"Philadelphia International Records: The Collection" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 20 Albums from 1972 to 1983 - Featuring Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The O'Jays, Billy Paul, The Intruders, MFSB, Bunny Sigler, The Three Degrees, Edwin Birdsong, McFadden & Whitehead, Patti Labelle, Lou Rawls, Dexter Wansel, The Jones Girls, The Jacksons, Jean Carn and Teddy Pendergrass - Five with Bonus Tracks (May 2014 UK Sony Music 20CD Flip-Top Brick-Block Box Set of Remasters In Mini LP Repro Card Art Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...On A Love Train..."

"The Collection" offers you 20 Philly Soul albums in single repro card sleeves inside a hard-card box set with a chunky 36-page booklet (5 of the discs even have bonus tracks). But musically it's not all Funky Nirvana by any means. As others have pointed out - there's both bland and genius nestling for your attention here (with more genius than not I'm glad to say). In order to give you a fuller picture - here are the detailed Blue Notes and Back Stabbers...

UK/EU released May 2014 - "Philadelphia International Records: The Collection" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is a 20CD Mini Box Set on Sony Music 8843055662 (Barcode 888430556621) and breaks down as follows:

CD1 (41:07 minutes):
1. I Miss You
2. Ebony Woman
3. Yesterday I Had The Blues
4. If You Don't Know Me By Now [Side 2]
5. Be For Real
6. Let Me Into Your World
7. Let It Be You
Tracks 1 to 7 are the self-titled album "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" by HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES - originally released August 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 31648 as "I Miss You" with different artwork. When the single "If You Don't Know Me By Now" charted big in October 1972 globally - the album was relaunched as "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" with more sophisticated artwork, the same track list and catalogue number. It is this blue sleeve cover that is used here and was also the UK album ("Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes") released February 1973 on CBS Records S 65350 (later reissued in 1974 on Philadelphia International S PIR 65934)

BONUS TRACK:
8. If You Don't Know Me By Now (Live)

CD 2 (40:05 minutes):
1. When The World's At Peace
2. Back Stabbers
3. Who Am I
4. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky
5. Time To Get Down
6. 992 Arguments [Side 2]
7. Listen To The Clock On The Wall
8. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind Of People
9. Sunshine
10. Love Train
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Back Stabbers" by O'JAYS - released September 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 31712 and October 1972 in the UK on CBS Records S 65257

CD 3 (53:44 minutes):
1. Brown Baby
2. I'm Just A Prisoner
3. It's Too Late
4. Me And Mrs. Jones
5. Am I Black Enough For You [Side 2]
6. Let's Stay Together
7. Your Song
8. I'm Gonna Make It This Time
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" by BILLY PAUL - released November 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 31793 and in the UK on Epic Records EPC 65351 (reissued in 1973 on Philadelphia International S PIR 65930)

BONUS TRACK:
9. Me And Mrs. Jones (Live)

CD 4 (38:56 minutes):
1. Save The Children
2. Mother And Child Reunion
3. I Wanna Know Your Name
4. To Be Happy Is The Real Thing
5. I'll Always Love My Mama [Side 2]
6. Memories Are Here To Stay
7. Teardrops
8. Hang On In There
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Save The Children" by THE INTRUDERS - released May 1973 in the USA on Gamble/Philadelphia International KZ 31991 and in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65865

CD 5 (31:29 minutes):
1. Can't You See What You're Doing To Me
2. A Woman Needs A Good Man
3. Dirty Ol' Man
4. When Will I See You Again
5. I Didn't Know
6. Year Of Decision
7. If And When
8. I Like Being A Woman
NOTE: For some unexplained reason, both the CD running order and the track list in the booklet lay out the songs of "The Three Degrees" as above - but both the US and UK self-titled original LPs ran the tracks as follows:
Side 1: 3, 1, 2 and 4
Side 2: 5, 8, 7 and 6
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "The Three Degrees" by THE THREE DEGREES - released February 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32406 and in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65858. The 2010 CD reissue and remaster by Big Break Records of the UK on CDBBR 0002 (Barcode 5013929030220) reverts to this original track run and adds on three bonus cuts. 

