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Scroll down for reviews of : - the Best of The Impressions 1968 – 1976; Def Jam Classics; Staple Singers – Lets do it again; The Red Bird Story - Chess Pieces – the Very Best of Chess Records, Chess Psychedelic Jazz,  James Brown – Greatest Breakbeats; Soul Deep – The Story of Black Popular Music; Atlantiquity; Gil Scott-Heron – Anthology (Messages); Motown Disco; A cellarfull of Motown Vol 2; The Curtom Story; Kiki Dee – Love Makes the World Go round; Chess Tear jerkers; Chess Northern Soul; Chess soul Sisters; Chess Originals;Don Varner – Finally got over

the Best of The Impressions 1968 – 1976

 Info:-

The Best Of

Artist: The Impressions Label: Charly Cat No.: SNAP251CDFormat: CD DigipackRelease Date: 3/10/05

Price:  £ 8.99  (£7.65 outside EU)

 

THE CURTOM YEARS – 1968-76

One of the most successful and enduring groups in soul music, this collection features highlights from the group's recordings made for founder member Curtis Mayfield’s own label, Curtom Records, between 1968 and 1976.

On Curtom the group’s songs became even more political and socially conscious, very much reflecting the mood in America’s black community of the time. Their sound also took on a suitably harder, funkier edge.

Founder member, guitarist, producer and principal writer Curtis Mayfield was the group’s principal vocalist from 1957 up to 1970 when he left to pursue his solo career, his place being more than ably taken by Leroy Hutson. Hutson was in turn replaced by Reggie Torian and Ralph Johnson in 1973. All four singers feature in this collection.

Includes all of the group's major hits for Curtom, including Choice Of Colours, Check Out Your Mind, This Is My Country and Finally Got Myself Together.

1.       This Is My Country

2.       Fool For You

3.       Gone Away

4.       Choice Of Colors

5.       Mighty, Mighty (Spade And Whitey)

6.       Seven Years

7.       Wherever You Leadeth Me

8.       Check Out Your Mind

9.       (Baby) Turn On To Me

10.   You're Really Something, Sadie

11.   Ain't Got Time

12.   Times Have Changed

13.   Potent Love

14.   Preacher Man

15.   If It's In You To Do Wrong

16.   Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man)

17.   Something's Mighty, Mighty Wrong

18.   Make A Resolution

19.   First Impressions

20.   Same Thing It Took

21.   Sooner Or Later

22.   Loving Power

Review:-  Covering the end of the Mayfield era and the beginning of the new one. The Curtis Mayfield are almost without exception sublime, unmistakeable, mellow, lyrically thoughtful, provoking and challenging.  With Curtis at the helm the Impressions had developed into much more than the traditional 60’s mail vocal group into something quite unique. Seven Years and Wherever you leadeth me sounding particularly sweet at this time, and the move to harder edged material as he moved towards his solo career is clearly evident.

But they went on to make more top material with Leroy Hutson, Reggie Torian and Ralph Johnson in succession.  The group continued to have success but the kind of meandered under different directions and diferent controls but whatever came out was still quality material, Finally got myself together for example, a ballad of the highest order, great production and strings.

 

Of course times were changing as well , productions were getting disco-ised but the uptempo tracks liekMake a resolution are still worthy of attention.  First Impressions was a big hit in the UK of course.

 

Def Jam Classics http://www.defjam.co.uk/classics/

Universal are repressing a series of Classic 12” singles from Def Jam, whichhas been top for an amazing 21 years now.  19 classic cuts are being reissued, all instantly known, groundbeeaking in many ways, commercial in another. Little to be said with a list like this:-12"

packshot beastie01

Ashanti – Foolish

Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)

Case - Touch Me Tease Me

DMX - Party Up

DMX - Slippin'

Foxy Brown - I'll Be

Ja Rule - Always On Time

Ja Rule - Between Me & You

Ja Rule - Livin' It Up

LL Cool J - Doin' It

Method Man feat. Mary J Blige - I'll Be There For You / You're All I Need To Get By

Method Man & Redman - Da Rockwilder

Memphis Bleek - Is That Your Chick

Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It

Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype

Public Enemy - Fight The Power

Redman - Time 4 Sum Aksion

Slick Rick - Children's Story

Sisqo - Thong Song

 

Staple Singers – Lets do it again

GOSPEL GREATS’ 1975 CLASSIC – WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY CURTIS MAYFIELD

One of the great soundtracks, also containing one of the cuts, a high ranking favourite in my top tunes Lets do it again, Mavis’s vocals absolutely supreme. Funky Love is indicative of the sexual nature of the album, something maybe a bit unusual from a (predominantly) gospel outfit, but certainly fitting for Mavis’s vocals, and Curtis’s trademark strings and percussion.

