Rhino’s “Lil’ Bit Of Gold” 3” CD-Singles Series - A List Of All 60 Titles.

Issued in 1988 and 1989, "Lil' Bit of Gold" was a series of Sixty USA-ONLY 3” sized CD SINGLES (4 Tracks Each) in 3” card sleeves.

Each CD3 disc was gold in colour, each had 4 chart hits and usually featured 'Michael Ochs' Archive photo on the front artwork with track list and chart info on the rear. They were released in three batches of 20 and many are now highly collectible and rare. Here's a breakdown...

1st batch February 1988

1. THE BEACH BOYS (Rhino R3 73001)
2. JOHNNY CASH (Rhino R3 73002)
3. THE CHORDETTES (Rhino R3 73003)
4. CLASSICS IV (Rhino R3 73004)
5. EDDIE COCHRAN (Rhino R3 73005)
6. THE DIXIE CUPS (Rhino R3 73006)
7. FATS DOMINO (Rhino R3 73007)
8. THE EVERLY BROTHERS (Rhino R3 73008)
9. THE FLEETWOODS (Rhino R3 73009)
10. THE 4 SEASONS (Rhino R3 73010)
11. JAN & DEAN (Rhino R3 73011)
12. JERRY LEE LEWIS (Rhino R3 73012)
13. LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (Rhino R3 73013)
14. LITTLE RICHARD (Rhino R3 73014)
15. CARL PERKINS (Rhino R3 73015)
16. THE RASPBERRIES (Rhino R3 73016)
17. THE TURTLES (Rhino R3 73017)
18. RICHIE VALENS (Rhino R3 73018)
19. BOBBY VEE (Rhino R3 73019)
20. THE VENTURES (Rhino R3 73020)

2nd batch August 1988 (1 to 11) and September 1988 (12 to 20)

1. RAY CHARLES (Rhino R3 73021)
2. THE EVERLY BROTHERS, Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73022)
3. JERRY LEE LEWIS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73023)
4. LITTLE RICHARD Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73024)
5. TODD RUNDGREN (Rhino R3 73025)
6. NANCY SINATRA (Rhino R3 73026)
7. THE TURTLES Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73027)
8. FRANKIE VALLI (Rhino R3 73028)
9. THE 4 SEASONS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73029)
10. THE VOGUES (Rhino R3 73030)
11. THE BEACH BOYS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73031)
12. JACKIE DeSHANNON (Rhino R3 73032)
13. THE FOUR PREPS (Rhino R3 73033)
14. JAY & THE AMERICANS (Rhino R3 73034)
15. THE KINGSTON TRIO (Rhino R3 73035)
16. THE LETTERMEN (Rhino R3 73036)
17. GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS (Rhino R3 73037)
18. RICKY NELSON (Rhino R3 73038)
19. LES PAUL and MARY FORD (Rhino R3 73039)
20. GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS (Rhino R3 73040)

3rd batch November 1988 (1 to 10) and early 1989 (11 to 20)

1. RAY CHARLES Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73041)
2. THE COOKIES (Rhino R3 73042)
3. JOEY DEE & THE STARLIGHTERS (Rhino R3 73043)
4. BOBBY FREEMAN (Rhino R3 73044)
5. TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS (Rhino R3 73045)
6. TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73046)
7. GENE PITNEY (Rhino R3 73047)
8. GENE PITNEY Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73048)
9. JIMMIE RODGERS (Rhino R3 73049)
10. MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS (Rhino R3 73050)
11. THE BEAU BRUMMELS (Rhino R3 73051)
12. JERRY BUTLER [of The Impressions] (Rhino R3 73052)
13. THE EASYBEATS (Rhino R3 73053)
14. BETTY EVERETT [feat Jerry Butler on Track 4] (Rhino R3 73054)
15. THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR (Rhino R3 73055)
16. THE JIVE FIVE (Rhino R3 73056)
17. THE SHIRELLES (Rhino R3 73057)
18. THE SHIRELLES Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73058)
19. JOE TEX (Rhino R3 73059)
20. BRENTON WOOD (Rhino R3 73060)

- TRACK LISTS for all 60 in Release Date Order -

R3 73001 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Beach Boys
Tracks: California Girls/Help Me Rhonda/Wouldn't It Be Nice/Good Vibrations

R3 73002 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Johnny Cash
Tracks: I Walk The Line/Folsom Prison Blues/Guess Things Happen That Way/Ballad Of A Teenage Queen

R3 73003 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Chordettes
Tracks: Lollipop/Mr. Sandman/Born To Be With You/Eddie My Love

R3 73004 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Classics IV (Featuring Dennis Yost)
Tracks: Spooky/Traces/Everyday With You Girl/Stormy

R3 73005 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Eddie Cochran
Tracks: Summertime Blues/Somethin' Else/C’mon Everybody/Nervous Breakdown

