C.C.S. (Collective Consciousness Society) - Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story (2013) 2CDs [Re-Up]

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C.C.S. (Collective Consciousness Society) - Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story (2013) 2CDs [Re-Up]

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Up until now I've had all three of Repertoire's 2000 card digipaks for the 3 CCS albums as well as the superb 2004 EMI compilation "A's B's & Rarities" which mopped up the non-album stragglers. But this new 2013 2CD set from England's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) supersedes all of those - especially on sound. Here are the collective details:

UK released July 2013 (August 2013 in the USA) - "Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story" is a 2CD anthology on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22404 (Barcode 5013929450448) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (76:22 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "C.C.S." released October 1970 in the UK on RAK Records SRAK 6751
Tracks 10 and 11 are "Walkin'" and "Salome" - both tracks are non-album and were released as a 7" single in the UK on RAK Records RAK 109 in January 1971 ("Walkin'" is a Donovan cover version)
Tracks 12 and 13 are "Tap Turns On The Water" and "Save The World" - both tracks are non-album and were released as a 7" single in the UK on RAK Records RAK 119
Tracks 14 to 18 are Side 1 of their 2nd album called "CCS" (aka "CCS II") - released March 1972 on RAK Records SRAK 503

Disc 2 (77:17 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 5 are Side 1 of "CCS" [aka CCS II]
Track 6 is "If I Never Sing Another Song" which is an outtake recorded during the "CCS II" sessions in 1971 - it first turned up as one of two Previously Unreleased songs on the "A's B's & Rarities" EMI CD from 2004. It has a brass refrain of "Tap Turns On The Water" as it ends.
Track 7 is "Mister, What You Can't Have I Can Get" - a non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Brother" released February 1972 on RAK Records RAK 126
Track 8 is "Sixteen Tons" - a non-album A-side to a UK 7" single - released October 1972 in the UK on RAK Records RAK 141
Tracks 10 to 18 are their 3rd and final studio album `The Best Band In The Land" - released September 1973 on RAK Records SRAK 504
Track 19 is "Hang It On Me" - a non-album B-side to "The Band Played The Boogie" released June 1973 on UK 7" single RAK Records RAK 154
Tracks 20 and 21 are "Hurricane Coming" and "Dragster" - both non-album tracks released April 1974 on a UK 7" single RAK Records RAK 172

A huge ensemble group - C.C.S. (short for COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS SOCIETY) - was the brain-child of British Blues Boom Godfather ALEXIS KORNER who along with Danish singer PETER THORUP and British arranger JOHN CAMERON pulled together the cream of brass/flute-playing session-men of the time and went after the BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS market for funked-up rock. Owner of RAK Records - Mickie Most's timing couldn't have been better. Deciding right from the start to include cover versions on their records - they did a fantastic brassed-up take on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" (late 1969) that not only complimented the original - but also defined that "CCS" sound. So when the new BBC pop program "Top Of The Pops" needed a cool theme song - they took this winner - dropped the flute intro, vocal middle and end - and a riffing theme song legend was born. I can vividly remember as a budding teenager thrilling to its power chords every Thursday night as it and Pans People did their thing.

The 3-way card digipak houses a 16-page booklet with sleeve shots, rare advert photos, pictures of Alexis and the band and great liner notes by noted musicologist MALCOME DOME. And the whole project is coordinated and arranged by long-time hero of reissues MARK POWELL. But the big news is the sound. Remastered from first generation tapes by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving in London - this thing sounds just awesome. I should reiterate that the Repertoire CDs had fabulous sound anyway (licensed from EMI) - but these remasters trump them for sheer power and presence - the clarity is fantastic without ever being over-ramped for effect. The only down note is that "This Is My Life" - the great B-side to "Sixteen Tons" - is missing (the 7" mix is different to the album version). But this and a very good outtake called "Blues" are both available on the 2004 EMI CD compilation "A's…" for a very reasonable cost.

The first album is an utter blast with their lead off track being a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" done in their distinctive style (it was the B-side of their October 1970 debut single "Whole Lotta Love"). And then you're hit with their other lethal weapon - the voice of ALEXIS KORNER - a man who straddles these tracks with a presence and enthusiasm that is irresistible. The ethereally atmospheric AK original "Sunrise" sounds just gorgeous with its double-played acoustic guitars. The uber-cool John Cameron original "Dos Cantos" is another flute and brass gem that slinks and tingles and then funks for over eight minutes. It sports wicked lyrics like "weave your web…spider of forgetfulness…" - it deserves praise and rediscovery (and again with that stunning audio quality).

By the time they hit album two (which is actually called C.C.S. on the sleeve and label) - they were in their stride with "Chaos/Can't We Ever Get It Back" and "Misunderstood" standing out (not to mention the wicked "Brother" opener). But the 3rd album (possibly sporting the worst album cover ever) saw the song quality take a major dip and public interest wane (its been a vinyl rarity for years). The icing on the cake is the superb non-album 7"s between the LPs.

Overall - this has been a blast to listen to - so many great memories - and now in stunning sound quality.

A quality reissue of a band that are held in huge affection - well done to all involved…

Review by Mark Barry

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C.C.S. (Collective Consciousness Society) - Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story (2013) 2CDs [Re-Up]

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C.C.S. (Collective Consciousness Society) - Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story (2013) 2CDs [Re-Up]

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C.C.S. (Collective Consciousness Society) - Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story (2013) 2CDs [Re-Up]

Close