CD 6 (52:11 minutes):
1. Put Your Hands Together
2. Ship Ahoy
3. This Air I Breathe
4. You Got Your Hooks In Me
5. For The Love Of Money [Side 2]
6. Now That We Found Love
7. Don't Call Me Brother
8. People Keep Tellin' Me
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Ship Ahoy" by THE O'JAYS - released October 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32408 and June 1974 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65860

BONUS TRACK:
9. Put Your Hands Together (Live Version)

CD 7 (35:08 minutes):
1. Zack's Fanfare
2. Love Is The Message
3. Cheaper To Keep Her
4. My One And Only Love
5. TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia - Theme From The TV Show "Soul Train") [Side 2]
6. Zack's Fanfare ( I Hear The Music)
7. Touch Me In The Morning
8. Bitter Sweet
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Love Is The Message" by MFSB - released December 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32707 and May 1974 as "TSOP – The Sound Of Philadelphia" in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 80154

CD 8 (42:32 minutes):
1. Shake Your Booty
2. Picture Us
3. Keep Smilin'
4. That's How Long I'll Be Loving You
5. I Lied
6. Things Are Gonna Get Better [Side 2]
7. Sweeter Than The Berry
8. Your Love Is Good
9. Somebody Free
10. Love Train
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Keep Smilin'" by BUNNY SIGLER - released 1974 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 33249. The album had no UK release under this name "Keep Smilin'" but some of its tracks appeared on the album "That's How Long I'll Be Loving You" released July 1974 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 80253 (Side 1: 6, 4, 5, 2 and 10 / Side 2: 8 and 9 only)

CD 9 (46:03 minutes):
1. Wake Up Everybody [Side 1]
2. Keep On Lovin' You
3. You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good
4. Don't Leave Me This Way [Side 2]
5. Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby
6. To Be Free To Be Who You Are
7. I'm Reaching For A Love
Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Wake Up Everybody" by HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES - released November 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 33808 and January 1976 in the UK on Philadelphia International PIR 69193

BONUS TRACK:
8. Don't Leave Me This Way (Tom Moulton Mix)

CD 10 (38:36 minutes):
1. You're The One
2. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
3. Time
4. Groovy People
5. Need You Forever
6. From Now On [Side 1]
7. Pure Imagination
8. This Song Will Last Forever
9. Let's Fall In Love All Over Again
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "All Things In Time" by LOU RAWLS - released June 1976 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 33957 and June 1976 in the UK on Philadelphia International PIR 81368. It was a US R&B Number 1 album.

CD 11 (36:40 minutes):
1. A Prophet Named K.G.
2. Life On Mars
3. Together Once Again
4. Stargazer
5. One Million Miles From The Ground [Side 2]
6. You Can Be What You Wanna Be
7. Theme From The Planets
8. Rings Of Saturn
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Life On Mars" by DEXTER WANSEL - released August 1976 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 34079 (no UK release).

CD 12 (39:32 minutes):
1. Enjoy Yourself
2. Think Happy
3. Good Times
4. Keep On Dancing
5. Blues Away
6. Show You The Way To Go [Side 2]
7. Living Together
8. Strength Of One Man
9. Dreamer
10. Style Of Life
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "The Jacksons" by THE JACKSONS - released November 1976 in the USA on Epic PE 34229 and in the UK on Epic EPC 86009. "Blues Away" and "Style Of Life" by Michael Jackson.

CD 13 (40:53 minutes):
1. Free Love
2. No Laughing Matter
3. I'm In Love Once Again
4. Don't You Know Love When You See It
5. Where Did You Ever Go [Side 2]
6. You Are All I Need
7. If You Wanna Go Back
8. You Got A Problem
9. Time Waits For No One
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Jean Carn" by JEAN CARN - released February 1977 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 39394 (no UK release)

CD 14 (36:45 minutes):
1. You Can't Hide From Yourself
2. Somebody Told Me
3. Be Sure
4. And If I Had
5. I Don't Love You Anymore [Side 2]
6. The Whole Town's Laughing At Me
7. Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy
8. The More I Get, The More I Want
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Teddy Pendergrass" by TEDDY PENDERGRASS - released March 1977 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 34390 and April 1977 in the UK on Philadelphia International PIR 81756 (ex Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes - first Solo album)

CD 15 (38:03 minutes):
1. Lady Love
2. I Wish It Were Yesterday
3. One Life To Live
4. Dollar Green
5. Trade Winds
6. There Will Be Love [Side 2]
7. Unforgettable
8. That Would Do It For Me
9. If I Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
10. Not The Staying Kind
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All" by LOU RAWLS - released December 1977 in the USA on Philadelphia International JZ 35036 and January 1978 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 82402

CD 16 (46:30 minutes):
1. Life Is A Song Worth Singing
2. Only You
3. Cold, Cold World
4. Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose
5. Close The Door [Side 2]
6. It Don't Hurt Now
7. When Somebody Loves You Back
Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Life Is A Song Worth Singing" by TEDDY PENDERGRASS - released June 1978 in the USA on Philadelphia International JZ 35095 and July 1978 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 82555. The album was a USA R&B Number 1.