Whole lotta love is ……I don’t normally do this, quote from the sleeve notes, but I couldn’t put it better or as well…….slippery as okra and funky as ham hocks!

New Orleans was a big hit, bit like Marvin’s Grapevine with a twist.  I wantto thank you is more Staples I suppose, full of gospel.

Ok this is short and some of it is soundtrack instrumentals but its all good nonethless.

“The Staple Singers were responsible for some of the sixties finest gospel music ever recorded while on Vee-Jay Records, but as the seventies progressed they started moving to a more secular sound with a string of gospel-funk hit singles on Stax.

‘Let’s Do It Again’ was released on Curtom Records in 1975, following the demise of Stax. The soundtrack to a successful comedy movie starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby, it gave Curtom one of its most successful albums, repeating the earlier soundtrack success of ‘Superfly’.

Produced by Curtis Mayfield, who also wrote all the songs on the album bar its instrumental closer.

One of The Staples Singers’ most successful albums, it made the US Top Twenty and spent eighteen weeks in the charts.

Includes two hit singles, ‘New Orleans’ and the title track, which gave the group its second National number one.”

  1. Let’s Do It Again
  2. Funky Love
  3. A Whole Lot Of Love
  4. New Orleans
  5. I Want To Thank You
  6. Big Mac
  7. After Sex
  8. Chase

 

The Red Bird Story –

A strange one for me Red Bird ranging from the twee, horrible pop to some tremendous soul and R’n’B cuts so we’l concentrate on the latter given it’s relevance to the site. ..but there’s a lot of 60’s pop to endure but overall its’s worth it--------so long as you jump back into American Graffiti mindset.

Broken down into 3 sets, The Hit Factory, The Collapse and From the Vaults.

For me the highlight is the early R’n’B as it broke through into Soul, the likes of Bessie Banks, Dee Dee warwicke with an extra special mention for Alvin Robinson whom I have adored since way back that I first heard Something you got on the DJM Record set Drivin Soul. Simple yet compelling New Orleans Soul.  Also worthy of mention the doowop style of the Adlibs and the Soul Brothers duet.

CD2 – the double sided Sam Hawkins is a gem, what a great voice which actually came to a good deal of prominence in the UK much much later as a folksy acoustic Blues singer.  Also some Northern Soul sides like Evie SandsSidney Barnes, Linda Jones, DidiNoel.  Bobby Moore#s It was a plea is also a bit of a tune, a strong deep impassioned tearjerker

CD3 – is diggin the crates time as we dig a little deeper. Sidney Barnes I;m so glad shines along with dee Dee warwick but eclipsed by the doo wop rarity The Tams featuring Little Floyd – a gem indeed. Also more of the gereat Bessie Banks.

THE DEFINITIVE 3-CD HISTORY OF LEIBER & STOLLER’S NEW YORK LABELS

“Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s legendary Red Bird label and its subsidiaries Blue Cat, Tiger and Daisy were responsible for some of the ‘60s finest and most influential pop, soul and R&B.

Home to The Shangri-Las, The Dixie Cups, The Ad Libs, Bessie Banks, Alvin Robinson, Dee Dee Warwick, Sam Hawkins, Ral Donner, Ellie Greenwich, Barry Mann and a whole host of more obscure but nevertheless talented artists, the Red Bird sound encompassed not just groundbreaking girl groups but also top quality soul and R&B.

This 3CD set traces the labels’ history from the original Tiger and Daisy singles right through to the company’s demise. It features all the hits including The Dixie Cups’ Chapel Of Love, The Shangri-Las Remember (Walkin’ In The Sand) and Leader Of The Pack along with many archive and hard to find tracks.

The set includes a 36-page booklet, containing an authoritative overview of Red Bird and biographies of all it’s major stars.”

