In the 1980 the New Musical Express issued 38 cassette tapes for readers, among them several compilations of previously unreleased or otherwise rare tracks, featuring everyone from James Blood Ulmer to The Style Council, Ian Dury to Tom Waits, or Scritti Politti to Madness.
The first few of these tapes came with little booklets that you had to assemble yourself from the NME’s pages, and it’s these »Manuals« that a friend of ours has remastered, updated and re-compiled into CD-sized booklets where you can find all the missing information about these tracks.
Here are the booklets for the first tape, »NME Rough Trade C-81« and the following »NME 001 Dancin’ Master«, both from 1981.
The concept of the series of David Bowie boxes that began with »Five Years {1969-1973}« seems to be to collect all the (at the time) officially released recordings of a certain era – as a result there are no outtakes such as the bonustracks from the Ryko reissues. Of course completists and collectors have always complained about omissions, and with the latest set, »Brilliant Adventure {1992-2001}«, there’s plenty of stuff that (someway or another) had every right to be included.
Here’s what:
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 1 {1992-1993}79:46
1 Real Cool World (Cool Dub Thing #1) 7:29
2 Black Tie White Noise (Extended Remix) 8:15
3 Nite Flights (Moodswings Back To Basic Remix) 10:01
4 Real Cool World (Soundtrack Version) 5:28
5 Jump They Say (Hard Hands Mix) 5:40
6 Real Cool World (12″ Club Mix) 5:30
7 Miracle Goodnight (12″ 2 Chord Philly Mix) 6:26
8 Jump They Say (Alternate Mix) 4:05
9 Real Cool World (Cool Dub Overture) 9:12
10 Black Tie White Noise (Urban Mix) 4:05
11 Real Cool World (Cool Dub Thing #2) 6:56
12 Black Tie White Noise (Waddel’s Mix) 4:12
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 2 {1993}79:39
1 Black Tie White Noise (Digi Funky’s Lush Mix) 5:44
2 Jump They Say (Club Hart Remix) 5:40
3 Black Tie White Noise (Al B. Sure! Mix) 4:03
4 Miracle Goodnight (Blunted 2 Mix) 8:20
5 Black Tie White Noise (Club Mix) 7:33
6 Jump They Say (JAE-E Dub) 4:48
7 Miracle Goodnight (Dance Dub) 7:50
8 You’ve Been Around (Long Dangers 12″ Remix) 7:41
9 Jump They Say [Brother In Rhythm 12″ Remix] 8:26
10 Black Tie White Noise (Here Come Da Jazz) 5:34
11 Pallas Athena (Don’t Praying Remix 2) 7:24
12 Black Tie White Noise (Supa Pump Mix) 6:36
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 3 {1993-1994}75:54
1 Miracle Goodnight (Maserati Blunted Dub) 7:44
2 Jump They Say (Jae-E Remix) 5:32
3 Pallas Athena (Don’t Stop Praying Mix 1) 5:37
4 Jump They Say (Rock Mix) 4:31
5 Black Tie White Noise (3rd Floor US Radio Mix) 3:45
6 Miracle Goodnight (Make Believe Mix) 4:30
7 Jump They Say (Leftfield 12” Vocal) 7:43
8 Pallas Athena (Gone Midnight Mix) 4:22
9 Jump They Say (Dub Oddity) 6:16
10 You’ve Been Around (with Reeves Gabrels) 2:55
11 Black Tie White Noise (Trance Mix) 7:15
12 Jump They Say (Brothers In Rhythm Instrumental) 6:25
13 Colour Me (with Mick Ronson) 4:58
14 Like A Rolling Stone (with Mick Ronson) 4:21
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 4 {1995-1996} 78:28
1 The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Alternative Mix) 5:21
2 The King Of Stamford Hill (with Reeves Gabrels) 4:56
3 The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Rubber Mix) 7:48
4 Telling Lies (Adam F 12“ Mix) 8:14
5 Hallo Spaceboy (12″ Pet Shop Boys Remix) 6:44
6 The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Bowie Mix) 4:58
7 Telling Lies (Feelgood Mix) 5:09
8 The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Simple Text Mix) 6:40
9 Hallo Spaceboy (Double Click Mix) 7:49
10 The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Filthy Mix) 5:53
11 Telling Lies (Paradox Mix) 5:10
12 The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Good Karma Mix) 5:00
13 Hallo Spaceboy (Instrumental) 7:46
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 5 {1996-1997} 77:43
1 Hallo Spaceboy (Lost In Space Mix) 6:34
2 Little Wonder (Ambient Junior Mix) 9:58
3 Dead Man Walking (This One’s Not Dead Yet Mix) 6:27
4 Little Wonder (Junior Vasquez Club Mix) 8:18
5 I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V2 Mix) 5:48
6 Dead Man Walking (House Mix) 6:02
7 I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V3 Mix) 6:06
8 Dead Man Walking (Moby Mix 1) 7:34
9 I’m Afraid Of Americans (Photek V5 Mix) 5:36
