Spectre kicks off with the patented James Bond chase scene. Loved it. What I didn’t love was Bond getting holes drilled into his head (with no obvious ill effects) and a weak ending. In between the cool chase scene and the lame ending, Spectre follows the Bond template: Bond finds trouble and explosions result. This is the 50th Anniversary of the first Bond movie. But at 2 hours and 28 minutes, Spectre is a tad long. When Bond “borrows” the Aston Martin DB 10 (that’s the car Daniel Craig is leaning against in the photo above) you expect some wild special effects. But not so much happens. Disappointing. So despite these quibbles, I liked Spectre. I just didn’t like it a lot. GRADE: B

I’m a big fan of the Library of America series (I own most of the volumes) so I was looking forward to reading this latest release: Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s. I had seen the Otto Preminger movie of Laura starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, and Clifton Webb. The novel plays a lot of games with multiple narrators. The movie is better than the book. I’ve had a copy of The Horizontal Man for decades. It’s set in an academic setting. I enjoyed the usual college politics in the novel, but figured out what was going on very early in the novel.

Dorothy B. Hughes’s In a Lonely Place focuses on a series of strangulations. The best novel in this collection is Elixabeth Sanxay Holding’s The Blank Wall. A woman whose husband is fighting in World War II finds her family under siege from blackmailers. A couple murders and plot twists keep the action moving at a break-neck pace.

I’m glad women suspense writers are getting the attention they deserve. Next week for FFB I’ll be reviewing the companion volume: Women Crime writers: Four Suspense Writers: Four Novels of the 1950s.

The Gate at Lake Drive is another one of those “scary” books I read last week to get into the Halloween spirit. Dillon is a monster hunter. He “protects” Northern Ontario in Canada against creatures from another dimension. When a stripper named Rouge Hills hires Dillon, a new and more sinister plot unfolds. If you’re a fan of Jim Butcher’s “Dresden Files” series, you’ll enjoy this off-beat urban fantasy. GRADE: B-

With the run-up to Halloween, I read a bunch of “scary” stories. The Case Against Satan by Ray Russell was published in 1962. Penguin Books just released this new edition with an introduction by Laird Barron. The Case Against Satan anticipates two much more famous books (and movies): Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. A teenage girl and her father show up at a small town church asking for help. After a series of events, the priests begin to suspect the girl is “possessed” by Satan. There’s plenty of room for doubt in this position. Could the girl have psychological problems? Could the priests be wrong? This story will stay with you long after you finish reading it. GRADE: B+

BBC America broadcasted this series back in June 2015. Now it’s available on DVD and Blu-ray. The TV version follows Susanna Clarke’s novel about two magicians in England. Mr. Norrell is the scholar of magic who takes Jonathan Strange as a student. But, soon, the student seems to have surpassed the teacher. Strange assists the British Army against Napoleon at Waterloo using magic to turn the tide of the battle. Like the novel, the story takes a while to get going. But the final magical fireworks are impressive. If you’re looking for something different, you might give Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell a try. GRADE: B+

S. M. Stirling has been writing a series of science fiction novels that are set in a future where the electrical grid stops working. Civilization as we know it ends. Internal combustion engines don’t work, either. In The Change Stirling and a number of other writers contribute stories set in this post-apocalyptic world. I liked “The Venetian Dialectic” by Walter Jon Williams and “The Soul Remembers Uncouth Noises” by John Barnes best. If you’re int the mood for some savvy survivalist fiction, give The Change a try. GRADE: B
Table of Contents:
The Change as setting and secondary world / S.M. Stirling
Hot night at the Hopping Toad / S.M. Stirling
Rate of exchange / A.M Dellamonica
Tight spot / Kier Salmon
Against the wind / Lauren C. Teffeau
The demons of Witmer Hall / M.T. Reiten Bernie,
lord of the apes / John Jos. Miller
The seeker : a poison in the blood / Victor Milán
Grandpa’s gift / Terry D. England
Fortune and glory / John Birmingham
The Venetian dialectic / Walter Jon Williams
The soul remembers uncouth noises / John Barnes
Topanga and the Chatsworth Lancers / Harry Turtledove
The hermit and the jackalopes / Jane Lindskold
The new normal / Jody Lynn Nye
A missed connection / Emily Mah Deor / Diana Paxson

After last week’s debacle in London, the Bills are spending their Bye Week licking their wounds and wishing they were as good as the 7-0 New England Patriots who own the AFC East. How will your favorite NFL team do today?