  1. TIPPIE & THE CLOVERS Bossa Nova Baby
  2. CATHY SAINT Big Bad World
  3. MOODY & THE DELTAS Everybody Come Clap Your Hands
  4. LEOLA & THE LOVEJOYS He Ain't No Angel
  5. BESSIE BANKS Go Now
  6. DEE DEE WARWICK Don't Think My Baby's Coming Back
  7. THE DIXIE CUPS Chapel Of Love
  8. ALVIN ROBINSON Somethin’ You Got
  9. THE JELLY BEANS I Wanna Love Him So Bad
  10. CHI CHI McCAULEY I Know He Loves Me
  11. THE ROCKAWAYS Top Down Time
  12. THE DIXIE CUPS People Say
  13. THE SHANGRI-LAS Remember (Walkin' In The Sand)
  14. THE BUTTERFLYS Goodnight, Baby
  15. ALVIN ROBINSON Fever
  16. ALVIN ROBINSON Down Home Girl
  17. THE JELLY BEANS Baby Be Mine
  18. THE DIXIE CUPS You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me
  19. THE SHANGRI-LAS Leader Of The Pack
  20. BARRY MANN Talk To Me, Baby
  21. THE BUTTERFLYS I Wonder
  22. THE DIXIE CUPS Little Bell
  23. THE BUTTERFLYS Gee, Baby, Gee
  24. THE AD-LIBS The Boy From New York City
  25. THE TRADE WINDS New York's A Lonely Town
  26. THE SOUL BROTHERS I Got A Dream
  27. ALVIN ROBINSON I'm Gonna Put Some Hurt On You
  28. THE DIXIE CUPS Iko, Iko
  29. THE SHANGRI-LAS Out In The Streets
  30. JEFF BARRY Our Love Can Still Be Saved.
  1. RONNIE MITCHELL Having A Party
  2. THE TRADE WINDS The Girl From Greenwich Village
  3. SAM HAWKINS Hold On Baby
  4. SAM HAWKINS Bad As They Come
  5. THE AD-LIBS He Ain't No Angel
  6. THE SHANGRI-LAS Give Us Your Blessings
  7. THE BOUQUETS Welcome To My Heart
  8. THE GOODIES The Dum Dum Ditty
  9. THE DIXIE CUPS Gee, The Moon Is Shining Bright
  10. EVIE SANDS Take Me For A Little While
  11. EVIE SANDS Run Home To Your Mama
  12. ELLIE GREENWICH You Don't Know
  13. VIC DONNA I Won't Be Me Anymore
  14. RODDIE JOY If There's Anything Else You Want (Let Me Know)
  15. ANDY KIM I Hear You Say (I Love You Baby)
  16. THE SOUL BROTHERS Keep It Up
  17. SAM HAWKINS I Know It's All Right
  18. EVIE SANDS I Can't Let Go
  19. THE AD-LIBS I'm Just A Down Home Girl
  20. THE GOODIES Sophisticated Boom Boom
  21. SIDNEY BARNES I Hurt On the Other Side
  22. LINDA JONES Fugitive From Love
  23. THE JELLY BEANS Doo Wah Diddy
  24. LINDA JONES You Hit Me Like TNT
  25. DIDI NOEL Let The Music Play
  26. RAL DONNER It Will Only Make Me Love You More
  27. KANE & ABEL He Will Break Your Heart
  28. THE SHANGRI-LAS Past, Present And Future
  29. BOBBY MOORE & THE FOURMOST It Was A Lie
  30. GEORGE 'SHADOW' MORTON Dressed In Black (Demo)
  1. JEFF BARRYI'll Still Love You
  2. ELLIE GREENWICH Baby
  3. SIDNEY BARNES I'm So Glad
  4. JIMMY CROSS Hey, Little Girl
  5. THE JELLY BEANS Whisper Sweet Things
  6. BARRY MANN Amy
  7. THE DIXIE CUPS Another Boy Like Mine
  8. DEE DEE WARWICK Standing By
  9. RONNIE MITCHELL I'm Loving You More Every Day
  10. VIC DONNA Dance Marie
  11. THE LOVE JOYS It's Mighty Nice
  12. EVIE SANDS You've Got Me Uptight
  13. CHI CHI McCAULEY Memory Lane Without You
  14. THE AD-LIBS Ask Anybody
  15. THE TAMS (featuring LITTLE FLOYD) My Baby Loves You
  16. BESSIE BANKS It Sounds Like My Baby
  17. THE LOVE JOYS Payin' (For The Wrong I've Done)
  18. JIMMY CROSS Super Duper Man
  19. RODDIE JOY Love Me With A Wallop
  20. RODDIE JOY Come Back Baby
  21. JIMMY RICE The Grass Is Always Greener
  22. JIMMY RICE Or Not At All
  23. JIMMY RICE Nobody But You
  24. THE TAMS (featuring LITTLE FLOYD) Here I Am
  25. RAL DONNER Love Isn't Like That
  26. THE AD-LIBS Johnny My Boy
  27. THE DIXIE CUPS All Grown Up
  28. THE DIXIE CUPS Wrong Direction
  29. BOB MOORE & THE TEMPS Trophy Run
  30. BOB MOORE & THE TEMPS Braggin'

