Blind Melon Release Deluxe Edition of 1992 Debut Album with Five Unreleased Tracks (Out April 16th on Capital/UMe)

After reviewing Blind Melon bassist Brad Smith's last Abandon Jalopy disc, I've been looking for an opportunity go back and give a listen to Blind Melon. The reissue of the band's 1992 self-titled debut may be a good place from which to reassess my (somewhat dated) views of the band's music as this new deluxe edition includes the original 12-track disc plus five bonus tracks from a scrapped session that the band recorded in Los Angeles with Neil Young producer David Briggs (entitled 'Sippin' Time Sessions'). There are some bootleg videos from this session on YouTube and I like what I've heard thus far.

Blind Melon’s self-titled 1992 debut album, Blind Melon, featuring the now-iconic “bee girl” on its cover, has been remastered for the first time and expanded with the band’s previously unreleased “Sippin’ Time Sessions” EP for release on CD and digitally by Capitol/UMe on April 16. Creation of the new edition has been overseen by band members Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn. On April 20, a 180-gram gatefold 2LP vinyl edition of the remastered Blind Melon album and “Sippin’ Time Sessions” EP will be available exclusively at Record Store Day-participating retailers.

Blind Melon’s lead single, “No Rain,” became a phenomenon when coupled with the brilliant music video that launched a thousand “bee girl” Halloween costumes. The song broke the fledgling band into major stardom as a No. 1 chart smash on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock singles charts, and it went Top 5 on the Top 40 Mainstream singles chart. The album’s second single, “Tones Of Home,” was a Top 10 Mainstream Rock hit. Blind Melon peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.

The band’s first professional studio recordings, cut at Sound City Studios in 1991, comprise the previously unreleased, five-song “Sippin’ Time Sessions” EP: “Dear Ol’ Dad,” “Soul One,” “Tones Of Home,” “Seed To A Tree,” and “Mother.” Included in all of the new edition’s configurations, the EP’s tracks have been newly remixed by Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn.



"When I pulled up the tracks, I was immediately taken back to the feeling of walking into a big studio for the first time,” says Brad Smith. “Everyone seemed to be on fire, especially Shannon. It was super refreshing to hear full takes without overdubs! 2" tape, 24 tracks and dudes in a room with mics... amazing! David Briggs took us to Sound City because he had worked there with Neil Young and really liked the Neve board that was in there. Listening back to the tapes, I realize he made the perfect choice for us. We are lucky to have these recordings!"

“I am very excited that these recordings are finally being heard,” says Christopher Thorn. “As I was mixing the tracks I realized just how lucky we were to record at the legendary Sound City Studios with John Hanlon as our engineer and David Briggs as our producer. They taught us so much about how to capture our sound on tape. David was in the tracking room with us, conducting and dancing along with us. I felt so inspired by him. It is one of my favorite memories during this session. This was a magical time for our band and I am very excited that our fans will finally get to hear and feel just how pumped we were to be making our first recordings. Hearing Shannon's voice on these recordings gave me chills and reminded me why I still miss him every day."

Blind Melon’s founding members, Shannon Hoon (vocals), Rogers Stevens (guitar), Christopher Thorn (guitar), Brad Smith (bass), and Glen Graham (drums), each hailing from small towns in Mississippi, Indiana and Pennsylvania, first crossed paths in the late 1980s as young Los Angeles transplants, all seeking like-minded musical collaborators somewhere outside the city’s tangle of metal band hair. They came together to form Blind Melon and signed with Capitol Records in 1991; their self-titled debut was released the following year.

Blind Melon’s second album, Soup, was released in 1995. After a concert in Houston on October 20, 1995, Hoon died at the age of 28. Without Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon’s remaining members decided it would be best to end the band, and they went on to pursue their own interests. The band would go into hiatus for the next 12 years.

Over the years, it was clear that there was still an unmistakable demand for the band. It was around 2007 that Smith and Thorn were asked to produce a few tracks for Texas-based singer/songwriter, Travis Warren – who also happened to be a diehard Blind Melon fan. Working with Warren on his demo, Smith jokingly said to Thorn that Warren “could sing Blind Melon songs in his sleep.” The idea was born. The four remaining members – who hadn’t been in the same room in years – came together to be reacquainted with each other, and to meet with Warren. Soon after, it had become apparent that they had finally located Blind Melon’s new singer. With Stevens and Graham reclaiming their original positions, Blind Melon was back.



Setting up shop at Wishbone Studios, the reformed band spent most of 2007 writing and recording. But before issuing a new album, the group decided to introduce their newest member via a highly successful and completely sold out club tour in late 2007. If the strong response from fans at these shows is any indication, the group’s upcoming shows and forthcoming new music will continue to spread the word even further. The band has since performed all over the globe and plans on continuing to write, record and play into 2013, celebrating their 20 years of dedication to their music and to keeping Shannon`s memory alive.

Links:
Blind Melon

Paul McCartney - "RAM" Special Edition CD Review

STREAM: Paul McCartney - "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" (from RAM)

When reviewing deluxe reissues, I generally don’t attempt to review the original album as, most often, there is little to add to the hundreds of reviews that have already been written. That being said, I don’t think I had heard Paul McCartney’s second solo LP RAM (originally released in 1971) before and was taken aback by how well this disc stacks up against today’s indie-pop music. It seems such a contradiction in terms to mention Sir Paul and “indie-pop” in the same sentence but…there are definitely elements on this disc (layered production, orchestral elements) that are heard on modern releases from bands like Arcade Fire and Of Montreal.



