"Self Determination Music" by JOHN CARTER & BOBBY BRADFORD – December 1970 US Second Album on Flying Dutchman Records - Guests Include Tom Wilkinson and Buzz Freeman on Bas and Drums (March 2015 UK Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Eye Of The Storm…"

When Bob Thiele left his post at Impulse (the Jazz imprint at ABC Records) after nine years of Producing people like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins to form Flying Dutchman in Los Angeles – his brief was to sign and promote the best of Avant Garde Jazz. So he promptly brought on board names like Pharoah Sanders, Roswell Budd and Archie Shepp to begin with. Texas-born Saxophonist John Carter and Cleveland Trumpeter Bobby Bradford were amongst those signees.

They had already seen their debut for the Flying Dutchman label "Flight For Four" hit the racks in 1969 on Flying Dutchman FDS 108 garnishing much praise but relatively few sales. Thiele persisted and allowed the pair to self-produce their second platter – "Self Determination Music" released December 1970 in the USA on Flying Dutchman FDS-128. And that's where this blistering (first time on) CD reissue comes in. Here are the flight details…

UK released March 2015 – "Self Determination Music" by JOHN CARTER and BOBBY BRADFORD on Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 286 (Barcode 029667528627) breaks down as follows (44:02 minutes):

1. The Sunday Afternoon Jazz Blues Society (5:50 minutes) [Side 1]
2. The Eye Of The Storm (15:20 minutes)
3. Loneliness (9:08 minutes) [Side 2]
4. Encounter (13:37 minutes)
Tracks 1, 3 and 4 by John Carter, Track 2 by Bobby Bradford

The 12-page booklet features original artwork and a reproduction of the American album's sleeve notes (penned by Robert Levin) with a new appraisal of the album by noted Soul/Jazz fan DEAN RUDLAND. You get the original labels repro’d on Page 2 with that funky Elihu Blotnick artwork front and rear.

But the real Jazz fireworks comes in the NICK ROBBINS remaster which lets the rhythm section of Bassist TOM WILLIAMSON and Drummer BUZZ FREEMAN breath behind the soloing of the two leads. From the opening moments of rapid free-form Jazz on "The Sunday Afternoon Jazz Blues Society" – the instruments are clear – rattling around your speakers with intent and in your face in all the right ways. This CD sounds great. Things mellow down on the Side One finisher "The Eye Of The Storm" which opens with a beautifully judged cymbals-versus-double-bass passage before the boys float in. They let rip during its fifteen minutes and those looking for the mellow of "Kind Of Blue" should look the other way.

Side Two opens with an eerie percussive passage that could come straight out of some hip Bikers, Pimps and Drugs movie – the audio of "Loneliness" is amazing. Both Carter and Bradford keep the sneaky pace at that level throughout which allows the listener to hear their superbly soulful playing. Back to wild fast-paced free-form for "Encounter" where Buzz Freeman plays a blinder – both Horn players taking turns at the jabs and parries.

Ace Records regularly receive 5-star praise for their continuing Soul and R 'n' B CD reissues and with 2025 marking 50 years in the reissue game – that’s saying something. But their Jazz and Fusion output often gets overlooked. A superb reissue of an Avant Garde rarity…well done to all involved…

Other Flying Dutchman titles in the Ace/BGP CD Reissue Series include:

1. Fenix - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 268)
2. The Third World - GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 272)
3. El Pampero – GATO BARBIERI (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 283)
4. Cesar 830 – CESAR (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 261)
5. Friends And Neighbors: Ornette Live At Prince Street – ORNETTE COLEMAN (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 266)
6. Afrique – COUNT BASIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 271)
7. Barefoot Boy - LARRY CORYELL (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 269)
8. George Russell Presents… - THE ESOTERIC CIRCLE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 284)
9. Pieces Of A Man – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 274)
10. Free Will – GIL SCOTT-HERON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 281)
11. Cosmic Funk And Spiritual Sounds – LONNIE LISTON SMITH (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 254)
12. Expansions – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 263)
13. Astral Travelling – LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 273)
14. Cosmic Funk - LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 278)
15. Newport News, Virginia – ESTHER MARROW (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 264)
16. Swiss Suite: Recorded Live At The Montreaux Jazz Festival - OLIVER NELSON (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 279)
17. Soul Is… - PRETTY PURDIE (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 282)
18. Head Start – BOB THIELE EMERGENCY (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 265)
19. Spirits Known And Unknown – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 262)
20. The Leon Thomas Album - LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 270)
21. Blues And The Soulful Truth – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPM 277)
22. The Creator: The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Masters – LEON THOMAS (Ace/BGP Records CDBGPD 257)

"Ugly Ego/Secret Omen" by CAMEO – October 1978 and July 1979 US Albums on Chocolate City Records featuring Larry Blackmon (February 2015 UK Cherry Red/Robinsongs Compilation - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD – Alan Wilson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I Get Excited And I Go Insane..."

A very cool and timely reissue lumping together two of Cameo's best Funk outings on Chocolate City Records from that halcyon decade - "Ugly Ego" from 1978 and its follow-up "Secret Omen" from 1979.

While "Ugly Ego" managed a 16 placing on the USA Billboard R&B charts - the hugely popular "Secret Omen" went into the Top 5 (peaked at No. 4) and spawned two top-ten hit singles in the shape of "I Just Want To Be" and "Sparkle". This superb sounding CD reissue by Robinsongs of England (part of the Cherry Red Group) does those two funky monsters a solid. Here are the codpiece details...

