British country pub-rock - worth a rediscovery ...

"Brinsley Schwarz" were a British country pub-rock band and added a total of 6 albums in the period 1969-1975. A real awareness they have unfortunately never reached - and they would have deserved it ... but the output of good music was immense in these years, and so many good bands went to the ground just below. Interested parties certainly ask for a style: Who "The Band" may be in good hands even when "Brinsley Schwarz".
For this edition: The well-known concept of the series "Original Album Series" - 5 CDs in simple cardboard sleeves with the original album cover. No booklet and in this case also no bonus tracks. However, the price / performance ratio deserves the grade "Very Good". For me a great pity, I find that the last album of the band ["The New Favourites Of Brinsley Schwarz"] is not included. That would have been certainly the 5th star.
The most important musicians of the "Brinsley Schwarz" era:
> Brinsley Schwarz: guitars, vocals, piano, saxophone, percussion
> Nick Lowe: bass guitar, lead vocals
> Ian Gomm: guitar, vocals [>> joined in 1971]
> Bob Andrews: keyboards, piano, organ, bass guitar, vocals
> Billy Rankin: drums, percussion
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For contents of the box sets:
CD 1: Brinsley Schwarz - Brinsley Schwarz [1970]
[1] Hymn To Me (Lowe, Rankin, Black, Andrews) [4:50]
[2] Shining Brightly [4:20]
[3] Rock And Roll Women [3:21]
[4] Constant Lady [7:21]
[5] What Do You Suggest? [4:46]
[6] Mayfly [4:37]
[7] Ballad Of A Has Been Beauty Queen [10:37]
>>> All Tracks Written By Nick Lowe Unless Stated Otherwise
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CD 2: Despite It All [1970]
[1] Country Girl [3:02]
[2] The Slow One [5:29]
[3] radio Angel [4:17]
[4] Piece Of Home [6:10]
[5] Love Song [3:59]
[6] Star Ship [2:36]
[7] Ebury Down [5:10]
[8] Old Jarrow [7:05]
>>> All Songs Written By Nick Lowe
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CD 3: Silver Pistol [1972]
[1] Dry Land (Ian Gomm) [2:25]
[2] Merry Go Round (Nick Lowe) [4:01]
[3] One More Day (Ian Gomm) [2:50]
[4] Nightingale (Nick Lowe) [3:00]
[5] Silver Pistol (Nick Lowe) [3:28]
[6] The Last Time I Was Fooled (Nick Lowe) [3:58]
[7] Unknown Number (Nick Lowe) [2:48]
[8] Range War (Ian Gomm) [2:25]
[9] Egypt (Ian Gomm) [5:13]
[10] Nicki Hoeke Speedway (Jim Ford / Lolly Vegas / Vegas Pat) [3:20]
[11] Ju Ju Man (Jim Ford) [3:30]
[12] Rockin 'Chair (Ian Gomm) [2:08]
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CD 4: Nervous On The Road [1972]
[1] It's Been So Long (Ian Gomm) [2:02]
[2] Happy Doing What We're Doing (Robert Andrews / Nick Lowe) [4:34]
[3] Surrender To The Rhythm (Nick Lowe) [3:18]
[4] Do not Loose Your Grip On Love (Nick Lowe) [4:15]
[5] Nervous On The Road (But Can not Stay At Home) (Nick Lowe) [4:50]
[6] Feel A Little Funky (Nick Lowe) [5:00]
[7] I Like It Like That (Chris Kenner / Allen Toussaint) [3:02]
[8] Brand New You, Brand New Me (Nick Lowe) [4:32]
[9] Home In My Hand (R. Self) [2:49]
[10] Why, Why, Why, Why, Why (Nick Lowe) [3:40]
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CD 5: Please Do not Ever Change [1973]
[1] Hooked On Love (Ian Gomm) [2:30]
[2] Why Do We Hurt The One We Love? (Nick Lowe) [3:50]
[3] I Worry ('Bout You Baby) (Nick Lowe) [2:57]
[4] Do not Ever Change (Gerry Coffin / Carole King) [3:45]
[5] Home In My Hand (Live) (R. Self) [5:22]
[6] Play That Fast Thing (One More Time) (Nick Lowe) [4:15]
[7] I Will not Make It Without You (Nick Lowe) [4:17]
[8] Down In Mexico (Nick Lowe) [3:42]
[9] Speedoo (Esther Navarre) [2:29]
[10] The version (Hypocrite) (Leroy Sibbles) [2:55]
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My conclusion: A very praiseworthy publication actually long-forgotten treasures ... my vote is clearly towards the 5 star!
[Reinhard Busse]