"3 Original Album Classics" by ARETHA FRANKLIN – Featuring "The Electrifying Aretha Franklin" from May 1962, "The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin" from November 1962, An Uncredited "Soft & Beautiful" from April 1969 on CD2 in Error and "Soul Sister" from July 1966 – All Four Albums Originally on Columbia Records and Presented Here in their STEREO Versions (February 2010 UK Sony/Columbia/Legacy 3CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

 

"…It Should Have Ended Long Ago…"

 

A weird one in so many ways in that this 3CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet offers more than is advertised on the tin (4 albums instead of 3) and then drops one song on CD1. But all of it is second tier music anyway (her much derided stay at Columbia Records). Time to explain and get to the details...

 

UK released February 2010 in the UK and Europe - "3 Original Album Classics" by ARETHA FRANKLIN on Sony/Columbia/Legacy 88697618262 (Barcode 886976182625) is a 3CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Three Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves and Remasters. It breaks down as follows:

 

Disc 1 is the album "The Electrifying Aretha Franklin" originally released May 1962 in the USA on Columbia Records CL 1761 (Mono) and CS 8561 (Stereo). The Stereo version is used here (12 Tracks, 31:36 minutes). The back of the box wrongly lists 13 tracks, when there is only 12 – the missing song is the first one on Side 1 - "You Made Me Love You".

 

Disc 2 is the album "The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin" released November 1962 in the USA on Columbia Records CL 1876 (Mono) and CS 8676. (Stereo). The Stereo version is used here (70:11 minutes)

 

NOTE to CD2: as you can see from the playing time above - a mastering error has put 22 tracks on Disc 2 so it actually features an uncredited whole album - Tracks 13 to 22 are the LP "Soft & Beautiful" issued April 1969 on Columbia Records CS 9776 in Stereo.

 

Disc 3 is the album "Soul Sister" released July 1966 in the USA on Columbia Records CL 2521 (Mono) and CS 9321 (Stereo). The Stereo version is used here (11 tracks, 30:23 minutes).

 

The sound quality is truly gorgeous - exceptional really - and the credits can be downloaded from Sony's website at www.musicmadesimple.info. But that's where the good news ends...

 

The music is mostly awful. This was her stay at the straight-laced Columbia label and not the entirely creative and sympathetic Atlantic Records. Columbia tried to put her across as a female Nat King Cole - so each song either starts with violin strings or features them somewhere in the middle - to a point where you end up getting tune after tune with these soulless crooner arrangements. The mediocrity of the song choices too is hard to believe - "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" and "Swanee" for God's sake! A woman with a godlike voice like this! Even Ray Charles' mighty "Just For A Thrill" - which cannot be wrecked as a song - is reduced to saccharine. 

 

It's not all bad of course - "Only The Lonely" is lovely and features great vocal work, while her version of "Try A Little Tenderness" (later made famous by Otis Redding in 1967 on Atlantic) shows some of that magic touch. "Without The One You Love" is pretty too, even when it's drowning in syrupy strings. And you're constantly aware of that 'sound' - these are the remastered Legacy issues of a few years back and audio quality is truly breathtaking. But if you really want Aretha Franklin at her soulful best, then start with her Atlantic debut album "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" from 1967 and prepare to be properly blown away. Unfortunately, track after track here only convinces you that this is not Sixties Soul, but Soulless Sixties Pap.

 

I picked this up in a London store a few days ago - only released 3 months ago - and it's already reduced to five pounds. Cheap or not with an uncredited extra album or no, I'd advise you to hear this set first before you buy it.

 

One to avoid I'm afraid...

