"Soul Master" by EDWIN STARR – June 1968 US Debut Album on Gordy Records in Stereo, January 1969 UK on Tamla Motown in Stereo (September 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Kevin Reeves and Wayne A. Dickson Remasters - Seventeen Bonus Tracks - 45-Single Sides from 1966 to 1968) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...My Weakness Is You..."

I've been a fan of England's BBR (Big Break Records) as a quality reissue label for years now - but they've outdone themselves on this 29-track (Northern Soul) beauty. A rare 1968 Motown album (on Gordy Records) supplemented by a whopping 17 Bonus Tracks – 16 Mono Single Mixes of Rare US 45s on the Ric-Tic Label released around the album and an "Alternate Mix" of "Agent Double-O-Soul" as an added extra. And the whole shebang runs to a generous 78 minutes. Here are the masterful details...

UK released September 2014 (October 2014 in the USA) – "Soul Master: Expanded Edition" by EDWIN STARR on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0300 (Barcode 5013929060036) pans out as follows (77:44 minutes): 

1. Agent Double-O-Soul 
2. I Am The Man For You Baby 
3. Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)
4. Oh How Happy
5. Way Over There
6. My Weakness Is You 
7. Headline News 
8. Soul Master 
9. I Want My Baby Back
10. Love Is My Destination 
11. I Am Your Man 
12. Time Is Passin' By 
Tracks 1 to 12 are the STEREO version of Edwin Starr's debut album "Soul Master" - released June 1968 in the USA on Gordy GS-931 and January 1969 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11094

BONUS TRACKS: 
13. Agent Double-O-Soul (Alternate Mix)
14. Back Street (Single Version) – 1966 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-107, A
15. Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.) (Single Version) - 1966 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-109, A
16. I Have Faith In You (Single Version) - 1966 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-109, B
17. Headline News (Single Version) – 1966 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-114, A
18. Harlem (Single Version) – 1966 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-114, B
19. It's My Turn Now - 1967 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-118, A
20. Girls Are Getting Prettier (Single Version) - 1967 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-118, B
21. You're My Mellow - 1967 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-120, A
22. My Kind OF Woman (Single Version) - 1967 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-120, B
23. I Want My Baby Back (Single Version) – October 1967 US 7" Single, Gordy G 7066, A
24. Gonna Keep On Tryin' 'Til I Win Your Love (Single Version) - October 1967 US 7" Single, Gordy G 7066, B
25. I Am The Man For You Baby (Single Version) – March 1968 USA 7” Single, Gordy G 7071, A
26. My Weakness Is You (Single Version) - March 1968 US 7" Single, Gordy G 7071, B
27. Way Over There (Single Version) – October 1968 US 7" Single, Gordy G 7078, A
28. Back Street (Instrumental Version) - 1966 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-107, B
29. Agent Double-O-Soul (Instrumental Version) – 1965 US 7" Single, Ric-Tic RT-103, B

With it's rounded jewel case, 12-page booklet with quality photos and liner notes by Justin Cober-Lake - the remaster by both KEVIN REEVES (added to by BBR's own Wayne A. Dickson) is fabulous - on both the STEREO and MONO cuts. These tracks motor and thrill - great transfer work.

It's not his "War" period by a long shot - "Soul Master" is more uptempo - Northern Soul for dancers like the irrepressibly lovely "My Weakness Is You" and "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)". The album opens with the so Motown “Agent Double-O Soul” where Starr tells us that with his turned up shirt and reputation with the dancefloor – he's known as... Dancers keep coming at you – "I Am The Man For You Baby", "Oh How Happy" and "Headline News" – the irrepressible Motown machine churning out winner after winner. 

My fave is the title track "Soul Master" featuring a slinky bass backing and clever lyrics – almost got that "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" groove – it creeps into your blood and makes you want to shake talcum powder on the kitchen lino and do something your hips will regret. 

The singles offer a real insight into his 1965 and 1966 career on Ric-Tic Records – building on a solid catalogue of uptempo hits. Not everything is here - the US 45 of "Way Over There" had "If My Heart Could Tell The Story" as its B-side – that track's on the "25 Miles" album from 1969. 

1968's album "Soul Master" deserved a gorgeous CD reissue such as this, and if you're a fan - don't hesitate for a second. And should you feel inclined to punish that debit card - check out the Big Break Records CD of his social-consciousness album "Involved" – equally stunning stuff...

