"Hot Rats" by FRANK ZAPPA (2012 Zappa Records CD Reissue – with 2008 Bernie Grundman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Son Of Mrs. Green Genes..."

It's hard not to look at Christine Frka's frizzy-haired mad-as-a-dingbat-on-acid stare as she peaks over a wrecked/abandoned Beverley Hill's swimming pool on the cover of Frank Zappa's iconic Jazz-Rock album "Hot Rats" - and not smile. In some ways she summed up the adventure contained within the grooves – gonna be a little frizzled around the edges by the time you're done (Miss Christine was one of the all-girl group The GTOs - Girls Together Outrageously – another Bizarre Records act – she talked Frank into signing Alice Cooper).

After five incendiary albums with The Mothers Of Invention since 1966 (two of which were doubles) – it was time for the inevitable Solo LP proper from Frank Zappa and instead of Vocal Group pastiches and Comedy Soundtracks – Zappa went Rock in a very Jazzy way and never looked back. "Hot Rats" even hit No 9 in the UK charts in late February 1970 – his first and highest chart placing in good old Blighty (the Bizarre Records LP scraped into 173 in the USA).

His CD reissues from this period have been dogged with controversy. Having acquired the rights to own back catalogue - Zappa began remixing the masters to what many felt were sacred cows – even adding posthumous parts that weren't on the originals thereby altering their very nature (he argued he was the artist). Most notorious is the extra four minutes of music added on to the 12:53 of "The Gumbo Variations" on the 1995 Rykodisc CD reissue. Using the Zappa approved 'edit' master of the 1969 album – this BERNIE GRUNDMAN 2008 Remaster goes back to basics and yet still packs a lot of punch especially in those huge instrumental stretches within "Willie The Pimp", "Son Of Mrs. Green Genes" and the Saxophone-driven "The Gumbo Variations". Here are the 'little umbrellas'...

UK released July 2012 – "Hot Rats" by FRANK ZAPPA on Zappa Records 0238412 (Barcode 824302384121) is a straightforward transfer of the original 1969 LP onto CD (using a 2008 remaster) and plays out as follows (43:19 minutes):

1. Peaches En Regalia [Side 1]

2. Willie The Pimp

3. Son Of Mrs. Green Genes

4. Little Umbrellas [Side 2]

5. The Gumbo Variations

6. It Must Be A Camel

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Hot Rats" – released early October 1969 in the USA on Bizarre/Reprise RS 6356 and February 1970 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6356  (re-issued July 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44078).

Players were:

FRANK ZAPPA – Guitars, Octave Bass & Percussion

IAN UNDERWOOD – Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone & Keyboards (solo on "The Gumbo Variations")

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART – Vocals on "Willie The Pimp"

SUGAR CANE HARRIS – Violin on "Willie The Pimp" and "The Gumbo Variations"

JEAN LUC PONTY – Violin on "It Must Be A Camel"

LOWELL GEORGE – Guitar (uncredited)

MAX BENNETT – Bass on all except "Peaches En Regalia"

SHUGGIE OTIS – Bass on "Peaches En Regalia"

JOHN GUERIN – Drums on "Willie The Pimp", "Little Umbrellas" and "It Must Be A Camel"

PAUL HUMPHREY – Drums on "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" and "The Gumbo Variations"

RON SELICAO – Drums on "Peaches En Regalia"

The fold-out inlay reinstates the colour photos on the inner gatefold of the original LP and those not quite complete musician credits – but unfortunately very little else. Someone could have produced the lyrics to the only song with vocals on it – "Willie The Pimp" – or even explained about the album's intricate history on LP and CD – but alas – you barely get the BG remaster mention and that's it. Still at least the Audio is restored and wicked into the bargain...

The album opens with perhaps his most famous piece – the instrumental "Peaches En Regalia" which features the Bass playing of future Columbia Records guitar whizz Shuggie Otis. Great audio as those keyboard overdubs punch in. The mighty Captain Beefheart adds his considerable larynx to "Willie The Pimp" giving the 9:23 minutes an anchor – but what shines even more is Frank's Guitar soloing giving the piece an almost hypnotic feel as it stoner-rocks along defying all conventional wisdom as to what a Pop Song should be.