Todd Mason pointed out that there was some confusion about Alfred Hitchcock’s Witches Brew. I thought there were two different versions of this book with different covers, different stories, but they had the same title. After some literary detective work, I found THREE different versions of Alfred HItchcock’s Witches Brew. with SIX different covers. Check this out:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. To Whet Your Appetite… by Alfred Hitchcock (ghost written)
2. The Wishing-Well by E.F. Benson
3. That Hell-Bound Train by Robert Bloch
4. As Gay As Cheese by Joan Aiken
5. Madame Mim by T.H. White
6. Blood Money by M. Timothy O’Keefe
7. His Coat So Gay by Sterling E. Lanier (a Brigadier Ffellowes novelette)
8. They’ll Never Find You Now by Doreen Dugdale
9. The Widow Flynn’s Apple Tree by Lord Dunsany
10. In the Cards by John Collier
11. Strangers in Town by Shirley Jackson
12. The Proof by John Moore

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Introduction by Alfred Hitchcock (ghost written)
2. Premonition by Charles Mergendahl
3. A Shot from the Dark Night by Avram Davidson
4. I Had a Hunch, and… by Talmage Powell
5. A Killing in the Market by Robert Bloch
6. Gone as by Magic by Richard Hardwick
7. The Big Bajoor by Borden Deal
8. The Gentle Miss Bluebeard by Nedra Tyre
9. The Guy that Laughs Last by Philip Tremont
10. Diet and Die by Wenzell Brown
11. Just for Kicks by Richard Marsten
12. Please Forgive Me by Henry Kane
13. A Crime Worthy of Me by Hal Dresner
14. When Buying a Fine Murder by Jack Ritchie

Table of Contents:
Benson, E. F. The wishing well.
Bloch, Robert. That hell-bound train.
Aiken, Joan. As gay as cheese.
White, T. H. Madame Mim.
O’Keefe, M. Timothy. Blood money.
Lanier, Sterling. His coat so gay.
Dugdale, Doreen. They’ll never find you now.
Dunsany, Lord. The widow Flynn’s apple tree.
Collier, John. In the cards.
Jackson, Shirley. Strangers in town.
Moore, John. The proof,