"Original Album Classics" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – Featuring US Stereo Albums of "A Whole New Thing" (October 1967 Debut), "Dance To The Music" and "Life" (April and Nov 1968 - "Life" as "M'Lady" in the UK January 1969), "Stand!" (April 1969), "There's A Riot Goin' On" (November 1971) and All With Bonus Tracks (August 2013 EUROPE Epic/Legacy 5CD Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves - All Discs with 2007 Remasters and Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Family Affair…"

First appearing in 2010 in the USA as part of Sony's 'Original Album Classics' series of 5CD mini box sets (Cata No. 8869770802) – this 2013 repackaged version is out of Europe and uses different (some would say prettier) artwork and has a new catalogue number (Epic/Legacy 88883743022). 

Although you get a flimsy capacity wallet card slipcase (as opposed to the hard card of the original American issues) - the best news is that you also get the 2007 BOB IRWIN/VIC ANESINI CD remasters – with all five of the albums retaining their expanded bonus tracks. In short there's a whole lot of historical Soul and Funk on here for not a lot of wedge (1967 to 1971). Here are the Luv N' Haight details…

EUROPE-released August 2013 – "Original Album Classics" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE on Epic/Legacy 88883743022 (Barcode 888837430227) is a 5CD Capacity Wallet with Five Mini LP repro Artwork Singular Card Sleeves, 2007 Remasters and all with Bonus Tracks. This set has different front-cover artwork to its US equivalent (same tracks) and it breaks down as follows: 

Disc 1 (56:36 minutes):

1. Underdog [Side 1]

2. If This Room Could Talk 

3. Run, Run, Run

4. Turn Me Loose

5. Let Me Hear It From You 

6. Advice

7. I Cannot Make It [Side 2]

8. Trip To Your Heart 

9. I Hate To Love Her

10. Bad Risk

11. That Kind Of Person

12. Dog

Tracks 1 to 12 are their Debut Album "A Whole New Thing" – released October 1967 in the USA on Epic LN 24324 (Mono) and BN 26324 (Stereo) – the Stereo mix is used. There was no UK issue of this album. 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Underdog (Single Version, Mono) – 1967, USA 7" on Epic 10229, B-side to "Higher"

14. Let Me Hear It From You (Single Version, Mono) – 1967, USA 7" on Epic 10256, non-album B-side to "Dance To The Music"

15. Only One Way Out Of This Mess 

16. What Would I Do

17. You Better Help Yourself (Instrumental)

Track 16 is previously unreleased and first appeared on the 1997 Legacy remaster of the "A Whole New Thing" album. Tracks 13, 14, 15 and 17 are Previously Unreleased also and first appeared on the 2007 Legacy Expanded CD remaster of the album

Disc 2 (58:18 minutes):

1. Dance To The Music

2. Higher 

3. I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real)

4. Dance To The Medley: Music Is Alive/Dance In/Music Lover

5. Ride The Rhythm [Side 2]

6. Color Me True

7. Are You Ready

8. Don't Burn Baby 

9. Never Will I Fall In Love Again 

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 2nd album "Dance To The Music" – released April 1968 in the USA on Epic LN 24371 (Mono) and BN 26371 (Stereo) – the Stereo mix is used. It was issued September 1968 in the UK on Direction 8-63412

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Dance To The Music (Single Version, Mono) 

11. Higher (Single Version, Mono)

12. Soul Clappin' 

13. We Love All

14. I Can't Turn You Loose

15. Never Do Your Woman Wrong (Instrumental)

Tracks 11 and 13 to 15 Previously Unreleased - first appeared 2007 on the Legacy Expanded CD remaster of "Dance To The Music". Track 12 is previously unreleased and first appeared on the 1997 Legacy CD of the album. 

Disc 3 (43:38 minutes):
1. Dynamite!

