For Simon" that first appeared on the Humblebum's third album "Open Up The Door".

 

After the overly reaching-for-commercialism saccharine nature of the debut – solo album number two tries to Rock it up a bit with only marginally better results. It opens with a good rendition of Richard Thompson's "For Shame Of Doing Wrong". Elliott Randall of Steely Dan "Reeling In The Years" guitar-solo fame plays all the lead guitars aided and abetted by string arrangements from Pete Wingfield of Jellybread and "Eighteen With A Bullet" fame (Ronnie Leahy plays Keyboards). Channeling her inner Emmylou Harris/Country Rock sound, McKenna tackles Kate and Anna McGarrigle's "My Town" – it feels nice but not a whole lot more. Next up is a lovely Wendy Waldman song called "Thinking Of You" – Waldman had contributed "Vaudeville Man" and "Mad Mad Me" to the self-titled "Maria Muldaur" LP in 1973 on Reprise Records (the "Midnight At The Oasis" LP). Unfortunately McKenna ruins the Jackson Browne masterpiece "Late For The Sky" with crappy synth passages and one of the singularly most inappropriate psyched-up guitar solos I've ever heard. Side 2 goes for the love songs big time but only ends up sounding cloying like a bad Neil Diamond album on CBS Records in the late Seventies.

 

Being embedded in the psyche of 1977 dancefloor Soul-Funk – album number three goes full-on Yacht Rock right from the openers "Driven Away" and "Love Me Tomorrow" but the material is weak and her voice not particularly memorable. Barely anyone cares about Pousette-Dart songs and "There's Been A Mistake" sounds as uninspired as its title. And on it goes to hammy Pedal Steel cack like "Love Struck". CD2 ends with a Contraband UK 45-single (Transatlantic BIG 518 featuring the voice of Mae McKenna) from 1974 - "Lady For Today" written by Rosemary Hardman with a Billy Jackson original on the flipside "On The Road". The A is more poppy and less memorable than the lovely Mandolin filled B-side. It ends a hard-work CD2 on a high note.

 

Workmanlike albums like these are forgotten and cluttering up auction sites with 40-copies for two and three quid for a reason – they were never worthy of our affection in the first place. But if you have any love for these Seventies records – this Beat Goes On gorgeous sounding and tastefully presented twofer is the jobby for you. All others should grab a listen first...

"White Light/Roadmaster" by GENE CLARK – August 1971 US/UK Second Solo LP [ex Byrds, Dillard & Clark] on A&M Records and January 1973 Dutch-Only Third LP on A&M Records featuring Guitarists Jesse Ed Davis and John Selk, Keyboards by Ben Sidran and Michael Utley, Bass by Chris Ethridge with Drums and Percussion by Bobbye Hall Porter and Gary Mallaber – Also Featuring David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Clarence White and Bernie Leadon of Eagles and many more (May 2023 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 2LPs onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0BZ5432MT&asins=B0BZ5432MT&linkId=11f2a262b4b710903df1f7404f789a39&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
 

Rating: ****

 

"...Let Your Troubles Fade Into The Sun..."

 

There seems to be a train of thought that places Gene Clark of The Byrds, Dillard and Clark and The Flying Burrito Bros. fame up there with holy men and Godheads when it comes to songwriting genius. I think that's absolute codswallop.

 

Neither of these is his masterpiece "No Other" (from 1974). But it would also be churlish of me not to state the obvious - there is beauty and charm on his second and third solo albums – but just not as much as so many claim. Certain publications assuring us then or now that Gene Clark is among the greatest songwriters of his generation are to me ludicrously over-pushed and over-stated – especially on the strength of what's on offer here.

 

However (and I mean this) - what you do have here is a Quality Reissue CD Compilation that will make many of his Country-Rock and Folk-Rock fans very happy bunnies indeed. In fact – you could say that waiting until May 2023 for this 2LPs-onto-1Disc has seemed a long time coming. 