R3 73006 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Dixie Cups
Tracks: Chapel Of Love/Iko Iko/People Say/Little Bell

R3 73007 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Fats Domino
Tracks: Blueberry Hill/I'm Walkin'/Ain't That A Shame/Walking To New Orleans

R3 73008 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Everly Brothers
Tracks: Wake Up Little Susie/Bird Dog/Let It Be Me/All I Have To Do Is Dream

R3 73009 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Fleetwoods
Tracks: Mr. Blue/Come Softly To Me/Tragedy/Runaround

R3 73010 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Four Seasons (featuring Frankie Valli)
Tracks: Sherry/Working My Way Back To You/Rag Doll/Let's Hang On

R3 73011 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jan & Dean
Tracks: Surf City/Ride The Wild Surf/The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)/Dead Man's Curve

R3 73012 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jerry Lee Lewis
Tracks: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/High School Confidential/End Of The Road/What'd I Say

R3 73013 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Little Anthony & The Imperials
Tracks: Goin' Out Of My Head/I'm On The Outside (Looking In)/Hurt So Bad/Take Me Back

R3 73014 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Little Richard
Tracks: Tutti-Frutti/Good Golly Miss Molly/Slippin' And Slidin' (Peepin' And Hidin')/The Girl Can't Help It

R3 73015 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Carl Perkins
Tracks: Blue Suede Shoes/Honey Don't/Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby/Matchbox

R3 73016 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Raspberries
Tracks: Go All The Way/I Wanna Be With You/Let's Pretend/Tonight

R3 73017 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Turtles
Tracks: Happy Together/You Baby/She'd Rather Be With Me/It Ain't Me Babe

R3 73018 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ritchie Valens
Tracks: La Bamba/Come On Let's Go/Donna/That's My Little Suzie

R3 73019 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Bobby Vee
Tracks: Take Good Care Of My Baby/Run To Him/The Night Has A Thousand Eyes/Come Back When You Grow Up

R3 73020 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ventures [1988] Walk-Don't Run/Hawaii Five- O/Perfidia/Wipe Out

R3 73021 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ray Charles
Tracks: Unchain My Heart/Hit The Road Jack/One Mint Julep/Busted

R3 73022 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Everly Brothers
Tracks: Bye Bye Love/('Til) I Kissed You/Devoted To You/Problems

R3 73023 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 - Jerry Lee Lewis
Tracks: Great Balls Of Fire/Breathless/You Win Again/Big Blon' Baby

R3 73024 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 - Little Richard
Tracks: Long Tall Sally/Lucille/Rip It Up/Keep A Knockin'

R3 73025 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Todd Rundgren [8/88] I Saw The Light/We Gotta Get You A Woman/Hello It's Me/Can We Still Be Friends

R3 73026 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Nancy Sinatra
Tracks: These Boots Are Made For Walkin'/How Does That Grab You Darlin'/Sugar Town/Somethin' Stupid [with Frank Sinatra]

R3 73027 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Turtles
Tracks: Let Me Be/You Showed Me/She's My Girl/Elenore

R3 73028 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Frankie Valli
Tracks: Can't Take My Eyes Off You/My Eyes Adored You/Swearin' To God/Our Day Will Come

R3 73029 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Four Seasons (featuring Frankie Valli)
Tracks: Big Girls Don't Cry/Candy Girl/Ronnie/Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)

R3 73030 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Vogues
Tracks: You're The One/Five O'Clock World/Magic Town/The Land Of Milk And Honey

R3 73031 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Beach Boys
Tracks: Surfin' USA/Fun Fun Fun/Be True To Your School/I Get Around

R3 73032 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jackie DeShannon [9/88] Put A Little Love In Your Heart/What The World Needs Now Is Love/You Won't Forget Me/When You Walk In The Room

R3 73033 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Four Preps
Tracks: 26 Miles (Santa Catalina)/Down By The Station/Big Man/More Money For You And Me

R3 73034 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jay & The Americans
Tracks: Come A Little Bit Closer/She Cried/Only In America/Let's Lock The Door (And Throw Away The Key)

R3 73035 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Kingston Trio
Tracks: Tom Dooley/M.T.A./Greenback Dollar/Where Have All The Flowers Gone

R3 73036 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Lettermen
Tracks: When I Fall In Love/Going Out Of My Head-Can't Take My Eyes Off You/The Way You Look Tonight/Hurt So Bad

R3 73037 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Tracks: This Diamond Ring/She's Just My Style/Everybody Loves A Clown/Sure Gonna Miss Her

R3 73038 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ricky Nelson
Tracks: Poor Little Fool/Hello Mary Lou/It's Late/Travelin' Man

R3 73039 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Tracks: How High The Moon/The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise/Mockin' Bird Hill/Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)

R3 73040 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
Tracks: Be Bop A Lula/Lotta Lovin'/Woman Love/Race With The Devil

R3 73041 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 - Ray Charles
Tracks: Georgia On My Mind/Crying Time/I Can't Stop Loving You/You Are My Sunshine