UK released February 2015 - "Ugly Ego/Secret Omen" by CAMEO on Robinsongs CDMRED648 (Barcode 5013929164833) gives fans 2LPs on 1CD and breaks down as follows (74:14 minutes):

1. I'll Be With You [Side 1]
2. Insane
3. Give Love A Chance
4. I Want You
5. Ugly Ego [Side 2]
6. Anything You Wanna Do
7. Friend To Me
8. Two Of Us
Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th album "Ugly Ego" - released October 1978 in the USA on Chocolate City CCLP 2006 and February 1979 in the UK on Casablanca CAL 2038

9. Energy
10. I Just Want To Be
11. Find My Way
12. Macho [Side 2]
13. The Rock
14. Sparkle
15. New York
Tracks 9 to 15 are their 5th album "Secret Omen" - released July 1979 in the USA on Chocolate City Records CCLP 2008 and October 1979 in the UK on Casablanca CAL 2058

Licensed from Universal - ALAN WILSON has done the remaster - and the audio is fantastic - full of power, presence and detail. LARRY BLACKMON (he of the codpiece) - the founder member of the group and principal songwriter - also produced both albums and the band's Funk Sound is dominated by his distinctive Cameo groove. The 8-page inlay is a fairly basic affair with two-page liner notes by Mojo's Lois Wilson, artwork for both LPs and track lists with reissue credits. Nothing to write home about but does the job nonetheless.

Proceedings open with the slappy bass and brass-driven funk of "I'll Be With You" and you're immediately hit with two things - the great groove and the remaster. You're also thinking that while Parliament, Funkadelic and The Ohio Players get all the Funk plaudits - Cameo somehow seem locked in the Pop Soul Eighties thing where they're forever associated with "Word Up" and not wicked anthemic Funk like "Insane". Proving he's a dab hand at lurving your loins as well as lubricating them - the ballad "Give Love A Chance" is excellent bedroom fodder while the Isley Brothers guitar of Eric Durham on "I Want You" ends Side One on a great hard groove. Another slick multi-vocal beat is "Anything You Wanna Do" - fab brass punches punctuate a wicked Bass and Guitar beat.

If "Ugly Ego" felt like a purist Funk outing - it's obvious from the crowd-pleasing opener "Energy" on "Secret Omen" that this LP was aimed at making the group a genuine chart presence. Stuff like "I Just Want To Be" with its weird vocal beginning and synth jabs is so commercial yet Funky. "Macho" and "Sparkle" - the other two big tunes on here - are the same - crowd-shouters and people-pleasers ("Sparkle" has a fabulous lurve groove). Album winner for me goes to "The Rock" where Cameo come over all Earth, Wind & Fire but in a good way.

A brilliant little reissue that makes two long-out-of-print albums available again on a quality CD pitched at mid-price. Soul, Funk and Disco lovers should dig in...

Other Robinsongs 2LPs-on-1CD releases include:

1. Step Into Your Life/Prime Time - ROY AYERS & WAYNE HENDERSON
2. Light Of Life/Injoy - BAR-KAYS
3. It's Just Begun/Phase Two - THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH
4. Fever/Electric Lady - CON-FUNK-SHUN
5. Wildflower/Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - HANK CRAWFORD
6. We All Have A Star/Inherit The Wind - WILTON FELDER (of The Crusaders)
7. Routes/Three Piece Suite - RAMSEY LEWIS
8. Love Is Where You Find It/Love For Love - THE WHISPERS
9. 'Nard/Funky Beat - BERNARD WRIGHT

"The Chess Collection" by SOLOMON BURKE - Including The US Albums "Music To Make Love By" (June 1975, October 1975 UK) and "Back To My Roots" (October 1976, no UK issue) on Chess Records (June 2006 UK Chess CD Compilation – 2LPs onto 1CD - Chess Original Remasters Series In A Card Digipak) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Music To Make Love By..."

Bit of an odd one. Solomon Burke is usually associated with his early 1960's Atlantic sides, where his guttural torch-song vocals are akin to Otis Redding at his expressive best - genuine, moving and heartfelt – and like Otis - Burke was considered then to be the real deal.

But this release concentrates on something entirely different to those glory days - two long-forgotten and little known albums Burke cut for Chess Records USA – "Music To Make Love By" in 1975 and "Back To My Roots" in 1976 (as well as 2 Bonus Tracks on top). Unfortunately it's easy to understand why they're forgotten when you hear some of the tracks - but more of that later. As the booklet doesn't exactly tell you what's what - let's get into the nitty gritty…

UK released 19 June 2006 - "The Chess Collection" by SOLOMON BURKE on Chess Original Remasters 983 229-5 (Barcode 602498322956) offers 2LPs and 1 Bonus Track Remastered onto 1 CD and Plays out as follows:

1. Music To Make Love By (Part 1)
2. Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
4. You And Your Baby Blues
5. All The Way
6. Thanks I Needed That
7. Everlasting Love
8. Midnight And You
9. Music To Make Love By (Part 2)

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Music To Make Love By" – released June 1975 in the USA on Chess ACH-60042 and October 1975 in the UK on Chess 9109 102. It peaked at No 52 on the US R&B charts (didn't chart UK).