If you’re a David Bowie fan, this is a must-buy. This lavish set includes all the early Bowie music in remastered sound. In addition to the CDs in this boxed set, there’s a accompanying book, 128 pages in the CD box featuring rare photos as well as technical notes about each album from producers Tony Visconti and Ken Scott. In addition, an original press review for each album and a short foreword by legendary Kinks front man Ray Davies rounds out the goodies. This would make a great present for the holidays! Do you have a favorite David Bowie song?
TRACK LIST:
Disc 1, DBX1-1 – “David Bowie” [aka “Space Oddity”] 2015 REMASTER (46:18 minutes):
1. Space Oddity
2. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed
3. Letter To Hermione
4. Cygnet Committee
5. Janine [Side 2]
6. An Occasional Dream
7. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
8. God Knows I’m Good
9. Memory Of A Free Festival
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album “David Bowie” – released 14 November 1969 in the UK on Phillips SBL 7902 and in the USA as “Man Of Words/Man Of Music” on Mercury SR-61246 but with slightly altered artwork. It was reissued in the UK in November 1972 – again with altered artwork. Photos of the original US LP and the British repress are featured on Page 6 of the Hardback Book. Each of the CDs in this Box Set comes in a rounded protective plastic housed inside an exact repro of the British LP sleeve. “David Bowie” has a matt gatefold card sleeve and even sports a paper repro of the Inner Mercury Records protective LP Bag. The CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 2, DBX1-2 – “The Man Who Sold The World” 2015 REMASTER (41:16 minutes):
1. The Width Of A Circle
2. All The Madmen
3. Black Country Rock
4. After All
5. Running Gun Blues [Side 2]
6. Saviour Machine
7. She Shook Me Cold
8. The Man Who Sold The World
9. The Supermen
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album “The Man Who Sold The World” – released 4 November 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR 61325 and 10 April 1971 in the UK on Mercury 6338 041. The US, UK and GERMAN releases all famously sported different artwork. The single-sleeve British issue is housed in what’s commonly known as the ‘Dress Sleeve’ – which is what the CD here uses (complete with its textured feel). The Cartoon Drawing of the US original and the ‘Flying Bowie Face’ artwork of the German LP are reproduced in the booklet – as is the British October 1972 UK LP reissue on RCA Victor LSP 4816 – again with different artwork (the black and white photo of Bowie kicking his leg in the air). The CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 3, DBX1-3 – “Hunky Dory” 2015 REMASTER – 38:37 minutes:
1. Changes
2. Oh! You Pretty Things
3. Eight Line Poem
4. Life On Mars?
5. Kooks
6. Quicksand
7. Fill Your Heart [Side 2]
8. Andy Warhol
9. Song For Bob Dylan
10. Queen Bitch
11. The Bewlay Brothers
Tracks 1 to 11 are the album “Hunky Dory” – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623. The CD cover artwork for some reason has a ‘Parlophone’ logo in the top left corner when it should read RCA on the left with VICTOR on the right. The correct artwork is pictured in the booklet with a rare alternate rear sleeve where Bowie has hand-written all the credits including the musicians. The lyric insert that came with all original LP copies is also reproduced and the CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 4, DBX1-4 – “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” 2012 REMASTER (38:37 minutes):
1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Starman
5. It Ain’t Easy
6. Lady Stardust [Side 2]
7. Star
8. Hang On To Yourself
9. Ziggy Stardust
10. Suffragette City
11. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Tracks 1 to 11 are the album “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702. This CD is the 2012 Digital Remaster.

Disc 5, DBX1-5 – “Pinups” 2015 REMASTER (34:01 minutes):
1. Rosalyn [The Pretty Things cover]
2. Here Comes The Night [Them cover]
3. I Wish You Would [Billy Boy Arnold cover]
4. See Emily Play [Pink Floyd cover]
5. Everything’s Alright [The Mojos cover]
6. I Can’t Explain [The Who cover]
7. Friday On My Mind [The Easybeats cover] – [Side 2]
8. Sorrow [The Merseybeats cover]
9. Don’t Bring Me Down [Johnnie Dee cover]
10. Shapes Of Things [The Yardbirds cover]
11. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere [The Who cover]
12. Where Have All The Good Times Gone [The Kinks cover]
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album “Pinups” – an entire LP of cover versions released November 1973 in the UK on RCA RS 1003 and in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0291. The CD repro has the insert that came with original LPs and the CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 6, DBX1-6 – “Aladdin Sane” 2013 REMASTER (41:47 minutes):
1. Watch That Man (New York)
2. Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) (R.H.M.S. “Ellinis”)
3. Drive-In Saturday (Seattle – Phoenix)
4. Panic In Detroit (Detroit)
5. Cracked Actor (Los Angeles)
6. Time (New Orleans) – [Side 2]
7. The Prettiest Star (Gloucester Road)
8. Let’s Spend The Night Together
9. The Jean Genie (Detroit and New York)
10. Lady Grinning Soul (London)
Tracks 1 to 10 are the studio album “Aladdin Sane” – released 13 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1001 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4852. The card repro has the original gatefold sleeve, inner lyric card and the ‘Fan-Club Invite’ that came with some original copies of the vinyl LP. The CD is the 40th Anniversary RAY STAFF REMASTER issued in 2013.

