BULLETIN -
November/ December
2009
Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Doo-Wop
Various Artists
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1220 |
Land Of 1000 Dances - All Twistin'
Edition |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
Through the 60's
and 70's dance crazes weren't uncommon, and the biggest one of them all
was the Twist craze during 1960-1962. And to commemorate that epic
moment in time, Ace has presented us with a CD devoted to songs that
were created for or cashed in on that immortal dance. Kicking off with
the song that gave the dance it's anthem-Hank Ballard & the Midnighters'
The Twist, from 1959-the CD runs the gamut from hits like Joey
Dee & the Starliters' Peppermint Twist (Pt. 1) to the original
version of Twist and Shout by The Top Notes (released in 1961,
and produced by Phil Spector). In between, we get twist songs from the
likes of Bill Haley & His Comets, The Marcels, Danny & the Juniors, and
Lula Reed & Freddie King; Motown even got into the act via The
Marvelettes' Twistin' Postman, and the Isley Brothers (who got
the hit with Twist and Shout) went back to the well with
Twistin' With Linda. Of course, there's the usual novelty song
cash-ins (The Monster Twist, The Lone Twister cut by DJ
Murray The K as "The Lone Twister"), and even Blues versions (Smokey
Smothers' Twist With Me Annie). The USA wasn't the only country
overcome with Twist fever: the UK and France succumbed to the party, as
evidenced by contributions from UK superstar Petula Clark (Ya Ya
Twist) and Les Chats Sauvages (the great Twist a St. Tropez).
And so it goes, Rockabilly and Jazz both get the Twist treatment (The
Sprouts' Twisting on Bandstand and Louis Prima's Twist All
Night, respectively), and where else are you gonna hear the theme
song to Twist Jukebox musical, Twist Around the Clock (by Clay
Cole)? The songs here run from 1959 to 1962 (even though the craze
actually died out in 1963 or 1964 depending if one counts the Beatles'
hit with Twist and Shout), but it does seem an injustice not to
include the song that made this compilation even possible: that would be
Chubby Checker's version of The Twist - but they probably
couldn't get the rights to that. Oh well, we all know what that song
sounds like! Anyway, this collection is a must have, if for nothing else
than the instructions on how to do the Twist inside the package. What
more could one ask for! (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1230 |
Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo
Wop Edition 2 |
● CD $18.98 |
30 tracks, 78 mins, very highly recommended
Being that
there are a ton of shoddy Doo-wop collections out there, I'm sure many
are filled with trepidation whenever they see new ones coming out.
Thankfully, Ace records can always be counted on to do a better job on
their releases than the vast majority of re-issue labels out there. This
is a fine example of just how good of a collection they can put
together. With a deep track listing of rare and not often compiled gems,
extensive liner notes and spectacular sound, this edition in their
"Golden Age Of Rock 'N' Roll" series should not be missed. Fine cuts
like Arabia by The Delcos, Paradise from The Temptations
(yes that Temptations, way back in 1962!) Magic Moon by The Rays,
The Taste of a Tear by Johnny & The Tokens, Nite Owl by
The Dukays, Don't Forget I Love You by The Butanes (quite a
combustible track), and so many more. Along with release info and
biographical material, you also get Billboard chart peak positions on
all. With only a few of these fantastic tracks only scratching the top
40 of their day, most can't really be called hits, but most certainly
should have been. All in all an outstanding collection that has already
got about a dozen plays on my CD player and I expect dozens more! (JM)
THE BELMONTS: Come On Little Angel/ THE BLENDTONES:
Lovers/ THE BLUE NOTES: My Hero/ THE BUTANES: Don't Forget I Love You/
THE CAROUSELS: If You Want To/ THE CLEFTONES: You Baby You/ THE CRAFTYS:
L O V E/ THE CUPIDS: Brenda/ THE DELCOS: Arabia/ THE DELTAIRS: Lullaby
Of The Bells/ DONNIE & THE DREAMERS: My Memories Of You/ THE DREAMERS:
Teenage Vows Of Love/ THE DREAMLOVERS: If I Should Lose You/ THE DUKAYS:
Nite Owl/ THE EMBERS: Solitaire/ THE FIDELITYS: Things I Love, The/ THE
GLEAMS: You Broke My Heart/ THE JESTERS: So Strange/ JOHNNY & THE
TOKENS: Taste Of A Tear, The/ THE MELLOTONES: Rosie Lee/ NINO & THE
EBBTIDES: Juke Box Saturday Night/ THE PASSIONS: I Only Want You/ THE
PRELUDES FIVE: Starlight/ THE RAYS: Magic Moon (Claire De Lune)/ THE
SHEPPARDS: I Lied To My Heart/ Island Of Love/ THE SPANIELS: Everyone's
Laughing/ THE TEMPTATIONS: Paradise/ THE VAN DYKES: Gift Of Love/ THE
VELOURS: Can I Come Over Tonight
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCH2 1236 |
The Complete Goldwax Singles, Vol. 2:
1966-1967 |
● CD $27.98 |
2 CD, 54 tracks Second volume in a series of three
collecting the pioneering Memphis label's singles output, including
recordings from all the subsidiaries. Disc One highlights 1966
performances from James Carr, Spencer Wiggins, The Ovations, Ivory Joe
Hunter, Leroy Daniel, The Yo's Yo's, Gene "Bowlegs" Miller, Jeanne
Newman, Oboe, and George and Greer. Disc Two finishes out 1966 and
touches on 1967 with some of the aforementioned artists plus Eddie
Jefferson, Percy Milem, Barbara Perry, The Terry's, Timmy Thomas, Kathy
Davis, and Carmol Taylor. Bottom line: if you have the first volume,
then this one absolutely necessary.