10. Burning For Your Love
11. Night And Day
12. Everybody's Got To Cry Sometime
13. I'm Going Back To My Roots
14. Precious Flower
15. The Do Right Song
16. Life Has Its Ups And Downs
17. Over And Over (Loving And Hugging)
18. I'll Never Stop Loving You

Tracks 10 to 18 are the album "Back To My Roots" – released September 1976 in the USA on Chess ACH-19002 (no UK release).

19. I'm Leaving on That Late, Late Train - non-album B-side to the US-only 7" single "You & Your Baby Blues" released February 1975 on Chess 2159 (the A is on "Music To Make Love By")

20. Love's Passage - non-album B-side to the US-only 7" single "I'm Going Back To My Roots" released December 1976 on Chess 3003. The B is on stock copies only; the demo has a repeat of the A-side. The A is on "Back To My Roots".

The good news is that the sound quality is superb, remastered by GARY MOORE at Universal Studios – warm and clear – great work done with the tapes.

The bad news is the material. This is Solomon Burke re-inventing himself as a loverman like Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass and Barry White – and at times, the results are not just bad – they’re laughable. His covers of Ray Charles' classic "Come Rain Or Shine" and his disco take on Cole Porter standard "Night & Day" are both awful. It gets worse with the Barry White heavy-breathing that begins "You & Your Baby Blues" (his last chart entry in Feb 1975 on the USA R&B charts) with lyrics like "...you make it hard for me baby…" The same crap starts "All The Way" with breathy spoken statements like "...That was beautiful baby... God I wish I could love you like this all the time...24 hours a day…" Ye Gads.

It’s not all pseudo of course. "Thanks I Needed That" has great brass and rhythm similar to the Chi-Lites at their funky sexy best – very cool. Then there's the slinkiest track on the 1st album, "Midnight And You" which actually works – very Barry White as his grooviest.

Highlights on the 2nd album include the bluesy/harmonica driven "Everybody's Got To Cry Sometime", the AWB guitar funk of "Precious Flower" and the Rufus slow groove of "Over And Over (Hugging And Loving)".  And for fans there is a genuinely fantastic bonus in "I'm Leaving On That Late, Late Train" – a great soul song lost on the B-side of a USA-only 7" – its inclusion here is a genuine find.

So a mixed bag then - half dire, half good – but still worthy of your interest for those sporadic gems here and there. Licensed from Universal Spain - Elemental Music of the UK has reissued "Music To Make Love By" in a card repro gatefold sleeve with an inner in 2016 (probably using the same Gary Moore Remaster) – but frankly it's cheaper to get it here and with all that quality extra stuff too...

"Behind Closed Doors: Where Country Meets Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Tracks from 1965 to 1993 by Aaron Neville, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge, Ann Peebles, Tami Lynn, Esther Phillips, Bettye Swann, Tony Borders and more (June 2010 UK Ace Records/Kent Soul CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...My Love Keeps On Growing..."

A clever one. You wouldn't credit Soul Artists doing Country cover versions – but of course a good song (especially a moaning ballad) is a good song – and Soul Music variants will bring an even deeper groove/feel to it. So before the next teardrop falls – here are the backdoor details…

UK released June 2012 – "Behind Closed Doors: Where Country Meets Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records/Kent Soul CDKEND 375 (Barcode 029667237529) breaks downs as follows (76:58 minutes):

1. The Grand Tour – AARON NEVILLE [George Jones cover] (1993, from the CD album "The Grand Tour" on A&M 540 100-2)

2. He'll Have To Go – SOLOMON BURKE [Billy Brown and Jim Reeves covers] (1964, USA 7" single on Atlantic 2218, A)

3. Take Time To Know Her – PERCY SLEDGE [Steve Davis cover] (1968, USA 7" single on Atlantic 2490, A)

4. I Saw Her – ESTHER PHILLIPS [George Jones cover] (1965, USA 7" single on Atlantic 2304, A)

5. My Elusive Dreams – MOSES & JOSHUA DILLARD [Curly Putnam cover] (1967, USA 7" single on Mala 575 and October 1967 UK 7" on Stateside SS 2059, A-side)

6. Hangin' On – ANN PEEBLES [Gosdin Brothers cover] (1974, USA 7" single on Hi 2265, A)

7. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You – BOBBY SHEEN [Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys] (1965, USA 7" single on Dimension D-1043, A)

8. Wings Upon Your Horn – TAMI LYNN [Loretta Lynn cover] (from the 1972 LP "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" on Cotillion SD 9052 (USA) and Mojo 2916 007 (UK))

9. Before The Next Teardrop Falls – THE LIMELITES [Duane Dee cover] (1975, USA 7" single on Creative Funk 12008, A)

10. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry – AL GREEN [Hank Williams cover] (1973, from the "Call Me" LP on Hi Records XSHL 32077)

11. Life Turned Her That Way – JAMES CARR [Mel Tillis cover] (1968, USA 7" single on Goldwax 335, A)

12. He Called Me Baby – CANDI STATON [Harlan Howard/Patsy Cline cover] (1971, USA 7" single on Fame 1476, A)

13. The Chokin' Kind – Z.Z. HILL [Harlan Howard/Waylon Jennings cover] (1971, USA 7" single on Mankind 12007, A)

14. Yours, Love – JOE SIMON [Harlan Howard/Waylon Jennings song] (1970, USA 7" single on Sound Stage 7 2664, A)

15. Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad – COOKIE JACKSON [Tammy Wynette cover] (1967, USA 7" single on Okeh 4-7279, A)