To provide some background on the original recording of RAM, Paul composed the songs (with input from Linda) while on an extended holiday on McCartney’s farm on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. A number of the videos on the bonus DVD were filmed on the McCartney’s farm during this period. RAM was recorded in New York and Los Angeles and the McCartneys’ backing band was recruited via open auditions. The RAM sessions were prolific and a number of the songs not included on the original 12-track disc ended up as b-sides and on later Wings’ releases.

According to the online “Paul McCartney Sessionography”, twenty-three tracks were recorded:

The "RAM" Sessions (Late January - Late February 1970)

Released as a Single in Advance of RAM but Not Included on the Original LP
Another Day (RAM bonus track)
Oh Woman, Oh Why (RAM bonus track)

Original Issue of RAM
Too Many People
3 Legs
Ram On
Dear Boy
Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey
Smile Away
Heart of the Country
Monkberry Moon Delight
Eat at Home
Long Haired Lady
RAM On (Reprise)
The Back Seat Of My Car

RAM Bonus Tracks
A Love for You
Sunshine, Sometime (also on Rupert the Bear soundtrack)
Hey Diddle
Rode All Night

Unreleased Tracks from the RAM Sessions
Dear Friend
Little Lamb Dragonfly
Get On The Right Thing
Now Hear This Song Of Mine
When The Wind Is Blowing

Musicians:
Paul McCartney - Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards
Linda McCartney - Vocals, keyboards
Dave Spinoza - Guitars
Hugh McCracken - Guitars
Denny Seiwell - Drums, percussion

The remaining two bonus tracks – “Great Cock and Seagull Race” and “Little Woman Love” – were respectively recorded at the Wild Life sessions in 1971 and “The First Singles Session” in Spring 1972.



My review copy came with bonus DVD from the Deluxe Edition (and this set includes 2 extra CDs - the remastered Mono edition of RAM and the Thrillington CD along with a 112 page book). The playing time on the DVD runs about 25 minutes. While I would have like more material, the likely reality is that the footage used is all that exists from this time period as Macca didn’t tour until 1972 with Wings.

The features on the bonus DVD are:

1 – Ramming – The Story of the Album: This is a current-day audio interview with Macca (backed by studio shots of the recording session which are presumably were shot by Linda) where he reflects on working with Linda in the studio, hiring the band and he also talks about the impetus behind some of the songs. (Note: Macca states that “Dear Boy” was directed at Linda’s x-husband – not, contrary to popular belief, John Lennon)

2 – “Heart of the Country” & “3 Legs”: Both of these are promo videos which combine video footage of the McCartney family at home (and at play) in Scotland with the studio versions of these songs.

3 – “Hey Diddle”: This is an “impromptu” acoustic live performance of Paul and Linda sitting outside of their farmhouse singing this song, backed by Paul’s acoustic guitar.

4 – “Eat at Home” On Tour: This is an early promo video that combines live footage (from Wings 1972 tour) interspersed with tour bus and ‘day in the life’ footage of the band



Links:
Paul McCartney

Erika M. Anderson (EMA) Announces Deluxe Edition of "Past Life Martyred Saints" / Show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 16, 2012

EMA - Angelo by souterraintransmissions

EMA has announced the first dates of a spring North American headlining tour, which will launch on March 1st at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, CA and continue through March 16th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets for the show at MHOW go on sale on Friday, Dec. 16th at 12PM (EST) and are $12 in advance and $15 DOS. All of the announced tour dates are listed below.

Year-end praise has begun to roll in for EMA's debut album Past Life Martyred Saints (Souterrain Transmissions), which has continuously garnered acclaim throughout 2011 from The A.V. Club, Flaunt, Foam, NPR, Nylon, Pitchfork, Popmatters, Refinery29, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Stereogum, Time Out New York, Under The Radar, Village Voice, and Zink, among others. The album has already found spots on best of '11 lists both here and abroad, including the BBC Music Writers' Top 25 Albums of 2011 (#20), The Quietus Albums of the Year 2011 (#27), SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2011 (#3), and Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2011 (#7), while The Sunday Times (UK) named her the #1 New Artist of 2011. Album track "California", meanwhile, can also be found on year-end lists such as Consequence Of Sound's Top 50 Songs of 2011 (#7), Rolling Stone's 50 Best Singles of 2011 (#39), and SPIN's 20 Best Songs of 2011 (#3).

EMA - former GOWNS singer/guitarist Erika M. Anderson - has spent the better part of the year on the road in support of the May release of Past Life Martyred Saints. Since March, she and her band have performed at festivals including SXSW, the Pitchfork Music Festival, The Great Escape, Primavera Club, and the CMJ Music Marathon, while also touring aross the US, UK, and Europe as both a headliner (selling out the Mercury Lounge and Glasslands in New York) and as support to CSS, MEN, Wild Beasts, Kurt Vile, Zola Jesus, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., among others.



A deluxe edition of Past Life Martyred Saints will be released exclusively via iTunes on February 7th, 2012 and will feature: original iTunes bonus track "To Leave With Love"; videos for album tracks "California", "Milkman", and "Marked"; and her cover of Nirvana's "Endless, Nameless", originally featured on SPIN's Nevermind tribute album Newermind, as well as the track's accompanying video. EMA's recent single Angelo/Marked is currently available as a limited edition 7-inch (only 1,000 copies printed worldwide) exclusively via Insound and digitally via all major retailers. The single's new song B-side "Angelo", which features a guest verse by Mz'Gorjis of Oakland, CA's Platnum Platnum Glam Squad, is streaming above.

