LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

·    Memphis’ Ardent Studios is one of the most respected recording facilities in the world. Everyone from Led Zeppelin to ZZ Top, from REM to Cat Power have made music within its hallowed halls. But despite the studio’s reputation, it is Ardent Records, the label, that inspires legendary awe amongst pop aficionados, as the imprint that begat pop cult heroes Big Star.

 

·    “Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story” celebrates the label with a deluxe 2CD anthology that ranges from the its earliest mid-60s garage studio recordings to the halcyon days of the early 1970s, when a distribution deal with Stax established Ardent as a purveyor of the finest pop-rock. Studio owner John Fry had an eclectic yet completely professional approach, encouraging experiment, but always focused on sonic quality.

 

·    The compilation is neatly divided between the two eras of the studio/label. Disc One (the 1960s) features a mind-boggling range of rare garage singles and unissued psychedelic singles, as well as the early studio experiments of Big Star’s Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. Disc Two (the 1970s) examines the Stax era and beyond, with selections from Ardent acts Cargoe and the Hot Dogs, and no less than 14 rare or unissued Big Star-related cuts, most of which have not been on CD before.

 

·    “Thank You Friends” benefits from full access to the Ardent tape vault and the sound quality is second to none. The lengthy sleeve notes by Alec Palao draw upon in-depth interviews with both Fry and Ardent associates Jim Dickinson and Terry Manning. It is a unique insight into a chapter of both Memphis and pop music history.

 

 

 

 

1.       Geraldine - THE OLE MISS DOWNBEATS

2.       If You Want Me You Can Find Me - LAWSON & FOUR MORE

3.       Batarang - THE AVENGERS

4.       White Doors - THE WALLABIES

5.       Halfway Down The Stairs - LAWSON & FOUR MORE

6.       Hands Are Only To See - THE BITTER IND

7.       The Surveyor - THE 1ST CENTURY

8.       Rocks - TERRY MANNING

9.       Up & Down Children - THE WALLABIES

10.   Not At All - TERRY MANNING

11.   Looking Down - THE 1ST CENTURY

12.   In 1852 We - THE HONEY JUG

13.   Patches Of Dust - THE GOATDANCERS

14.   Psychedelic Stuff (demo) - CHRIS BELL

15.   Free Again - ALEX CHILTON

16.   All I See Is You - CHRISTMAS FUTURE

17.   Every Shoemaker - THE BADGERS

18.   Miss Eleana - SID SELVIDGE

19.   Lovely Lady - ROCK CITY

20.   Every Day As We Grow Closer - ALEX CHILTON

21.   Guess Things Happen That Way - TERRY MANNING

22.   Feeling High - CHRISTMAS FUTURE

23.   The EMI Song (Smile For Me) - ALEX CHILTON

24.   Think It’s Time To Say Goodbye - ROCK CITY

 

CD2

1.       In The Street (single version) - BIG STAR

2.       Feel Alright - CARGOE

3.       When My Baby’s Beside Me - BIG STAR

4.       My Life Is Right - BIG STAR

5.       Back Of A Car - BIG STAR

6.       I Love You Anyway (single edit) - CARGOE

7.       I Got Kinda Lost - BIG STAR

8.       Let Me Look At The Sun - THE HOT DOGS

9.       Mod Lang - BIG STAR

10.   She’s A Mover - BIG STAR

11.   I Walk The Line - THE HOT DOGS

12.   September Gurls - BIG STAR

13.   Big Black Car - BIG STAR

14.   Lovely Day aka Stroke It Noel - ALEX CHILTON

15.   For You - BIG STAR

16.   Downs - ALEX CHILTON

17.   Kizza Me - BIG STAR

18.   Holocaust - Big Star

19.   You And Your Sister - CHRIS BELL

20.   Love You (All Day Long) - TOMMY HOEHN

21.   Thank You Friends - BIG STAR

22.   Blow Yourself Up - TOMMY HOEHN

23.   My Mind - THE SCRUFFS

24.   Don’t Worry Baby (fragment) - ALEX CHILTON