 

PS: other titles in this "3" CD series for 2010 include:

1. AMERIE (01 February 2010)

(All I Have/Touch/Because I Love It)

2. SHAWN COLVIN (08 February 2010)

[Steady On/Fat City/Cover Girl]

3. AGNETHA FALTSKOG [FRIDA of ABBA] (01 February 2010)

[Agnetha Faltskog/Nar En Vacker Tanke Blirsang/Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus]

4. (PETER GREEN'S) FLEETWOOD MAC (01 February 2010)

[Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac/Mr. Wonderful/The Pious Bird of Good Omen - The Original UK Album Track Lists - No Extras]

5. JOURNEY (01 February 2010)

[Departure/Escape/Frontiers]

6. WILLIE NELSON (01 February 2010)

[Yesterday's Wine/Red Headed Stranger/Stardust]

7. DOLLY PARTON (8 February 2010)

[Eagle When She Flies/Slow Dancing With The Moon/White Limozeen]

8. (CARLOS) SANTANA (08 February 2010)

[Illuminations/Oneness/The Swing of Delight]

9. SCORPIONS (01 February 2010)

[In Trance/Virgin Killer/Taken By Force]

10. SIMON and GARFUNKEL (01 February 2010)

[Sounds Of Silence/Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme/Bookends]

11. TOTO (08 February 2010)

[Toto/Hydra/Turn Back]

12. LUTHER VANDROSS (01/02/2010)

(Never Too Much/Give Me The Reason/The Power of Love)

13. THE WALKER BROTHERS (01/02/2010)

[No Regrets/Lines/Nite Flights]

"The Classic Albums Collection" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [E.L.O.] (November 2011 Sony/Legacy 11CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3

- Exceptional CD Remasters
As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On
Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Mr. Blue Skies…"

Cheaper than a Waitrose Christmas Pudding (though with maybe not as much Brandy) - this Sony/Legacy ELO Box Set is like THE BYRDS and BILL WITHERS issues in this excellent series (see reviews) - chock full of tasty musical raisins and alarmingly good value for money. Here are the details and with no strings attached...

Released November 2011 - "The Classic Albums Collection" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [ELO] is an 11CD Mini Box Set on Sony/Legacy 88697873262 (Barcode 886978732620) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Electric Light Orchestra" aka "No Question" - 59:38 minutes:

1. 10538 Overture

2. Look At Me Now

3. Nellie Takes Her Bow

4. The Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644)

5. First Movement (Jumping Biz) [Side 2]

6. Mr. Radio

7. Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre)

8. Queen Of The Hours

9. Whisper In The Night

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "The Electric Light Orchestra" - released December 1971 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 797. It was released May 1972 in the USA as "No Question" on United Artists UAS 5573

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Battle Of Marston Moor (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

11. Nellie Takes Her Bow (Alternate Mix)

12. Mr. Radio (Take 9)

13. 10538 Overture (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 2 - "ELO II" - 62:15 minutes:

1. In Old England (Boogie No. 2)

2. Momma

3. Roll Over Beethoven (Full Album Version)

4. From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1) [Side 2]

5. Kuiama

Tracks 1 to 5 are their 2nd album "ELO II" - released February 1973 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 806 and April 1973 in the USA on United Artists UA-LA040-F

BONUS TRACKS:

6. In Old England Town (Instrumental)

7. Baby I Apologize (Session Outtake)

8. In Old England Town (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

9. Roll Over Beethoven (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 3 - "On The Third Day" - 57:34 minutes:

1. Ocean Breakup/King Of The Universe

2. Bluebird Is Dead

3. Oh No Not Susan

4. New World Rising/Ocean Breakup Reprise

5. Showdown [see Note]

6. Daybreaker  [Side 2]

7. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (Album Version)

8. Dreaming Of 4000

9. In The Hall Of The Mountain King

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd album "On The Third Day" (UK Track Listing) - released December 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56021 in a Die-Cut Gatefold Sleeve. Note: Although the CD uses the UK artwork, the tracks are sequenced like the American album (released December 1973 on United Artists UA-LA 188-F with different artwork). The US LP added "Showdown" as Track 5 - the last song on Side 1 (Side 2 is the same for both countries). MARC BOLAN of T.REX plays guitar on 7, 8 and 10 to 13.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Auntie ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Take 1)

11. Auntie ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Take 2)

12. Mambo ("Dreaming Of 4000" Alternate Mix)

13. Everyone's Born To Die - Previously Unreleased

14. Interludes - Previously Unreleased

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 4 - "Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra" - 47:59 minutes:

1. Eldorado Overture

2. Can't Get It Out Of My Head

3. Boy Blue

4. Laredo Tornado

5. Poor Boy (The Greenwood)

6. Mister Kingdom [Side 2]

7. Nobody's Child

8. Illusions In G Major

9. Eldorado

10. Eldorado Finale

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th album "Eldorado - A Symphony By..." - released October 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56090 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 339-G

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Eldorado Instrumental Medley - Previously Unreleased

12. Dark City - Previously Unreleased

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 5 - "Face The Music" - 52:33 minutes:

1. Fire On High

2. Waterfall

3. Evil Woman

4. Nightrider

5. Poker [Side 2]

6. Strange Magic (Full Album Version)

7. Down Home Train

8. One Summer Dream

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 5th album "Face The Music"- released October 1975 in the UK on Jet Records JET LP 11 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 546-G

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Fire On High Intro (Early Alternative Mix)

10. Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)

11. Strange Magic (U.S. Single Edit)

12. Waterfall (Instrumental Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 6 - "A New World Record" - 59:12 minutes:

1. Tightrope

2. Telephone Line

3. Rockaria!

4. Mission (A World Record)

5. So Fine [Side 2]

6. Livin' Thing

7. Above The Clouds

8. Do Ya

9. Shangri-La

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 6th album "A New World Record" - released November 1976 in the UK on United Artists UAG 30017 (JET LP 20) and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 679-G

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Telephone Line (Different Vocal)

11. Surrender

12. Tightrope (Instrumental Early Rough Mix)

13. Above The Clouds (Instrumental Rough Mix)

14. So Fine (Instrumental Early Rough Mix)

15. Telephone Line (Instrumental)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 7 - "Out Of The Blue" - 76:27 minutes:

1. Turn To Stone [Side 1]

2. It's Over

3. Sweet Talkin' Woman

4. Across The Border

5. Night In The City [Side 2]

6. Starlight

7. Jungle

8. Believe Me Now

9. Steppin' Out

10. Standin' In The Rain [Side 3 - "Concerto For A Rainy Day"]

11. Big Wheels

12. Summer And Lightning

13. Mr. Blue Sky

14. Sweet Is The Night [Side 4 - "Concerto For A Rainy Day"]

15. The Whale

16. Birmingham Blues

17. Wild West Hero

Tracks 1 to 17 are their 7th album - the double-LP "Out Of The Blue" - released November 1977 in the UK on Jet Records/United Artists UAR 100 and in the USA on Jet Records/United Artists JT-LA 823-L2

BONUS TRACKS:

18. Wild West Hero (Previously Unreleased Alternate Bridge/Home Demo)

19. The Quick And The Daft - Previously Unreleased

20. Latitude 88 North - Previously Unreleased

2007 CD Remaster used

Disc 8 - "Discovery" - 43:39 minutes:

1. Shine A Little Love

2. Confusion

3. Need Her Love

4. The Diary Of Horace Wimp

5. Last Train To London [Side 2]

6. Midnight Blue

7. On The Run

8. Wishing

9. Don't Bring Me Down

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 8th album "Discovery" - released June 1979 in the UK on Jet Records JET LX 500 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 35769

BONUS TRACKS

10. On The Run (Previously Unreleased Home Demo 1979)

11. Second Time Around (Previously Unreleased Home Demo 1979)

12. Little Town Flirt - Previously Unissued

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 9 - "Time"- 54:35 minutes

1. Prologue

2. Twilight

3. Yours Truly, 2095

4. Ticket To The Moon

5. The Way Life's Meant To Be

6. Another Heart Breaks

7. Rain Is Falling [Side 2]

8. From The End Of The World

9. The Lights Go Down

10. Here Is The News

11. 21st Century Man

12. Hold On Tight

13. Epilogue

Tracks 1 to 13 are their 9th album "Time" - released August 1981 in the UK on Jet Records JET LP 236 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 37371

BONUS TRACKS:

14. The Bouncer (non-album track, B-side of "Four Little Diamonds" UK 12" single released October 1983 on Jet Records JETTA 3869

15. When Time Stood Still (non-album track, B-side of "Hold On Tight" UK 7" Single released July 1981 on Jet Records JET 7011

16. Julie Don't Live Here (non-album track, B-side of "Twilight" UK 7" single released October 1981 on Jet Records JET 7015

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 10 - "Secret Messages" - 56:07 minutes:

1. Secret Messages

2. Loser Gone Wild

3. Bluebird

4. Take Me On And On

5. Time After Time [see Note]

6. Four Little Diamonds [Side 2]

7. Stranger

8. Danger Ahead

9. Letter From Spain

10. Train Of Gold

11. Rock 'n' Roll Is King

Tracks 1 to 4 and 6 to 11 are their 10th album "Secret Messages" - released June 1983 in the UK on Jet Records JET LX 527 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 38490. The CD reissue in 1987 added on the song "Time After Time" as Track 5.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. No Way Out - Unused track from the original double album "Secret Messages"

13. Endless Lies - Previously Unreleased/Unused Track from the original double version of "Secret Messages"

14. After All (non-album track, B-side of "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" UK 7"single released June 1983 on Jet Records JETA 3500

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 11 - "Balance Of Power" - 56:17 minutes:

1. Heaven Only Knows

2. So Serious

3. Getting To The Point

4. Secret Lives

5. Is It Alright

6. Sorrow About To Fall [Side 2]

7. Without Someone

8. Calling America

9. Endless Lies

10. Send It

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 11th album "Balance Of Power" - released May 1986 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 26467 and in the USA on CBS Records ZK 40048

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Opening

12. Heaven Only Knows (Alternate Version)

13. In For The Kill

14. Secret Lives (Alternate Mix)

15. Sorrow About To Fall (Alternate Mix)

16. Caught In A Trap (non-album track, B-side of "Calling America" UK 7" single (and 12") released February 1986 on Epic Records A 6844)

17. Destination Unknown (non-album track, B-side of "Calling America" UK 12" single released February 1986 on Epic Records QTA 6844)

2007 CD Remaster used

The clamshell box houses all 11 card-repro sleeves (1, 2 3, 7 and 8 are gatefolds) with a chunky 28-page booklet sat atop that pieces together the reissue liner notes from 2001, 2003 and 2007. JOEL PALMACCIO at Sony Music mastered the set but it's using the PETER MEW remasters and all the other quality engineers involved in the later issues. The audio quality is great and as you can see from the detailed lists provided - each album has retained their Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. The only thing conspicuous by their absence - are the large number of 7" single edits and different mixes that are scattered through the Seventies especially (they're mostly available on the "Very Best Of" 2CD set). The booklet gives detailed credits on each album - ROY WOOD is on the first two albums - BEV BEVAN joins the group from the 3rd album onwards as does MICHAEL De ALBUQUERQUE with LOUIS CLARK (the unsung member of the band) providing String Arrangements for much of their classic albums.

Their Seventies output splits into three distinct phases - the first Prog Rock Harvest Records period - then into the more commercial Warner Brothers stretch - then finally into Global recognition on their own Jet Records where they simply became known to everyone as ELO. All the big chart hits are here (and more) -"10538 Overture", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Showdown", "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle", "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic", "Livin' Thing", "Rockaria!", "Telephone Line", "Turn To Stone", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Wild West Hero", "Sweet Talkin' Woman" "Shine A Little Love"' "The Diary Of Horace Wimp", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Confusion/Last Train To London".

Fans of their fabulous Chuck Berry cover "Roll Over Beethoven" may find the full 6:47 minutes of the album version odd on the ears after hearing the (AWOL) single edit of 4:37 minutes for so long. That other superb rocker "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is the same - though at 3:57 to 3:21 minutes - the difference is less noticeable. What is very noticeable is Peter Mew's fantastic remaster - these suckers rock.

