The Easybeats - The Music Goes Round My Head

First released July 2014

1. Peculiar Hole In The Sky
2. What In The World
3. The Music Goes Round My Head (slow version)
4. Amanda Storey
5. Come In You'll Get Pneumonia (long version)
6. Falling Off The Edge Of The World (abrupt end)
7. Hello How Are You (Bill Shepherd version)
8. Little Red Jug
9. Fancy Seeing You Here
10. Sha La La
11. Land Of Make Believe (Bill Shepherd arrangement)
12. The Music Goes Round My Head (fast version)
 

==About the compilation==

We know that when The Easybeats returned from their US tour in September 1967 they became caught up in the latest (British) fad of orchestral recordings, consequently engaging Bill Shepherd (of Bee Gees fame) and recording--and in some cases re-recording--tracks with orchestral overdubs.

It appears the intention was to release an album along the lines of "Bee Gees 1st", which hit the streets in July 1967.

However, as we know, such an album never eventuated. The next album released would be "Vigil", in June 1968. "Vigil" contained only a few of these orchestral recordings (and one is a reworking by Alan Tew).

Now, it's possible that the US "Falling Off The Edge Of The World" album was actually a throwback to this time, at least insofar as title and (front) cover design. This would explain the different title and cover. Unfortunately though, we'll never know.

But let's just assume that this was the case, and that tapes of the orchestral tracks were indeed put together, with other period tracks included to make an album, and flown across to UA HQ in New York.

On the back of the average performance of the group's most recent singles, it's feasible that both the US and UK would knock back releasing the album (the relatively successful "Hello How Are You" single had not yet been released). However, UA Italy (through local manufacturer/distributor CEMED) seemed to be releasing everything they could, and that included some unique mixes only ever issued in Italy.

So, what if UA Italy got wind of the tapes and managed to secure a copy? I reckon they would issue an album that would look something like this.

The back liner notes would be supplied to UA Italy with the tapes from UA HQ. Hence why, like most UA Italy releases, the cover layout resembles something that would be released in the US (with just the catalogue number and distribution details being added locally). In this case, the front cover was uniquely designed in Europe.

Here are the (IMHO excellent) period liner notes, put together by avid Easybeat fans william r small and garethofoz:

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A new EASYBEATS album - and a new sound!

It seems like everyone is changing their sound these days. Two years ago The Beatles issued a single featuring eight string players carrying the tune. Since then, everyone's at it! The Fab Four have released songs decorated with piccolo trumpet, flutes, oboes, all manner of brass instruments and Heaven knows what else. Same with Herman's Hermits, The Troggs and The Hollies, whose latest single features a powerful orchestral arrangement. And that's before we consider the amazing array of instruments used by The Beach Boys. Even the down-home Rolling Stones have been playing the recorder, of all things! And only last week, the boys in THE EASYBEATS were raving about how much they loved The Bee Gees' debut album, in all its orchestral glory.

THE MUSIC GOES ROUND MY HEAD marks a change in style and sound for THE EASYBEATS. Take the ska-styled title track, issued as a single just before Christmas. The first thing that hits you is the clarinet, and the only guitar you can hear is buried beneath the harpsichord and the horns, chopping away at every other beat. Disc jockeys and the press loved this single, and I think the album is even better, taking the band – and music – further than ever before. The orchestration by Bill Shepherd (who does The Bee Gees' records) lends a sense of musical legitimacy to the songs – and to Harry and George as songwriters – and you can hear it on the record. Just listen to what they have done to FALLING OFF THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – now with cavernous Wagnerian arrangement – or LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE – already a highlight of the last album, this new version just bubbles over with beauty. And the new songs are equally great. But it's still THE EASYBEATS, and the guitars are out in force on other tracks – just try FANCY SEEING YOU HERE and see what I mean.

The boys in the band have recently started writing songs for other artists back in Australia – 'Good Evening Girl' has been recorded by Johnny Young (yes, that's the same guy who recorded 'Craise Finton Kirk' last summer), 'Let Me Dream' by Bobbie Thomas & The Whispers and 'She Said' by The Valentines, who use the same offbeat orchestration that THE EASYBEATS have been using. And just yesterday, Harry told me that he and George had written a song for Los Bravos which he's sure will give the Spanish boys a big, big hit.

But first, Stevie, Harry, George, Dick and Tony bring you this new album, and to coincide, their latest single HELLO HOW ARE YOU, which is sure to take THE EASYBEATS back to the top of the charts. They hope you like it – and I know you will.

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A good 35 minute album - could have probably added one more track, but I like the flow as it is. IMHO it really is a nice compilation, and one I've been listening to quite a bit over the last few days.

==About this transfer==

The majority of tracks used for this collection were sourced from the 1992 Repertoire CDs. The 1992 CDs are more dynamic than the 2005 reissues. I have EQed some of these tracks to reduce the AM-like mid range sound, and balance the overall album.

Two tracks are transfers I made from various vinyl sources.

Source Matrices
01-02, 04-10, 12: Repertoire 1992 CDs; remastered by Q, 2014
03: EMI Parlophone 1968 "Vigil" LP (XAPAX 108); transferred and mastered in 24/96 by Q, 2014
11: EMI Drum 1975 "Best Of The Easybeats Volume 2" LP (XAPAX 154); transferred and mastered in 24/96 by Q, 2013

Hardware
- N/A

Software
- Exact Audio Copy (audio extraction from CD)
- Audition 3.0.1 (audio editing and repair)

Artwork included

PS: If you like the overview presented here then pls buy all the official CDs. :) 

CD Quality (142mb)
Hi-Res (not available)