 

But typical of Beat Goes On Records (BGO of England) – they've done his legacy proud and presented these August 1971 and January 1973 albums (both on A&M Records – the second out of Holland only) with a pretty card slipcase, liner notes that reprouduce all original details and draws on research of old, and sports newly Remastered Audio (care of Andrew Thompson) that finally makes for the best listen of this material that I have ever heard. Here are the Misty Mornings...

 

UK released Friday, 26 May 2023 - "White Light/Roadmaster" by GENE CLARK on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1494 (Barcode 5017261214942) features 2LPs issued 1971 and 1973 Remastered onto 1CD (no Bonuses) that plays out as follows (75:00 minutes):

 

1. The Virgin [Side 1]

2. With Tomorrow

3. White Light

4. Because Of You

5. One in A Hundred

6. For A Spanish Guitar [Side 2]

7. Where My Love Lies Asleep

8. Tears Of Rage

9. 1975

Tracks 1 to 9 are his second solo album (after The Byrds, Dillard & Clark and The Flying Burrito Brothers) "White Light" aka "Gene Clark" – released August 1971 in the USA on A&M Records SP 4292 and A&M Records AMLS 64292. All songs written by Gene Clark except "With Tomorrow" – a co-write with Jesse Davis – and "Tears Of Rage" by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel (of The Band). Produced by JESSE ED DAVIS – the band consisted of Gene Clark on Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica, Electric and Slide Guitars by Jesse Ed Davis, Acoustic Guitar by John Selk, Keyboards by Ben Sidran (Piano) and Michael Utley (Organ), Bass by Chris Ethridge with Drums and Percussion by Gary Mallaber and Bobbye Hall Porter. Both Bed Sidran and Gary Mallaber are from The Steve Miller Band.

 

10. She's The Kind Of Girl [Side 1]

11. One in A Hundred

12. Here Tonight

13. Full Circle Song

14. In A Misty Morning

15. Rough And Rocky

16. Roadmaster [Side 2]

17. I Really Don't Want To Know

18. Remember The Railroad

19. She Don't Care About Time

20. Shooting Star

Tracks 10 to 20 are his third solo album "Roadmaster" – released January 1973 in Holland-only on A&M Records 87 584 IT. It received its first British VINYL LP release August 1988 on Edsel ED 198 in different artwork and subsequently on CD June 1990 on Edsel ED CD 198 (again with the different artwork – Gene in the front seat of a car).

 

The card slipcase and 20-page booklet certainly lend this release a feel of event and that both albums have transferred in their entirety onto 1 CD (75:00 minutes exactly) is pleasing too. Long-time contributor to BGO liner notes JOHN O’REGAN name-checks web sources and does a full career overview and not just on the two presented. Perusing the notes, I've read some of this stuff before - Clark's life being the stuff of abuse and misuse legend. 

 

Missouri born in November 1941 – Gene Clark was gone by May 1991 - not even making his 50^th birthday – yet he left a musical thumbprint we're still flicking through to this day. One of the Byrds founders – we're told of a hasty departure in 1966 (Roger McGuinn taking over) and thereafter hooking up with Chip Douglas and other Country-fied types. Columbia Records signed Clark as solo act and his 1967 debut with The Gosdin Brothers hit the shops as his first solo album. What you're getting here is solo albums two and three - both studio efforts - the second a sort of half-done patchwork recorded 1971-ish in the USA that was released by A&M Records anyway in early 1973, but only in Europe. And while the music press were generally favorable even fawning, because of its seriously limited nature on Vinyl, the buying public barely got a look in on "Roadmaster" let alone sung its praises.

