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Scroll down for reviews of : - Stax Profiles; Atlantic Unearthed – Soul Sisters/ Soul Brothers; Diana Ross – Blue; Sparks Made to Measure; Groove on Down 2: JR Bailey- Just Me N You; Soul Legends Series; Out of Sight – more sounds from the In Crowd; The Shadows of Love – Jon Savage’s Intense Tamla 1966-68; Music from B-Boy; Keeping the Faith (40 Years Of Northern Soul); Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston – It takes two

Love Collections: -Smokey Robinson & Miracles – You must be love; Diana Ross & Supremes – Love is in our hearts;

The Kaygees – Masterplan, complete recordings 1974-1978, Detroit’s Invictus, The Elgins Motown Anthology, The Birmingham Sound – The Soul of Neal Hemphill Vol 1, All Platinum Girls – The Belles of New York - Power to the Motown People Civil Rights

The Urban All Stars

A series of Urban 12” single reissue series including soul and funk classics like Jackson Sisters- I believe in miracles, Bobby Byrd – I know you got soul and Hot Pants, Marva Whitney – Its my thing, Kool and the Gang – Hollywood Swinging, James Brown – Cold Sweat, Myra Barnes – Message from the soul sisters, Maceo & the Macks – Soul Power and Cross the Tracks, JB’s – The Grunt, Roy Ayers – Everybody loves the sunshine.

Also some rather messy remixes like James Brown – Give it up and turn it loose, She’s the one and Payback, and JTQ’s Starsky & Hutch. The UrbanAll Stars remix is ok.

Soul Resurrection – From Deep inside the Playground Vault

From the same stable as The Birmingham Sound comes another fine and varied selection of Southern Soul Gems of all varieties, lovingly assembled with excellent sleeve note by John Ciba and his team. This time a selection of all previously unissued rare tracks from the lost tapes of Playground Studios in Florida.

The Reuben Howell tracks are simply sublime, Bad Habit Baby upbeat and oh so soulful. No need to worryis typical southern funk but with that slightly lighter melodic miami edge. How can I prove is a strong Southern Soul allad with punchy horns and lilting strings. Just Call Me Darling is emotive, dead slow and a pleading love song of the highest order. All that variety and only one artist so far!

I'll Keep On Loving You by Doris Allen is powerful and bluesy. Heavy In My Mind is more moody. Also featured on a duet with John Hamilton - So Good To Be Together, which is pretty standard fare.

The Jimmy Gresham story is a sad one which ever way you look at, but concentrating only on the voice and the soul, one only thinks of the waste of what he could have become. No Way To Stop It is gravelly and soulful. Chasin A Rainbow is more instant, midtempo with vocals more to the front

Watch Yo Step by Jimmie Nelson is bluesy yet funky, feelgood blues where horns and vocal interplay and compliment.

I'll Keep On Lovin You by Big John Hamilton who maybe is the best known of the artits featured, is probably one of the top cuts, and in a different life this could have been the one that everybody remembered when thinking back to soul classics of 40 years earlier.

Count Willie With Leroy And Dukes contributes a couple of good time funk tracks The Funky Muscle and Disco Nights, probably too funky for their day as the hard funk market was moving on into a different and dsicofied arena.

Len Wade has to be one of my favourite names on the album, Everybody's Clown is simple yet strong, laid back groove, distinctive vocals, yet the track contains horns, backing harmonies, bluesy guitar. Wonderful and powerful. Love Comes & Goes is no less strong, more straight bluesy southern soul, vocals stronger on this track than the previous one

Leroy's Blues by Leroy Lloyd And The Dukes is a blues jam really, but with a mood. Sundown is similar, with a late night groove. Sang This Song by Johnny Soul is a pretty standard Stax Soundalike. Missin Piece Of Me by Johnny Lee Hamilton is a stormin’ Blues.

Great compilation and great to see material like this hitting the streets rather than the usual regurgitated stuff

Track Listing
01. Bad Habit Baby - Reuben Howell
02. I'll Keep On Loving You - Doris Allen
03. No Need To Worry - Reuben Howell
04. So Good To Be Together - John Hamilton And Doris Allen
05. No Way To Stop It - Jimmy Gresham
06. Watch Yo Step - Jimmie Nelson
07. I'll Keep On Lovin You - Big John Hamilton
08. The Funky Muscle - Count Willie With Leroy And Dukes
09. Everybody's Clown - Len Wade
10. Chasin A Rainbow - Jimmy Gresham
11. Leroy's Blues - Leroy Lloyd And The Dukes
12. How can I Prove - Reuben Howell
13. Sang This Song - Johnny Soul
14. Heavy In My Mind - Doris Allen
15. Missin Piece Of Me - Johnny Lee Hamilton
16. Disco Nights - Count Willie with Leroy And The Dukes
17. Sundown - Leroy Lloyd & The Swingin' Dukes
18. Love Comes & Goes - Len Wade
19. Just Call Me Darling - Reuben Howell

Power to the Motown People Civil Rights http://www.motown45.co.uk/

I don’t really associate Motown with Civil Rights music and the like but this CD proved me wong. Having siad that it is mostly pretty well known , and some of it is calassic essential music, like Whats going on, and this Detroit Remix is actually quite tasty, adding a little bit butretaining all the essential ingredients of the original.

The Undisputed Truth’s 10 minute epic of Ball of Conclusion is Epic and well worth evisiting in its entirety. Bobby taylor’s Dos your Mama I have had like forever but hadn’t played it for years and am so glad it features here, as it is a truly wonderful track, and indeed not one I had really associated with the Power movement.

Lots of social commentary covered, world views and more localised like Diana’s Living in Shame. Reuben Howells Help the people is a great lesser known funky addition. Eddie Kendricks did some wonderful, often underrated material and the afro centric My People is such a track.

On CD2 Smokey’s Just my soul responding is just sublime.. More Marvin and rightly so, but another classic deserving of greater recognition is Willie Hutch’s Brother’s gonna work it out. And Life’s no fun living in the ghetto.

Quite a bit of Temptations and that whole Norman Whitfield period, with Undisputed Truth as well, and Slave is a top lesser known cut of that style.

Some great material and a very worthwhile comp.

Info & Tracks:-

CD1
01 Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On (detroit mix)
02 The Undisputed Truth: Ball Of Confusion
(That’s What The World Is Today)
03 David Ruffin: Flower Child
04 Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers:
Does Your Mama Know About Me
05 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: I Should Be Proud
06 Diana Ross & The Supremes: I’m Livin’ In Shame
07 Edwin Starr: Cloud Nine
08 The Temptations: Plastic Man
09 Reuben Howell: Help The People
10 Eddie Kendricks: My People... Hold On
11 Diana Ross & The Supremes: The Young Folks
12 Syreeta: Black Maybe
13 Marvin Gaye: What’s Happening Brother
(Detroit MIx)
14 The Temptations: Message From A Black Man
15 The Undisputed Truth:
Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)

CD2
01 Stevie Wonder: Do Yourself A Favor
02 Smokey Robinson: Just My Soul Responding
03 Marvin Gaye: Inner City Blues
(Make Me Wanna Holler)
04 Willie Hutch: Brother’s Gonna Work It Out
05 Gladys Knight & The Pips with Jerry Long: Friendship Train
06 The Undisputed Truth: Smiling Faces Sometimes
07 The Temptations: Slave
08 Junior Walker & The All Stars:
Right On Brothers And Sisters
09 Marvin Gaye: You’re The Man (Pts. I& II)
10 Willie Hutch: Life’s No Fun Living In The Ghetto
11 The Temptations: War
12 Edwin Starr: Stop The War Now
13 The Miracles: Ain’t Nobody Straight In L.A.
14 Diana Ross & The Supremes:
Shadows Of Society
15 The Temptations: Masterpiece

Two conflicts racked America during the 1960s and early 1970s. The war in Vietnam consumed thousands of US lives and billions of dollars. It also provoked a protest movement that nearly split the country in two, and forced a President out of office. More importantly, perhaps, it cast America as a global villain in the eyes of students and radicals around the world, turning the war into an international cause celebre.

America’s other heartbreak during that tumultuous era was con�ned to its own borders, although it had echoes around the world. Ever since the abolition of slavery after the American Civil War in the 19th century, the issue of race relations, and in particular discrimination against the African-American population, have been an open sore in US society. Gradually, inch by painful inch, black citizens had managed to win a limited amount of freedom. But racism was still an everyday part of American life, and as the 1960s dawned the push towards liberation and equality had gathered unstoppable speed.

During the following decade, politicians attempted to solve the problem with legislation, but they always reacted too slowly. America’s black community was aflame with righteous indignation: sometimes it reacted with impatience, other times with rage. The result was a remarkable period of history in which the entire country was sucked into the drama of civil rights and black power. It was the time of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and James Brown, the Freedom Riders and the Black Panthers. And it was also the golden era of a record company that became one of the largest black-owned businesses in America: Berry Gordy’s Motown Records Corporation.

Motown never set out to be a political force; it was simply a stable of incredible musical talent, which earned its reputation as Hitsville USA, the Sound of Young America. But during that time of civil rights marches and ghetto riots, liberation armies and black martyrs, all African-Americans were inevitably sucked into the conflict. Motown Records was no exception. Berry Gordy himself was a strong supporter of the prince of the non-violent civil rights movement, Martin Luther King; Motown even issued several albums of his speeches. As the racial heat increased, and Motown’s home city of Detroit erupted into blazing riots in the summer of 1967, it became impossible for Gordy and his artists to avoid the call of the times. Over the next six years, Motown not only founded a subsidiary label entirely devoted to the struggle for black power (Black Forum Records); it also allowed its artists to comment directly on the situation of black people in contemporary America. For the first time, you could hear the nation changing shape in the sounds that came out of Hitsville USA.

One of the ironies of Motown’s involvement with politics and civil rights is that a record the company had issued years earlier as a classic summertime anthem – Martha & The Vandellas’ ‘Dancing In The Street’ – took on a darker meaning as each summer brought the anguish of rioting to America’s biggest and most prosperous cities. So it was probably �tting that Martha Reeves and her group should also have recorded Motown’s first overt criticism of the Vietnam War. ‘I Should Be Proud’ was not exactly a militant call to arms, but its mixture of bereavement and bewilderment summed up the reaction of so many black families who had lost a loved one on the senseless battlefields of South-East Asia.

Motown’s first tentative steps towards commenting on the changing world outside the recording studio inspired a flurry of late 60s tracks that weren’t political, as such, but were inspired directly by current events. David Ruffin’s ‘Flower Child’, for example, came from the same counter-culture that was leading the protests against Vietnam. When Diana Ross And The Supremes complained ‘I’m Living In Shame’, they were re�ecting the deprivation of modern ghetto life. The Supremes also recorded two slightly uncomprehending accounts of the generation and race gaps that were opening up in American life, ‘Shadows Of Society’ and ‘The Young Folks’. The fact that Berry Gordy was allowing his flagship act to make even the most tentative comments on politics proves how unstoppable the thrust towards change had become.

Another taboo was broken by Bobby Taylor And The Vancouvers with their 1968 hit, ‘Does Your Mother Know About Me’. Like the Hollywood smash ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’, the song revolved around the scenario of an inter-racial romance. (Songwriter Tommy Chong, a member of The Vancouvers, later found fame as half of the Cheech & Chong comedy duo.)

Two seismic events shook Motown during the summer of 1967 – one from outside, one within. The Detroit riots caused devastation across the city, as young black men who were impatient with the racism of the local police department, their appalling living conditions, and the snail-like speed of change, clashed with police for days on end. Along the way, hundreds of buildings were destroyed by fire, scores of shops were looted, and many people were killed. The unrest undoubtedly encouraged Berry Gordy to think about moving the Motown headquarters to a safer location in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, Motown’s internal organization was thrown into chaos when the label’s leading production and writing team, Holland/Dozier/Holland, announced that they were leaving, and sued Gordy for alleged underpayment of royalties. Into their place stepped writer/producers Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong (the man who wrote and recorded the R&B standard ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ at the start of the decade). Whitfield masterminded a new Motown sound, tougher and more rock-influenced than the classic Holland/Dozier/Holland style. His trademarks included the heavy use of fuzz and wah-wah guitar effects, James Brown-inspired funk rhythms, and songs that reflected the reality of American city life at the end of the 1960s.

Another Whitfield innovation was more controversial. Having penned some of the hardest-hitting R&B songs of all time with Barrett Strong, he recycled them amongst many of the Motown acts he was producing, subtly varying the arrangements every time. As a result, artists such as The Temptations, The Undisputed Truth and Edwin Starr often recorded the same songs. Although contemporary reviewers complained that record buyers were being shortchanged, in retrospect Whitfield’s methods offered a fascinating array of different interpretations of classic material.
Many of Whitfield and Strong’s most famous and politically potent songs are gathered on this album, but not always in their most familiar versions. It was Edwin Starr who scored a worldwide hit with the unforgettable ‘War’, for instance, but the song was actually first recorded by The Temptations. Both acts also recorded the equally powerful sequel, ‘Stop The War Now’, which was a smaller hit for Starr. He also recorded a version of ‘Cloud Nine’, a controversial portrait of psychedelic drug use which was a smash for The Temptations. As narcotics flooded America’s ghettos at the height of the late 60s black power movement, many activists blamed the government for trying to subdue militancy by getting a generation hooked on heroin, giving ‘Cloud Nine’ its political edge.