16. Detroit City – ARTHUR ALEXANDER [Mel Tillis cover - "I Wanna Go Home"] (1965, USA 7" single on Dot 45-16737, A)

17. Gentle On My Mind – TONY BORDERS [John Hartford song/Glen Campbell cover] (September 1969 USA 7" single on Revue R 11054, B-side to "Polly Wolly")

18. Don't Touch Me – BETTYE SWANN [Garland Perry & Hank Cochran song – Jeannie Seeley cover] (January 1969 USA 7" single on Capitol 2382, A)

19. Set Me Free – CLARENCE CARTER [Curly Putnam cover] (1967, from his USA debut album "This Is Clarence Carter" on Atlantic SD 8192)

20. Behind Closed Doors – LITTLE MILTON [Kenny O'Dell song/Charlie Rich cover] (1974, USA 7" single on Stax STA-0210, A)

21. If You're Not Back In Love By Monday (Alternate Vocal) – MILLIE JACKSON [Merle Haggard cover] (first issued as a Bonus Track on the 2007 CD Reissue of "Feelin' Bitchy" (a 1977 album on Spring 6715) on Ace Records/Southbound CDSEWM 242)

22. Skip A Rope – JOE TEX [Henson Cargill cover] (1968, from the USA album "Soul Country" on Dial Records SD 8187)

23. She Even Woke Me Up To Saw Goodbye – BROOK BENTON [Mickey Newbury cover] (1971, from the USA album "Story Teller" on Cotillion SD 9050)

The 20-page booklet has amazingly detailed annotation by long-time Ace associate TONY ROUNCE – a man who’s liner notes have graced a huge number of quality Soul, Funk, Disco and Jazz Funk reissues. DUNCAN COWELL has handled all the remasters and done a typically bang-up job. The audio varies from period to period – but the 'feeling' is never compressed away – these songs breathe and many sound glorious.

"Behind Closed Doors..." opens with the relatively new – Aaron Neville doing a respectful version of "The Grand Tour" by George Jones (complete with pedal steel guitar and Eagles pacing). But things start to get more interesting when Solomon Burke does a Soul take on the classic third-man song "He'll Have To Go". Even better is Percy Sledge's "Take Time To Know Her" with its churchy organ and pleading 'mama says' vocals. Next is a rare Esther Phillips outing – sparse and slow – she puts in a great vocal on a 'picture of a fool' song. Moses and Joshua Dillard do their best Sam & Dave duet with Curly Putnam's "My Elusive Dreams" – a welcome upbeat dancer.

John Hartford's gorgeous and lilting love song "Gentle On My Mind" (made famous by Glen Campbell) gets tapped by Tony Borders – a 1969 US 45 you don’t see nor hear too often on Revue Records. Soul Siren and all-round vocal class act Bettye Swann brings her golden throat to a Hank Cochran tune Jeannie Seeley first aired - "Don’t Touch Me" – a cut from Bettye’s "The New Soul View!" album issued as a 45 in January 1969.  Another very tasty pairing and brilliant compilation choices... 

I raved about the Ann Peebles take on "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" on Hi Records – totally transforming the Gosdin Brothers classic into something Al Green soulful (lyrics above) – while the amazing vocals of James Carr does the same with "Life Turned Her That Way" by Mel "Don't Be Quick To Condemn Her" Tillis. Tempo picks up with "The Chokin' Kind" as Z.Z. Hill makes Waylon Jennings sound like a pleased-with-himself Bobby Womack. Joe Tex cleverly picks "Skip A Rope" about children playing - but it has marital breakdown lyrics (Mum and Dad fighting at night) and racial overtones about "...hate your neighbour for the colour of his skin..." Millie Jackson Alternate Vocal on "If You're Not Back In Love By Monday" is another heartache highlight.

"Behind Closed Doors" is a very clever Kent-Soul CD compilation from a reissue label (Ace Records) that keeps spotting connections we either missed or need to be woken up to. Woke me up for sure... 

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60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

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"Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics From 1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Vol. 15 of 15 in a Yearly Series Covering 1960 to 1975 (February 2014 GERMAN Bear Family CD Compilation - Volume 15 of 15 In a Yearly Series Covering 1960 To 1975 – Wolfgang Manns Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Go Sister Go…"

I reviewed the preceding 10 volumes in this incredible series from 1961 to 1970 (probably the best Bear has ever done) and loved them to distraction. 

Jurgen Crasser was the remaster engineer for those. This time around (1971 to 1975) the sound hero on all five volumes bears the unlikely moniker of WOLFGANG MANNS. And I swear I may have to get "Wolfgang Is My Main Mann!" tattooed on my frumpy Irish buttocks - because these expertly crafted CD compilations are sonically sensational in every way. They're going to blow the minds of Seventies Soul fans everywhere. Here's the glitterball details for "1975"...

