STACK NZ Jul #75

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By Graham Reid

RAMONES

Van Morrison It's Too Late to Stop Now Vol. II, III, IV and DVD

Hey! Ho! Let's go! Here are the key albums by the band that wasThe Beatles for brats – NewYork's classic punk- pop group known for their “1-2-3-4” no-mucking-about performances and memorable, economic songs.

Although Morrison made many indifferent albums, since Keep It Simple (2008) he's been back on form. But longtime fans will always point to his early years as evidence of his genius. His 1973 live

album It's Too Late to Stop Now – compiled from shows with his 11-piece Caledonia Soul Orchestra – is a cornerstone for its energy, passion and strong songs. It reappears as a remastered double-CD (and on record for the first time in 25 years). But these other three volumes scoop up previously unreleased performances from those performances remixed by Beatles' engineer Guy Massey, along with a DVD of Van's Rainbow Theatre, London show filmed for the BBC and available for the first time. By 1973 Morrison had released the classics Astral Weeks and Moondance , and was white hot. Tune in for these. You'll understand the fuss.

Ramones (1976) In an iconic street-punk cover (get it on vinyl so you can frame it) the group delivered a classic debut which in places sounded like The Beach Boys on speed – 14 songs in less than 30 minutes – and forged their love of '60s girl groups, flat-tack rock'n'roll and a view from the glue-sniffin' corners of NewYork in the damaged and dangerous '70s. Bottled electrotherapy punk-pop... and the just-released 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition comes as three CDs (remastered stereo and mono mixes, outtakes, demos and live material) and the vinyl. Leave Home (1976) Again chock-full of classic songs and riffs ( Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment , I Remember You , Carbona Not Glue , Suzy Is A Headbanger , California Sun ) but again it didn't do as well as it should have. That became the Ramones story: Third essential album in a row ( Rockaway Beach , Sheena is a Punk Rocker , Teenage Lobotomy , I Can't Give You Anything alongside '50s covers Do You Wanna Dance? and Surfin' Bird ) but again, disappointing sales. It looked like their career might be as short as their songs, but they soldiered on for almost two decades, mostly to diminishing sales and song quality returns. It's Alive (1979) Recorded live in London on December 31, 1977, this release captured them at their peak. The setlist drew on cornerstone songs from those first three albums, and they set a land- speed record delivering them: 28 songs in 54 minutes. One of the classic live albums. critical acclaim but no chart gain. Rocket To Russia (1977)

MUSIC

Various Artists Solid Gold Hits 2

Fleetwood Mac Mirage

More classics (Boston's sky- scaling More Than a Feeling , Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light , Mark Williams' Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life ) alongside guilty pleasures (Sammy Johns' Chevy Van , Cliff Richards' Devil Woman , Paper Lace's MOR gem The Night Chicago Died ), some disco-soul (Andy Kim's Rock Me Gently , Gloria Gaynor's Never Can Say Goodbye , plus cuts from the Tavares and Three Degrees) and the late Jon English's terrific Turn the Page . Play that funky music white boy (because Wild Cherry are here too).

After the mega-success of their self-titled album in 1975 and its follow-up Rumours (1977) which sold even more multi-millions, the Big Mac took a left turn with Tusk (1979, well worth rediscovering) (1982) they were bickering and burning out. Ironically, Mirage erred further into comfortable, radio-friendly soft rock. But the lyrical undercurrents were often autobiographical. This double disc offers the original album remastered, plus 19 early and alternative versions of many songs. Including the five minute- plus version of Nicks' Gypsy . The fire wasn't there but the embers glowed warmly. and toured relentlessly. By the time they got to Mirage

And also... Yes, you can cheat because the 99 double-CD set Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology scooped up 58 songs (all their classics) from right across their career. It confirmed the band were smarter than they looked and deserved better in their era than they got. One of the truly great rock'n'roll bands, and – just like the young Beatles – they had a band uniform. How could they not succeed?

For more interviews, reviews and overviews from Graham Reid visit www.elsewhere.co.nz

JULY 2016

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