Disc 7, DBX1-7 – “Live Santa Monica ’72” 2008 REMASTER (74:20 minutes):
1. Introduction
2. Hang On To Yourself
3. Ziggy Stardust
4. Changes
5. The Supermen
6. Life On Mars?
7. Five Years
8. Space Oddity
9. Andy Warhol
10. My Death
11. The Width Of A Circle
12. Queen Bitch
13. Moonage Daydream
14. John, I’m Only Dancing
15. Waiting For The Man
16. The Jean Genie
17. Suffragette City
18. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Tracks 1 to 18 were recorded at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 20 October 1972 – officially released worldwide 30 July 2008 as “Live Santa Monica ’72” on EMI BOWLIVE 201702. The Inner sleeve is reproduced and this CD is the 2008 Remaster.

Disc 8, DBX1 – “Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars – The Motion Picture Soundtrack” 2003 REMASTER
CD1 (40:34 minutes):
1. Introduction
2. Hang On To Yourself
3. Ziggy Stardust
4. Watch That Man
5. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
6. All The Young Dudes
7. Oh! You Pretty Things
8. Moonage Daydream
9. Changes
10. Space Oddity
11. My Death

CD2 (42:57 minutes):
1. Introduction
2. Cracked Actor
3. Time
4. The Width Of A Circle
5. Let’s Spend The Night Together
6. Suffragette City
7. White Light / White Heat
8. Farewell Speech
9. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Recorded 3 July 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London – original mix UK released October 1983 as a double-album on RCA Victor PL 84862(2). This version is the 2003 “30th Anniversary” Remaster released 1 April 2003 on EMI ZIGGYRIP 3773.

Disc 9, DBX1-10 – “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2003 Mix)” (38:29 minutes):
1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Starman
5. It Ain’t Easy
6. Lady Stardust [Side 2]
7. Star
8. Hang On To Yourself
9. Ziggy Stardust
10. Suffragette City
11. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Tracks 1 to 11 first released in 29 September 2003 in 5.1 on the SACD of “Ziggy Stardust” on EMI 521 9002. First released in Stereo at 48Hz/24bit on 4 June 2012 on the EMI 40th Anniversary DVD/LP Edition of “Ziggy Stardust”. First time on CD outside of those two previous versions. 2003 Remaster.

Disc 10, DBX1-10 – “Re:Call 1” (Non Album Singles, Single Versions & B-Sides)
CD1 (40:09 minutes):
1. Space Oddity (Original UK Mono Single Edit)
A-side of a UK 7″ single released 11 July 1969 in Mono on Phillips BF 1801
2. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (Original UK Mono Single Version)
B-side of “Space Oddity” – it’s a different earlier version to the one re-recorded for the LP
3. Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola
An Italian Version of “Space Oddity” recorded in the UK in December 1969 (after the release of the album) and released February 1970 in Italy on Philips 704 208. It came in a very rare Picture Sleeve that is reproduced in the hardback book. The title translates into English as “Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl”.
4. The Prettiest Star (Original Mono Single Version)
Rrecorded in London in early January 1970, it was released 6 March 1970 in the UK as the Mono A-side to Philips MF 1135. Tony Visconti plays Bass and Marc Bolan of T.Rex plays second guitar.
5. Conversation Piece
Non-album B-side to “The Prettiest Star” (as per Track 4) – features Mick Wayne on Guitar, John Lodge on Bass and John Cambridge on Drums – all of the UK group Junior’s Eyes
6. Memory Of A Free Festival Part 1
March 1970 re-recorded ‘electric’ version of the album track from the “Space Oddity” LP – released 26 June 1970 as the Stereo A-side to a UK 7″ single on Mercury 6052 028
7. Memory Of A Free Festival Part 2
Stereo B-side of Track 6. Song features Mick Ronson on Guitar and Solo backing Vocals, Tony Visconti on Bass, Ralph Mace on Piano and John Cambridge of Junior’s Eyes on Drums.
8. All The Madmen (Mono Single Edit) –
9. Janine (Mono)
Tracks 8 and 9 were a planned US 45 on Mercury 73173 but was cancelled (demos exist on Mercury DJ-311 with the mono edit of “All The Madmen” on ‘both’ sides). The A-side (track 8) is a Mono Edit of the longer Stereo cut on the LP and “Janine” is a Mono version of the full Stereo LP cut.
10. Holy Holy (Original Mono Single Version)
Non-album single – the Stereo A-side was recorded November 1970 and UK released 15 January 1971 on Mercury 6052 049. Its flipside was “Black Country Rock” from “The Man Who Sold The World” LP. Alan Parker from Blue Mink, Rumplestiltskin, CCS and Ugly Custard played Guitar, Herbie Flowers (later with Sky) played Bass and Barry Morgan from Blue Mink played Drums.
11. Moonage Daydream (The Arnold Corns Single Version)
12. Hang On To Yourself (The Arnold Corns Single Version)
Tracks 11 and 12 are credited to THE ARNOLD CORNS and are early versions of two tracks that would be on the 1972 “Ziggy Stardust” album. They were recorded February 1971 in London and UK released 7 May 1971 on B&C Records CB 149.
NOTES: Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are MONO while 3, 6 and 7 are STEREO – all 2015 REMASTERS.