GERMANY/EUROPE/UK released Friday 14 February 2014 (11 Feb 2014 in the USA) - "Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics From 1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 16885 AS (Barcode 5397102168857) is a CD-only compilation that breaks down as follows (86:10 minutes, all 45-Single A-sides except Track 17):

1. Lady Marmalade - LABELLE (November 1974 US 45 on Epic 8-50048)
2. Supernatural Thing, Part 1 - BEN E. KING (January 1975 US 45 on Atlantic 45-3241)
3. Walking In Rhythm - THE BLACKBYRDS (January 1975 US 45 on Fantasy F-736)
4. Love Won't Let Me Wait - MAJOR HARRIS (February 1975 US 45 on Atlantic 45-3248)
5. Rockin' Chair - GWEN McCRAE (March 1975 US 45 on Cat Records CAT 1996)
6. Shining Star - EARTH, WIND and FIRE (January 1975 US 45 on Columbia 3-10090)
7. Shackin' Up - BARBARA MASON (March 1975 US 45 on Buddah BDA-459-N)
8. Give The People What They Want - THE O’JAYS (April 1975 US 45 on Philadelphia International ZS8 3565)
9. The Hustle - VAN McCOY AND THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY (April 1975 US 45 on Avco AV-4653)
10. Keep The Home Fires Burnin' - LATIMORE (March 1975 US 45 on Glades 1726)
11. Slippery When Wet - THE COMMODORES (April 1975 US 45 on Motown M 1338F)
12. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - NATALIE COLE (June 1975 US 45 on Capitol 4109)
13. Fight The Power, Part 1 - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (May 1975 US 45 on T-Neck ZS8 2256)
14. How Long (Betcha' Got A Chick On The Side) - THE POINTER SISTERS (July 1975 US 45 on Blue Thumb BTA-265)
15. Do It Any Way You Wanna - PEOPLE’S CHOICE (June 1975 US 45 on (The Sound Of Philadelphia) TSOP ZS8 4769)
16. It Only Takes A Minute - TAVARES (July 1975 US 45 on Capitol 4111) 
17. Loving Arms - MILLIE JACKSON (September 1975 US 45 on Spring SPR 161, B-side of "Leftovers")
18. Full Of Fire - AL GREEN (October 1975 US 45 on Hi Records 5N 2300)
19. Love Rollercoaster - OHIO PLAYERS (November 1975 US 45 on Mercury 73734, This A-side is a Single Edit At 2:59 minutes, the "Honey" LP Version is 4:52 minutes)
20. Love Machine (Part 1) - THE MIRACLES (September 1975 US 45 on Tamla T 54262F) 
21. Sweet Thing - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (December 1975 US 45 on ABC Records ABC-12149)
22. Hold Back The Night - THE TRAMMPS (December 1975 US 45 on Buddah BDA-507 – September 1975 UK 45 on Buddah BDS 437)
23. Turning Point - TYRONE DAVIS (November 1975 US 45 on Dakar DK 4550)
24. Boogie Fever - SYLVERS (November 1975 US 45 on Capitol 4179)

The three-way fold-out card digipak of the preceding 10 volumes has been kept as has the live-on-stage Jackie Wilson photo on the spine that is now extended (when you line all 15 spines they make one photograph). This "1975" set features THE POINTER SISTERS on the front cover while the stock 7" of "The Hustle" by VAN McCOY graces the inside flap with a further photo of the lady threesome LABELLE in wild concert garb on the center lip. The detachable booklet is properly beautiful - a 76 oversized-pages wad of deep liner notes by world-renowned R 'n' B and Soul expert BILL DALH with Discography info by DAVE "Daddy Cool" BOOTH. There are black and white/colour publicity pictures of the artists (hairy chests, large-brim white hats and patch-inlaid elephant flares ahoy), the single labels/album covers and adverts from the US music press. Quality all the way...

As you can see from the catalogue numbers provided above all tracks are US 7" singles and proceedings open in stunning form with Labelle's irrepressible "Lady Marmalade". The crystal clear sound quality continues with a double slinky - "Supernatural Thing" and "Walking In Rhythm" - but slows down into the bedroom huffing of Major Harris being a naughty boy in "Love Won't Let Me Wait". Things pick up considerably with Gwen McCrae's infectiously brilliant "Rockin' Chair" - a tune I've loved for decades - and at last is lifted out of its former muddiness and given a brand new coat of aural paint. 

Genius choices come in three forms - the talking nosey-neighbors "Shackin' Up" by Barbara Mason while Latimore's "Keep The Home Fires Burnin'" is superlative funk. Equally cool in our trio is the wah-wah guitars and chunky bass of "How Long..." by The Pointer Sisters combining with some great string arrangements to deliver a fabulous builder. Even Van McCoy's over-played "The Hustle" sounds transformed as does the happy Natalie Cole movie-favorite "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)". The bopping "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by People's Choice (written by Leon Huff) contrasts nicely with the barroom Tom Waits impassioned moan of Millie Jackson's "Loving Arms" in beautiful sound quality. And how good is to hear Al Green sound full on in your speakers instead of the clamped-down production values we've been used to (his "Full Of Fire" a forgotten nugget). The Miracles' "Love Machine" is bound to bring out the Afro Hairdo in you and a need to chuck some talcum powder on the kitchen floor while I'd forgotten just how sensual and beautiful "Sweet Thing" by Rufus and Chaka Khan is - no wonder it hit R&B Number 1 (both stunning transfers). Check out the YouTube footage of Prince introducing Chaka at a live venue where she and his band tear into "Sweet Thing" - what a wow. 1975 goes out with three popular dancers - the fantastically upbeat "Hold Back The Night" by The Trammps (covered by so many) and the "I used to stay out all night long..." of "Turning Point" by Tyrone Davis on Dakar (sounding lovely) with the future of Disco finishing it all off - "Boogie Fever" by The Sylvers. 

