"Los Angeles Soul: Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Volume 1 of 2 - Covers 1962 to 1971 (March 2015 UK Ace/Kent-Soul 24-Track CD Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters and Six Previously Unreleased Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry…

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"...You Make My Fever Rise..."

As a long-standing reviewer, it becomes something of a commonplace reflex to award 5-stars to Kent-Soul CD releases - the Soul imprint label of Ace Records of the UK. 

Ace Records celebrate 50 years of reissues in 2025 (1975 to 2025) - fifty whole years of Ted Carroll's baby knocking out quality reissue after quality reissue. And as I sit here listening to the utterly superb "Los Angeles Soul..." CD compilation (six of these suckers are Previously Unreleased) - I'm thinking - I hope these English guys never quit because here we go again...

UK released 24 March 2015 - "Los Angeles Soul: Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 430 (Barcode 029667243025) pans out as follows (69:05 minutes):

1. I Want Action - JEANETTE JONES (Previously Unreleased, October 1968 recording)

2. You Saved Me From Destruction - DIFOSCO (1971 USA 7" single on Earthquake EQ-28, A)

3. No In-Between - JOHNNY ADAMS (1967 USA 7" single on Modern M 1036, A)

4. I Was Born To Love You - JOHNNY COPELAND (Unissued 1971 recording first appeared Sept 1995 on the UK CD compilation "Serious Shades Of Soul: For Collectors Only" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 119)

5. My Love She's Gone - THE INTENTIONS (1966 USA 7" single on Kent K 455, A)

6. I Only Have Eyes For You - JIMMY BEE (1970 USA 7" single on Kimberly 88101 and then reissued on Kent KS 4531, A)

7. Cherry Pie - LORD CHARLES & THE PROPHETS (1966 USA 7" single on Modern M 1016, A)

8. I Don't Know - EARL WRIGHT (1968 USA 7" single on Virgo VI-101, A)

9. Give Me A Chance - VENETTA FIELDS with the IKETTES (Unissued Kent Recording first appeared on the Sept 1992 UK CD Ikettes compilation "Fine Fine Fine" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 063)

10. You Are My First Love - PAT HUNT (USA 7" single first issued Nov 1961 on Exodus EX-6101 as "First Love" - re-recorded/reissued February 1962 on Kent 374 as "You Are My First Love", A)

11. Sing Me A Love Song - FELICE TAYLOR (Previously Unreleased Kent Recording)

12. All That Shines Is Not Gold - THE WINDJAMMERS (1971 USA 7" single on Kent KS 4548, A)

13. Tear My Love Down - WAYNE BOYKIN (Previously Unreleased 1969 Modern Recording)

14. Push On Jesse Jackson - PACE-SETTERS (Extended Version of USA 7" single on Kent KS 4565 - Previously Unreleased)

15. I Know She's Gonna Leave - WILLIE GAUFF & THE LOVE BROTHERS (Previously Unreleased)

16. Gone On Home - TOMMY YOUNGBLOOD (from the 1969 US LP "The Soul Of Tommy Youngblood" on Kent LP 541)

17. It's Been A Long Time Baby - THE OTHER BROTHERS (1967 USA 7" single on Modern 1027, A)

18. You Are My Sunshine - JACKIE SHANE (1967 USA 7" single on Modern M 1031, A)

19. You're My Girl - LARRY SANDERS (1968 USA 7" single on Modern M 1053, A)

20. Move A Little Closer - MILLIE FOSTER (Previously Unissued Kent recording)

21. I Need Money - RUTH DAVIS (1971 USA 7" single on Kent KS 4543, A)

22. Take A Look In Your Mind - ROBERT RAMSEY (1971 USA 7" single on Kent KS 4552, A)

23. I Need A Love - WALLY COX (1970 Golden State/Kent recording first issued on the April 2000 UK CD compilation "Golden State Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 179)

24. You're Gonna Miss Your Chance - MAURINE WILLIAMS & THE MT. OLIVE 2nd B.C. CHOIR (1971 USA 7" single on Chelsea 102, B-side of "Washed In The Blood")

Tracks 1, 6, 12, 14, 16, 20, 22 and 24 are STEREO

Tracks 2 to 5, 7 to 11, 13, 15, 17 to 19, 21 and 23 are MONO

Tracks 1, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 20 are Previously Unreleased

The knowledgeable and passionate Soul Music lover ADY CROASDELL has compiled, researched and written the 16-page liner notes and as ever with these Kent-Soul CD compilations the text is brought to life by gorgeous US 45 label repros - Kent, Modern, Kimberly, Virgo and Earthquake Records. Each track is talked about in detail with oodles of deep collector info (writers, arrangers, chart histories) and quality black and white publicity photos of unsung heroes like Venetta Fields, Tommy Youngblood and Millie Foster. Gorgeous stuff. But again the NICK ROBBINS remasters elevate proceedings from the ordinary to the sublime with eight of the 24 cuts in glorious Stereo. This CD sounds fabulous - the Sixties Mono cuts sitting nicely alongside the Seventies productions. Top job done yet again...

