New releases - 02.09.06: REVIEWS Catalogue.

The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds (Capitol 3539862)

Subject to numerous previous repackagings, The Beach Boys' classic Pet Sounds album is reworked again to mark the 40th anniversary of its first release. Brian Wilson's visionary masterpiece needs no introduction and the quality of material such as God Only Knows, Wouldn't It Be Nice and the crie de couer I Just Wasn't Made For These Times is beyond question. In its new edition - available in regular packaging, and in a suede feel digipack (3699392) - the album appears first in its mono mixes, then in stereo, with the bonus addition of Hang On To Your Ego, and is accompanied by a DVD full of desirable extras, including a 15 minute documentary on the making of the album, the 1966 promo films for Good Vibrations and Sloop John B, 24 bit stereo and 5.1 Dolby mixes, plus much more. An impeccable presentation worthy of a work of genius.

Jackie Edwards

I Feel So Bad - The Soul Recordings (Castle CMCCD 1370)

This is an unexpectedly wonderful compilation anthologising the work of Wilfred Gerald "Jackie" Edwards, an extremely good singer and songwriter, who never had a UK hit in his own right but was the first Jamaican to write a UK number one, his songs Keep On Running and Somebody Help Me both topping the chart in covers by The Spencer Davis Group in 1966. Edwards' heart was in soul music - anyone coming to this album in the hope of hearing ska, bluebeat or reggae will be disappointed - and the Spencer Davis hits are included here in smooth, soulful original versions, alongside many songs of similar pedigree, including I Feel So Bad, an uptempo Northern Soul anthem with irresistible parping sax, and Come On Home, a pretty, hook-laden song which was turned into a Top 20 hit by Wayne Fontana.

Various