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BRYAN FERRY Mamouna Expanded Edition 2xLP featuring Horoscope ( BMG )
Bryan Ferry ’ s solo catalog is a treasure trove of sophisticated and romantic pop , particularly the material that took Roxy Music ’ s 1982 swan song Avalon as a point of departure . 1985 ’ s Boys and Girls with “ Slave to Love ” and 1987 ’ s Bête Noire with “ Kiss and Tell ” are frequently cited as high points , but this reissue is here to remind listeners that Ferry was in command of his elegant magic when he released 1994 ’ s Mamouna . 30 years after the album was overwhelmed in a pervading sea of Britpop , the Robin Trower-produced album returns for reassessment . The album isn ’ t remembered for a standout single , with the turbulent and melancholy single “ Your Painted Smile ” coming closest . Nonetheless , the debonair and low-lit tone of the album coalesce into a moody and evocative whole . Mamouna may have missed contact with the masses , but it completes a trilogy of original studio albums that many in Ferry ’ s cult consider to be essential . Ferry ’ s voice is characteristically understated and rich on the opening track , “ Don ’ t Want to Know ,” about a character desperate to be his lover ’ s everything even as she slips through his fingers . The song ’ s groove is tight and tense , with a lack of bombast that pulls the listener forward to attention . The song features the distinctive and funky rhythm of Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera as well as sonics from early Roxy Music bandmate Brian Eno . The streetwise , simmering funk of “ N . Y . C .” finds Ferry crooning as a slave to the energy and rhythm of the city . “ Your Painted Smile ” follows , with Ferry ’ s halfmuttered vocal traveling like a whispered secret . The title track , “ Mamouna ,” reacts to a partner who feels confined and trapped in a relationship . “ Mamouna run ,” sings Ferry gently , urging his lover to claim her freedom . With Ferry ’ s graceful piano and a world-music-informed substructure , the song is reminiscent of Peter Gabriel ’ s spacious headphone excursions . Guy Pratt ’ s wah-wah bass adds to the intoxicating midnight textures of “ The Only Face ,” inspired by Greta Garbo and set on a night under the Havana moon . “ I want to be alone ,” intones Ferry as a wounded spirit in need of time to heal . During “ The 39 Steps ,” Ferry ’ s wary character wants to make a move with the right
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partner , but not too quickly . Chic ’ s Nile Rodgers adds terse rhythm guitar to a restrained track that joins Nathan East ’ s steady and soulful bass with Steve Ferrone ’ s taut drumming while echoing the Temptations ’ “ Papa was a Rolling Stone .” Manzanera returns with subtle guitar figures alongside Neil Hubbard and David Williams during “ Which Way to Turn ,” which finds the singer locked in a moment of doubt and confusion . Eno ’ s distinctive keyboard sounds are drawn to the foreground during the urgent “ Wildcat Days ,” demonstrating the ambient music pioneer ’ s sharp pop-art sensibilities . The remainder of the exotic arrangement is awash in reverb . The Roxy reunion continues with the addition of Andy Mackay ’ s saxophone to the layered coda . Mackay ’ s saxophone reappears more prominently during the spooky “ Gemini Moon .” The song ’ s swampy tremolo guitar drifting suggests John Fogerty moonlighting with Duran Duran . The song ’ s protagonist presses forward with mad ardor despite navigating dubious omens and voodoo signifiers . “ Chain Reaction ” finds Ferry down on his knees and pleading for consummation . Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits joins on lush keyboards as Ferry duets with Jhelisa Anderson ’ s purred vocal . The surprising bonus for this reissue of Mamouna is the inclusion of Horoscope , which was originally intended to be the follow-up to 1987 ’ s Bête Noire . Ferry reportedly became dissatisfied with progress and paused to work on the covers project Taxi before starting from scratch to create Mamouna . It was ultimately a good call . Mamouna is the stronger work , but Horoscope offers a highly listenable glimpse into Ferry ’ s process . Five Horoscope songs were reworked for Mamouna , while “ S & M ( Midnight Train )” and “ Loop De Li ” appeared 20 years later on Avonmore . “ Desdemona ” stretches beyond the running time of its Mamouna counterpart , “ N . Y . C .,” with extra verses that ride along with trips on the A train and excursions to Birdland . The Horoscope version of “ The Only Face ” rides a conventional drumbeat and lacks the mystery of the spacious Mamouna arrangement . Horoscope concludes with an expansive nine-minute version of “ Mother of Pearl ” that is reinterpreted in the subdued and smoldering mode of the bulk of Ferry ’ s solo output . In other words , the update would have made a better fit on Avalon without the bristling glam-rock inflection of the original from 1973 ’ s Stranded album .
