"Snakes And Ladders/Sleepwalking" by GERRY RAFFERTY (June 2012 UK EMI '2 Original Classic Albums' 2CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry…

 

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"...Find A Way Home..."

Having bought and reviewed the 2CD reissue of Gerry Rafferty’s 1978 masterpiece "City To City" in September 2011 – like most fans I've been patiently waiting for EMI to get to the rest of his catalogue.

Well they sort of have – and this cheapo double CD reissue is one of the piddly results. There’s not much to go on unfortunately but nevertheless - let's get to details...

UK released June 2012 – "Snakes & Ladders/Sleepwalking" by GERRY RAFFERTY on EMI 5099970475326 (Barcode 5099970475326) offers '2 Original Classic Albums' from 1980 and 1982 reissued onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (48:48 minutes):

1. The Royal Mile [Side 1]

2. I Was A Boy Scout

3. Welcome To Hollywood 

4. Wastin' Time

5. Look At The Moon

6. Bring It All Home

7. The Garden Of England [Side 2]

8. Johnny's Song

9. Didn't I

10. Syncopathin' Sandy 

11. Cafe Le Cabotin

12. Don't Close The Door 

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 3rd solo album "Snakes And Ladders" – released April 1980 on United Artists UAK 30296 in the UK and June 1980 in the USA on United Artists LOO-1039 (peaked at No. 15 in the UK LP charts and No. 61 in the USA). 

Disc 2 (37:15 minutes):

1. Standing At The Gates [Side 1]

2. Good Intentions

3. A Change Of Heart

4. On The Way

5. Sleepwalking [Side 2]

6. Cat And Mouse

7. The Right Moment

8. As Wise As A Serpent

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th solo album "Sleepwalking" – released September 1982 on Liberty LBG 30352 in the UK and Liberty LT-51132 in the USA

The gatefold slip of paper that acts as an inlay pictures the front album artwork on the inner pages of each album – and that's it. The inner sleeves that came with both UK LPs are AWOL - as is all the musician and recording info. No liner notes of any kind. In fact there isn't even mention of mastering - and as far as I can tell – these are exactly the same as the Eighties CDs I've had for years. So the sound is very good, but a sympathetic Peter Mew remaster would have elevated these cool albums to sonic greatness.

But while the presentation may be bog standard – the music is a different matter. These are two great Gerry Rafferty albums (is there a bad one?) – with the second definitely having the edge on the first.

"Snakes And Ladders" opens proceedings with the Drum and Fife of "The Royal Mile" with that lovely melody of his. Ex Les Fleur De Lys guitarist Bryn Haworth plays his distinctive slide guitar on the superb "I Was A Boy Scout". Orchestra Arranger Will Malone and String Leader Gavin Wright add a huge amount to the melody of "Look At The Moon". Pete Wingfield (ex Jellybread and solo star of "Eighteen With A Bullet" fame) adds his keys to the jaunty "Bring It All Home" which also features the awesome 'Baker Street' Saxophone of Raphael Ravenscroft (as does the song "Welcome To Hollywood"). Side 2 opens with the wonderfully languid "The Garden Of England" and Rafferty returns to an old Stealers Wheel tune with "Johnny's Song". He then goes all country swing with "Didn't I". Both Pete Wingfield and Bryn Haworth guest on keys and guitar on the finisher "Don't Close The Door" – an album highlight. Another contribution comes from Bassist Pete Zorn of the obscure group Fishbaugh, Fishbaugh & Zorn who plays on "Johnny's Song", "Didn't I" and "Syncopathin Sandy".

Although there are 12 tracks on "Snakes" – the 8 on "Sleepwalking" feel so much more mature and cohesive - less tracks but a much better album and I'd argue is an 80ts Classic that goes unrecognized as such. On this sleeper classic "Good Intentions", "On The Way" and "Sleepwalking" are all swirling magnificent – 5 to 6-minute tracks allowed to breathe and linger. The funky and catchy "Cat And Mouse" should have been a single and is so Radio friendly with its chugging guitar and matching vocal. "The Right Moment" is both sad and beautiful. But it's "As Wise As A Serpent" that blows me away every time – a genius Rafferty tune – sly and slinky – it worms its way into your heart – making you want to replay - again and again (lyrics above).

