"Asides Besides" by TALK TALK – Thirty-Eight-Track 2CD Compilation featuring 45-Singles, Remixes, Extended Versions, Demos and Non-LP B-sides issued between February 1982 and September 1988 on EMI and Parlophone Records (April 1998 UK EMI Records 2CD Compilation with Peter Mew, Denis Blackham and Phil Brown Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asides-Besides-Talk/dp/B00000883W?crid=1BSPR6KH1IY9M&keywords=724385480720&qid=1706982596&sprefix=724385480720%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=1c84e538466f0d3876545bab2e91d756&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"…John Cope…"

Although "Asides Besides" is a I-will-expire-without-it purchase for your dyed-in-the-wool double-talk believer (of which there are many and rightly so) – I would admit that this 2CD extracurricular extremities fest for England's Talk Talk will not be for everyone. But I love it to distraction.

EMI 845 8072 is one of those twofers that will always take pride of place on my bulging repertoire shelves. I'd like to argue that you consider diving in too because there is never enough of this fab Art Rock band as far as I'm concerned. They became magnificent and are sorely missed to this day (2024). To the logistics/details by our Synth-Pop wonders…

UK released April 1998 - "Asides Besides" by TALK TALK on EMI 845 8072 (Barcode 724385480720) is a Thirty-Eight Track 2CD Compilation featuring UK and US 45-Single Mixes, Remixes, Extended Versions, Demos and Non-LP B-sides between February 1982 and September 1988 on EMI and Parlophone Records and it plays out as follows:

CD1 The Longer Versions (76:59 minutes):
1. Talk Talk (Extended Version) – October 1982 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5352
2. Today (Extended Version) – June 1982 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5314
3. My Foolish Friend (Extended Version) – March 1983 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5573
4. It's My Life (Extended Version) – January 1983 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5443
5. Such A Shame (Extended Mix) – March 1983 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5433
6. Such A Shame (Dub Mix) – July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480
7. Dum Dum Girl (12" Mix) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480, A-side
8. Without You (12" Mix) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480, B-side of "Dum Dum Girl"
9. Life's What You Make It (Extended Mix) – February 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMIX 5540 – Remix by Tim Friese-Greene – band chosen mix
10. Living In Another World (Extended Remix) – March 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5551
11. Pictures Of Bernadette (Dance Mix) – May 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12R 6131, B-side of "Give It Up"
12. Happiness Is Easy (12" Mix) – October 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12R 6144, B-side of "I Don't Believe In You"

CD2 The Extra Tracks (66:02 minutes):
1. Talk Talk (Demo Version) – March 1984 UK 7" Single Double-Pack on EMI Records EMID 5433
2. Mirror Man (Demo Version) - March 1984 UK 7" Single Double-Pack on EMI Records EMID 5433
3. Candy (Demo Version) - March 1984 UK 7" Single Double-Pack on EMI Records EMID 5433
4. Strike Up The Band – February 1982 Debut UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5265, Non-LP B-side of "Mirror Man"
5. ? – April 1982 Second UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5284, Non-LP B-side of "Talk Talk"
6. My Foolish Friend – March 1983 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5373, A-side
7. Call In The Night Boy (Piano Version) – March 1983 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5373, Non-LP B-side
8. Why Is It So Hard? – Debut Appearance of a 7" Single Mix of a song written for the 1984 Michael Apted film "First Born" – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD
9. Again A Game…Again – March 1984 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5433, Non-LP B-side of "Such A Shame"
10. Without You – July 1984 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5480, Non-LP B-side of "Dum Dum Girl"
11. Dum Dum Girl (US Mix) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480, Non-LP Second B-side to "Dum Dum Girl (12" Mix)"
12. It's Getting Late In The Evening – January 1986 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5540, Non-LP B-side of "Life's What You Make It" – also on the B-side of the twelve-inch single
13. For What It's Worth – March 1986 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5551, Non-LP B-side of "Living In Another World"
14. Pictures Of Bernadette – May 1986 UK 7" Single on Parlophone Records R 6131, Non-LP B-side of "Give It Up"
15. Eden (Edit) – September 1988 UK 12" Single on Parlophone Records 12 R 6189, Non-LP B-side of "I Believe In You" – also a Bonus Track on the CD-single Parlophone CDR 6189 – Edit runs to 4:11 minutes
16. John Cope - September 1988 UK 12" Single on Parlophone Records 12 R 6189, Non-LP B-side of "I Believe In You" – also a Bonus Track on the CD-single Parlophone CDR 6189

TALK TALK were:

MARK HOLLIS - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards 

TIM FRIESE-GREENE - Keyboards, Wind Instruments

TIM HARRIS - Drums and Percussion

The 20-page booklet doesn't have liner notes per say, but it does feature those all-important James Marsh picture sleeves – his gorgeous paintings-artwork synonymous with the band. Beside each entry is a basic discography (which I've expanded on above) and the usual reissue credits. The discs are themed – The Longer Versions on CD1 and The B-sides as The Extra Tracks on CD2 – both making for a surprisingly satisfying listen because they do feel like two sides of a single-coin. CD2 also boasts an exclusive on Track 8 – the digital-debut appearance of "Why Is It So Hard? " in 7" Single Mix form - a song written for the 1984 Michael Apted film "First Born". Fans will know that there is a 12" mix of this song on the vinyl compilation called "It's My Mix", but that is AWOL here – the band clearly opting for the more to-the-point single variant.  