Riots, war, drugs – they were just part of the landscape of ‘Ball Of Confusion’, a Temptations hit that was revamped by Whitfield for another of his acts, The Undisputed Truth. Their shining moment was ‘Smiling Faces Sometimes’, a study in paranoia that struck a chord with anyone involved in black politics, as FBI informers did their best to provoke discord and violence between rival groups of activists. The Undisputed Truth also recorded a medley of The Temptations’ ‘Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)’ and Gladys Knight & The Pips’ equally idealistic ‘Friendship Train’ – the original version of which is included here as well, to demonstrate how widely Whitfield’s productions could differ from one act to the next.

The Temptations were Whitfield’s most successful act, and they recorded two of the most uncompromising statements of black power issued by Motown in the late 60s, the Sly Stone-influenced ‘Slave’ and the self-explanatory ‘Message From A Black Man’. In the 70s, the group went through several personnel changes but retained their musical identity. ‘Masterpiece’ reworked the style of their smash hit ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ to create a stunning panorama of ghetto life, while the more concise ‘Plastic Man’ also demonstrated Whitfield and Strong’s vein of social commentary.

Their musical and lyrical innovations encouraged other Motown artists to take similar risks. Nobody made better use of the new climate at Gordy’s label than Marvin Gaye, whose ‘What’s Going On’ album remains soul’s classic statement about the turmoil in American society at the start of the 70s. Three tracks from those sessions are included on this set, two of them presented in their original form before Gaye remixed and overdubbed the tracks one last time. As the 1972 presidential election neared with little sign of positive change, Marvin recorded the non-album single ‘You’re The Man’, a sardonic look at the emptiness of the candidates’ political promises.

His torch was carried on by Willie Hutch, who followed Marvin into the territory of blaxploitation soundtracks for films such as ‘The Mack’ and ‘Foxy Brown’. Sadly under-rated as an artist and songwriter, Hutch captured the black street experience of the early 70s on tracks such as ‘Life’s No Fun Living In The Ghetto’ and ‘Brother’s Gonna Work It Out’. By now the new mood of social questioning had touched the entire Motown roster of artists. R&B saxman Junior Walker recorded his own black power anthem, ‘Right On Brothers And Sisters’, while former Temptations frontman Eddie Kendricks cut the more desperate ‘My People... Hold On’. Reuben Howell, one of the lost voices of Motown during the early 70s, tapped into a similar vein with ‘Help The People’. Stevie Wonder collaborated with his wife, Syreeta Wright, on two magnificent albums during this period – and a highlight of her debut LP was ‘Black Maybe’, a questioning look at the long history of African-Americans’ struggle to survive.

That struggle continues to this day, but by the mid-70s it was possible at last to recognise the advances that had been made on civil rights issues over the previous decade. Poverty remained a fact of life for many African-Americans, of course, and it was the unlikely figure of Smokey Robinson – usually a chronicler of romance, not social issues – who recorded Motown’s most affecting study of ghetto deprivation. ‘Just My Soul Responding’ cleverly linked the African-American experience to the treatment of American Indians a century earlier. Times were changing, however, and no track on this album illustrates that fact better – in musical and political terms – than The Miracles’ playful ‘Ain’t Nobody Straight In LA’. Taken from their ‘City Of Angels’ concept album, it’s an exercise in dance music rather than funk, and it wouldn’t necessarily pass all the political correctness tests today. But it marks the end of a radical decade in which America’s most important black-owned label slowly came to terms with the growing militancy of the African-American community, and helped to shape its attitudes with soul music that remains as powerful today as it was more than thirty years ago.
Peter Doggett

Review:-

The Elgins Motown Anthology http://www.motown45.co.uk/

Info & Tracklist:- CD1
1 Darling Baby (stereo)
2 In The Midnight Hour
3 Heaven Must Have Sent You (stereo)
4 I Understand My Man (stereo)
5 Good Lovin’
6 It’s Gonna Be Hard Times (stereo)
7 Put Yourself In My Place (stereo)
8 634-5789
9 No Time For Tears
10 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
11 Stay In My Lonely Arms (stereo)
12 When A Man Loves A Woman
13 It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World (But It
wouldn’t be without a woman)* (mono)
14 For Your Precious Love*
15 I Still Love You* (mono)
16 That’s The Night The Love Died* (mono)
17 Love (Is The Answer)* (mono)
18 It’s Been A Long Long Time
(A long time) (stereo)
19 All For Just Lovin’ You* (mono)
20 My 2 Arms – You = Tears
(Cellarful Of Motown Version – mono)
21 Thank You Love* (mono)
22 Let’s Give Love Another Chance* (mono)
23 Another Hurt Like This* (mono)
24 When You Are Available* (mono)
25 Life Can Be Beautiful
When You’re In Love* (mono)
26 My Love For Your Love* (mono)
27 Love Where Are You Hiding*

CD2
1 Request Of A Fool The Downbeats (mono)
2 Don't You Know I Love You Baby
The Downbeats (mono)
3 Your Baby's Back The Downbeats (Alternate Mix – mono)
4 All I Got saundra mallett (mono)
5 Boo Hoo (You got me cryin’ over you)
saundra mallett (mono)
6 First Try At Love saundra mallett (mono)
7 Party Time The Downbeats (mono)
8 Until I Lost You The Downbeats (mono)
9 Camel Walk saundra mallett & The Vandellas (mono)
10 It's Gonna Be Hard Times
saundra mallett & The Vandellas (mono)
11 Lonely Boy The Downbeats (mono)
12 I Feel So Fine The Downbeats (mono)
13 I Want To Be With You The Downbeats (mono)
14 Let The Groove Roll On The Downbeats (mono)
15 You Say You Love Me The Downbeats (mono)
16 They Say You Don't Care The Downbeats (mono)
17 Do You Know What I'm Talking About
The Downbeats (mono)
18 PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE
The elgins - Single Version (mono)
19 DARLING BABY The elgins - Single Version (mono)
20 HEAVEN MUST HAVE SENT YOU
The elgins - Single Version (mono)
21 STAY IN MY LONELY ARMS
The elgins - Single Version (mono)
22 I UNDERSTAND MY MAN
The elgins - Single Version (mono)
23 IT'S BEEN A LONG LONG TIME (A long time) The elgins - Single Version (mono)

By the time The Downbeats walked through the doors of Hitsville back in the early 1960s, the group had already released two 45s under the name The Five Emeralds for the Detroit based S-R-C label, and also four singles as Sonny Woods And The Downbeats, for the Duke Record Company in Texas, on the Peacock label.
Robert Fleming, Johnny Dawson, Cleotha Duke Miller and Tommy Salisbury collectively knew Motown label boss Berry Gordy, as did their manager at the time, Robert West, the owner of the Lupine set-up, where further recordings are also rumoured to have taken place. Between them they set up an audition with Mr Gordy, who signed them to a contract as The Downbeats, recording their debut single ‘Your Baby’s Back’ on 5th November 1961, released with its B-side ‘Request Of A Fool’ (recorded 19th September 1961) in February 1962.
The 45, despite being one of the most soulful sides of its time, did little to dent the charts. For many years, certain discographies have persisted naming two releases for these sides. Catalogue numbers have been stated as 54026 and 54056. Given that the �rst listed reference falls some two years before the songs were recorded, it would app-ear this listing is an-other Motown Myth and indeed, no one involved in this compilation has ever seen a genuine 54026 pressing (or label scans for that matter) showing these two tracks. If 54026 does exist with these titles then the most likely explanation is a simple label misprint.
This obviously didn’t deter either the group members or label bosses as the group went onto record around a further dozen unreleased tracks. Rumours of an early LP planned for the Tamla label have yet to be proven. However, recent research has revealed that another release by The Downbeats in the all-male formation was contemplated for the VIP label in 1964. ‘Do You Know What I’m Talking About’ b/w ‘You Say You Love Me’ was originally scheduled for VIP-25007, a catalogue number later allocated to a certain girl group masterpiece. The majority of those vaulted recordings (including the two above) are to be found here.
At the same point, a solo female artist Saundra Mallett, aka Saundra Edwards, was recording her very own debut 45 in the studio with Berry Gordy, who drafted in Martha And The Vandellas to add weight to his quirky self-written and produced dance number ‘Camel Walk’. Saundra recalled many years later how she and Berry were sitting in the studio one day and he had this little tune running through his head. “He started playing around with it, he said one thing, I said another, and before I knew what was happening he had set up a recording session”.
How could that record not have been a huge hit? Marvin Gaye was on piano and the groove was tight. Its �ipside, the soulful ‘Its Gonna Be Hard Times’, would later resurface on The Elgins VIP long player ‘Darling Baby’. A further three recordings by the solo Saundra, locked away in the Motown Vaults, feature here.
With The Downbeats struggling for hits, Robert Fleming and Tommy Salisbury had departed. Saundra was too young to go out on the road to promote recordings on her own, so a get-together and change of name was suggested. The group re-emerged now including Norbert (aka Norman) McClean, a long-time pal of Dawson from their gospel days, and Saundra, using her married name of Edwards. Johnny Dawson came up with the name The Elgins which The Temptations had used, albeit brie�y, prior to recording for Gordy’s Miracle label. According to Johnny, the name, which is pronounced El-jins (and not with a hard ‘g’!), was adopted from his favourite brand of wristwatch.
United in the studio, the group now came under the watchful eye and production regime of Holland/Dozier/ Holland – the Hit Factory – how could they fail?
Their debut 45 under the new line-up was the now timeless Motown classic ‘Darling Baby’ (a track that took just 15 minutes and two takes to complete), coupled with ‘Put Yourself In My Place’, on the VIP imprint in December 1965. Things were moving apace – �rst pressings of this disc were credited to ‘The Downbeats’ then hurriedly over-labelled ‘The Elgins’.
With session musicians including Earl Van Dyke, James Jamerson and Benny Benjamin in the house, and the trio with the Midas touch at the helm, this 45 should have been a massive hit. Although both sides sold well regionally in the US, stardom didn’t beckon. Sandwiched between The Monitors ‘Say You’ and The Velvelettes ‘A Bird In The Hand’, both sides became �rm UK favourites, but it was to be their next single ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’ that was to ultimately to become an all-time Motown evergreen. Released here in the UK on TMG 583 in November 1966, the track was not an instant success to say the least.
Almost seven months later, TMG 615, one of my favourite Elgins tracks ‘It’s Been A Long, Long Time’ did little to put their name up in lights, but the UK Motown of�ce were not giving up that easily. Early 1968 saw their �rst UK single on TMG 551 become TMG 642 with the re-release of ‘Put Yourself In My Place’ and ‘Darling Baby’, again to little or no success.
By now Saundra Mallett was in the process of leaving the group. She had decided that it was time to leave the business and concentrate on raising her family. She did not return to the recording studios until the Motorcity project in the late 1980s.
Three barren years passed until Tamla Motown UK decided it was time for one more push with the 1971 re-release on TMG 771 of ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’, which �nally grabbed the UK record buying public’s attention and shot up the British charts, prompting US Motown to re-release the track in a remixed form in America, and also prompting the hurried reformation of the group with Yvonne Vernee Allen (a former Donay) to tour and promote the single and its UK follow-up on TMG 787, yet another airing of ‘Put Yourself In My Place’, this time with ‘It’s Gonna Be Hard Times’ on the �ip.
Despite high hopes for the new line-up, no further hits were to follow. The new Elgins toured the UK successfully several times, and in the 1980s were tracked down by Ian Levine for the Motorcity project, recording two LPs and several singles.
It has always been suspected that new recordings of The Elgins took place after Saundra had left the group, and here for the very �rst time we present three such tracks, the scrumptious typically Motown, ‘Life Can Be Beautiful When You Are In Love’, the delightful ‘My Love For Your Love’, and a version of ‘Love Where Are You Hiding’ so eloquently recorded by Martha Reeves And The Vandellas and recently released on their ‘Lost And Found’ album.
Along with two Shorty Long covers, where Johnny Dawson con�rms the group provided the backing vocals, a trio of tracks that have circulated for years on poor sounding tapes, the whole of the stereo ‘Darling Baby’ LP and the mono alternates, this collection substantially represents the Motown recordings from one of its longest surviving groups.
Paul Nixon, 2007.

Review:- The Elgins are personally very high up on my own personal agenda having a couple of classic motwon hits that were strong in my formative years and still sound exciting and even underplayed even today. So a number of thoughts go through your head, lets have a compilation enabling those and the better tracks to be readily available on Cd, a wonderment as to whether there are any unknown or lesser known tracks deserving attention, and why did they not become massive like other outfits of their time who maybe never even had anything as good as Heaven, or my place.

Well this comp , a historical perspective, a fairly comprehensive review from the early days (as detailed above) answers some of those question. Yes the top tracks really were at the upper echelons of the Motown Sound, yes there are a few tracks morth digging out, but overall there is nothing particularly exceptional marking them out for superstardom.I am therefore left with the thought, would it be better to have been left with what I knew before, as at that point they were superstars of my own agenda at least.