Chess Pieces – the Very Best of Chess Records

“Not only did Chess lay the template for rock'n'roll, releasing what is widely considered to be the first ever rock'n'roll record, 1951's 'Rocket 88' by Jackie Brenston they are also responsible for kick-starting the British blues and beat boom the following decade. For without Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Sonny Boy Williamson there would be no Rolling Stones, who were so in awe of the label and its stars that they named themselves after the Muddy Waters tune of the same name and took a pilgrimage to the Chess recording studios to record their Five By Five EP and pay homage to the bluesmen that had inspired their group's early sound (the EP includes the instrumental, 2120 South Michigan Avenue, named after the Chess records address). Chess covers the whole spectrum of black music from blues to doo-wop, rock 'n' roll to r&b, pop to soul to jazz and psychedelic.”

A double album covering the life of Chess and all its genres. It’s all great stuff, but all predictable and I guess the die hards will have all of their personal relevant ones in their collection in some shape or form.  But to a more casual listener, or to somebody who wants everything in one place, or wants to explore a bit more laterally into other genres then this compilation will be invaluable

·  Tracks:

  1. Rocket 88 (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  2. How Many More Years (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  3. Juke (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  4. Suagr Mama (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  5. Dust My Broom ~ Various Artists
  6. Reconsider Baby (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  7. Mybellene (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  8. Bo Diddley (1955 Single Version (mono)) ~ Various Artists
  9. Mannish Boy (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  10. Don't Start Me To Talkin' (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  11. When The Lights Go Out ~ Various Artists
  12. (i'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man (1954 Single Version) ~ Various Artists
  13. My Babe (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  14. Ain't Got No Home ~ Various Artists
  15. Smokestack Lightnin' (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  16. Susie-q ~ Various Artists
  17. Walking By Myself (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  18. Johnny B Goode (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  19. Walk ~ Various Artists
  20. Ten Commandments Of Love ~ Various Artists
  21. Say Man (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  22. I Just Want To Make Love To You (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  23. Rinky Dink ~ Various Artists
  24. You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  25. Mama Didn't Lie ~ Various Artists
  26. Sally Go Round The Roses ~ Various Artists
  27. Something's Got A Hold On Me (1961 Single Version) ~ Various Artists
  28. No Particular Place To Go ( Single Version) ~ Various Artists
  29. Selfish One ~ Various Artists
  30. I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night ~ Various Artists
  31. High Heel Sneakers ~ Various Artists
  32. Soulful Dress ~ Various Artists
  33. Don't Mess Up A Good Thing ~ Various Artists
  34. Rescue Me (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  35. Entertainer ~ Various Artists
  36. We're Gonna Make It (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  37. Sitting In The Park (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  38. Wade In The Water (album Version) ~ Various Artists
  39. Searching For My Love (w/the Rhythm Aces) ~ Various Artists
  40. Summertime (album Version) ~ Various Artists
  41. Wang Dang Doodle (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  42. Dirty Man ~ Various Artists
  43. You Left The Water Running ~ Various Artists
  44. Here Comes The Judge ~ Various Artists
  45. Woman Of The Ghetto (album Version) ~ Various Artists
  46. I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (album Version) ~ Various Artists
  47. Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation (single Version) ~ Various Artists
  48. Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You (album Version) ~ Various Artists

Chess Psychedelic Jazz –

Now whilst the title above might be a little predictable this one goes a little deeper and a little more leftfield from groovy West Coast 60’s of Rotary to funky mod breaks and beats.  A truly eclectic mix from classics like Marlena Shaw to lesser knowns.

 

 

 

Track Listings

1. Tales Of Brave Ulysses - Rotary Connection
2. Crosstown Traffic - Upchurch, Phil
3. I Can't Get Next To You - Herman, Woody
4. Woman Of The Ghetto - Shaw, Marlena
5. Afro Harping - Ashby, Dorothy
6. Listen Here - Soulful Strings
7. Do Whatever Sets You Free - Lewis, Ramsey
8. Thanks I Needed That - Burke, Solomon
9. Tight Money - Wilson, Reuben

10. It's Your Thing - Herman, Woody
11. Third Stone From The Sun - Klemmer, John
12. Everlasting Love - Burke, Solomon
13. Bad Trip - Diddley, Bo
14. Tom Cat - Waters, Muddy
15. I Wish It Would Rain - Soulful Strings
16. Les Fleur - Lewis, Ramsey
17. I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun - Rotary Connection

Chess Tear jerkers

Whooaw, these kind of albums come around far too infrequently, deep soul of the highet order.  The first one togive me back of the neck chills was Laura lee’s She will break your heart – evreything sounds so basic, the organ, the bashing drum, the chorus, until Laura’s emotion piles in on top of all that.  Early 60’s male duos hold a position in the heart of deep soul enthusiasts and Maurice and Mac are no exception to that.

