söndag 24 mars 2024

DIANA ROSS PRESENTS THE JACKSON 5 STML 11142 (-70) UK


 The combo's debut album. Motown artist Gladys Knight early became a big fan of the brothers and talked Berry Gordy into signing them. However Gordy doubted they would make a breakthrough of their own and therefore claimed the popular Diana Ross as the one who'd discovered and was handeling them (read "her" presentation below). I wasn't all in with their second and third albums (see earlier posts), thought they came out a little bit too cute and even mushy at parts. This hits me much better. It still has a lot of that classic Motown feeling I love so much with cover versions of songs from Temptations, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the Miracles. Most of the songs are uptempo with heavy bass and drums and Michael's childish voice sounds a bit more tamed than on the follow-ups. This is good listening all through, epecially "I Want You Back" (Billboard #1), the cover of Sly Stone's "Stand" and the intense "Nobody". A happy record. Issued and reissued on vinyl and CD all over the world through the years, also reel, cassette and 8-track. Premiere US 1969 on Motown (MS-700). First UK had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with Motown ad inner. (TÖMÖ*)

                                                                                      
                                                                              
                                                                               
                                                                              

     

                 
                                                                                   
                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                             



  



 

onsdag 13 mars 2024

JOHN LENNON/THE JOHN LENNON COLLECTION IC 064-1 78224 1 (-82) HOLLAND


 First posthumous Lennon album, mixing five EMI 45 cuts and six album ones with six from "Double Fantasy" on Geffen. As DF was rather new and still in the shops at this time I don't understand why so many was picked from that. To my taste the cuts that was used as CD bonus tracks later - "Cold Turkey" and "Move Over Ms. L" - could have been on the original instead. Otherwise this works just fine for me. It has quite a few tracks in common with "Shaved Fish"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/11/john-lennonshaved-fish-pcs-7173-75.html  , leaving out "Woman Is The Nigger Of The World" and "Cold Turkey" but also adding his excellent "Stand By Me" cover, the single remix of "Love" and the uncut version of "Give Peace A Chance", which on "Shaved Fish" was divided into two segments. So both collections have their advantages and best kept together. The audio here is very good, maybe a little smoothened in comparison to the originals, but still providing enjoyable listening. Issued and reissued all over the world on all possible formats. First UK on Parlophone (EMTV 37), US on Geffen (GHSP 2023) as a fifteen track, omitting "Stand By Me" and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".  EU 1994 CD (Parlophone 7 91516 2) came with the seventeen track version plus the two aforementioned as bonus. First Dutch had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with picture/lyric inner. (BÄ*)  (JYZÖ*)  (HÖLX*)

                                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                

                                                                                         

                                                                                  





 

OMEGA REDSTAR/TROMBITÁS FRÉDI ÉS A RETTENETES EMBEREK LPX 17390 (-68) MONO HUNGARY


 Budapest band first existing 1962-87, then reformed 1994. By far the most successful Hungarian outfit. Not only popular in East Europe, but also embraced by lovers of psych and prog in many other countries. Eventually they would turn to space rock and electronic, but this debute (eng. "Freddie The Trumpeter And The Terrible People") is very much psych rock and prog with some folky elements. Very well conveyed by this excellent sounding mono press with flute, organ, trumpet, strings, keyboards and lots of fuzz guitars. I also get some rythmic gaming and odd vocals. So a quite complicated concept and lyrics in Hungarian doesn't make it easier to comprehend. Maybe not the most enjoyable first listen for the fainthearted who doesn't understand the language, but if you're into this kind of music and look for something out of the ordinary it's certainly worth a spin. Full album below. To my knowledge this was only legally issued in Hungary. 2022 CD on Grund Records (GO 03) came with three bonus tracks. First vinyl (also as stereo SLPX 17390) had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (BÅC*)

                                                                                   
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                    
                                                                                       






 