Just picking out a few highlights that grabbed me. I love the simplistic beauty of Darling Baby the opening track with back up harmonies to die for, competing with horns and piano for attention. No time for tears is a sublime ballad with similar qualities, that is a strong emotive lead against some sweet harmonies. Sat in my lonely arms is also a stunner. That’s the night that love died is fairly typical motown fare, but is actually quite a nice dancer.

My 2 arms is a bit of a stomper. When you are available is mellow, midtempo and pretty wonderful. Love where you are hiding has that full motown sound.

CD2 is a mix of stuff for interest, thoroughness and for completeists. Until I lost you is a good ballad, and Its gonna be hard times is an excellent example of early soul. Much of the rest (up to about track 15) is R’n’B or even R’n’R. You say you love me as the Downbeats is an oddity, starting off very much like That Girl (Porgy and the Monarchs) and then drifts into a Jackie Wilson style Rock’n Roll break and then back again. They say you love me is a fantastic piece of midtempo Northern Soul. After track 15 we move into the classic Motown era and sound

Most of the rest is either fabulously well known and top notch, or pretty uninspiring.

The Birmingham Sound – The Soul of Neal Hemphill Vol 1 http://www.myspace.com/thebirminghamsound

The Birmingham Sound: The Soul of Neal Hemphill celebrates the body of work recorded at the original Sound of Birmingham and Hemphill Studios in the working-class suburb of Midfield, AL. Although the material from these studios crossed all genres this compilation focuses on the soul music produced from the mid ‘60s till the late ‘70s. Neal Hemphill was a plumber by trade with a deep passion for music. He opened a studio in the basement of his plumbing shop to record local and touring acts and named it the Sound of Birmingham. The one difference between Neal’s studio and the others was that he welcomed all kinds of music by anybody willing to come in and play him a song. Some of that young talent was songwriters and performers like Frederick Knight, Roger Hallmark, Jerry Weaver, and Sam Dees, and Neal offered them staffed positions at the studio. Country songwriters, aspiring soul shouters, gospel quartets, top 40 pop hopefuls, and gritty young armory garage acts all came through and most were offered publishing deals and releases on one of Neal’s imprints: Sound of Birmingham, Hemphill, or Crown LTD. The studio received it’s first gold record with Frederick Knight’s ‘I’ve Been Lonely for So Long’ on Stax Records, which brought more attention and artists to the studio. Eventually, Neal decided to build a new, larger studio separate from the plumbing shop. A new facility was built next door to Hemphill Plumbing and happened to be equipped with the 16-track board from Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland Studio. The Sound of Birmingham recorded more sessions and drew larger clients as well as more qualified staff like Roscoe Robinson, who stayed with Hemphill throughout the ‘80s. In 1975 Neal suffered a heart attack that left the future of the Sound of Birmingham unknown. Don Mosley purchased the studio, moved the equipment into Birmingham, and utilized the notoriety of the name in his new location. Neal recovered and was eager to not only return to his plumbing business, but also to get back in the studio. Since he had the vacant building Neal opened Hemphill Studios with new equipment but the same set of open-door principles that made him an innovator with the Sound of Birmingham. Many artists and writers returned to work with Neal and the studio ran into the ‘80s. Neal Hemphill Sr. passed away in 1985, leaving a rich legacy of Southern music. Frederick Knight later wrote the disco anthem ‘Ring my Bell’, Sam Dees penned ‘One in a Million You’ recorded by Larry Graham, David Sea currently tours with the Dennis Edward’s Temptations Review, and most studios in the city are run by somebody that worked with Neal at some point in their careers. From that studio in a basement on Bessemer Super Highway, Neal Hemphill built not only influence in the world of Southern music, but respect. If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in Birmingham, in the company of seasoned musicians, just mention Neal’s name and watch the smiles emerge and the heads nod. The words, “never a nicer man in the music industry,” are sure to be uttered, and sincerely meant. Growing up in the Chicago-land area, the extent of my education about Birmingham began and ended with the Civil Rights struggle as well as the outside forces that facilitated change. The 23 tracks on The Birmingham Sound: The Soul of Neal Hemphill are a rare glimpse into the beautiful output from a group of artists who based the discrimination of their peers on their ability to sing and write a song in a city historically known for violence and racial divide. More importantly, this compilation celebrates the foresight of a visionary man who brought these artists together. Besides the music, the CD is packed with insights Into Birmingham, Neal Hemphill, his studios, and the artists that worked with him by many of the Sound of Birmingham/Hemphill Studios alumni as well as a special contribution by legendary Birmingham radio personality Shelley Stewart.

An interesting and well packaged compilation covering the whole gamut of Southern styled soul, excellent sleeve notes and some wonderful passionate and emotionally charged music and including some top names like Sam Dees and Frederick Knight amongst others.

And speaking of emotionally charged there is not more so than the openeing track from the pretty muck unknown Little Lois Barber on "Specify". She also features on ‘Thank You Baby"which is slightly lighter Stax influences, more instant maybe but not anywhere as near as strong and contains some weird and irritating noises, but we’ll forgive that for Specify which is special.

In the Uk and maybe elsewhere David Sea has a bit of a cult status and his two tracks come fairly near the top of the tracks on this album "Believe in Me" and "Let's Just Get Together", his strong voice in evidence throughout but its on the latter soul track that comes over the best.

The Blue Notes are not the more well known outfit of the same name, : "Even If You Got Love" is a driving upbeat stormer, which suffers a bit on sound quality but is strong enough to carry it through. "High Time" is actually quite catchy and commercial sounding. Frederick Frederick Knight is arguably the most commercially well known artist on here with a hard sounding "Here After I'm Hereafter" and a lighter and sweeter and preferable (to me) ‘You've Never Really Lived" with some nice harmonies and a lead in the higher ranges.

Variety is provided with an instrumental deep pounding funk of Cold Grits and "Funky Soul". Eddie Steele provides a motown-esque groove with a Southern hardness on "Groove Me Mamma" "Self" however is much funkier. Pat Peterman’s "I Love the Way You Do Your Thing" is also upbeat and Detroitesque, whilst "You Gonna Reap It" is more my kind of thing , strong powerful deep soul vocals over an efficient but not overwhelming production.

Chuck Strong features on "I Got Married Too Soon" and "I Thought It Over", once again it is the slower latter cut with female backups, that scores for me with Chuck’s distinctive tones. Ralph "Soul" Jackson’s two cuts again are different and are probably the two most powerful tracks on show (and available also on 7” vinyl), "Set Me Free".a wonderful upbeat (northern) track with exceptional vocals and harmonies carrying the track, great stuff indeed. "Take Me Back" is slower but the female backing whilst distant complements perfectly the gritty vocal.

Roscoe Robinson again is probably more well known than most as he arrived at the label with a track record, "Let Me Be Myself" and Two Heart Accident" the latter a gut wrenching deep soul ballad. Bill "Butterbean" Flippo adds another style, swamp style and a bit of fun on "Love Keeps Hanging On"

Broadneck’s "Psychedelic Excursion" is well exactly that! And their "California Cool Ride" is well, just that as well! The great Sam Dees features on a typical, if not a bit country, "Train to Tampa"

All in all a varied, interesting but most of all consistent and very good, a very lovingly put together package.

Tracklist:

01 Little Lois Barber: "Specify", 02 David Sea: "Believe in Me" 03 The Blue Notes: "Even If You Got Love" 04 Frederick Knight: "Here After I'm Hereafter"
05 Cold Grits: "Funky Soul" 06 Eddie Steele: "Groove Me Mamma" 07 Pat Peterman: "I Love the Way You Do Your Thing" 08 Chuck Strong: "I Got Married Too Soon" 09 Ralph "Soul" Jackson: "Set Me Free" 10 Roscoe Robinson: "Let Me Be Myself" 11 Bill "Butterbean" Flippo: "Love Keeps Hanging On" 12 Broadneck: "Psychedelic Excursion" 13 Little Lois Barber: "Thank You Baby" 14 The Blue Notes: "High Time" 15 Chuck Strong: "I Thought It Over"
16 Frederick Knight: "You've Never Really Lived" 17 Pat Peterman: "You Gonna Reap It" 18 Sam Dees: "Train to Tampa" 19 Roscoe Robinson: "Two Heart Accident" 20 David Sea: "Let's Just Get Together" 21 Ralph "Soul" Jackson: "Take Me Back" 22 Broadneck: "California Cool Ride" 23 Eddie Steele: "Self"

All Platinum Girls – The Belles of New York

Review – A wonderful compilation, one of the best for a very long time, containing the very best of All Platinum and related labels. Material covers a range of known, unknown, deep, northern, soul, gospel, the expectedand the unexpected, with excellent sleeve notes as well.

Just to pick out a sample of highlights.

There are 4 tracks from Norma Jenkins, two which have not been released before. The opener Cowards Way out is simply sublime, strong vocals, great harmonies and a vibe to die for. The punchy One girl too many runs it close.

Susan Phillips, more out of the George Kerr stable, is also featured on 4 tracks. He knows my key is wonderful for its simplicity, midempo heaven.

Lezli Valentine’s opener is standard ‘Northern’ fare but the dreamy ballad b side is OK.

The Heartstoppers barnstormer Marching out of your life is one of four featured tracks again, but the Geraldine Curry track you’re so wonderful is maybe the best of the lot. One of th e girls also has a track , Little Betty Baker.

Linda Jones is simply the best and it is always great to see her songs get an airing,, the cd2 tracks being the best cuts if I have to express a preference.

On to th e two trackers the obvious Barbara Jean English ‘Northern track’ is included but Breakin up is a far better track

The unknown Linda Glass’s before love is a fairly pleasant northern offering.

Retta Youngs material is always worth a listen and my preference here is for the swirling Really Really.

Sylvia herself is featured on a persistent and very nice I got it, a messy good life and the obligatory Pillow Talk.

Gloria spenser adds some interest (see the sleeve notes) and some gospel. Jeanette Whites tracks are equally strong, one midpaced and the other frantic.

Eleanore mills has a very under emphasied but equally infectious vocal and is feature on 3 traks including Stop acusing me.

Two previously (out of 3) unavailable and wonderful Jean Carn tracks including the excellentLittle bit of your love

Lisa Danielle cut some of the latest material , a bit deneicy in style and not really for me I’m afraid.

George Kerr’s daughter Tracy turns up on a sadly uninteresting good thing going, and theres’ one unknown track to finish.

And a couple of candi Staton tracks, as always gems.

And that’s about it, great stuff indeed,

Disc: 1 1. Coward's Way Out - Jenkins, Norma 2. He Knows My Key (Is Always In The Mailbox) - Phillips, Susan 3. I Won't Do Anything - Valentine, Lezli 4. Marching Out Of Your Life - Heartstoppers 5. I'm So Glad I Found You - Jones, Linda & The Moments 6. I'm Living A Lie - English, Barbara Jean 7. Where Does The Love Go - Jenkins, Norma 8. Before Love Beats Me Going - Glass, Linda 9. My Man Is On His Way - Young, Retta 10. You're So Wonderful - Curry, Geraldine & The Heartstoppers 11. Just What The Doctor Ordered - Baker, 'Little' Betty 12. Please Don't Keep Me Lonely - Phillips, Susan 13. I Can't Help It - Sylvia (3) 14. I Got It - Spencer, Gloria 15. No Sunshine - White, Jeanette 16. Ice Is Melting - Heartstoppers 17. I'm So Lost - Valentine, Lezli 18. When Hurt Comes Back - Jones, Linda 19. How Can I Love You - Mills, Eleanore 20. Little Bit Of Your Love - Carn, Jean 21. You're All I Need - Danielle, Lisa 22. Hurry Sundown - Staton, Candi Disc: 2 1. Comin' Or Goin' - English, Barbara Jean 2. One Girl Too Many - Jenkins, Norma 3. Answer To A Prayer - Phillips, Susan 4. Stop Accusing Me - Mills, Eleanore 5. If Only We Had Met Sooner - Jones, Linda 6. Stop Boy (What You're Doing Is Wrong) - Baker, 'Little' Betty 7. Breakin' Up A Happy Home - English, Barbara Jean 8. I Don't Care Anymore - Hills, Beverley 9. Go Home To Your Wife - Jenkins, Norma 10. Courtin' Mama - Heartstoppers 11. It's A Good Love - Sylvia (3) 12. I Do - Jones, Linda 13. Fascinating Devastating Man - Mills, Eleanore 14. Brainwashed By Love - Heartstoppers 15. Really Really - Young, Retta 16. Music - White, Jeanette 17. That's What I'll Do - Phillips, Susan 18. We've Got A Good Thing Goin' - Kerr, 'Little' Tracy 19. I've Got To Keep On Loving You - Valentine, Lezli 20. Pillow Talk - Sylvia (3) 21. Tender Hooks - Staton, Candi 22. No More - Carn, Jean 23. Every Little Thing Will Be Fine - Various Artists

Detroit’s Invictus

A recycling of top invictus cuts, this time under the guise of tracks sampled bysome top hip hop artists, such as De La Soul, tribe called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Xzibit, Pete Rock, Common and more, and top Hip Hoppers Mary Mary?, and FatBoy Slim??????????

When all said and done its usual Invictus fare HoneyCone, Flaming Ember, Parliament, Laura Lee, 100 Proof, Freda P ayne and so on – Nothing too inspiring really, all Ok but not even a best of Invictus really, though I suppose the tracks were selected for a piece, a line, or a drum track, or hook. Best tracks are Laura Lee’s superb Crumbs off the table, and the Politians funk classicFree you rmind.