CD2 (40:43 minutes):
1. Changes (Mono Single Version)
2. Andy Warhol (Mono Single Version)
Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 7″ single released 7 December 1971 on RCA Victor 74-065 – 7 January 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor RCA 2160.
The B-side “Any Warhol” is in Mono and edits out the studio chatter that’s on the “Hunky Dory” LP version
3. Starman (Original Single Mix)
Remixed by he original Producer Ken Scott in London in March 1972 – released 28 April 1972 with the “Ziggy Stardust” album version of “Suffragette City” as its B-side
4. John, I’m Only Dancing (Original Single Version)
Recorded in London with Mick Ronson on Guitar and Mick Woodmansey on Drums on the 26th of June 1972 – it was released 1 September 1972 as a UK (and European) 7″ single on RCA Victor RCA 2263 with the “Ziggy Stardust” album version of “Hang On To Yourself” as its B-side. It was considered ‘too risque’ for the American market (oh dear)
5. The Jean Genie (Original Single Mix)
Recorded and Mixed in October 1972 in New York and Nashville – it was UK and US released 24 November 1972 on RCA Victor RCA 2302 in the UK and RCA 74-0838 in the USA. Ken Scott later remixed it again for inclusion on the 1973 album “Aladdin Sane”
6. Drive-In Saturday (German Single Edit)
Released 6 April 1973 around the world as a 7″ single – however – the German version on RCA Victor 74-16321 was a unique ‘edit’
7. Round And Round
A Chuck Berry cover version originally recorded during the “Ziggy Stardust” album sessions – turned up as the non-album B-side to “Drive-In Saturday” released 6 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RCA 2352. Features Mick Ronson on Guitar and Mick Woodmansey on Drums
8. John, I’m Only Dancing (Sax Version)
Recorded in London on the 20th of January 1973 – this ‘Saxophone’ Version eventually replaced the first pressings of RCA Victor RCA 2263. Ken Fordham plays the Saxophone.
9. Time (U.S. Single Edit)
A unique ‘edit’ of the longer album version – issued in two territories – 1 June 1973 in the USA on RCA APBO-0001 with “The Prettiest Star” as its flipside – and with “Panic In Detroit” as its B-side in Japan on RCA SS-2299
10. Amsterdam
A Jacque Brel cover version with English translation lyrics by Mort Shuman. It was recorded during the “Ziggy Stardust” album sessions and considered for release on that album – but eventually showed up 12 October 1973 in the UK as a non-album 7″ single B-side to “Sorrow” (from the “Pinups” LP)
11. Holy Holy (Spiders Version)
A re-recording of a 1971 single – turned up 14 June 1974 in the UK on RCA Victor APBO 0283 as the non-album 7″ single B-side to “Diamond Dogs”
12. Velvet Goldmine
A “Ziggy Stardust” outtake finally released 26 September 1975 on RCA Victor RCA 2593 in the UK along with “Changes” as a B-side on the 3-track ‘Maximillion’ single for the reissue of the album version of “Space Oddity”
NOTES: Tracks 1 and 2 are MONO while all others are STEREO. All tracks are 2015 REMASTERS except 3, 4, 5 and 8 which are 2014 REMASTERS that first turned up on the 2014 “Nothing Has Changed” 2CD and 3CD sets.