R3 73042 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Cookies
Tracks: Chains/Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)/Will Power/Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys

R3 73043 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Joey Dee & The Starlighters
Tracks: Peppermint Twist, Part 1/Shout, Part 1/Hey Let's Twist/Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes, Part 1

R3 73044 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Bobby Freeman
Tracks: Do You Want To Dance/Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes/S-W-I-M/C’mon And Swim

R3 73045 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Tommy James & The Shondells
Tracks: Hanky Panky/I Think We're Alone Now/Mirage/Mony Mony

R3 73046 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 - Tommy James & The Shondells
Tracks: Crimson And Clover/Sweet Cherry Wine/Crystal Blue Persuasion/Draggin' The Line

R3 73047 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Gene Pitney
Tracks: (I Wanna) Love My Life Away/(The man Who Shot) Liberty Valance/Every Breath I Take/Town Without Pity

R3 73048 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 - Gene Pitney
Tracks: It Hurts To Be In Love/Only Love Can Break A Heart/I'm Gonna Be Strong/Half Heaven-Half Heartache

R3 73049 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Jimmie Rodgers
Tracks: Honeycomb/Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Oh-Oh, I'm Fallin' In Love Again/Secretly

R3 73050 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
Tracks: Jenny Take A Ride!/Devil With The Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly/Sock It To Me-Baby!/Too Many Fish In The Sea & Three Little Fishes

R3 73051 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Beau Brummels
Tracks: Laugh Laugh/Just A Little/Don't Talk To Strangers/You Tell Me Why

R3 73052 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Jerry Butler
Tracks: He Will Break Your Heart/Make It Easy On Yourself/Moon River/For Your Precious Love [with Impressions]

R3 73053 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Easybeats
Tracks: Friday On My Mind/Gonna Have A Good Time/Pretty Girl/Falling Off The Edge Of The World

R3 73054 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Betty Everett
Tracks: The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)/You're No Good/Getting Mighty Crowded/Let It Be Me [with Jerry Butler]

R3 73055 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Bobby Fuller Four
Tracks: I Fought The Law/Let Her Dance/Love's Made A Fool Of You/The Magic Touch

R3 73056 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Jive Five
Tracks: My True Story/What Time Is It?/Never Never/I'm A Happy Man

R3 73057 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Shirelles
Tracks: Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Mama Said/Tonight's The Night/Dedicated To The One I Love

R3 73058 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 – The Shirelles
Tracks: Baby It's You/Soldier Boy/Foolish Little Girl/Everybody Loves A Lover

R3 73059 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Joe Tex
Tracks: Show Me/Skinny Legs And All/Hold What You've Got/I Gotcha

R3 73060 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Brenton Wood
Tracks: The Oogum Boogum Song/Gimme Little Sign/Baby You Got It/Me And You

- "Lil' Bit Of Gold" BOX SETS -

R3 72002 - Lil' Bit Of Gold Storage Box: The Fifties - Various Artists
1988 Box Set Containing 5 x “Lil’ Bit Of Gold” 3” CD –Singles
Contents: Fats Domino (R3 73007), The Everly Brothers (R3 73008), Little Richard (R3 73014), Ritchie Valens (R3 73018) and Rick Nelson (R3 73038)

R3 72003 - Lil' Bit Of Gold Storage Box: The Sixties - Various Artists
1988 Box Set Containing 5 x “Lil’ Bit Of Gold” 3” CD –Singles
Contents: The Beach Boys (R3 73001), Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (R3 73010), Jan & Dean (R3 73011), The Turtles (R3 73017) and Jay & The Americans (R3 73034)

“A’s, B’s & Rarities” by C.C.S. [aka CCS] (2004 EMI Gold CD Compilation Of UK 7" Singles On The RAK Records Label Plus Unreleased) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Hey Brother…Stay Loose…"

CCS (short for COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUNESS SOCIETY) made 3 studio albums and 7 singles for Mickie Most's RAK Records in the early Seventies before the band finally split up in late 1973. This 2004 EMI compilation offers you the A&B sides of all seven UK singles plus 5 tracks off the albums and 2 newly found previously unreleased recordings from the period.




Their 3 albums are pictured above in release date order

The huge ensemble group was the brain-child of British Blues Boom Godfather ALEXIS KORNER who along with Danish singer PETER THORUP and British arranger JOHN CAMERON pulled together the cream of brass/flute-playing session-men of the time and went after the BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS market for funked-up rock (the liner notes name all 26 of them).