EMA spring 2012 North American headlining dates:

MAR. 1 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- RICKSHAW STOP
MAR. 2 -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
MAR. 6 -- DENVER, CO -- HI-DIVE
MAR. 8 -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- 7TH STREET ENTRY
MAR. 9 -- MADISON, WI -- THE FREQUENCY
MAR. 10 -- CHICAGO, IL -- LINCOLN HALL
MAR. 11 -- CLEVELAND, OH -- BEACHLAND TAVERN
MAR. 13 -- TORONTO, ON -- THE GARRISON
MAR. 14 -- MONTREAL, QC -- IL MOTORE
MAR. 15 -- BOSTON, MA -- BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
MAR. 16 -- BROOKLYN, NY -- MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG



Links:
EMA

Nirvana - "Nevermind" 2CD Deluxe Edition CD Review

If the deluxe edition of Nirvana's seminal 1991 disc Nevermind had come out prior to 2004's With the Lights Out box set, it would have broken new ground. Unfortunately, the bonus material on this new 2CD set is an anti-climactic snooze-fest that will likely be of interest only to Nirvana completists.

Jumping in - Disc One contains a remastered version of the original 13 tracks from Nevermind along with the b-sides from the "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Lithium", "Come as You Are" and "In Bloom" CD singles. There is nothing new here and used copies of both Nevermind and the four singles are commonly found in the bargain bins of the local CD shops. Not to pile on but...these remastered tracks fall victim to the "loudness wars" complaints that have plagued many recent reissues.

Disc Two contains the eight tracks recorded at Butch Vig's Smart Studios during April 2-6, 1990, eight rehearsal tracks recorded on a boombox in March 1991 and "Drain You" from a John Peel session (Sept. 3, 1991) and "Something in the Way" from a Mark Goodier session (Nov. 9, 1991). The "problem" with the majority of the tracks on Disc Two is that they sound very close to the final studio versions and offer no new insight to songs or their evolution.

Smart Studios sessions, Madison, Wisconsin, April 2–6, 1990
"In Bloom"
"Immodium (Breed)"
"Lithium"
"Polly"
"Pay to Play" (originally released on With the Lights Out)
"Here She Comes Now" (originally released on With the Lights Out)
"Dive" (originally released on Insecticide)
"Sappy"

I don't believe that the "boombox rehearsals" were bootlegged (unlike the heavily bootlegged Smart Studio sessions) so a number of these tracks were new to me. I didn't mind the somewhat dodgy sound quality (tape hiss, etc.) but, again, these tracks sound like raw, lo-fi takes of the final studio versions so there aren't any surprises. Butch Vig commented to Rolling Stone: "The boombox recordings are some of the coolest stuff for hardcore fans. They sound super lo-fi and dirty and trashy, really primal."

Boombox rehearsals, Tacoma, Washington, March 1991
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (originally released on With the Lights Out)
"Verse Chorus Verse"
"Territorial Pissings"
"Lounge Act"
"Come as You Are"
"Old Age"
"Something in the Way"
"On a Plain"

"Drain You", from the Sept. 3, 1991 John Peel radio session, was (for some strange reason) separated from the other two tracks from this session which are found on With the Lights Out. "Something in Way" is the last of four tracks recorded for a Mark Goodier session in Nov. '91 and the first three tracks were released on Insecticide.

Even with the disc selling new (through Amazon third party sellers) for $14.96, there just isn't enough here to justify the investment. Ultimately, this a 'curiosity' that will likely sit on the shelf after a spin or two.

Links:
Nirvana

Thin Lizzy - "Black Rose" Deluxe Edition CD Review

The early part of 1978 was a prolific period for members of Thin Lizzy. The late January / early February sessions yielded most of Black Rose (1979) along with tracks that appeared on Gary Moore’s solo disc Back on the Streets and Phil’s Solo in Soho CD.

To echo the same thing that I said about the Bad Reputation deluxe edition, the Andy Pierce remaster sounds great and one can clearly hear all of the subtleties and dynamics within the music. It has been years since I’ve heard this album and it has aged well to my ears. The somewhat dated 70’s funk/boogie of Johnny the Fox has been left in the past and this is classic arena rock featuring some stellar song writing and the twin guitar leads of Gary Moore and Scott Gorham. Even the casual Lizzy fans will know “Waiting for An Alibi” and “Do Anything You Want To” but other tracks like “Got To Give It Up” and Gary Moore powered “A Roisin Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend” shouldn’t be missed.

I’ve got mixed feelings on the bonus tracks. While it is great to hear the embryonic versions of tracks that ended up on Black Rose and Gary Moore’s Back on the Streets (specifically “Don’t Believe a Word”) albums, I have nine of the disc’s ten tracks on the eighteen track “Black Rose Sessions” bootleg CD. The issue isn’t that these tracks were bootlegged but rather than the legitimate release doesn’t include half of the Black Rose sessions. It seems both curious and arbitrary that the slow version of “Don’t Believe A Word” (from Gary Moore’s Back on the Streets disc) was included and "Parisienne Walkways" wasn’t. (…or that “Rockula/Rock Your Love”, which was probably intended for Solo in Soho, was included and “Hate” wasn’t).

My view is that the recent slew of 2CD Deluxe reissues (from all bands) are targeted to the longtime fan as an “upgrade” rather than new fans. Given that the limitation (from the 80’s) of a maximum of a ~40 minute running time for CD is long in the past, this is a decent upgrade but it falls short of what it could have been.