It opens with a fabulous unissued Jeanette Jones track in Stereo (she's the classy lady on the front cover) - a version of "I Want Action" (lyrics above) which was a Ruby Winters cut in 1967 on Diamond Records. Page 3 pictures unbelievably rare and pretty looking 8-track 12" acetate on Golden State for a proposed LP. "You Saved Me From Destruction" by Difosco (Big Dee Irwin under another name) on the Earthquake label is the kind of Northern Soul dancer fans going bananas for - complete with a slightly Psych backbeat (apparently the label only managed 3 releases). Both Johnny Adams and Johnny Copeland aim for the feet with "No In-Between" and "I Was Born To Love You" - great dancers the pair of them. But then we're hit a properly gorgeous obscurity - "My Love She's Gone" by The Intentions - it's the kind of sweet vocal nugget you wish you could find in some carboot sale for 50p - then drive all your mates wild with its irrepressible upbeat feel and William Brown's stunning vocals (he sang with the vocal group The Dukes).

Weird yet strangely wonderful is Jimmy Bee's Soulful take on the Flamingo's 1959 End classic - "I Only Have Eyes For You" - he keeps it to the original but adds in organ and brass as it smooches along (very tasty). The compilation then cleverly downgears into a cover version of Marvin & Johnny's "Cherry Pie" where the obscure Lord Charles & The Prophets sound like Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones circa 1966 Decca doing a clever Soul choice - a lovely shuffle and great vocal from some unknown. Genius choice goes to "I Don't Know" by Earl Wright (gorgeous transfer from Nick Robbins) - as sweet a Soul tune as you could ask for. The sweet Motownesque vocals of Felice Taylor (sounding like a young Diana Ross) elevate the bopping "Sing Me A Love Song" - amazing to think that this calibre of Soul gem has been in the can until now (they even produce a 1967 press cutting from the Boss Soul magazine on Page 9 about her).

Stereo blasts its way into your speakers with the excellent "All That Shines Is Not Gold" (a Wally Cox song) by the young-boy vocals of The Windjammers while we get raw funky with "Tear My Love Down" - a stunning previously unreleased find (why wasn't this huge!). But then we hit unchartered territory - a truly fantastic 5:27 minute driving funky extended version of "Push On Jesse Jackson" that comes on like Sly & The Family Stone meets Shaft via Norman Whitfield/Temptations social conscience (wow!). And on it goes to a staggeringly good but obscure B-side - "You're Gonna Miss Your Chance" by Maurine Williams and The Mount Olive 2nd B.C. Choir (has Betty Gouche' on the A-side). It's a Gospel song done with piano and vocals - so Soulful - and I swear to God it would make Aretha in her "Amazing Grace" prime a tad worried. What a finisher...

Break out the wine glasses you sons and daughters of Marvin Gaye - because those talcum-powder tank-top boys at Ace Records have only gone and done it again...

PS: 30 August 2019 also saw the UK issue of Volume 2 in this series - "Los Angeles Soul Volume 2: Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy 1962-1973" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 486 (Barcode 029667096225) - another 24-Track CD compilation

"The Complete Stax Singles" by LITTLE MILTON – Twenty US 45-Single Sides from 1971 to 1975 on Stax Records (January 1995 UK Ace/Stax 20-Track CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson…"

"The Complete Stax Singles" by LITTLE MILTON probably won't win any 'original title of the year' awards any time soon - but it does what it says on the tin - and in remastered audio style. 

More importantly, it made available to fans (in 1995 that is) of both Little Milton and Stax Records, large chunks of missing catalogue numbers (especially on the flipsides) and a hunk of Soul that's both forgotten and deserves reappraisal. There's so much to enjoy on this CD, there really is - here are the back street details...

UK released January 1995 - "The Complete Stax Singles" by LITTLE MILTON on Ace/Stax CDSXD 106 (Barcode 029667910620) plays out as follows (74:31 minutes):

1. If That Ain't A Reason (For Your Woman To Leave You) - 1971 USA 7" on Stax STA-100, A

2. Mr. Mailman (I Don't Want No Letter) - 1971, Stax STA-100, B

3. I'm Living Off The Love You Give - 1971 USA 7" on Stax STA-111, B

4. That's What Love Will Make You Do - 1971, Stax STA-111, A

5. Before The Honeymoon - 1973 USA 7" on Stax STA-124, B

6. Walking The Back Streets And Crying - 1971, Stax STA-124, A

7. I'm Gonna Cry A River - 1972 USA 7" on Stax STA-141, A

8. What It is - 1972, Stax STA-141, B

9. Rainy Day (Extended Version) - 1972 USA 7" Stax STA-148, A

10. Lovin' Stick - 1972, Stax STA-148, B

11. Who Can Handle Me Is You - 1973 USA 7" on Stax STA-174, B (A-side was a reissue of "What It Is")

12. Tin Pan Alley - 1973 USA 7" on Stax STA-191, A

13. Sweet Woman Of Mine, 1973, Stax STA-191, B (also B-side to STN-0238 in May 1975, see Track 18)

14. Behind Closed Doors - 1974 USA 7" on Stax STA-210, A

15. Bet You I Win - 1974, Stax STA-210, B

16. Let Me Back In - 1974 USA 7" on Stax STA-229, A

17. Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson - 1974, Stax STA-229, B

18. If You Talk In Your Sleep (Extended Version) – May 1975 USA 7" on Stax STN-238, A ("Sweet Woman Of Mine" was its B-side)

19. How Could You Do It To Me (Extended Version) – November 1975 USA 7" on Stax STA-252, B-side to Track 20

20. Packed Up And Took My Mind (Extended Version) – November 1975, Stax STA-252, A-side (B-side is Track 19)

The 6-page fold-out inlay has details on each single release by JOHN RIDLEY including a few photos of those American yellow Stax labels. NICK ROBBINS did the remasters from original analogue tapes and the Audio is superb - really punchy - well-produced Soul with loads of depth - the usual bang-up job from Ace.