10 Little Wonder (4/4 Junior Mix) 8:17
11 I’m Deranged (Jungle Mix) 7:03
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 6 {1997} 74:45
1 Dead Man Walking (Moby Mix 2) 5:27
2 I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V4 Mix) 5:21
3 Little Wonder (Juniors Club Instrumental) 8:16
4 I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V6 Mix) 11:14
5 Telling Lies (A Guy Called Gerald Mix) 5:15
6 Little Wonder (Danny Saber Dance Mix) 5:34
7 Dead Man Walking (Live Acoustic) 4:14
8 I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V1 Mix) 5:31
9 V-2 Schneider (TAO Jones Index) 7:16
10 Pallas Athena (TAO Jones Index) 8:20
11 Little Wonder (Club Dub Junior Mix) 8:17
Re:call 5 Missing Adventures 7 {1998-1999} 74:41
1 Truth / The Dream Within (with Goldie) 14:54
2 Without You I’m Nothing (UNKLE Mix) (with Placebo) 5:08
3 Thursday’s Child (Rock Mix) 4:29
4 Without You I’m Nothing (Single Mix) (with Placebo) 4:17
5 Seven (Beck Mix 1) 3:46
6 Nature Boy 3:26
7 Without You I’m Nothing (Brothers In Rhythm Club Mix) (with Placebo) 10:52
8 Seven (Beck Mix 2) 5:14
9 Without You I’m Nothing (The Flexirol Mix) (with Placebo) 9:27
10 Nature Boy (with Massive Attack) 4:09
Bonustracks:
11 Johnny Downloader (Americans Early Version) 5:04
12 I Have Not Been To Oxford Town (Alternative Mix) 3:55
The way it should be (but you can’t always get what you want, obviously) | PREVIOUS
1. The Last Time (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, January 17, 1965) Single A-side • February 1965 2. Play With Fire (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, January 17, 1965) Single B-side • February 1965 3. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965) Single A-side • June 1965 (US) • August 1965 (UK) 4. The Spider And The Fly (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965) Single B-side • June 1965 • US
5. One More Try (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965) released on US-album »Out Of Our Heads« • July 1965
Album »Out Of Our Heads« • September 1965 • UK 6. She Said Yeah (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965) 7. Mercy Mercy (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, May 10, 1965) 8. Hitch Hike (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, November 2, 1964) 9. That’s How Strong My Love Is (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, May 10, 1965) 10. Good Times (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965) 11. Gotta Get Away (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965) 12. Talkin’ ’bout You (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965) 13. Cry To Me (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965) 14. Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin’ (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, November 2, 1964) 15. Heart Of Stone (recorded RCA Studios,Hollywood, November 2, 1964) 16. The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, May 10, 1965) released on single »Satisfaction« (uncensored) and UK album »Out Of Our Heads« (edited) 17. I’m Free (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965)
18. Get Off Of My Cloud (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965) Single A-side • September 1965 (UK) • October 1965 (US) 19. The Singer Not The Song (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965) Single B-side • October 1965 • US
20. Look What You’ve Done (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 10/11, 1964) Released on US-album »December’s Children« • December 1965 21. Blue Turns To Grey (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, September 6/7, 1965) Released on US-album »December’s Children« • December 1965 22. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965) Released on album »Got Live If You Want It!« with overdubbed applause • Undubbed version on 4-LP Box »The Best Of The Rest« • 1983 • Germany 23. My Girl (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, May 12/13, 1965, strings overdubbed October 26, 1965) released on US-album »Flowers« • July 1967
What makes a Rolling Stones album a real classic Stones album? Certainly not a poorly-recorded live track, added at the end of side one. So the US version of »Out Of Our Heads« (and its companion, »December’s Children«) doesn’t count – although they’re more representative of the band at this point in time than the official British version of their third album.
