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Scroll down for reviews of : - Sparks Presents Motown – Made to Measure; Marvin Gaye – The Real Thing; The Sound stage 7 Story; The Best of Rotary Connection ;Chuck Jackson – The Motown Anthology;  Kim Weston – The Motown Anthology; The Ultimate Isaac Hayes – Can you dig it?; Motown Made to Measure: James Brown’s Funky People’s Greatest Breakbeats: Cameo Parkway 1957 – 1967; Late Night Motown: The Story of Bo Diddley; Chuck Berry – Reelin and Rockin;

Sparks Presents Motown – Made to Measure

As I mention below I cannot see much sense in the concept, and all of the tracks are well known top, pretty standard fare, Motown items, as a compilation this isn’t a bad selection of tunes, steeped mainly in the 60’s but a few others from Funk to Ballads thrown in.

Cleo's Back - Walker, Junior & The All Stars; 2. Workout Stevie Workout - Wonder, Stevie ;3. Can I Get A Witness - Gaye, Marvin; 4. Brick House – Commodores; 5. Get Ready - Temptations (1); 6. Don't Leave Me This Way - Houston, Thelma; 7. Mickey's Monkey – Miracles ;8. Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas; 9. Smiling Faces - Undisputed Truth; 10. Money - Strong, Barrett ;11. Nitty Gritty - Knight, Gladys & The Pips
12. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) - Weston, Kim; 13. ABC - Jackson Five ;14. Keep On Truckin' - Kendricks, Eddie ;15. Back In My Arms Again - Supremes (1); 16. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted - Ruffin, Jimmy ;17. Agent Double O Soul - Starr, Edwin ;18. You Beat Me To The Punch - Wells, Mary; 19. First I Look At The Purse – Contours ;20. Ben - Jackson, Michael

 

Marvin Gaye – The Real Thing

“This is it — the songs and the footage fans have been waiting for. For the first time ever — the definitive DVD collection of one of America’s greatest stars!

Issued with the full cooperation of the Marvin Gaye estate, this is the first official DVD anthology of classic archival television performances by a Motown artist.  Features Marvin Gaye performing his biggest Motown hits, from “Hitch Hike” to “Let’s Get It On” and more, in original classic clips from television and film.

 Tracks: -1.  Hitch Hike 2.  Pride & Joy 3.  Can I Get A Witness 4.  Pretty Little Baby 5.  Ain't That Peculiar 6.  You're A Wonderful One 7.  Ain't No Mountain High Enough 8.  I Heard It Through The Grapevine 9.  What's Going On 10.  What's Happening Brother 11.  Come Get To This 12.  Let's Get It On 13.  Distant Lover 14.  A Funky Space Reincarnation 15.  Ego Tripping Out / Sex and Religion 16.  Heavy Love Affair 17.  Hitch Hike 18.  Pride & Joy 19.  Can I Get A Witness 20.  Pretty Little Baby 21.  Ain't That Peculiar 22.  You're A Wonderful One 23.  Ain't No Mountain High Enough”

Review: - A beautifilly package DVD and CD package with 25 marvellous ‘videos’ from the Motwon early days in 1964 and 1965 right through till the 80’s, all taken from US and European TV shows such as Footage TV clips from Hollywood A Go-Go, The Dinah Shore Show, Hollywood Palace and American Bandstand, rarely seen since first aired. 

The stunning, long-lost live concert footage from the documentary film, Save The Children, now on home video for the first time anywhere, featuring Marvin with several Funk Brothers including James Jamerson — now with restored stereo audio from the Motown vault

There are 2 hours of performances, remastered.  In between Marvin talks about his life and his music taken from various interviews.  There is a 50 minute concert , recently unearthed,  from Marvin’s hardly-seen Belgium concert, aired only on local Belgian TV in 1981.  Fascinating piece of Marvin in the Studio.

Includes a 24-page booklet with an extensive essay by Grammy® Award-winning writer, Rob Bowman, including rare photographs and memorabilia.   The CD contains a 70 minute concert in Europe in 1976 which is actually very good, and a 24 page booklet.

This package is essential for Marvin fans, no Motown fans, no Soul Fans, no Music Fans, no EVERYBODY.

The Sound stage 7 Story

Sound Stage Seven Story -  Various - Label: Charly -  SNAJ734CD

 3 Disc Box Set

Price:  £ 19.99  (£17.01 outside EU)

 

THE DEFINITIVE 3CD HISTORY OF NASHVILLE SOUTHERN SOUL LABEL

Run by legendary DJ John Richbourg, one of the first broadcasters to play records by the likes of Chuck Berry, James Brown, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin, Nashville-based Sound Stage 7 Records and its affiliated labels - Seventy Seven, Sound Plus and Luna – was responsible for releasing some of the finest Soul and R&B to emerge from America’s South between 1965 and 1977, the golden era of Soul Music

Not surprisingly, given its Nashville connection, the label’s output shows a strong country music influence, even by Southern Soul standards, and some of it was deeply rural and raw-sounding, often embracing blues and gospel and providing a welcome contrast to the slicker and more polished sounds coming out of the big cities at the time.