JAMES CARR: A Losing Game/ Coming Back To Me Baby/
Dark End Of The Street/ Forgetting You/ Let It Happen/ Love Attack/
Loveable Girl/ Pouring Water On A Drowning Man/ That's What I Want To
Know/ You've Got My Mind Messed Up/ LEROY DANIEL: Gonna Comb You Outta
My Hair/ Hello Daughter/ KATHY DAVIS: The Wife Of The Life Of The Party/
You Can Dish It Out (But Can You Take It)/ GEORGE & GREER: Good Times/
You Didn't Know It But You Had Me/ IVORY JOE HUNTER: Don't You Believe
Him/ Every Little Bit Helped Me/ I Can Make You Happy/ What's The Matter
Baby/ EDDIE JEFFERSON: Some Other Time/ When You Look In The Mirror/
PERCY MILLEM: Call On Me/ Crying Baby, Baby, Baby/ GENE "BOWLEGS"
MILLER: Here It Is Now/ What Time Ye Got/ JEANNE NEWMAN: Ain't That
Lonely/ Little Things/ OBOE: I'm Just That Kind Of Fool For You/ Trying
To Make It/ THE OVATIONS: I Believe I'll Go Back Home/ Me & My
Imagination/ Qualifications/ They Say/ I've Gotta Go/ Ride My Troubles
And Blues Away/ BARBARA PERRY: Say You Need It/ Unloveable/ CARMOL
TAYLOR: Did She Ask About Me/ Here Comes The Fool/ TERRY'S: Cry Me A
Handful/ Stormy Love Affair/ TIMMY THOMAS: Have Some Boogaloo/ Liquid
Mood/ SPENCER WIGGINS: Anything You Do Is Alright/ Old Friend (You Ask
Me If I Miss Her)/ Take Me Just As I Am/ The Kind Of Woman That's Got No
Heart/ Uptight Good Woman/ Walking Out On You/ THE YO YO'S: Gotta Find A
New Love/ I Can't Forget You/ I've Got Something In My Eye/ Leaning On
You
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Antiques 2650 |
Wrinkle City Relics |
● CD $17.98 |
I'm not sure what the significance of the title is but
this is a fine collection of obscure doo-wop. Not too much that hasn't
ben out before but most of it is very good including sides by The
Contenders, Valentine & The Apollos, The Signeals (two particularly nice
tracks with some fine bluesy guitar), The Fabulous Chimes, The Galaxys,
Opals, Polk & James, Cleo & The Patrettes, etc. Sound quality has too
much digital filtering but is generally listenable.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16971 |
Sweet Soul Music - 29 Scorching Classics
From 1966 |
● CD $25.98 |
The eagerly anticipated sequels to Bear Family's first
five volumes of `Sweet Soul Music'! Over the course of ten spectacular
years, R&B morphed into soul music with a side order of funk, and became
the soundtrack to a social revolution. The riveting story of that
incredible decade is told in full for the first time on Bear Family's
'Sweet Soul Music' series. Some record companies have compiled
anthologies from their own vaults, but Bear Family has gone the extra
mile... and then some, licensing classic recordings from virtually every
record label at the epicenter of `60s soul to compile the greatest hits
with the finest sound quality. The second five volumes, available now,
cover the years 1966-1970. Though gospel remained the bedrock of soul
music, the sound was transforming fast, thanks to Motown, Stax, the
regional innovations of Chicago, New Orleans, and Muscle Shoals, and the
funk revolution, led by James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone. The
civil rights and antiwar movements were now rolling full speed ahead,
and the messages at the heart of the music were often as powerful and
invigorating as the grooves themselves. Compiled with love by Dave
'Daddy Cool' Booth, the second half of this
incredible story is just as fascinating as the first. Bill Dahl's
track-by-track commentary provides extensive biographical info on every
artist on every disc
THE ARTISTICS: I'm Gonna Miss You/ DARRELL BANKS: Open
The Door To Your Heart/ THE CAPITOLS: Cool Jerk/ JAMES CARR: You've Got
My Mind Messed Up/ LEE DORSEY: Get Out Of My Life Woman/ THE ELGINS:
Darling Baby/ LORRAINE ELLISON: Stay With Me/ EDDIE FLOYD: Knock On
Wood/ THE FOUR TOPS: Reach Out, I'll Be There/ MARVIN GAYE: Ain't That
Peculiar/ SLIM HARPO: Baby Scratch My Back/ JIMMY HUGHES: Neighbor,
Neighbor/ THE ISLEY BROTHERS: This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)/
J.J. JACKSON: But It's Alright/ BOBBY MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES: Searching
For My Love/ ROBERT PARKER: Barefootin'/ WILSON PICKETT: 634-5789
(Soulsville U.S.A.)/ THE POETS: She Blew A Good Thing/ JAMES & BOBBY
PURIFY: I'm Your Puppet/ SAM & DAVE: Hold On, I'm Comin/ PERCY SLEDGE:
When A Man Loves A Woman/ EDWIN STARR: Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S)/ HOWARD
TATE: Ain't Nobody Home/ THE TEMPTATIONS: Ain't To Proud To Beg/ JOE
TEX: A Sweet Woman Like You/ CARLA THOMAS: B-A-B-Y/ STEVIE WONDER:
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16972 |
Sweet Soul Music - 30 Scorching Classics
From 1967 |
● CD $25.98 |
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy/ THE
BAR-KAYS: Soul Finger/ J.J. BARNES: Baby Please Come Back Home/ JAMES
BROWN & HIS FAMOUS FLAMES: Cold Sweat Part 1/ RODGER COLLINS: She's
Looking Good/ ARTHUR CONLEY: Sweets Soul Music/ DYKE & THE BLAZERS:
Funky Broadway Part 1/ THE ESQUIRES: Get On Up/ THE FASCINATIONS: Girls
Are Out To Get You/ ARETHA FRANKLIN: Respect/ ERMA FRANKLIN: Piece Of My
Heart/ MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL: Ain't No Mounain High Enough/ ETTA
JAMES: Tell Mama/ SYL JOHNSON: Come On Stock It To Me/ LINDA JONES:
Hypnotized/ GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: I Heard It Through The Grapevine/
LAURA LEE: Dirty Man/ TOUSSAINT MCCALL: Nothing Takes The Place Of You/
THE PARLIAMENTS: (I Wanna) Testify/ OTIS REDDING & CARLA THOMAS: Tramp/
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS: Jimmy Mack/ SAM & DAVE: Soul Man/ FREDDIE
SCOTT: Are You Lonely For Me Baby/ SOUL BROTHERS SIX: Some Kind Of
Wonderful/ THE SOUL SURVIVORS: Expressway To Your Heart/ BETTYE SWANN:
Make Me Yours/ JOE TEX: Skinny Legs and All/ JACKIE WILSON: (Your Love
Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher/ STEVIE WONDER: I Was Made To Love
Her/ O.V. WRIGHT: Eight Men, Four Women