For four to six quid new, these 2CDs are ludicrously good value for money – but let's hope that one day soon - someone somewhere does his EMI/Liberty catalogue a Remaster and Anthology favour. Frankie Miller, Ian Hunter, Robin Trower, Ten Years After and so many others have all received that accolade.

Gerry Rafferty was lost to us in early 2011 to the ravages of booze and it's about time that his memory and especially his musical legacy be given the loving attention its always deserved…

"Let The Days Go By/Sunny Side Of The Street" by BRYN HAWORTH - October 1974 UK Debut Solo Album and May 1975 Follow-Up LP Both on Island Records (June 2004 UK Gott Discs CD Compilation - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…And It Picks Me Up…Turns Me On…Puts Me On My Feet Again…"

Hailing from Blackburn in Lancashire, Bryn Haworth first came to notice on a series of amazing 7" singles by SHARON TANDY and beat darlings FLEUR-DE-LYS on Immediate, Polydor and Atlantic Records. These mid to late Sixties UK 45's now command huge money on the collector's market. Miscredited as ‘Bryn Hayward’, Haworth then played electric and acoustic guitars on “Get Yourself Together” on Andrew Leigh’s 1970 Polydor solo album “Magician” (ex Spooky Tooth, Matthews Southern Comfort). He also turned up on two Jackie Lomax albums - "Home Is Where My Head Is" from 1971 and "Three" from 1972 - both were on Warner Brothers and have been reissued by Rhino (with extra tracks) where he plays on almost every cut. He then took his songs to A&R man Richard Williams who signed him to Island Records in 1973. Which is where this CD comes in...

UK released June 2004 - "Let The Days Go By/Sunny Side Of The Street" by BRYN HAWORTH on Gott Discs GOTTCD003 (Barcode 881881000323) offers his first two albums on Island Records from 1974 and 1975 Remastered onto 1CD and breaks down as follows (78:46 minutes):

1. Grappenhall Rag

2. All I Want

3. I Won’t Lie (This Time)

4. Ee I Love You Lass

5. Miss Swiss

6. Let The Days Go By

7. Get Yourself A Man [Side 2]

8. Time Has Come

9. Whims And Ways

10. All I Need Is A Home

11. Anywhere You Want To Be

Tracks 1 to 11 are his debut album "Let The Days Go By" released October 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9287

12. Good Job

13. Pick Me Up

14. Darlin’ Cory

15. Dance

16. Peace Of Mind

17. Give All You Got To Give [Side 2]

18. Heaven Knows

19. Sunny Side Of The Street

20. Used

21. Thank The Lord

Tracks 12 to 21 are his 2nd and last album for the label released May 1975 on Island ILPS 9332. Both albums were first released on CD in Japan by Vivid Sound in 2003 in 5" card repro sleeves, but they're hard to find now and expensive. This 2004 issue is the first official UK CD release of these rare LPs. 

Both albums featured musicians from great British bands of the time - "Let The Days Go By" had Pete Wingfield (formerly of Jellybread) on Keyboards, Gordon Haskell (of Fleur-De-Lys and King Crimson) on Bass, John Porter (of Roxy Music) also on Bass, Terry Stannard, Alan Spanner and Mel Collins from Kokomo (ex Arrival and The Grease Band) on Drums, Bass and Saxophone - while John Rabbit Bundrick played Hammond Organ on "I Won't Lie (This Time)". The second album featured Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg and Dave Swarbrick from Fairport Convention and again members of Arrival. Haworth played the mandolin and all electric and acoustic Guitars in his unique melodic sliding style.

Packaging - each record initially came with inner sleeves, but neither is reproduced in the 16-page booklet - however, the booklet more than makes up for it. You get the lyrics and full musician credits for the two albums, a 4-page history by Mark Chatterton and even a picture of his band on tour in 1974. The colour photo on the back of the booklet is the rear sleeve of "Let The Days Go By" and beneath the see-through CD tray there's even a glowing NME review of his debut album.  It's very tastefully done. The outer card wrap tells us it's digitally remastered but doesn't advise by who or where (licensed from Universal music). The sound quality is excellent, certainly clearer than the vinyl counterparts I've worn out after years of use.