It's always strange to me how Jeff Lynne's ballads can be so moving - like being moved by a 10cc song - you just don't expect it (but then he's such a good songwriter). Songs like "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", "Strange Magic", "One Summer Dream", "Big Wheel" and "Need Her Love" have hugely emotive centres wrapped around fiendishly hooky melodies. By the time we get to the hits-heavy "Discovery" in 1979 - ELO are Number 1 in their native Blighty and an impressive Number 5 in the USA. From "Time" onwards commercial and public indifference had set in despite the quality of environmental/emotional songs like "The Way Life's Meant To Be" and "Getting To The Point".

Sweet presentation, quality mastering and eleven albums worth for roughly two round ones a go. One for the bedside stocking I think...

“Bang Masters” by VAN MORRISON (1991 Columbia/Legacy CD Mark Wilder and Stephen St. Croix Audio Restoration and Remasters)

“...Let It Out...Don’t Worry Which Way It Goes...”

Back when CD was really making inroads into the marketplace (after the first Beatles launch in 1987 had made the format respectable) – I can remember vividly hearing the awesome Audio on this CD for the first time – and noticing Columbia's Legacy logo on the rear inlay too. Not only is Van's first recorded Solo music (done in New York in 1967 after he left his Belfast group THEM) a properly great listen – the sonic quality on offer here will take most by storm.

And with his Bang label material being such a mishmash of early releases (most exploitive) – this CD goes a long way to sorting out that shady part of his career before be signed to Warner Brothers and produced the masterful "Astral Weeks" and the classic "Moondance" albums. "Bang Masters" is a winner on all fronts. Here is the girl with the big brown eyes and more from Old John too...

UK released May 1991 – "Bang Masters" on Columbia/Legacy 468309 2 (Barcode 5099746830922) breaks down as follows (75:13 minutes):

1. Brown Eyed Girl

2. Spanish Rose [see Notes]

3. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)

4. Chick-A-Boom

5. It’s All Right

6. Send Your Mind

7. The Smile You Smile

8. The Back Room

9. Midnight Special

10. T.B. Sheets

11. He Ain’t Give You None (Alternate Take)

12. Who Drove The Red Sports Car

13. Beside You

14. Joe Harper Saturday Morning [see Notes]

15. Madame George

16. Brown Eyed Girl (Alternate Take)

17. I Love You (The Smile You Smile) (Previously Unreleased, Mono)

REMASTERS/AUDIO RESTORATION:

All tracks on this CD have been remixed from the original multi-track master tapes with the best clarity offered to date. In researching the release – the tracks "Spanish Rose" and "Joe Harper Saturday Morning" were found to have had verses edited out of them for their initial vinyl release. These verses are now presented here in full – the original performances in the studio. "Spanish Rose" was originally 3:09 minutes, is now 3:54 minutes - while "Joe Harper Saturday Morning" was originally 2:53 minutes and is now 4:17 minutes.

THE FOUR ORIGINAL LPS:

A 21-year old Van was in New York in March 1967 with Producer Bert Barnes to cut some single-sides across two days (28th and 29th). The sessions produced a flurry of fully formed studio-recorded material including his biggest hit (and most famous early song) – the wonderful "Brown Eyed Girl". Van returned to Ireland to work on songs that would become his first album proper as far as he was concerned – 1968’s "Astral Weeks". Barnes however put out the hit single and it became a monster smash. Eager to capitalise on the momentum of the 45 and with contractual authority – Barnes then went back to the session tapes and cobbled together 7 other tracks (without Van’s consent) to make the album "Blowin' Your Mind" released September 1967 in the USA on Bang BLP 218 (Mono) and BLPS 218 (Stereo) and in the UK on London HA-Z 8346 in Mono-Only. That first LP sequences as follows:

1. Brown Eyed Girl

2. He Ain't Give You None

3. T.B. Sheets

1. Spanish Rose [Side 2]

2. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)