With a moniker that suggested Blues rather than Soul - Mississippi's James Milton Campbell nonetheless saw four of his eleven Stax 45's hit the American Billboard R&B charts - "That's What Love Make You Do" in February 1972 rose to 9, his radical reworking of Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors" made 31 in May 1974, "Let Me Back In " rose to 38 in December 1974 while his final Stax showing was a version of Elvis Presley's "If You Talk In Your Sleep" which stalled at 34 in July 1975. Not that he was a stranger to chart success prior to 1972  - Little Milton had managed a huge 16-track hit run at Checkers Records from 1962 right up until 1971 when he signed to Stax. A further lone hit "Friend Of Mine" followed after his Stax run on Glades Records 1734 in March 1976.

Musically his Stax period is part Albert King (talking beginnings followed by Soulful tunes with guitar), pleading loverman Johnnie Taylor and part dancefloor boogie like Rufus Thomas. Winners include the very Bluesy "Walking The Back Streets And Crying", two wicked flips in the Clarence Carter feel to "What It Is" and the slink-funk of "Lovin' Stick". The languid "Packed Up And Took My Mind" sees him so close in Stax style to Albert King its scary - while the funky "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" reminds me of Bobby Bland circa "Dreamer" and "His California Album". Most of it is pleasingly cool too.

"The Complete Stax Singles" has been deleted years now and unfortunately acquired a price tag that often hurts. But if you can get a copy and until something better comes along - don't hesitate - jump in and enjoy...

"When The Day Is Done - The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby " by ROBERT KIRBY [VARIOUS ARTISTS] - Including 1970 to 1978 Songs by Nick Drake, Audience, Vashti Bunyan, Sandy Denny, John Cale (of The Velvet Underground), Shelagh McDonald, Steve Ashley, Ralph McTell, Richard and Linda Thompson, Keith Christmas, Ian Matthews, Maddy Pryor and Tim Hart (of Steeleye Span), Dana Gillespie, Shirley Collins, Gary Shearston and more (February 2018 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"...Autumn Leaves..."

Blame it on the Beatles I say – "The Summer Of Love" to be precise.

Bishop Stortford's Robert Kirby was seeking a choral scholarship when he first met an equally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 18-year old student at Caius College in Cambridge in the autumn of 1966. The pair bonded over Footlights audition failures (both of them) - but in June of 1967 - the two 19-year old English lads (along with everyone else on the planet for that matter) were quietly blown away by the sheer cinematic majesty of "She's Leaving Home" on Side 1 of the Beatles 1967 musical A-bomb - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Typically ahead of their time and always pushing Rock's boundaries – the Fabs had shown these young hopefuls how to marry Autumnal melody and soundscapes to guitars and simplified instruments. The melancholia-mad young new arranger was ROBERT KIRBY, and his first client was the much-missed and beloved singer-songwriter NICK DRAKE - who would sign to Island Records two years later aged only 20. In fact, eagle-eye collectors will notice the subtle homage to Drake's ethereal September 1969 debut album "Five Leaves Left" in the green colour scheme to the artwork of this fiendishly clever reissue.

As well as Drake's (delayed) March 1971 follow-up LP "Bryter Layter" (Kirby was integral to the sound of both) – shortly after Drake's debut Richard orchestrated Vashti Bunyan's Folk-Rock LP "Just Another Diamond Day" on Phillips (a cult record from 1970 worth four-figures today) and from thereon found himself a career in helping other artists realize the potential in their songs. And that's where this very cool 20-Track CD compilation from those right-on erect-nippled chappies at England's Ace Records comes a-lollygagging in. Let's get all Laura Ashley (our Laura approves you know) on the details…

UK released Friday, 23 February 2018 (9 March 2018 in the USA) - "When The Day Is Done - The Orchestrations Of Robert Kirby" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [ROBERT KIRBY] on Ace Records CDTOP 1517 (Barcode 029667088022) is a 20-track CD compilation that plays out as follows (78:52 minutes):

1. Introduction - NICK DRAKE (from the March 1971 UK Second LP "Bryter Layter" on Island Records ILPS 9134)

2. Forest And The Shore - KEITH CHRISTMAS (from the 1971 UK LP "Pigmy" on B&C Records CAS 1041)

3. Ophelia's Song - SHELAGH McDONALD (from the 1970 UK LP "Album" on B&C Records CAS 1019)

4. I Keep A Close Watch - JOHN CALE [of The Velvet Underground] (from the 1975 UK LP "Helen Of Troy" on Island Records ILPS 9350)

5. Dancing At Whitsun - TIM HART and MADDY PRYOR [of Steeleye Span] (from the 1971 UK LP "Summer Solstice" on B&C Records CAS 1035)

6. Rainbow River - VASHTI BUNYAN (from the November 1970 UK LP "Just Another Diamond Day" on Phillips 6308 019)

7. I've Seen The Movie - ANDY ROBERTS (from the 1971 UK LP "Nina And The Dream Tree" on Pegasus Records PEG 5)

8. White Witch - SPRIGUNS (from the 1977 UK LP "Time Will Pass" on Decca SKL 5286)

9. It's My Own Way - GILLIAN McPHERSON (from the September 1971 UK LP "Poets And Painters And Performers Of Blues" on RCA Victor SF 8220)

