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Scroll down for reviews of : - Chuck Jackson – The Motown Anthology; Kim Weston – The Motown Anthology; Curtis Mayfield – Back to the World; Jerry Butler – The very best of the Vee Jay years; The Very Best of the Last Poets; Roy Ayers – My vibes; Soul Satisfaction 5; Crème de la Crème 2.

Soul Satisfaction 5 http://www.motown45.co.uk/

Synopsis
A collection of tried and tested sweet and super-rare sides from the mighty Motown label that have been delighting dance floors up and down the country. Compiled by acclaimed DJ, Jo Wallace, this, the fifth edition to the critically acclaimed series, brings together a hatful of names, some you will be familiar with, others less so.

#	Track Title
1	Strong, Barrett - You Knows What To Do
2	Marvelettes - Way Over There
3	Wonder, Stevie - Contract On Love
4	Velvelettes - That's The Reason Why
5	King, Earl - Man And A Book
6	Marvelettes - Need For Love
7	Gaye, Marvin - Need Somebody
8	Temptations (1) - Born To Love You
9	Ward, Sammy - Then You Changed
10	Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles - My Baby Changes Like The Weather
11	Van Dyke, Earl - Nowhere To Run
12	Isley Brothers - Why When Love Is Gone
13	Contours - Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday
14	Gaye, Marvin - Tear It On Down
15	Knight, Gladys & The Pips - Keep An Eye
16	Jackson, Chuck - We'll Find A Way
17	Fantastic Four (1) - Pin Point It Down
18	Starr, Edwin - I See A Rainbow
19	Ross, Diana - Something On My Mind
20	Supremes (1) - Life Beats
21	Houston, Thelma - Nothing Left To Give
22	Ruffin, Jimmy - I Will Never Let You Get Away
23	Originals - Good Lovin' Is Just A Dime Away
24	Dynamic Superiors - Don't Send Nobody Else

Review : Such is the thing with compilations, I guess it’s the essence of the things anyway, it is never going to please everybody all of the time, and so this is the case with me on his one. It is not helped by the fact that this one runs, perhaps logically, chronologically. Now I adore classt doowop so the fact that the opening tracks predate popular Motown by some doesn’t particularly bother me. However the Barrett Strong track is so reminiscent of the kind of thing that has bored me to death on the ‘Northern’ scene over the last year or two – a few years ago on a stand alone basis I undoubtedly would have liked it more. Similarly with the Marvelettes (Way over there) all I want is the complete backing track to be erased leaving the absolutely stunning vocal. On the other hand Little Stevie’s fingertapper is something of a joy.

With Bsides and filler album tracks you couls argue that by definition they are not going to be the best, but times change and gems do emerge. Some people doubtless would doubtless ignore Earl King on the basis that it is too R’n’B, but it is a bit of a tune.

A Marvin Gaye tune always seems to float to the top on these comps, there are two here, Tear it on Down is the better for me. Sammy Ward turns in a Deep Soul Gem, packed with emotion.

Chronoligically we now hit the hey day, with a great Maracles and a great Isleys track with an Earl van Dyke instrumental wedged in between. The next few tracks strike me as being a little bit ordinary, onlt to be awoken by much underrated Thelma houston’s crossover gem. Jimmy ruffin’s track is getting some plays, as is the wonderful Originls Good Lovin.

But the best tune is the wonderful Tempting Temptations with a sublime vocal arrangement on Born to Love you, illustrating why such male vocal groups are the absolute tops.

Crème de la Crème 2

Wow how good does Blue Magic sound, despite being a big hit it sound sso good today. Some of this takes me back to an early gig I saw Supersoul on tour, with a young Sister Sledge, Spinners, Ben E King and Jimmy Castor Bunch as I recall. It’s all that kind of era, all well produced, mostly very acessible music, but more importantly very good. Whilst most of these tracks never made it big time and some indeed were never released thay still have the stamp and production value of that time.

Jackie Moore’s Both Ends has always been a favourite. The gems on here are Betty Swanne who pretty much always does it for me. Major Harris Each Morning I wake up has always been popular in certain circles and certainly sounds good. Ben E King’s stint on this label led to his resurgence as a solo artist but nonetheless is a period often overlooked, and his cuts from this era are getting attention on comps like this and the Natural high ones, and they are consistently good.

There are a couple of unreleased Vivien reed tracks but I’m afraid neither do much for me, yet I do like her. On the other hand (of the unreleased0 The Aristocrats is a gem. Some great tunes on here for sure.