2. Chicken

3. Plastic Jam 

4. Fun

5. Into My Own Thing

6. Harmony

7. Life [Side 2]

8. Love City 

9. I'm An Animal

10. M'lady

11. Jane Is A Groupee 

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 3rd album "Life" – released November 1968 in the USA on Epic BN 26397 (Stereo only) and January 1969 in the UK as "M'lady" on Direction 8-63461

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Dynamite! (Single Version, Mono) 

13. Seven More Days

14. Pressure 

15. Sorrow (Instrumental)

Tracks 12 to 15 are Previously Unreleased on CD - first appeared 2007 on the Legacy Expanded CD remaster of "Life"

Disc 4 (58:26 minutes):

1. Stand!

2. Don’t Call Me N*****, Whitey

3. I Want To Take You Higher

4. Somebody's Watching You 

5. Sing A Simple Song 

6. Everyday People [Side 2]

7. Sex Machine 

8. You Can Make It If You Try 

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th album "Stand!" – released April 1969 in the USA on Epic BN 26456 (Stereo only) and July 1969 in the UK on Direction 8-63655. 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Stand! (Single Version, Mono)

10. I Want To Take You Higher (Single Version, Mono)

11. You Can Make It With You (Single Version, Mono)

12. Soul Clappin’ II

13. My Brain (Zig-Zag) (Instrumental)

Tracks 12 and 13 are Previously Unreleased and all tracks first appeared on the 2007 Legacy expanded CD Remaster of "Stand!"

Disc 5 (65:32 minutes):

1. Luv N' Haight 

2. Just Like A Baby 

3. Poet

4. Family Affair

5. Africa Talks To You ("The Asphalt Jungle")

6. There's A Riot Goin' On 

7. Brave & Strong [Side 2]

8. (You Caught Me) Smilin’ 

9. Time

10. Spaced Cowboy

11. Runnin' Away 

12. Thank You For Talkin' To Me, Africa 

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 5th album "There's A Riot Goin' On" – released November 1971 in the USA on Epic KC 30986 and January 1972 in the UK on Epic S EPC 64613).

Although the title is famously listed as "There's A Riot Goin' On" at the end of Side 1 on the original vinyl album – the song is in fact not there (no seconds – no playing time). In order to acknowledge its presence however - the CD reissue gives it a playing time of 4 seconds of silence (hence the confusion with people feeling it's a mastering mistake/track missing – it's not)

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Runnin' Away (Single Version)

14. My Gorilla Is My Butler (Instrumental)

15. Do You Know What? (Instrumental)

16. That's Pretty Clean (Instrumental)  

The carp repro sleeves are lovely to look at for the first three upbeat Soul albums - but with "Stand!" having a virtually blank rear and "There's A Riot Goin' On" missing its gatefold (with all the recording info on the inner) – there's nothing to get your teeth into reading wise. And as fans will know – there have been almost entire books devoted to the recording, release of and posthumous importance of the acidic and incoherently trippy "There's A Riot Goin' On" LP (a US R&B Number 1) alone. This is one of those times in this value-for-money series where you wish a half-decent booklet accompanied the release – because there's much to say (and learn). 

The 2007 VIC ANESINI Stereo remasters are thankfully used and are typically superb especially on the first three albums. "Underdog" and "Let Me Hear It From You" have amazing clarity – both the vocals and brass. The hard guitar opening of "Dynamite!" is incredible as are the drums and fairground piano on "Into My Thing". But perhaps best soundwise is the near fourteen-minute Side 2 Funk workout on "Stand!" – "Sex Machine". It has moments of hiss for sure but that warbling vocal, sustained organ note, shuffling rhythm section and guitar soloing all the way to the end – are all clear and reporting for duty. Even on the notorious overdubbed tape mess that is 1971's "Riot" where Sly went over things so many times that to this day there is 'muddiness' to the whole recording that cannot be removed (and some would say cannot be improved upon either) – even that is audibly improved (to a degree). That blurred sound to the brass work on "Runnin' Away" is a good example and the mumbling druggy crap that he spouts in "Spaced Cowboy" is almost coherent (almost). But then you get magnificence like the nine-minute funk of "Africa Talks To You…" with its drum/keyboard/vocal layers that amble but yet somehow work. The CD audio is excellent compared to my battered British vinyl original where turning it up back in the day only elicited walls of hiss. 

The mega singles like "Dance To The Music", "I Want To Take You Higher", "Family Affair" and the joyous "Everyday People" all sound glorious – the Mono versions of "Let Me Hear It From You" and "You Can Make It If You Try" are impressively punchy too. But a quick look down the track lists will show some obvious holes - huge hits like "Hot Fun In The Summertime" and especially "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" aren't here (which is a damn shame). But at this price you can't have everything. 