MARVIN GAYE/LET'S GET IT ON STMA 8013 (-73) UK


 The ninth Marvin Gaye LP I'm posting here. For the others please check  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=(G%C3%96JI*)&max-results=20&by-date=true  . All there are classic sixties Motown, solo or duet, slow or uptempo, melodic and catchy, though not often with any kind of concept, just good collections of songs. But this, his twentieth, can be called a true theme album and the theme is - erotica. Though recorded at several occations between 1970-73 in different studios it's still put together as a cardinal entity, blending soul and funk music to sexually charged lyrics. It became his most successful album and have since been widely regarded as landmark for its genre. Listening today I'm taken on a very smooth ride through titles like "Just To Keep You Satisfied", "Keep gettin' It On", "Come Get To This" and "You Sure Love To Ball", all certainly pointing in the same direction. Now over fifty years later the lyrics themselves may not come out too daring, but together with the suggestive music it still has the ability to catch. Full album below so You can see if You go with the groove. Issued and reissued on vinyl and CD all over the world through the years, also cassette, 8-track, blue ray and file. Premiere US on Tamla (T 329V1). US 2001 2xCDcame with thirtysix bonus tracks, including demos, alternate mixes and versions. First UK had label as shown here in a glossy fold/out cover.  (TÖMÖ*)  (GÖJI*)

                                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                     

                                                                                 




 



tisdag 12 mars 2024

THE TURTLES/THE TURTLES PRESENT THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS HAU 8376 (-69) UK MONO


  Their forth album, a concept one by some called Turtles' equivalent to Sgt. Pepper. Presented as a competition between eleven bands, covering about every pop style apparent back then and supposed to give the impression the tracks were recorded by different acts. It might be fun to have that set-up in mind when listening, but even without it's simply a very nice Turtles album. The pop parody "Elenore" (#6 on Billboard) is catchy, the odd country-ish "Chicken Little Was Right" very funny, the Beach Boys style "Surfer Dan" superficially very close to the originals and "Buzzsaw", with its heavy organ and fuzz guitar, can be heard as light garage psych. This mono is without doubt a fold from the stereo tapes. I don't have a stereo to compare with, but listening close it's possible to detect some lack of symmetri in places. Anyway it works just fine as background and as long as you don't get your ears to near very enjoyable. Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years, also reel, cassette and 8-track. Premiere US 1968 on White Whale (WWS 7118) came in a fold/out cover with them posing as the different bands inside. EU 2017 2xCD on Edsel (EDSK 7120) came with eleven bonus tracks. First UK, also as stereo (SHU 8376), had label as shown here in a single fully laminated cover with die-cut hole on rear and red or blue rim inners.

                                                                                     
                                                                                    

                                                                                      

                                                                                   

                                                                                  


 
 

söndag 3 mars 2024

THE BEACH BOYS/BEACH BOYS CONCERT T 2198 (-64) UK MONO


 The group's first live album, recorded in Sacramento, California, at two occations - Dec 1963 and Aug 1964 - it remains one of few recorded live performances with the band's original line-up. It was very well recieved and became the first live album to top the Billboard pop charts. Apart from Beach Boys classics as ""Fun Fun Fun", "I Get Around" and "Little Deuce Coupe" they also perform a number of covers for the first time on album - e.g. "Johnny B. Goode", "Monster Mash" and "The Wanderer". Apparently the recordings did undergo quite a lot post-production, but nothing obvious to my ears. It has all the nerve of a true live and the voices works as well on stage as in the studio. For us used to later live recordings the audio here might come out somewhat subpar, yet sounding good for a 1964 issue and it still has the ability to put me there if I close my eyes in the listening chair. I guess a must for Beach Boys fans, both for its musical and historical values. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. Premiere US on Capitol (S/TAO 2198). Japan 2001 CD on Capitol (TOCP-53167) came with one bonus track. First UK had structured label as shown here in a cover with larger "mono" on front. This copy has the smaller, so somewhat later. (BÅB*)  (LYBÖ*)

                                                                                 
                                                                                  
                                                                                    

                                                                                   


 

lördag 24 februari 2024

EDITH PIAF/CHANSONS PARISIENNES FL 9501 (-49) US MONO


 An addition to my earlier posts of the first childrens LP and first country LP. This is the first Edith Piaf LP, released 1949.  A US Columbia 10 inch issue made through transference of original 78 takes to the then new medium. The recordings were conveyed by playing the originals on state of the art equipment and record by microphone or directly to matrix or tape, though the tape recorder was a novelty back then and seldom used. Listening to this is like hearing those vintage shellacs and enjoying the same warm, cozy atmosphere. I rather put this on the turntable than any digitized version. First released as a 4x78 RPM album (Columbia F-5). Later reissued on 10 inch in the Columbia Masterworks serie (ML 2601). This premiere LP issue came with golden rim and fonts to a red label in a glossy cover. (FÄV*) (NYFÖ*) (YZÄ*) (ÖXCÅ*) (GZÅ*)