Track List for Black Rose Bonus Disc

1. Just The Two Of Us (Do Anything You Want To B-Side)
2. A Night In The Life Of A Blues Singer (longer version)
3. Rock Your Love (unreleased)
4. Don't Believe A Word (slow version)
5. Toughest Street In Town (different version)

1978 Nassau Session
6. S & M
7. Got To Give It Up
8. Cold Black Night (unreleased)
9. With Love
10. Black Rose

Thin Lizzy – Black Rose Sessions Bootleg

1-21-78 Rampart Studios
1) Rockula [aka “Rock Your Love”] (unreleased/written by Jimmy Bain)
2) A Night In the Life of a Blue Singer (long version)

1-22-78 Rampart Studios
3) Cold Black Night (Unreleased)
4) Hate (Unreleased)
5) With Love (with Huey Lewis on harmonica)
6) Parisienne Walkways (with Huey Lewis)
7) Black Rose (with Huey Lewis)
8) Got to Give It Up (slower / different lyrics)
9) Toughest Street in Town (lyrics dubbed too nasty by record company)
10) Don’t Believe a Word (slow version – Lynott / Moore vocals)

Good Earth Studios 2-1-78
11) Ode to a Black Man (Original version)
12) Spanish Guitar (demo / different lyrics)
13) Parisienne Walkways (demo)
14) Are You Ready (Unreleased Studio Version)
15) Blackmail (Unreleased by Lizzy – on first Wild Horses Album)
16) Waiting for an Alibi (Slower / different Lyrics)
17) Fanatical Fascists (Lynott vocals)

Unknown Date / Location
18) Leaving Town (Unreleased)
19) Just the Two of Us ("Do Anything You Want To" b-side)



Links:
Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy - "Bad Reputation" Deluxe Edition CD Review

Thin Lizzy’s Bad Reputation is the latest in an on-going series of deluxe reissues from the band. Breaking from the last set of reissues, this disc doesn’t include a second bonus disc but rather appends six bonus tracks to the original disc’s nine tracks to take the total running time up to 58 minutes. (Strangely, this reissue was originally announced as coming with a nine-track bonus CD).

Bad Reputation was originally released in 1977 and the band benefited from a switch to producer Tony Visconti as he captured critical elements of the band’s live sound and swagger that were missing from Johnny the Fox. This new reissue sounds great – there is a notable improvement over the previously released versions of Bad Reputation and this set of reissues (which includes Black Rose and Chinatown) are the first to actually use the 2010 remasters by Andy Pierce. The five of the bonus tracks are from a John Peel Session that the band recorded for the BBC in 1977. Four of the five tracks were released on Thin Lizzy’s Peel Sessions CD in 1994 but that disc is way out of print and used copies generally sell for too much on Amazon and eBay ($40+). The last track is a soundcheck recording of “Me and the Boys” which was recorded at an unspecified location.

The high point of this reissue is that it sounds great and it is selling at a reasonable price point (~$16.00, which includes shipping to the US if you order from Amazon.co.uk; the US version will be released next month and is posted at a pre-sale price of $17.99 on Amazon.com).

The only potential negative is that Thin Lizzy announced last month that “October 2012 will see the release of a lavish collection of BBC material 'At The BBC’ that will be available in three formats ' a 7CD, 1 DVD boxset, a 2CD anthology and a 5 LP vinyl set”. Given this, it makes me wonder how quickly these five BBC tracks are going to be redundant.



Bad Reputation Bonus Tracks:
1. “Killer Without A Cause” - BBC Session, 01/08/1977
2. “Bad Reputation” - BBC Session, 01/08/1977
3. “That Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart” - BBC Session, 01/08/1977
4. “Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In A Spotlight)” - BBC Session, 01/08/1977
5. “Downtown Sundown” - BBC Session, 01/08/1977
6. “Me And The Boys” – Soundcheck

Links:
Thin Lizzy

Paul McCartney: "McCartney II" Deluxe Edition CD Review

Following last year's deluxe reissue of Band on the Run, MPL and the Concord Music Group are pleased to announce McCartney and McCartney II as the next releases in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection on June 14th, 2011.

McCartney II will be made available as a 2 CD "Special Edition" featuring the original remastered album plus eight bonus tracks including B-Sides and alternative versions. The bonus audio CD includes the #1 hit “Coming Up (Live At Glasgow, 1979)” and holiday perennial “Wonderful Christmastime.”

There is also a 4 disc (3 CD, 1 DVD) "Deluxe Edition" of McCartney II that includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage (including performances of "Coming Up" and the new video for the unreleased track "Blue Sway") but includes an additional seven rare bonus audio tracks exclusive to this edition. Additionally, the McCartney II deluxe edition contains an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book featuring many previously unpublished photos by Linda McCartney, original album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for all three audio discs plus detailed historical information on the film content.

McCartney II was recorded in July of 1979 as a one-man solo project in-between Wings' Back to the Egg album and their aborted 1980 tour of Japan. After McCartney disbanded Wings in 1980, McCartney II was released in May of that year. Sharing a 'spiritual' similarity with McCartney (Paul's first solo disc), McCartney II shows Paul almost completely breaking from his past and fully embracing new wave through experiments with synthesizers and electronic beats. The original disc's thirteen tracks are an eclectic but compelling assortment and show Paul getting out in-front of the budding synth-pop movement.