BONUS TRACKS:
8. Only You (Single Version)
9. Get Down, Get Funky (Disco Version)

CD 17 (35:12 minutes):
1. This Feeling's Killing Me
2. You Made Me Love You
3. Show Love Today
4. You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else
5. Life Goes On [Side 2]
6. Who Can I Run To
7. We're A Melody
8. I'm At Your Mercy
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "The Jones Girls" by THE JONES GIRLS - released May 1979 in the USA on Philadelphia International JZ 35757 and in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 83831

CD 18 (38:47 minutes):
1. Cola Bottle Baby
2. Phiss-Phizz
3. Kunta Dance
4. Lollipop [Side 2]
5. Goldmine
6. Freaky Deaky Sities
7. Autumn Eyes
8. Lollipop (Slow)
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Edwin Birdsong" by EDWIN BIRDSONG - released May 1979 in the USA on Philadelphia International JZ 35758 (no UK release)

CD 19 (42:53 minutes):
1. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
2. I've Been Pushed Aside
3. Mr. Music
4. Just Wanna Love You Baby
5. Got To Change [Side 2]
6. You're My Someone To Love
7. I Got The Love
8. Do You Want To Dance
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "McFadden & Whitehead" by McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD (Jean and John) - released May 1979 in the USA on Philadelphia International JZ 35800 and in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 83613

CD 20 (38:46 minutes):
1. I'm In Love Again
2. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
3. Love, Need And Want You
4. If Only You Knew
5. Body Language [Side 2]
6. I'll Never, Never Give Up
7. Love Bankrupt
8. When Am I Gonna Find True Love
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "I'm In Love Again" by PATTI LaBELLE - released December 1983 in the USA on Philadelphia International FZ 38539 and in the UK on Philadelphia International 450621 1

As you can see from the list above - five of the twenty CDs (1, 3, 6, 9 and 16) have bonus tracks. All albums (including their bonuses) are documented in the lovely 36-page colour booklet with features brief reviews of each title by long-time Soul aficionado DEAN RUDLAND. These are followed by page-after-page of the albums pictured alongside detailed track lists. Each of the CDs is numbered on the label so you know where they're placed in the order of things. There are no mastering credits - but as all of these albums have been available before at one point on Sony/Legacy reissues so those remasters have been used and the sound quality is uniformly great.

The set opens with a winner - the "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" debut album with monsters like "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "I Miss You" and the sublime "Yesterday I Had The Blues" (shame they didn't tag on the single edit of this which is Soul perfection). We're then soothed with another fan rave - "Back Stabbers" by The O'Jays sporting the hit singles "992 Arguments" and "Love Train". Unsung album hero is "Who Am I" - a gorgeous ballad that was the B-side of "Love Train" in the UK on CBS 1181 (February 1973).

The gems keep on coming with "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" - a Number 1 album on American's Billboard R&B charts which contained "Am I Black Enough For You?" and the classic "Me And Mrs. Jones" (a No. 1 R&B single). Album nuggets are his fabulous cover of Carole King's "Tapestry" classic "It's Too Late", the Fusion Soul consciousness of the five-year jail song "I'm Just A Prisoner" and the Jean Lang/Bunny Sigler torch ballad "I'm Gonna Make It This Time".

The 'Philly Sound' that would properly dominate much of the Seventies arrives with The Intruders doing a cover of Gil Scott-Heron's "Save The Children" while those Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff love songs fill out the rest of the album ("I Wanna Know Your Name" and "Memories Are Here To Stay"). Things go Pop Soul on The Three Degrees album and while they were hugely successful - frankly I've never liked it and find the album dismissible. Things recover big time with the magisterial "Ship Ahoy" album by The O'Jays from 1974 - Bunny Sigler's gorgeous smoocher "You Got Your Hooks In Me" impressing mightily while the uber-funky and brilliant "For The Love Of Money" has early echoes of Dexter Wansel.