Disc One of the set, ‘Deep Soul Survey’, concentrates on Sound Stage 7’s first six years (1965-1970).

Disc Two, ‘Deep Soul Survives’, covers the years 1971 through to 1977 and brings in not only releases on Sound Stage 7 during that time, but also product from Richbourg’s own labels Seventy Seven, Sound Plus and Luna. This set then is more than just the story of one label, but rather the output of Richbourg’s production company, JR Enterprises Inc.

Disc Three, ‘Deeper Soul’, digs deeper into the archives and features a host of Southern Soul gems and rarities.

The accompanying 36-page booklet is provides a overview of the SS7 group of labels. As well as a detailed label story, it includes biographies of the major artists and individual tracks notes.

  1. John R -Mojo Blues
  2. Roscoe Shelton- I Know Your Heart Has Been Broken
  3. Little Richie -I Wish I Was A Baby
  4. Gwen Davis- I Can't Be Your Part-Time Baby
  5. Jimmy Church- Right On Time
  6. Lattimore Brown -I Know I'm Gonna Miss You
  7. Roscoe Shelton- Easy Going Fellow
  8. Joe Simon- Teenager's Prayer
  9. Sam Baker- Something Tells Me
  10. Allen Orange -V C Blues
  11. The Ambassadors -There's Something On My Baby's Mind
  12. Roscoe Robinson- Why Are You Afraid
  13. Ella Washington -I Can't Afford To Lose Him
  14. Joe Simon -You Keep Me Hangin' On
  15. Sam Baker -Sunny
  16. Ted Ford -Please Give Me Another Chance
  17. Lattimore Brown- Otis Is Gone (Part 1)
  18. Soul Ambassadors -Just Like She Said She Would
  19. Ella Washington- He Called Me Baby
  20. Margie Hendrix -Don't Destroy Me
  21. Roscoe Robinson -I'm Burning And Yearning (For You)
  22. Joe Simon -The Chokin' Kind
  23. Sam Baker- It's All Over
  24. Fenton Robinson- The Getaway
  25. Piney Brown- Nashville Wimmen
  26. Chuck Armstrong-How Sweet It Is
  27. Moody Scott- I'll Find My Sunshine
  28. The Valentines -Got To Get Yourself Together
  29.  Fenton Robinson- Little Turch e Electrifying- Cashmeres What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)
  1. Ella Washington -Too Weak To Fight
  2. Willie Hobbs -Where Did I Go Wrong
  3. The Continental Showstoppers- Never Set Me Free
  4. Billy Mills -Sad Memories
  5. Alder Ray Black- Just Because The Package Has Been Unwrapped (Doesn't Mean The Merchandise Is Spoilt)
  6. Jackie Beavers- Someone Bigger Than You Or Me
  7. Charles Smith -I'm Useless
  8. Fenton Robinson- She's A Wiggler
  9. Earl Gaines -You're The One
  10. Geater Davis -Your Heart Is So Cold
  11. Charles Smith -Why Can't I Cry
  12. Earl Gaines -Hymn Number 5
  13. Geater Davis- I've Got To Pay The Price
  14. Ann Sexton -You're Gonna Miss Me
  15. Brief Encounter -(Don't You See) I'm Crazy About You
  16. The Tears Of Joy- This Is Not Your World
  17. Joe Simon -Who's Julie
  18. Willie Hobbs -How Could My Baby Know
  19. Bill Brantley -A Little Bit More
  20. Margie Hendrix- (I Got) Your Mama's Recipe
  21. Ann Sexton- I'm His Wife (You're Just A Friend)
  22. Betty Everett Hey- Lucinda

 by King- What Made You Change Your Mind?

  1. Willie Hobbs- Judge Of Hearts
  2.  Joe Simon -Farther On Down The Road
  3.  Sam Baker -Hold Back Girl
  4.  Ella Washington -Sit Down And Cry
  5.  Jackie Beavers- Hey Girl
  6.  Fenton Robinson- Mellow Fellow
  7.  Earl Gaines -That's How Strong My Love Is
  8.  Ann Sexton -Have A Little Mercy
  9. Roscoe Shelton- I'm Ready To Love You Now
  10. Jimmy Church- I Don’t Care Who Knows
  11.  Sam Baker -I Love You
  12. Ella Washington- All The Time
  13.  Joe Simon -Yours Love; Earl Gaines I Can't Face It
  14.  Ella Washington- I Don't Care About Your Past
  15.  Fenton Robinson -The Sky Is Crying
  16.  Sam Baker- Sometimes You Have To Cry
  17.  Ella Washington -Doin' The Best I Can
  18. Billy Mills- Easy Going Fellow
  19.  Charles Smith -The Only Time You Say You Love Me
  20.  Ann Sexton -I Want To Be Loved
  21.  Earl Gaines -I'll Take Care Of You
  22.  Sam Baker -Let Me Come On Home
  23.  Joe Simon -Moon Walk Part 1
  24. Joe Simon- Moon Walk Part 2”