Fontella Bass is best known for the overplayed Motownesque Rescue Me, but her version of Since I fell for you really hits the spot, but her Need to belong probably surpasses that.  Freddie Hughes is also known for uptempo numbers but this I can’t make it is superb, it is like a Northern Soul track slowed down to slower than walking pace with impassioned vocals. The Knight Brothers also contains some exceptional vocals and vocal interplay.  Gene Chandler’s sweet vocals on After the laughter is as upbeat as you get.

The ladies are well represented.  Two tracks from Irma Thomas who can do not a lot wrong in my book.  The best of 3 Etta James is I had a talk with my man.  Mitty Collier is represented by two tracks and Marlena Shaw one.

Losers Weepers - James, Etta, She Will Break Your Heart - Lee, Laura ,You Left The Water Running - Maurice & Mac, Since I Fell For You - Bass, Fontella ,I Can't Make It Without You - Hughes, Fred, Somewhere Crying - Thomas, Irma ,Only Time Will Tell - James, Etta ,Temptation 'Bout To Get Me - Knight  Brothers, I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night - Collier, Mitty, ,Nothing But Tears - Shaw, Marlena, Need To Belong - Lee, Laura ,Without A Woman - Anderson, Kip, You'll Never Know - Bass, Fontella, After The Laughter (Here Come The Tears) - Chandler, Gene, It's Mighty Hard - Lee, Laura, I'd Rather Go Blind - James, Etta, Have Pity On Me - Young, Billy ,Drown In My Own Tears - Collier, Mitty ,Yours Until Tomorrow - Thomas, Irma, I Fooled You This Time - Chandler, Gene

Chess Northern Soul

An interesting mix of gritty Northern tracks out of the Chess (and related) stable.  Steaped in classic 60’s uptown soul, from the sweeter Chicago side to the harder Southern style R’n’B.

Storming intro with the Wade in the water vocal, classic Chicage of Mamie Galore and pounding never giving up Radiants – all so differenet yet all so loved in the Uk.  No set would be complete without The Dells with the vocally sublime, though fast paced, Wear it on our face, and their perennial classic Run for cover.

Love Reputation by Denise Lasalle still remains one of my favourites, or at least one I never tire of.  Terry Callier personally I have never particularly cared for but his two best known Northern tracks feature.  The Gospel Classics is fantastic vocals. The ValentinosSweeter a track that seems not be be tired of regardless of what time you jumped onto the Strange World.  Nice little section of Bobby McClure and Little Milton.

Old favourites intersperse the action like Tony Clark, Ramsey Lewis

Track of the album for me is the mellow easy Fugitive Kind by Tony Clarke

Let's Wade In The Water - Shaw, Marlena, It Ain't Necessary - Galore, Mamie, Hold On – Radiants, Wear It On Our Face – Dells, Love Reputation - LaSalle, Denise, Ordinary Joe - Callier, Terry, More Love That's What We Need - Gospel Classics, Leave It In The Hands Of Love - Bass, Fontella, Landslide - Clark, Tony, Sweeter Than The Day Before – Valentinos, More And More - Little Milton ,Peak Of Love - McClure, Bobby, Run For Cover – Dells, You Colored My Blues Bright - Little Milton, Make Sure – Dells, Boo Ga Loo Baby - Tommy & Cleve, Look At Me Now - Callier, Terry, ,Fugitive Kind - Clarke, Tony ,I Can't Help Myself – Gems, Wade In The Water - Lewis, Ramsey

Chess soul Sisters

A terrific set of gutsy strong voiced female soul from the Chess stable, containing a sufficient mix of lesser heard tracks and popuar oldies to retain interest, bolstered by R’n’b/Northern tracks that will increase appeal (in this country at least).

Kickin off with the excellent R’n’B anthem of recent years Seven day Fool.  The names are those that you would expect to see (and hear) such as Etta James, koko Taylor, Laura lee, Irma Thomas and Marlena Shaw.

Great inclusion is Mitty collier’s storming punchy Git Out. Northern and 6t’s soul heads will be satiated by the inclusion of Barbara Carr, Joy Lovejoy, jaynettes, Sugar Pie desanto, Fontella Bass and the like.

On the deep side a classic Laura Lee, Dirty man, two tracks from the wonderful irma Thomas (tracks of the album in my view, especially Cheater Man), and closing with the populr KFC ad California Soul.