I've reviewed MFSB's "Love Is The Message" - sporting a slick keyboards and vibes instrumental cover of Johnnie Taylor's anthem "Cheaper To Keep Her" - but better is the album finisher of "Bitter Sweet" - Fusion Funk one moment - all swirling happy strings the next. Bunny Sigler's "Keep Smilin'" album opens with a cod party piece that hasn't dated well but the (hissy) ballad "Picture Us" is pretty and the title track is superb. Tracks like the upbeat "Things Are Gonna Get Better" and the lovely "That's How Long I'll Be Loving You" should have been hits  - while the almost Acapella "Sweeter Than The Berry" is a welcome oddity arrangement for Philly. In fact, you can't but feel that the album is a hidden gem that makes buying a box set like this so worth it. Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Jean Carn and The Jones Girls all distinguish themselves - but my heart goes to Dexter Wansel's superb "Life On Mars" Fusion album while commercial Funk arrives with the "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead. But excepting say the ballad "Love, Need And Want You" - for me the Patti Labelle album is maudlin Eighties schlock I can live without.

So there you have it - with only a few clunkers "The Collection" is a winner - beautifully presented, sounds spiffing and full of great Seventies Soul memories you will want to relive again and again. 

My only question would be - why isn't there an equivalent Motown Box Set? Or a long overdue Chess/Cadet/Checker Box? Or even an Atlantic Records Soul Box Volume 2? Bring them all on baby...

"For The First Time/Love Has Lifted Me" by STEPHANIE MILLS – Two Albums on Motown from October 1975 US (March 1976 UK) and November 1982 (USA) - Produced, Arranged and Written by BURT BACHARACH and HAL DAVID (August 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) Compilation – 2LPs onto 1CD - Kevin Reeves Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Took My Strength From You..."

This is a clever reissue – lumping together her 2nd solo album "For The First Time" on Motown (produced, arranged and written by BURT BACHARACH and HAL DAVID) with more Bacharach/David Songs that later appeared on the desirable 1982 album “Love Has Lifted Me”. Here are the ways to San Jose…

UK released August 2014 - "For The First Time/Love Has Lifted Me" by STEPHANIE MILLS on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0301 (Barcode 5013929060135) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and breaks down as follows:

1. I Took My Strength From You [Side 1]
2. Living On Plastic
3. No One Remembers My Name 
4. If You Can Learn To Cry 
5. Loneliness Remembers (What Happiness Forgets)
6. This Empty Place [Side 2]
7. The Way I Feel About You 
8. I See You For The First Time
9. All The Way To Paradise
10. Please Let's Go
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "For The First Time" - released October 1975 in the USA on Motown MS-227VI and March 1976 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12017. 

11. Love Has Lifted Me Up [Side 1]
12. Love Is Everywhere 
13. I Don't Want To Be Reminded
14. You Are The Melody Of My Life
15. I Hope We Don't Run Out Of Music
16. The Kingdom Within
17. Simple Masterpiece
Tracks 11 to 17 are the album "Love Has Lifted Me" - released November 1982 in the USA on Motown 6033ML. 

The 12-page booklet has excellent and detailed liner notes by STEVEN E. FLEMMING, Jr that include photos of US Motown 7" singles, publicity photos of Mills (one as the lead part of Dorothy in the musical 'The Wiz') and recording info. 
But the big news as always with BBR releases is the stunning remaster. KEVIN REEVES at Universal (whose been involved in huge numbers in the Soul and Jazz "Originals" series) did the initial remaster with more touches by BBR's resident tape wizard WAYNE A. DICKSON. The sound is wonderful. 

This is not necessarily Soul – the 1975 album is lovey-dovey Bacharach/David songs with a Soulful Lady leading the charge. But I find a lot of it overdone with sappy lyrics that are hard to take in the 2020s. The Soul and Funk kicks in with the pricey "Love Has Lifted Me" album from 1982 – an all-together more satisfyingly Funky affair. The sound quality on the ballads "I Don't Want To Be Reminded" and "You Are The Melody Of My Life" is fantastic as is the new muscle on the desirable title track "Love Has Lifted Me". 