The Kaygees – Masterplan, complete recordings 1974-1978

containing the complete recordings of The Kaygees from the vaults of both the Gang and DeLite labels. Keep on Bumping, Masterplan and Find a friend albums in full from Gang, and KiloWatt on DeLite, and a bonus single Hustle With Every Muscle. Timewise this album spans 1974, starting out as out and out funk through Bump, then Hustle and into Disco 1978.

My personal preference is for the earlier stuff – the Keep on Bumpin for me is a classic, Lets Bump and Lets Boogie. So whether you like the disco fied Crown Heights or the jazzy kool and the Gang or Rhtthmmakers, or the funkier side of things a la Fatback or JB, then this will get you out on the floor. Keep on Bumping may be formulaic in lyric but it’s a full on jazz groove with a sax to die for. Masterplan has that throbbing bass riff and get down groove, which carries through to Whos the Man

By Find a friend it is much more discofied. Different groove but still some top tracks and I particularly like Keep on Saying wityh Sweet Something and Be Real with Tomorrows Edition with a kind of 70’s crossover feel. The album also takes you into the Bus Stop Groove, so these guys didn’t miss a trick! Singing Teaching and Preaching is a wonderful track, it gets rid of the commercialism and introduces some tribal rhythms, great stuff.

The kilowatt album is kinda slicker but for me loses some edge. However all things considered this is a great set.

Disc: 1 1. Get Down 2. Let's Boogie 3. My Favourite Song 4. You've Got To Keep On Bumpin' 5. Master Plan 6. Who's The Man (With The Master Plan) 7. Ain't No Time 8. Wondering/Ain't No Time 9. Anthology 10. Find A Friend 11. On The Money 12. Keep On Saying 13. I Believe In Music 14. Be Real 15. Together 16. Acknowledgement Disc: 2 1. Waiting At The Bus Stop 2. Inspiration 3. Thank You Dear Lord 4. Mr Nothing 5. STP (Singing Teaching And Preaching) 6. Find A Friend 7. Kay Gee's Theme Song 8. Cheek To Cheek 9. Fat Daddy 10. Tango Hustle 11. Celestial Vibrations 12. Kilowatt 13. Kilowatt Invasion 14. Space Disco 15. Good Feel 16. Hustle Wit Every Muscle

Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston – It takes two

1. What Good Am I Without You 2. Baby Say Yes 3. It Takes Two 4. When We're Together 5. Baby (Don't You Leave Me) 6. I Want You 'Round 7. Heaven Sent You I Know 8. It's Got To Be A Miracle (This Thing Called Love) 9. Love Fell On Me 10. Baby I Need Your Loving 11. It's Me 12. I Couldn't Help Falling For You 13. Exactly Like You 14. Till There Was You 15. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) 16. I Love You Yes I Do 17. Secret Love 18. Teach Me Tonight 19. You've Got To Be Real

Consisting of the whole of the Marvin and Kim output, plus one! Comprising the 1998 master Series Cd release plus a track from the vaults. For me it is very much a Marvin album and it his strength of vocal that carries the album. Containing a mix of (even for 1964) older sounding tracks, the embryonic motown era, through to moe progressive, where Motown was headed kind of tracks, some dreamy duet ballads, an one or two very good tracks.

The unreleased track is only OK, why milk it for completeness sake?

Love Collection: -Smokey Robinson & Miracles – You must be love;

1. Tracks Of My Tears 2. I Second That Emotion 3. Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage 4. Ooo Baby Baby 5. Choosey Beggar 6. Come Round Here I'm The One You Need 7. You Must Be Love 8. You've Really Got A Hold On Me 9. And I Love Her 10. What Love Has Joined Together 11. My Love For You 12. More Love 13. Betcha By Golly Wow 14. Yester Love 15. We've Come Too Far To End It Now 16. When The Words From Your Heart Get Caught Up In Your Throat 17. In Case You Need Love 18. Wichita Lineman

Review: - includes the classics of course including one of my all time top tracks You’ve really got a hold on me (I just love that tune). But aside from that when Smokey and the guys get hold of a slowie it is sensational, such class, indeed poetic – such as Love I saw in you was just a mirage, or My love for you which wasn’t actually a smokey composition.

More Love is also a tune worth visiting, indeed my current favourite from this set. Wonderful stuff.

Love Collection: - Diana Ross & Supremes – Love is in our hearts; www.motown45.co.uk

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Ross, Diana & The Supremes/The Temptations 2. Come See About Me 3. You Can't Hurry Love 4. Baby Love 5. Back In My Arms Again 6. What The World Needs Now Is Love 7. Baby I Need Your Loving 8. Unchained Melody 9. My World Is Empty Without You 10. I Guess I'll Always Love You 11. Love Is In Our Hearts 12. Falling In Love With Love 13. My Funny Valentine 14. I'm So Glad I Got Somebody (Like You Around) 15. No Matter What Sign You Are 16. When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes 17. Whisper You Love Me Boy 18. I'm In Love Again

Review:- A fairly standard package of classic Supremes material around a ‘love’ theme, spanning broadly 1965 to 1969. I do like the Supremes and don’t revisit them on a regular basis so it was good to hear this ompilation, I guess that’s the rationale behind such releases. Mostly well known’classics’ though there are some surprises. I probaly have heard but not really been aware of, for example, their version of Baby I need your loving, lacks the balls of the 4 tops (then it would wouldn’t it!) but quite nice, though the version of Unchained Melody exposes the eeknesses in Ms Ross’s vocals.

The classic upbeats are , well , bouncy happy feelgood songs and always will have a place

Keeping the Faith (40 Years Of Northern Soul) (4xCD)

Not seen the packaging yet but this set compiled by Neil rushton I believe comes with a booklet, and celebrates 40 years of Northern Soul.

An array of Northern Soul classics, covering its multitude of styles, nuances, trends, sub genres, pretty much staying frirm to the Soul as opposed to the Northern (though there are one or two exceptions). There are top sounds and top names, artists who have been revered in the Northern scene like Major Lance for example (who actualy despite his cult status doesn’t get too much attention these days), top cities represented Chicago, detroit and elsewhere……and there are one or two lesser known surprises. So all in all of its type it is quite a well thought out comp.

CD1 contains classic names like Darrel Bankd, Major Lance, but good to see tracs like the gravel voiced Don't Take Your Love From Me - New Sounds, and the sweet midtempo of Beverly Hills on I Don't Care Anymore .

Cd2 for me is a mix, some formative tracks like the Tomangos and Masqueraders but a couple of really personal pet hates, Dena Barnes I absolutely abhor, always have and always will (along with the Velvet Satins by the way) and Towaway Zone, a track I feel I ougt to like, I’ve tried hard to like but just can’t get it.

CD3 I’m liking from the cracking slab of Soul opening – The precisions, vocal harmonies of Royal Five, classic Mel Britt, interesting selection of Felton Burkes, the dreamy Jamaican soul of Glenn Miller.

CD4 sadly contains a tracjk that has no right to be on a Soul compilation in my view, maybe it does have the right tempo and ingrediens, maybe in the right arena it sounded Ok, but if you hadn’t already realised on a cleaned up CD in your own front room it absolutely pales into nothing, Joey D of course I refer to. Otherwise a nice mix, funk driven Crow, new breed Larry Saunders, and newer Bobby Womack, and the wonderful Tangeers. Track of interest is Willie Feaster, and I believe, first time on CD, Approintments.

Whilst I grew up with these sounds most are imbedded in me and are second nature, and I love them to bits, I can’t help thinking that its time to move on. I can’t see what good these comps do to the ‘scene’, they are old hat, they are not particularly going to appeal to new blood, just packaging and repackaging, and squeezing every last ounce. At the end of the day it will prove detrimental to the roots of a wonderful music and culture.

Tracks

1. Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty - Showstoppers
2. Open The Door To Your Heart - Banks, Darrell
3. Our Love Is In The Pocket - Barnes, J.J.
4. These Chains Of Love (Are Breaking Me Down) - Jackson, Chuck
5. That's What I Want To Know - Carr, James
6. Ain't No Soul (Left In These Ole Shoes) - Milsap, Ronnie
7. Sweet Sweet Lovin' - Platters
8. Bok To Bach - Father's Angels
9. My Elusive Dreams - Dillard, Moses & Joshua
10. Tightrope - Foxx, Inez & Charlie
11. At The Top Of The Stairs - Formations
12. Girls Are Out To Get You - Fascinations
13. Gotta Have Your Love - Sapphires
14. Don't Be Sore At Me - Parliaments
15. Beat - Major Lance
16. Mr Soul Satisfaction - Willis, Timmy
17. That Beatin' Rhythm - Temple, Richard
18. I Wanna Do It With You Baby - Superbs
19. Gonna Make You Love Me - Sheldon, Sandi
20. Cool Off - Detroit Executives
21. I'll Be Your Champion I'll Be Your Winner - Clarke, Jimmy 'Soul'
22. Woman Love Thief - Stemmons Express
23. It Really Hurts Me Girl - Carstairs
24. Don't Take Your Love From Me - New Sounds
25. I Don't Care Anymore - Hills, Beverley

1. Sliced Tomatoes - Just Brothers
2. Hit And Run - Batiste, Rose
3. Gone With The Wind Is My Love - Rita & The Tiaras
4. I Really Love You - Tomangoes
5. Do You Love Me Baby - Masqueraders
6. I Still Love You - Superlatives
7. If You Ever Walk Out Of My Life - Barnes, Dena
8. Just Say You're Wanted And Needed - Owens, Gwen
9. I'm Not Strong Enough - Four Perfections
10. Ever Again - Williams, Bernie
11. Paris Blues - Middleton, Tony
12. Man Without A Woman - Michael & Raymond
13. I Worship You Baby - Glories
14. No Way To Treat A Lady - Knight, Marie
15. That Girl - Porgy & The Monarchs
16. Goose Pimples - Scott, Shirley J.
17. Time's A Wasting - Fuller Brothers
18. Keep On Moving - Hamilton, Little Johnny & The Creators
19. You Ain't Saying Nothing New - Henry, Virgil
20. Tow Away Zone - Jenkins, Dianne
21. Way I Love You - Continental 4
22. Gee Baby - Festivals
23. Romeo And Juliet - Helms, Jimmy
24. Let Me Try - Odds & Ends
25. Flying High - Whispers

1. Such Misery - Precisions
2. Candle - Burdick, Doni
3. Don't Stop - Royal Five
4. Guess Who Loves You - Daye, Eddie & Four Bars
5. Genie - Bryant, Terri
6. She'll Come Running Back - Britt, Mel
7. I'll Always Love You - Burkes, Felton
8. Not A Chance In A Million - Mitchell, Jock
9. Dearly Beloved - Montgomery, Jack
10. I Don't Like To Lose - Group & Cecil Washington
11. I Need A True Love - Gant, Ray & The Arabian Knights
12. They're Talking About Me - Bragg, Johnny
13. Let Her Go - Smith, Otis
14. I'm Giving You Notice Baby - Fidels
15. I'm Where It's At - Jades
16. Burning Sensation - Lawson, Robby
17. Trouble - Walker, Ronnie
18. You've Got A Man On Your Hands - Whispers
19. Check It Baby - Willie & The Mighty Magnificents
20. Has It Happened To You Yet - Starr, Edwin
21. I Need You Like A Baby - Henry, Andrea
22. Who Are You Trying To Fool - Hamilton, David orchestra
23. What About My Love - Taylor, Johnnie
24. Where Is The Love - Miller, Glenn
25. Where There's A Will There's A Way - Kool, Eddie

1. Nitty Gritty City - Swans
2. I Bear Witness - Dynamic Siblings
3. Baby Don't Do It - United Four
4. Think Smart - Fiestas
5. Earthquake - Hamilton, Roy
6. Girl Don't Make Me Wait - Sigler, Bunny
7. There's A Pain In My Heart - Poppies
8. You Don't Love Me Anymore - Caswell, Johnny
9. Born A Loser - Ray, Don
10. I Need You - Martin, Shane
11. Quitter Never Wins - Williams, Larry & Johnny Watson
12. Please Stay - Ivories
13. I Don't Want To Lose Him - Gigi & The Charmaines
14. Let My Heart And Soul Be Free - Tan Geers
15. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid - Lester, Ketty
16. Wake Up To The Sunshine Girl - Delorenzo, Joey
17. On The Real Side - Saunders, Larry
18. Get It Baby - Mitchell, Stanley
19. Your Autumn Of Tomorrow - Crow
20. Don't It Make You Feel Funky - Hicks, Joe
21. I Saw You There - Appointments
22. Hey Girl - James, Jimmy & The Vagabonds
23. Voices - Feaster, Willie & The Concrete Wall
24. Have I Got The Right - Cockerham, Chuck
25. So Many Sides Of You - Womack, Bobby

Music from B-Boy (Game Soundtrack)

A pretty good compilation for this new game, some hot funk, disco, hip hop and B-boy material, some well known, some not quite so mainstream, mostly old but some newer. It all hangs together very well as an album in its own right, and not being much of a gamer, I trust it will all look good in that environment as well. The tracks themselves give rise to certain imagery so I hope it is well reflected.