                                                                                    
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                               

                                                                              





 

JOHNNY WINTER/JOHNNY WINTER AND S 64117 (-70) UK

 


  I immediately fell in love with his "Progressive Blues Experiment" debute    https://monolover.blogspot.com/2024/02/johnny-winterthe-progressive-blues.html   and the eponymous second album where he was backed by a couple of old time black blues heroes and performed some of his best guitar play ever  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/03/johnny-winter-m-63619-69-uk-mono.html .  On this his fourth he's backed by three former McCoys members - guitarist Rick Derringer, bassist Randy Jo Hobbs and Randy Zehringer on drums. But what I hear here is far from "Hang On Sloopy" and also a small step away from Winter's earlier blues oriented stuff. Instead it's more rock based and as such, at least to my taste, a little less special. It is a very well performed blend of hard rockers and slow movers offering a couple of really good moments - like the fierce "Guess I'll Go Away", or the heavy "On A Limb" and "Nothing Left" - but as a whole I'm not as taken with it as I was with his second album. Though well played it hasn't got the same directness and intimacy. It has feeling, but a different more distant one. In any case it will probably fit in any true rock collection and for me a keeper for sure.  Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl and/or CD through the years. Premiere US on Columbia (C 30221). Japan 2011 CD on Sony (SICP 3100) in paper sleeve came with two bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here in a thin matt stickered sleeve with "Rock Buster" ad inner.

                                                                                
                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                   




 

THE BEACH BOYS/SHUT DOWN VOLUME 2 T 2027 (-64) UK MONO


 A kind of follow-up to the 1963 Capitol multi-artist compilation "Shut Down", this time with Beach Boys tracks only. Counted as the band's fifth album and first of three issued 1964. Apart from two covers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and "Louie Louie" - all penned by the band. You should think that the pace they had back then with concerts and studio time would have made an impact on this and resulted in some kind of half-ass work, but no. Two of the cuts can be called fillers - "Cassius Love Vs. Sonny Wilson" and "Danny's Drums" - but the rest are absolutely beautiful. In songs like "Don't Worry Baby", "The Warmth Of The Sun", "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and "Keep An Eye On Summer" the harmonies are no less than heavenly - so at the same time both tuned and strong they go right to my gut. Add to that the classic "Fun Fun Fun" and a happy "Louie Louie" version and it all adds up to a great album. Also this mono provides perfect listening - strong, clear and well separated, making the voices come out just right. High class all the way!  Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on LP and CD through the years, also 4-track, 8-track and cassette. Premiere US on Capitol (T/ST 2027). First UK had structured label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover with larger "mono" on top right front. Since this copy has the smaller "mono" it has to be a somewhat later press.  (BÅB*)

                                                                                     
                                                                                 
                                                                                  
                                                                             

                                                                                      

                                                                                  





 

torsdag 22 februari 2024

THE BEATLES/SESSIONS OC 064 2402701 (-85) UK


 A Beatles boot that shows up in the bins every now and then in numerous variations and formats. To me the one with the most fascinating story and the reason I bought this copy was it came with a cut out newspaper article from 85.04.20 (don't know which paper) explaining a lot about its background I didn't know before. Check below to read. So it was planned by EMI as a legit "new" Beatles LP, but stopped by Paul, George and Ringo. Apparently this has the same tracking and track order as originally planned in a sleeve design that probably was one of the chosen for the EMI issue. Listening today it's clear the engineering of the tracks wasn't finnished yet, though most of the songs comes out rather well and certainly good for a bootleg. And it's very rewarding to hear them in the exact order they were planned. I escecially dig "Leave My Kitten Alone", "What's The New Mary Jane" and the first recorded version of "One After 909". All cuts here have been released legaly since on various collections, mostly with better audio. But as this is the one that comes closest to the withdrawn licit issue it's my choice. Guess this copy belongs to one of the earlier boot batches that was issued, on black label in a fully laminated cover.   (BÄ*)  (LGÅ*)  (ÖRJ*)