By 1965 the Rolling Stones were recording whenever there was time and a studio available, and their management put out these tracks – apparently at random – on numerous singles, EPs, albums, compilations and foreign versions: a discography so confusing that there are still tracks that haven’t been compiled on reissues to this day. And who decided to release »Satisfaction« on a single in America (in May 1965, the same month it was recorded!), and wait till August before it finally appeared on a 45 in the UK and Europe?
So, let’s start with two singles: 1. The Last Time A few weeks after the second album (mainly comprised of cover versions) comes a single written by Jagger & Richards. Jangling guitars and that sloppy Stones beat enhance a song that’s clearly worlds away from the pop tunes of the day. Keith plays a prototype of THE Rock Guitar Riff throughout while Brian Jones adds lead guitar, and this song is the first in a string of classic Stones singles.
2. Play With Fire An acoustic ballad for the B-side. Shades of Baroque Pop from Jack Nitzsche on harpsichord (and Phil Spector on acoustic guitar!), and the lyrics point to the regal poetry of »Aftermath«.
3. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction Sounds more like a 1966 Dylan track than 1965 beat music. Fuzz guitar lick, and Charlie supplies a stomping rhythm, accented by Bill’s pumping bass. The »wide stereo« mix on some continental compilations clearly shows what a fabulous arrangement this is – listen to the acoustic guitar fills, and a piano comes in during the second half. Most of all, Mick shouts and half-sings the lyrics in an early demonstration of rock vocal mannerisms to come.
4. The Spider And The Fly A relaxed Nanker/Phelge song on the US flip side. Starts like a studio jam, and ends with energetic harmonica.
5. One More Try Exclusive to the US Version of the album, here the band hurries through another Chess-style original, prominent harp ‘n’ all..
»Out Of Our Heads« was the first Stones LP recorded entirely in America, and it clearly shows how they have progressed from the previous albums. But as they didn’t include singles on their long players in the UK it results in the weird impression that the band was still very much a covers band: the three accompanying singles, entirely self-written and with carefully constructed arrangements, tell a completely different story.
6. She Said Yeah Is this the beginning of Garage Rock? Scorching guitars, shouty backing vocals, all recorded like a demo. Certainly not the known way to start an album after several number 1 hits.
7. Mercy Mercy The vastly improved Stones machine tackles a Don Covay song. Again, it all sounds rather loose and rocking’.
8. Hitch Hike A return to the sound of the first two albums – a fitting environment for this Marvin Gaye song. Irritating little guitar solo in the middle.
9. That’s How Strong My Love Is Mick in full soul man mode – and surprisingly low in the mix. Again, the chaotic recording gives it an unexpected authenticity.
10. Good Times This is more poppy, with Bill in inspiring mood.
11. Gotta Get Away The Stones kinda playing it safe, doing one of their bad boys/anti-love songs.
12. Talkin’ ’bout You A bluesy Chuck Berry song, totally re-arranged, with a piercing guitar solo over Bill’s fat bass line.
13. Cry To Me Mick tries a real, soulful vocal, and yet again, the somewhat shambling arrangement and sloppy recording gives it a certain charm.
14. Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin’) Stones-by-numbers. By now they can’t put a foot wrong – they’re a really competent R&B dance band. No backing vocals this time, thank God.
15. Heart Of Stone From the first few bars on this clearly is in a different league. Beautifully played and recorded, and a fabulous anti-pop song it is, too.
16. The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man The Nanker/Phelge boys try their hand at a kind of mid-Atlantic, Kinksian walking blues. About the rock business, no less. British flip to »Satisfaction«, and quite rightly so..
17. I’m Free The tambourine is back! The song mixes Dylan attitude with a semi-Townshend message – and shows the Stones sound of 1965 at its best (Recorded two weeks before the album was released!).
And finally – another single:
18. Get Off Of My Cloud Listen to Charlie’s hard-as-nails drumming, from the intro all the way through this fantastic song. The guitar rifferama is toned down a bit, with all the action in the vocals and the incessant drum shots. Another of these curious »wide stereo« mixes on a French EP sounds completely different with the main guitar riff pushed way up high into the foreground, building up an unnerving and monotonous atmosphere.