A couple of welcome inclusions are the Jackson Fives underplayed and under rated Party, LTD’s deep Love to the World, Kools Sesame and x – a reminder of where they used to be,

Top Track is Eric B and Rakim, in fact there should be more of that style included for a truer reflection of Bboy I would suggest. Worst track is Nina Simone’s irritating to death Mosquito’s Tweeter.

1The Jackson Sisters - I Believe In Miracles2Lyn Collins - Think (About It)3Fred Wesley & The J.B.'S - Blow Your Head4Black Eyed Peas - Bringing It Back5Jackson 5 - The Life Of The Party6L.T.D. - Love To The World7Dj Shadow - Organ Donor8Bobby Byrd - Hot Pants (I'm Coming, I'm Coming)9Kool & The Gang - Open Sesame10Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique11Roy Ayers - Brother Green (The Disco King)12James Brown - Get On The Good Foot, Pt. 113Cymande - Brothers On The Slide14The Bar-Kays - Holy Ghost15Babe Ruth - The Mexican Millenium16Kool & The Gang - Rated X17James Brown - Cold Sweat Pt. 118Nina Simone - Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter

The Shadows of Love – Intense Tamla 1966-68

Sorry but I don’t get this series, this one compiled by Jon Savage the Author of Englands Dreaming, a comp spanning March 1966 to October 1968. Ok it was the hey dey, and the tracks are faultless (except R Dean Taylor but that’s a personal thing), but there is nothing on this album that aets it from being just a freshly packaged comp of Motown standards. There is nothing original (in selection), nothing original, nothing inspiring, nothing different. Just give one track a bit of a mention and that is the Miracles The Love I saw in you is just a mirage.

Out of Sight – more sounds from the In Crowd.

Lovingly , beautifully and stylishly package double album complete with booklet, which is what you would expect from a package subtitled The Ultimate Mod Collection, from the original style movement 1958 to 1968. Not really too much to surprise and personally I could have done without the British Blues and Beat stuff, but that’s just me – but on the other hand it does sound weak when put side by side with some classic R’n’B and Soul doesn’t it?

Selections form 50’s Blues through to 60’s Soul, from the raw edged to the smooth, and some great sounds. Ok it is popular but the Miracles You ‘ve realy got a hold on me just cracks me up (emotionally) every time, even now, as strong as anything you’ll ever hear. Other tracks that I would personally pick up and praise their inclusion are Bobby McClure’s Peak of Love, Arthur Alexander’s Where have you been, and any Bobby Bland track is usually a class above and this is no exception…..but you take a listen and make your choice.

Track Listings 1. One More Heartache - Gaye, Marvin; 2. Soulful Dress - Sugar Pie Desanto ; 3. Summertime - Stewart, Billy (1) ; 4. See Line Woman - Nimone, Nina ; 5. Never Say No To Your Baby - Hit Pack ;6. She's Alright - Farlowe, Chris ;7. You've Really Got A Hold On Me - Miracles ;8. I Fooled You This Time - Chandler, Gene ;9. Uptight - Wonder, Stevie 10. Look At Granny Run Run - Tate, Howard 11. Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf 12. Homework - Rush, Otis 13. Looking Back - Mayall, John & The Bluesbreakers 14. Wang Dang Doodle - Taylor, Koko 15. Taylor, Koko - Brown, James (1) 16. Searching For My Love - Moore, Bobby & The Rhythm Aces 17. Sunny - Hebb, Bobby 18. He Was really Sayin' Somethin' - Velvelettes 19. Little Latin Lupe Lu - Righteous Brothers 20. I Can't Stand It - Davis, Spencer Group 21. Hey Girl - Small Faces 22. Wooly Bully - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs 23. Please Mr Postman - Marvelettes 24. It's The Same Old Song - Four Tops 25. 6x6 - Van Dyke, Earl & The Soul Brothers

1. Nowhere To Run - Martha & The Vandellas 2. Treat Her Right - Head, Roy 3. Peak Of Love - McClure, Bobby 4. You've Been Cheatin' - Impressions 5. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man - Waters, Muddy 6. Where Have You Been - Alexander, Arthur 7. Mohair Sam - Rich, Charlie 8. That Did It - Bland, Bobby 'Blue'

9. Beggin' - Timebox (2) 10. Needle In A Haystack - Velvelettes 11. I'll Go Crazy - Brown, James (1) 12. Shimmy Shimmy Walk - Megatons 13. We're Gonna Get Married - Diddley, Bo 14. Baby Scratch My Back - Harpo, Slim 15. Crawling Up A Hill - Mayall, John & The Bluesbreakers 16. Something's Got A Hold On Me - James, Etta 17. Heaven Must Have Sent You - Elgins 18. Love Love Love - Hebb, Bobby 19. I Got A Feeling - Randolph, Barbara 20. Mercy Mercy Mercy - Shaw, Marlena 21. I'll Keep Holding On - Marvelettes 22. I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying - Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles 23. Just Walk In My Shoes - Knight, Gladys & The Pips 24. Just Loving You - Weston, Kim 25. Cat - Smith, Jimmy (4)

Soul Legends – Marvin Gaye; Diana Ross and the Supremes; Jackson Five;Isaac Hayes;Temptations; Lionel Ritchie & Commodores; Four Tops; Smokey Robinson & Miracles; James Brown; Curtis Mayfield & Impressions

A very good series of repackaged material containing lots, most of indeed, the expected tracks on such compilations, but also one or two surprises. Mid priced series in digipacks – digi packs seem to be coming more into prominence, as I understand it from an independent artist friend of mine, because they are much more difficult to counterfeit.

Marvin Gaye

I dunno if the 10 initial releases were done ‘in order’ but you cannot really argue with Marvin gaye being number one. Some very nice additions like You’re the one for me, and My Girl which I don’t remember ever hearing but I guess I must have. I fail to see however any particular relevance in including an obscure release that found the light of day through the Northern Soul Circuit, It may be an in vogue and interesting track but its hardlt the sort of track from which legendary status is made. That said there’s a little piece of each segment of Marvin’s styles, love, jazz trad motown, live, soundtrack, social commentary, pain and torture – also Notwithstanding what I said Got to give it up is a great track! Bizarrely thera are tracks that helped afford Marvin Legendary status, which although often compiled, are excluded, like Lets get it on for example. Still it’s a great compilation.

1. MP3 WMA "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (with Tammi Terrell) 2. MP3 WMA "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" 3. MP3 WMA "That's The Way Love Is" 4. MP3 WMA "Sunny" 5. MP3 WMA "Something Stupid" (with Tammi Terrell) 6. MP3 WMA "My Girl" 7. MP3 WMA "You're The One For Me" 8. MP3 WMA "I Hope I Don't Get My Heart Broken" 9. MP3 WMA "This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It's Killing Me)" 10. MP3 WMA "When I Had Your Love" 11. MP3 WMA "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" 12. MP3 WMA "Trouble Man" 13. MP3 WMA "Cloud Nine" 14. MP3 WMA "Got To Give It Up" (Part 1) 15. MP3 WMA "Far Cry" 16. MP3 WMA "Where Are We Going?" 17. MP3 WMA "Lucky Lucky Me" (Jazz mix) 18. MP3 WMA "What's Going On?" 19. MP3 WMA "Yesterday" 20. MP3 WMA "The Shadow Of Your Smile" 21. MP3 WMA "Love For Sale"

Diana Ross and the Supremes

There’s a joyousness about the (early) Supremes and any respectable soul boy (of my age) should admit to the fact that they as much as anybody helped shaped their formative years, even if they appear to lightweight or commercial these days – I still love the toe tapping simplicity and if it weren’t for these tracks I wouldn’t have gone onto deeper things. Though as the years passed the joy of the music sadly fades away disappearing into soullessness and mediocrity, but for the most part on here the strong years are included.

1. MP3 WMA "You Can't Hurry Love" 2. MP3 WMA "He's My Sunny Boy" 3. MP3 WMA "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 4. MP3 WMA "Stop! In The Name Of Love" 5. MP3 WMA "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" 6. MP3 WMA "Back In My Arms Again" 7. MP3 WMA "Love Child" 8. MP3 WMA "Love The One You're With" 9. MP3 WMA "Hang On Sloopy" 10. MP3 WMA "These Boots Are Made For Walking" 11. MP3 WMA "Blowin' In The Wind" 12. MP3 WMA "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" 13. MP3 WMA "Come Together" 14. MP3 WMA "Stoned Love" 15. MP3 WMA "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" 16. MP3 WMA "Never Can Say Goodbye" 17. MP3 WMA "This Guy's In Love With You" 18. MP3 WMA "Stormy" 19. MP3 WMA "Baby, Baby, Where Did Our Love Go" 20. MP3 WMA "Try It Baby" 21. MP3 WMA "Blue Moon" 22. MP3 WMA "When You Wish Upon A Star" 23. MP3 WMA "Whistle While You Work" (unreleased Alternate mix) 24. MP3 WMA "My Funny Valentine"

Jackson Five

The first three tracks on here are worth getting, three early tracks the first two produced by Boby tatlor and the third written by Willie Hutch, a Willie Hutch groove but that early inimitable raw J5. Includes some rare Japanese remixes, some will doubt the validity but they are OK. Interesting compilation ll round

1. MP3 WMA "Reach Out I'll Be There" 2. MP3 WMA "It's Your Thing" 3. MP3 WMA "Let's Have A Party" 4. MP3 WMA "I Want You Back" (Kei's Routine Jazz Party mix) 5. MP3 WMA "My Girl" 6. MP3 WMA "Whatever You Got I Want" 7. MP3 WMA "The Boogie Man" 8. MP3 WMA "I'll Bet You" 9. MP3 WMA "Mamal Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)" 10. MP3 WMA "Just A Little Misunderstanding" 11. MP3 WMA "Mama's Pearl" 12. MP3 WMA "ABC" (Justa Roots Rock mix) 13. MP3 WMA "Dancing Machine" (original album version) 14. MP3 WMA "Doctor My Eyes" 15. MP3 WMA "Money Honey" 16. MP3 WMA "A Fool For You" 17. MP3 WMA "I'll Be There" 18. MP3 WMA "Never Can Say Goodbye"

Isaac Hayes

The first non motown, the Isaac Hayes who certainly made a stamp for himself on extended versions. I do like the deepness, richness and moodiness of these tracks but I also like, maybe even prefer, Bobby Womacks interpretations of standards. Small point but the sleeve does not match the album listing, but the notes do!

1. MP3 WMA "Walk On By" 2. MP3 WMA "Something" 3. MP3 WMA "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" 4. MP3 WMA "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love" 5. MP3 WMA "Ike's Mood" 6. MP3 WMA "Ike's Rap" 7. MP3 WMA "Our Day Will Come" 8. MP3 WMA "Theme From 'Shaft'" 9. MP3 WMA "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" 10. MP3 WMA "Baby, I'm A Want You" 11. MP3 WMA "Joy" (Part 1) 12. MP3 WMA "Come Live With Me" 13. MP3 WMA "Make A Little Love To Me" 14. MP3 WMA "Out Of The Ghetto" 15.     "It's All In The Game"

Temptations

For one of the strongest groups I find this rather a weak comp. Yes it includes a bunch of the classic unmissables but the other ‘fillers’ are pretty uninspiring. Theres’ also some exemplary performances past 1970.

1. MP3 WMA "Since I Lost My Baby" 2. MP3 WMA "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" 3. MP3 WMA "All I Need" 4. MP3 WMA "Loneliness Made Me Realise (It's You That Need)" 5. MP3 WMA "Don't Look Back" 6. MP3 WMA "My Girl" 7. MP3 WMA "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" 8. MP3 WMA "Get Ready" 9. MP3 WMA "What Am I Gonna Do Without You" 10. MP3 WMA "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" 11. MP3 WMA "(I Know) I'm Losing You" 12. MP3 WMA "That'll Be The Day" 13. MP3 WMA "Give It Up" 14. MP3 WMA "Forever In My Heart" 15. MP3 WMA "Ain't No Sunshine Since You've Been Gone" 16. MP3 WMA "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" 17. MP3 WMA "I Wish It Would Rain" 18. MP3 WMA "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" 19. MP3 WMA "Cloud Nine" 20. MP3 WMA "I Can't Get Next To You" 21. MP3 WMA "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down" 22. MP3 WMA "Psychedelic Shack" 23. MP3 WMA "Runaway Child Running Wild" (single edit) 24. MP3 WMA "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)"

Lionel Ritchie & Commodores

I have a soft spot for the Commodores as they were one of the first groups that I saw excel live and show to me the wide gulf in live showmanship between the US and the UK, that was way back when it was funky , it was new Motown, and it was fresh – all of the hits of that era are here (plus that dreadful Zoo). It all ended up commercial and middle of the road or adult orientated but initially they were pretty fundamental.

1. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Machine Gun" 2. MP3 WMA Commodores - "I Feel Sanctified" 3. MP3 WMA Commodores - "The Zoo (The Human Zoo)" 4. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Slippery When Wet" 5. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Too Hot Ta Trot" (single version) 6. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Brick House" 7. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Don't You Be Worried" 8. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Funky Situation" 9. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Flying High" (single version) 10. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Easy" 11. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Let's Get Started" 12. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Gonna Blow Your Mind" 13. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Sweet love" (single version) 14. MP3 WMA Commodores - "Night Shift" 15. MP3 WMA Lionel Richie with Diana Ross - "Endless Love" 16. MP3 WMA Lionel Richie - "Truly" 17. MP3 WMA Lionel Richie - "All Night Long (All Night)" 18. MP3 WMA Lionel Richie - "Running With The Night" 19. MP3 WMA Lionel Richie - "Stuck On You"

Four Tops

You know even back in my junior youth club days I was a Temptations, an Impressions, a Miracles or an Isleys man in preference to the Tops, and in a rather ass about face way in recent years I find myself liking their material as much if mnot more than the aforementioned outfits. Its not that I didin’t like them just preferred the others. For this reason I find this set brighter than the Tempts one. There’s nothing mindblowingly different to this comp as compared to the Tempts but at this moment in time I prefer this one.

1. MP3 WMA "Baby I Need Your Loving" 2. MP3 WMA "I Can't Help Myself" (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) 3. MP3 WMA "Something About You" 4. MP3 WMA "Ask The Lonely" 5. MP3 WMA "It's The Same Old Song" 6. MP3 WMA "Shake Me, Wake Me" (When It's Over) 7. MP3 WMA "Loving Youls Sweeter Than Ever" 8. MP3 WMA "Reach Out I'll Be There" 9. MP3 WMA "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" 10. MP3 WMA "Bernadette" 11. MP3 WMA "Walk Away Renee" 12. MP3 WMA "If I Were A Carpenter" 13. MP3 WMA "Love Has Gone" 14. MP3 WMA "Your Love Is Amazing" 15. MP3 WMA "I Got A Feeling" 16. MP3 WMA "I'll Turn To Stone" 17. MP3 WMA "Helpless" 18. MP3 WMA "7 Rooms Of Gloom" 19. MP3 WMA "You Keep Running Away" 20. MP3 WMA "I'm In A Different World" 21. MP3 WMA "Still Water ( Love)" 22. MP3 WMA "Walk With Me, Talk With Me, Darling" 23. MP3 WMA "What You Gonna Do With Me Baby?" 24. MP3 WMA "Just One Last Look" 25. MP3 WMA "Gotta Say, Gonna Tell It Like It Is"

Smokey Robinson & Miracles

Those very early joyous Detroit 60’s quasi doowop tracks are something else, they hold a freshness a liveliness a rawness that was wonderful, who could have forecast what it was going to become . Then You really got a hold on me – which remains one of my all time favourites – and Smokey’s vocal is so gut wrenching, the lyrics so poetic, yet so simple – and if you can catch the old video of it as well – just wow!, even now it makes my hairs stand. The non mainstream tracks on here are pure stunners, fantastic compilation.

1. MP3 WMA "Got A Job" 2. MP3 WMA "Shop Around" 3. MP3 WMA "Money (That's What I Want)" 4. MP3 WMA "Mighty Good Lovin'" 5. MP3 WMA "Way Over There" 6. MP3 WMA "You Really Got A Hold On Me" 7. MP3 WMA "The Wah Watusi" 8. MP3 WMA "(You Can't Let the Boy Over Power) The Man In You" 9. MP3 WMA "Show Me You Can Dance" 10. MP3 WMA "The Tracks Of My Tears" 11. MP3 WMA "A Fork In The Road" 12. MP3 WMA "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage" 13. MP3 WMA "Tears Of A Clown" 14. MP3 WMA "Come Spy with Me" 15. MP3 WMA "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" 16. MP3 WMA "Point It Out" 17. MP3 WMA "California Soul" 18. MP3 WMA "My Worlds Empty Without You" 19. MP3 WMA "I Don't Blame You At All" 20. MP3 WMA "There's A Sad Story Out Here" 21. MP3 WMA "We've Come Too Far To End It Now" 22. MP3 WMA "Betcha By Golly Wow"

James Brown

Well everyone comping JaBo and restricting to 20 sides would come up with 20 different sides, and frankly so would I, to this. I would throw in some of the deeper vocalled tracks and the jazzier side but I stil wouldn’t have come up with the ones on here. You can’t argue with the key and groundbreaking tracks here though tere are some missing. Just to big an artist to restrict to be fair. Another nitpick I don’t like the continued reference to the British ‘scene’ on some of these comps, on here there is the who, somewhere else it’s the Action (whoever), elsewhere its Northern this, Northern that – quite what any of that has got to do with these guys acquiring legendary status is beyond me,

1. MP3 WMA "Please Please Please" 2. MP3 WMA "Good Good Lovin'" 3. MP3 WMA "Shout And Shimmy" 4. MP3 WMA "I Don't Mind" 5. MP3 WMA "Just You And Me Darling" 6. MP3 WMA "Think" 7. MP3 WMA "Night Train" 8. MP3 WMA "Out Of Sight" 9. MP3 WMA "Why Did You Take Your Love Away From Me" 10. MP3 WMA "Stone Fox" 11. MP3 WMA "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" (Part 1) 12. MP3 WMA "There Was A Time" 13. MP3 WMA "I Got The Feelin'" 14. MP3 WMA "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" (Part 1) 15. MP3 WMA "Cold Sweat" (Part 1) 16. MP3 WMA "Say It Loud, I'm Back And I'm Proud" (Part 1) 17. MP3 WMA "Make It Funky" (Part 1) 18. MP3 WMA "Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothing" (Part 1) 19. MP3 WMA "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" (Part 1) 20. MP3 WMA "The Payback" (Part 1)

Curtis Mayfield & Impressions

Notwithstanding anything I’ve said thus far, and what other moments in time, or whims that I happen to be on, I always come back to the Impressions. Number One for me ChiTown above Motor City! Upbeat Downbeat Social Love, Harmonies rough or harmonies tender, tenor or baritone, stunning. No real surprises on here, maybe that’s because every one is etched within me anyway.

1. MP3 WMA "Can't Satisfy" 2. MP3 WMA "You've Been Cheatin'" 3. MP3 WMA "Meeting Over Yonder" 4. MP3 WMA "I Love You (Yeah)" 5. MP3 WMA "It's All Right" 6. MP3 WMA "Nothing Can Stop Me" 7. MP3 WMA "Woman's Got Soul" 8. MP3 WMA "I'm The One Who Loves You" 9. MP3 WMA "I Gotta Keep A Moving" 10. MP3 WMA "People Get Ready" 11. MP3 WMA "Keep On Pushing" 12. MP3 WMA "You Always Hurt Me" 13. MP3 WMA "Sometimes I Wonder" 14. MP3 WMA "You Ought To Be In Heaven" 15. MP3 WMA "Dedicate My Song To You" 16. MP3 WMA "We're A Winner" 17. MP3 WMA "I Ain't Supposed To" 18. MP3 WMA "Get Up And Move" 19. MP3 WMA "East Of Java" 20. MP3 WMA "Ridin' High" 21. MP3 WMA "Right On Time" 22. MP3 WMA "Ten To One" 23. MP3 WMA "Sermonette"

JR Bailey- Just Me N You

J.R. BAILEY JUST ME N YOU

Fantastic 1974 soul album, from the prolific songwriter, was made in the shadow of and musically the same vein as Marvin's 'Whats Going On'. Highlights are his original of 'Love Love Love', 'After hours' , 'Heaven On Earth' the fantastic title track and 'I'll Always Be Your Lover', but this album is strong throughout. JR's lyrics and vocals are great throughout and the arrangements and production compliment perfectly. It is a classic, up there with Lou Courtney, Leroy Hutson, Tom Brock and the other great albums we have reissued. This album should be in every soul collection.

Review - Top quality album and great to see such a release. Not many albums grab you, hold you, all the way through but this is one such album. Easy on the ear yet deep and conceptual.

After Hours kicks of in a midtempo Marvin kind of mood, atmospheric sax. Heaven On Earth is moody, jazzy and vocaly exceptional. Funky guitar intro leads into Just Me 'N You sort of film score feel before it eases into a sweet love ballad, strings to die for. This album never lets up, stormy intro on She Called Me but it issentially old skool male group harmony.

Love, Love, Love is simply luscious. I'll Always Be Your Lover with a latin feel is also a top track. All Strung Out Over You just kills me – full stop.

Simply a top album – essential.

Tracks: - 1.After Hours 2.Heaven On Earth 3.Just Me 'N You 4.She Called Me 5.Cute As Button 6.Love, Love, Love 7.I'll Always Be Your Lover 8.All Strung Out Over You 9.Not Too Long Ago 10.Everything I Want I See In You

Groove on Down 2 http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/groove_on_down_volume_2.html

info: - In the first volume of Groove On Down we featured some relatively well known underground 12” anthems from the late 70’s and early 80’s. On this volume we feature some more of these with a couple of album only tracks that have become popular soulful club tracks in recent years. Like all those on the first volume all these tracks combine great grooves with uplifting soulful vocals.

ROSE ROYCE – STILL IN LOVE 5.39
Originally issued as Epic AS 1496

Rose Royce is the best known artist on this compilation and although they had many hits starting with ‘Car Wash’ in 1976 and ‘Wishing On a Star’ in 1978, this for me is the best track they ever recorded. It is taken from their 1982 album ‘Stronger Than Ever’ recorded for Epic, and it was released on a promo only 12” single. This track is simply magical, great song, instrumentation, arrangements and vocals combine to make one of the best soul tracks of its decade.

WHATNAUTS – HELP IS ON THE WAY 7.20
Originally issued as Harlem International HIR 110 The Whatnauts were a trio of singers from Baltimore MD, who made three albums for Sylvia Robinson’s Stang Records from 1970-72, including the extremely hard to find ‘Whatnauts On The Rocks’ (that features the hip hop break ‘Why Cant People Be Colors Too’). Best known for their collaboration with label mates The Moments ‘Girls’; they recorded for various labels in the mid to late 70’s and early 80’s. ‘Help Is On The Way’ is an uplifting soulful dancer from 1981 that has retained its popularity. The compulsive backing riff was aped by Fat Larry’s Band for their 1982 hit ‘Act Like You Know’.

CHERYL LYNN – GOT TO BE REAL 5.20
Originally issued as Columbia 23-10869

Cheryl Lynn made many great disco/boogie tracks in the late 70’ and early 80’s. ‘Got To Be Real’ her solo debut, was the biggest of them all, a massive club track at the time and ever since its 1978 release, and a number one R&B hit and reaching no 12 in the US pop charts. She had earlier performed on Toto’s original version of ‘Georgy Porgy’, (the more famous Charme version featuring Luther Vandross appeared on vol 1 of Groove On Down). Cheryl also scored with ‘Shake It Up Tonight’ and ‘Encore’ and her duet with Luther ‘If This World Was Mine’ on Columbia, and made several albums for them before recording for Manhattan and Virgin in the late 80’s, and most recently on the ‘Fishtail’ soundtrack.

JACKIE MOORE – THIS TIME BABY 7.04
Originally issued as Columbia 23-10994

Florida born Jackie enjoyed a run of hit singles in the early 70’s for Atlantic most notably ‘Precious Precious’ and ‘Time’, although ‘Both Ends Against The Middle’ was hugely popular in the UK at the time. After a spell with the TK distributed Kayvette label she recorded two albums for Columbia in the late 1970’s. ‘This Time Baby’ was taken from her ‘On My Way’ album from 1979 and was released twice as a 12” single (later with a picture sleeve featuring an instrumental version).
The track is considered to be a disco classic and it has regained popularity again recently.
Her other Columbia album ‘With Your Love’ also produced by Bobbi Eli includes the popular track ‘Walk Away From Love’ featured on Expansion Records recent Spirit Of Philadelphia Vol 2’ compilation.

MANDRILL – STAY TONITE 7.47
Originally issued as Arista SP44

Mandrill were founded in the early 70’s by the Wilson Brothers and were one of the leading ‘Street Funk’ bands recording a succession of great albums for Polydor featuring Funk Anthems like ‘Fencewalk’, ‘Mango Meat’ and ‘Road To Love’ and the sampled ‘Fat City Strutt’. After a brief spell at United Artists, where they recorded possibly their best album ‘Solid’, they joined Arista and made three albums.

‘Stay Tonite’ is taken from the 1978 album ‘New Worlds’, and was completely overlooked at the time ‘It’s So Easy Lovin You’ and the northern ‘Too Late’ being more popular. It is an outstanding track whose time has now arrived with a great riff and vocals and an interesting changes through out the track. This extended version, featuring an intro that is not on the album version was issued on a promo only 12”single.

OZONE – OUR HEARTS WILL ALWAYS SHINE 4.02
Originally issued in album ‘Glasses’ Motown 6037ML

Funk band Ozone hailed from Nashville Tennessee and signed with Motown in 1979. They were used as a backing band for albums by Billy Preston and Syretta, before recording their five albums for the company between 1980-83.

‘Our Hearts Will Always Shine’ is taken from the last of these the Michael Stokes produced ‘Glasses’, and is an uplifting soulful dancer that has become popular in the UK in recent years.

RHYZE – BIZZAAR 4.30
Originally issued in album ‘Rhyze To The Top’ 20th Century

Rhyze were founded in the late 70’s and made two albums. ‘Just How Sweet Is Your Love’ for Sam Records in 1980 featured their best known (title) track, whilst a year late ‘Rhyze To The Top’ was on 20th Century.