10. Follow On - STEVE ASHLEY (from the 1974 UK LP [recorded 1971] "Stroll on” on Gull Records GULP 1003)

11. Silver Threads And Golden Needles - SANDY DENNY (from the 1977 UK LP "Rendezvous" on Island Records ILPS 9433)

12. Love Is A Funny Thing - SPIROGYRA (from the 1971 UK LP "St. Radigunds" on B&C Records CAS 1042)

13. Friend To Me - GARY SHEARSTON (from the 1975 UK LP "The Greatest Stone On Earth And Other Two-Bob Wonders" on Charisma CAS 1042)

14. Honour Bright - SHIRLEY COLLINS (Unreleased track that first appeared on "Within Sound", a 2002 CD Box Set on Fledg'ling Records CDNEST 5001)

15. First Light - RICHARD and LINDA THOMPSON (from the 1978 UK LP "First Light" on Chrysalis CHR 1177)

16. Raviole - AUDIENCE (from the 1971 UK LP "The House On The Hill" on Charisma CA 1032)

17. Madonna Blue - ILLUSION [Jane Relf, Jim McCarty and others from Renaissance] (from the 1978 UK LP "Illusion" on Island ILPS 9519)

18. Gimme An Inch Girl - IAN MATTHEWS (a Robert Palmer song from the 1978 UK LP "Stealin' Home" on Rockburgh ROC 106)

19.  What Memories We Make - DANA GILLESPIE (from the 1973 UK LP "Weren't Born A Man" on RCA Victor APL 1-0354)

20. Pick Up The Gun - RALPH McTELL (from the 1971 UK LP "You Well-Meaning Brought Me Here" on Famous SFMA 5753)

Your eyes are immediately drawn to a Trade Advert repro'd on Page 3 of the booklet - what a trio - Island Records advising that on 3 July 1969 the public can buy Nick Drake's "Five Leaves Left" (his debut arranged by Kirby), the latest advancement in Folk-Rock by Fairport Convention with the bonkers-titled "Unhalfbricking" and just to rub salt into those confused wounds - "Kip Of The Serenes" by Dr. Strangely Strange (my God was them the days). Spread across 20-pages festooned with album sleeves you rarely see and their equally obscure trade adverts - St. Etienne leading light and all-round good-egg BOB STANLEY provides some of the most entertaining, informative and properly affectionate liner notes I've ever read. Kirby's track record is impressive - not just arrangements for tasteful strings but for the Mellotron, Recorder and Harp. The listen is mostly Folk-Rock on a mellow tip with the feeling of Autumn Leaves falling outside your bedsit window as the cat yawns in the corner. And even if a few of the songs aren’t nearly as gorgeous as the Bobster would have us believe (hence the four stars) – make no mistake – this is an impressive listen and superbly presented release.

Long-standing Audio Engineer and long-time associate to Ace Records NICK ROBBINS has handled the mastering and what a job he's done. I've not heard the Ian Matthews pop of Robert Palmer's "Gimme An Inch Girl" or the brilliant but completely forgotten "Friend To Me" by Gary Shearston sound so good. This is a compilation where you 'want' the audio to be top-notch on every song and it is (I've the Spinney reissue of the Vashti Bunyan album and I'd swear the sound on the key track provided here is better than the 2000 master). On to the pastoral music...

It begins with an absolute humdinger - the entirely orchestral "Introduction" by Nick Drake - the opening track on Side 1 of his second studio album "Bryter Layter" from 1970. Surely one of Kirby's most sublime moments – the gorgeous mood it creates is cleverly followed by seven-minutes of a Folk-Rock song that few of us know - "Forest And The Shore" by Keith Christmas. Kirby makes the Mellotron on this completely overlooked melodic adventure sound like a choir and adds an almost "Nursery Cryme/Foxtrot" Genesis-sound to the long song elevating it into something special. His girlfriend and fellow Folky Shelagh McDonald is up next with the poignant "Ophelia's Song" where she sings of daisy chains and Christmas pinewood lanes and her backing band is most of Sandy Denny's vagabond pals Fotheringay (impressive company to say the least).

Unfortunately we next get what I feel is one of several clunkers – the kill-me-soon drone of John Cale. I know people worship at the altar of all things velvety and throw petals at the feet of every VU solo project – but the man's voice is surely on a CIA interrogation list somewhere along with waterboarding and Anne Widdecombe sermons. However that rare wrong foot is quickly blown away by the beautiful "Dancing At Whitsun" brought to us by Steeleye Span's guitar-player Tim Hart and singer Maddy Pryor. Kirby makes the 'Recorder' sing. Mike Oldfield must have been listening to this particularly English instrument because his first three albums "Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge" and "Ommadawn" are steeped in its distinct pastoral sound (Clifford T. Ward and Al Stewart).

Vashti Bunyan has a very clean vocal on the warbling finger-in-the-ear Folk of "Rainbow River" and Kirby's string arrangement arriving a few minutes into the long Andy Roberts break-up song "I've See The Movie" virtually saves the thing from itself. Other goodies include the Gillian McPherson track "It's My Own Way" which features Pentangle's Danny Thompson, Dave Cousins of The Strawbs and jazzman Johnny Almond - while Steve Ashley's "Follow On" was actually recorded in 1971 (unreleased until 1974) and its high-strung acoustic guitar has more than a touch of Duncan Browne's self-titled LP on RAK Records in 1973 (good news in my book). Another amazing production can be found in "Friend To Me" by Gary Shearston and how good is it to hear the Richard and Linda Thompson "First Light" on the digital format anywhere.