A pioneer, a hero, a drugged-up nutjob – Sly Stone was all of these and more. Mostly though you're left impressed and wanting more…and that's a complaint I'll take any day of the week…

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"Reaching Out: Chess Records At Fame Studios" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - 1967 and 1968 Chess, Checker and Cadet Recordings in Mono and Stereo including Previously Unreleased and Compilation Rarities (August 2015 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...You Gave Your Affection..."

Ace Records of the UK have been doing Rick Hall's FAME STUDIOS stuff for years now and regularly produce quality CD compilations like this – many with a Chess Records tie in. Acknowledged winners like the 3CD Book Set "Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story 1961-1977", Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham's wickedly good "Sweet Inspiration" and Mitty Collier's Chess Records singles on "Shades Of". I've reviewed and enjoyed them all. November 2015 also produced "Back To The River: More Southern Soul Stories 1961-1978" - another 3CD looker and Audio delight centered around Fame Studios.

This time Ace's 2015 "Reaching Out…" single disc compilation goes after the weepy jugular and wins. Sixties Soul, Rhythm and Blues and Northern Soul and Mod tearjerkers  Here are the tears and tiaras...

UK released Friday, 27 August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) – "Reaching Out: Chess Records At Fame Studios" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 436 (Barcode 029667243629) plays out as follows (65:21 minutes):

1. It's All Wrong, But It's Alright – LAURA LEE (recorded 1968, finally released on the 1972 US LP "Love More Than Pride" on Chess CH 50031)
2. So Much Love – MAURICE & MAC (1967 US 7" single on Checker 1179, A)
3. Good To Me – IRMA THOMAS (1968 US 7" single on Chess 2036, A)
4. The Same Rope – ETTA JAMES (from the 1968 US Mono LP "Tell Mama" on Cadet LP-802)
5. Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary – LAURA LEE (1967 US 7" single on Chess 2030, A)
6. Reaching Out – BOBBY MOORE & The Rhythm Aces (1967 US 7" single on Checker 1180, B-side of "Chained To Your Heart")
7. The Sidewinder – CHARLES CHALMERS (on the 1967 Mono US LP "Sax & The Single Girl" on Chess LP 1518)
8. Security – ETTA JAMES (1968 US 7" single on Chess 5594, A)
9. Run To Me – MAURICE & MAC (2015 Previously Unreleased, Recorded 1968)
10. Too Soon To Know – MITTY COLLIER (2015 Previously Unreleased, Recorded April 1968)
11. Good Day Sunshine – CHARLES CHALMERS (Beatles cover on the 1967 Mono US LP "Sax & The Single Girl" on Chess LP 1518)
12. Don't Lose Your Good Thing – ETTA JAMES (from the 1968 US Mono LP "Tell Mama" on Cadet LP-802)
13. Two In The Morning – CHARLES CHALMERS (on the 1967 Mono US LP "Sax & The Single Girl" on Chess LP 1518)
14. Hang It Up – LAURA LEE (1968 US 7" single on Chess 2062, A)
15. Lean On Me - MAURICE & MAC (1968 US 7" single 1206, A)
16. Let's Do it Over – IRMA THOMAS (first appeared on the 1990 US CD compilation "Something Good: The Muscle Shoals Sessions" on Chess CHD 93004)
17. I Wanna Be Your Man – BOBBY MOORE & The Rhythm Aces (1967 US 7" single on Checker 1193, A)
18. Sure As Sin – LAURA LEE (first appeared on the 1984 Japanese 2LP set "Up Tight Good Woman" on Chess/P-Vine Special PLP-6017/6018)
19. Party Time – LEE WEBBER (1968 US 7" single on Chess 2056, A)
20. Take Me (Just As I Am) – CHARLES CHALMERS (1967 US 7" single on Chess 2019, B-side of "A Whiter Shade Of Pale")
21. You're Living A Lie – MITTY COLLIER (2015, Previously Unreleased, recorded April 1968)
22. It's How You Make It Good – LAURA LEE (1968 US 7" single on Chess 2062, A)
23. A Woman Will Do Wrong – IRMA THOMAS (1967 US 7" single on Chess 2017, A)
24. Come Back Baby – BOBBY MOORE & The Rhythm Aces (from the US Mono LP "Searching For My Love" on Checker LP 3000)

NOTES: All tracks are MONO except tracks 10, 14, 21 and 22 which are STEREO

Tracks 9, 10 and 21 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

The 16-page booklet is the usual feast of label repros and thoroughly indepth TONY ROUNCE liner notes – the remasters once again done by Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL – a man with hundreds of reissue credits to his name including most of the Blue Horizon catalogue (which I've reviewed). Most tracks are Mono 7" single mixes so pack quite a punch when those lingering organ notes fill your speakers as one of the gals tears her lungs out over some feckless no-mark boyfriend. 