19. The Singer Not The Song Another pop B-side, heavy on acoustic guitars – Brian gets to shine in the middle. Mick and Keith sing in close harmony!
20. Look What You’ve Done With all their different compilations and albums the Stones still had a backlog of unused tracks. This is an outtake from the Chess studio sessions for the »Five By Five« EP the previous year.
21. Blue Turns To Grey One from the Immediate Pop songbook. The Stones could do a decent impression of a Kinks track if they wanted.
22. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long Another cover version from the 1965 Hollywood sessions. Somewhat uneventful – maybe this is why some bright spark put crowd noise over the recording and buried the track in the »Got Live If You Want It!« album.
23. My Girl Some effort was put into this well-arranged performance. They even overdubbed a string arrangement in October 1965. But maybe the time for cover versions had ended by now as it remained unreleased for a while.
24. Off The Hook The B-side of the »Little Red Rooster« single, and a clear counterpart: The Nanker/Phelge boys try their hand at Merseybeat. Hmm, but why?
25. Suzie Q Oh dear, those nagging handclaps from the first album make a return on a track that sounds like two bands playing at the same time. Everything is just busy and competitive, and they all get into each other’s way.
plus: 26. As Time Goes By A demo recording, just Big Jim Sullivan and Mick, from one of those Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra recording sessions. Mick sings the first draft of what would soon become »As Tears Go By«, and it’s fascinating to hear how a few small changes can make all the difference.
The way it should be (but you can’t always get what you want, obviously) | PREVIOUS | NEXT
1. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (First Version) (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, November 2, 1964) Album »The Rolling Stones NOW!« • February 1965 • US 2. Tell Me Baby (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 10/11, 1964) 4-LP box-set »The Best Of The Rest« • 1983 • Germany 3. It’s All Over Now (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 10, 1964) Single A-side • June 1964 • UK 4. Good Times Bad Times (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, February 2, 1964) Single B-side • June 1964 • UK
5. Surprise Surprise (recorded Greenford Studios, London, July 21-23, 1964) released on compilation »Fourteen« • May 1965 • UK
EP »Five By Five« • November 1964 • UK 6. If You Need Me (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 11, 1964) 7. Empty Heart (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, Juner 11, 1964) 8. 2120 South Michigan Avenue (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 11, 1964). 9. Confessin’ The Blues (recorded Chess Studios,Chicago, June 11, 1964) 10. Around And Around (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 11, 1964)
11. Time Is On My Side (Single Version) (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 11, 1964) Single A-side • September 1964 • US 12. Congratulations (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 2, 1964) Single B-side • September 1964 • UK
13. Little Red Rooster (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 1964) Single A-side • November 1964 • UK
Album »The Rolling Stones No. 2« • January 1965 • UK 14. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (Album Version) (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, November 2, 1964) 15. Down Home Girl (recorded RCA Studios, Hollywood, November 2, 1964) 16. You Can’t Catch Me (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 28/29 1964) 17. Time Is On My Side (Album Version) (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, November 8, 1964) 18. What A Shame) (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, November 8, 1964) 19. Grown Up Wrong (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 28/29, 1964) Album »12×5« • October 1964 • US 20. Down The Road Apiece (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 10/11, 1964) 21. Under The Boardwalk (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 2, 1964) Album »12×5« • October 1964 • US 22. I Can’t Be Satisfied (recorded Chess Studios, Chicago, June 10, 1964) 23. Pain In My Heart (recorded RCA Studios,Hollywood, November 2, 1964) 24. Off The Hook (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 2, 1964) Single B-side »Little Red Rooster« • November 1964 • UK 25. Suzie Q (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, September 28/29, 1964)
26. As Time Goes By (recorded Regent Sound Studios, London, February 25, 1964) unreleased
When The Rolling Stones’ second album was released in the UK in January 1965, their image as the bad boys of Beat Music was well and truly established. Manager Andrew Loog Oldham’s liner notes played on this with Clockwork Orange-style menace: »See that blind man, knock him on the head, steal his wallet… if you put in the boot, good.« In David Bailey’s cover photo they look stylish and a bit threatening at the same time. But those Ivy League suits also hint at the fact that they weren’t yet the guitar band of later years – the Stones at this point in time are a pretty competent blues and soul band. (Yes, they could have been The Style Council…)
And again with a wealth of material, we start with the bonus tracks. 1. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love The shorter alternate take that was used on the »Rolling Stones Now!« album in the States. Great rhythm with lots of tambourine, and some surprisingly modern-sounding guitar fills. Drags on a bit of course, even at three minutes length.