The AUDIO is care-of three great names in Remastering – DENIS BLACKHAM who handled the four album Remasters for Talk Talk (1982's "It's My Party" to 1988's "Spirit Of Eden") and PETER MEW with PHIL BROWN - no strangers to EMI or Abbey Road Studios when it comes to Rock transfers (Hollies, Kevin Ayers, Deep Purple, Robin Trower etc). Talk Talk's material was always well recorded, but on "Asides Besides" you get that subtle oomph. To hear one of my fave-rave B-sides of all time "John Cope" in this quality is fantastic – my twelve-inch having been battered for decades now. All good really – to the music…

I would imagine it is only diehard Talkies who would endure the 6:30 minutes of the Dub Mix for "Such A Shame" – it ain’t for me – but the 5:54-minute piano-funk synth-pop of the extended "Without You" is wickedly good – another punchy Tim Friese-Greene production. By the time we get to Track 9 we are into the magical "The Colour Of Eden" album from 1986 where the band became something otherworldly. Everything about that LP and its splinters do my collector head in – fantastical stuff. There is another mix of "Life's What You Make It" from another twelve-inch (12EMI 5540) remixed by Denis Weinreich that runs to almost eight-and-half-minutes – but the band have chosen the more guitar/piano funky cut on the American twelve (12EMIX 5540) remixed by their own Tim Friese-Greene that sexes its way across your living room for 6:58 minutes on CD1 (there are more versions of the song when it was reissued in 1990 to support the "Natural History" Best-Of album, but they are not dealt with by this compilation). 

Not to be outdone in brilliance, next up is the radically and brilliantly re-worked "Living In Another World" that slips tasty Harmonica and Synth fills alongside echoed vocal bits – and I love all its madly 80ts 8:57 minutes. Children giggling and playing open the Dance Mix of "Pictures Of Bernadette" after which it settles into a guitar-Indie groove where the boys allow the axes to distort and contort to a backdrop of drums and percussion. Then that huge organ comes roaring in – Hollis again letting it rip with that other-place voice of his before we return to mad Smiths-like electric and acoustic guitar fills. The Dance Mix of "Pictures Of Bernadette" is brilliant and a genius inclusion in all its 8:05 minute glory. And CD1 ends on another huge fan-fave - the Twelve Mix of "Happiness Is Easy" – the 7:02 minute Remix turning it into a more Acoustic-and-Bass Chic-Funky spacious beast (all this and the magnificent "I Don't Believe In You" on the A-side – what a 12 single-buy that was back in the day).

You might think that opening CD2 with three demos in row (turned on a seven-inch double-pack) that got their EMI contract would mean an interesting listen rather than an essential one – but this is Talk Talk – and they are far better than you would assume. Recorded June 1981, the synth-pop vibe and sound is there but somehow the "Mirror Man" version captures something even more angst that the released mix. And there is a soulfulness to "Candy" – Hollis sounding every bit like the ground-trembling sets of pipes he was and would become. Fantastic stuff and you can so hear why the band would want punters to be re-reminded of these early-years accomplishments. 

Things start to B-side the Seaside hot up with "?" and "My Foolish Friend" - two great Non-LP tracks with "My Foolish Friend" sounding like UK 80ts Synth-Pop at its hooky best. Fans will salivate at a clean Remastered version of the gorgeous "Call In The Night Boy (Piano Version)" - so Japan, so David Sylvian, so Peter Gabriel while the compilation offers up something new to CD - the 7" version of the film song "Why Is It So Hard?" - a tune that could easily have been an album inclusion (great audio to as those keyboards swoon and pop). The "Such A Shame" B-side "Again A Game...Again" could be the little brother of "Why Is It So Hard?" - another Synth-Pop Funkathon that sounds huge here. I'm no boy stealing pennies - Hollis sings on the slyly sinister "Dum Dum Girl" - presented to here in its US 7" Mix which I must admit doesn't feel 'that' different. Heading into the homeward strait with the deeply cool "It's Getting Late In The Evening" - a B-side let-it-all-hang-out indication of their musical direction as they hurtled towards disbandment in 1991 (1988's "Spirit Of Eden" and 1991's final "Laughing Stock") - weird, spacial and wonderfully evocative. Swirling beautiful comes in the shape of "For What It's Worth" (tiger butterfly artwork gets me every time) while guitars fuzz-funk up "Pictures Of Bernadette" - another fab discovery. 