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16973 |
Sweet Soul Music - 29 Scorching Classics
From 1968 |
● CD $25.98 |
| BARBARA ACKLIN: Love Makes A Woman/ ARCHIE BELL & THE
DRELLS: Tighten Up Part 1/ JAMES BROWN: Say It Loud ? I'm Black & I'm
Proud (Part 1)/ JERRY BUTLER: Hey, Western Union Man/ CLARENCE CARTER:
Slip Away/ ARTHUR CONLEY: Funky Street/ THE DELLS: Stay In My Corner
(Single Edit)/ EDDIE FLOYD: I've Never Found A Girl ( To Love Me Like
You)/ INEZ & CHARLIE FOXX: (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count The Days/ ARETHA
FRANKLIN: (Sweet Sweeet Baby) Since You've Been Gone/ MARVIN GAYE: I
Heard It Through The Grapevine/ Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing/ THE
IMPRESSIONS: We're A Winner/ THE INTRUDERS: Cowboys To Girls/ GLADYS
KNIGHT & THE PIPS: The End Of Our Road/ HUGH MASEKELA: Grazing In The
Grass/ THE O'KAYSIONS: Girl Watcher/ WILSON PICKETT: I'm In Love/ OTIS
REDDING: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay/ SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE
MIRACLES: I Second That Emotion/ SAM & DAVE: I Thank You/ PEGGY SCOTT &
JO JO BENSON: Lover's Holiday/ PERCY SLEDGE: Take Time To Know Her/ SLY
& THE FAMILY STONE: Dance To The Music/ JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Who's Making
Love/ THE TEMPTATIONS: Cloud Nine/ AL WILSON: The Snake/ YOUNG-HOLT
UNLIMITED: Soulful Strut
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16974 |
Sweet Soul Music - 28 Scorching Classics
From 1969 |
● CD $25.98 |
| JOHNNY ADAMS: Reconsider Me/ WILLIAM BELL: I Forgot to
Be Your Lover/ JAMES BROWN: Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother for
Me)/ JERRY BUTLER: Only the Strong Survive/ CLARENCE CARTER: Snatching
It Back/ THE CHI-LITES: Give It Away/ TYRONE DAVIS: Can I Change My
Mind/ BETTY EVERETT: There'll Come a Time/ THE FOUNDATIONS: Build Me Up
Buttercup/ THE IMPRESSIONS: Choice of Colors/ THE INTRIGUES: In a
Moment/ THE ISLEY BROTHERS: It's Your Thing/ THE JACKSON 5: I Want You
Back/ MEL & TIM: Backfield in Motion/ THE METERS: Cissy Strut/ THE
ORIGINALS: Baby, I'm for Real/ BOBBY PATTERSON: T.C.B. or T.Y.A./
CLARENCE REID: Nobody But You Babe/ DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Someday
We'll Be Together/ PEGGY SCOTT & JO JO BENSON: Soulshake/ JOE SIMON:
Chokin' Kind/ SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Everyday People/ EDWIN STARR:
Twenty-Five Miles/ CANDI STATON: I'd Rather Be an Old Man's Sweetheart
(Than a Young Man 's Fool)/ JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Take Care of Your Homework/
JR. WALKER: What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)/ DEE DEE WARWICK:
Foolish Fool/ THE WINSTONS: Color Him Father
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16975 |
Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics
From 1970 |
● CD $25.98 |
| 100 PROOF [AGED IN SOUL]: Somebody's Been Sleeping/
BROOK BENTON: Rainy Night In Georgia/ JAMES BROWN: Get Up ( I Feel Like
Being a Sex Machine) Part 1/ CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD: Give Me Just A
Little More Time/ TYRONE DAVIS: Turn Back The Hands Of Time/ THE
DELFONICS: Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)/ LUTHER INGRAM: Ain't
That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Tha)/ PAUL KELLY: Stealin' In The Name
Of The Lord/ FLOYD KING: Groove Me/ OTIS LEAVILL: Love Uprising/ LITTLE
SISTER: You're The One Part 1/ THE MOMENTS: Love On A Two-Way Street/
FREDA PAYNE: Band Of Gold/ ANN PEEBLES: Part Time Love/ GEORGE PERKINS &
THE SILVER STARS: Cryin' In The Streets Part 1/ SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE
MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clown/ SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Thank you
(Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)/ THE SPINNERS: It's a Shame/ EDWIN STARR:
War/ JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Love Bones/ THE TEMPTATIONS: Ball Of Confusion
(That's What World Is T)/ JUNIOR WALKER & THE ALL-STARS: Gotta Hold On
To This Feeling/ STEVIE WONDER: Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours/
CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103RD STREET RHYTHM B: Express Yourself
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BEMCD 17033 |
Look Out! We Got Soul ... Sweet Soul
Music |
● CD $7.98 |
Limited edition low priced sampler. The perfect
introduction to Bear Family's 'Sweet Soul Music' series! Ten fabulous
soul tracks from 1961 to 1970, in chronological order in a DigiPac with
full-color booklet and photos including sides from Bobby Bland, Rufus
Thomas, Joe Tex, DYke & The Blazers, Clarence Carter, Charles Wright &
the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and more.
BOBBY BLAND: Turn On Your Love Light/ ETTA JAMES:
Something's Got A Hold On Me/ RUFUS THOMAS: Walking The Dog/ MAJOR
LANCE: Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um/ JOE TEX: Hold What You've Got/ EDWIN
STARR: Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)/ DYKE & THE BLAZERS: Funky Broadway
Part 1/ ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS: Tighten Up/ CLARENCE CARTER: Snatching
It Back/ CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND: Express
Yourself
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Crystal Ball 1093 |
Bobby Miller's Old Timer Records |
● CD $17.98 |
28 tracks, recommended
Fine set of white acapella
doo-wop recorded in the mid 60s featuring all the recordings made for
the Old Timer label run by Bronx record shop owner Bobby Miller. Artists
featured include The Excellons (previously known as The Excellents who
had a hit with Coney Island Baby), The Zircons (not the 50s
group), The Destinaires, 5 Sharks and The Rue-Teens. Songs are mostly
covers of classic doo-wop and R&B tunes along with doo-wop versions of
standards and some more original material. Some very pleasing material.
