The Alternate Takes of Classical Hits
(2CD, FDR
1998. Overdub versions of hits and
other recordings)
Compilations by artist are relatively simple
things. There are two definite
categories each with two distinct classes, genu-in and cash in. Most common is the genu-in attempt at
raising awareness (and hence sales) of an established artist, but that often
masks a cash in on a successful act.
Similarly, a cash in mixed bag of forgettable recordings can too easily be
passed off as a genu-in attempt to collect hard to find material for the
fan. “The Alternate Takes of Classical
Hits” (Laserlight double CD) is a definite contender for the cash in class of
the second category, but there are some revealing moments and maybe a worrying
underlying truth.
There are thirty-two tracks, some of which
sound like the untouched original T.Rex label release. Nothing here is a true remix of the original
issued recording, ie anything more than unremarkable, certainly not good, overdubs
on unchanged studio or live masters.
However, on this collection the dubs often swamp the voice and guitar of
Marc Bolan, and when they don’t threaten to overwhelm they sound far too bright
against a rather dull sounding original track (probably using a copy of the
master many generations from source).
As much as anything else this set reveals
what may have become of Marc Bolan had he not had boundless self-belief, a
sympathetic producer, enthusiastic sidemen, or had he recorded in the modern
click track and drum machine era. The
big problem is that the musos used for these overdubs had little idea of what
they were working towards and sound as though they didn’t care either. Many of the arrangements are clichés from
the jobbing musical director’s handbook - utterly out of context with the
lurching inventiveness of real Bolan Boogie.
I first heard this on my PC using cheap headphones where
the fi is pretty lo. However, played on
a real hi-fi it just sounds depressing.
Sadly this set is aimed at casual fans browsing supermarkets – they will
be disappointed. As a budget cash in
compilation of the strange and daft I suppose it’s a novelty for the informed
listener - but don’t take that as a recommendation. Nice cover though.
Here are the standout tracks, good and bad.
Get It On. The long
version with coda in full, with clearer sound than on 'EW Sessions’ without
opening chatter and covered in computer generated overdubbed sax, strings,
drums and bongos. I quite like this,
the overdubbing does not over power the original recording. Done with a bit of understanding. A decent attempt.
Telegram Sam. A
tight 80’s keyboard bass obscures the loose and funky intro. Largely harmless twiddly bits over the
chorus. Not bad.
Born To Boogie. The
overdubs dominate here. Marc is almost inaudible. A ruinous work.
20th Century Boy. The
idiots who tackled this put keyboard all over the opening guitar riff. No you’re not dreaming, they overdubbed one
of the classic opening rock’n’roll riffs of all time. Unbelievably bad.
Lady. Twiddly keyboard
bits stuck where no lady should admit to having bits in the first place. It’s difficult to spoil this song. This tries to do the right thing … and
fails.
Girl. The
(TillDawn/Spaceball) US radio session version in which Boley hacks away in best
bedsit guitar hero style on his most delicate song. Computerised backing, set to maximum Spectorisation (strings,
girly choir, piano, drums etc) loses the plot and becomes totally inappropriate
as Marc swings the tempo and threatens to scat his way through a load other
stuff. Funny if it wasn’t so sad. Appalling.
Light of Love.
Pointless overdubs on a song that begs for an open sound.
Summertime Blues.
Another from the ‘EW Sessions’.
So so.
Life’s A Gap (sic).
Subtitled ‘Unplugged’ this is an acoustic version electrically
overdubbed. Poor master track. Bad.
I Love to Boogie.
Puts in a nice counterpoint guitar but then spoils it with too much
other stuff.
Laser Love.
I’ve heard it said that this song suffered from thin production. This is a reasonable attempt at filling it
out. The original isn’t swamped by the
overdubs, and the extra parts are in sympathy with the original, but sadly you
can still hear the different recording levels.
If they clean up the original or dirty down the dubs a good sound would
result. Best on the set.
Woodland Rock. The
original track with backward guitars but without the Visconti strings. Overdub drum track franticly overtempo does
nothing more than annoy, synth horns.
Basic track pushed too far down in the mix. Rather odd and faintly unpleasant.
Debora. Possibly the version found on ‘Acoustic Warrior’ with
dubs. Goes on a bit, but Boley was
enjoying singing this. A pity it has
such a poor sound.
Dandy in the Underworld.
Sounds dub free to me, remarkable because it is the album version.
Jeepster. Another guitar
and throat only radio version hidden under a mountain of backing. This time as Boley picks up the tempo they
manage to stay with him, just (Although
“there’s a drum break here” is edited out).
The finger picking at the end is mismanaged. Fairly successful.
Slider. Very weird and
poor quality vocal track possibly a private demo recording. Marc is really very bluesy but that doesn’t
stop the backing bounding along like manic bubblegum. The clash between vocal and instrumental style might be
considered art house by some but that obviously wasn’t the intention here. This is a studio exercise in putting an
inappropriate backing onto a demo tape.
Awful. Joint worst with 20th
Century Boy.
Children of the Revolution.
From the Bramley’s Till Dawn Bill Legend re-recordings (In which we get
to hear the same drummer older and slower and TOO KIN LOWD) this was the
attempt to do more than sling a bit of extra noise over the original. It would probably work quite well if we
didn’t have Billy boy hammering away like a demented piledriver on top of the
mix. Sympathetic but too long at nearly
five minutes.
The artwork
is as reasonable as it is limited. The
decent picture on the box is repeated on one of the disc cases and the picture
on the other disc is better than you would expect. The accompanying notes are as bad as you would expect.
Full
Track list: (with
typos)
[Disc one]; Ride a White Swan, Get it On, Telegram Sam,
Metal Guru, Solid Gold Easy Action, Born to Boogie, 20th Century
Boy, Truck On (Tyke), Lady, Girl, Baby Strange, Teenage Dream, Light of Love,
Honey Don’t, Summertime Blues, Life’s a Gap (unplugged version): [Disc two];
New York City, London Boys, I Love to Boogie, Laser Love, Woodland Rock, Debora,
Celebrate Summer, All Alone, Dandy in the Underworld, Life’s an Elevator,
Chariot Choogle, Spaceball Ricochet, Cosmic Dancer, Jeepster, Slider, Children
of the Revolution