"The Platinum Collection" by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS (March 2007 Warner Brothers Platinum CD Reissue/Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Here I Go Again…Thinking With My Heart…"

Celebrating 60 years of Atlantic Records - this UK released March 2007 Warner/Rhino CD 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 - "The Platinum Collection" by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS on Warner Brothers Platinum 8122-79993-2 (Barcode 081227999360) gives you 16 soul songs from their 3 albums on the Atlantic label - along with 4 rare non-album 7" single sides. 

The inlay is basic (a gatefold slip of paper) and lacking in details at this price - so here's a breakdown of what's what (52:35 minutes total playing time)....

1. Tighten Up

15. When You Left, Heartache Began

18. You're Mine

20. Tighten Up (Part 2)

Tracks 1, 15, 18 and 20 from "Tighten Up" - May 1968 Stereo US LP on Atlantic SD-8181

2. I Can't Stop Dancing

3. Do You Feel It?

4. Do The Choo Choo

5. Love Will Rain On You

13. Monkey Time

19. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay

Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 19 are from "I Can't Stop Dancing" - 1968 Stereo US LP on Atlantic SD-8204

6. (There's Gonna Be) A Showdown

7. I Love My Baby

8. Girl You're Too Young

9. My Balloon's Going Up

14. Here I Go Again

16. Giving Up Dancing

Tracks 6, 7, 8, 9, 14 and 16 are from "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" - August 1969 US Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8226

USA 7" Singles:

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 Sept 1972 as an A in the UK on Atlantic K 10210 - charted at number 11)

11 is "Don't Let The Music Slip Away" - 1970 on Atlantic 2721 [A, Non-Album Track]

12 is "Wrap It Up" - December 1970 on Atlantic 2768 [A, Non-Album 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 big time as are frankly most compilations in this brilliant British set of CD releases…

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker (see REVIEW), Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown (see REVIEW), Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers (see REVIEW), 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