(FS)
THE 5 SHARKS: Flames/ Gloria (Fast Version)/ I'll
Never Let You Go/ Stand By Me/ THE DESTINAIRES: Chapel Bells/ Diamonds
and Pearls/ It's Better This Way/ More/ Rag Doll/ Teardrops/ You're
Cheating on Me/ THE EXCELLONS: Helene/ Sunday Kind of Love/ THE GINO &
DESTINAIRES: Traveling Stranger/ THE RUE-TEENS: Come a Little Bit
Closer/ Happy Teenager/ THE VERSAILLERS: Lorraine/ THE VERSAILLES: I'm
In the Mood for Love/ Little Girl of Mine/ Teenagers Dream/ THE ZIRCONS:
(I Hear) Silver Bells/ One Summer Night/ Remember Then/ Sincerely/
Stormy Weather (Fast Version)/ The Lone Stranger/ You Are My Sunshine/
You Baby You
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Edquardo 1001 |
Here Comes The Bride |
● CD $17.98 |
29 tracks, 76 mins, recommended
Here comes another theme
compilation; in the great tradition of song collections about cats and
dances, we bring you a collection of songs about all aspects of
weddings, including the honeymoon. As is usual with these type of
collections, it's a mixed bag of musical styles and eras that covers
everything from 50's vocal group to 70's pop rock. There's some really
obscure stuff here (The Shore Tones, The Coronettes, even a track by an
unknown artist), there's performers known to collectors (The Statens,
The Gems, Ronnie and the Hi-Lites), and there's even a treat for
Bubblegum fans in the form of The (1910) Fruit Gum Co. Doo Wop is in
fact the dominant style, with exceptional tracks from The Gates, The
Loungers, The 4-Epics, The Cordials and many more. If anyone wants to
give a unique wedding gift or have different soundtrack for a wedding
party, then this CD more than fits the bill. (GMC)
THE 4-EPICS: Wedding Bells/ BILL BAKER & GROUP: To the
Aisle/ THE CHEERIOS: Ding Dong Honeymoon/ HAL CLARK & THE BLENDERS: My
Wedding Day/ THE CORDIALS: Underwater Honeymoon/ THE CORONETTES: On Our
Wedding Day/ THE CREATIONS: The Wedding/ THE DYNAMICS: Newlyweds/ THE
FRUIT GUM CO.: When We Get Married/ THE GATES: Wedding Bells Gonna Ring/
THE GEMS: I Wish That We Were Married/ GEORGIA HARRIS & THE HYTONES: Our
Wedding Day (prev. unrel.)/ THE LOUNGERS: Wedding Bells/ THE NEWPORTS:
Anniversary of Love/ KENNY NOLAN: Today I Met the Girl I'm Gonna Marry/
THE OFF KEYS: Our Wedding Day/ THE ORCHIDS: Newly Wed/ THE RENDEZVOUS:
Here Comes the Bride (prev. unrel.)/ THE REVIVALS: Today I Met the Boy
I'm Gonna Marry (prev. unrel.)/ ROCHELL & THE CANDLES: Let's Run Away
and Get Married/ RONNIE & THE HIGH-LITES: What a Pretty Bride You'll Be/
THE SHORE TONES: When We Get Married/ THE STATENS: I'm Gonna Get
Married/ TONY & CAROLYN: Am I Never Gonna See Our Wedding Day/ THE TRUE
TONES: Blushing Bride/ UNKNOWN: We Ought to Get Married/ THE UPTONES:
Wear My Ring/ BOBBY VANCE: Our Wedding Day
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Fantastic Voyage 013 |
Soul Breakout '58 |
● CD $12.98 |
25 tracks, 64 mins, highly recommended
Fantastic Voyage
(previously Acrobat) has done a fine job of collecting hot R&B from the
early days (40's and 50's) and here they've done it again on this
compilation of "proto-soul" from the pivotal year 1958. The idea of
taking elements of gospel music (namely melisma in the delivery and
call-and-response from a vocal group) and fusing them with secular
lyrics was kick started (most would say) by Ray Charles' I Got a
Woman from 1955. From there the flood gates burst culminating in
these cuts from followers like Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, Jackie
Wilson, Brook Benton, and Jerry Butler (fronting the Impressions), as
well as guys who had already been on the scene a while like Bobby 'Blue'
Bland, James Brown, Little Willie John, and Chuck Willis; in fact, it
could almost be said that the hits for these men came because the world
was finally ready for the kind of music they were delivering, even if it
was only on the R&B Charts. The styles of the singers range from the
rough (Wilson, Brown) to the smooth (Dee Clark, Butler) but the passion
and emotion derived from the sacred approach to secular material is
evident throughout and heralded a new era in music. Most of these tracks
are available elsewhere, but it's hearing them in this context that
makes this compilation a winner. (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Fantastic Voyage FVCD 019 |
Good To The Last Drop - From The Ember
Tape Vaults |
● CD $12.98 |
23 tracks, highly recommended
Not the American Doo Wop
label, this Ember label was founded in London in 1060 and had a
reputation for releasing prime Jazz and Soul sides. This anthology
cherry picks from the label's vaults, and spotlights many tracks that
were originally recorded for Guido Marasco's Detroit-based GM label.