It's a generous set, so here's a detailed breakdown (74:10 minutes):

1 and 2 is "Whole Lotta Love" b/w "Boom Boom", October 1970 on RAK 104
(A is a Led Zeppelin cover ("Top Of The Pops" theme music), B is a John Lee Hooker cover - both tracks are off the 1st album)

3 and 4 is "Walkin'" b/w "Salome", January 1971 on RAK 109
(A is a Donovan cover - B is an Alexis Korner/John Cameron original - both tracks are non-album)

5 and 6 is "Tap Turns On The Water" b/w "Save The World", August 1971 on RAK 119
(A is a John Cameron/Alexis Korner original - B is a John Cameron original - both tracks are non-album)

7 and 8 is "Brother" b/w "Mister What You Can't Have I Can Get", February 1972, RAK 126
(A is an John Cameron/Alexis Korner original - B is a John Cameron original - A is on the second LP - B is non-album)

9 and 10 is "Sixteen Tons" b/w "This Is My Life", October 1972 on RAK 141
(A is a Tennessee Ernie Ford cover - B is a Peter Thorup/Alexis Korner original - B also features a "Tap Turns On The Water" brass beginning and a lead vocal by Peter Thorup - both tracks are non-album)

11 and 12 is "The Band Played The Boogie" b/w "Hang It On Me", June 1973 on RAK 154
(A is a Don Reedman/Jeff Jarratt song - B is a John Cameron original - A is off the 3rd album - B is a non-album track)

13 and 14 is "Hurricane Coming" b/w "Dragster", April 1974 on RAK 172
(A is a Ronnie Scott cover - B is a John Cameron/Hayes original - both tracks are non-album)

15 and 16 are "Sunrise" and "Wade In The Water", both from their debut album "C.C.S.", October 1970 (UK) on Rak SRAK 6751 (Gatefold Sleeve)
(15 is an Alexis Korner original, 16 is a cover version of a Traditional Air - the album was issued in the USA in 1971 as "Whole Lotta Love")

17 and 18 are "Hundred Highways" and "Primitive Love", both from their 3rd and last studio album "The Best Band In The Land", September 1973 on Rak SRAK 504
(17 is a John Cameron original - 18 is a Nicky Chinn/Mike Chapman song)

19 is "I Want You Back", a Jackson 5 cover version is found on their 2nd album, also called "CCS" [aka CCS 2], March 1972 on Rak SRAK 503 (Single Sleeve)

20 and 21 and "Blues" and "If I Never Sing Another Song" - both are previously unreleased and exclusive to this compilation (song authors unknown) - Thorup lead vocals on 20 - Korner/Thorup both on 21, which is live and also features a reprise of "Tap Turns On The Water" towards the end

The 8-page inlay has affectionate and detailed liner notes by ADRIAN BOLTON and the remastered sound quality is SUPERB throughout - warm, clear and given the brassy nature of most tracks - loud.

Highlights include the stunning non-album B-side "Sixteen Tons" (I'm always putting on 70's Fest compilations) and the two new recordings are both eerie and shockingly good. Both "Brother" and "Tap..." sound truly brill - and what top singles they were too.

When CCS folded, both Korner and Thorup teamed up with King Crimson's BOZ BURRELL and IAN WALLACE to form SNAPE who issued some albums in Europe. But if you want to investigate further and discover why CCS are held in such affection, Repertoire (out of Europe) put out the 3 albums in 2000 in digipaks with bonus tracks and they're all worth having. In the meantime, this dirt-cheap compilation is a great place to start.

Recommended - big time.


PS: Other 70's acts in the "A's B's & Rarities" series are:
THE ARROWS, HOT CHOCOLATE (see REVIEW), MUD, PILOT and SUZI QUATRO

“The Platinum Collection” by ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS. A Review of the 2007 Warners/Rhino CD Compilation.

“….Here I Go Again…Thinking With My Heart…”

Celebrating 60 years of Atlantic Records, this 2007 Warner/Rhino set is part of a large series of budget-priced compilations offering generous amounts of classic music for peanuts money.

With all 20 tracks remastered to great sound throughout, "Platinum" gives you 16 soul songs from their 3 albums on the label along with 4 rare non-album 7" single sides. The inlay is basic and lacking in details at this price, so here's a breakdown of what's on what (52:35 minutes)....

USA Albums:
"Tighten Up", May 1968 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8181
(CD Tracks 1, 15, 18 and 20)
"I Can't Stop Dancing", 1968 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8204
(CD Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 19)
"There's Gonna Be A Showdown", August 1969 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8226
(CD Tracks 6, 7, 8, 9, 14 and 16)

USA 7" Singles:
Track 10 is "A World Without Music", 1970 on Atlantic 2693 [A, Non-Album Track]
("Here I Go Again" was it's B-side - but it was also issued as an A in the UK on Atlantic K 10210 in September 1972 and charted at number 11)
Track 11 is "Don't Let The Music Slip Away", 1970 on Atlantic 2721 [A, Non-Album Track]
Track 12 is "Wrap It Up", December 1970 on Atlantic 2768 [A, Non-Album Track]
Track 17 is "Dog Eat Dog", April 1968 on Atlantic 2478 [Non-Album Track, B-side to "Tighten Up"]

Forgotten gems include "Here I Go Again" and "Wrap It Up" - both are sort of Chi-Lites meets Motown dancers - really excellent. "Do The Choo Choo" is awful - a poor attempt at a dance craze after the number one success of "Tighten Up" on both sides of the pond. "Dog Eat Dog" - the rare non-LP B-side of their first British 45 "Tighten Up" on Atlantic 584 185 (May 1968) - is a welcome addition to CD - great 60ts soul. "When You Left Heartache Began" has been on Northern Soul compilations as a track to rediscover too.