Here is what is on the set:
(Note: A copy of the third audio disc wasn't included in the review package I was sent)

CD 1 - Original Album [11 tracks / 39 minutes]
As I'm more familiar with McCartney II than Paul's first solo disc, I can hear the difference that the remastering made. This remastering at Abbey Road Studios has added more sonic depth to the disc and one can hear more of the nuances in both the vocals and the instrumentation.

CD 2 - Bonus Audio Tracks [48 Minutes]
Note: "Urban legend" is that McCartney II was originally intended to be a double-album and a number of these bonus tracks come from what is known as "The Lost McCartney II Album".

1. "Blue Sway” [From "The Lost McCartney II Album"]
This track has late 70's style "urban cool" vibe (think Steely Dan)

2. "Coming Up” [From Wing’s final concert: Glasgow, December 17, 1979]
B-side of the studio recording of "Coming Up"

3. "Check My Machine [B-side of "Waterfalls" single]

4. "Bogey Wobble" [From "The Lost McCartney II Album"]
Companion piece to "Bogey Music"

5. "Secret Friend" [B-side of "Temporary Secretary" single]

6. "Mr H Atom / You Know I'll Get You Baby" [From "The Lost McCartney II Album"]
"Mr H Atom" features Linda on vocals

7. "Wonderful Christmastime"
Originally released as a solo single in 1979 b/w "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae"

8. "All You Horse Riders / Blue Sway"
"All You Horse Riders" is from "The Lost McCartney II Album"; I don't believe that I've ever heard the mostly instrumental version of "Blue Sway" that follows.

DVD - Bonus Film [55 Minutes]
1. "Meet Paul McCartney"
Includes the "Coming Up" video and an in-depth interview conducted by Tim Rice where Paul goes into detail about the motivation behind and the recording of McCartney II.

2. "Coming Up"
3. "Waterfalls”
4. "Wonderful Christmastime”
Music videos (which were heavily played on MTV at the time)

5. "Coming Up” [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea - December 29, 1979]

6. "Coming Up” (from a 1979 rehearsal session at Paul's farm)
A nice intimate recording filmed with a single camera

7. "Making the Coming Up Music Video"
Paul narrates the making of the "Coming Up" video while the video plays behind his voice-over

8. "Blue Sway” Promo Video
Set to Jack McCoy's underwater/surf footage





Links:
Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney: "McCartney" Deluxe Edition CD Review

Following last year's deluxe reissue of Band on the Run, MPL and the Concord Music Group are pleased to announce McCartney and McCartney II as the next releases in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection on June 14th, 2011.

McCartney will be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus seven bonus audio tracks including the previously unreleased outtakes “Suicide” and “Don’t Cry Baby” plus a rare live 1979 recording of “Maybe I’m Amazed”. For collectors, the reissue will also be made available as a lavishly packaged 3 disc (2 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition which includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage, an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book containing many exclusive and unpublished photos by Paul and Linda McCartney, original album artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for the two audio discs as well as detailed historical information on the film content.

McCartney was Paul McCartney’s first solo outing which was originally released in 1970, immediately prior to the release of The Beatles’ final studio disc Let It Be. McCartney dropped a ‘bombshell’ with this release when he publicly announced his departure from the Beatles in the form of a Q & A package included in advance copies of the album.

Except from Q&A
---------------------------------------------------------
Q: "Is this album a rest away from the Beatles or the start of a solo career?"

PAUL: "Time will tell. Being a solo album means it's 'the start of a solo career...and not being done with the Beatles means it's just a rest. So it's both."

Q: "Is your break with the Beatles temporary or permanent, due to personal differences or musical ones?"

PAUL: "Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don't really know."

Q: "Do you foresee a time when Lennon-McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?"

PAUL: "No."
---------------------------------------------------------
Both George Harrison and John Lennon took some swipes at this album when it was originally released but they seemed to have missed the point that this was a cathartic album for McCartney as he was trying to come to grips with his new post-Beatles life. The tracks on this release aren’t the rich, fully produced songs of Wings or later-day McCartney solo work; Paul played all the instruments on this disc and these are stripped-down demos that have been built up into full songs through multi-tracking. While this disc contains the McCartney concert staple “Maybe I’m Amazed” (and George Harrison commented at the time of this album’s release that “That Would Be Something” was “great”), the disc also contains a number of experimental tracks and instrumentals.

Here is what is on the 2CD/DVD set:

CD 1 - Original Album [13 tracks / 35 minutes]

CD 2 - Bonus Audio Tracks [26 Minutes]
1. "Suicide” [Outtake]
More of a "work-in-progress" take than an outtake with a lot of improvisational/scat lyrics and a couple run-throughs of the same verse

2. "Maybe I'm Amazed” [From the "One Hand Clapping" Video – Abbey Road 1974]
Video included in the Band on the Run deluxe edition but previously unreleased as an audio track

3. "Every Night"
4. "Hot As Sun"
5. "Maybe I'm Amazed"
Tracks 3-5 from Wing’s final concert: Glasgow, December 17, 1979

6. "Don't Cry Baby” [Outtake - Instrumental version of "Oo You"]

7. "Women Kind” [Demo - Mono]
I'm not sure where/how this fits in with Macca's first solo disc as this take sounds like it is from the "Piano Tapes" session (and resultant bootleg) which is believed to have been recorded in late '73/early '74.