2. Tell Me Baby Outtake from the June 1964 Chess Studio session. Harmonica solo from Mick over a steady walking beat. Released by mistake on a German box set.
3. It’s All Over Now With this single The Stones and their sound truly arrive. Snarling vocals, a guitar solo that tries a bit too hard, and THAT rhythm section: Keef, Bill and Charlie.
4. Good Times, Bad Times Back to Regent Sound in London, and another Mick & Keith ballad, featuring acoustic guitars (Brian on 12-string!) and harmonica. At this point most of the official »Jagger/Richards« compositions were mid-tempo pop tunes.
5. Surprise Surprise This stomps along nicely. Already released in the US on »The Rolling Stones Now!« album, it was virtually thrown away in Britain on a Decca beat music compilation in mid-1965.
Another nice EP, all tracks recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago, with Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry watching the recording session.
6. If You Need Me The Stones in a soulful mood, swelling organ and a spoken middle section proving they were a convincing Mod-Soul combo.
7. Empty Heart Charlie and Bill in full flight on another Nanker/Phelge jam. Sounds as if they’re making it up as they go along, tentative and sloppy backing vocals and all…
8. 2120 South Michigan Avenue Another studio jam – but this here is really great: everyone knows what they’re doing, and they all seem to be having a lot of fun. Watch out for the complete take on the West-German »Around And Around« compilation which has a guitar solo from Muddy Waters himself (that was cut from all other released versions).
9. Confessin’ The Blues Bill’s the driving force this time on another cover version. They’re getting really good on this kind of thing.
10. Around And Around Previous Chuck Berry covers from the Stones often sounded a bit lame, but this really rocks. Featuring Keith doing his Chuck thing better than the man himself.
Time indeed for another single:
11. Time Is On My Side The first version with Ian Stewart’s organ intro. They still relayed on other people’s songs for A-sides, and obviously loved this song, but this version sounds a little bit rushed; plenty of tambourine recalls the sound of the first album, curiously.
12. Congratulations Mid-tempo Jagger/Richards song, again mainly acoustic. They are turning into pretty accomplished pop tunesmiths by now, and Chris Farlowe and Cliff Richard would soon take care of this aspect of their work.
The next single – a »real« blues toon!
13. Little Red Rooster A return to the Blues – and a great showcase for Brian and his slide guitar. A winner, of course.
And then we have the album: »The Rolling Stones No. 2«
14. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love The album version, all five minutes of it. This sounds very dry, and all the better for it (mainly because they got rid of the rattling tambourine…). Drags on a bit (even more…) but Mick comes up with a new vocal idea every few bars and they all chug along merrily.
15. Down Home Girl The Stones are now confident enough to even use their »bad boys« shtick on cover versions – and here it works. Great lead bass from Bill, and Mick’s on good form, too!
16. You Can’t Catch Me Chuck Berry again: while the band is rocking relentlessly, Mick seems to be struggling with the lyrics – it all sounds as if he’s reading from a script.
17. Time Is On My Side Recorded five months after the single version, they’ve worked on the arrangement, and all the better for it. Added solo guitar and proper backing vocals really improve the song, and the wide stereo mix features Charlie’s drums! Has a proper ending, and that’s always a good sign.
18. What A Shame Mick and Keith finally write »a Stones song«. This rocks and rolls in a soon-to-be-familiar way. The secret highlight of the album. (Very unnecessary piano tinkling in the background, unfortunately – which would be a recurring nuisance in the Stones’ recording history for the next 60 years.)
19. Grown Up Wrong …whereas they’re again paying tribute to the American R&B songbook here. Though it outstays its welcome after the first verse, I’m afraid.
20. Down The Road Apiece Here they are in bar band-mode with a rather pedestrian cover version of yet another »road« song. Gets more energetic and rocking towards the end with powerful guitar playing.