Rare tracks, decent sound - this budget-priced remastered compilation is stunning value for money and makes available music that is increasingly hard to find now on original vinyl.

Recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker, Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

-----Archie Bell & The Drells – Atlantic LP Discography------

“Tighten Up!”
Atlantic SD-8181, May 1968 USA Stereo LP
Side 1: Tighten Up (Part 1 and 2)/I Don't Wanna Be A Playboy/You're Mine/Knock On Wood
Side 2: Give Me Time/In the Midnight Hour/When You Left Heartache Began/A Thousand Wonders/A Soldier's Prayer, 1967

“I Can’t Stop Dancing”
Atlantic SD-8204, 1968 USA Stereo LP
Side 1: I Can't Stop Dancing/(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay/Do The Choo Choo/You're Such A Beautiful Child/Monkey Time
Side 2: Do You Feel It? /I've Been Trying/Jammin' In Houston/Love Will Rain On You/Sometimes I Wonder

“There’s Gonna Be A Showdown”
Atlantic SD-8226, August 1969 USA Stereo LP
Side 1: I Love My Baby/Houston, Texas/(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown/Giving Up Dancing/Girl You're Too Young/Mama Didn't Teach Me That Way
Side 2: Do The Hand Jive/My Balloon's Going Up/Here I Go Again/Go For What You Know/Green Power/Just A Little Closer

“Saturday Night And Sunday Morning”. A Review of the 1960 Film now restored and reissued on Blu Ray in 2009.

“…What I’m Out For Is A Good Time…All The Rest Is Propaganda…”

After viewing this unashamedly gritty portrayal of British working class life on BLU RAY, you're left with two distinct impressions - one is admiration for the extraordinary restoration work done by the BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE on the newly restored near-faultless print - and second - and more importantly - is sheer astonishment at what a truly fantastic and ballsy film "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" is.

In 2009 - with our so-called freedom and enlightenment - you'd be hard-pressed to find a movie so darkly truthful and still relevant. Masterpiece is a word that is often overused, but in this case it genuinely applies.

Directed by Karel Reisz in 1960, it was produced by Tony Richardson (who directed "The Loneliness of The Long Distance Runner") and adapted and scripted from his own novel by Alan Sillitoe. Set in Northern England, this is a world of downing pints of mild and bitter until you're paralytic drunk, red phone booths with black A/B coin boxes in them, kids getting a bag of Dolly Mixtures sweets in the corner shop, push-up packets of Sweet Afton cigarettes, busy bodies with scarves on their heads watching with malicious eyes from tenement doorways for neighbours doing anything immoral...

A young Albert Finney plays defiant loudmouth Arthur Seaton who suffers the late 1950's Nottingham factory all day, because at night and at weekends, he can have his "fun". In his dapper suit and greased-back hair, Arthur is busy juggling another man's wife, drinking and betting. Finney isn't just good in the part, he's magnificent - he inhabits every scene like a panther about to pounce - like the world owes him a favour and his character Arthur clearly believes it does (his anthem above is spoken in the opening credits as he wipes his hands in a rag by the machine-tool lathe).

Having said that, watching the movie again, you're more struck by the women whose parts were cutting edge for the time - given real meat to work with. Shirley Ann Field isn't just a pretty face as Doreen the girl who makes hairnets and lives at home with her mum; she adds a rare intelligence and class to the movie. Hylda Baker is excellent as the convivial Aunt Ada who thinks Arthur is a lovely boy, but it's Rachel Roberts as the smitten wife who nicks the film - she is needy one moment, steel the next - then towards the end, she's just beaten and broken as she realizes Arthur's heart is going somewhere else - permanently.

Johnny Dankworth's jazz soundtrack is deceptive - it seems like fun, but mostly it acts as an almost sly and sinister backdrop - happy tunes for people with nowhere to go - for the rest of their lives... It's very, very effective.

But your eyes keep coming back to the print - apart from a few lines in the opening shot of the noisy factory floor, the stark black and white footage is consistently fantastic - you can see Rachel's face blusher, Finney's sweat in the pub as he watches a war-veteran drown his sorrow in beer (Peter Sallis - the voice of Wallace in Wallace & Gromit - has a bit part in that scene) even feel the soft texture of Doreen's cashmere cardigans...a stunning restoration job done from start to finish.