With a stonking seventy-eight minutes of overall excellence to choose from there was always going to be a few dribbles on the sonic bib and for me the clunky John Cale and Dana Gillespie/Ralph McTell songs towards the end let the collective side down somewhat. And even if I'm hung from a Cotswold yard-iron and prodded repeatedly in the Irish unmentionables with a pastoral pitchfork by the cloth-capped Mafia of musical taste – no matter how hip and collectable they are I find the Spriguns track just the wrong side of musically twee - and along with other three keep "When The Day Is Done" a hair's breadth away from greatness (many may disagree).

Yet apart from those debatable blips - there's magic here and you can't but help feel a huge well of genuine affection for this gorgeous, timely and very smartly compiled CD. For me "When The Days Is Done – The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby" is already one of the 'Reissues of the Year' 2018 and I can only suspect that Paul Buckmaster's equally extraordinary work with Bowie, Elton John, Nilsson, Carly Simon and so many others is hopefully next in this series.

Another peach from England's Ace Records then and master-compiler/musical-hero Bob Stanley – a Romantic Englishman who is now to be kissed gently on his Sweet Afton by a lacily-clad Lady Chatterley and thereafter forced to lap dance nightly in a Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley three-way. Hell, I'll join in - if my Pilates schedule allows of course.

"…Time has told me…you're a rare, rare find…" – Nick Drake sang on the truly beautiful song "Time Has Told Me". When it comes to arranger Robert Kirby - never were truer words spoken. Well done boys and roll on the next chapter... 

"Key To The Highway (Rare & Unissued Recordings 1968-74)" by JO ANN KELLY - featuring Tony McPhee and Bob Hall of The Groundhogs, Paul Rowan of The Rowans, Bob Brunning of Brunning Sunflower Blues Band and Pete Emery (October 2011 UK SuperBird CD Reissue of a Compilation Originally Issued on CD in March 1999 on Mooncrest) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

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GET IT ON - 1971

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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"...Levee Camp Holler..."

"Key To The Highway" by JO ANN KELLY is a straightforward October 2011 reissue of a CD compilation first UK-released on Mooncrest CRESTCD 037 Z in March 1999. The key element here is the missing secondary title – "Rare & Unissued Recordings 1968-1974" – hence the reason why you won’t find 'any' of these 23-tracks on her 8 officially released albums. With that original CD comp now pushing £90 or more on auction sites – this 2011 reissue by SuperBird (Part of Cherry Red’s set of labels) is a smart and timely move.

For decades now - Jo Ann Kelly’s cool finger picking guitar style and her extraordinary voice has been something of a well-kept secret. A sort of British response to Janis Joplin - in fact Columbia who put out her self-titled "Jo Ann Kelly" debut album on CBS Records in the UK in 1969 asked her to live and play in the USA hoping to pass her off as just that – a British JJ – but she again refused. A woman steeped in old Blues, R&B and Ragtime folklore and tunes – she possessed a growler of a larynx (name-checked by Bonnie Raitt and Bob Dylan) and was once feted by both Canned Heat and Johnny Winter to join their American bands – but she instead chose to work the burgeoning Blues circuit in her native Blighty. So what do you get? Well - although the ragbag nature of "Key To The Highway" throws you with its varied audio sources and dates - there's much to love on this CD. Here are the moaning levees and catfish blues...

UK released October 2011 – "Key To The Highway" by JO ANN KELLY on SuperBird SBIRD 0051 CD (Barcode 5013929885127) is a 23-track CD compilation of entirely unreleased material recorded between 1969 and 1975 (final two tracks are 1988 interviews) and plays out as follows (69:43 minutes):

1. Keep Your Hand Out Of My Pocket [Live] (Otis Spann cover)

2. No Chance With You [Live] (Jo Ann Kelly song)

Recorded 1968

Jo Ann Kelly – Vocals, Tony McPhee – Guitar, Bob Hall – Piano and Paul Rowan – Harp

3. You Win Again (Hank Williams cover)

4. I've Been Scorned (Roebuck Staples song - of The Staple Singers)

5. Can I Get A Witness (HDH song, Marvin Gaye cover)

6. Rolling Log Blues (Lottie Kimborough song)

7. Louisiana Blues (Version 1) (Muddy Waters cover)

8. I Can't Be Satisfied (Muddy Waters cover)

Recorded 1971

Jo Ann Kelly – Vocals and Guitar and Bob Hall – Piano and Mandolin

9. Levee Camp Holler

Recorded 1969 – Jo Ann Kelly – Unaccompanied Vocal

10. Two Nineteen Blues (Mamie Desdunes song)

11. Make Me A Pallet (Traditional)

12. Key To The Highway (Big Bill Broonzy cover)

13. You've Got To Move (Mississippi Fred McDowell cover)

14. Black Rat Swing (Ernest Lawler song)

15. Baby What You Want Me To Do (Jimmy Reed cover)

Recorded 1975

Jo Ann Kelly – Vocals, Dick Wellstood – Piano, Lucas Lindholm – String Bass and Rolf Ahrens – Drums