Hardly classics it has to be said and for true Soul aficionados the Bacharach/David connection may not be an enticement but a saccharine put off. Having said that, when the Funk does let itself rip - the force is strong with this one. With two albums worth and the great new sound – for fans of either Motown outing - this UK BBR CD compilation is a must buy…

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I've reviewed:
1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)
2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)
3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)
4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)
5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)
6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)
7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)
8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)
9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)
10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)
11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)
12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]
13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)
14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)
15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)
16. All The Faces Of Buddy Miles - BUDDY MILES (1974)
17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)
18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)
19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)
20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)
21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)
22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)
23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)
24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)
25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)
26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)
27. Live: Stompin' At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)
28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)
29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)
30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)
31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)
32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)
33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)
34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)
35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)
36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)
37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"I Hope We Get To Love In Time" by MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS, JR [ex 5th Dimension] – August 1976 US Debut Album on ABC Records (July 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Two Hearts Beating Out Loud…"

Both ex THE 5th DIMENSION – Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. had already clocked up six Grammy wins by the time they trumped first prize again at the 1977 Awards for Best R&B Vocal performance on "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)". And along comes this excellent CD reissue to remind us of that song and duo debut album…

UK released July 2014 – "I Hope We Get To Love On Time" by MARILYN McCOO and BILLY DAVIS. JR on Big Break Records CDBBR 0276 (Barcode 5013929057630) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (42:42 minutes): 

1. You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) [Side 1]
2. Your Love
3. I Still Will Be With You 
4. Never Gonna Let You Go
5. Nothing Can Stop Me
6. You Can't Change My Heart [Side 2]
7. I Hope We Can Get To Love In Time
8. My Love For You (Will Always Be The Same)
9. Easy Way Out 
10. We've Got To Get It On Again
Tracks 1 to 10 are their Debut Album "I Hope We Get To Love On Time" – released August 1976 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-952 and July 1976 in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5210. 

BONUS TRACKS: 
11. I'm So Glad I Found You (Outtake, Non-LP B-side of "I Hope We Get To Love On Time")
12. You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) (Single Version)

The 16-page booklet is the usual classy job from BBR with photos of the duo live and on TV, rare 7" single picture sleeves and liner notes by NYC-based Music journalist Christian John Wikane that includes new interviews with the singers. Big Break's resident tape wizard WAYNE A. DICKSON has handled the remaster and it sounds fantastic – full of detail and bounce. 

This is Mid Seventies Soft Soul – very Stylistics with a little Disco thrown in – with the ballads like "Nothing Can Stop Me" allowing their voices to shine and the melody rise above the heavy string-arrangements. "Easy Way Out" is a lovely smoocher while the B-side outtake "I'm So Glad I Found You" is a mid-tempo stepper. It's easy to hear why the catchy Pop-Soul of "Your Love" was released as a single in May 1977 (ABC Records AB-12262) - it not only prolonged the life of the parent album on the US Billboard R&B charts - but also came with the LP cut "My Love For You Will Always Be The Same" on the flipside - another reason to get the album from whence the hits were coming. 

Kind of forgotten fifty years after the event - but a quality reissue from England's BBR (Big Break Records) and with that quality audio - a must own for fans...

"Lost Without You: The Best Of Kent Ballads 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (30 October 2015 UK Ace Kent-Soul CD Compilation - 1963 to 1974 Tracks - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review By Mark Barry...

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more...

 

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"...Don't Let Her Make You Cry..."

The first Volume in this series "Deep Shadows: The Best Of Kent Ballads" hit the streets of Soul-Mad Blighty in August 2010 – and lovers of (largely) unreleased torch-sung ballads have been dribbling in pools of talcum powder ever since. Never one to keep their eager punters waiting – Ace only took a piffling five years to come up with Volume 2 – "Lost Without You". 

It's most definitely not as immediate as its illustrious predecessor I'd have to say right off the bat - but after repeated plays – Volume 2 is a more than worthy follow-up. Here are the sob-stories...

UK released Friday, 30 October 2015 (November 2015 in the USA) – "Lost With You: The Best Of Kent Ballads 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 439 (Barcode 029667243926) breaks down as follows (74:45 minutes):