The battle between Zappa's Guitar, Sugar Cane Harris' Violin and Paul Humphrey’s extraordinary Drumming on relentless groove of "The Gumbo Variations" certainly tests the Remaster to the max and Bernie Grundman has seen to it that you can appreciate the individual contributions and crescendo all at the same time. The Piano and Flute passages on "Little Umbrellas" are fuller and the almost lounge-room vibe of the Piano and Drums on "It Must Be A Camel" is very clear - a sort of five-minute 'settle down' piece of Jazz Rock that ends the album on a mellow vibe.

The only real let down is the average presentation (sans regalia more than peaches) – otherwise here's one sizzling rodent you need in your suburban pool Mrs. Green Genes...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"Gorilla" by JAMES TAYLOR - May 1975 LP on Warner Brothers Records (2010 JAPAN-Only Warner Brothers SHM-CD Reissue (Isao Kikuchi Remaster) in 5" Mini LP Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…It Don't Look Like I'll Ever Stop My Wandering…"

Fans of JT will know that only 2-tracks from "Gorilla" are available as remasters – "Mexico" and the cover of Marvin Gaye's 1964 Motown hit "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" (done by Taylor as a duet with Carly Simon) – both of them on the Warners Brothers/Rhino 'Best Of' compilation "You've Got A Friend" from 2003. And sweet they sound too…

But this Japan-only SHM-CD released 7 April 2010 on Warner Brothers WPCD-13823 (Barcode 4943674097364) is the first time the entire "Gorilla" album has been remastered since its release on a dull-sounding US/European CD in the mid Eighties - and the audio quality on this CD reissue is TRULY BEAUTIFUL.

1. Mexico

2. Music

3. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

4. Wandering

5. Gorilla

6. You Make It Easy

7. I Was A Fool To Care [Side 2]

8. Lighthouse

9. Angry Blues

10. Love Songs

11. Sarah Maria

Part of a 6-album campaign (see list below) - this 2010 remaster was done by ISAO KIKUCHI in Japan - a non-numbered limited edition on the SHM-CD format (11 tracks, 39:02 minutes). Super High Materials CDs do not require a specific machine to play them on – they’re simply a better form of disc created by JVC in 2008 to improve on the original format (unchanged since it was first put out 30 years ago). The general idea is that the sound on the SHM-CD is more defined as they play - they seem to extract more nuances from the transfer - and of the 10 or so that I own – I've found this to be true.

The 5” mini repro packaging here apes the May 1975 USA vinyl LP release on Warner Brothers BS 2866 (it was K 56137 in the UK) with its single card sleeve (lyrics and recording details on the rear). The outer resealable bag it has to be said is very flimsy, so extracting and replacing the sleeve has to be done carefully lest you rip it. The 12-page plain white booklet is very ho-hum too – just the lyrics and an essay in Japanese that you can’t read. No pictures – nothing new. At least the rounded white paper inner bag has one of those protective poly-slips inside it to protect the CD. The disc itself repro’s the Warner Brothers Burbank Trees label of the original vinyl album too – a nice touch. It’s tastefully done as always with these releases. But it’s all about the sound here…

Right from the opening bars of "Mexico” the clarity is incredible - you can suddenly hear all the instruments. But then you get hit with a gem - his second cover on the album - the traditional “Wandering” - a lovely acoustic ditty with plaintive accordion and doubled vocals backing it up. It sounds incredible and for me has always been a highlight on this forgotten album. A song like “Wandering” is one of the reasons why Taylor is so admired - when he gets a melody down - its almost feels effortless and is peaceful on the mind (lyrics from the song title this review).

The album featured a huge array of talented musicians - Lowell George of Little Feat, Randy Newman on Keyboards and David Sanborn on Saxophone with quality backing vocals from David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt and Carly Simon. Among the self-penned songs are the lovely “You Make It Easy” and the Stephen Bishop “Careless” feel of “I Was A Fool To Care”. I love the slightly funky “Angry Blues” (with Lowell George’s trademark slide guitar so cleverly used) and the flute opening of “Love Songs” now sounds wonderful. It’s back again to simplicity and romance for the album finisher “Sarah Maria” - again sounding just fab. 