 

The booklet provides musician credits for both albums (no new photos) and the Remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON accessed original master tapes. The Harmonica and strummed Acoustics on "White Light" is lovely and warm while the Production values on "Because Of You" is gorgeous – those soft Congas by Bobbye Hall Porter and that lingering Mike Utley church organ. Many love "One In A Hundred" – Jesse Ed David and Mike Utley giving it a fantastic one-two on Slide Guitar and complimentary Organ – Clark warbling the vocals. No less than Dylan called "For A Spanish Guitar" a masterpiece he wishes he'd written himself – the laughter of children employed – a very sweet Remaster as the instruments wallow around your speakers. And "Where My Love Lies Asleep" could be whipper-will J.J. Cale on "Magnolia". But I can't say I have much truck with either "Tears Of Rage" or "1975" (there is something lacking in the guitars, even the Remastered sound feels off). Still - totting up what I do like - "White Light" is such a strong album.

 

Clark had left A&M Records in late 1972 for a reunion with the five others in the Byrds. Their self-titled "Byrds" reunion album (of which much was expected and not a lot delivered) was released on Asylum Records in March 1973 – so few even noticed the bits and pieces 1972-recordings solo album by Gene Clark issued in Holland-only in January 1973. In fact "Roadmaster" famously received a release in 1974 in Japan before Reissue Specialists Edsel Records gave it a wallop in the UK in 1988 (and in different artwork). In truth – both albums have remained cult singer-songwriter touchstones ever since and it is well cool of Beat Goes on (BGO) to finally pair both of them on one compilation with quality presentation.

 

Gene Clark sings Lead Vocals on all "Roadmaster" songs and Plays Acoustic Guitar on Tracks 14 to 20. Guest Musicians included Bud Shank playing low-key Flute on the album opener "She's The Kind Of Girl". Guitars from ex Byrds men David Crosby and Roger McGuinn on "She's The Kind Of Girl" and "One In A Hundred" – while Clarence White provides Lead Guitar on tracks 14 to 20 including the remade version of "One In A Hundred" (original version on the "White Light" album). Both Spooner Oldham of Muscle Shoals and Fame Studios and Byron Berline of The Flying Burrito Bros play Keyboards and Fiddle (respectively) on Tracks 14 to 20 - while ex Byrds drummer Michael Clarke plays on all. Rick Roberts of The Flying Burrito Bros and Firefall plays Acoustic Guitar on "Here Tonight" alongside Bernie Leadon of Eagles who plays Electric Guitar on the same song. "Rough And Rocky" is a Flatt & Scruggs cover version while "I Really Don't Want To Know" was popularized in 1953 by Les Paul and Mary Ford and has been covered many times since including by Elvis Presley, Brook Benton and even John Travolta.

 

With Crosby and especially McGuinn playing that pinging guitar sound of the Byrds on "She's The Kind Of Girl" and a more attacking "One in A Hundred" – the LP opens like its an actual next-stage Byrds LP. But we return to a more Country-Rock vibe with the Pedal Steel driven "Here Tonight" – the suitcase is over there – not being used – only want to be with you tonight. Far more moving in my book is the simple yet epic acoustic-strummed forlorn of "In A Misty Morning" – our hero eyeing the tall buildings of the city – police cruisers whizzing by – street lights changing – memories of days left behind – hoping for better times ahead as he walks – lost in reverie.

 

Muscle Shoals legend and fab-songwriter in his own right Spooner Oldham starts making his complimentary presence felt with Funky Keyboards on the title song – the truck-stop/ladies tale "Roadmaster". But it also Clarence White letting rip with treated Guitar Funk that catches the ear – a travelling picker literally making you feel what it is like to be on the road.

 

"Just to laugh through the columns of trees...to soar like a seagull in the breeze...to stand in the rain if you please...or to never be found..." Clark sang with a mournful longing on "For A Spanish Guitar". 

 

Gene never did find that peace in this world – but fans of his Big Star jangle and Byrds-like Sunshine Country-Rock can console themselves with the melodies and presentation here. Another clever and smartly presented CD compilation from England's BGO...fans will have to own it...