‘Bizzaar’ is taken from the second and hardest to find of these, and has been popular in the UK for many years. It features a hook line not dissimilar to the Spinners ‘I’ll Be Around’ which may explain some of its appeal.

BROOKLYN EXPRESS – YOU NEED A CHANGE OF MIND 6.45
Originally issued as BC 4013

Brooklyn Express was the brainchild of Polish New Yorker producer Began Cekic.
They recorded many 12” singles for his own BC and One Way Records, including a good version of MFSB ‘Love Is The Message’.

‘You Need a Change Of Mind’ from 1982 is a great cover of the great Eddie Kendricks from a decade earlier, was issued as a B side to a very strange track ‘Back In Time’ that mixed parts of lots of earlier tracks together and almost worked. ‘You Need..’ is an excellent example of early 80’s underground New York disco.

CAROL WILLIAMS – CAN’T GET AWAY FROM YOUR LOVE 7.04
Originally issued as Vanguard SPV58

Carol already had ten years experience as a singer/songwriter before her 1976 hit ‘More’, backed by the now more popular ‘Love Is You’ on Salsoul. After a Vince Montana produced album on Salsoul , she recorded many sides for Vanguard including the Daryl Payne produced ‘Cant Get Away From Your Love’ from 1982, another NY Disco classic that still sounds fresh today. A More electronic ‘Dub’ version was released on a promo 10” and is highly sought after, but this is THE version.

Carol can also be heard as the voice on Tony Valor’s ‘Love Has Come My Way’ and Komiko’s ‘Feel Alright’ as well as her other singles for New Image and other small labels in the ‘80’s.

 GWEN GUTHRIE – SEVENTH HEAVEN (LARRY LEVAN MIX) 7.26
Originally issued in Mini LP ‘Padlock’ Garage ITG 2001

Gwen Guthrie was born in Okemah Oklahoma but raised in Newark NJ, sadly dying from cancer in 1999. She is best known for her No1 R&B hit ‘Aint Nothing Goin On But The Rent’ and her dance floor hit ‘It Should Have Been You’. She recorded eight albums over a ten year period for a variety of mainly Polygram owned labels.

‘Seventh Heaven’ originally appeared on her 1983 Sly and Robbie produced album ‘Portrait’. It was remixed to an almost completely unrecognizably different track by the late great Larry Levan , this version appearing on a mini LP ‘Padlock’, and became a huge club hit. It is a funky and at times semi dub instrumental with a driving groove , phat bass and Gwen’s unique vocals over the top.. seventh heaven !

ACTIVE FORCE – GIVE ME YOUR LOVE 6.28
Originally issued as A&M SP12083

This track epitomises the best of early 80’s grooves, and has been hugely popular and in demand since its original release on A&M in 1983. This extended 12” version is the one with its long intro. The album version is shorter, and it was also issued on an even shorter 7”single. Their album didn’t make much impact at the time, but is now heavily in demand for this track and also their two stepper ‘ ‘.

WORLD PREMIER – SHARE THE NIGHT 7.20
Originally issued as Easystreet EZS 7506

Little is known about Brooklyn based World Premier who cut this essential boogie track for NY based Easystreet records in 1983. The track itself has remained popular ever since release and it is one of the best of its genre.

Review: - A compilation that surpasses Volume 1 I think, with a crop of top Boogie cuts, in full version. And none better than Still In Love - Rose Royce which is a killer track still sounding fresh as a daisy and head and shoulders above most of their output. Help Is On The Way - Whatnauts has been succesful and indemand in various of the subcultures of the UK.

Got To Be Real - Cheryl Lynn I haven’t checked this but I guess this is the biggest track on here, hugely successful and still big in all the revival soul rooms.

This Time Baby - Jackie Moore is a pure disco classic with that commercial disco fever over that percussive beat. Stay Tonite - Mandrill is an absolute stunner and how this was overlooked at the time is hard to imagine, full of jazzy percussive beats building over nearly 8 minutes, funk of the highest order.

Our Hearts Will Always Shine - Ozone has been popular in Modern Soul Rooms over the last few years, great vocals. Bizzaar - Rhyze is as said above very reminiscent of The Spinners, another track that garners much attention.

You Need A Change Of Mind - Brooklyn Express – is an OK cover of Eddie Kendricks. Cant Get Away (From Your Love) - Carol Williams is prety routine NY disco. Seventh Heaven (Larry Levan Remix) - Gwen Guthrie is a track that made it in the mix. Give Me Your Love - Active Force is the long version, tracks from this era fall in two categories, those that sound incredibly dated and those that stand the teast oftime, this one happily falling into the latter category, as does one of the earlier tracks out of Easy Street Share The Night - World Premier.

Atlantic Unearthed – Soul Sisters/ Soul Brothers

Can't Stop A Man In Love - Pickett, Wilson represents a stunning opening on this unreleased Wilson Pickett track, but overall I don’t think the album is quite as strong as the Sisters collection, but again is more than worthwhile for what it offers. The other killer track for me is Percy Sledge’s wonderful Baby Baby Baby - Sledge, Percy

How Does It Feel - Womack, Bobby is upbeat and a ‘UK’ type of track but when all said and done is pretty ordinary and has some really irritatting instrumentation. You Left The Water Running - Sam & Dave is just typical Sam & dave. Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) - Conley, Arthur is a very good version from an artist who, in my view, deserved better (acclamation). Book Of Memories - Wiggins, Percy has a beautiful sweet voice in its element on a slow burning track such as this. That's How It Feels - Soul Clan is a fairly strong ballad. Of course there is none better that Otis, no one is beyond criticism but he comes mighty close I Love You More Than Words Can Say - Redding, Otis, pure unadulterated emotion. Hold On - Carr, James offers a compare and contrant situation with Otis, good but………..

The next bunch are full of that deep Soul tradition, all have something to offer, some are by highly revered artists Pouring Water On A Drowning Man - Clay, Otis , Lovebones - Mighty Sam, Love Of My Woman - Banks, Darrell Coldest Days Of My Life - Jackson, Walter but are only Ok

Whiter Shade Of Pale - Greaves, R.B., agh! I’ve heard people compare this song to a soul record, but how can it be when it’s a rabling of complete garbage, so why do it any favours by covering it.

Two stunners to close Change With The Seasons - Hall, Carl and the wonderful Donny Hathaway What A Woman Really Means - Hathaway, Donny

Tracks: - Can't Stop A Man In Love - Pickett, Wilson; 2. How Does It Feel - Womack, Bobby 3. You Left The Water Running - Sam & Dave; 4. Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) - Conley, Arthur; 5. Book Of Memories - Wiggins, Percy ;6. That's How It Feels - Soul Clan ;7. I Love You More Than Words Can Say - Redding, Otis; 8. Baby Baby Baby - Sledge, Percy; 9. Hold On - Carr, James; 10. Pouring Water On A Drowning Man - Clay, Otis ;11. Lovebones - Mighty Sam; 12. Love Of My Woman - Banks, Darrell ;13. Coldest Days Of My Life - Jackson, Walter ;14. Whiter Shade Of Pale - Greaves, R.B.; 15. Change With The Seasons - Hall, Carl; 16. What A Woman Really Means - Hathaway, Donny

An unisued track in the US by my favourite female Soul Singer you would think I would be chomping at the bit, unfortunately not so with My Way - Franklin, Aretha , on the other hand a favourite song by an admired singer you might have second toughts, but It's Growing - Joseph, Margie wins hands down. There are several unreleased tracks and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Count The Days - LaBelle, Patti & Her Blue Belles is a killer, well produced, sweet strings and that hallmark Patti vocal and Blue Belle harmonies. Please Little Angel - Troy, Doris, incidentally one of the first artists I ever saw live way back as a stand in for Major Lance, has some strong vocal bits but all in all it’s a bit twee. Hands Off My Baby - Wells, Mary is pretty typical Mary Wells. My Best Friend's Man - Sharp, Dee Dee (1) is a track that has pretty much everything, just love the backing vocals though. Rescue Me - Warwick, Dee Dee is pretty forgettable but the version of What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted by Washington, Baby works, but then it is such a great song.

Full Time Woman - Thomas, Irma is just a classic song and irma such a classic singer, nevertheless I’m not sure if she pulls it off. I Got To Love Somebody's Baby - Clay, Judy is a hard hitting Southern Soul/ Blues ballad. Ester Phillips songs come in two categories for me, those that I absolutely adore and those where her unique and individual voice grates me, those I abhor, Cheater Man - Phillips, Esther sadly is in the latter category. Laura Lee on the face of it has all the right ingredients, strong voiced, heart wrenching deep soul, but, and I don’t know why, she rarelt hits my spot, represented here by What A Man - Lee, Laura .

Three great tracks to conclude, It Ain't Who You Know - Moore, jackie , the wonderful Bettye Swanne I Ain't That Easy To Lose - Swann, Bettye, and a more upbeat Thankful For What I Got - Lewis, Barbara

All told a very worthwhile compilation.

My Way - Franklin, Aretha ;2. It's Growing - Joseph, Margie ;3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Count The Days - LaBelle, Patti & Her Blue Belles; 4. Please Little Angel - Troy, Doris; 5. Hands Off My Baby - Wells, Mary; 6. My Best Friend's Man - Sharp, Dee Dee (1) ;7. Rescue Me - Warwick, Dee Dee ;8. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Washington, Baby; 9. Full Time Woman - Thomas, Irma 10. I Got To Love Somebody's Baby - Clay, Judy ;11. Cheater Man - Phillips, Esther; 12. What A Man - Lee, Laura ;13. Ain't Nothing Gonna Change Me - Sweet Inspirations ;14. It Ain't Who You Know - Moore, ;ackie; 15. I Ain't That Easy To Lose - Swann, Bettye; 16. Thankful For What I Got - Lewis, Barbara

Diana Ross – Blue www.motown45.co.uk

Info: - For more than 30 years, rumours have circulated of a never-issued Diana Ross album of jazz standards recorded around the time of her triumphant star turn in Lady Sings The Blues. Recently, these archival recordings were discovered in the Motown vault. The resulting album, 'Blue' (Motown/UME), marks the long-overdue debut of what David Ritz, esteemed author and writer of the album's liner notes, calls "some of the most emotionally satisfying music Ross has ever made."

Recorded in late 1971 and early 1972, the album that is now being released as Blue was originally envisioned as a companion to the No. 1 soundtrack LP to Lady Sings The Blues, a box office hit that earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Ross. Blue was produced, arranged and conducted by Gil Askey, who did the same for the Lady Sings The Blues soundtrack and who had conducted Supremes shows in the past and would conduct Ross' solo shows in the future. Blue includes all twelve of the original tracks - all of which are previously unreleased, plus four bonus cuts from the recording sessions which took place in late 1971 and early 1972.
But perhaps because the tracks were considered too jazzy, a result of Ross delving so deeply into her film portrayal of Billie Holiday, a decision was made to return Ross to pop music. In 1973, she did just that and "Touch Me In The Morning" shot to No. 1. Blue never saw the light of day.

Blue premieres Ross's renditions of Cole Porter's "Let's Do It," the Gershwins' "I Loves Ya Porgy," and Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen's "But Beautiful" as well as "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes," "No More," "Had You Been Around," "Can't Get Started With You." ("Had You Been Around," the album's lone Motown original, is performed by Michelle Allar in Lady Sings The Blues.) Also debuting are bonus tracks "Easy Living," "He's Funny That Way" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude." Each of these tracks had been recorded during the soundtrack sessions but was left out of the film and off the soundtrack album.

Blue's "You've Changed," "My Man (Mon Homme)," the Gershwins' "Love Is Here To Stay" and the fourth bonus track, "T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," were heard in alternate versions on the Lady Sings The Blues soundtrack album. Rodgers & Hart's "Little Girl Blue" and Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" would later appear in alternate versions on 1973's Touch Me In The Morning and 1976's Diana Ross, respectively.
The release of Blue completes, finally, an important chapter in the career of one of the most popular singers in the history of popular music.

Review: - I’ve copie dout the press release blurb as it is very interesting, so here we have it, Diana ross sings Jazz Standards. Sadly for Diana Ross completists and easy listening only. It’s all pleasant enough but I can’t see it being strong enough to convert the hardened jazz heads. It all comes across as rather twee and personally I don’t think Ms Ross’s voice ha sufficient depth and warmth for these kind of songs. Sorry.

Tracks: 1. What A Diff'rence A Day Makes , 2. No More , 3. Let's Do It , 4. I Loves Ya Porgy , 5. Smile 6. But Beautiful 7. Had You Been Around ,8. Little Girl Blue ,9. Can't Get Started With You , 10. Love Is Here To Stay , 11. You've Changed ,12. My Man (Mon Homme) Bonus Tracks 13. Easy Living 14. Solitude
15. He's Funny That Way ,16. T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do

Tracks: 1. What A Diff'rence A Day Makes , 2. No More , 3. Let's Do It , 4. I Loves Ya Porgy , 5. Smile 6. But Beautiful 7. Had You Been Around ,8. Little Girl Blue ,9. Can't Get Started With You , 10. Love Is Here To Stay , 11. You've Changed ,12. My Man (Mon Homme) Bonus Tracks 13. Easy Living 14. Solitude
15. He's Funny That Way ,16. T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do

Sparks Made to Measure

For me these are just a fresh way to repackage the motown back catalogue. I’ve no problem with that but most peopele are likely to have the tracks they want so why would they buy this. Secondly thetrack selection is personal to the compiler so has no particular direction or theme, you may like the funk, the ballads, the dance recods or a particular artist so why would you buy this. Supermarket sales and car listening but I guess that’s a pretty big market eh!