The three Previously Unreleased Recordings are superb – a dancer called "Run To Me" by Maurice & Mac being amongst them - but the real prize is a tortured ballad called "Too Soon To Know" where Mitty Collier puts in a barnstorming vocal. The Soul/Funk take on The Beatles "Revolver" classic "Good Day Sunshine" has Lee Webber doing a fantastic Otis Redding impression. Heartache comes at you in a trio of hurting ladies – a focused Mono take of "Don't Lose Your Good Thing" by Etta James – "Hang It Up" by a suffering Laura Lee and a plea for a precious marital reconciliation from Irma Thomas on "Let's Do It Over". 

The men have a go at whinging too – "I Wanna Be Your Man" has Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces pleading in an almost Mexican way while the couple Maurice & Mac try to accommodate each other's failings in "Reaching Out" and "Lean On Me" (highlights on this comp). Lee Webber does his best Wilson "Wicked" Pickett impression on Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham's "Party Time" – lifting the pace to a dancer – a welcome interlude from all the previous tears and tantrums. 

Songwriters Penn and Oldham Those turn up again – penning Charles Chalmers' Saxophone version of "Take Me (Just As I Am)" – a cheesy instrumental/spoken word cover that pushes its luck being on here (rare or not). Far better is the third and last Previously Unreleased cut – and what a find it is. You get a powerhouse rendition of "You're Living A Lie" by Mitty Collier (recorded April 1968) singing a brassy pleader like her larynx depends on it (great stuff). A funky dancefloor winner grooves it way out of the speakers in the shape of "It's How You Make It Good" with Irma Thomas giving it some on a ballsy 1968 Chess single (and it's in Stereo). 

The pain ends on two belters – the weeping "A Woman Will Do No Wrong" where Irma Thomas sings from bitter experience about her heart making her follow her man – while the chipper "Come Back Baby" by Bobby Moore wraps it up in a hopeful way. Clever choice too to have the Laura Lee track "Sure As Sin" thrown in here - a song on a rare 1984 Japanese double-album on P-Vine that is a beast to find.  

Various Artists' Compilations like this have a tendency to get lost in the flood - disappear into a sea of Sixties Soul and especially Southern Soul sets that inhabit every Internet sale site everywhere - no matter how brilliant they may be. 

But "Reaching Out: Chess Records At Fame Studios" is one I urge you to track down - a very tasty torch-bearer and another winner from those canny lads over at Ace Records UK...

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"Grits & Gravy: The Best Of The Fame Gang" by THE FAME GANG (March 2015 UK Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) 25-Track CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sax Appeal..."

Motown had its in-house band in The Funk Brothers - Muscle Shoals had The Swampers - and Alabama’s Fame Studios had THE FAME GANG. And that’s where this haul of 25 Groovy Soul nuggets comes in (a whopping 19 of which are Previously Unreleased). Here are the details...

UK released 30 March 2015 (April 2015 in the USA) – "Grits & Gravy: The Best Of The Fame Gang" by THE FAME GANG on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPD 288 (Barcode 029667528825) pans out as follows (74:15 minutes):

(Except where noted all tracks are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED recordings from 1969-1970):

1. Grits And Gravy (Extended Version of a 1969 USA 7" single on Fame 1458, A)

2. Twangin' My Thang (1970 USA 7" single on Fame 1471, A)

3. Cannonball

4. Stand

5. Snortnin’ Bread

6. Groove Killer

7. Crime Don’t Pay

8. Your Good Thing (from the 1969 USA LP "Solid Gold From Muscle Shoals" on Capitol SKAO-4200)

9. Soul Feud (1969 USA 7" single on Fame 1458)

10. Shaolin'

11. Turn Your Chicken Loose (1970 USA 7" single on Fame 1471)

12. It’s Your Thing (from the 1969 USA LP "Solid Gold From Muscle Shoals" on Capitol SKAO-4200)

13. Choice Of Colors from the 1969 USA LP "Solid Gold From Muscle Shoals" on Capitol SKAO-4200)

14. Hey Joe

15. Soul Stutterin'

16. Sunrise

17. Walk Tall

18. Twenty Five Miles

19. Rang's Thang

20. Smokestack Lightning

21. Sax Appeal

22. Shufflin'

23. Canteloupe Island

24. Muscle Soul

25. Twangin' My Thang (Alternate Version)

THE FAME GANG (Mk III line-up) were:

TRAVIS WAMMACK and JUNIOR LOWE - Guitar

RONNIE EADES - Baritone and Tenor Saxophone

AARON VARNELL - Tenor and Alto Saxophone

HARVEY THOMPSON – Tenor Saxophone and Flute

HARRISON CALLOWAY - Trumpet and Trombone

CLAYTON IVEY - Piano and Organ

JESSE BOYCE - Bass

FREEMAN BROWN - Drums

MICKEY BUCKINS - Percussion

All Fame Sessions Produced by MICKEY BUCKINS and RICK HALL

The 16-page booklet has Compiler and Archive Researcher ALEC PALAO waxing lyrical about the three incarnations of The Fame Gang (Mark III is listed above) – one of three in-house groups Rick Hall had organised for his many US studio projects (The Swampers were under his dutiful eye too). Reminiscences from Guitarist Junior Lowe, Percussionist Mickey Buckins, Keyboard Player Clayton Ivey and others who were there - enliven the story with a sense of the excitement they felt on a daily basis. The band of nine stand proudly outside 603 East Avalon Avenue in Alabama (Fames Studios) in glorious colour on Page 7 looking like well-dressed hipsters. 

Their lone American album from December 1969 called "Solid Gold From Muscle Shoals" on Capitol SKAO-4200 is pictured in Cashbox-Advert form on Page 12 of the booklet with a couple of their rare 45s from the same peppering the hugely affection text.

Long-standing Engineer NICK ROBBINS handled the transfers/remastering from original tapes and the Audio is the usual top-class affair from Ace – funky as a gnat's undercarriage on a charcoal grill. This CD kicks in the sound department – it really does – great Stereo grooves (mostly instrumentals).

It opens with a total Funky winner – the instrumental Saxophone and Organ of “Grits And Gravy” extended from its single playing time of 2:35 minutes to a pleasing 4:01 minutes. It’s like stumbling on the JB’s having a blast with Booker T & The MG’s – I can’t help thinking this should be reissued as a 7” for 2015. Travis Wammack penned the guitar-funky groove of “Twangin’ My Thang” which is broken up with a chorus-line of backing singers chanting the title line throughout. Next up is a wild guitar workout called “Cannonball” where someone (the liner notes suggest it’s probably Wammack) goes Eric Clapton’s Cream on his axe to a funky backdrop.

We’re then hit with one of many 1969 and 1970 cover versions - beginning with an instrumental of Sly Stone's "Stand". Once you hear the unreleased haul you can hear why they included - too good to be left languishing in a box somewhere. They tackle Curtis Mayfield's sublime "Choice Of Colors", The Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing", Hendrix's version of the Billy Roberts tune "Hey Joe", Isaac Hayes and David Porter's "Your Good Thing", Edwin Starr's "Twenty Five Miles", Cannonball Adderley's "Walk Tall" (part-penned by Weather Report's Joe Zawinul) and even Herbie Hancock's classic piano and vibe piece "Cantaloupe Island". Of their own compositions "Shortnin' Bread" and "Sunrise" are provided by Harrison Calloway while Aaron Varnell gives us "Groove Killer" and co-writes with others in the band on "Turn My Chicken Loose" and "Sax Appeal". The Jesse Boyce and Albert Lowe written "Soul Feud" is another instrumental highlight for sure – Harmonica warbling over flick-funky guitar with Saxophones complimenting the utterly wicked groove (yummy).

It’s not all unreleased genius for sure - some of the covers work less well than you would imagine. For instance Edwin Starr's "Twenty Five Miles" is a dead-ringer for a band like this to do a Funk Cover of it – yet their take on the song is a bit weedy really and probably why it was left off the album. Far better is "It's Your Thing" where they take The Isley Brothers strut and cleverly supplement it with “Doo Doo Bop" backing vocals. Another brilliant rearrangement comes in the shape of their version of Hancock's "Canteloupe Island" – cool and funky – the double-whammy. It sounds utterly brilliant too and I'm certain will be filling up homemade CD compilations real soon.

Another winner from Ace  – and if you're a fiend for a Funky Groove like me – you're gonna have to own "Grits & Gravy"... 

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