"Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5" by VARIOUS (May 2019 Ace/Kent-Soul CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Continue To Love You..."

After a paltry 16-years of releasing rare and collectable Seventies dancefloor shufflers and arm-linking hysterics - Ace's "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" CD Series on their beloved Kent-Soul label reaches its fifth volume in good old style (see list below for the other four British-released entries).

Amidst the 24-cuts you get four or five unreleased from 2018 and 2019 with the rest primarily focusing on American 45s between 1970 and 1976, a few deep album tracks and compilation stragglers from dates beyond. It's a good ole 'dose of soul' as Chet Ivey would say - here are your collector's top tips...

UK released Friday, 31 May 2009 - "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 450 (Barcode 029667094924) is a 24-Track CD Compilation that plays out as follows (75:12 minutes):

1. Given My Life - MIGHTY WHITES (Previously Unreleased 1977 Dwight White recording, an 2019 Alex Palao mix)

2. L-O-V-E - LEON THOMAS (June 1973 US 7" single on Flying Dutchman FD 26025, B-side to "Boom-Boom-Boom")

3. Rainmaker - C.J. & Co. (an unissued Westbound Records recording first released the November 2018 UK CD compilation "Ain't It Amazing: The Unreleased Westbound Masters)" by C.J. & Co. on Ace/Westbound CDSEWD 165 - Barcode 029667093026)

4. How Can I Go On Without You - JOHN EDWARDS (a previously unreleased Phillip Mitchell song first issued on the January 1996 John Edwards UK CD compilation "Careful Man" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 127 - Barcode 029667212724)

5. Your Momma Had A Baby - STREET PEOPLE (unissued Spring Records recording that first appeared January 2016 on the 12-Track VINYL LP "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul KENT 503 - Barcode 029667004213. This is its first digital debut)

6. Lucky Fellow - THE INDEPENDENTS (from the 1973 US LP "Chuck, Helen, Eric & Maurice" on Wand Records WDS 696 - Chuck and Maurice Jackson with Helen Curry and Eric Thomas)

7. Can We Talk It Over (Edit) - EDDIE FLOYD (previously unissued, a specifically mastered 2019 edit of a 1973 Stax recording first released on the 1998 UK CD compilation "5000 Volts Of Stax" on Stax CDSXD 116 - Barcode 029667911627)

8. What Is Best For Me Is Better For You - WILL HATCHER (May 1975 US 7" single on Wand 11286, B-side of "Who Am I Without You")

9. That's The Story Of My Life - MAJOR LANCE (April 1972 US 7" single on Volt VOA-4079, B-side of "I Wanna Make Up (Before We Break Up)"

10. I'll Continue To Love You - MILLIE JACKSON (Previously Unissued 2019 Edit of a 1976 Spring Records recording)

11. Mrs. So And So's Daughter - LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (Previously Unissued 2019 Edit of a 1974 Aware Records recording)

12. Franchise On Love - FELICIA JOHNSON & T.S.B. INC. (1980 US 7" single on Top's Records 0001, A)

13. Keep On Doin' Whatcha' Doin' (Part 1) - TY KARIM & GEORGE GRIFFIN (1980 US 7" single on Sheridan House SH-78002, A)

14. Ride The Disco Train - THE MODERATIONS (2019 Previously Unissued Dave Hamilton recording from 1988)

15. A Star In The Ghetto - FOXFIRE featuring JOHNNY ADAMS (1974 Kent recording first issued on the 2001 UK CD compilation "For Connoisseurs Only - Kent/Modern Soul Collectables" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 196 - Barcode 029667219624)

16. Nobody's Doin' A Doggone Thing - LEE PORTER & PEACEFUL PERSUASION (1974 US 7" single on Select-O-Hit SOH 026, A)

17. Dose Of Soul - CHET IVEY & HIS FABULOUS AVENGERS (1975 USA 7" single on Sylvia S-504, B-side of "Get Down With The Geater, Part 1")

18. I Ain't Givin' Up - RAY GODFREY (2019 Previously Unissued 1971 Spring Records recording)

19. We'll Go On - EON (Previously Unissued 2019 Edit of a 1975 Scepter Recording)

20. I'll Live My Life Loving You - THE HEADLINERS (2019 Previously Unissued 70ts Recording)

21. Gotta Be Loved Pt. 2 - HERMAN DAVIS (unissued Venus V recording that first appeared January 2016 on the 12-Track VINYL LP "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul KENT 503 - Barcode 029667004213. This is its first digital debut)

22. Hello Stranger - REGGIE MILNER (November 1970 US 7" single on Volt VOA-4048, B-side of "Soul Machine")

23. I Believe - NEW EXPERIENCE featuring ELAYNE STARR (2019 Previously Unissued Dave Hamilton recording from late 70ts)

24. I Guess God Wants It This Way - FREDDIE SCOTT (June 1971 US 7" single on Vanguard VSD-35137, A)

All tracks in STEREO except Tracks 14, 16, 20, 21 and 23, which are MONO

The 16-page booklet sports track-by-track liners notes by Soul expert and aficionado ADY CROASDEL with thanks to other long-time Ace Records collaborators - Dean Rudland, Tony Rounce, Kenny Aitchison and more. While Volt and Flying Dutchman 45 labels will be familiar sights to avid collectors - you don't often get to see 7" singles on labels like Sheridan House, Top's Records or SOH (Select-A-Hit) – but they are shown here. There are publicity photos for Brotherhood, C.J. & Co., Eddie Floyd, Will Hatcher, Major Lance, Millie Jackson and more whilst top Audio Engineer DUNCAN POWELL did the Remasters and they're punchy and full of presence.

Highlights for me are the mid-tempo shuffle of Eddie Floyd pleading his case on "Can We Talk It Over", C.J. & Co.'s slightly Disco (but in a good way) cover of The Moods single from 1970 on Wand called "Rainmaker" and a 60ts-sounding belter done by Millie Jackson in 1976 where the girly overdubs assure us that she'll "...Continue To Love..." (well, until the next Mr. Right comes along anyway). The hugely productive Kent Harris penned the sexy rhythms of "Keep On Doin' Whatcha' Doin'" (you get the 45 edit, the 12" version is almost twice as long), while Loleatta Holloway gets a deserved outing with her self-penned and catchy-as-a-cold "Mr. So And So's Daughter". And on it goes to the tenderness and ached-for freedom of silky-voiced Freddie Scott acknowledging that, "I Guess God Wants It This Way".

A cool release in a very hip series - enjoy...

Ace Records/Kent-Soul "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" CD Series:

1. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul - released October 2003 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 222 (Barcode 029667222228)

2. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 2 - released January 2009 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 310 (Barcode 029667231022)

3. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 3 - released November 2011 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 364 (Barcode 029667236423)

4. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 4 - released August 2015 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 437 (Barcode 029667243728)

5. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 - released 31 May 2019 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 450 (Barcode 029667094924) 

In January 2016, a 12-Track VINYL LP was also issued simply called "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul KENT 503 (Barcode 029667004213). It sported previously unreleased tracks, two of which are featured here on Volume 5 in digital form for the first time (Tracks 5 and 21 of this CD)