The 2xLP set arrives on heavyweight vinyl and features new cover artwork . Inside the gatefold , the suave Ferry cavorts onstage with a pair of decadently attired cabaret models . The set was half-
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moment , it ’ s a can jam , a lysergic Pink Floyd freakout , a psych-rock rave-up , an act of punk aggression , a hoedown .”
THE REPLACEMENTS Not Ready for Prime Time : Live at the Cabaret Metro Chicago , IL , January 11 , 1986 ( Rhino )
This is the first time on vinyl for this live performance from the acclaimed Tim ( Let It Bleed edition ) at the beloved ( Cabaret ) Metro . It features the original lineup performing in January 1986 during the week of their infamous performance on Saturday Night Live ( hence the title ). Twenty-eight tracks are included on this limited edition 2LP set , featuring blistering performances of " Bastards of Young ," " Unsatisfied ," " I Will Dare ," and more .
UB40 UB45 ( SRG )
UB40 , the Birmingham , England-based reggae band best known for their reggae cover of Neil Diamond ’ s “ Red Red Wine ,” was one of the seminal offshoot voices of the British late ' 70s era of ska and punk . Though not directly labeled as a 2-Tone band with The English Beat , The Selecter , and Madness , you could call them first cousins . Their two main original members ( Ali and Robin Campbell ) are also the son of Birmingham folk legend Ian Campbell .
Talk about a family legacy . Sadly , Ali Campbell left the UB40 in 2008 , and drama and an ugly legal battle over the name followed for several years . The fallout has also affected the Campbell family , with brother Duncan filling in on vocals for 14 years with the original UB40 . Yolking Jamaican reggae crooners that they admired growing up in the ’ 70s ( John Holt , Jimmy Cliff ), UB40 has dabbled heavily into reggae-fied covers (“ Red Red Wine ,” “ Kingston Town ,” “ Can ’ t Help Falling in Love ”), that became million-selling hits in the 1980s and 90s . Digging deeper , the band has made some fairly crucial pop-heavy reggae and dub albums while Duncan Campbell fronted the band .
What ’ s encouraging for the near term of the band is the addition of former Kioko vocalist Matt Doyle taking over the singing duties for the newest incarnation of UB40 with the ability to recreate Ali Campbell ’ s croon , but also as a songwriter . Their new album UB45 will be released in early April , featuring re-records of the early hits with Doyle at the helm and ( thankfully ) new originals penned by the current band . Available on exclusive yellow vinyl for record store day . 12-page booklet included as limited edition .
ERIC CARR FROM KISS Unfinished Business : The Deluxe edition CD ( Culture Factory )
Unfinished Business : the Deluxe Edition CD - features new " KISS makeup " cover art , five never-before-released bonus demo tracks , a new comic book style poster , and printer inner sleeves with rare photos & liner notes . It ' s a must for every Kiss fan ' s collection . This record store day release is on a vinyl look-a-like compact disc . These polycarbonate CDs are black on both sides . The front includes a groove vinyl design with a record label . The sound includes high-res remastering that will play on any CD player . The deluxe packaging includes a CD cardboard gatefold jacket with 2 pockets , printed inner sleeves , and an obi side spine .