Downsides – it's Japanese only, a limited edition and a little expensive. And the booklet could have done with some more pizzazz instead of the rather safe presentation it did get.

Even with punk and new wave quite rightly snapping at Rock’s bloated ass and ego - the November 2013 issue of Britain’s RECORD COLLECTOR magazine ran an article arguing that albums from 1975 were among the best ever released in the Rock genre. Not surprisingly there was Led Zep’s “Physical Graffiti”, Dylan’s “Blood On The Tracks”, Joni’s “The Hissing of Summer Lawns”. Dr. Feelgood’s “Down By The Jetty”, Jeff Beck’s “Blow By Blow” and Elton’s “Captain Fantastic” and so on. But no mention of James Taylor’s soppily romantic “Gorilla”?

Well I’d argue that its time to add this lovely album to that list...and if you’ve any love for the record and Seventies singer-songwriters in general - get "Gorilla" on this fabulous SHM-CD format if you can.

PS: the albums remastered in Japan in this April 2010 series are:

1. Sweet Baby James (March 1970) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13819

2. Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon (July 1971) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13820

3. One Man Dog (November 1972) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13821

4. Walking Man (July 1974) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13822

5. Gorilla (May 1975) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13823

6. In The Pocket (June 1976) on Warner Brothers WPCR-13824

See also my review for 1971's "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon" and the Audio Fidelity 24-KT Audiophile Reissue of "One Man Dog" - Remaster by Steve Hoffman...

"Time Loves A Hero / Down At The Farm" by LITTLE FEAT. A Review Of The 1977 and 1979 LPs - Now Reissued In 2012 by Edsel Of The UK.

LITTLE FEAT are part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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 "…There's A Love Here After All…"

In 2011 Edsel of the UK acquired some of the 'WEA Catalogue' and began releasing value-for-money 1CD and 2CD album sets from that vast repertoire. So far I've reviewed Hall & Oates, Greenslade and 4 of their Doobie Brothers releases – and they’ve been great on all fronts. This 2CD Little Feat set is part of that reissue campaign…

UK-released 26 March 2012 (12 April in the USA) – Edsel EDSD 2113 breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (35:29 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Time Loves A Hero" released May 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 3015 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56349

Disc 2 (37:32 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Down On The Farm" released November 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS 3345 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56667

The 20-page booklet is substantial – it features the front and rear artwork for each album, the lyrics, reproductions of the original LP labels, colour photos of the band and a new essay by ALAN ROBINSON. The mastering was done by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Studios in London (it doesn’t say it’s been remastered) – and the sound on both discs is excellent – punchy, clear and to my ears improved on what went before. Also – they’re pitched at less than mid-price – so this release offers a lot of music for very little lay out.

Fans will instantly recognize that these are the last two Little Feat studio albums featuring founder member LOWELL GEORGE. "Time Loves A Hero" was released amidst major band acrimony about direction and suffers the most from lack of decent songs and George's wit and voice. Completed after Lowell's untimely death in June 1979 aged only 34 - "Down At The Farm" came out in late 1979 and is a surprisingly good set – especially re-listening to it in retrospect.

"Time Loves A Hero" features only two George songs – the fabulous funk of "Rocket In My Pocket" and a co-write with Paul Barrere on "Keepin' Up With The Joneses". The other seven are a very mixed bag. Although derided at the time as a step too far – the fusion-rock instrumental "Day At The Dog Races" comes across like mid-Seventies Weather Report meets Todd Rundgren's Utopia – but I’ve always liked it. And it's a blast to finally hear it receive some muscle on the audio front. The backing vocals of Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald from The Doobie Brothers lift "Red Streamliner" considerably and former Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (and fellow Doobie) contributes subtle Dobro playing to the largely-acoustic album finisher "Missin' You" – a very pretty Paul Barrere song.

