Over four decades on, Help Yourself are now regarded as one of the great, unsung British bands of their era and the songs of Malcolm Morley are recognised as true treasures.
Passing Through – The Complete Studio Recordings is a 6CD set by a band who took their influences from American West Coast Country and Acid Rock, they featured Malcolm Morley (guitars, keyboards, vocals), former Sam Apple Pie member Dave Charles (drums, percussion, vocals), Richard Treece (guitars, vocals, harmonica) and Ken Whaley (bass); the band signed to United Artists in 1970 and their eponymous debut album was issued in 1971. Various comings and goings saw Ernie Graham and Jonathan Glemser, then Deke Leonard in the band.
A fifth album was recorded in 1973 but failed to gain a release for over 30 years while Morley recorded a solo album in 1976 that would also remain unreleased for 30 years.
This box set gathers together all of the albums plus the unreleased album ‘5’, all of the band’s non- album singles and Malcolm Morley’s unreleased album ‘Lost And Found’ along with a previously unreleased BBC session and a studio demo. The set is newly re-mastered from the original master tapes and features an illustrated booklet with rare photographs and a new essay with interviews and a poster.
Tracks:-------
DISC ONE: HELP YOURSELF
REMASTERED EDITION
Released in 19711. I MUST SEE JESUS FOR MYSELF
2. TO KATHERINE THEY FELL
3. YOUR EYES ARE LOOKING DOWN
4. OLD MAN
5. LOOK AT THE VIEW
6. PAPER LEAVES
7. RUNNING DOWN DEEP
8. DEBORAH
9. STREET SONGS
DISC TWO:
STRANGE AFFAIR
REMASTERED EDITION
Released in 19721. STRANGE AFFAIR
2. BROWN LADY
3. MOVIE STAR
4. DEANNA CALL AND SCOTTY
5. HEAVEN ROW
6. EXCERPTS FROM “THE ALL ELECTRIC FUR TRAPPER” (SOUNDTRACK FROM THE FILM OF THE NOVEL)
7. MANY WAYS OF MEETINGS
BONUS TRACK:8. HEAVEN ROW (SINGLE VERSION) A-SIDE OF SINGLE – RELEASED IN 1972
DISC THREE: BEWARE THE SHADOW
REMASTERED EDITION
Released in 19721. ALABAMA LADY
2. REAFFIRMATION
3. CALAPSO
4. SHE’S MY GIRL
5. MOLLY BAKE BEAN
6. AMERICAN MOTHER
7. PASSING THROUGH
BONUS TRACKS:8. MONA (WITH DEKE LEONARD & B.J. COLE) (LIVE)
9. EDDY WARING (WITH DEKE LEONARD & B.J. COLE) (LIVE)
TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM “CHRISTMAS AT THE PATTI” RELEASED IN 197310. JOHNNY B. GOODE (A-side of single)
11. MOMMY WON’T BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (B-side of single)
DISC FOUR: THE RETURN OF KEN WHALEY / HAPPY DAYS
REMASTERED EDITION
Released in 1973
“THE RETURN OF KEN WHALEY”1. CANDY KANE
2. PIONEERS OF THE WEST IN THE HEAD
3. WHO KILLED PARADISE?
4. AMY
5. BLOWN AWAY
6. MAN WE’RE GLAD TO KNOW YOU
7. IT HAS TO BE
HAPPY DAYS8. THE GOLDEN HANDSHAKE
9. JESUS WHAT ARE LITTLE KIDS FOR?
10. VIRGINIA
11. WAITING AT THE STATION
12. SEASHELL
13. I’VE GOT BEAUTIFUL YOU
14. MY FRIEND
15. ELEPHANT BY MY SIDE
DISC FIVE:5 REMASTERED EDITION Recorded in 19731. LIGHT YOUR WAY
2. COWBOY SONG
3. MONKEY WRENCH
4. ROMANCE IN A TIN
5. GRACE
6. MARTHA
7. MONKEY WRENCH (REPRISE)
8. THE ROCK
9. WILLOW
10. ALLEY CAT
11. DUNEBURGERS
BONUS TRACKS:12. LET IT ROLL (BBC BOB HARRIS SESSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
13. JOHNNY B. GOODE (BBC BOB HARRIS SESSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
14. HALF BREED (BBC BOB HARRIS SESSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
15. RICKY THE REINDEER (DEMO 1972) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
DISC SIX: MALCOLM MORLEY: LOST & FOUND
REMASTERED EDITION
Recorded in 19761. WITHOUT A WORD
2. BURNING LOVE
3. LOST AND FOUND
4. HONEY PLEASE
5. ALL THAT I NEED
6. RUBY
7. GRACE
8. FISH AND CHIPS
9. WHITEMAN’S BLUES
10. ROMANCE IN A TIN
11. NAKED AS THE NIGHT
Personnel:---------
Malcolm Morley – keyboards, guitar, vocals (1970–1973 & 2002–2003)
Richard Treece – guitar, bass, vocals (1970–1973 & 2002–2003)
Dave Charles – drums, percussion, vocals (1970–1973)
Ken Whaley – bass (1970–1971, 1973 & 2002–2003)
Paul Burton – bass, guitar, vocals (1971–1973)
Jonathan "Jojo" Glemser – guitar (1971)
Ernie Graham – guitar, vocals (1971)
Sean Tyla – guitar, vocals (1972 & 1973)
Deke Leonard - guitar (1972)
All thanks to original releaser