The Legendary Goldstar Album & Golden Glass

In early 1966, with John Peel as producer, the Misunderstood went into Gold Star studio in Los Angeles to make some demos. Although the tapes have disappeared, an acetate of some of the songs still exists, from which eight tracks (two of which had previously been released) were rescued for reissue on the first disc of this double CD. Judged against their magnificent recordings in Britain in late 1966 (with slightly different personnel), it's a bit of a letdown. The group at this point were a competent but not extraordinary blues-rock act, offering competent renditions of standards by Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, and the like that only hinted at the originality that would blossom on their U.K. sessions. Indeed, the two tracks that have previously been available ("Shake Your Money Maker" and a wild, extended "I'm Not Talkin'" with ferocious distorted guitar breaks) are by far the best in the set. The second disc is just a straight reissue of the long-available Golden Glass album, recorded by a later lineup of the Misunderstood, in which steel guitarist Glenn Campbell was the only remaining member from the glory days. Before the Dream Faded is the essential Misunderstood compilation, but this double disc does compile all of their known remaining recordings for the collectors who want everything by the group.