Musically - his debut is far removed from that Sixties psych and beat sound - it's more CSNY with religious lyrics. It's all plucked acoustic guitars, mandolins, a gorgeous instrument called a Harpoleck and superb slide electric guitar. Haworth made the Harpoleck something of a feature on his albums; it looked like a Harp in your lap - or the inside of a small piano - and when you drew the plectrum across its taught strings, it gave a sort of elevated 12-string guitar sound - beautiful. The second album rocked out a bit more with very catchy tunes like "Picks Me Up" (lyrics above) - even showing a bit of menace on "Used".

If you wanted a lay-of-the-land, "Darlin' Cory" appeared on 2009's "Meet On The Ledge" 3CD box set featuring Island's Folk and Folk/Rock acts - it's a Denis Blackham remaster and is available on iTunes as a purchase or a listen.

There's a certain peaceful and positive quality about these albums that I've always loved. "Heaven Knows" is as sweet as Seventies singer-songwriter gets. Great stuff. Recommended.

PS:

Further places to look for his work:

Haworth played guitar on Badger's "White Lady" (Epic EPC 80009) and John Cale's "Fear" (Island ILPS 9301) both from 1974. He put in lovely Mandolin work on "Somebody Who Loves You" and menacing slide guitar on "Like Fire" on "Joan Armatrading" - her extraordinary "Love & Affection" album from 1976. He plays guitar on Andy Fairweather-Lowe's 1976 album "Be Bop & Holla" (AMLH 64602). Haworth then signed to A&M Records and released probably his most accomplished album - the varied and beautiful "Grand Arrival" (1978 on AMLH 68462). Around this time, he even secured an end of program slot on Bob Harris's "Old Grey Whistle Test" in the UK where he and his band did a blistering version of "Beans On Toast" from "Grand Arrival". "Grand Arrival" was in turn followed by "Keep The Ball Rolling" (1979 on AMLH 68507) which featured Cliff Richard on 2 tracks and Pete Wingfield again on Keyboards. He later played on Ian Matthews "Stealin' Home" album and several of the Gerry Rafferty Eighties albums. He did work for Chris De Burgh, Cliff Richard, Amazing Blondel and even Dana Gillespie. There after it was full-on Christian Music LPs on the Chapel End and Word labels (UK only releases) and other CDs right up to the 2010 where he's released 2 new albums and still commands a dedicated and loyal audience.

PPS: Would someone please reissue “Smith Perkins Smith” – it was on Island Records in 1972 – they sounded like the UK’s answer to CSNY. Only made one album but it was a sweetie… 

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by JELLYBREAD (including 'only' their 1970 Debut Album "First Slice") (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Want You By My Side..."

Taking their name from a 1963 Stax 7" single by Booker T & The MG's – England's Blues Rock combo JELLYBREAD was...

PETE WINGFIELD on Piano and Vocals

PAUL BUTLER on Guitar

JOHN BEST on Bass

CHRIS WATERS on Drums

JELLYBREAD did 3 albums and 6 singles for the cult UK blues label - which throws up an unintentional glitch in this CD's claim to be "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" - it isn't.

What this 15 September 2008 UK released 24-track reissue covers is only the first album and 3 of the 7" singles that surrounded it. The anomaly lies in distribution rights - then and now. "65 Parkway", their 2nd album, came out in 1971 on Blue Horizon 2431 002, while their 3rd and last album "Back To The Beginning Again" followed in 1972 on Blue Horizon 2931 004. Unfortunately their issue and distribution was handled by the Polydor group at the time - and still is. Therefore those albums and the other three singles are out of the scope of this Sony/CBS release. They may be issued at some point in the future by Universal - but that remains to be seen. However there are plenty of other goodies on this unassuming little nugget that more than compensate...