1. Stay Away – THE TURN AROUNDS (a Fraternity Recording from 1966 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
2. I Don't Need Nobody – JERRY WASHINGTON (an Excello Recording from 1974 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
3. I Love You More – LEE WILLIAMS & THE CYMBALS (a Joe Evans Production, 1966 USA 7" single on Carnival 521, A)
4. Lost Without You – LORRAINE CHANDLER (first appeared on the 2015 Various Artists CD compilation "Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 429)
5. Don't Let Her Make You Cry – J.J. JACKSON & THE JACKAELS (a Brent Recording from 1962 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
6. After He Breaks Your Heart – THE WANDERERS (1963 USA 7" single on United Artists 570, A)
7. Lonely Girl – JULIUS WRIGHT (a Brent Recording from 1967 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
8. Nobody But You – THE EXOTICS (an Excello Recording from 1968 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
9. Apartment No. 9 – LITTLE JOHNNY HAMILTON (a Watts Way Recording from 1969 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
10. I Can Fix That For You – DORI GRAYSON (1968 USA 7” single on Murco 1045, A)
11. Everybody Knows – PEGGY GAINES (a Bob Holmes Production from 1965 – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
12. I Give A Damn – JOHNNY WATSON ('not' Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - a 1970s recording first issued in 1999 on a 45 - Valise 6915, A)
13. Crying Clown – EDDIE PARKER (1968 USA 7" single on Awake 502, A)
14. Messing Up A Good Thing – JOHN EDWARDS (1974 USA 7" single on Aware AW-037, A)
15. Sure Thing – JIMMY SCOTT (a 1984 Dave Hamilton Recording – Previously Unreleased, 2015)
16. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight – TY KARIM (James Taylor cover version - a 1973 USA 7" single on Romark 73-104, A)
17. Heaven's Will (Must Be Obeyed) – ALICE CLARK (A 1969 USA 7" Promo Single on Warner Brothers 7270, B-side of "You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt Me)" and also on the Various Artists 1971 LP "Soul Black & Beautiful Vol.1" on GWP Records ST 2037)
18. How's Things With You – JOE MAYFIELD (a 1964 USA 7” single on Excello 2256, A – Jay Miller Production)
19. King For A Day – DANNY WHITE (a 1969 USA 7" single on Kashe 443, A – written by Eddie Singleton)
20. The Last One To Be Loved – LOU JOHNSON (a Bacharach/David song – a 1964 USA 7" single on Big Hill 553, A)
21. Give This Fool Another Chance – EDDIE WHITEHEAD (a 1967 USA 7" single on Black Jack 711, A)
22. Lonely Man – THE SOUL BROTHERS (a 1967 USA 7" single on Sho-Biz 401, A)
23. Take Another Look – THE TURQUINETTES (a Previously Unreleased A.F.O. Records Recording, 2015)
24. The Price – MARY LOVE-COMER (from the 1988 US LP "His Servant Am I" on CoLove Records 1001)
[NOTES: Tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15 and 23 are Previously Unreleased, 2015 
Tracks 2, 3, 14 15, 16, 17 and 24 are STEREO - all other Tracks are MONO]

The 16-page booklet has track-by-track assessments by Soul Authority and Lifelong Genre Lover ADY CROASDELL (compiler too) – a name that has graced countless quality CD compilations for Ace and Edsel. In-between text is photos of those rare American 45s on long-forgotten labels like Carnival, Kashe, Murco, Awake, Aware and Sho-Biz, label publicity photos and even a snap of Croasdell with Nashville Producer Bob Holmes. DUNCAN COWELL has mastered the tracks from original analogue recordings and the audio quality is typically fabulous – even when some of the sources are obviously less than audiophile.

"Lost Without You" on paper seems like another classy outing from Ace's Kent-Soul wing (a compilation of ballads spanning 1962 to 1988) – but in truth – I found a lot of it simply refused to fly at first. Nine of the 24 cuts are Previously Unreleased and although some are very good – you can 'hear' why they stayed in the can. Musically songs like "Stay Away" by The Turn Arounds and "I Don't Need Nobody" by Jerry Washington fit all the criteria for torch tunes – but they never really grab you by the throat because they’re trying but not really succeeding. The first time I felt the feeling was the compilation’s title song "Lost Without You" by Lorraine Chandler – but that's already showed on a previous Kent-Soul CD I got this year – "Pied Piper" (see review). Of the unreleased stuff - "Nobody But You" by The Exotics is one of the nuggets on here as is J.J. Jackson's vocal-group melodrama of "Don't Let Her Make You Cry". Both "Everybody Knows" by Peggy Gaines and Jimmy Scott's alternate take of "Take A Chance On Love" from 1984 called "Sure Thing" is excellent.

Ty Karim's cover of James Taylor's love song "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" somehow unintentionally strips the song of its Rock sweetness and stuff like the positively awkward "Take Another Look" by The Turquinettes and the funereal "How's Things With You" by Joe Mayfield are ruined by inappropriate instruments intruding on the tune. Far better is "Apartment No. 9" by Little Johnny Hamilton, the simple Soul of "King For A Day" by Danny White and the truly sublime rarely-heard Gospel B-side "Heaven's Will (Must Be Obeyed)" by Alice Clark – a stunning vocal and as Soulful as you're ever likely to hear a singer get (the A-side is a monster Northern Soul side). Speaking of the Lord – Mary Love-Comer gets all 80ts Soulful on "The Price" – a nice tune – but it partially works and is a weird and unsatisfying way to end this CD compilation.