"Chanter's Tune" by NA FILÍ [Gaelic for The Poets] – November 1977 UK LP on Transatlantic Records featuring Tomás Ó Canainn, Tom Barry and Matt Cranitch (August 2023 UK Beat Goes Records (BGO) CD Reissue – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 <iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0C4V8JKX6&asins=B0C4V8JKX6&linkId=46c693bf1afa345117f837fb3b730577&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

This Review And 225 Others Is Available In My AMAZON E-Book 

BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

And Genres Thereabouts

Your Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

For the 1960s and 1970s

All Reviews In-Depth and from the Discs Themselves

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08FFVZKH7&asins=B08FFVZKH7&linkId=eb23bbcba447d1fd50617da642401b60&show_border=true&

RATING: ****

 

"...The Music Of The Piper..."

 

England's Beat Goes on Records (BGO to us in the know) have been going at Irish, English and Scottish Traditional Folk Music (and huge swathes of Country too) for much of the Naughties – and often with blinding results.

 

As well as obvious touch-points like Steeleye Span, The Dubliners, Finbar and Eddie Furey, Dave Swarbrick (of Fairport) and The Incredible String Band - they have reissued deep dive stuff like Sweeney's Men, The McCalmans, Hamish Imlach, Dave Cartwright, Mr. Fox, The Young Tradition, Mike Cooper, Bob and Carolanne Pegg (with Nick Strutt), David McWilliams and The Johnstons (featuring Paul Brady) to name but a few (I have reviewed most all of them) – not exactly artist names that trip off the Sainsbury's Top 50 chart tongue.

 

But there has been a part of me that wants BGO to go at the likes of The Bothy Band or Planxty or even the early Clannad and Chieftains albums. Well maybe we can get near them and their sound because blow my Uilleann Pipe up the wrong trouser leg, but they have only dug down deep and gone for The Poets – or NA FILÍ to you and I (roughly pronounced - Naw Philly). It's first time on CD too.

 

So, once more unto the jigs and reels my finger-in-the-ear lowbrow people of the wastelands (well North of Skegness anyway)...

 

UK released 4 August 2023 (delayed from July) - "Chanter's Tune" by NA FILÍ on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1497 (Barcode 5017261214973) is a straightforward Remaster and Reissue of a November 1977 Traditional Irish Folk LP onto CD. It plays out follows (40:29 minutes):

 

1. The Maid At The Spinning Wheel [Side 1]

2. Ceol An Phíobaire (The Music Of The Piper) /Michael Murphy's Slide

3. Mo Mhuirnín Ban (My Fair-Haired Darling)

4. Give Us A Drink Of Water / Hunting The Hare

5. Na Connerys (The Connerys)

6. Chanter's Tune / An Samhradh Crua (The Hard Summer) / The Green Fields Of Rossbeigh / Murphy's Reel Medley

7. Inis Dhún Ramha (Inis Doon Rawa) / Paidin Ó Raifeartaigh [Side 2]

8. Maidin Ró-Mhoch (Early One Morning)

9. The Trip To Athlone / Pat McGillarney

10. Sweet Williamstown

11. Cait Ní Dhuibhir (Kate O'Dwyer) / The Flannel Jacket / John Dwyer's Reel

12. The Top Of Maol / Dan Coakley's Polka / The Ballydesmond Polka

Tracks 1 to 12 are their fifth studio album "Chanter's Tune" – released November 1977 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 353.

 

NA FILÍ (Gaelic for The Poets) are:

TOMAS Ó CANAINN – Uilleann Pipes and Vocals

TOM BARRY – Whistles and Flute

MATT CRANITCH - Fiddle

 

Producer VICTOR GAMM had roots in Folk and Folk Rock stretching back to the Jethro Tull 1968 debut album "This Was" on Island, the Tom Paxton 1971 album on Reprise Records called "How Come The Sun", the second Stackridge album "Friendliness" from 1972 on MCA Records, the Folk-Prog sound of Magna Carta on their 1973 LP for Vertigo "Lord Of The Ages" and onwards to Mick Greenwood (much of Fotheringay were on his 1971 debut) and his third album in 1974 - "Midnight Dreamer" on Warner Brothers. I say all this because this is a gorgeous recording – his work here is clean and clear but not dampened down – beautifully present. When the trio go into the four parts of the title track that ends Side 1 – it’s near seven-minutes of piping, fiddling and whistling is practically audiophile as far as Traditional Irish Music goes.