DVD - Bonus Film [32 Minutes]
1. "The Album Story" [A “making of the album” vignette with some brief reflections by Paul and some great still footage of The Beatles and McCartney]

2. "The Beach" [Home movie/still shot in 1970 in Scotland]

3. "Maybe I'm Amazed” Promo Video

4. "Suicide" [from the "One Hand Clapping" Video – Abbey Road 1974]

5. "Every Night” [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea - December 29, 1979]

6. "Hot As Sun” [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea – December 29, 1979]

7. "Junk” [MTV Unplugged - January 25, 1991]

8. "That Would Be Something” [MTV Unplugged – January 25, 1991]



Links:
Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney: Upload Your Cover of "Maybe I'm Amazed" and Win CDs

Hmmm...I'm not sure what would be more interesting - a band like The Canon Logic could probably do a dead-on cover or, on the other hand, one of the local black metal bands doing a complete deconstruction of the song. Anyway, below are the details of the contest.



Following the huge success of last year’s Band on the Run competition, MPL and Concord Music Group are very excited to offer fans another chance to win a host of Macca goodies with the brand new "Maybe I’m Amazed Cover’s Competition" in celebration of the upcoming deluxe reissue release of McCartney & McCartney II on June 14th.

Whether you’re a part-time guitar twiddler, a karaoke crooner or a serious music maker in a band, all are welcome! Just film your cover of Paul’s track "Maybe I’m Amazed", upload it to YouTube and follow the simple steps below to enter. Then get all of your friends to ‘like’ your video. The video with the most ‘likes’ wins! Good luck!

Follow the steps below for your chance to win:

Steps:
1. Record your own Cover version of "Maybe I’m Amazed".
2. Visit Paul’s YouTube Channel
3. Log in and submit your response to the official "Maybe I’m Amazed" music video.
4. Get as many of your friends to like the video in order for it to win!
5. The winner will be the video with the most likes.


Dates:
The competition starts on the 26th May 4pm. (GMT) Only videos uploaded to YouTube and submitted to the competition between these dates will be valid. (please don’t submit videos that have been already loaded onto YouTube) The competition will close for new entries: 16th June 4pm. Votes will still count until the competition fully closes on the 23rd July.
Competition Ends: 23rd June 2011 4pm

Prize:
The winner will receive the deluxe reissue editions of McCartney, McCartney II and Band on the Run.

The lavishly packaged 3 disc (2 CD, 1 DVD) McCartney Deluxe Edition includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage, an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book containing many exclusive and unpublished photos by Paul and Linda McCartney, original album artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for the two audio discs as well as detailed historical information on the film content.

The 4 disc (3 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition of McCartney II not only includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage (including performances of "Coming Up" and the new video for the unreleased track "Blue Sway") but includes an additional seven rare bonus audio tracks exclusive to this edition. Additionally, the McCartney II deluxe edition contains an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book featuring many previously unpublished photos by Linda McCartney, original album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for all three audio discs plus detailed historical information on the film content.

The 4 disc (3CD, 1 DVD) deluxe edition of Band on the Run includes an extraordinary 120-page hard bound book containing many unseen and unpublished photos by Linda McCartney and Clive Arrowsmith, album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, a full history of the album complete with a new interview with Paul and expanded track by track information for all four discs. The deluxe edition also includes a special Band on the Run audio documentary (originally produced for the 25th Anniversary edition.)

Links:
Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney: Deluxe Editions of "McCartney" and "McCartney II" Due Out June 14th

Following last year's deluxe reissue of Band on the Run, MPL and the Concord Music Group are pleased to announce McCartney and McCartney II as the next releases in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection on June 14th, 2011.

McCartney was Paul's solo debut which was originally released in April of 1970 and yielded the concert staple “Maybe I’m Amazed.” McCartney II originally issued in May of 1980 was McCartney’s return to solo work after nine years touring and recording with Wings. Reaching #1 in the UK, and #3 in the U.S., the album produced the singles “Coming Up,” “Waterfalls,” & “Temporary Secretary.” Paul McCartney personally supervised all aspects of these two reissues and the remastering work was done at Abbey Road using the same team who recently remastered the complete Beatles’ catalogue.

McCartney will be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus seven bonus audio tracks including the previously unreleased outtakes “Suicide” and “Don’t Cry Baby” plus a rare live 1979 recording of “Maybe I’m Amazed”. For collectors, the reissue will also be made available as a lavishly packaged 3 disc (2 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition which includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage, an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book containing many exclusive and unpublished photos by Paul and Linda McCartney, original album artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for the two audio discs as well as detailed historical information on the film content.



McCartney II will also be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus eight bonus tracks including B-Sides and alternative versions. The bonus audio CD includes the #1 hit “Coming Up (Live At Glasgow, 1979)” and holiday perennial “Wonderful Christmastime.”

The lovingly packaged 4 disc (3 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition of McCartney II not only includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage (including performances of ‘Coming Up’ and the new video for the unreleased track ‘Blue Sway’) but includes an additional seven rare bonus audio tracks exclusive to this edition. Additionally, the McCartney II deluxe edition contains an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book featuring many previously unpublished photos by Linda McCartney, original album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for all three audio discs plus detailed historical information on the film content.