21. Under The Boardwalk A nice arrangement, and proper singing from Mick. But those backing vocals: the Rolling Stones are certainly not The Four Seasons in the vocal harmony department!. Brian’s fine 12-string solo restores some dignity.
22. I Can’t Be Satisfied Again, a very fine arrangement, fabulously recorded (listen to Charlie, and Bill’s inventive bass!), resulting in probably their best Chess cover.
23. Pain In My Heart A soulful cover – nothing special, but Mick really shines on this one.
24. Off The Hook The B-side of the »Little Red Rooster« single, and a clear counterpart: The Nanker/Phelge boys try their hand at Merseybeat. Hmm, but why?
25. Suzie Q Oh dear, those nagging handclaps from the first album make a return on a track that sounds like two bands playing at the same time. Everything is just busy and competitive, and they all get into each other’s way.
plus: 26. As Time Goes By A demo recording, just Big Jim Sullivan and Mick, from one of those Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra recording sessions. Mick sings the first draft of what would soon become »As Tears Go By«, and it’s fascinating to hear how a few small changes can make all the difference.
Peter Guralnick | Looking To Get Lost Adventures In Music And Writing Little, Brown • 458 pages
Greil Marcus | Mystery Train Images Of America In Rock’n’Roll Music The Folio Society • 516 pages
Two books about music, and writing about music. While they share some aspects – both focus on the classic blues, soul and rock’n’roll, from Robert Johnson to Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, from Bill Monroe on to Randy Newman and Solomon Burke – they are written from different viewpoints, and they are both fascinating and inspiring reads. In the words of The Lovin’ Spoonful, »like telling a stranger about rock’n’roll – do you believe in magic?«
»Mystery Train« is yet another updated edition of Greil Marcus’ 1975 collection of his music writing. This edition comes with added bookmaking skills from The Folio Society, comes in a sturdy slipcase and has added pictures, including some fabulous shots from the Library Of Congress. Marcus’ essays about artists like Harmonica Frank, The Band, Elvis Presley and Sly Stone add unusual perspectives and curious facts to the by now well-known stories, but he also never forgets the music, and the impact it still has. And while his insistence that this all is truly (and only) American gets a bit boring in the course of this book, it was obviously an important statement in the mid-seventies after Nixon and Watergate. Most interesting though is the fact that these articles were actually written and published a good decade before Rock History as we know it nowadays was invented – this was long before reunion tours, Hall Of Fame, box sets and autobiographies from ex-wives and ex-drummers. Hell, Elvis was still alive, and The Band were considering their next album!
And in case you feel the need to listen to the music (which you surely will…) (well, I did.) there’s a whooping 300 pages of notes and discographical annotations in very small print that’ll keep you busy for months. In these additional chapters the career of someone like Randy Newman gets updated to the present, with discussions of his movie soundtracks, his later albums, and his place in the current entertainment world. In other chapters the complete body of work (from, say, Elvis or The Band) gets dissected, with comparisons and recommendations of reissues and classic albums.
Peter Guralnick has collected essays from more or less 50 years of music writing for his new book, editing and updating original articles and thereby creating a narrative of his own life as an enthusiastic listener.
He always starts with his personal experience – how he got to hear a certain album first, and then trying to find out what it was that made a lifelong impression, or how he got to meet an artist, why he was excited or disappointed by the meeting. And boy! does he have stories to tell: the chapters on Jerry Lee Lewis and Colonel Parker are especially amazing. In the end you believe him when he categorically states that ol’ Jerry Lee is a musical genius to rival Bach or Mozart, and that The Colonel was a funny and decent businessman who only wanted the best for his artists. And who’d have thought that poor old Dick Curless (you know, the »Tombstone Every Mile« hitmaker with the eye-patch) had such an interesting life. Or that Chuck Berry could recite classic English poetry at length. This collection also has (only) 50 pages of notes and guides to the essential recordings, films and books about the artists discussed.
Both books should find a home near your record collection for repeated reading and browsing. Marcus and Guralnick obviously believe in the magic of rock’n’roll, and that really comes through in their enthusiastic prose.