16. Louisiana Blues (Version 2) (Muddy Waters cover)

17. Boyfriend Blues (Memphis Minnie cover)

18. Catfish Blues (Robert Petway cover)

19. Walking The Dog (Rufus Thomas cover)

Recorded 1970

Jo Ann Kelly – Vocals and Guitar and Bob Hall – Piano and Mandolin

20. Jump Steady Daddy (Lucille Bogan [aka Bessie Jackson] cover)

Recorded 1974

Jo Ann Kelly on Vocals and Bob Hall on Piano

21. Put A Record On (Bob Hall, Dennis Colton and Dave Kelly song)

Recorded 1974

Jo Ann Kelly – Vocals, Bob Hall – Piano, Pete Emery – Guitar, Bob Brunning – Electric Bass and Pete Miles on Drums

22. Guitars, Stars And Early Repertoire (Interview)

23. The Bridge House Days (Interview)

Both tracks 22 and 23 recorded 1988 in conversation - Mitcham, Surrey, UK)

As you can see from the indepth track-listings I've provided above – the emphasis here is mostly Acoustic Blues with some Piano and Mandolin accompaniment. And fans of The Groundhogs and The Brunning Hall Sunflower Band will notice TONY McPHEE, BOB BRUNNING and PETE EMERY on Electric Guitars on the initial tracks - while Harp Player PAUL ROWAN did many albums with guitar-virtuoso Stefan Grossman. The 8-page inlay has decent liner notes from JERRY EWING as well as the session details I've reproduced above and some photos. It's been mastered by ROGER LOMAS at Ro-Lo Studios but doesn't provide sources. These are essentially 'demo recordings' and the audio varies as you can imagine – but all are more than acceptable and don't ever feel 'bootleg' poor.

The opening duo of tunes turn out to be 'live' at some undisclosed location – but the Audio is fabulous with Paul Rowan shining on a heavy chromatic harmonica while Kelly wails with her fabulous Bluesy voice and McPhee strums and chugs on the guitar. McPhee takes a tasty solo while Bob Hall plinks away on the old Joanna like he’s in New Orleans on a hot sweaty night. The audio takes a dip somewhat on the honky-tonk session from 1971 that opens with Hank's "You Win Again" – both her and Hall playing a blinder on Acoustic Guitar and upright piano. The cool duo of players beautifully compliment "I've Been Scorned" by The Staple Singers while they boogie some on a Blues version of "Can I Get A Witness" that's good but doesn't quite work. Better is the more traditional picking of "Rolling Log Blues" – a very short burst that has Bob Hall playing that Mandolin with feeling and finesse while Jo Ann sings about "...looking for room and board...so hungry..." The first version of Muddy Waters "Louisiana Blues" takes a dip on the audio too which is a damn shame because it’s the best on here – their combined playing sounding like a band of four rather than two. Another winner comes in the shape of Kelly playing some amazing slide on an instrumental of Muddy's "I Can't Be Satisfied".

The Acapella "Levee Camp Holler" is probably the roughest track on here – in direct contrast to the professionally recorded piano-driven 6-track batch from 1975 that sounds glorious – the upright bass of Lucas Lindholm standing out. Equally tasty is the compilation title track "Key To The Highway" – Kelly's "...worried mind..." lyrics complimented perfectly by Dick Wellstood on Piano. Back to another rough and ready version of Muddy's "Louisiana Blues" which despite its recorded-in-a-bucket vibe sounds utterly amazing. Of the other three – not surprisingly the wicked hook of “Catfish Blues” comes off best.

In-between all the covers - you find great unspoken players of British Blues. "Put A Record On" is written by Dave Kelly (Jo Ann's brother) – a Blues Guitarist who played with Fleetwood Mac, The John Dummer Band, Tramp and fronted England's The Blues Band. The other two writers are Bob Hall – a Boogie Woogie pianist who played with The Groundhogs, The De Luxe Blues Band and Tramp to name but a few – and Dennis Cotton – who also played with Tramp and many other Blues orientated artists. The two interviews discuss her first twelve-string guitar – what she was listening to in 'swing shops' like Watkins in Balham – musical influences – Leadbelly, Jesse Fuller, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters – gigs at Falafel in Swiss Cottage and Scots House at Cambridge Circus and her residency at The Bridge House Club where she played with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Williams and Jesse Fuller.

Jo Ann Kelly sadly passed away in October 1990 from a brain tumour aged only 46 – a truly criminal loss to Britain and the world of Blues. At least this very cool CD compilation of unreleased tunes and jam sessions reminds us of why she was feted by so many luminaries of the day. God bless you kid...

"Summer In The City: The Soul Jazz Grooves Of Quincy Jones" by QUINCY JONES – Featuring Album Tracks from 1969 and 1981 on A&M Records – Guest Musicians Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Bob James, Toots Thielesman, Milt Jackson and more (October 2007 UK Universal/Jazz Club/Verve CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon Purchase Link

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This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book (on all Amazon sites)

GET IT ON - 1971

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

A HUGE 3,136 e-Pages 

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Just Click Below To Google, Purchase or See My Author Page

For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"…Mysteries Do Unfold…"

Essentially covering his stay at A&M Records between 1969 and 1981 – this rather cool but basic budget-priced CD offers up 14 tracks of quality QUINCY JONES solo and collaborations. As you can imagine The Dude barely puts a foot wrong – with all songs featuring a dizzying array of quality musicians who in 2014 have all but entered legend. Here are the groovy details…