Seven Day Fool - James, Etta, Yes It's Good For You - Taylor, Koko, Liberation Conversation - Shaw, Marlena,  Git Out - Collier, Mitty,Dirty Man - Lee, Laura, Take Me For A Little While - Ross, Jackie, Don't Knock Love - Carr, Barbara, In Orbit - Lovejoy, Joy, Cheater Man - Thomas, Irma, Don't Mess With The Messer - Taylor, Koko, Fire - James, Etta, I Don't Wanna Fuss - Sugar Pie Desanto, I Surrender - Bass, Fontella, We Got Something Good - Thomas, Irma, It's How You Make It Good - Lee, Laura, My Babe - Collier, Mitty, Tease Your Man - Taylor, Koko, Rescue Me - Bass, Fontella,Sally Go Round The Roses – Jaynetts, California Soul - Shaw, Marlena

Chess Originals

I hope this goes a long towards educating about the source of the British Beat Boom of the 60’s.  Fairplay to the artists for finding the material I guess but what did it add to the music, absolute diddley. Most of, in fact all, of these tracks are know to me and they all contain the rawness that was sadly lacking in the pop watered down cover versions. Rawness? No …Soul (or R’n’B), not one of the derivitive versions even came close and this is so readily shown with this compilation…so from whatever angle you are finding these tracks enjoy.

Who Do You Love - Diddley, Bo, Come On - Berry, Chuck, Baby Please Don't Go - Waters, Muddy, Killing Floor - Howlin' Wolf, Don't Start Me To Talkin' - Williamson, Sonny Boy, My Babe - Little Walter, High Heel Sneakers - Tucker, Tommy, Susie Q - Hawkins, Dale, Rock And Roll Music - Berry, Chuck , You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover - Diddley, Bo Rollin' And Tumblin' - Waters, Muddy ,Spoonful - Howlin' Wolf ,I Just Want To Make Love To You - Waters, Muddy, I'm A Man - Diddley, Bo ,Back Door Man - Howlin' Wolf ,Got My Mojo Working - Waters, Muddy ,Pills - Diddley, Bo ,Too Much Monkey Business - Berry, Chuck ,Road Runner - Diddley, Bo ,Red Rooster - Howlin' Wolf ,Help Me - Williamson, Sonny Boy ,Memphis - Berry, Chuck ,Tell Mama - James, Etta ,I Can Tell - Diddley, Bo ,Nothin' Shakin' (But The Leaves On The Trees) - Fontaine, Eddie

Don Varner – Finally got over to be finalised

Kiki Dee – Love Makes the World Go round (release date 1 August 2005 – Cat 983 1795)

Available for the first time on CD featuring Kiki’s only Motown album in its entirety (Tracks 1-12) , plus 2 other rare tracks (tracks 13-14) and 4 previously unreleased cuts.  Comes complete with original artwork.

Whilst it’s all pretty unspectacular being (mainly) covers of other Motown or Soul material and leans towards the middle of the road end of Motown there was probaly enough shown to warrant some more perseverence.

Tracks 1. The Day Will Come Between Sunday And Monday, 2. Johnny Raven; 3. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing;4. Jimmy; 5. I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You; 6. More Today Than Yesterday; 7. Oh Be My Love; 8. Love Makes The World Go Round; 9. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me; 10. Love Is A Warm Kind Of Sorrow; 11. For Once In My Life; 12. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me); 13. I Second That Emotion; 14. I'll Try Something New
15. Walk On By;16. Mr Loneliness;17. I'll Have You You'll Have Me;18. Put A Little Love In Your Heart

The Curtom Story

A wonderfully packaged box set, with excellent booklet, but most of all with music to match.  Top Chicago, Curtis influenced material for the decade or so from the late 60’s, encompassing all sub genres odf soul music, killer ballads, group soul, blues, deep soul, uptown, world view, provocative, funky and the sensual.

So many highlights but just to pick out a few.  On CD1 subtitled Windy City Mixture it must be the Five Stairsteps including the sublime midtempo groover, the upbeat classic Stay Close to me and Don’t waste your time, and the searing ballad Come back. And talking of such things a Southern Soul gem in June Conquest.  Additional tracks also tracks that will please the Northern Soul fraternity like the Fascinations wonderful girlie groovy I’m so lucky and the Winstons singalong Need a Replacement.  The Mayfield Singers also worthy of a special mention and of course the Impressions This is my country and Choice of Colors.

CD2 is titled Chicago Superpeople, so over to the big hitters (with one or two exceptions) the vibe is emerging into the kind that you associate more readily with Curtis and the label, a definite Curtis stamp and feel, more thoughtful and provocative lyrically. Top tracks the epic Ain’t got no time (Impressions), the wonderful Leroy Hutson’s midtempo love ballad calssic I’m so in love with you and the hauntingly beautiful Lets do it again (Staple Singers).