"Asides Besides" ends with the Edit of "Eden" where jagged guitar-notes introduce Hollis' trademark warble, sparse drum whacks and huge keyboards (mesmerizing stuff) only to be whomped by my go-to-poison - the out-there-in-the-stars "John Cope" - the kind of cool few bands ever achieve (apparently Hollis used it as an alias at times). And it was a B-side!

(Mark David) Hollis would make that slightly disappointing self-titled solo LP in 1998 on Polydor Records before he disappeared out of the music business entirely only to lose him in 2017 - a genius gone too soon. "Asides Besides" always makes me think of him and the fans who obsess over the band the way Smiths or Cure fans do. God bless 'em. Be no foolish friend and get this twofer in your rig - soonest...

"The Studio Albums 1973-1983" by ROBIN TROWER – Ten Solo Albums [ex Procol Harum] Including "Twice Removed From Yesterday" (1973), "Bridge Of Sighs" (1974), "For Earth Below" (1975), "Long Misty Days" (1976), "In City Dreams" (1977), "Caravan To Midnight" (1978), "Victims Of The Fury" (1980), "B.L.T." (1981), "Truce" (1982) and "Back It Up" (1983) - featuring Vocalist and Bassist James Dewar of Stone The Crows, Bassists Rusty Allen of Sly & The Family Stone and Jack Bruce of Cream with Drummers Bill Lordan of Sly & The Family Stone & Gypsy, Reg Isidore and Dave Bronze formerly of Procol Harum (February 2019 EUROPE Chrysalis Records 10CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Artwork and Peter Mew Remasters Done at Abbey Road in 2010) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...We Were Spellbound... "

 

Back in late July 2010 in the UK (the 26^th to be exact) – EMI/Chrysalis put out two Fat Jewel Case Anthologies for Procol Harum’s ace axeman ROBIN TROWER (4 CDs in the Volume 1 and 3 in the second). The first was "A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years 1973-1976" on EMI/Chrysalis 642 1542 (Barcode 50999652154226) – and the second - "Father On Up The Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983" on EMI/Chrysalis 301 3862 (Barcode 5099930138629). Between them they offered eleven albums (10 studio and one live), five rare single-sides and a singular session outtake. But they have been deleted many years now and in 2023, both have acquired hefty price tags at times on the open market.

 

What you have here is a February 2019 truncated reissue out of EUROPE in a 10-CD Clamshell Box Set with the bulk of those two fatties combined.

 

Downsides: As this 10CD Clamshell is clearly stated Studio Albums 1973-1983, the March 1976 "Robin Trower Live!" album that was on the first 4CD fat jewel case anthology is missing, as are three single-only edits, two Non-LP B-sides ("Take A First Train" and "One In A Million") and one unreleased rarity ("Let Me Be The One") – all six included across both sets as Bonuses. There is no booklet either in this Mini Box Set when there were at least inlays inside both of the 2010 Anthologies (albeit in small form).

 

Good News: you get all ten studio albums put in those dinky Mini LP repro artwork card sleeves (which has not been done before outside of Japan). Each singular card is typically not as crystal clear as say Japanese attention to detail issues, but at least full artwork has been used front and rear and they are not those squared off ones with rim-lines that Columbia uses in their 'Complete Collection' boxes. "Wrap it Up" uses the UK and European white-background cover artwork and not the black variant that was used on American copies.

 

So not only does it look way better than the cumbersome two fat jewel cases of 2010, it costs less that twenty-eight quid from most online sites – a frankly impressively low amount of roughly £2.80 per album. OK – you do lose the amazing Robin Trower Live! Set with James Dewar and Bill Lordan on top period form, five single edits and a genuine rarity in an amazing unreleased song "Let Me Be The One" (a "Long Misty Days" outtake that reeked of Thin Lizzy mid Seventies bars and drowning your sorrows in whiskey). But make no mistake; "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" is still big time value for money.

 

This Euro-only 2019 reissue has also used the 2010 Peter Mew Remasters done at Abbey Road Studios for the original 4CD anthologies (copyright Date on each CD is 2010) – so it Rocks like the proverbial amped-up Harley Davidson his albums are. The band featured Vocalist and Bassist James Dewar of Stone The Crows, Bassists Rusty Allen of Sly & The Family Stone and Jack Bruce of Cream with Drummers Bill Lordan of Sly & The Family Stone & Gypsy and Reg Isidore. Trower's old mucker Dave Bronze from Procol Harum joined him as Drummer for the "Back It Up" album of 1983 (session drummer Alan Clarke too). Here are the Fender Bender details...