I had honestly thought that this Volume from 1975 would be the weakest - but if anything it's as brilliant as the 1971 set - a superlative mix of the familiar and lesser-heard - all properly handled by people who care about sound quality. And check out that eye-watering total playing time - 86:10 minutes – indeed a Good God Y'all!

These CDs have been a long time coming - but man have they been worth the wait. I know long-term Soul fans will look at the track list and price and perhaps baulk at duplicity and cost - DON'T. You've not heard these classics and undergrounds until now. And if you've any joy for Seventies Soul - then you need to have this volume and the other four compilations in your life - because GLORIOUS is the word that comes to mind. 

"Sweet Soul Music 1971 to 1975" are already my Soul/Funk reissues of the year for 2014 and I’m certain, a shoe-in for Grammy awards. Fabulous stuff... 

PS: see separate reviews for all Volumes from 1960 to 1974 in Bear Family's "Sweet Soul Music..." CD Series...

"Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics From 1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Vol. 14 of 15 In a Yearly Series Covering 1960 to 1975 – Featuring Eddie Kendricks, Bobby Womack, Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown, The Jackson 5, The Stylistics, Latimore, The Tymes, Shirley Brown, Carl Carlton, Yvonne Fair, The Hues Corporation, B.T. Express and more (February 2014 GERMAN Bear Family CD Compilation – Wolfgang Manns Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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I reviewed the preceding 10 volumes in this incredible series from 1961 to 1970 (probably the best Bear Family of Germany has ever done) and loved them to distraction. Jurgen Crasser was the remaster engineer for those. 

This time around (1971 to 1975) the sound hero on all five volumes bears the unlikely moniker of WOLFGANG MANNS. And I swear I may have to get "Wolfgang Is My Main Mann!" tattooed on my frumpy Irish derriere - because these expertly crafted CD compilations are sonically sensational in every way. They're going to blow the minds of Seventies Soul fans everywhere. Here's the butt-bumping details for "1974"...

GERMANY and UK released Friday 14 February 2014 (11 Feb 2014 in the USA) - "Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics From 1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 16884 AS (Barcode 5397102168840) is a CD-only compilation that breaks down as follows - US 45-Single Catalogue numbers provided (82:32 minutes):

1. Boogie Down - EDDIE KENDRICKS (Tamla T 54243F)

2. Lookin' For A Love - BOBBY WOMACK (United Artists UA-XW375-W)

3. Mighty Mighty - EARTH, WIND and FIRE (Columbia 4-46007)

4. You Make Me Feel Brand New - THE STYLISTICS (Avco AV-4634)

5. Be Thankful For What You’ve Got - WILLIAM DeVAUGHN (Roxbury BRBO-0236)

6. The Payback, Part 1 - JAMES BROWN (Polydor PD 14223)

7. Dancing Machine - THE JACKSON 5 (Motown M 1286F)

8. Sideshow - BLUE MAGIC (Atco 45-6961) 

9. Rock Your Baby - GEORGE McCRAE (T.K. Records 1004)

10. Hollywood Swinging - KOOL and THE GANG (De-Lite DEP 561) 

11. Rock The Boat - THE HUES CORPORATION (RCA Victor APBO 0232)

12. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - YVONNE FAIR (Motown M 1306F)

13. Hang On In There Baby - JOHNNY BRISTOL (MGM M14715)

14. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (7" Single Edit) - B.T. EXPRESS (Scepter SCE 12395) 

15. Let's Straighten It Out - LATIMORE (Glades 1722)

16. When Will I See You Again - THE THREE DEGREES (Philadelphia International ZS7 3550)

17. Everlasting Love - CARL CARLTON (Back Beat BB-630)

18. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (Truth TRA-3206)

19. I Wouldn't Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me) - BOBBY BLAND (ABC Dunhill D-15015)

20. You Got The Love - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (ABC Records ABC-12032)

21. You Little Trustmaker - THE TYMES (RCA Victor PB-10022)

22. As Long As He Takes Care Of Home - CANDI STATON (Warner Brothers WBS 8038)

23. Fire - OHIO PLAYERS (Mercury 73643)

The three-way fold-out card digipak of the preceding 10 volumes has been kept as has the live-on-stage Jackie Wilson photo on the spine that is now extended (when you line all 15 spines they make one photograph). This "1974" set features EARTH, WIND and FIRE on the front cover while the stock 7" of "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by THE STYLISTICS graces the inside flap with a further photo of a pensive-looking YVONNE FAIR on the center lip. The detachable booklet is properly beautiful - a 76 oversized-pages wad of deep liner notes by world-renowned R 'n' B and Soul expert BILL DALH with Discography info by DAVE "Daddy Cool" BOOTH. There's black and white/colour publicity pictures of the artists (more afro hairdos than you can shake a stick at), reproductions of the single labels and album covers in colour and adverts from the US music press. Quality all the way...