Among the obscurities like Mr. Flood's Party and The Brothers Grimm, are
noted names like Motown producer/songwriter Mickey Stevenson (going solo
in 1972); cult R&B singers Jewel Akens, Carol Woods, and Mary Frazier
Jones; and a genuine legend, Johnny Otis (going Disco in the mid-70's
with help from son Shuggie). Probably the most interesting nugget is the
collaboration between sax player Packy Axton (son of Estelle Axton,
co-owner of Stax) and The Bar-Keys, as The Pac-Keys, on the instrumental
Dig In. All n' all, this is a very intriguing collection of
hard-to-find Soul that satisfies on every level. (GMC)
JEWEL AKENS: Wee Bit More Of Your Lovin'/ THE BROTHERS
GRIMM: Looky Looky/ THE CASINOS: That's The Way/ DEE EDWARDS: Hurt A
Little Everyday/ Why Can't There Be Love/ FORK IN THE ROAD: Can't Turn
Around Now/ Skeletons In The Closet/ MARY FRAZIER JONES: Put A Little
Love In Your Heart/ THE JONES GIRLS: Learn How To Love/ My Own Special
Way/ MILT MATTHEWS INC.: Can't See Myself Doing You Wrong/ Disaster
Area/ That's What I Feel For You (single edit)/ MILT MATTHEWS, INC.: Oh
Lord, You Got To Help/ MR. FLOOD'S PARTY: Compared To What/ JOHNNY OTIS:
Good To The Last Drop/ THE PAC-KEYS: Dig In/ ED ROBINSON: Hey Blackman -
Part 1/ MICKEY STEVENSON: Here I Am (single edit)/ TONY & TYRONE:
Everyday Fun/ Whip Your Loving On Me/ THE VALUES: Return To Me/ CAROL
WOODS: Baby Don't You Leave Me
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
GVC 2015 |
Rock 'n' Roll In Black 'n' White |
● CD $18.98 |
An immensely entertaining collection. This is a two CD
set with 54 tracks. The first disc features 27 original R&B and black
rock 'n' roll hits and disc two features white country & rock 'n' roll
covers covers. So we get No Money Down from Chuck Berry &
Mitchell Torok, Right Around The Corner from The 5 Royales and
Boyd Bennet & The Rockets, Perfect Woman by The Four Blazes and
Hardrock Gunter, Jump Back Honey by Hadda Brooks & Gene Vincent,
Pepper Hot Baby by The Belvederes and Jaye P. Morgan and lots
more. A nice mix of familiar titles and obscurities. This is similar to
an Indigo double CD that came out several years ago but, as far as I can
tell, there is no duplication here. It's a shame though that they didn't
follow Indigo's approach and present the white version immediately after
the black one.
CD1: CHUCK BERRY No Money Down/ MUDDY WATERS Sugar
Sweet/ RUTH BROWN Wild Wild Young Boys/ 5 ROYALES Right Around The
Corner/ JOE TURNER & PLUMA DAVIS ORCHESTRA Honey Hush/ FAYE ADAMS I'll
Be True/ FOUR BLAZES Perfect Woman/ ERNEST BROOKS Talkin' Off The Wall/
LITTLE RICHARD Long Tall Sally/ HADDA BROOKS Jump Back Honey/ LAVERN
BAKER Tweedle Dee/ BO DIDDLEY Bo Diddley/ BELVEDERES Pepper Hot Baby/
JIMMY WILSON Jumpin' From 6 to 6/ ROY MILTON & HIS SOLID SENDERS Red
Light/ BULL MOOSE JACSKON I Want A Bow-Legged Woman/ WILLIE MABON I
Don't Know/ CHUCK WILLIS Caldonia/ RUTH BROWN Bye Bye Young Men/ JOE
TURNER & HIS BLUES KINGS Hide And Seek/ CHUCK BERRY Maybelline/ LITTLE
RICHARD Ready Teddy/ ELMORE JAMES & HIS BROOM DUSTERS Strange Kinda
Feelin'/ BIG JOHN GREER & DOLORES BROWN You Played On My Piano/ TRENIERS
Rock A-Beatin' Boogie/ H-BOMB FERGUSON & ANDY KIRK ORCHESTRA Hole In The
Wall/ RAVENS Rock Me All Night Long CD2: MITCHELL TOROK No Money Down/
DAVID HOUSTON Sugar Sweet/ ROSE MADDOX Wild Wild Young Girls/ BOYD
BENNETT & HIS ROCKETS Right Around The Corner/ JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO
Honey Hush/ BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS I'll Be True/ HARDROCK GUNTER
Perfect Woman/ EDDIE BOND Talkin' Off The Wall/ EDDIE COCHRAN Long Tall
Sally/ GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS Jump Back, Honey, Jump Back/ BONNIE
LOU Tweedle Dee/ BUDDY HOLLY Bo Diddley/ JAYE P MORGAN Pepper Hot Baby/
TOMMY SCOTT & HIS RAMBLERS Jumpin' From 6 to 6/ T TEXAS TYLER Red Light/
JIMMIE BALLARD I Want A Bow-Legged Woman/ TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD I Don't
Know/ CARL PERKINS Caldonia/ DARRELL GLENN Bye Bye Young Men/ BILL HALEY
& HIS COMETS Hide And Seek/ MARTY ROBBINS Maybelline/ ELVIS PRESLEY
Ready Teddy/ EDDY DUGOSH & THE AH-HA PLAYBOYS Strange Kinda Feelin'/
HANK PENNY & JAYE P MORGAN You Played On My Piano/ ESQUIRE BOYS Rock
A-Beatin' Boogie/ AMOS COMO & HIS TUNE TOPPERS Hole In The Wall/ ELLA
MAE MORSE Rock Me All Night Long
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Kent CDKEND 321 |
Slow 'n' Moody, Black & Bluesy & More |
● CD $18.98 |
26 tracks, 78 mins, very highly recommended
This is a
re-issue of a similarly titled 1994 CD (which was a 1983 LP before that)
which is missing two tracks, has two added, and alternate versions of
tracks (with extra verses or longer fade-outs). Raiding the vaults of
Los Angeles soul labels Kent, Modern, and RPM has long been the UK Kent
label's raison d'être, and this collection is among the first off the
assembly line (the third vinyl release, in fact). Showing the ballad
side of black music was the original goal of this collection, and time
hasn't lessened the need for this type of compilation nor has it dimmed
the power of these performances, by the likes of Z.Z. Hill, Clay
Hammond, Jimmy Holiday, B.B. King, and Johnny Copeland. Spanning the
years 1964 to 1971, there's much here to savor be it Terry & the Tyrants
Weep No More or Jimmy Robins' It's Real (Pt.1). This
collection turned heads in 1983 and again in 1994; and here it is back
and better than ever. Don't miss this one. (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Kent CDKEND 323 |
The 100 Club Anniversary Singles,
1979-2009 |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, 64 mins, highly recommended
Don't let the
title fool you: these tracks were not recorded in the 80's and 90's!