The 4 extras are a mixed bag of the great and the disappointing:
1. A commentary for the duration of the film, which you can have On or Off.
2. There's an extract of an interview with Albert Finney taped in 1982 at the National Film Theatre (hosted by Michael Billington), which is accompanied by stills from the film. It's witty and informative in some ways, but criminally short at about 6 minutes. Being the main star, it's very disappointing to not hear more from him. Far better is...
3. An interview with Shirley Ann Field, which is superlative. She reminisces about each of the actors, her naivety at the time of filming, how groundbreaking the subject matter was - and of course from the stills - you get to see how beautiful she was and still is - a class act - much like Finney himself.
4. Best, however, is "We Are The Lambeth Boys", a documentary film about youths at work and play. It centres on the "Alford House Youth Club" and like the film is fully restored too. It uses the same Woodfall film team - Reisz as Director, Walter Lassally the camerman and even has Johnny Dankworth's jazzy music. It's a fascinating and lengthy insight into a world of British youth that is gone forever.

"Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" is a balls-to-the-wall triumph on Blu Ray - it's just such a shame that the mighty Albert Finney didn't get more involved - it would have been such sweet icing to an already great piece of cake.

Recommended - big time.

PS: the BFI have also done "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" (see REVIEW) and an astonishing restoration of Stanley Baker's "Zulu"....

“The Platinum Collection” by BROOK BENTON. A Review of the 2007 Rhino CD Compilation.

If you dig Soul see also my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

“…Hey Mama…Let Me Fix It For You…”

Having had a massive male vocal career with Mercury Records throughout the Fifties & Sixties, Brook Benton's stay at the wonderful Atlantic label for the late Sixties and early Seventies produced a run of good albums that achieved only moderate chart positions and are all but forgotten now - and criminally so. Possessed of the most fantastically deep and expressive voice, he could sing anything from Sinatra's "My Way" to Elton John's "Country Comforts" in a soul/funky/gospel kind of way - and this cool little UK compilation is a great way into that.

Celebrating 60 years of Atlantic (stickered as such on the jewel case and printed on the black & red label), this 20-track June 2007 Rhino set is part of a large series of budget-priced compilations offering generous amounts of classic music for peanuts money. The 4-page inlay is only adequate as you can imagine, and offers no real discography or history - so here's a detailed breakdown of what's on offer (75:14 minutes)...

Brook Benton's 5 US Atlantic/Cotillion albums were:
"Do Your Own Thing", USA July 1969 LP on Cotillion SD-9002
(No Tracks)
"Brook Benton Today", USA February 1970 LP on Cotillion SD-9018
(CD Tracks 1, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16)
"Home Style", USA August 1970 LP on Cotillion SD-9028
(Tracks 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11)
"The Gospel Truth", USA June 1971 LP on Cotillion SD-058
(No Tracks)
"Story Teller", USA 1972 LP on Atlantic SD-9050
(Tracks 2, 4, 17, 18, 19 and 20)

As you can see from the track allocation above, having no songs at all from "Do Your Own Thing" or "The Gospel Truth" is a huge disappointment. But the 14 tracks we do get from the other 3 are welcome - especially the six from "Story Teller" which are new to CD. In 2004 a small US label DBK Works put out "...Today/Home Style" as 2LPs on 1CD but that's now hard to find and pricey - so for both the die-hard fan and the casual buyer, "Platinum" is an extremely inexpensive way of accessing rare music from a lesser-documented period of Benton's amazing career.

Having had a chart hit with his superbly soulful version of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night In Georgia", it's not surprising that he covered three more of his tunes - "For Lee Ann", "Aspen Colorado" and "Willie And Laura Mae Jones". The "Rainy Night..." soundalike "For Lee Ann" features CISSY HOUSTON on almost operatic vocals while the mellow and languid style of "Aspen Colorado" suited Benton's style so well.

A real gem here, however, is the wonderful self-penned "Let Me Fix It", a slinky and sexy soul song, which features THE DIXIE FLYERS on Horns and Keyboards and Cissy Houston on witty Duet vocals. It turned up in 2001 on the Atlantic compilation "Right On! Vol.3" (aimed directly at those who like break beats and grooves) and sent many soul fans back into second-hand record shops in London trying to find his LPs!

Most of the sessions were produced by ace arranger ARIF MARDIN and many of the tracks also feature THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS on Backing Vocals.

Although it doesn't state `remastered' anywhere - it's presumed being Rhino that they are because the sound is wonderful throughout - a little hissy in a few places - but nothing that would detract.

What's needed of course is a Brook Benton Rhino Handmade Limited Edition BOX SET covering all 5 of his albums, the 7" singles and hopefully even some tasty unreleased stuff (there's bound to be some and I'll bet it's good too). Whether that's commercially viable or not is another matter.

In the meantime, this budget-priced remastered compilation is stunning value for money and makes available music that is increasingly hard to find now on original vinyl.