Tracks: -01 Junior Walker And The All Stars: Cleo’s Back, 02 Stevie Wonder: Work Out Stevie, Work Out, 03 Marvin Gaye: Can I Get A Witness, 04 Commodores: Brick House, 05 The Temptations: Get Ready,06 Thelma Houston: Don’t Leave Me This Way, 07 The Miracles: Mickey’s Monkey 08 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: Dancing In The Street, 09 The Undisputed Truth: Smiling Faces Sometimes ,10 Barrett Strong: Money (That’s What I Want) ,11 Gladys Knight & The Pips: The Nitty Gritty, 12 Kim Weston: Take Me In Your Arms (Ro ck Me A Little While), 13 Jackson 5: ABC, 14 Eddie Kendricks: Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1), 15 The Supremes: Back In My Arms Again 16 Jimmy Ruffin: What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted 17 Edwin Starr: Agent Double ‘O’ Soul
18 Mary Wells: You Beat Me To The Punch 19 The Contours: First I Look At The Purse 20 Michael Jackson: Ben

Stax Profiles

This is an admirable compilation series under individual profile banners and compiler individually by other artist/ celebrity fans. Whilst in principal I have no problem with the content of the CD’s I fail to see the need for such a take in order to market the product. Motown are doing the same with its made to measure series so it must work I guess

Booker T & MG’s (compiled by Elvis Costello)

Tracks: - 1.Time Is Tight 2.Burnt Biscuits 3.Jellybread 4.Chinese Checkers 5.Boot-Leg 6.Heads Or Tails 7.Hip Hug -Her 8.Lady Madonna 9.Over Easy 10.Hang 'Em High 11.Soul Clap '69 12.Something 13.Sunday Sermon 14.Green Onions 15.Fuquawi

Info: -The Stax Records house band for most of the 1960s, the instrumental outfit Booker T. & The MG's were responsible for the distinctive sound of recordings by artists from Albert King to Otis Redding. The racially mixed group were a symbol of the musical innocence of the early '60s, and, while Stax's relaxed atmosphere couldn't survive the racial turmoil of the post-Martin Luther King assassination South, the MG's continued performing until 1972. This best-of is a representative selection of the band's eclectic '60s output, including their best-known hit, "Green Onions," as well as the gorgeous "Time Is Tight," and one of their many Beatles covers, "Lady Madonna" (the band devoted an entire album, 1970's MCLEMORE AVENUE, to re-recording the Fabs' ABBEY ROAD).

Comments: - I find in isolation Booker T is great, a very tight unit and undoubtedly groundbreaking in many respects, but I don’t want to listen to an album such as this the whole way through. In isolation though there are some great cuts on here.

Rance Allen (compiled by Deanie Parker)

Tracks: -1.Lying On The Truth 2.Joy 3.Hot Line To Jesus 4.What Is This? 5.I Belong To You 6.Ain't No Need Of Crying 7.That Will Be Good Enough For Me 8.Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul 9.What A Day 10.Painter, The 11.I Give My All To You 12.God Is Wonderful 13.Up Above My Head 14.Heaven Is Where The Heart Is 15.Greatness Of God 16.Ring My Bell

Info: -The Detroit gospel singer Rance Allen's three-decades-plus career is given a well-deserved retrospective in this entry in the STAX PROFILES series, which covers selected highlights of his output between the 1970s and the '90s. Allen's joyful tenor combines with a simple but effective R&B backing in a wholehearted celebration of faith on the vintage funk of "Ring My Bell" and the uplifting "Ain't No Need of Crying," both dating from the mid-'70s, while from the '90s "Heaven Is Where the Heart Is" and "Up Above My Head" show that Allen's powerful vocals and simple faith are both undiminished by time.

Comments: - Wonderful stuff from one of the great voices with an astonshing range. If you need to forget that its gospel and just revel in the most soulful of voices. There are some stunningtracks on here, mellow, funky, danceable, whatever. Ighlights, well there ae many, the Blues Gospel (Yes!) of What it is, Ain’t no reed of crying a longstanding favourite for me, the Epic 8 minutes odd of let the Music get down in your soul, the vocal dexterity of God is Wonderful.

Eddie Floyd (compiled by Dan Ackroyd)

Tracks: -1.Big Bird 2.634-5789 3.Raise Your Hand 4.California Girl 5.Knock On Wood 6.Love Is You 7.When The Sun Goes Down 8.I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) 9.Watch Gonna Do With My Heart 10.Soul Street 11.Don't You Know That It's All Right 12.I'm So Glad I Met You 13.Check Me Out

Info: -Though the Stax singer and songwriter Eddie Floyd is perhaps best known for his barnstorming performance on the 1960s R&B classic "Knock on Wood," this compilation makes plain that he was no one-hit wonder. The "Just My Imagination"/"Groovin'" soundalike "I've Never Found Me a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)" still sounds like an undiscovered summer classic, while later releases like the relaxed party anthem "Soul Street" and the smooth, sophisticated "Check Me Out" show Floyd to be a versatile singer equally adept at performing dance material or sultry romantic songs.

Comments: - There is something indominatebly ‘Stax’ about Eddie, a great mixture of classics, ballads, uptempo and funky, all with that distinctive voice and Southern edge. I’ve never found a girl, I have always found, sublime.

Albert King (compiled by Bill Belmont)

Tracks: -1.Born Under A Bad Sign 2.Lovingest Woman In Town 3.She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride 4.Sky Is Crying, The 5.Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong 6.(I Love) Lucy 7.I Can't You See What You're Doing To Me 8.Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven 9.Angel Of Mercy 10.I'll Play The Blues For You (Parts 1 & 2)

Info: -One of the most significant figures of the mid-1960s blues boom, Albert King was overshadowed in the public eye by his namesake B.B. King for much of his career, though of the two musicians Albert's guitar style was the more fluid. This timely Stax retrospective is a concise overview of some of the guitarist's most significant tracks, including his first hit single, "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong," the elemental blues song "Born Under a Bad Sign," later covered by Cream, and the guitar tour de force of "I'll Play the Blues for You."

Comments: - Some classic Southern Blues Soul from the upbeat bad sign to more mellow and soulful, all complete with some wonderful guitar work and that Stax backbeat.

Little Milton (compiled by Lee Hildebrand)

Tracks: 1.Let Me Down Easy 2.I Can't You Baby 3.That's What Love Will Make You Do 4.Walkin' The Back Streets And Crying 5.Blind Man 6.Thrill Is Gone, The 7.If That Ain't A Reason (For Your Woman To Leave You) 8.Behind Closed Doors 9.If You Talk In Your Sleep 10.Tin Pan Alley 11.I'm Living Off The Love You Give Me 12.Blue Monday 13.Lovin' Stick 14.Little Bluebird

Info: - Though he had a patchy recording career, the guitarist and singer Little Milton was a master at performing slow blues, and it's this aspect of his music that is highlighted in this entry in the STAX PROFILES series. Classics like "Blue Monday," "Walking the Back Streets and Crying," and "Little Bluebird" (check out the remarkable extended vocal note just before the fade on the latter track) feature Milton's vocals at their finely expressive best, and while his guitar playing isn't as instantly recognizable as, say, B.B. King's or his fellow Stax label mate Albert King, it's creative, funky, and often stunningly subtle.

Comments: - Blues with a more soulful edge perhaps, or slightly more acceptable to a soulful ear, steeped in Southern Soul roots. The Blues element comes over the strongest in the live cuts. I think there would be room for a second compilation with some of the more Soul orientated tracks from the catalogue.

Otis Redding (compiled by Steve Cropper)

Tracks: 1.Security 2.Happy Song (Dum Dum) 3.My Lover's Prayer 4.Shake 5.Mr. Pitiful 6.Good To Me 7.Woman, A Lover, A Friend, A 8.Direct Me 9.(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 10.Change Is Gonna Come, A 11.Champagne And Wine 12.I'm Sick Y'All 13.I've Got Dreams To Remember

Info: -Gratifyingly, this entry in the welcome STAX PROFILES series includes many of Otis Redding's more down-tempo songs. Since his death in 1967, the Macon, Georgia artist has gained an undeserved reputation as a mere soul shouter, which one listen to subtle, beautifully set songs like "My Lover's Prayer" and the timeless "I've Got Dreams to Remember" will instantly disprove. Though perhaps not possessing Marvin Gaye's finesse or Al Green's agility, Redding's voice has a wonderful humanity that's impeccably displayed here on tracks like the mid-tempo "Happy Song" and "Direct Me," the latter originally the B-side of his posthumous single, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay."

Comments: - Still stunning and still number one in my eyes after all these years, there is so much emotion in that voice that you can nevr tire of it. Compilation includes some of the obvious cuts and pleasingly some of the less obvious.

Staple Singers(compiled by Cheryl Pawelski and Bill Belmont)

Tracks: -1.I'll Take You There 2.Respect Yourself 3.If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) 4.Be What You Are 5.Are You Sure 6.Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) 7.Oh La De Da 8.Touch A Hand, Make A Friend 9.You've Got To Earn It 10.Everyday People 11.My Main Man 12.City In The Sky 13.Long Walk To D.C. 14.Weight, The

Info: The Staple Singers' trio of major chart successes, the inspirational "I'll Take You There," "Respect Yourself," and "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)," are only the tip of the iceberg of this collection, which also includes the gospel group's version of the Band's "The Weight" and Sly Stone's "Everyday People." Reflecting the major business changes in the late 1960s at Stax Records, the family recorded at Muscle Shoals in Alabama, and the freshness of the backing musicians' approach to their material is reflected in the supple reggae tinge to many of the rhythm tracks.

Comments: A fairly predictable set but none the poorer for it, the Staples were successful in blending Gospe and Soul into something very accesible and Mavis has one of the best voices around, apt to ake the hairs stand in any style of song

Johnnie Taylor (compiled by Huey Lewis)

Tracks: 1.I Dreamed That Heaven Was Like This 2.Out On A Hill 3.Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) 4.Just The One (I've Been Looking For) 5.Stop Doggin' Me 6.Toe Hold 7.I've Been Born Again 8.Part Time Love 9.Who's Making Love 10.I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water 11.Time After Time 12.I Am Somebody (Parts 1 And 2) 13.Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone 14.Disco Lady

Comments: - This has got to be one of the best sets her, containing the Sam Cooke alike gospel soul from the early days right through to the successful transition into the early disco boom. I dreamed that Heaven is simply wonderful, bring a smile to your face music. All sorts of genres and sub genres in between, Blues, Southern Soul, early 70’s funk, full on 60’s classic soul – great stuff.

Carla Thomas (Compiled by Dr Mable John)

Tracks: 1.I've Got No Time To Lose 2.Give Me Enough (To Keep Me Going) 3.Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes) 4.Love Of My Own, A 5.Promises - (alternate version) 6.My Man Believes In Me 7.What Is Love? 8.You'll Lose A Good Thing 9.(Your Love Is A) Life Saver 10.I Play For Keeps 11.I Like What You're Doing (To Me) 12.Don't Say No More 13.I've Fallen In Love With You 14.Sugar 15.Precious Memories

Info: -This entry in the STAX PROFILES series compiles some of the early 1960s recordings of Carla Thomas, daughter of the soul singer Rufus Thomas and Aretha Franklin's predecessor as Queen Of Soul. Collecting an extensive variety of tracks recorded before her mid-'60s pairing with Otis Redding, it includes her version of "You'll Lose a Good Thing" as well as the vintage Stax soul of "I've Got No Time to Lose" and the classic romantic pop R&B of "Gee Whiz, Look at His Eyes."

Comments: there is some classic early soul here and I’ve always liked that girlish voice so this suits me fine. Gee Whiz is a classic and still a stunner. I like what your doing has always been a favourite

Rufus Thomas (Compiled by Roger Armstrong)

Tracks: -1.Walking The Dog - (alternate) 2.Ride Your Pony 3.Jump Back 4.Strolling Beale No. 1 5.Do The Funky Chicken 6.Funky Hot Grits 7.Memphis Train '75 8.Bear Cat (A.K.A. Hound Dog) 9.Funky Robot 10.Sixty Minute Man 11.Do The Double Bump 12.Breakdown, The - (live)

Info: The fact that ex-vaudeville entertainer and 1960s soul star Rufus Thomas is a direct link to the minstrel shows of the late-19th and early-20th century is perhaps best displayed in this entry in the STAX PROFILES series by his hit "Do the Funky Chicken," a dazzling blend of 19th century showmanship and late-'60s street funk. As well as perhaps his most famous hit, "Walking the Dog," other songs that illustrate Thomas's deep roots in R&B's distant past include the faux-Indian chants of his version of "Sixty Minute Man," and the rolling '50s R&B of "Strolling Beale Number 1."

Comments: Greetings and salutations, the final set is a funky good time in his own inimitable style, the voice of Memphis Rufus Thomas.

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