These cuts comprise the commemorative singles released by Kent Records
to commemorate each anniversary of the 6T's Rhythm 'N' Soul Club that
are given out to the club's members. In the Northern Soul tradition,
these songs are all rare R&B gems from various record company vaults
(Kent, Modern, Wand, Sceptor, and Musicor among others). The idea of a
compilation of songs that previously only a couple of hundred people is
not unusual in the Indie Rock world, but a bit of a novelty in R&B, and
the songs here do not disappoint: from the powerful jams of Milton
Bennett, Chuck Jackson, and Johnnie Taylor to sexy tones of Melba Moore
(!), Mary Love, Lorraine Chandler (a masterful version of the theme to
You Only Live Twice, that leaves Nancy Sinatra in the dust), and
Carla Thomas. The detailed liner notes give good insight into how the
tracks were chosen and from whence they came (but there's not enough
info on the origins of the club night itself). For some rare, hot
buttered 60's soul look no further than this collection. (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Kent CDKEND 326 |
GWP * NYC * TLC |
● CD $18.98 |
The second volume documenting Jerry W. Purcell's GWP
label and production company contains more work by R&B journeyman Larry
Banks (whose Larry Banks' Soul Family Album, Kent 284, we reviewed a
while back), as well as unsung New York producers George Kerr, Ed Bland,
Teacho Wishire. Spanning the late 60's into the early 70's, these tracks
complete the story of obscure talents like the Hesitations (with lead
singer Debbie Taylor), the Persians, Alice Clark, and the Devonnes. In
short: more rare 60's/70's soul from the vaults.
LARRY BANKS: I Really Love You/ My Life Is No Better/
ALICE CLARK: You Hit Me (Where It Hurt Me)/ THE DEVONNES: Doin' The
Gittin' Up/ I Don't Care What He's Done/ THE EXCEPTIONS: So Much In
Love/ LILLIE FIELDS: Changes/ BENNY GORDON: All In My Mind/ Don't Let
Your Mind Go Wild/ Never Give Up On Love/ THE HESITATIONS: Go Away/ Good
To Me (As I Am To You)/ Yes I'm Ready/ JAIBI AKA JOAN BATES: (It Was
Like A) Nightmare/ LITTLE ROSE LITTLE: Tennessee Waltz/ THE MODETTES: I
Won't Be Such A Fool/ BOBBY PENN: Without Your Love/ THE PERSIANS:
Detour/ Here It Comes/ PLUS 4: Happiest Girl In The World/ DEBBIE
TAYLOR: How Long Can This Last/ Never Gonna Let Him Know/ Stop/ Momma,
Look Sharp (From The Broadway Musical Comedy '1776')
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Now Again 5019 |
Texas Funk - Black Gold From The Lone
Star State |
● CD $15.98 |
21 tracks, 68 min. essential
Texas may at first seem an
unlikely source of funkiness, but as this release demonstrates (and as
the notes explain), it was pretty much funk central. Compilers have
included a couple of fairly well known acts (e.g., Sunny & The Sunliners), but most of these musicians started out obscure and become
less well known as time passed. All they have in common is Texas and
incredibly cool funk 45s, often only one or two, often on the tiniest of
labels. The Brothers Seven, James Polk & The Brothers, Joe Bravo, Road
Runners, Mickey & The Soul Generation, The Groove Merchants, Tickled
Pink, Timothy McNealy, and others make irresistible funk offerings, many
channeling James Brown to one degree or another, of course, but with a
variety of styles. The booklet notes overflow with detailed and
interesting information, photos, label pictures, session info, and more.
This is the way to reissue music. Not to be missed. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Pixie 1001 |
They Sang In Pittsburgh, Vol. 1 |
● CD $17.98 |
The first of five CDs mining the rich vein of rare and
unreleased doo-wop recordings from The Steel City recorded in the 50s
and early 60s. This is a considerably expanded version of a Crystal Ball
LP in 1990 and includes 27 tracks. The most well known groups here are
The Marcels (two acapella sides), The Del Vikings (two tracks including a
fine cover of Heart & Soul) and The Skyliners (the acapella OK).
Other groups include The Altairs, Dynamics, Chi-Tones, Embers, Laurels,
Fabulous Uptowns, etc. Nine tracks are acapella and five tracks are
previously unreleased.
THE ALTAIRS: If You Love Me/ THE CHAPELAIRES: Soul
Dinner (acap)/ Vacation Time/ THE CHARMERS: Song Of The Island*/ THE
CHI-TONES: Two Lovers/ THE DEL-VIKINGS: Heart & Soul/ We Three/ THE
DYNAMICS: Too Young (acap)/ THE EMBERS: Cause You're My Lover (acap)/
THE FABULOUS UPTOWNS: New Love I Have Found/ THE FENWAYS: Humpty Dumpty/
FRED & THE EMBERS: I Put The Bomp/ FRED & THE MARCELS: Come On And Love
Me (acap)/ JOHNNY GRECO: Silly Fool/ MARIA LADONNA: Pretty Little Baby/
THE LAURELS: Lips Of Fire/ Lonely Gypsy Girl/ LOU & THE SENSATIONS:
Hypnotize (acap)/ WALT MADDOX: Would I/ THE MARCELS: Wait For My Return
(acap)/ TERRI ROBBINS: My First Big Date/ THE SABRES: This Love Of
Mine*/ THE SKYLINERS: Ok (acap)/ THE SURBURBANS: Oh Baby*/ THE
TWILIGHTERS: Love Bandit/ Unchained Melody (acap)/ UNKNOWN*: Pennies
From Heaven(acap)*
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Pixie 1002 |
They Sang In Pittsburgh - Great Group
Sounds, Vol 2 |
● CD $17.98 |
27 more tracks from Pittsburgh groups - 15 of them
previously unreleased and 10 acapella.