To sum up - I've had to listen to "Lost Without You: The Best Of Kent Ballads 2" more than a few times to get used to it and enjoy its depths – and I'll admit it grows on me more and more. Just don't expect the usual first-time fireworks you normally get with Kent-Soul CD compilations of this kind...

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"The Chess Collection" by LAURA LEE - US Singles from 1967 to 1969 and a 1972 US LP "Love More Than Pride" on Chess Records (June 2006 UK Universal/Chess CD Compilation with Gary Moore Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more...

 

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"…Treat Her With A Little Respect…"

Cheap, cheerful and chockfull of goodies - at under a five spot brand new - this CD is the way I like 'em.

Perhaps better known for her sexy and sassy Hot Wax 7" single stingers with ex-Motown heavyweights Holland-Dozier-Holland - Laura Lee's sides on Chess Records (recorded at Rick Hall's Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama with Bobby Miller and Billy Davis) offer up a lighter but nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable brew. Soul dancers, ballads and social comment tunes - Detroit's Laura Lee took them all on. And as this brilliant little CD compilation proves - nailed the damn lot with ease. Here are the good lady's particulars...

UK released June 2006 - "The Chess Collection" by LAURA LEE is on Universal/Chess 983 229-4 (Barcode 602498322949) and is housed in a gatefold card digipak (53:01 minutes):

1. Mama's Got A Good Thing
2. Another Man's Woman
3. It Ain't What You Do (But How You Do It)
4. It's All Wrong, But It's All Right
5. I Need To Belong To Someone
6. Dirty Man
7. But You Know I Love
8. That's How It Is
9. It's How You Make It Good
10. Love More Than Pride
11. Are You Doing Me Wrong
12. As Long I Got You
13. She Don't Love You [Curtis Mayfield's "He Will Break Your Heart"]
14. A Man With Some Backbone
15. Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary
16. Hang It Up
17. It's Mighty Hard
18. Up Tight Good Man
19. You Need Me (As Much As I Need You)
20. Stop Giving Your Man Away

This CD compilation will allow fans to sequence her American 7" singles and lone album for the label as follows:

SINGLES
1. Stop Giving Your Man Away [20] b/w You Need Me (as Much As I Need You) [19]
Released USA January 1967 on Chess 1989
2. Dirty Man [6] b/w It's Mighty Hard [17]
Released USA July 1967 on Chess 2013
3. Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary [15] b/w Up Tight Good Man [18]
Released USA November 1967 on Chess 2030
4. As Long As I Got You [12] b/w A Man With Some Backbone [14]
Released USA March 1968 on Chess 2041
5. Need To Belong [5] b/w He Will Break Your Heart [13]
Released USA July 1968 on Chess 2052
6. Hang It Up b/w [16] It's How You Make It Good [9]
Released USA November 1968 on Chess 2062
7. Love More Than Pride [10] b/w Mama's Got A Good Thing [1]
Released USA April 1969 on Chess 2068

ALBUM
"Love More Than Pride" - released 1972 on Chess Records CH 50031
Side 1:
1. Mama's Got A Good Thing [1]
2. Another Man's Woman [2]
3. It Ain't What You Do (But How You Do It) [3]
4. She Don't Love You ["He Will Break Your Heart" by Curtis Mayfield - 13]
5. It's All Wrong, But It's All Right [4]
6. I Need To Belong To Someone [5]
Side 2:
1. Dirty Old Man [6]
2. But You Know I Love You [7]
3. That's How It Is [8]
4. It's How You Make It Good [9]
5. Love More Than Pride [10]

Compiled and annotated by LOIS WILSON (then of Mojo Magazine) - the 8-page oversized inlay provides a short but detailed history of her stay at Chess and onwards. GARY MOORE from Universal carried out the remasters and they're kicking.

With a voice as gritty and pain-soaked as Etta James and a delivery akin to the deep down inside passion of Aretha Franklin at her fiery Atlantic Records best - Laura Lee's 11-track lone album "Love More Than Pride" seems like a Sixties classic that got shamefully lost (it was eventually a mixture of Sixties and 1972 cuts). Recorded at Rick Hall's Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama with Hall's great band - it was finally issued in 1972 with some new tracks - but years after the event (she had seven singles in the late Sixties, three of which did well on the American Billboard R&B charts). Yet you can't help but think that had it been given an outing in 1967 or 1968 - it would have rivalled Etta's "Tell Mama" or Aretha's monumental "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" as a classic of the period.