3. Ro Ro Rosey

4. Who Drove The Red Sports Car

5. Midnight Special

After the albums "Astral Weeks" (November 1968), "Moondance" (March 1970) and "His Band And The Street Choir" (November 1970) on Warner Brothers made Van Morrison a Rock Star around the world – Barnes went at the material again and came up with a 2nd LP - the dubiously titled "The Best Of Van Morrison" 10-track compilation LP released May 1971 on Bang Records in the USA on Bang BLPS 222 and President Records PTLS 1045 in the UK. He took "Brown Eyed Girl", four other tracks from the "Blowin' Your Mind" album and a further five outtakes from the sessions and sequenced them as follows:

1. Spanish Rose

2. It's All Right

3. Send Your Mind

4. The Smile You Smile

5. The Back Room

1. Brown Eyed Girl [Side 2]

2. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)

3. Ro Ro Rosey

4. He Ain’t Give You None

5. Joe Harper Saturday Morning

A 3rd (and final original) compilation "T.B. Sheets" was released January 1974 in the USA on Bang BLP-400 (charted at 181) and March 1974 in the UK on London HSM-5008. This 8-track LP contained two new surprises – Bang-era early versions of two tracks that would eventually come out on "Astral Weeks" – "Beside You" and "Madame George". It sequences as follows

1. He Ain’t Give You None

2. Beside You

3. It’s All Right

4. Madame George

1. T.B. Sheets [Side 2]

2. Who Drove The Red Sports Car

3. Ro Ro Rosey

4. Brown Eyed Girl

A 4th compilation came out in the UK-only in September 1977 on London/Bang 6427 625 called “This Is Where I Come In” and its generous 15-tracks are gathered up as follows:

1. Spanish Rose

2. Good Baby (Baby Goodbye)

3. He Ain’t Give You None

4. Beside You

5. Madame George

6. T.B. Sheets

1. Brown Eyed Girl [Side 2]

2. Send Your Mind

3. The Smile You Smile

4. The Back Room

5. Ro Ro Rosey

6. Who Drove The Red Sports Car

7. It’s All Right

8. Joe Harper Saturday Morning

9. Midnight Special

"Chick-A-Boom" was issued in September 1967 as the B-side to "Ro Ro Rosey" in the USA on Bang 552 as the follow-up 45 to "Brown Eyed Girl" and doesn't feature on any of the four albums. Of the Previously Unreleased tracks - Sony only found the Demo tape to "The Smile You Smile" (labelled "I Love You") in 1990 while the Alternate Version to "He Ain’t Give You None" has more verses about the dodgy Old John character in the song.

CDs of "Blowin' Your Mind" followed on from "Bang Sessions" in 1995 – but for my money there's something about the Audio on this compilation that is fabulous. The 12-page booklet with informative liner notes from BILL FLANIGAN (of Musician Magazine) tell us that MARK WILDER did the Remixing and Remastering at Sony Music Studios in New York while STEPHEN St. CROIX handled the Noise Removal and Stereo Imaging on the Demo "I Love You (The Smile You Smile)". The clarity on these tracks is breathtaking.

Musically the whole CD presents this fascinating battle not just within Van - but with his professional musicians trying to capture what this mad 21-year old veteran of the clubs from Belfast actually wanted. The sessions are looking for a hit – so his R&B leanings from those Them albums surface in "Ro Ro Rosey" and "Midnight Special", the Blues come through on the fabulously sloppy "The Back Room" - but if you want genius - it’s the near ten-minutes of "T.B. Sheets" that does my head in every time. His ad-lib free-form style that would dominate his performances for decades to come was already kicking in here - you can just 'feel' his inner-Tim Buckley trying to break out (and on this track succeeding). The more Bluesy earlier version of "Beside You" and the in-studio shouting of "Madame George" have long since been the subjects of scholarly debate (when are Warner Brothers going to do a Deluxe Edition of "Astral Weeks" like they did with "Moondance"?) – but they sound just incredible anyway. I’ve always loved the lyrical "get it together" rap that goes on in "It's All Right" and those guitar flourishes too (lyrics from it title this review). It's all good really.

I return to this CD so much. Formative years or not –"Bang Masters" rocks – a stunning listen. Van the Man folks...it’s all right...