THE ARVETTES: Lonely Emotions/ THE CAMEOS: Heart And
Soul (acap)*/ THE CAPITOLS: Day By Day/ THE DEL-VIKINGS: I've Got To
Know/ THE DYNAMICS: Moonlight (acap)*/ Pigeon Prance (acap)*/ THE
EMBERS: Because Of You (acap)*/ THE FOUR DOTS: He-man Looking For A
She-girl/ FRANKIE & THE FASHIONS: Pittsburgh/ JOHNNY GRECO: (i Just)
Can't Stand Losing You/ JERRY HILTON & THE DIADEMS: My Little Darling/
THE JETS: The White Cliffs Of Dover (acap)*/ MARIE LADONNA: Bobby Baby/
THE LAURELS: A Letter Full Of Tears/ LEROY & THE ENCHANTMENTS: Lonely
Heart/ LOU & THE SENSATIONS: Red Sails In The Sunset (acap)*/ The Diary
(acap)*/ RONALD MAC: Moonlight Sky/ TERRI ROBBINS: For You/ THE ROBERSON
BROTHERS: Wishing (acap)/ THE SABRES: Can It Be True/ LITTLE MAXINE
SIMMONS & GROUP: Since I Lost You/ THE SKYLINERS: Born To Be Lonely/ I
Love You So (acap)*/ THE TWILIGHTERS: Kissing Date (acap)*/ My Beatle
Haircut/ UNKNOWN: Red Sails In The Sunset (acap)*
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Pixie 1003 |
They Sang In Pittsburgh - Great Group
Sounds, Vol 3 |
● CD $17.98 |
27 more with 12 unreleased and and five acapella.
THE ARVETTES: At A School Dance/ THE BINDERS: Save The
Last Dance For Me/ LARRY BRYAN: On The Outside/ THE CAMEOS: We Were
Young*/ Wondering (acap)*/ THE CAPITOLS: Day By Day (acap/ THE
CHAPELAIRES: There Is No Heartache*/ LOU CHRISTIE: Fairy Tales*/ THE
CLASSMEN: Silver Medal/ RONNIE DEE & THE STANDARD MEN: About My Love/
THE DYNAMICS: Going To The Zoo (acap)*/ THE EMBERS: I Don't Know Why
(acap)*/ THE FENWAYS: Nothing To Offer You/ THE HI-LIFERS: Rags To
Riches (acap)*/ MARIE LADONNA & THE CHAPELAIRES: How Can I Let You Know/
THE MARCELS: Letter Full Of Tears/ You Don't Understand (acap)*/ JUDI
MILLER: Do You Know About Love/ THE ONCOMERS: You Let Me Down/ THE
SKYLINERS: I'd Die/ THE SOFT WINDS: Happy Anniversary*/ THE TEARS:
You've Still Got Time*/ THE TROYS: Nothing Sacred*/ THE TWILIGHTERS:
Back To School/ Sweet Lips/ You Better Make It/ JOHNNY YORK: Got My Eyes
On You
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Pow 4002 |
Pow City! Fabulous Shakers Soul Party |
● CD $16.98 |
22 tracks, highly recommended
Great collection of dance
oriented up tempo soul and funk from the mid 60s - much of it new to CD.
Little Richard is here with the exciting Soul Train, which I
don't this has been on CD before, showing he was far from being counted
out as a contemporary performer. Other artists include The Ditalians,
Dottie Campbell (a great cover of Sir Doug's (S)he's About A Mover),
King Coleman, Gate Wesley & Band (explaining how to Do The Batman),
Chet "Poison" Ivy (with the unfortunately named Poo Poo Man), The
Soul Brothers Six (the fabulous What You Got), Jesse Anderson,
Andre Williams, Jomo, Tony Borders and others. Lots of fun! (FS)
JESSE ANDERSON: Get Loose When You Get Loose/ TONY
BORDERS: Polly Wolly/ DOTTIE CAMPBELL: He's About A Mover/ KING COLEMAN:
Do The Boogaloo/ THE DITALIANS: I Gotta Go/ EDDY G. GILES: Go Go Train/
ROY HIGHTOWER & GANT GREEN: False Advertising/ MILTON HOWARD: The Funky
Shing-A-Ling/ THE INTERPRETATIONS: Automatic Soul Part 2/ CHET "POISON"
IVY: Poo Poo Man/ JOMO: Uhuru/ JOHNNY JONES & THE KING CASUALS: It's
Gonna Be Good/ WARREN LEE: Under Dog Back Street/ LITTLE RICHARD: Soul
Train/ WILLIE PARKER: You Got Your Finger In My Eye/ ROSCOE ROBINSON:
You Don't Move Me No More/ FREDDY SCOTT: Pow City/ SOUL BROTHERS SIX:
What You Got/ GATE WESLEY & BAND: Do The Batman/ ANDRE WILLIAMS: The
Stroke/ LONNIE YOUNGBLOOD: Go Go Place/ Go Go Shoes
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Rev-Ola 276 |
Blacula - Music From The Original Sound
Track |
● CD $16.98 |
14 tracks, 33 mins, highly recommended
Blaxploitation!
Just the word makes some people cringe, and others fire up the barbeque.
The Blaxploitation movies and soundtracks of the early and mid 1970's
were beloved by people of color at the time, and all but forgotten
(except by fans like Keenan Ivory Wayans) during the following decades.
It took Quentin Tarrantino, with his 1996 movie "Jackie Brown," to make
the genre hip again which is when we got tons of compilation CDs and
re-issues of the movies on DVD. Everyone knows "Shaft" and "Super Fly",
the "Birth of a Nation" and "Citizen Kane" of Blaxploitation, but how
many of you remember films like "Coffy" or "Truck Turner" or "Trouble
Man" (or any of the "Shaft" sequels, for that matter)? Only the diehards
know those movies, and that also goes for "Blacula", the Blaxploitation
version of the Dracula story. Although the soundtrack has been on CD
before (thanks to Razor & Tie), Rev-Ola brings us a spiffed up version
with the original art work and cool liner notes. Composer and
orchestrator Gene Page (who orchestrated tracks for everyone from Elton
John to the Righteous Brothers to Aretha Franklin, and played a large
part in Barry White's successful run in the 70's) was the mastermind of
this atmospheric soundtrack; although there's vocal contributions from
pre - Rock the Boat Hues Corporation and the 21st Century Ltd.,
the real draw here is the instrumentals: from the cop show thrust of
Movin' to the boogie-tastic Blacula Strikes! to the sensual
The Call (possibly a fore-runner of his work with White?) this is
mood music that can and does exist outside of the visuals. Of the tracks
with vocals, the Hues Corporation stuff comes off best, especially the
ballad What the World Knows and the menacing There He Is Again.