Track Listings

1. Blue Magic - Look Me Up (Album version) 2. Sister Sledge - Pain Reliever 3. Impact - Happy Man (Pt.1) 4. Jackie Moore - Both Ends Against The Middle 5. Terry Collins - Action Speaks Louder (Than Words) 6. First Choice - First Choice Theme 45 7. Black Ivory - What Goes Around (Comes Around) 8. Bettye Swann - When The Game Is Played On You 9. Major Harris - Each Morning I Wake Up 10. Jackie Moore - What A Man (Previously unreleased) 11. Ben E King - No Danger Ahead

12. Moving Violation - Spinnin’ Top 13. Sister Sledge - Mama Never Told Me (Tom Moulton Remix) 14. Blue Magic - Answer To My Prayer 15. Vivian Reed - Vivian’s Theme (Previously unreleased) 16. Aristocrats - Loving You Is Mellow (Previously unreleased) 17. Holly Maxwell - Never Love Again 18. The Persuaders - Some Guys Have All The Luck 19. Vivian Reed - Tired Of Being Alone (Previously unreleased) 20. Margie Joseph & Blue Magic - You & Me (Got A Good Thing Going) 21. Spinners - Are You Ready For Love 45 22. Dee Dee Bridgewater - That's The Way Love Should Feel

Curtis Mayfield – Back to the World http://www.snappermusic.com/

Curtis’s fourth solo album which was never one of my favourites in terms of songs. That remains so but as a piece of socio political coometary of the time, based around the return from Vietnam, it is outstanding. Curtis being one of life’s visionaries, is able to put his thoughts and visions into poetic hypnotic format, and when all is said and done what he could see was basic common sense – why can’t others see it!

Artist: Curtis Mayfield - Label: Charly Cat No.: SNAP254CDFormat: CD Release Date: 24/10/05

Price:  £ 8.99  (£7.65 outside EU)

CLASSIC 1973 ALBUM FROM SOUL LEGEND

Curtis Mayfield was undeniably one of 20^th Century music’s most influential performers, writers and producers.

The solo albums he recorded between 1970 up until the time of his tragic accident in 1990 and which were released on his own record label, Curtom Records, remain as testament to his genius.

The follow-up album to his hugely successful 'Superfly' soundtrack, Back To The World was a powerful concept album dealing with America's social issues, the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the environment (years before it became fashionable), as well as Curtis’ optimism for the future.

It made the Top 20 in America’s national album chart in the summer of 1973, and stayed there for over six months.

The three singles taken from the album, Future Shock, If I Were Only A Child Again and Can't Say Nothin', all made both the R&B and the national charts.

Yet another landmark album from Curtis, its other highlights included the title track and the haunting Right On For The Darkness.

1. Back To The World
2. Future Shock
3. Right On For The Darkness
4. Future Song (Love A Good Woman, Love A Good Man)
5. If I Were Only A Child Again
6. Can't Say Nothin'
7. Keep On Trippin'

Jerry Butler – The very best of the Vee Jay years http://www.snappermusic.com/

Possessor of one of the alltime great voices, and For Your Precious love is one of music’s all time classics, featured here in all its powerful glory. So if you are a fan of early R&B transition from doowop into soul then this album will be for you. Classic vocal performances, rather than thought provoking or ground breaking originality. Some of it veers into middle of the road but this is largely on track selection than vocal quality. What a singer.

Artist: The Very Best Of Vee-Jay Years Cat No.: SNAP256CD Format: CD Release Date: 24/10/05 Price:  £ 8.99  (£7.65 outside EU)

THE IMPRESSIONS’ LEAD SINGER’S VEE – JAY HITS

Jerry Butler shot to fame in 1958 as the 20-year old lead singer of The Impressions when For Your Precious Love reached number 3 in the R&B chart and successfully crossed over into the national chart.

Shortly afterwards Butler signed to Chicago’s Vee-Jay label as a solo artist, where he established himself as one of the most successful and popular soul singers of the early Sixties, notching 19 hits for Vee-Jay between 1958 and 1966.

In his early solo days at Vee-Jay Butler was fortunate enough to be able to call on the song writing and playing talents of his friend and Impressions co-founder Curtis Mayfield. Their first collaboration, ‘He Will Break Your Heart', gave Butler his first number one R&B hit, crossed over into the national Top Twenty and established him as a major talent on the Chicago soul scene.

Every one of Butler's hits for Vee-Jay, both with The Impressions and solo, is included in this 26-track collection.

These include the two huge crossover hits Moon River, a song featured in the hit movie ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’, and another top 20 hit, Make It Easy On Yourself. Also featured are three memorable duets with Betty Everett

1. For Your Precious Love
2. Don’t Drive Me Away
3. Come Back My Love
4. Lost
5. A Lonely Soldier
6. He Will Break Your Heart
7. Find Another Girl
8. I'm A Telling You
9. Moon River
10. Make It Easy On Yourself
11. You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)
12. Whatever You Want
13. Need To Belong
14. Giving Up On Love
15. I Stand Accused
16. Let It Be Me (duet with Betty Everett)
17. Smile (duet with Betty Everett)
18. Good Times
19. Just For You
20. Nobody Needs Your Love
21. Message To Martha
22. I’ve Been Trying
23. Where’s The Girl
24. I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore
25. Love Is Strange (duet with Betty Everett)
26. For Your Precious Love (Re-Cut).

The Very Best of the Last Poets http://www.snappermusic.com/

Spoken word seems to be in resurgence right now, and it is a vehicle of expression and of putting across views or points ov view. The Last poets with so much to say were superb at this against a backdrop of some execellent and quite complex jazzy rhythms (and Jimi Hendrix on the epic Doriella Du Fontaine).