As you can see from the catalogue numbers provided above all tracks are US 7" singles and like "1971" it opens with a cleverly chosen triple-whammy of crystal clear sound quality - the hissy but ballsy "Boogie Down" by Eddie Kendricks followed by a truly huge remaster of Bobby Womack's chipper "Lookin' For A Love" and a blasting Earth, Wind and Fire laying down a template that would serve them well for years to come. The gooey but lovely "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by The Stylistics sounds amazing - full of extraordinary presence (the kind of Soul your sister liked). It's followed by a real gem - William De Vaughn's car-crawling genius of a song "Be Thankful For What You've Got" - the sound quality on this one track alone is worth the price of admission (lyrics from it title this review). We're back to serious funk with Part 1 of "The Payback" by James Brown which sounds ludicrously brilliant and is guaranteed to make stone dead hair follicles grow again.  

A brave and clever choice is the unexpected "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5 where they try to leave the teenybopper behind and tap into the funk of the time and just about succeed. The pretty "...hurry hurry…step right up…" talking song "Sideshow" by Blue Magic sounds lush and full (Rhino did a lovely reissue of the album in 2007 - see separate review) - while the ogre of Disco is being ushered in by a quad of huge hits - "Rock Your Baby", "When Will I See You Again", "Rock The Boat" and "Hang On In There Baby". I hate them all personally but for those who want them in top sound quality - then look no further.   

Far tastier is the genius choice of Yvonne Fair's utterly brilliant "Funky Music..." - an irresistible chunk of dancing dynamite liable to make Granny boogie that hip-replacement. Falling into the same territory is the "...whatever it is..." bump and grind of "Do It..." by B.T. Express. And another nugget is the slow groove of Benny Latimore’s hypnotic piano on "Let's Straighten It Out" - with its "...tossin' and turnin' in your sleep..." lyrics - gorgeous stuff. The audio gurus will flip for the sheer sonic improvement contained in Bear’s remaster of Carl Carlton's jubilant "Everlasting Love". And a really great double funk act is Bobby Bland and Chaka Khan with Rufus - both sounding fantastic. I even have to admit to a soft spot for the dooby-dooby-dooby Pop/Soul of "You Little Trustmaker" by The Tymes. 

Niggles - like "1972" there's those irritating exclusions (probably due to licensing rights). Where's the crossover hit "Pick Up The Pieces" by Average White Band, maybe a bit of Lou Bond, Willie Hutch, Chairmen Of The Board,  Ashford & Simpson, The Commodores, Billy Paul? And I'd admit that as I'm paying a wad for this CD, at least 5 of the Disco-orientated tracks make me cringe even now. But I would have to respect the fact that the compilers had to touch all bases (most are US R&B Number 1 hits so I suppose their choices were inevitable). But yet again there's that nice mixture of the common and the obscure (all sounding as pert as a grunting gymnast in the Russian Winter Olympics). I also had no problems with playback despite the jam-packed value-for-money playing time of 83 minutes. 

These sets have been a long time coming - but man have they been worth the wait. I know long-term Soul fans will look at the track list and price and perhaps baulk at duplicity and cost - DON’T. You've not heard these classics until now. And if you've any joy for Seventies Soul - then you need to have this volume and the other four compilations in your life - because GLORIOUS is the word that comes to mind. These are already my reissues of the year for 2014...

PS: see separate reviews for all Fifteen Volumes...

"Mythical Kings And Iguanas/Reflections In A Mud Puddle" by DORY PREVIN – Second and Third Solo US Albums from March 1971 and December on Mediarts and United Artists – February and June 1972 UK LPs both on United Artists (April 1998 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 2LPs Remastered onto 1 CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Bent And Battered Wings…"

When I worked the counters at Reckless Records in Soho, London and their Islington branch – American ladies like Laura Nyro and Dory Previn divided punters – artists with such specific voices and visions that you either loved it or left. Studious students and University nerds would buy them after months of 50p reductions. Mostly, their lemon-haired characters and acidic quips were an acquired taste few seemed to want to acquire. Cut to five and half decades later and conservative tastes have changed and aficionados embrace both.

This 1998 CD compilation brings together Previn's second and third solo studio albums (and amongst her most popular) from March and December 1971 in the USA on Mediarts and United Artists (February and June 1972 in the UK on United Artists) onto one warm-sounding CD. Time to start turning the roulette wheel… Let's get to the details…

UK released April 1998 - "Mythical Kings And Iguanas/Reflections In A Mud Puddle - Taps Tremors And Time Steps" by DORY PREVIN on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD383 (Barcode 5017261203830) is a Compilation that Remasters her Second and Third Solo Studios Albums onto 1CD and plays out as follows (68:03 minutes):

1. Mythical Kings And Iguanas [Side 1]
2. Yada Yada La Scala
3. Lady With The Braid
4. Her Mother's Daughter
5. Angels And Devils The Following Day
6. Mary C. Brown And The Hollywood Sign [Side 2]
7. Lemon Haired Ladies
8. Stone For Bessie Smith
9. The Game
10.Going Home (Mythical Kings And Iguanas)
Tracks 1 to 10 are her second solo studio album "Mythical Kings And Iguanas" – released March 1971 in the US on Mediarts 41-10 and February 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29186. Produced by Nicolas K. Venet – Musicians included Brain Davies and Clark Maffit on Acoustic Guitars, Peter Jameson on Slide Guitar, Electric Guitars by David Cohen, Hamilton Wesley Watt, Jr., and Louie Shelton, Lawrence Knetchtel (of Bread) with Tom Keene on Keyboards with Joe Osborn on Bass and Ron Tutt on Drums. Backing Vocals featured Abbey Hall Singers, Denny Brooks, B.G. Davies, Floyd Maffitt, Judy Mayhan, Michael McGinnis, Peter Morse and West Venet. The LP did not chart in either country