A voice and a talent you need to rediscover - highly recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker, Archie Bell & The Drells, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

.....Brook Benton Atlantic/Cotillion LP Discography.....

“Do Your Own Thing”
USA July 1969, Cotillion SD-9002 (Stereo)
Side 1: Touch 'Em With Love/Nothing Can Take The Place Of You/Destination Heartbreak/Woman Without Love/Break Out/She Knows What To Do For Me
Side 2: Set Me Free/With Pen In Hand/Hiding Behind The Shadow Of A Dream/I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself/Oh Lord, Why Lord/Do Your Own Thing

“Brook Benton Today”
USA February 1970, Cotillion SD-9018
UK 1970, Atlantic 2465 004 (Plum Label)
Side 1: Rainy Night In Georgia/My Way/Life Has Its Little Ups And Downs/Can't Take My Eyes Off You/We're Gonna Make It
Side 2: A Little Bit Of Soap/Baby/Where Do I Go From Here? /Desertion/I've Gotta Be Me/

“Home Style”
USA August 1970, Cotillion SD-9028
UK 1970 Atlantic 2400 024 (Plum Label)
Side 1: Whoever Finds This I Love You/For Lee Ann/Willie And Laura Mae Jones/It's All In The Game/Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home
Side 2: Aspen Colorado/Don't Think Twice It's All Right/Born Under A Bad Sign/Are You Sincere/Let Me Fix It

“The Gospel Truth”
USA June 1971, Cotillion SD-058
UK 1971 Atlantic 2400 202 (Plum Label) - Reissued 1972 on Atlantic K 40224
Side 1: Let Us All Get Together With The Lord/Oh Happy Day/Heaven Help Us All/Going Home In His Name
Side 2: Take A Look At Your Hands/If You Think God Is Dead/I Dreamed Of A City Called Heaven/Doing The Best I Can/Precious Lord

“Story Teller”
USA 1972, Atlantic SD-9050
UK 1972, Atlantic K 40314
Side 1: Movin' Day/Willoughby Grove/Shoes/Poor Make Believer/Please Send Me Someone To Love
Side 2: Big Mabel Murphy/She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye/Save The Last Dance For Me/Sidewalks Of Chicago/Country Comfort

“French Connection 2”. A Review of the 1975 film sequel now reissued on 2008 Blu Ray.

"...This Is Not New York, Messieur Doyle..."

After the thoroughly depressing print on the Blu Ray reissue of "French Connection 1" (see separate review) - it's a pleasure to say that FC2 is an entirely different kettle of fish.

From the moment Gene Hackman steps out of the taxi by the closed gates of the beleaguered French cop shop in Marseilles - you notice the clarity - his dapper white shirt - the fish stalls - the painted railings.... Then he pops on his trademark Popeye Doyle porkpie hat - and again - the colour is gorgeous - and it stays that way even in the dark night scenes - fully restored from start to finish.

There's little or no scratches or blocking or ropey bits - and as everyone also knows, this is one of those sequels that equals if not tops the original. A fantastic stand alone film - although you do miss the presence of Roy Schreider as a sidekick. And that addiction scene is as harrowing now as it was back then...

The extras are the same as the DVD I bought a few years ago, but the colour on this 1080 print is just so sweet to look at - fans will have to own it.

Recommended - especially after the depressing experience of seeing the masterful first instalment more Blur Ray than Blu Ray.

“The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner”. A Review of the 1962 Tony Richardson film now fully restored on a 2009 BLU RAY.

“…You Think You’re Above Us Now…Do You…”

This is the fully restored British Film Institute version of Tony Richardson’s 1962 classic - and it's beautifully done - clean from start to finish. Even as the credits roll - it's spotless - a truly fantastic restoration job.

Because the clean up is so good it also pummels home the austerity of post-war England in almost every scene, while the black & white film stock and the hand-held camera work only add to its gritty and downbeat feel. We also get to properly see the intensity of Tom Courtney's extraordinary performance – all working class defiance and mind games. Another noticeable improvement is the music. The brass band stuff that accompanies every running shot is very punchy now – its either military or patriotic – or both. It acts as a sort of sneering backdrop, like “If…” almost…

The internal Borstal scenes are well done, as is Tom’s appallingly claustrophobic home life – all that family repression and rage building up to his final racing sabotage. There are also many famous faces in there – John Thaw, James Bolam, Michael Redgrave - even a cameo by Edward Fox as runner number 7 towards the end. Having said all of that, it’s not a film you warm to easily – it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea to sit down to this unrelenting feast of “it’s grim up north…”

The extras are interesting too. First there's a commentary on the movie (On or Off whichever you want), second is a sort of "making of" named after the principal cameraman "Walter Lasally Video Essay" in which he explains why certain shots were filmed in certain ways. He also references other Richardson work. Also you get to see the original stock footage of the opening credits BEFORE the restoration - it's covered in lines and smudges - so when you do to see the actual movie, you realise what a huge amount of work was put into this.