Her voice on the hurt-fest ballad "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right" is fantastic - a song penned by two Muscle Shoals heroes - Eddie Hinton and Marlin Greene. Her passion also shines through on her cover of Curtis Mayfield's "I Need To Belong To Someone". When she sings "I want to be missed on a cold and lonely night..." - you know she means it. "Dirty Man" became her signature tune (unfortunately I would say) but better is the mid-tempo brass class of "That's How It Is" or the 1969 belter "Love More Than Pride".

Cheap as chips and as cool as a Chess Records label bag - this is a fabulous little CD by Laura Lee - that like the album it contains from 1972 - is criminally ignored. Dig in right away and enjoy... 

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"Pressure Cookin'" by LABELLE – August 1973 US Fourth Studio Album on RCA Victor Records (May 1975 in the UK) - Featuring Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash (August 2014 UK Soul Music Records CD Reissue - Alan Wilson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Open Up Your Minds To Me And Let Me In..."

A friend of mine lent me this album on a 2010 Reel Music CD remaster (Bill Lacey) that I forgot to buy. It subsequently garnished a bit of a price tag. 

Well along comes Soul Music Records of the UK with a spangly new remaster in 2014 issued at mid-price - and a proper corker it is too. Here are the Dancin' Diva details…

UK released August 2014 – "Pressure Cookin'" by LABELLE on Soul Music Records SMCR 5123 (Barcode 5013929082335) is a straightforward Remaster and Transfer of the 9-track 1973 LP and plays out as follows (40:45 minutes):

1. Pressure Cookin' [Side 1]
2. Medley: (a) Something In The Air (b) The Revolution Will Not Be Televised 
3. Sunshine Woke Me Up This Morning
4. Can I Speak To You Before You Go To Hollywood?
5. Mr. Music Man [Side 2]
6. Goin' On Holiday 
7. Let Me See You In The Light
8. Open Up Your Heart
9. Last Dance
Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Pressure Cookin'" – released August 1973 in the USA and UK on RCA Records APL1-0205 (reissued UK May 1975 on RCA LSA 3223). 

The 16-page booklet has superlative liner notes by A. SCOTT GALLOWAY peppered with pictures of the three ladies dressed in distinctive stage gear, repros of the American Dynaflex LP labels and detailed recording info. But the big news is a stunning ALAN WILSON Remaster – gorgeous clarity on all the tracks. This CD sounds 'so' good – exemplary stuff. 

Shortening their name from Patti Labelle and The Blue Belles in 1971 to LABELLE (Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash) - and hot from their success and prominent duel-credit placing on Laura Nyro's LP gem "Gonna Take A Miracle" of that same year (see separate review) – Labelle found themselves opening for such acts as The Who and gaining appreciative audiences everywhere they went. When they signed to RCA Records for this lone album with the label hopes were high – but as history tells us Radio didn't get it and the album didn't chart despite efforts by all involved. That's not to say there isn't Soulful Funky magic here…there really is…

It opens with a frantic "Pressure Cookin'" showcasing the amazingly funky backing band MAXAYN (named after singer Maxayn Lewis) and is followed by a highlight – a double-whammy of contemporary cover versions. "Something In the Air" was a Number British single for Thunderclap Newman (on Track Records) and Patti cleverly segues it into Gil Scott-Heron's legendary social-comment song "The Revolution Will Not Be Television". It meshes the upbeat feel of Thunderclap Newman's come together message with the street realism of Heron's razor-sharp observations on poor America.  

The Nona Hendryx stunner "Sunshine (Woke Me Up This Morning)" is fabulous Funk Soul and should have been the leadoff single – but that privilege went to the more catchy "Open Up Your Heart" - US issued May 1973 on RCA 74-0965 backed with "Goin' On A Holiday" (lyrics from "Open Up Your Heart" title this review). Another Hendryx nugget is the lovely and pleading "(Can I Speak To You Before You Go To) Hollywood" where Patti holds back on the screaming funk and delivers a beautifully measured and hurting performance. When you get to the equally pretty "Last Dance" – you get the feeling you're in the presence of a lost classic. 

Chart success would elude them until the "Nightbirds" LP in 1975 (on the back of the irrepressible kitchy-kitchy-ya-ya "Lady Marmalade" single on Epic). But this is where to start your LABELLE rediscovery. A fantastic reissue – and kudos to all involved for getting this great music out there again…