 

EUROPE-only released Friday, 8 February 2019 - "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" by ROBIN TROWER on Chrysalis CRB1075 (Barcode 5060516091263) is the mega label's first anthology for the guitar virtuoso and breaks down as follows:

 

CD1 "Twice Removed From Yesterday" (41:21 minutes):

1. I Can't Wait Much Longer [Side 1]

2. Daydream

3. Hannah

4. Man Of The World

5. I Can't Stand It [Side 2]

6. Rock Me Baby

7. Twice Removed From Yesterday

8. Sinner's Song

9. Ballerina

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut solo album "Twice Removed From Yesterday" released March 1973 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1039 (Produced by Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum)

 

CD2 "Bridge Of Sighs" (37:26 minutes):

1. Day Of The Eagle [Side 1]

2. Bridge Of Sighs

3. In This Place

4. The Fool And Me

5. Too Rolling Stoned [Side 2]

6. About To Begin

7. Lady Love

8. Little Bit Of Sympathy

Tracks 1 to 8 are his second studio album "Bridge Of Sighs" released April 1974 on Chrysalis CHR 1057 (Produced by Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum, Engineered by Geoff Emerick)

 

CD3 "For Earth Below" (36:10 minutes):

1. Shame The Devil [Side 1]

2. It's Only Money

3. Confessin' Midnight

4. Fine Day

5. Alethea [Side 2]

6. A Tale Untold

7. Gonna Be More Suspicious

8. For Earth Below

Tracks 1 to 8 are his third studio album "For Earth Below" released February 1975 on Chrysalis CHR 1057

 

CD4 "Long Misty Days" (34:19 minutes):

1. Same Rain Falls [Side 1]

2. Long Misty Days

3. Hold Me

4. Caledonia

5. Pride [Side 2]

6. Sailing

7. S.M.O.

8. I Can't Live Without You

9. Messin' The Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are his fourth studio album "Long Misty Days" – released October 1976 on Chrysalis CHR 1107 (Produced by RT and Geoff Emerick)

 

CD5 "In City Dreams" (38:28 minutes):

1. Somebody Calling [Side 1]

2. Sweet Wine Of Love

3. Bluebird

4. Falling Star

5. Farther On Up The Road

6. Smile [Side 2]

7. Little Girl

8. Love's Gonna Bring You Round

9. In City Dreams

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "In City Dreams" released September 1977 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1148 (Produced by Don Davis) – Rustee Allen on Bass with James Dewar on Vocals

 

CD6 "Caravan To Midnight" (37:39 minutes):

1. My Love (Burning Love) [Side 1]

2. Caravan To Midnight

3. I'm Out To Get You

4. Lost In Love

5. Fool [Side 2]

6. It's For You

7. Birthday Boy

8. King Of The Dance

9. Sail On

Tracks 1 to 9 are the studio album "Caravan To Midnight" released August 1978 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1189 (Produced by Don Davis) – Rustee Allen on Bass with James Dewar on Vocals

 

CD7 "Victims Of The Fury" (32:41 minutes):

1. Jack And Jill [Side 1]

2. Roads To Freedom

3. Victims Of The Fury

4. The Ring

5. Only Time [Side 2]

6. Into The Flame

7. The Shout

8. Mad House

9. Ready For The Taking

10. Fly Low

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Victims Of The Fury" released January 1980 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1215.

 

CD8 "B.L.T." (37:37 minutes):

1. Into Money [Side 1]

2. What It Is

3. Won't Let You Down

4. No Island Lost

5. It's Too Late

6. Life On Earth [Side 2]

7. Once The Bird Has Flown

8. Carmen

9. Feel The Heat

10. End Game

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "B.L.T." released February 1981 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1324. The B.L.T. refers to the Guitarist, Bass and Drummer - Robin Trower, Bill Lordan and Jack Bruce.

 

CD9 "Truce" (32:55 minutes):

1. Gonna Shut You Down [Side 1]

2. Gone Too Far

3. Thin Ice

4. Last Train To The Stars

5. Take Good Care Of Yourself

6. Fall In Love [Side 2]

7. Fat Gut

8. Shadows Touching

9. Little Boy Lost

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Truce" released January 1982 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1352 (credited to Robin Trower and Jack Bruce). Drummer is Reg Isidore who played for Peter Bardens of Camel, Richard Wright of Pink Floyd and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac (and many others).

 

CD10 "Back It Up" (38:29 minutes):

1. Back It Up [Side 1]

2. River

3. Black To Red

4. Benny Dancer

5. Time Is Short [Side 2]

6. Islands

7. None But The Brave

8. Captain Midnight

9. Settling The Score

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Back It Up" released September 1983 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1420 and in the USA on Chrysalis FV 41420. James Dewar is back on Bass and Vocals, the Drummer was Dave Bronze formerly of Procol Harum.