"Down On The Farm" again features cover artwork by painter Neon Park and this time has five of the nine tracks with contributions from Lowell – "Six Feet Of Snow", "Kokomo", "Be One Now", "Straight From The Heart" and "Front Page News". The album features guest guitarists Robben Ford and Fred Tackett (Tackett would later join Little Feat) as well as Bonnie Raitt on backing vocals. Highlights for me include the witty "Shut Up!" frog beginning of the excellent return to form song "Down On The Farm" – the band suddenly sounding like the glory of old. "Six Feet Of Snow" isn't great but "Perfect Imperfection" is a lovely slow melody written by Paul Barrere with Tom Snow. It has a great guitar solo – and overall sounds like smooth-as-silk Boz Scaggs. "Kokomo" is a Lowell George winner with that sly guitar/keyboard funk and those lady-of-the-night "...Miss Demeanor..." lyrics. Their follows probably the album's highlight – the forlorn swing of "Be One Now" – a really lovely melody about friendship (lyrics above). "Straight From The Heart" is good too with great clarity in the mastering - while I so dig "Front Page News" which sounds like a Steely Dan "Aja" outtake (not a bad thing in any man's language). "Wake Up Dreaming" rocks it up a beat - while "Feel The Groove" is like a different band on a funky/disco tip. It's nice in places - but it's possibly not the best way to end that phase of the band's illustrious history…

To sum up – this is a five-star reissue of two-to-four star material. For me "Time Loves A Hero" is a bit of a dog frankly – but very much in this release's favour is "Down On The Farm". I was shocked at how good it stands up - a full 30+ years after the event – especially given the difficult circumstances in which it was made.

Well laid out, great sound, cheap price. Recommended.

PS: let's hope that their earlier classic LPs finally get a Western World remaster by Edsel after decades in the wilderness. Now that really would be something worth getting into a sweaty lather about…

“Piece Of My Heart – The Best Of 1969-1978” by BONNIE BRAMLETT [feat Delaney, Eric Clapton] (2008 Raven CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Your Guitar Sounded So Sweet…"

Born Bonnie Lynn O’Farrell in Acton in Illinois, she met and married Delaney Bramlett from Pontotoc Count in Missouri in 1967 and thereafter the two Americans became professionally known as DELANEY and BONNIE. Separating in 1972, she pursued a solo career that’s still going to this day. This truly excellent 2008 CD compilation on Australia’s RAVEN label gives us 19 REMASTERED tracks across 5 labels and 9 albums – and it’s a peach.

There’s a lot on RVCD-290 – so let’s break in down (74:59 minutes):

1. Piece Of My Heart [a Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy song/Erma Franklin cover]
2. When The Battle Is Over [Traditional Song cover, arranged by Dr. John & Jesse Hill]
3. The Love Of My Man [An Ed Townshend song, Etta James cover]
4. Come On In My Kitchen [a Robert Johnson cover]
5. Groupie (Superstar) [a Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett/Leon Russell song]
6. Only You Know And I Know [Dave Mason cover (of Traffic)]
7. Able, Qualified And Ready [Leon Ware/Bonnie Bramlett song]
8. Crazy ‘Bout My Baby [Robert Mosley song]
9. Rollin’ [Marc Benno/Rita Coolidge/Tommy McClure/Dan Penn song]
10. The Sorrow Of Love [Daniel Moore cover]
11. (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am [Jimmy Williams/Larry Harrison song]
12. Your Kind Of Kindness [D & B Bramlett/Jerry Allison/Dale Gilmore song]
13. Your Love Has Brought Me (A Mighty Long Way)
[Jackie Avery/Earl Simms/Carlton McWilliams writers]
14. Oncoming Traffic [Gregg Allman song]
15. Two Steps From The Blues
[John Riley Brown/Deadric Malone writers/a Bobby “Blue” Bland cover]
16. Forever Young [Bob Dylan cover]
17. Can’t Find My Way Home [Steve Winwood writer/Blind Faith cover]
18. The Flame Blinds The Moth [R A Martin song]
19. Memories [Bonnie Bramlett song]