Number 3 is a curio that jazz buffs will love - it's Tony Anderson's "Momma Don't Allow" - a short film made about ordinary British workers ending up in a jazz club. It was filmed in the gloriously named “Art & Viv's Sander's Wood Green Jazz Club in The Fishmonger's Arms". It features The Chris Barber Jazz Band - Pat Halcox, Ron Bowden, Lonnie Donegan, Jim Bray and Ollie Paterson. It's really badly scratched and decayed, but the soundtrack is very good – and I guess it's a miracle that it's survived at all.

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner wouldn’t be everyone’s first choice for a cheery Sunday afternoon watch – but for those who do love this bitterly repressed yet still relevant film – they will adore how beautifully the BFI have restored it.

Recommended.

PS: the BFI have also done “Saturday Night Sunday Morning” with Albert Finney – a mouth-watering prospect – and their work on Stanley’s Baker’s “Zulu” is off the charts – simply has to be seen to be believed...

“Little Mama” by MONK HIGGINS. A Review of his US-Only 1972 jazz-funk-soul album on Liberty/United Artists - now reissued on a 2004 CD Remaster.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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“…Can’t Stop Missing All That Good, Good Lovin’ You Laid On Me…”

The Arkansas Saxophonist Monk Higgins (real name Milton Bland) made two hugely sought after jazz/funk/soul albums for United Artists in 1972. The first was "Heavy Weight" - and then came this - "Little Mama".

Produced by LARRY MAXWELL, the "Little Mama" LP was originally released on Liberty/United Artists UA-LA005-F in the USA in late 1972 - this 2004 remaster is a straightforward reissue of that funky rarity and is part of EMI Europe's "Masters Of Funk & Soul" Remaster Series.

The MUSICIANS for "Little Mama" were:
MONK HIGGINS - Tenor Saxophone & Organ
JOE SAMPLE [of The Crusaders] - Piano, Clavinet & Harpsichord
CLARENCE McDONALD - Piano
WILTON FELDER [of The Crusaders} - Bass
FREDDY ROBINSON - Guitar & Harmonica
AL VESCOVO - Guitar
SPECIALTIES UNLIMITED - Backing Vocals
PAUL HUMPHREY - Drums & Percussion

The gatefold inlay has knowledgeable liner notes by noted "Chicago Soul" writer ROBERT PRUTER, but the big news is the SOUND. 24-bit remastered (34:50 minutes), the sound quality is exceptional - fantastically clear, muscular - funky -as-f**k basically.

The covers of Carole King's "Tapestry" classic "So Far Away" and the huge Bread/David Gates' hit "If" both benefit from the girly vocals of Specialties Unlimited - in fact they're on 9 of the 10 tracks. The cover of Freddy Robinson's "Black Fox" is slinky (the only song without vocals), but my favourite is the wonderfully catchy "Can't Stop" (lyrics above). It has the best guitar/bass intro, which then slides into organ and sax, then in come the sassy girls with "...can't stop...can't stop..." Really great stuff.

A cool little CD of a rare LP - complete with stunning remastered sound. Recommended.

Other titles in the "Masters Of Funk & Soul" Remaster Series are:
1. GARY BARTZ - "Music Is My Sanctuary"
2. BRASS CONSTRUCTION - "Brass Construction"
3. THE BROOKLYN, BRONX & QUEENS BAND - "The Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band"
4. CALDERA - "Caldera"
5. GEORGE CLINTON - "Computer Games"
6. COLD FIRE - "Too Cold"
7. DAYTON - "Dayton"
8. DAYTON - "Hot Fun"
9. THE GENE DUNLOP BAND - "Tired Of Being A Nice Guy"
10. JIMMY G. & THE TACKHEADS - "The Federation Of Tackheads"
11. EDDIE HENDERSON - "Comin' Through"
12. HIGH FASHION - "Feelin' Lucky"
13. KC and THE SUNSHINE BAND - "KC and The Sunshine Band"
14. RONNIE LAWS - "Mr. Nice Guy"
15. LITTLE BEAVER - "When Was The Last Time"
16. BOBBY LYLE - "The Genie"
17. MAZE featuring FRANKIE BEVERLY - "Maze featuring Frankie Beverly"
18. MAZE featuring FRANKIE BEVERLY - "Joy And Pain"
19. MELBA MOORE - "The Other Side of The Rainbow"
20. MYSTIC MERLIN - "Full Moon"
21. NOEL POINTER - "Direct Hit"
22. POISIN - "On Your Way To Number One"
23. SOUTHROAD CONNECTION - "Ain't No Time To Sit Down"
24. SUN - "Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My Bic)"
25. SUN - Destination: Sun"
26. TAVARES - "Madam Butterfly"
27. T-CONNECTION - "Pure & Natural"
28. TIMMY THOMAS - You're The Song I've Always Wanted To Sing"