UK released September 2008 – “The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions” by JELLYBREAD on Sony/Blue Horizon 88697192182 (Barcode 886971921823) is a CD Remaster and plays out as follows (78:51 minutes):

1. River’s Invitation

2. I Pity The Fool

3. Never Say No

4. Chairman Mao’s Boogaloo

5. Evening

6. I’ve Got To Forget You

7. Boogie Sandwich

8. Rusty Blade

9. No Brag Just Facts (Pts. 1 & 2)

10. No One Else

11. Don’t Pay Them No Mind

Tracks 1 to 11 make up the album "First Slice" issued early 1970 on Blue Horizon S 7-63853 in the UK and Blue Horizon BH 4801 in the USA

(Tracks 2 and 10 off the album, "Chairman Mao's Boogaloo" b/w "No One Else", were issued as their first UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3162 in late September 1969. The A is a piano-driven instrumental; both tracks are Butler/Wingfield originals)

Tracks 12 and 13 are "Comment" b/w "Funky Wasp", which was their 2nd UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3169 issued in January 1970 - both songs are non-album. "Comment" is a Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band cover version, an obscure B-side to the "Must Be Your Thing" 7" single from 1969 on US Warner Brothers; the B-side to "Comment" is a rocking original, a New Orleans styled instrumental peppered with superb piano playing by Pete Wingfield.

Tracks 14 and 15 are "Rockin' Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu" b/w "Readin' The Meters", which was their 3rd UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-374 issued in April 1970 - and again both songs are non-album. The A is a cover of the 1957 Huey Smith classic while the B is a funky wah-wah guitar instrumental written by the whole band

Tracks 16 and 17 are "Old Man Hank" b/w "Faded Grace", which was their 4th UK 7" single issued 4 December 1970 on Blue Horizon 57-3180 - again, both tracks were non-album at the time (Butler and Wingfield originals) and are more pop than blues.

Then comes a genuine treat for blues collectors....

Tracks 18 to 22 are five of the six songs issued on their privately pressed mini-LP "Jellybread", issued March 1969 on Liphook Records LIPHOOK 1. Due to time restraints on this CD, the Royce Swain song "Evening" has been left off (their excellent re-recording of it is Track 5 on the album anyway). Featuring covers of Jimmy Roger's "That's Alright", Don Robey's "Don't Want No Woman", Roosevelt Syke's "Drivin' Wheel", Percy Mayfield's "Never Say No" and Sonny Boy Williamson's "Sugar Mama" - 99 copies only were pressed up and given a stamped handmade sleeve. It was sold at gigs and in specialist shops and used as a showcase for the band. Impossible to find (I've never seen one) and with a £100+ rarity value, its inclusion here is a genuine bonus for collectors of rare blues. Their superb cover of Percy Mayfield's "Never Say No" is actually ballsier than the re-recorded version on the album for my money and given the rocking bluesy nature of the other recordings - it's easy to see why BH signed them.

The original tapes are remastered to the usual SUPERB standard by DUNCAN COWELL at Sound Mastering, the detailed 12-page booklet has a stylish and informative essay on the group by label boss MIKE VERNON, all of it supplemented with advert reproductions, band photos, the record sleeves, session details etc. Finally, a tasty card wrap covers the outside jewel case - and even the tracks are typeset on the cover as the album in the left column, and the bonuses in the right - so you can see where the natural break is - all of it typical of the excellence that has surrounded every BH release to date.

Highlights include a slow and brassy version of Bobby Bland's 1961 Duke Records classic "I Pity The Fool" and the epic seven-minute "Evening" which could have been a moody Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac classic in the hands of someone else (Gary Moore did a wonderfully slow and evocative cover of it on his excellent "Close As You Get" album from last year).

Which brings me to another anomaly as I listen to the excellent slow blues of "No One Else" - from my days as Mail-Order/Rarities Manager in Reckless Records in both their Islington and Soho branches, I recall Jellybread not being held in the highest regard by BH collectors anywhere. It isn't that the album is awful; it's just perceived as a little dull and lifeless - white boys doing lackluster versions of black man's blues. I think this superb release may well change that - because like the Christine Perfect album and CD reissue in this series (see separate review), this is essentially a 3-star album pushed up to a bona-fide 4-star release by its genuinely excellent bonus tracks and quality audio presentation.

There's excellent stuff on this reissue and I hope it will lead to a reappraisal of this forgotten but rather cool and funky British blues band...

PS: see also separate reviews for TOP TOPHAM, GORDON SMITH and KEY LARGO - other "Complete" CDs in this series



PPS: Pete Wingfield (pictured above) had a sizeable solo hit in June 1975 on Island Records with "Eighteen With A Bullet" (see review for his "Island Years" CD)