Still so much of what was said then is relevant now, and it was said bitingly but with humor and with passion. From a perspective but still covering many themes, local, national, international.

Roy Ayers – My vibes http://www.snappermusic.com/

The first half of this is a funk driven vibefest from 1983. The latter section comes from the late 90’s. the first section ganers more interest for me , the Uno Melodic period in collaboration with Fle Anikulupo Kuti.

Fast money is an out and out hard core driving funk, of th ep funk or Sly Stone variety. Black Family is nearly 10 mins of afro funk. Lots of love is more traditional jazz. Verybody is a nice slab of more traditional funk. Whatever style is chosen the Vibes shine through.

In the second section Doing the Do is a mould of P funk, blues and vibes. Vibes are more prominent on this section, the pace is mellower. E funk is outstanding instrumentally.

Chuck Jackson – The Motown Anthology

Unmistakeable voice of the Great Chuck Jackson, his time at Motown was relatively short and this expansive set covers most of what he did. It’s probably fair to say that he didn’t set the world alight at Motown reaching them at a transitional time for them, and I’m not to sure whether his voice suited the old Motown or the emerging Motown. Nonethless there is somefine material here which would fall into both of those categoties.

Chuck Jackson Arrives was the first album, here in full. There’s only a couple of tracks produced by Norman Whitfield, even including a plethora of unreleased material but I particularly like both of them, Chuck’ss stamp on Lonely lonely man am I and Ain’t no sun. Another great fingersnapper is What am I gonna do without you. Girls is classic Smokey ltrically and greatly performed.

Going back to Chuck Jackson was issued in 1969 and marked a change from the first album which was pure typical 60’s motown. This album was more Chuck terriory in a sense, ballads suiting that great voice, but leant for my ears more towards the middle of the road. It contained soe nice tracks but nothing too inspiring.

Teardrops keep falling on my heart was towards the end of 1970, old Motown was gone, new directions were forming. This album therefore somewhat lacked direction but my there are some great vocal performances on here, several tracks being copenned by Joe hinton and so there was a Southern Soul feel to this, particularly a glorious Is there anything love can do. Just a little love is another immaculate vocal performance.

The lat 12 tracks are unissued versions which range from the dreadful Pet Names, It must be love which will please the Uk’s insatiable Northern Soul fraternity, an interesting Edwin Starr production (interesting – I didn’t say good!),

Side 1 1. MP3 WMA "You Can't Let The Boy Overpower The Man In You" 2. MP3 WMA "Your Wonderful Love" 3. MP3 WMA "Lonely Lonely Man Am I" 4. MP3 WMA "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone" 5. MP3 WMA "I Can't Go On Sharing Your Love" 6. MP3 WMA "Forgive My Jealousy" 7. MP3 WMA "To See The Sun Again" 8. MP3 WMA "What Am I Gonna Do Without You" 9. MP3 WMA "I Like Everything About You" 10. MP3 WMA "We'll Find A Way" 11. MP3 WMA "Where You Gonna Run To Now" 12. MP3 WMA "Girls Girls Girls" 13. MP3 WMA "Are You Lonely For Me Baby" 14. MP3 WMA "Honey Come Back" 15. MP3 WMA "Can You Fell It, Babe" 16. MP3 WMA "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" 17. MP3 WMA "Cry Like A Baby" 18. MP3 WMA "You Keep Running Away" 19. MP3 WMA "Can I Change My Mind" 20. MP3 WMA "I'd Still Love You" 21. MP3 WMA "The Chokin Kind" 22. MP3 WMA "The Day My World Stood Still" 23. MP3 WMA "No More Water In The Well" 24. MP3 WMA "Rosalind" Side 2 1. MP3 WMA "Let Somebody Love Me" 2. MP3 WMA "I Can't Let My Heaven Walk Away" 3. MP3 WMA "Is There Anything Love Can't Do" 4. MP3 WMA "The Thrill Is Gone" 5. MP3 WMA "Baby, I'll Get It" 6. MP3 WMA "Rainy Night In Georgia" 7. MP3 WMA "Just A Little Love (Before My Life Is Gone)" 8. MP3 WMA "I'll Fight It (Til I Win Your Love)" 9. MP3 WMA "There's a Rainbow In Your Heart" 10. MP3 WMA "Two Feet From Happiness" 11. MP3 WMA "That's Me Lovin You" 12. MP3 WMA "Have You Heard About The Fool" 13. MP3 WMA "Pet Names" 14. MP3 WMA "Who You Gonna Run To" 15. MP3 WMA "It Must Be Love Baby" 16. MP3 WMA "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" 17. MP3 WMA "Nothing Can Ever Come Between Us" 18. MP3 WMA "Fan The Flame" 19. MP3 WMA "Thanks But No Thanks" 20. MP3 WMA "At Lat I Found A True Love" 21. MP3 WMA "Without Your Love" 22. MP3 WMA "Here Comes The Morning" 23.