CD3 Silk’n’Soul lusher on the production as Soul moved on into a new era the top players were still the Stairsteps and leroy Hutson but Natural Four are also worthy of a mention.

“Founded and overseen by the legendary Curtis Mayfield who, as well as being its most significant and prolific recording artist, wrote and produced a lot of the output from its impressive artist roster. Curtom’s distinctive sound came to epitomise Chicago soul.
As well as including all of Curtom’s key national and R&B hits from its major stars, such as Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, Leroy Hutson, The Natural Four and Linda Clifford, this set includes a host of hard-to-find rarities from its unsung heroes. The 75 tracks across the three themed discs trace Curtom’s history and contain all it’s hits from its first to its last.

Disc One - Windy City Mixture
Tracks 01 - 30

Disc Two - Chicargo Superpeople
Tracks 31 - 52

Disc Three - Chicargo Silk 'n' Soul
Tracks 53 - 75

1 Jamo Thomas – I Spy (For The FBI) 2 The Five Stairsteps – Don’t Waste Your Time 3 The Five Stairsteps - Come Back 4 June Conquest - Take Care 5 Cash Mccall - You Mean Everything To Me 6 The Fascinations - I'm So Lucky (He Loves Me) 7 The Mayfield Singers - I've Been Trying 8 The Fascinations - Girls Are Out To Get You 9 June Conquest - What's This I See 10 The Amazers - Without A Warning 11 The Symphonics – Guilty 12 The Winstons - Need A Replacement 13 The Five Stairsteps & Cubie - Don't Change Your Love 14 The Impressions - Fool For You 15 The Five Stairsteps & Cubie - Stay Close To Me 16 , The Impressions - This Is My Country 17 Donny Hathaway & June Conquest - I Thank You 18 Baby Huey - Mighty Mighty Children 19 The Impressions - Seven Years 20 Bobby Franklin's Insanity - Bring It On Down To Me (Part 1) 21 Holly Maxwell – Suffer 22 The Impressions - Choice Of Colors 23 Nolan Chance - I'll Never Forget You 24 The Stridells - Mix It Up 25 Moses Dillard & Tex-Town Display - I've Got To Find A Way (To Hide My Hurt) 26 The Impressions - Check Out Your Mind 27 Jesse Anderson - I Got A Problem 28 Freddie Waters - I Love You, I Love You, I Love You 29 Major Lance - Stay Away From Me (I Love You Too Much) 30 The Impressions - Baby Turn On To Me 31 Major Lance - Must Be Love Coming Down 32 The Impressions - Ain't Got Time 33 Love's Children - Soul Is Love 34 Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up 35 Curtis Mayfield – Superfly 36 Leroy Hutson - So In Love With You 37 The Natural Four - Can This Be Real 38 Gene Chandler - Just Be True 39 Triplett Twins - Get It 40 The Jones Girls - Will You Be There 41 Ground Hog - Bumpin' 42 Chuck Ray – Reconsider 43 The Natural Four - You Bring Out The Best In Me 44 The Notations – Superpeople 45 Leroy Hutson - Lucky Fellow 46 The Impressions - Sooner Or Later 47 The Notations - Think Before You Stop 48 The Staple Singers - Let's Do It Again 49 Mavis Staples - A Piece Of The Action 50 Linda Clifford - Runaway Love 51 Fred Wesley - House Party 52 The Five Stairsteps - I'm The One Who Loves You 53 The Natural Four - Baby, Come On 54 Leroy Hutson - It's Different 55 Arnold Blair - Trying To Get Next To You 56 The Natural Four - Heaven Right Here On Earth 57 The Notations - It's Alright (This Feeling) 58 Leroy Hutson - Cool Out 59 Dewi Cheetum & Howe - Impossible Decision 60 Mystique - Fill You Up 61 Leroy Hutson - I Do, I Do (I Want To Make Love To You) 62 Ed Townsend - How Could You Do It? 63 Rasputin Stash - The Devil Made Me Do It 64 The Fascinations - You'll Be Sorry 65 Billy Butler - The Saga Of Sadie Lee 66 The Notations - I'm Losing 67 Leroy Hutson - Can't Stay Away 68 The Jones Girls - If You Don't Start Nothing 69 The Natural Four - Give This Love A Try 70 Chuck Ray - I'll Be There 71 The Five Stairsteps - Behind Curtains 72 The Staple Singers - New Orleans 73 , The Natural Four - Eddie, You Should Know Better 74 Rasputin Stash - You're So Special 75 Linda Clifford - It's Gonna Be A Long, Long Winter

A cellarfull of Motown Vol 2

this album is getting massively powerful reviews,pretty much across the board so far as I can detect.  It is being hailed as being exceptional, essential.  So I’m gonna get some flack here then! Ok it is unmistakenly Motown, contains several great tracks, is of massive historical interest and reference but…

if you could go back in time, implant yourself into on of those infamous weekly meetings and you heard one of these tracks against those tracks we now know with hindsight that became huge, you also would have consigned most of these to the vaults.  I rest my case with the Dalton Boys!