MCCARTNEY TRACKLIST:

CD 1 – Remastered Album
01. The Lovely Linda
02. That Would Be Something
03. Valentine Day
04. Every Night
05. Hot As Sun / Glasses
06. Junk
07. Man We Was Lonely
08. Oo You
09. Momma Miss America
10. Teddy Boy
11. Singalong Junk
12. Maybe I’m Amazed
13. Kreen-Akrore

CD 2 – Bonus Audio Tracks
01. Suicide [Out-take]
02. Maybe I’m Amazed [From One Hand Clapping]
03. Every Night [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
04. Hot As Sun [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
05. Maybe I’m Amazed [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
06. Don’t Cry Baby [Out-take]
07. Women Kind (Demo) [Mono]

DVD – Bonus Film
01. The Album Story
02. The Beach
03. Maybe I’m Amazed Music Video
04. Suicide [from One Hand Clapping]
05. Every Night [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea]
06. Hot As Sun [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea]
07. Junk [MTV Unplugged]
08. That Would Be Something [MTV Unplugged]

MCCARTNEY II TRACKLIST:

CD 1 – Remastered Album
01. Coming Up
02. Temporary Secretary
03. On The Way
04. Waterfalls
05. Nobody Knows
06. Front Parlour
07. Summer’s Day Song
08. Frozen Jap
09. Bogey Music
10. Darkroom
11. One Of These Days

CD 2 – Bonus Audio 1
01. Blue Sway [With Richard Niles Orchestration]
02. Coming Up [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
03. Check My Machine [Edit]
04. Bogey Wobble
05. Secret Friend
06. Mr H Atom / You Know I’ll Get you Baby
07. Wonderful Christmastime [Edited Version]
08. All You Horse Riders / Blue Sway

CD 3- Bonus Audio 2 (DELUXE 3 CD – 1 DVD EDITION ONLY)
01. Coming Up [Full Length Version]
02. Front Parlour [Full Length Version]
03. Frozen Jap [Full Length Version]
04. Darkroom [Full Length Version]
05. Check My Machine [Full Length Version]
06. Wonderful Christmastime [Full Length Version]
07. Summer’s Day Song [Original without vocals]
08. Waterfalls [DJ Edit]

DVD – Bonus Film
01. Meet Paul McCartney
02. Coming Up Music Video
03. Waterfalls Music Video
04. Wonderful Christmastime Music Video
05. Coming Up [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea]
06. Coming Up’ [taken from a rehearsal session at Lower Gate Farm, 1979]
07. Making the Coming Up Music Video
08. Blue Sway

Links:
Paul McCartney

Thin Lizzy: "Johnny The Fox" Deluxe Edition CD Review (Universal)

Johnny The Fox was was Thin Lizzy's second release in 1976, and seventh disc overall, which which was written after Phil Lynott was sidelined during the band's US tour with Rainbow with a serious bout with hepatitis.

Joe Elliott commented in the disc's liner notes that he felt this disc was better than Jailbreak but, for whatever reason, the disc didn't seem to make an impact in the US. After listening to Johnny the Fox now thirty-five years after its original release, the disc is more introspective than Jailbreak and Bad Reputation. There are a number of solid songs on the disc (like "Don't Believe a Word" and "Borderline") but many of the songs are narrative-driven mini-vignettes that showcase Lynott's lyrical prowess but lack the 'punch' of the singles from either of the two aforementioned discs.

Disc One is the "remastered" ten track (36 minutes) Johnny the Fox album. The ranging internet debate seems to have reached a consensus that this is the 1996 remaster as opposed to the remaster that was done last year by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham (as per the CD booklet). As I just had a vinyl copy of this record, I can't offer any direct opinions.

The eleven tracks (38 minutes) on Disc Two are, unfortunately, a mixed bag.

Here is the track list:
- "Don't Believe a Word" (Remixed version)
- "Johnny" (Remixed version)
- "Don't Believe a Word" (BBC Sessions 11/10/1976)
- "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" (BBC Sessions 11/10/1976)
- "Fools Gold" (BBC Sessions 11/10/1976)
- "Johnny" (BBC Sessions 11/10/1976)
- "Fool's Gold" (Instrumental run-through)
- "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" (Instrumental run-through - extended version)
- "Rocky" (Instrumental run-through)
- "Massacre" (Instrumental take)
- "Scott's Tune"

The two Joe Elliott remixes are nowhere near as striking as the remixes on Jailbreak. If you listen closely, the songs have a bit more punch but there isn't enough difference to make the average listener sit up and take notice. In an interview with RUNONROCK.com, Joe Elliott described the remastering process as follows: "We started to filter all the bad stuff out and then set about building each track up again. For instance we had Phil Lynott’s bass parts from 30 years ago coming through a 2010 bass amp and it sounded incredible. We did the same thing with the drums. We kept the guitar parts that everyone is familiar with but recorded a lot of new rhythms.".

The BBC tracks could have been the gem of this collection but "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" and "Fools Gold" are studio tracks that were aired on the BBC (not performed live on the BBC). The three instrumental takes are simply that - instrumental run-throughs of the songs that are pretty much on par with the finished studio versions. These are interesting to some degree (i.e. a longer version of "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" that kicks off with a false start) but none of these tracks warrant repeated plays. The final cut, "Scott's Tune", is just a two minute guitar jam - like the other instrumentals, no big deal.

Unfortunately, the price point on Amazon ($21.75 new / $17.89 used) for this set is still too steep to warrant recommending picking this up.



Links:
Thin Lizzy

Rod Stewart - Atlantic Crossing Deluxe Edition CD Review (Rhino/Warner)

STREAM: Rod Stewart - "Too Much Noise" (Early Version of 'Stone Cold Sober')

Rod Stewart's sixth solo disc, Atlantic Crossing, was originally released in 1975. This was his first post-Faces release and his first release not to include any of The Faces.

