McGough & McGear – remastered and expanded

Previously on EMI Parlophone

Esoteric Recordings has announced the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded 2 CD edition of the classic 1968 self-titled album by Mike McGear & Roger McGough. A joyous potpourri of late 60s psychedelic rock, poetry and humour, the original vinyl album “McGough & McGear” has been a highly sought after (not to mention expensive collector’s item) album from a free thinking era in British culture.

As members of Liverpool comic poetry group The Scaffold, Roger McGough and Mike McGear (a pseudonym adopted by Mike McCartney – brother of Paul) had signed to Parlophone Records in 1966 and had begun working with producer George Martin. The “McGough & McGear” album was the result of recording sessions at various studios in London in the summer of 1967. Paul McCartney assisted in the production of the record and a host of well-known musicians guested on the sessions, albeit uncredited. Alongside Mike’s elder brother, the musicians included such luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Graham Nash, Dave Mason (Traffic), John Mayall, Spencer Davis, Paul Samwell Smith (Yardbirds) and Viv Prince (Pretty Things). The album was originally going to be released on the new Apple label, but that didn’t happen. Original Parlophone catalogue numbers for the album: PMC 7047 (mono) and PCS 7047 (stereo).

The album has been out on CD several times, first in the UK (EMI, 1989), then in USA (Real Gone Music, 2012) and finally Japan (Parlophone, 2014, limited edition). Alongside the 1989 CD release, the album was also re-released on LP (new Parlophone catalogue number PCS 7332) and as a cassette. The 2014 Japanese version has 2 bonus tracks, “So Much” (Phased Mono Version) and Scaffold’s “Do You Remember?” This Esoteric Recordings edition has been re-mastered from the original Parlophone master tapes and features both the stereo mix and the mono mix of the album over two CDs for the very first time. The reissue restores the original album artwork and liner notes by Beatles’ biographer Hunter Davies and also features a new essay with an exclusive and extensive interview with Mike McCartney. No bonus tracks here though, just the mono and stereo versions of the album.

This edition will be released on 5th February 2016, and may be preordered from Cherry Red Music.

Track Listing:

Disc One

McGough & McGear

The Stereo Mix Re-Mastered

1. So Much To Love

2. Little Bit Of Heaven

3. Basement Flat

4. From “Frink – A Life In The Day Of” & “Summer With Monika” (Prologue) Introducing

A)  Moanin’

B) Anji

5. From “Frink – A Life In The Day Of” & “Summer With Monika” (Epilogue)

6. Come Close And Sleep Now

7. Yellow Book

8. House In My Head

9. Mr. Tickle

10. Living Room

11. Do You Remember

12. Please Don’t Run Too Fast

13. Ex Art Student

Disc Two

McGough & McGear

The Mono Mix Re-Mastered

1. So Much To Love

2. Little Bit Of Heaven

3. Basement Flat

4. From “Frink – A Life In The Day Of” & “Summer With Monika” (Prologue) Introducing

A)  Moanin’

B) Anji

5. From “Frink – A Life In The Day Of” & “Summer With Monika” (Epilogue)

6. Come Close And Sleep Now

7. Yellow Book

8. House In My Head

9. Mr. Tickle

10. Living Room

11. Do You Remember

12. Please Don’t Run Too Fast

13. Ex Art Student