UK released October 2007 - "Summer In The City: The Soul Jazz Grooves Of Quincy Jones" by QUINCY JONES on Universal Jazz Club/Verve 5301956 (Barcode 0600753019566) breaks down as follows (73:18 minutes):

1. Killer Joe

2. I Never Told You 

Tracks 1 and 2 are from the album "Walking In Space" released December 1969 in the USA on A&M Records SP-3023

3. Walkin’ 

Track 3 is from the album "Gula Matari" released August 1970 in The USA on A&M Records SP-3030

4. Brown Ballad 

5. Cast Your Fate To The Wind

Tracks 4 and 5 are from the album "Smackwater Jack" released October 1971 in the USA on A&M Records SP-3037

6. Summer In The City 

7. Eyes Of Love

8. You’ve Got It Bad Girl

Tracks 6 to 8 are from the album "You've Got It Bad Girl" released June 1973 in the USA on A&M Records SP-3041

9. Everything Must Change 

10. Along Came Betty

Tracks 9 and 10 are from the album "Body Heat" released May 1974 in the USA on A&M Records SP-3617. “Everything Must Change” features Lead Vocals by BERNARD IGHNER

11. Tell Me A Bedtime Story 

12. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) 

14. Stuff Like That

Tracks 11, 12 and 14 are from the album "Sounds…And Stuff Like That!!" released June 1978 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4685

13. Velas

Track 13 is from the album "The Dude" released March 1981 on A&M Records SP-3721

The gatefold inlay does at least provide musician credits and at just under 74 minutes and a price tag that borders on peanuts – it's a properly great bargain. The remastered sound throughout is ace as well – really great.

It opens well with the slinky city groove of "Killer Joe". Stretching to the full album cut of 5:11 minutes it features the combined talents of HUBERT LAWS on Flute, FREDDIE HUBBARD on Trumpet and ERIC GALE on Guitar. Both BOB JAMES and TOOTS THIELEMANS turn up on Keyboards and Harmonica for the equally smooth "I Never Told You" (admittedly very hissy). Quincy then goes full-on Vibe Jazz with his instrumental cover of The Carpenters "Walkin'" with MILT JACKSON providing the Vibes. 

"Brown Ballad" was written by Ray Brown the Acoustic Bass player in Jones' Band and is a wonderfully languid instrumental featuring TOOTS THIELEMANS on Harmonica. He gives it his "Midnight Cowboy" style while JIM HALL provides the slick guitar solo. Toots turns up again on "Eyes Of Love" only this time accompanied on keyboards by BOB JAMES and DAVE GRUSIN with Ray Brown playing the most exquisite Acoustic Bass runs while Quincy organises lovely String Arrangements. 

Genius cover goes to his version of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer In The City" with EDDY LOUISS and DAVE GRUSIN on Organ and Guitar with CHUCK RAINEY on Bass. Things finally Funk up with his cover of Stevie Wonder's "You’ve Got It Bad Girl" where he unwisely sings Lead Vocals (sounds uncomfortable) while GEORGE DUKE plinks away on the Electric Piano. We then enter the realms of real genius – the gorgeous "Everything Must Change" with a fantastically warm and expressive vocal lead by BERNARD IGHNER. It's a torch ballad with a Donny Hathaway feel and Soulful vocals from Ighner. The LP it came off ("Body Heat") was actually a Number 1 on the American Billboard R&B charts in 1974. 

We enter his commercial take-off period - Herbie Hancock’s slick and funky "Tell Me A Bedtime Story" is a commercial crossover – as is "Superwoman…" with a great Lead Vocal from PATTI AUSTIN. Musicians include RICHARD TEE on Piano, TOM SCOTT on Lyricon Solo, HERBIE HANCOCK on Keyboards with STEVE GADD on Drums. And it ends on the Funky Future of "Stuff Like That". 

Mellow, Soulful and Funky and ultimately a top listen throughout – a wee bit of a winner frankly...

"Ball/Metamorphosis" by IRON BUTTERFLY – February 1969 and August 1970 US Third and Fifth Albums on Atco Records in Stereo - April 1971 in the UK for "Metamorphosis" (July 2015 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs onto 1CD - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon Purchase Link

https://link.amazon/B0i04ATc3

This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book (on all Amazon sites)

GET IT ON - 1971

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

A HUGE 3,136 e-Pages 

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Just Click Below To Google, Purchase or See My Author Page

For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"...Stone Believer..."

Always hard to categorize – IRON BUTTERFLY divide lovers of both the 60s and 70s – some saying they were a one-hit-album wonder (1968's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" which sold 4 millions copies on release and has amassed a further 16 million since) that never fully capitalised on that 2nd album lightning-in-a-bottle magic. 

But this clever and amazing-sounding July 2015 Beat Goes On (BGO) CD Compilation seems determined to reassess that and in the case of the criminally forgotten "Metamorphosis" LP from 1970 (1971 in the UK) – BGO wins the argument hands down. Let's get to the heavy but brightly coloured wings...