 

There is a pleasingly in-depth 16-page booklet by noted writer and Folk Enthusiast JOHN O'REGAN where his history lesson on the three lads includes their early years in Fifties and Sixties Southern Ireland where the Fleadh and the Guinness blended and blurred into one. They disbanded in 1979 but are remembered with deep affection (his liner notes are exemplary, researched and imparted with heart and savvy). O'Regan also says that this reissue restores the album to its former glory and dropping a weary lughole on the stunning Remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON from original Transatlantic master tapes indeed confirms this. "Chanter's Tune" is a gorgeous sounding CD with a clarity and warmth that is bound to thrill those who have held on to this rare late 70s vinyl artifact for fear of never getting a clean copy again. Well fear no more, because BGO's resident Audio Engineer genius has pulled off a goodun. The card slipcase too of course lends it an air of class. To the mostly instrumental music...

 

This most Traditional of Irish Music LPs opens with 2:15 minutes called "The Maid At The Spinning Wheel" – a lovely but short Pipes and Whistles jaunt. Tomás Ó Canainn takes us into Gaelic Story territory with his distinct lilt on "Ceol An Phíobaire (The Music Of The Piper) / Michael Murphy's Slide" – the first part sung about money and piping whilst the jog plays it out. "Mo Mhuirnín Ban (My Fair-Haired Darling)" is a beautiful 2:15 minutes Penny Whistle instrumental where you can literally hear Tom Barry drawing breath – just him and the melody. That's quickly followed by a Fiddle and Whistle doubling up for "Give Us A Drink Of Water / Hunting The Hare" which is soon joined by Tomás Ó Canainn with his Uilleann Pipes drone (another instrumental).

 

Plaintive would describe the "Na Connerys (The Connerys)" – a gorgeous double Uilleann Pipes melody that is layered with Whistle and Flute – the kind of instrumental that would filled Braveheart with even more soul. Tomás Ó Canainn sings for the second time on Side 2's combo of song and reel - "Inis Dhún Ramha (Inis Doon Rawa) / Paidin Ó Raifeartaigh" featuring all instruments and a sweet jaunt to its happy ending. A tonal dark fiddle note plays in "Maidin Ró-Mhoch (Early One Morning)" and its lone instrument unaccompanied sadness stays that way throughout – beautiful and haunting as its subject matter no doubt was.

 

The 'chanter' (as the liner notes inform us) is part of the Uilleann Pipes instrument that wavers and alters its sound and tone. 

 

Well this "Chanter's Tune" is a sweetheart of a reissue. Top marks to Beat Goes On of England (BGO), Music Historian John O'Regan and Engineer Andrew Thompson for seeing it presented beautifully and sounding sexier than a buxom maid at a spinning wheel with a glint in her eye and a big yarn on her knee (you go girl)...

"Ghost Town/Inamorata" by POCO – December 1982 and May 1984 on Atlantic Records featuring Rusty Young, Timothy B. Schmidt (of The Eagles), Richie Furay (ex Buffalo Springfield), George Grantham (Neil Young's Crazy Horse) and Paul Cotton (November 2015 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation – 2LPs Remastered in High Def onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 <iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B01621Q798&asins=B01621Q798&linkId=3d19687501d7468e7caa59ea8c07f3e4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0BZL1MX5Y&asins=B0BZL1MX5Y&linkId=af56fb38e3fc6d43bd49fe788dfb0500&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

Available on AMAZON 

LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"...This Old Flame..."

 

Two long-forgotten US albums by POCO from their 'yacht rock' stay at Atlantic Records in 1982 and 1984 - remastered to perfection onto 1CD by Beat Goes On of the UK. Here are the ghostly post-heartache details...