Review – A wonderful set, beautifully packaged containing loads of bluesy soul, southern soul, deep soul and all things similar. A journey through your deepest emotions.  Of course out of nearly 80 tracks you will not like everything but there are more than a fair share of absolute classics, and with comprehensive sleeve note you will get to know all about the label and the artists. Just to pick out a few of the highlights for me:-

CD1 – Deep Soul Survey, a stunning vocal performance on the midtempo I can’t be your part time baby by Gwen Davis.  Another great voice on a wonderful heart rendering plea is Jimmy Church’s Right on time. The slightly sweeeter voice of Lattimore Brown is also worth checking out. Also a couple of tracks by Roscoe Robinson, Burning and Yearning is especially strong.  Sam Baker’s Its all over now is stunning. A veritable romp through mid to late 60’s  deep soul featuring a lot of well known (in soul circles) artists and other less well known ones.

CD2 – Deep Soul Survives, takes us into the 70’s with a second run of releases.  Jackey Beavers was instrumental in several of these tracksincluding the Electrifying Cashmeres and the Continental Showstoppers, which is especially nice, impassioned vocals simple arrangement, lush strings, sweet harmonies and simplicity. Still plenty of bluesy material like Alder Ray Black, geater Davis and Fenton Robinson.  Ann Sexton of course was strong and Willie Hobbs too.  The best track on this set though is Brief Encouters wonderful Crazy about you.

CD3 – Deeper soul,  compiled by Clive Richardson who has picked out some of the deeper gems in the catalogue, from the names mentioned above.My favourites here are Joe Simpn’s Farther on down the road, Ella Washington’s Sit down and Cry and don’t you just wanna!, Sam Baker’s I love you, Charles Smith’s The only time.

 

The Best of Rotary Connection

Rotary Connection were a multicultural concept group put together by Marshall Chess to freshen up Chess and spearhead the Cadet Concept subsidiary – Psychedelic Chamber Soul and featuring Minnie ripperton. Lots of string arrangements and is dreamy and abient and whilst very much of an era, has attained later notice through things like Tribe called Quest samples, masters at Work covers and Freelance Hellraiser.  There is a lot to listen to but it reflects a diametricaly opposite side to the one I grew up on and therefore I find it very difficult to get into it, its very much of a different world for me. Groundbreakig it may have been and it gave us some exceptional talent. Sorry but I find this one exceptionally difficult so I will pass comment.

Tracks –

Disc: 1

1. Magical World
2. Respect
3. Amen
4. Rapid Transport
5. Turn Me On
6. Pink Noise
7. I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun
8. Amuse
9. Sunshine Of Your Love
10. Sursom Mentes

11. Black Noise
12. Memory Band
13. Didn't Want To Have To Do It
14. May Our Amens Be True
15. Tales Of Brave Ulysses
16. Sea And She
17. Hey Love
18. Song For Everyman
19. Love Is

Disc: 2

1. Salt Of The Earth
2. Love Has Fallen On Me
3. If I Sing My Song
4. Weight
5. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
6. Living Alone
7. Love Me Now
8. Want You To Know

9. I Got My Mojo Working
10. This Town
11. We're Going Wrong
12. Life Could
13. Teach Me How To Fly
14. VIP
15. Let Them Talk

 

The Story of Bo Diddley –

Released 13 March – maybe the originator of the groove, just check Diddy Wah Diddy.  Over 50 tracks and over 50 years of pure history.  An excellent anthology, superbly packaged

Disc 1;

  1. Mumblin' Guitar;
  2. Bo Diddley
  3. I'm A Man
  4. Diddy Wah Diddy
  5. Pretty Thing
  6. Bring It To Jerome
  7. Diddley Daddy
  8. Who Do You Love
  9. I'm Bad
  10. Cops And Robbers
  11. Walkin' And Talkin'
  12. Say Man
  13. Shut Up Woman
  14. Hush Your Mouth
  15. You Can't Judge A Book Without Looking At The Cover
  16. Story Of Bo Diddley
  17. Crackin' Up
  18. Craw-Dad
  19. She's Fine, She's Mine
  20. Bo's A Lumberjack
  21. We're Gonna Get Married
  22. Don't Let It Go
  23. The Greatest Lover In The World
  24. Hey Good Lookin'
  25. 500% More Man
  26. I've Had It Hard

Disc 2

  1. Hey Bo Diddley
  2. Mona (I Need You Baby)
  3. Here Tis
  4. Down Home Special (Alias Down Home Train)
  5. I'm Looking For A Woman
  6. Before You Accuse Me
  7. Road Runner
  8. Bo Diddley Is Loose
  9. Cadillac
  10. Oh Yea
  11. Who May Your Lover Be
  12. You All Green
  13. Pills
  14. Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger
  15. I Can Tell
  16. Run Diddley Daddy
  17. Hong Kong Mississippi
  18. Dearest Darling
  19. Willie And Lillie
  20. I Know (I'm Alright)
  21. You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)
  22. Ride On Josephine
  23. Say Boss Man