UK released July 2015 – "Ball/Metamorphosis" by IRON BUTTERFLY reissues their 3rd and 5th albums onto 1CD on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1193 (Barcode 5017261211934) and breaks down as follows (75:53 minutes):

1. In The Time Of Our Lives [Side 1]

2. Soul Experience

3. Lonely Boy

4. Real Fright

5. In The Crowds

6. It Must Be Love [Side 2]

7. Her Favorite Style

8. Filled With Fear

9. Belda-Beast

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd album "Ball" – released February 1969 in the USA on Atco SD 33-280 and in the UK on Atlantic 228 011 (Stereo). It peaked at No.3 on the US Billboard Rock LP Charts (no chart UK)

10. Free Flight [Side 1 USA - see Notes below re UK]

11. New Day

12. Shady Lady

13. Best Years Of Our Life

14. Slower Than Guns

15. Stone Believer

16. Soldier In Our Town [Side 2 USA - see Notes below re UK]

17. Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way)

18. Butterfly Bleu

NOTES: Tracks 10 to 18 are their 5th album "Metamorphosis" credited to IRON BUTTERFLY with Pinera & Rhino. It was released in August 1970 in the USA on Atco SD 33-339 and April 1971 in the UK on Atco 2401 003. The British LP reversed the playing order for both Sides – "Soldier In Our Town" to "Butterfly Bleu" made up the 3 tracks of Side 1 (16, 17 and 18 on this CD) - while "Free Flight" to "Stone Believer" made up the 5 tracks of Side 2 (10 to 15 on this CD). It peaked at No.16 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts (no chart in the UK)

The outer card slipcase lends the whole thing a classy feel while the 16-page booklet features liner notes by noted writer NEIL DANIELS including a history of the group and interviews with Panera about new plans for 2014 (a tour, a new album after 40 years). There are album credits, some publicity photos and black and white shots of the boys on "Born To Be Wild" motorbikes (no lyrics unfortunately). Licensed from WEA - the remasters have been handled in 2015 by ANDREW THOMPSON and are amazing – stunning clarity and power on both records – especially the mightier of the two "Metamorphosis".

The "Ball" LP hit the Stateside Top 5 in February of 1969 – going one notch higher than its sensational predecessor "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" which reached No. 4 in July 1968. Although primarily an album's band - Atco launched the catchy "Soul Experience" b/w "In The Crowds" as an American 45 in February 1969 on Atco 6647 but it managed only a 75 chart placing. It was followed in May 1969 with the album opener "In The Time Of Our Lives" b/w "It Must Be Love" on Atco 6676 and it fared worse – climbing to only 96. In fact when you listen to the decidedly un-commercial doom-laden riffage of "In The Time Of Our Lives" – it's amazing anyone thought it would make a viable single when the more chipper and frankly groovy "Real Fright" with its Funky Bass intro (like The Doors on Speed) would have been a wiser choice. 

"In The Crowds" has a King Crimson Prog opening before it quickly morphs into an upbeat Rock song (the audio remaster on this is superlative). The Side 2 opener "It Must be Love" has Ingles' voice similar to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull - and combined with Erik Brann’s heavy guitar playing and Ingle’s ever-present keyboards – at times it sounds like Jethro Tull meets The Doors (in a good way). "Her Favorite Style" is probably the most dated tune on here sounding like a highly polished madrigal – better is the slightly out-there freakish rhythms in "Filled With Fear" while the floating keyboards of "Belda-Beast" is almost Pink Floyd. Overall the album is good rather than being great...

If "Ball" was good - "Metamorphosis" was a massive jump forward (even if it only charted at 16 instead of Ball's higher placing at 3). It showed a real song-writing maturity and is so often overlooked (like much of their catalogue) for 1968's chart slayer "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". It opens with the rather pointless 50-seconds of "Free Flight" - an instrumental noodle that promises something but never really delivers. But it segues into the Steppenwolf Boogie Rock of "New Day" where Iron Butterfly achieves a Funkiness that’s still cool to this day (amazing it wasn't issued as a 45). The equally hooky "Shady Lady" did turn up as the B-side to the non-album 45 of "Silly Sally" (A-side) on Atco 6818 in February 1971 (sadly not included here). The remaster on both cuts is superb – Richard Podolor's Production values shining through (he worked with Three Dog Night and Steppenwolf). "Best Years Of Our Lives" is probably the best Rock track on the album – great guitars and clever rhythms that defy categorization even now.

It's followed by an unexpected moment of prettiness – the acoustic "Slower Than Guns" which features a gorgeous vocal and beautifully arranged 12-string guitars (it’s a properly accomplished track and evocative too). Both "Stone Believer" and especially "Soldier In Our Town" sound like Three Dog Night writing their own songs and winning (and again really great transfers). The single "Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way)" was a modest chart hit in October 1970 on Atco 6782 by scraping 66 on the American charts (the excellent "Soldier In Our Town" was its B-side) where the band sounded like a slide-guitar Steppenwolf paired up with the son of Grand Funk Railroad. 

The album ends on the epic guitar and keyboard sleaze of "Butterfly Bleu" which chugs its way into 14 minutes. Sounding a little Zeppelin I and II in places in its chord chops and changes (there's a trippy centrepiece) – the amazing guitar work of Mike Pinera and Larry "El Rhino" Reinhardt hold centre-stage throughout (voice box used to amazing affect) while an impressive vocal by Ingle anchors the whole thing (weird voices and all). It's genuinely wicked stuff and is superbly clear on the remaster...even when that wild bit in the middle threatens to get out of hand...

I had fully intended to hate this reissue with a vengeance but I've been thoroughly won over (especially by "Metamorphosis" which I'll admit I haven't played on any format in decades). But not so - there's shockingly good stuff on here - a far better listen than I remembered. And with that stunning Audio on 'both' albums - this Beat Goes On CD Reissue for IRON BUTTERFLY is a must have for fans the world over...