Side 1 Reflections In A Mud Puddle
11. Doppelganger
12. The New Enzyme Detergent Demise Of Ali MacGraw
13. The Talkative Woman And The Two Star General
14. The Altruist And The Needy Case
15. Play It Again, Sam

Side 2 Taps Tremors And Time Steps (One Last Dance For My Father)
16. The Earthquake In Los Angeles (February, 1971)
17. The Final Flight Of The Hindenburg (May, 1937)
18. I Dance And Dance And Smile (After An Initial Deep Split The Tremors Can Go On Indefinitely – L.A. Times)
19. The Air Crash In New Jersey
20. Aftershock
Tracks 11 to 20 are from her third studio LP "Reflections In A Mud Puddle – Taps Tremors And Time Steps" – release December 1971 in the USA on United Artists UAS 5533 and June 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29346. Keyboards by Thomas Keene, Mike Lang and Perry Botkin, Jr. with Horns by Steve Douglas, Gene Cipriano, Ted and Richard Nash and Anthony Terran. Guitars by William Keane, Louie Shelton (and Banjo), David Cohen, Dennis Budimir, Thomas Tedisco and Don Peake. Bass by Joe Osbourne, Lyle Ritz and Carol Kaye.

These early BGO compilations did not come with the now obligatory outer card slipcase but the 16-page booklet with PAUL PELLITIER (of Record Information Services) liner notes offers a four-page introduction to Previn and her female Randy Newman creations. The rest of the pages have the copious amounts of lyrics that accompanied her gatefold sleeves and finally the album credits. No name is offered for Mastering but this Liberty/Capitol Records license is Remastered. The opening track "Mythical Kings And Iguanas" was always a slightly wobbly listen, a distorted kind of keyboard sound and here it is no different only maybe controlled a little better. But apart from that tape-inherent starter, the rest of the almost baroque sounding lyric-fests sound amazingly clear - "Her Mother’s Daughter". The synths of "Angels And Devils…" are sweet but not overly trebled. A good job done. I'd say the second album is better audio-wise than the first, but it was a more polished LP production back in the day anyway. To the tunes...

I would be the first to admit that I found all her albums hard work. The words are brilliant for sure but the tunes lacked anything that felt like a real melody – something to move you. But then you hear her remember the lover who was gentle and the one who made love on the floor – or the smiling Hollywood sign constantly saying cheese to the poor, the tired, the pimps and the flunkies. You have Mary C. Brown jumping off the letter H because Tinseltown had not made her a star – Mary Cecilia making the grade via an Obituaries mention. Gorgeous acoustic transfer for "Lemon Haired Ladies" – Previn not expecting labels like lover or wife but hoping his one a.m. phone-calls will amount to more than her door constantly ajar after his visits to elderly clients. Time to get Bluesy and a little snide - "Stone For Bessie Smith" regaling a tale of unpaid mortuary bills, hero worship and schoolgirls who came across as Conservative when they talked but dressed like something else entirely. The roulette wheel goes round but always stops short in "The Game" – gilded walls, neon lights and antique mirrors in an honest gambling den. Her second album ends with a building crescendo return to "Mythical Kings And Iguanas" – this time stretching to five-minutes of voices – layer after layer – probably the most effective song on the LP. On to the next platter...

"Doppelganger" has our creep marching in Alabama's Montgormery Square shouting at students, trading heroin for pot, whispering obscenities on subways - but wait - that handwriting on her stoned apartment wall looks strangely familiar. Previn's "Reflections In A Mud Puddle" LP was divided into a Side 2 and Side B set of songs. You could only describe Dory's acidic jab at Ryan O'Neal and Ali Mac Graw in "Love Story" (the huge soppy movie of the day complete with an Andy Williams schlock theme song) as funny - while she lacerates the hypocrite in "The Altruist And The Needy Case" - a right on 'causes' fool who can't hold down a relationship (unselfish are his deeds). Bluesy Jazz saunters in with the Side 1 closer "Play It Again, Sam" - nice production - shuffling sticks, piano, Bass plucks - back when hearts were brave and love was true.

Side 2 gives over to suite of tunes revolving around parental influences. Daddy issues, ballrooms on ships, unexpected earthquakes and flaming airships on air all filter through the brilliantly written segued-double of "The Earthquake In Los Angeles (February, 1971)" and "The Final Flight Of The Hindenburg (May, 1937)" . There is sadness in "I Dance I Dance And I Smile..." where she wishes her Dad needed her more than young Dory needed him (some sign of approval). It comes to an end with broken promises drowning out Saxophones as the Side ragtimes out. Some love it (not me) but I know that others find her open-wound words too moving to even express.

In 1998, Beat Goes On Records also Reissued and Remastered Dory Previn's July 1973 2LP set "Live At Carnegie Hall" onto 1 CD (Beat Goes On BGOCD374 - Barcode 5017261203748) and another 2LPs-onto-1CD compilation that paired "Mary C. Brown And The Hollywood Sign" from Nov 1972 with her July 1970 US debut "On My Way To Where" (BGOCD381 - Barcode 5017261203816). 

Dory Previn was always a 'difficult' listen for many - but BGO are to be praised for transferring her albums with such audio taste - a nice job done...

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