The Action - Shadows And Reflections Box Set 4 CD’s [1964-1968] (@320)

 

The Action - Shadows And Reflections Box Set 4 CD’s [1964-1968]

Shadows and Reflections: The Complete Recordings 1964-1968 Review by Tim Sendra.

The Action are one of the great "lost" bands of mid-'60s England. Though they filled mod clubs with happy patrons and managed to score George Martin as a benefactor, they only released a handful of unsuccessful singles during their brief existence. Most of their music remained in the vaults for years, only to be discovered later and celebrated. After years of reissues that only told part of the band's story, Grapefruit's 2018 Shadows and Reflections: The Complete Recordings 1964-1968 collects everything: their five officially released singles, BBC sessions, their legendary demos from 1967, backing tracks, alternate takes, different mixes, and songs they recorded just before the band broke up in 1968. It's an impressive haul made even better by the excellent liner notes, session information, and crisp sound. The first two discs detail the band's years as Motown-loving mods guided by Reg King's insistent vocals, the group's snappy backing vocals, and Martin's clean production style. The bandmembers were able to nail Motown covers (like "I'll Keep Holding On" and "Since I Lost My Baby") thanks to the tautness of the playing and their vocal prowess. The Action didn't write many originals at the time, though the horn-filled rocker "Twentyfourth Hour" shows they had the skills. The set presents their singles and unreleased songs from 1965 to 1967 in both mono and in excellent new stereo mixes done by Alec Palao (who recently did the same thing for another "lost" band, the Creation). There are also some nice bonuses like backing tracks and a BBC session where they cover the Byrds' "I See You." Disc three has the album they recorded in 1967 to shop around to labels, none of whom were interested. It's hard to see why, since the band's textured and subtly heavy take on psychedelia is so impressive -- certainly not far from what the Pretty Things were doing. All the songs are originals, Reg King comes into his own as an interpreter of lyrics, and the band really stretches out in interesting ways. Plus some of the songs, like "Strange Roads" and "Something to Say," are irresistibly catchy. The sessions came out later in various forms, but too late to do the band any good. Their sessions from 1968 (minus Reg King) also didn't garner any label interest, but they are a fascinating piece of the puzzle all the same. Disc four is a treasure trove for fans. It includes their early beat singles done under the name the Boys, a three-song audition done for Decca, Ready Steady Go! and BBC appearances (one where they cover John Coltrane's "India"), and eight songs remixed by George Martin for 1990's The Ultimate Action. Shadows and Reflections: The Complete Recordings 1964-1968 isn't a collection for the casual fan; it's for diehards who want everything, and Grapefruit provides exactly what these people need. It's thrilling, timeless music from a no-longer-lost band, preserved and presented with care and attention to detail.

Tracklist:

Disc 1: THE PARLOPHONE MASTERS, THE SINGLES

1. LAND OF ONE THOUSAND DANCES

2. IN MY LONELY ROOM

3. I’LL KEEP HOLDING ON

4. HEY SAH-LO-NEY

5. BABY YOU’VE GOT IT

6. SINCE I LOST MY BABY

7. NEVER EVER

8. TWENTYFOURTH HOUR

9. SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS

10. SOMETHING HAS HIT ME

11. THE HARLEM SHUFFLE

12. WASN’T IT YOU

13. THE PLACE

14. THE CISSY

15. I LOVE YOU (YEAH!)

16. COME ON, COME WITH ME

17. JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE (New Mono Mix) *

BONUS TRACKS

18. MINE EXCLUSIVELY (BBC Session)

19. REG KING INTERVIEW / BABY YOU’VE GOT IT (BBC Session)

20. TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS (ROCK ME A LITTLE WHILE) (BBC Session)

21. I SEE YOU (BBC Session)

22. SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS (BBC Session)

* Previously unissued

DISC 2: AT ABBEY ROAD, NEW STEREO MIXES

1. I’LL KEEP HOLDING ON

2. THE CISSY

3. NEVER EVER

4. SINCE I LOST MY BABY

5. SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS

6. HEY SAH-LO-NEY

7. SOMETHING HAS HIT ME

8. BABY YOU’VE GOT IT

9. I LOVE YOU (YEAH!)

10. WASN’T IT YOU

11. THE HARLEM SHUFFLE

12. THE PLACE

13. TWENTYFOURTH HOUR

14. COME ON, COME WITH ME

15. JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE

OUTTAKES

16. SOMETHING HAS HIT ME (Rehearsal)

17. I LOVE YOU (YEAH) (Backing Track Take 1)

18. NEVER EVER (Rehearsal)

19. COME ON, COME WITH ME (Backing Track Take 4)

20. TWENTYFOURTH HOUR (Alternative Version)

21. THE PLACE (Backing Track Take 2)

22. JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE (Take 2)

23. SOMETHING HAS HIT ME (Alternative Backing Track)

24. SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS (Backing Track)

All tracks previously unissued

DISC 3: ROLLED GOLD PLUS:THE 1967-68 RECORDINGS

1. COME AROUND

2. SOMETHING TO SAY

3. LOVE IS ALL

4. ICARUS

5. STRANGE ROADS

6. THINGS YOU CANNOT SEE

7. BRAIN (Full Length Version)

8. LOOK AT THE VIEW

9. CLIMBING UP THE WALL (SEE ME) (Full Length Vers.)

10. REALLY DOESN’T MATTER (Full Length Version)

11. I’M A STRANGER

12. LITTLE BOY (Full Length Version)

13. FOLLOW ME

14. IN MY DREAM (George Martin Orchestrated Version)

ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN…

15. ONLY DREAMING

16. DUSTBIN FULL OF RUBBISH

17. AN UNDERSTANDING LOVE

18. MY FAVOURITE DAY

19. A SAYING FOR TODAY

BONUS TRACK

20. IN MY DREAM (Demo Version)

DISC 4: ACTION EXTRAS

1. IT AIN’T FAIR – The Boys

2. I WANT YOU – The Boys

3. FINE LOOKING GIRL – The Boys

4. GIRL (WHY YOU WANNA MAKE ME BLUE) (Decca Audition)

5. IN MY LONELY ROOM (Decca Audition)

6. YOU’LL WANT ME BACK (Decca Audition)

7. I’LL KEEP HOLDING ON (Live)

8. LAND OF ONE THOUSAND DANCES / UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING’S ALRIGHT) (Live)

9. GOING TO A GO-GO (BBC Session)

10. NEVER EVER (BBC Session)

11. INDIA (BBC Session)

12. LOVE IS ALL (BBC Session)

13. I’LL KEEP HOLDING ON (“Edsel” mix)

14. BABY YOU’VE GOT IT (“Edsel” mix)

15. THE HARLEM SHUFFLE (“Edsel” mix)

16. JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE (“Edsel” mix)

17. NEVER EVER (“Edsel” mix)

18. TWENTYFOURTH HOUR (“Edsel” mix)

19. SOMETHING HAS HIT ME (“Edsel” mix)

20. SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS (“Edsel” mix)

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