 

EMI-UK did Barclay James Harvest, Frankie Miller, Ian Hunter and Ten Years After in those 4 to 5CD Fat Jewel Case Anthologies – but only Frankie Miller and Ian Hunter have made this 2019 Euro reissue transition to Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Card Sleeves. Also very much worth noting is the 2010 PETER MEW REMASTER (done at Abbey Road). I've raved about this guy's touch at the tape before - even set a tag of his remastered issues for those interested in quality sound (there's hundreds) - and this double jewel-case set is no different. The sound is truly fantastic - full and clear without being over-hyped or amped up for the sake of it. Each is a new remaster excepting "Bridge Of Sighs" which Mew had already revisited in 2007.

 

Speaking of moaning and wailing, the entire "Bridge Of Sighs" album from 1974 was a vast improvement over the good-rather-than-great debut "Twice Removed From Yesterday" from 1973. The debut had its charms too, the beautiful "Daydream" sounding glorious in Remastered form (lyrics above). But in truth there are so many goodies on here – and not all of it is straight-up rocking. I love it when the band move out of the guitar pyrotechnics and got funky – the opening track "Shame The Devil" from "For Earth Below" or the Side 2 ender "Messin' The Blues" from "Long Misty Days" are good examples. Trower even has a go at The Sutherland Brothers "Sailing" (the hit Rod Stewart covered too and sent to No.1).

 

Although he had hit on a signature sound and winning formula, for years Procol Harum's Robin Trower seemed locked into those Hendrix comparisons because of it - pumping out album after album of Hard Rock Riffage - simple no-nonsense guitar classics. But then come the late Seventies and his inner Bernard Edwards and Chic seemed to grab him by the short and curlies and the Englishman went for it. And I for one - loved it to bits. I've always thought his "In The City" and "Caravan To Midnight" LPs from 1977 and 1978 (with the mighty James Dewar on vocals) to be Funky Rock meisterworks where Trower and his Flange Pedal got real familiar ("Somebody Calling" and "I'm Out To Get You" are prefect examples from those LPs). Cleaning produced by Don Davis, it helped of course that the Bass player Rustee Allen used to ply his plank with Sly & The Family Stone.

 

The album that tail-ended the Seventies was "Victims Of The Fury" (issued January 1980) is a furious fusion of both Heavy Rock and Funk and is another forgotten gem in his voluminous catalogue. A fantastic down and dirty geetar greets the listener when "Jack And Jill" comes sailing out of your speakers as the Side 1 opener (from "Victims Of The Fury") – James Dewar and his doubled-vocals as Soul-Rock as ever. Slow Blues is never far - "Roads To Freedom" giving us singing gypsies with fire in the soul and an ever-eager eye on the horizon ahead. Trower goes into shimmering floating notes for the title track "Victims Of The Fury" – a murky brooder that builds into a heavy-heavy sonic soundscape. "Only Time" is another "Bridge Of Sighs" moody shiver in the dark – his grungy guitar setting sail once again.

 

By the time we enter the Eighties proper, Trower has linked up with Jack Bruce of Cream and along with Bill Lordon sort of began to call the band B.L.T. after their three recognizable initials. It probably came as a shock to longtime Trower fans to be confronted with vocals from Jack Bruce instead of James Dewar as "B.L.T." opened with "Into Money" – but that voice so steeped in Cream Rock works. Pretty comes in the shape of "Won't Let You Down", but Bruce did not have the Soulfulness of Dewar, so his vocal delivery feels a bit leaden. Quickly back to huge riffage for the superb Classic Rock of "No Island Lost" – the singer drowning on dry land. The sheer musicality of his playing gets to shine on the mid-paced "It's Too Late" but "Feel The Heat" feels a tad too close to them trying to find a Radio Friendly. The album ends on something better – the no-safety-belt Blues of "End Game".

 

Reg Isidore took the Drummer Seat for the second BLT album "Truce" in 1982 – another collection of Rockers many co-written with either Procol Harum longtime lyricist Keith Reid or Pete Brown of Battered Ornaments fame (they were on Harvest Records in 1969 and 1970). Jack Bruce doesn't just get double billing with Trower for the album "Truce" – Bruce co-wrote four of the songs - "Thin Ice", "Last Train To The Stars", "Fat Gut" and "Shadows Touching". For "Wrap It Up" Trower wisely went back to James Dewar to get that classic combo sound and feel – his Soulful Vocals bolstering up the riffage. Produced by Trower - Bobby Clouter (of Legend with Mickey Jupp) and Alan Clarke (of Fusion and The Reg Webb Band) were drafted in for Drums and you got another Rock vs. Funk album - "River" even sounding so Free or Bad Company. The Side 1 finisher "Benny Dancer" is a typical Trower shuffler – his heavily echoed axe amped up to deafening Bonamassa levels of Blues-Rock deliverance. And on it goes...Rory Gallagher and Jimi Hendrix smiling in admiration...

