Just received the 5 cd Barry Ryan box set,which includes all 5 albums,an unreleased album from the late 70s,and 2 cds of 45s and rarities,one covering the years 1968-73 the other 1975-79.

Theres also a 24 page booklet with tons of 45s photos,and of the man himself,but also good liners giving the story of his solo works but also its demise!!

I had only heard the first 2 albums "Barry Ryan Sings Paul Ryan"&"Barry Ryan"both from 1969,as they had a twofer cd reissue by Revola,and both albums ARE epic in every way.
AS far as i know the other 3 albums haven't saw a cd reissue until this clamshell box set issued by cherry Red label 7Ts.So a long overdue product to get out there.

"Barry Ryan 3"(70)&"Red Man"(71)are again epic albums with the continued kitsch full sweeping orchestration,and are exquisite overblown early 70s pop,it seems a continuation of those first 2 albums,where it sounds as though no expense has been spared in the arrangements and recording of those albums.This was the first time i'd heard both albums,and i enjoyed them very much!!

Which brings me onto the fifth album "Sanctus Sanctus Hallelujah"(72)a German only release seemingly!!
Barry had teamed up with a Scottish band The Verge on this rather schizophrenic album.
This album IS the one that surprised me the most,agaijn i'd never heard this album before but it's left a lasting effect on me,because of its cobbled together haphazard feel.

It starts of with a gospel infused pop piece that IS the title track,with strings and brass,and Jesus like pop lyrics,not the greatest beginning of an album in all honesty,it oustays its welcome pretty quick with the piano parts too with the gospel feel.

Life's So Easy-This IS a delighful flute ridden piece of hazy lazy pop,with a certain folky pop charm ala Paper Bubble or Gothic Horizon,absolutely splendid!!

Storm Is Brewing-WOW!!Is this the same man??This IS blistering in a hard n heavy rocking way,with grungey fuzzed up guitar galore,i mean this could have put Ozzy out of a job!!This is just brilliant,if you like Sabbath,Armageddon or Purple....this could cause a twinge,but with an added glam like feel,this has to be heard to be believed!!Is this the same bloke of Eloise?Over 4 minutes of heaviness ecstacy

When I Was A Child-A rickenbacker like beatlesesque/Byrdsian 66 like number,but for 1972 with excellent vocals from Barry with female backing vocals.

Loneliest Night Of The Year-Another neat pop song,with organ,guitar and echoed drums with acoustic guitar accompaniment,giving this song a real commercial edge with the introduction of 50s style brass and Barrys vocals are exquisite!!Kinda 10CC like in parts.

Can't Let You Go-Nothing too special,this is a glammy boogie like song,that become popular in the glam days...with rock n roll era like brass.......nah did nothing for me,especially when the sax solo comes in!!Oops a misstep to my ears!!

L.A.Woman-Is the Little Feat & Wizzard invading the studio?Och another boogie like thing that Wizzard could play,but with brass,another bum note for me!!OOfftt!!

Rhode Islsand Red-Country like vaudevillian nonsense with fiddle,man,c'mon Barry what are you thinking recording this stuff?I suppose in a commercial sense it has its moments.....if you like torture!!

I THINK YOU MAY KNOW MY NAME-WOW!!This IS more like it,this starts with a strong psych vibe with echoed vocals and scaled guitar parts and layered vocals,but develops into a fantastic fuzzed up piece of glam like heavy rock,with marvellous harmonies and a rough,tough vocal from Barry,which again returns to the psychy echod vocal and scaled guitar parts with a final burst of a caucophany of organ,heavy guitars,pounding drums,and Parachute era Pretty Things like vocals.......this IS tremendous!!

Alimony Honey Blues-Yep an acoustic Mungo Jerry like piece of country blues and pop,with exquisite vocal arrangements.....it shouldn't work.....it sort of does and doesn't......

SLOW DOWN-WOW!!!Another scorcher of a heavy rocking beast,this is spectacular to my ears,this is a mix of Status Quo,Edgar Broughton Band & Sweet......yep you read that correctly,thats what i hear....another fantastic journey into glammy hard n heavy material with The Verge.Man a whole album like this would have made this a classic hard rocking album......but it wasnt to be!!

From My Head To My Toe-String laden early 70s syrup pop with honking sax,female backing vocals.....not my thing,some may like it......maybe the deaf?

Like i said a schizophrenic album,with 4 top numbers,3 heavy rocking works that sound as if they've been transferred from another album completely,a trully uneven work,but man those heavy rock songs are to die for......it seems Barry and The Verge DID want to record more songs in this direction,but the record label put a stop to it.......which was a damn shame!!

Great immersive review Stuart, thanks! I just got the box as well. I have all the original vinyl so know what to expect though I have not listened to them for along time. Your review reminded me and I think you express the style of the songs very well. On disc 5 there's also his 1979 unreleased album which I think is probably the only songs I've not heard before, though it is great to have all his music in one place.

I hope there's scope at Cherry Red also for a Paul Ryan stand alone CD at least with his lone, proggy album 'Scorpio Rising' and a clutch of 70s singles.

PM:slightly_smiling_face:

Thanks Stuart. Listened to the Sanctus album and agree, it's good. Definitely a case of you can't judge an album by it's cover.

Shucks thanks Paul,i try my best to put into words what i hear or feel,sometimes i get it right,other times im miles off.......lol...

I remember you were a BIG pusher of the Ryans work 20 years ago,i STILL have your "Magical Spiel"Ryans comp you put together,so that was a good sampler for their work Paul,it made me want to hear and have the albums,and here we are probably more than 20 years later,Barrys work is available for all.

Paul's work MUST surely be primed for reissue if this set does well,as Revola reissued one of Paul and Barry Ryans albums on cd years back,the follow up was meant to follow,but as far as i'm aware it didnt appear.......and unfortunately Revola is long gone,but hopefullu another Cherry Red label will pick up the Ryans work and also Paul Ryans solo work,though it is slim!!I've NEVER heard Scorpio Rising in full,and going on youtube is too easy,as i STILL like a surprise!!

Cheers Paul,i still can't believe we both are still on here decades later....though i must admit i'm not on here as much as i should,as it's been very quiet.....so now and again i'll post to see whos still out there......or get rid of those damn spam merchants....

In truth Paul,that experience i had with Mr KS and possibly Mr SC last year,was very unpleasant,threatenng me with legal stuff and other nastiness....i did tell him to F off,but it was still unpleasant,and i am bit fragile in the head,where i can blow and go off on one when provoked....or the opposite direction of avoidance.....hence i wasnt seen taking part here for a while..though i was still tidying up and stuff.

Good to see you still here Paul......All the best!!