Single 1 30051 EPL Rita Streich (Sopran) • RIAS Symphonie-IOrchester Berlin (Dirigent: Ferdinand Leitner) Rossini: Der Barbier von Sevilla »Frag’ ich mein beklomm’nes Herz« • Verdi: Rigoletto »Teurer Name, dessen Klang« 1954 • 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle, genähtes Cover
Single 2 30246 EPL Igor Oistrach (Violine) • Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (Dirigent: Franz Konwitschny) Ludwig van Beethoven: Romanze für Violine und Orchester Nr. 1 G-dur op. 40 • Romanze für Violine und Orchester Nr. 2 F-dur op. 50 1954 • 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle, genähtes Cover
Single 3 30232 EPL Végh-Quartett Joseph Haydn: Streichquartett Nr. 17 F-dur op. 3 Nr. 5 1954 • 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle, genähtes Cover
Single 4 30072 EPL Wilhelm Kempff (Klavier) Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate Nr. 14 cis-moll op. 27 Nr. 2 (Mondscheinsonate) 1954 • 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle, genähtes Cover
Single 5 37030 EPA Hellmut Walcha (an der Kleinen Orgel von St. Jakobi Lübeck) Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata und Fuge d-moll BWV 565 1954 • 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft | Archiv-Produktion Bildhülle, mit eingelegter Archivkarte
Single 6 37051 EPA Wolfgang Schneiderhan (Violine) Johann Sebastian Bach: Chaconne für Violine solo aus der Partitia Nr. 2 d-moll BWV 1004 1954 • 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft | Archiv-Produktion Bildhülle, mit eingelegter Archivkarte
Single 7 F 76105 Adrian Aeschbacher (Klavier) Robert Schumann: Kinderszenen op. 15 (Von fremden Ländern und Menschen • Kuriose Geschichte • Hasche-Mann • Bittendes Kind • Glückes genug • Wichtige Begebenheit • Träumerei • Am Kamin • Ritter vom Steckenpferd • Fast zu ernst • Fürchtenmachen • Kind im Einschlummern • Der Dichter spricht) 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle, Sonderauflage für den Bertelsmann-Schallplattenring
Single 8 F 76119 Josef Greindl (Bass) • Hertha Klust (Klavier) Josef Greinfl singt Loewe-Balladen: Erlkönig • Meeresleuchten • Odins Meeresritt • Mädchen sind wie der Wind 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle, Sonderauflage für den Bertelsmann-Schallplattenring
Single 9 30009 EPL Julian von Larolyi (Piano) Franz Liszt: Liebestraum Nr. 3 As-Dur • Consolation Nr. 3 Des-Dur • Waldesrauschen • Gnomenreigen 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 10 30155 EPL Heinrich Schlusnus (Bariton) Lieder von Richard Strauss: Heimkehr • Traum durch die Dämmerung • Ich liebe dich • Geduld • Ständchen 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 11 30245 EPL Wilhelm Kempff (Piano) Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate Nr. 8 c-moll op. 13 (Sonate Pathétique) 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 12 30254 EPL Andres Segovia (Gitarre) Torróba: Madronos • de Falla: Homenaje, Piur le Tombeau de Devussy • Giuliani: Sonata 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 13 30286 EPL Igor und David Oistrach (Violine) • Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (Dirigent: Franz Konwitschny) Pablo de Sarasate: Navarra (Spanischer Tanz) • Henri Wieniawski: 3 Etudes – Caprices aus op. 18 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 14 30296 EPL Walter Ludwig (Tenor) • Walter Bohle (Piano) Philipp zu Eulenburg: Rosenlieder (Monatsrose »Aus des Nachbars Haus« • Wilde Rose »Bei dem Waldessaum« • Rankende Rose »Sagt, ihr weißen Rankröselein« • Seerose »Der Abend ist still« • Weiße und rote Rose »Mein Schatz, der liegt auf der Totenbahr«) 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 15 30336 EPL Wolfgang Schneiderhan (Violine) • Alfred Hirsch (Piano) Max Reger: Wiegenlied op. 79 d1 • François Schubert-Dresden: L’abeille (Die Biene) Nr. 9 aus »Bagatellen« op. 12 • Johannes Brahms: Ungarischer Tanz Nr. 5 • Edward Elgar: La Capricieuse op. 17 • Franz Ries: Perpetuum mobile op. 34 Nr. 5 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Single 16 30556 EPL Berliner Philharmoniker (Dirigent: Ferenc Fricsay) Friedrich Smetana: Die Moldau 7” • Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Bildhülle
Chicks With Disks 