 

For us old farts and our remaining hairlines - "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" by Robin Trower is a very cool little treat indeed – all 10 slices of pouting Classic Rock. No sighing on this Bridge Baby...

 

PS: FRANKIE MILLER and IAN HUNTER - see my reviews for their Box Sets in this Chrysalis Records out of EUROPE reissue series...

"Another Music In A Different Kitchen" by BUZZCOCKS - March 1978 UK Debut Album on United Artists Records featuring Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle, Steve Garvey and John Maher with Howard Devoto (October 2008 UK EMI Special Edition 2CD Reissue and Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Never Mince His Words..."

 

Never given the genre credit they've always deserved - listen to just how Punk both Side 1's "Love Battery" and "16" are - never mind the Dr. Feelgood meets a deranged Bo Diddley driving beat in Side 2's "Fiction Romance" and "Welcome To The Pulsebeat" - all four leaping off the Buzzcocks blaster of a debut album. 

 

As a musical-account opener, the sheer sonic attack of March 1978's "Another Music In A Different Kitchen" is equal to The Pistols and The Clash of the period - and somehow - the cocks always seemed lyrically smarter too in many ways. 

 

Thankfully, this snotty 2008 transferred 2CD Remaster gives it all the welly we need. To the walls of guitars...and orgasm ramparts...

 

UK released 27 October 2008 - "Another Music In A Different Kitchen" by BUZZCOCKS on EMI Records 50999 725106 2 9 (Barcode 5099972510629) is a 2CD Special Edition Reissue and Remaster that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (54:29 minutes):

Original Album 

1. Fast Cars [Side 1]

2. No Reply

3. You Tear Me Up 

4. Get On Your Own

5. Love Battery 

6. 16

7. I Don't Mind [Side 2]

8. Fiction Romance 

9. Autonomy 

10. I Need 

11. Moving Away From The Pulsebeat 

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Another Music In A Different Kitchen" - released March 1978 in the UK on United Artists Records UAG 30159 (no US release). 

 

BUZZCOCKS were:

PETE SHELLEY - Guitars and Lead Vocals

STEVE DIGGLE - Guitars and Vocals 

STEVE GARVEY - Bass 

JOHN MAHER - Drums and Vocals 

 

Associated Singles 

12. Orgasm Addict 

13. Whatever Happened To...? 

Tracks 12 and 13 and the A&B-sides of a Non-LP 45-single issued November 1977 in the UK on United Artists UP 36316 

14. What Do I Get?

15. Oh Shit

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A&B-sides of a Non-LP 45-single issued January 1978 in the UK on United Artists UP 36348

John Peel Show 7 September 1977 (Broadcast 19 September 1977)

16. Fast Cars

17. Moving Away From The Pulsebeat 

18. What Do I Get 

CD2 (70:36 minutes):

Demo Recordings

1. Boredom

2. Fast Cars

3. No Reply 

4. You Tear Me Up 

5. Get On Your Own 

6. Sixteen

7. I Don't Mind

8. Fiction Romance 

9. Autonomy 

10. I Need 

11. Orgasm Addict  

12. What Do I Get?

13. Whatever Happened To...?

14. Oh Shit 

Tracks 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Live At The Electric Circus, 2 October 1977

15. Fast Cars 

16. Fiction Romance 

17. Boredom

18. Sixteen 

19. You Tear Me Up 

20. Orgasm Addict 

21. Moving Away From The Pulsebeat

22. Love Battery 

23. Time's Up

Tracks 16 to 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Quite apart from the unseeable-unreadable colour/type fonts used on the rear inlay, I'd have to admit that I wish someone had repeated the track lists in the 12-page booklet somewhere. CD compiler (Ace Records) and noted writer JON SAVAGE does a typically good job of describing the band's first two years in 1976 and 1977 - but I still feel the inlay is a tad underwhelming. There's UK 45s pictured in small face and the 'Product' references, but no foreign sleeves, no posters or trade adverts from that brilliant period in English music. It all feels a teensey bit underwhelming if I'm honest. 

 

That's thankfully offset by the punch-you-in-the-nether-regions Remastered Audio handled by PETER MEW. Done at Abbey Road in 1997 and 2008 for the newer stuff, Mew is a man who has seen his fair share of EMI mastertapes - Hawkwind, Kevin Ayers, Deep Purple, David Bowie, Donovan, Edgar Broughton Band, Dr. Feelgood and many more. Top job done...