Track 1 is from their debut album “Home”, issued March 1969 on Stax STS 2026 in the USA and Stax SXATS 1029 in the UK (pictured below)


Track 2 is from “Accept No Substitute - The Original Delaney & Bonnie”, issued July 1969 on Elektra EKS 74039 in both the USA and the UK (the UK issue is simply credited as “The Original Delaney & Bonnie”) (pictured below)



Track 3 is from “To Bonnie From Delaney”, issued in October 1970 on Atco SD33-341 in the USA and Atlantic 2400 029 in the UK (pictured below)


Track 4 is from “Motel Shot”, issued March 1971 on Atco SD33-358 in the USA and on Atlantic 2400 119 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 5 and 6 are from “D & B Together”, issued April 1972 on Columbia KC 31377 in the USA and CBS S 64959 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 7 to 11 are from “Sweet Bonnie Bramlett”, issued 1973 on Columbia KC 31786 in the USA and CBS S 65001 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 12 to 14 are from “It’s Time”, issued February 1975 on Capricorn CP 0148 in the USA and Capricorn 2429 125 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 15 to 16 are from “Lady’s Choice”, issued 1976 on Capricorn CP 0169 in the USA and Capricorn 2429 145 in the UK (pictured below)


Tracks 17 to 19 are from “Memories”, issued 1978 on Capricorn CP 0199 in the USA and Capricorn 2429 162 in the UK

[TRACKS 1 to 3 are credited to DELANEY and BONNIE; Tracks 4 to 6 are credited to DELANEY and BONNIE and FRIENDS; Tracks 7 to 19 are credited to BONNIE BRAMLETT]

Formerly one of Ike Turner’s Ikettes, Bonnie Bramlett had a Janis Joplin voice and an equal love of blues, R’n’B and soul. With Delaney Bramlett (a member of the 60’s group The Shindogs), they met, married and then recorded that vibe live in the studio to keep it real. This fused their love of black music with white man’s rock producing what is arguably a hugely influential variant which we now take for granted – a sort of white boy’s soul. Along the way, they amassed a huge number of high-profile rock alumni referred to on the albums as “& FRIENDS” – they included Eric Clapton, Duane and Gregg Allman, Bobby Charles, Bobby Keys of The Stones, Rita Coolidge, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Little Richard, Eddie Hinton, Dave Mason of Traffic, Dickie Betts and many more – even the Average White Band and Lowell George of Little Feat played on her funky 1973 solo debut “Sweet Bonnie Bramlett” (both are uncredited).

The set‘s been compiled by KEITH GLASS and PETER SHILLITO and the 12-page liner notes have photos, album details and reminiscences from the great lady herself. But the really good news is the SUPERB SOUND – far better than any of the former issues of their material (some of the earlier tracks do have high hiss levels – undoubtedly on the tapes – but the rest are fabulous). It really is a genuine blast to finally hear these great tunes given the sonic makeover they’ve always deserved (remastered by WARREN BARNETT at Raven).

The music veers from fast to slow – and as a listen – the compilation is blindingly good. Highlights include the 60’s sounding “Able, Qualified & Ready” coming over like a more ballsy Staple Singers and the truly fantastic sound quality on the funky “Crazy ‘Bout My Baby”. Keeping it uptempo is the fab Jack Avery 1970 gem on Capricorn “Your Love Has Brought Me (A Mighty Long Way)”, which was made famous by Wilson Pickett on his 1971 Atlantic album “Don’t Knock My Love”. Gregg Allman puts in a career-best soulful duet vocal on “Two Steps From The Blues”, while Dave Mason’s “Only You Know And I Know” is a fantastic mid tempo rocker too (covered to superb effect by Joan Osbourne in 2002). “Groupie (Superstar)” has been done by loads of people including most memorably by The Carpenters as “Superstar” in 1971. There’s so much more too…

It’s rare that you come to a compilation and enjoy “all” of it – and could easily chew up Volume Two – but “Piece Of My Heart…” is such a collection. I’ve been listening to it for weeks now - a great job done. Buy with confidence - and big time recommended.