So as a musical reference point, a completeness anorak perspective fine…….but what about the music.  I wonder whether we are reaching a point where these kind of issues will become derogoratory to the image of the label.  I mean lets say you are a young music lover , heard of Motown, but never really heard anything, you go to your local store you will find this album side by side with one of the classic motown compilations, you only can afford one and you buy this one!

Tracks , Earl Van Dyke - All Day All Night, 2. Eddie Holland - Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While), 3. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Every Day I'll Love You More Than Yesterday, 4. J.J. Barnes - Every Time I See You, I Go Wild!, 5. The Elgins - My Two Arms - You = Tears ,6. Carolyn Crawford - Keep Stepping (Never Look Back), 7. Dalton Boys - Take My Hand,8. The Marvelettes - The Boy From Crosstown, 9. The Monitors - I Can't Get Along Without You, 10. Stevie Wonder - I Gave Up Quality For Quantity, 11. Martha & The Vandellas - Start With Joy In The Morning, 12. The Detroit Spinners - What Am I Gonna Do Without You, 13. Kim Weston - After Teh Rain, 14. Marv Johnson - Let's Talk It Over, 15. Little Lisa - Choo Choo Train, 16. Tommy Good - I've Gotta Get Away
17. The Vows - Show Girl, 18. Creations - In The Dark, 19. Hattie Littles - Love Trouble Heartache & Misery,20. The Temptations - Positively Absolutely Right
21. Shorty Long - A Woman Just Won't Do Right

Diana Ross & The Supremes - Honey Bee (Keep On Stinging Me), 2. J.J. Barnes - Everybody Needs Somebody (I Need You) ,3. The Miracles - Hoping The Pause Is Helping The Cause, 4. Debbie Dean - Baby Baby I'm In Love Again, 5. The Isley Brothers - I Can't Go On Sharing Your Love ,6. The Lewis Sisters – Breakaway, 7. Four Tops - It's A Lonely World Without Your Love, 8. Connie Haines - Midnight Johnny, 9. The Contours - Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy, 10. Chris Clark - Sweet Loving,11. Terry Johnson - My Spring Time, 12. Martha & The Vandellas - Lone, Lonely Town, 13. The Originals - Nothing In This World Like My Baby, 14. The Monitors – Words,15. The Supremes - You've Got To Pay The Price, 16. Rita Wright - Where Is The Love,17. Blinky - Rescue Me, 18. Patrice Holloway - Those DJ Shows, 19. Tammi Terrell - My Heart, 20. The Marvelettes - I Hope You Have Better Luck Than I Did, 21. Brenda Holloway - Crying Time

Motown Disco – released August 1 Cd 9823072 LP 9829099

A motown compilation that is in a slightly different area than many of th epredominantly 60’s based ones. Coming from the 70’s and indeed into the 80’s covering the ‘disco’ era. If you want to describe this as disco so be it but it is still , for the most part, strong and fresh and does not containthe dated ‘disco’ derivatives that people tend not to like.

The riffs in Law of the land are so good, sound as relevant today and this track as much as many of th eothers truly stands the test of time. Eddie Kendricks wonderful ‘Trucking’ at 8 minutes certainly didn’t need the recent remix.  The Originals does sound a little disco contrived but there is so much going on in the track, and the vocals are superb. Eddie K’s second offering Date with the Rain is one of the top tracks on the album with crossover appeal.

Marvin gaye just sounds good in pretty much everything he does.  Thelma Houston who was strong in this era is represented by her big hit Don't Leave Me This Way and Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.

The three tracks closing CD1 Rick James & The Stone City Band - You & I , Platinum Hook - Standing on the Verge, Tata Vega - Get It Up For Love show a funk intensity ot usually associated with Motown and its ironic that the top man in this subgenre was within the compound in the 60’s – one George Clinton

 

The Dynamic Superiors – and without looking it up I don’t know who produced it – is very Norman Whitfield esque complete with 60’s vocal throwback.  21st Creation contains some great vocals even though the track is one track that is a bit too ‘disco’.