I'm reminded of The Undertones, The Clash, The Damned - and not that they're all UK Punk and New Wave heroes - but how they grew so fast on the songwriting front - and the Buzzcocks were the same. I thought "Orgasm Addict" was only O.K. - but I remember hearing Side 1 of the album when it came out and the difference - the improvement in tunes and sound - was huge. They spell "16" on this reissue as "Sixteen" and I wish someone had thought to include the lyrics - but no mind - because it jumps out at you with an anger and passion that still makes the eyes water. The singles tagged on after the album feel like an extra EP that should have come with the original LP, and I'm shocked at how good the sound quality is for the 1977 Peel Sessions - kicking and alive and capturing them in a moment many will cherish. 

As is to be expected, the Demos over on CD2 are in-yer-face raw - a wild hybrid of early Grunge meets oh no Punk. I suspect hardcore fans are gonna love these banging bass lines and guitars snarling as Sheeley sneers through the mike about how he hates "Fast Cars". There's even chatter before "You Tear Me Up" - with a sound that's less polished - so young and so handmade. Fab kicking audio for "Get Out On Your Own" and so on. The live set is part-proper - part-bootleg raucous starting with Sheeley sounding nervous as he introduces the Bass opening to "Fast Cars". Love that Feelgood power guitar type mode they go into for "Fiction Romance". And on it goes to a guitar-thrashing muddled-mike trash at "Time's Up" where you can literally feel the sweat rolling off the walls and that slight sense of fear...

I do wish it looked better for sure, but there's no doubt that this 2CD Reissue of the Buzzcock's great debut hits you where it hurts - kicking audio doing the album and its period peripherals the tiny-club sounding-good justice they both deserve...

"Doremi Fasol Latido" by HAWKWIND – November 1972 UK Third Studio Album on United Artists (December 1972 in the USA) – featuring Dave Brock, Nik Turner, Del Dettmar, Lemmy (later with Motorhead) and Simon King (March 1996 UK EMI Premier Expanded Edition CD Original with Four Bonus Tracks in A Foldout Card Digipak - Followed by an August 2001 UK EMI Records Expanded Edition CD Reissue of the 1996 Variant in a Jewel Case – Paul Cobbold, Peter Mew and Kevin Reeve Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Are Available In my e-Book on AMAZON 

TUMBLING DICE - 1972

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s...

All Detailed Reviews Taken From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap) 

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"...Greetings From Space Mother..."

Following on from the breakthrough of October 1971's "X In Search Of Space" LP and June 1972's 45-single "Silver Machine" (a worldwide hit) was always going to be difficult for a band as uncompromising as London's Space Rockers HAWKWIND. But our favourite flavoursome five reprobates delivered a worthy successor in the November 1972 sonic mayhem that was and is "Doremi Fasol Latido" – even if countries outside of Blighty didn't seem to notice much.

But if I'm truthful - "Doremi Fasol Latido" is a four-star Hawkwind album - all sonically drunk and Production disorderly and falling over itself on the way to an undoubtedly rank toilet. It's a wee beastie for sure (probably why I like it so much). But this March 1996 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster elevates that four-star scamp into a five-star rocking thoroughbred, especially given four bonuses actually worthy of the name. 

So, let's go forth my Thorasin Blood Brothers because our Space Mother is calling her Hawklord offspring into the sorcerer’s cauldron for a bit of a brainstorm (if you catch my stellar drift)...

UK released 20 August 2001 - "Doremi Fasol Latido" by HAWKWIND on EMI Records 530 0312 / 7243 5 30031 2 8 (Barcode 724353003128) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (59:06 minutes):

1. Brainstorm [Side 1]

2. Space is Deep 

3. One Change 

4. Lord Of Light [Side 2]

5. Down Through The Night 

6. Time We Left This World Today 

7. The Watcher 

Tracks 1 to 7 are their third studio album "Doremi Fasol Latido" - released November 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29364 and December 1972 in the USA on United Artists UA-LA001-F. Produced by DAVE BROCK and DEL DETTMAR - it peaked at No. 14 in the UK (didn't chart USA). 

BONUS TRACKS: 

8. Urban Guerrilla

9. Brainbox Pollution 

Tracks 8 and 9 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 22 June 1973 UK 45-single on United Artists UP 35566

10. Lord of Light (Single Version Edit) 

Track 10 was not a 45 in the UK; however, Amon Duul's Peter Kramper and Stefan Michel remixed it January 1973 in a Munich studio for the German market, reducing the LP cut of 6:59 minutes to 3:59 minutes. United Artists UA 35 492 was issued around about March 1973 in a picture sleeve with a remixed and edited version of "Born To Go" from "The Greasy Truckers Party" double-album on the B-side. 