While Atlantic Crossing is similar in concept to A Night on the Town, as it is divided into a 'slow side' and 'fast side', the songs on Atlantic Crossing are a bit slower, more soulful and producer Tom Dowd adds a high-gloss sheen to the disc.

Like A Night on the Town (reviewed previously), Rhino Entertainment has given this disc deluxe treatment and released it as a double-disc by adding a second disc with an unreleased alternate version of the full Atlantic Crossing album along with three studio outtakes and a non-LP single.

Taking a look at the bonus tracks, Disc One ends with "Skye Boat Song", which was released as a single in the UK on Stewart's then-manger's Riva label. This is a traditional Scottish song that Stewart performs with The Atlantic Crossing Drum & Pipe Band.

Disc 2 starts with three fully produced outtakes that were recorded in Los Angeles with The MG's (Booker T's backing band). These songs are an interesting mix of covers which include The Bee Gee's "To Love Somebody" and the Elvis popularized hit "Return To Sender". From here, the disc goes into the alternate Atlantic Crossing. The alternate version is less produced and there are minimal backing tracks which allows the songs to clearly feature Stewart's raspy, bluesy voice. The songs sound more relaxed and these alternate versions are more than just demos but rather alternate interpretations of the songs. The disc closes with an alternate version of "Skye Boat Song" and there is a hidden track at the end of the disc with the original radio promo for Atlantic Crossing.

This is a good year for Rod Stewart fans as these two reissues will be followed by the release of The Rod Stewart Sessions in mid-September. This forthcoming release is a 63-track box set that features rare and unreleased material, including a collaboration with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour.

Links:
Rod Stewart's Website

Rod Stewart - A Night on the Town Deluxe Edition CD Review (Rhino/Warner)

Rod Stewart's seventh solo CD, A Night on the Town, was originally released in 1976 and this was Stewart's first platinum release. The disc has aged well and Rhino Records has now given it deluxe treatment by adding a second disc with an unreleased alternate version of the full A Night on the Town album along with four studio outtakes. These thirteen unreleased tracks are a 'must have' for long-time Rod Stewart fans and well worth a "trade up" from an LP or single disc versions of A Night on the Town. For the uninitiated, this disc is a return to the blues/bar-stomping sound of The Faces and 70's era Rolling Stones. While there are a few slow songs, "Trade Winds" is really the only syrupy ballad (and the only dud on the disc). If you are a fan of 70's British blues/rock, you aren't going to go wrong with this disc.

There are already a lot of reviews out of A Night on the Town, so I'm just going to focus this review on the bonus tracks. Disc 1 contains one bonus track, "Rosie", which was originally issued as the b-side to the single "The Killing of Georgie". This cut is a great New Orleans blues style bar room stomper. The song has a great build-up which features horns, strings and piano.

Disc 2 starts with the studio outtake "Share" which is a bit too soft for my taste but it doesn't fall to "Trade Winds" status as the song features intricate guitar work and raw vocals from Stewart. The alternate version of A Night on the Town follows and this is a great companion piece to the studio LP. These are "early versions" which are less produced, rawer versions of the songs. The early versions of the fast songs capture the rawness of a live-in-the-studio performance and the slow songs are more intricate than the fully produced versions would imply. While all of the songs are finished versions, this disc includes some studio banter which adds to the overall work-in-progress ambiance. In addition to including an early version of "Rosie", this second disc also includes an early version of Stewart's cover of The Beatles' "Get Back" (the final version was used in the film All This And World War II).

A Rod Stewart box set is supposed to be released sometime later this year and deluxe editions of Foot Loose And Fancy Free and Blondes Have More Fun will follow early next year.

Links:
Rhino Records
Rod Stewart's Website

Bad Religion - "New Maps of Hell" Deluxe Edition CD Review

With the flood of CD reissues hitting the market, I was prepared to dislike this reissue before even listening to it. Too many of these reissues have just a couple of new tracks or (worse) remixes appended to the CD and then attempt to get full price for the "new" release.

The one complaint that I always read whenever a reissue comes out is "Why do I have to buy this again?". I have a few reissues in my review pile (with this being the first) and my goals with these reviews is to answer the question "Is this worth purchasing if you already have the original issue?"

The Deluxe Edition of New Maps of Hell is a winner. There are seven new tracks added to the original CD. These tracks are acoustic so it took me a second to mentally adjust to the change from Bad Religion's typical tempos. The acoustic tunes are just Greg singing and Brett on acoustic guitar and together they add a whole new dimension to some of the older Bad Religion songs. Three of the seven tunes are unique to this release and the other four songs are re-recordings of (mostly) older material.

The acoustic tunes clock in at about 20 minutes and here is the track list:

- Won't Somebody
- Adam's Atoms
- Sorrow (from 'The Process of Belief')
- God Song (from 'Against the Grain')
- Dearly Beloved (from 'New Maps of Hell')
- Chronophobia
- Skyscraper(from 'Recipe for Hate')

The acoustic tunes are cool but this set also comes a 23-track live DVD of the band performing live last year at the House of Blues in Las Vegas that rounds out the whole package. Also on the DVD are "The Making of the Acoustic EP" and "The Making of New Maps of Hell" along with two music videos from the current CD. I'm not much on the "The Making..." videos for any band (in most cases, these 'VH1 Behind The Music' type clips aren't worth more than one watch, if that) so these last couple clips aren't essential.

The Deluxe Edition of New Maps of Hell is (currently) $22.99 at BestBuy and Amazon.com.

Links:
Bad Religion's Website