 

UK released November 2015 – "Ghost Town/Inamorata" by POCO on Beat Goes on BGOCD 1212 (Barcode 5017261212122) in a compilation that offers 2 albums Remastered onto 1CD that plays out as follows (73:52 minutes):

 

1. Ghost Town [Side 1]

2. How Will You Feel Tonight

3. Shoot For The Moon

4. The Midnight Rodeo (In The Lead Tonight)

5. Cry No More

6. Break Of Hearts [Side 2]

7. Love's So Cruel

8. Special Care

9. When Hearts Collide

10. High Sierra

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Ghost Town" – released December 1982 in the USA on Atlantic 80008-1 (no UK issue)

 

11. Days Gone By [Side 1]

12. This Old Flame

13. Daylight

14. Odd Man Out

15. How Many Moons

16. When You Love Someone [Side 2]

17. Brenda X

18. Standing In The Fire

19. Save A Corner Of Your Heart

20. The Storm

Tracks 11 to 20 are the album "Inamorata" – released May 1984 in the USA on Atlantic 7 80148-1 and in the UK/Europe on Atlantic 780 148-1

 

There's the usual card slipcase, a 16-page booklet with full-albums credits (lyrics to "Ghost Town" only), artwork, band photos and new liner notes by noted writer JOHN O'REGAN. The ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters were done in 2015 in the UK from WEA licensed tapes – and as the card slipcase says is 'Mastered in high definition – audiophile recording from the Original Master'. This CD sounds amazing – reflecting the original Production values of JOHN MILLS on "Ghost Town" and RUSTY YOUNG with PAUL COTTON on "Inamorata".

 

In truth it's hard for me to say that I love either "Ghost Town" and especially its weedy follow-up "Inamorata" – both are the kind of mid Eighties Schlock Rock that cluttered up radios everywhere at the time. Having said that it's hard to resist the slick strummed guitars of "How Will You Feel, Tonight?" – nor the pretty melody behind "Shoot For The Moon" where Paul Cotton urges his lover to 'take a chance' and 'shoot for the moon'. "Break Of Hearts" is more Radio-friendly Countryish smooch while "Special Care" is pseudo guitar-boogie best forgotten. Better is the raunchy riffage of "High Sierra" – a rare moment when the album shows some Don Henley-like teeth.

 

1984's "Inamorata" saw both Young and Cotton stay in POCO, but joining them was a virtual supergroup of Country Rock – Timothy B. Schmidt (of The Eagles), Richie Furay (ex Buffalo Springfield) and George Grantham (Neil Young's Crazy Horse). With the bulk of songwriting shared between Rusty Young ("Daylight", "When You Love Someone", "Save A Corner Of Your Heart" and "The Storm") and Paul Cotton ("Days Gone By", "Odd Man Out", "How Many Moons", "Brenda X" and "Standing In The Fire") – it was down to Reed Nielsen to provide the odd man out song – "This Old Flame". The same quality production values that made "Ghost Town" such an Audio winner followed the band into "Inamorata" – this time with band stalwarts Rusty Young and Paul Cotton at the helm. Not that all this musical talent produced a winner - it didn't.

 

It opens promisingly enough with the catchy "Days Gone By" which is followed by the mellow "This Old Flame". But those are rare moments. The awful and tuneless "Daylight" is a victim of its own over-produced cleverness - better is Cotton's "Odd Man Out" and the chipper "How Many Moons". The duo of "Brenda X" and "Standing In The Fire" are again in desperate need of an actual tune - while the hooky "Save A Corner Of Your Heart" just about saves a patchy album.

 

A very long way from Poco's Seventies Country-Rock heyday – these Eighties uber-productions have all the gloss but lack those killer tunes - especially on that rightly forgotten 2nd Atlantic Records LP. Still POCO fans will love the Quality Audio and Presentation...and if they have any passion for the band - this is the reissue to buy...