As might be expected from a man of Page's talents, the arrangements and
orchestrations are first rate (I can't give him credit for There He
is Again, however) and his skills as a composer (on the
instrumentals) are better than I would have thought. This is one of
those soundtracks that makes for good listening even if you're not a fan
of the movie, and serves as a reminder that Blaxploitation wasn't as bad
a phenomenon as some people remember. (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Soulscape 7006 |
Soul Chant - The Long Lost Malaco
Recordings |
● CD $19.98 |
21 tracks, 54 mins, recommended
Eddie Houston, and Betty
Johnson and Charles Warren (solo and as Betty & Charles) all recorded
for Jackson, Mississippi-based Malaco, and their long missing tunes have
been compiled on this disc. Most of these tracks were cut as singles and
released through Capitol Records and its subsidiaries during 1968, 1969,
and 1970. The Betty & Charles duet tracks are more or less in the style
of William Bell/Judy Clay duets; nothing you haven't heard before but
still very solid and entertaining for fans of the style, with That's
Why I Call You Mine and Can't Find Love the top of the pops.
The Betty & Charles solo tracks seem to date from 1979 (at least that's
when they were issued by Japanese company Vivid Sound), and they retain
the same deep soul grit as the earlier songs with No Good Man
(for her) and I'm Praying (for him) as the standouts. Houston is
another guy obviously influenced by Otis (with a dash of Sam Cooke), but
he gives his all on That's How Much (I Love You) and I Won't
Be the Last to Cry, two towering ballads that he wrote himself. The
bottom line is, we can thank Soulscape for rescuing these three singers
from obscurity and enjoy these songs for what they are: genuine southern
Soul expertly played and sung. (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Sound Of Soul 1004 |
Lost Soul Treasures, Vol. 4 |
● CD $17.98 |
27 tracks
THE AMBASSADORS: The Power Of Love/ JIMMY ARMSTRONG:
Close To You/ PRINCE BUSTER: Ten Commandments/ GENE CHANDLER: Rainbow/
JOE COOK: Doodle Pick/ DON COVAY: Popeye Waddle/ THE DELLS: It’s Not
Unusual/ DON AND DEWEY AND THE BLOSSOMS: Don’t Ever Leave Me/ THE FOUR
TEMPOS: Showdown/ VERNON GREEN: Am I Ever Gonna See MyBaby again/ MARGIE
HENDRIX & THE RAELETS: My Baby/ JACKIE AND THE STARLITES: Lonesome Boy/
THE JOLLY JAX: There Is Something On Your Mind Part 1/ There Is
Something On Your Mind Part 2/ THE LOST SOULS: It Won’t Work Out Baby/
BOBBY MARCHAN: Get Down With It/ JIMMY NORMAN: Here Comes The Night/ DOC
OLIVER: Going Through A Change Of Love/ THE O’JAYS: Lonely Drifter/
BOBBY POWELL: The Bells/ L.J. REYNOLDS: Let One Hurt Do/ THE
SPELLBINDERS: For You/ THE ULTIMATIONS: Without You/ ANDRE WILLIAMS:
Pearl Time/ DOROTHY WILLIAMS: Watchdog/ LEE WILLIAMS & THE CYMBALS: I
Love You More/ ROY “C™: I’ll Never Leave You Lonely
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
South Side Kingdom 9 |
South Side Soul, Vol. 9 |
● CD $17.98 |
Another collection of ultra rare soul from the 60s and
60s. 27 tracks featuring Ruby Sherry, Bobby Reed, Charlottia Gilbert,
Ronnie West, Marvin L. Sims, The Thrills, Heptones, Pat & Pam, Taste Of
Love, etc.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stateside 77649 |
Talcum Soul 5 |
● CD $11.98 |
26 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Apparently,
there's 4 other volumes in this series, but this is the first one
(released in 2005) that I've seen. At any rate, this aside is of
interest only because I wonder if the other entries in the series are as
misrepresented as this one is. The package boasts "twenty-six stonking
northern soul greats" which is fine and dandy except that I've always
been led to assume that "northern soul" referred to obscure American R&B
that had been played in clubs in Northern England; if that description
is indeed correct, then how can the compilers of this CD justify
including people like Helen Shapiro, Bobby Goldsboro, and Jackie De
Shannon? Ok, the tunes are really pop songs tarted up in R&B dressing,
and they are certainly the type of up-tempo stompers that would probably
appeal to northern soul DJs, but I can't help feeling that the folks who
put this particular volume together were reaching just a tad to make the
prescribed quota needed for a value-for-money collection. Anyway, for
what it's worth, the Shapiro, Goldsboro, and De Shannon songs are better
than average and don't exactly detract from the overall listening
experience; it's just the principle of the thing. Rant over, there's
plenty to savor here: tracks by Carole Fran, the Vontastics, Landy (?),
Cindy Scott (Tammi Terrell's cousin!), The Magnificent Seven, Herbie
Goins & the Nightimers, and the Crystals (the same tune is also on the
recent Ashford & Simpson compilation, released as Kent 318) are an
absolute joy and great to dance to! No Time For You from an early
edition of The O'Jays (with five members!) is also a real treat as are
tunes from The Flirtations, Homer Banks, Willie Hightower, and The
Gee's. With tracks spanning from 1966 to 1969, Talcum Soul 5 manages to
ultimately be a pretty decent sampling of obscure late 60's R&B. (GMC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stax 30811 |
Stax: The Soul Of Hip-Hop |
● CD $12.98 |
What - has Roots & Rhythm finally decided to embrace
contemporary African-American music?! Not really. This 14 track
collection collection of classic soul features tracks recorded for the
iconic Stax label between 1971 and 1975 that have been sampled in
various hip-hop hits from the 80s and 90s. Artists here include The
Emotions, The Barkays, Isaac Hayes, David Porter, The Charmels, Rufus
Thomas, etc. Artists that have used samples from these songs include
Public Enemy, Ghostface Killah, Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy, Notorious
B.I.G., The Geto Boys and more. The connections are discussed in detail
in the liner notes.
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