11. Ejection (Previously Unreleased Version) - Written by Dave Brock, Produced by Roy Baker 

There are two variants of this release – the first appeared 22 March 1996 in a multi-flap card digipak on EMI Premier HAWKS 3 / 7243 8 37554 2 4 (Barcode 724383755424). If you want that version, you will need to seek it out in a separate entry. That was in turn replaced with this more common 20 August 2001 reissue that comes in a standard jewel case (EMI Records 530 0312 is easily available for about a fiver or less – new or used). 

Fan nerds will know that the original Barney Bubbles-designed LP famously came with a silver foil on black card design and a space art inner sleeve. The gobbledygook commentary printed on the back sleeve which starts with “Blood greetings O brother, from our great space mother...” is reproduced in the 1996 foldout card digipak version, as is the inner sleeve. But so also is the rare ‘Street Rats’ poster that only came with some original vinyl LPs in England. I mention this poster because although the 2001 reissue has exactly the same liner notes and credit details as before (same 1996 Remaster too) – someone forgot to display the poster in the 12-page booklet of the 2001 reissue. It’s a small mishap, but one worth mentioning. 

The 1996 Audio Remaster (carried over into the 2001 reissue) is care of long-time Abbey Road associate PETER MEW aided by PAUL COBBOLD and a name many will know from Universal Remasters – KEVIN REEVE. Those expecting Supertramp or Dark Side Of The Moon will need to look elsewhere. This is sloppy, grungy, heads down Space Rock with a grandiose dollop of Rock Psych thrown in. At times the band seems to be fighting to be heard in the heady mix – lead vocals distant, backing vocals in another room altogether. But this Remaster delivers the power and the muscle. And then just when you think you have Hawkwind pigeonholed to a wall of sound and volume – they whomp you with Acoustic beauty like Dave Brock’s "Space Is Deep" or Lemmy’s ethereal and eerie "The Watcher". Suddenly it feels beautifully produced even if the later half of the song might again descend into that drum vs. guitar drone. The transfer is grubby and dirty when it needs to be and soft as a baby's bum-bum when restraint is called for. I love it.

The dirtiest grittiest guitar ever greets the listener as Side 1 begins with "Brainstorm" - standing on the runway for 11:32 minutes of heads down Space Rock. The vocals are still lost but the gutbucket wallop of it is undeniable and a hoot. After the sheer eardrum assault of "Brainstorm" - the six-minutes of Dave Brock's "Space Is Deep" comes across as pretty - like an Acoustic Yes session mated with an exploratory Uriah Head whig-out, leaving both exhausted but proud Hawklord parents beaming down at their new gangly offspring. "Into the void we have to travel..." – he sings. Fairly sure I’m not alone in saying that "Space Is Deep" is my fave track on the album - a great vibe and now a fabulous remaster that fills the room as the crescendo builds. Fifty seconds of "One Change" ends Side 1 - a very cool piano instrumental that feels like it should be featured on the soundtrack to "Baby Driver 2: Second Gear" – the babe drives again – etc.

Side 2 opens with "Lord Of Light", a seven-minute Dave Brock guitar-shimmer accompanied by panned cymbals. It soon melts into a guitar riff similar in some ways to the might "Silver Machine" - probably why it was remixed in Germany in early 1973 and issued as a 7" single there. And again with another surprising acoustic opening to "Down Through The Night" - space vibes with echoed Nik Turner flute moments. Surely another fan crave is "Time We Left This World Today" - 8:43 minutes of pure Hawkwind grind. With other room vocals and whacking drums anchoring the wall of guitars, synths and flute warbling - you can just so see that 'strapping cohort Stacia' (as she is described in the commentary) giving it some bounce for the boys on stage as he singer chants 'today' like a mantra. Future Motorhead legend and Bass player Lemmy gets his moment as he finishes the album with the surprisingly restrained "The Watcher". 

But the extras have me jumping up and down in the living room with a Spalding tennis racquet - my missus with yet another worried look and the Nurse Ratched cast on speed-dial. I've always liked "Urban Guerrilla" but my poison is the fantastic 5:42 minutes of its B-side "Brainbox Pollution" - a track that I'm certain should have been the "Silver Machine" follow-up. What a tune. Throw in two great extras in the tighter single edit for "Lord Of Light" and a cool unreleased Rock tune in "Ejection" - and it’s a groovy listen overall. 

There will be those who listen to "Doremi Fasol Latido" and wonder did Daddy and Mummy take too many magic mushrooms in 1972 when they assure their already alarmed sprogs in 2020 that Hawkwind is the dogs bollox. I miss them and the sheer couldn't give a cobblers freedom of it all. Enjoy, you children of Nik Turner, Dave Brock, Del Dettmar, Simon King and the mighty Kilmister Kid...