"Gears/Forever Taurus" by JOHNNY HAMMOND – Albums from 1975 and 1976 on Milestone Records featuring Larry and Fonce Mizell, Chuck Rainey, Wade and Ralph Marcus with Harvey Mason and Sonny Burke (October 1992 Ace/Beat Goes Public Reissue – 2LPs onto 1CD - Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Shifting Gears…"

When Soul morphed into Funk - which the old-world Jazz musicians then blended into Jazz Fusion - the berets of Jazz purists fell to the floor in disgust and dismay - but the heart rates of Dancers around the globe got with the groove and shouted "Hallelujah!" I was one of those giddy groovers...

I've never been a Jazz purist myself (can't stand that crap) but between 1973 and 1975 particularly - Rock/Soul guys like me were looking for something new and Jazz Fusion/Funk caught our attention. Quality musicians that stretched back as far as the late Fifties like trumpeter Donald Byrd, multi-instrumentalist Herbie Hancock and keyboardist Johnny Hammond (Smith) embraced the Funk and threw out absolutely fabulous albums on labels like CTI, BSF, Kudo, Blue Note and Milestone.

Hammond's legendary "Gears" album from 1975 (with superb Larry and Fonce Mizell songs and Production) and it's 1976 follow-up "Forever Taurus" (with heavy Wade and Ralph Marcus involvement) are from that ilk - and they've been cherished Jazz-Funk-Fusion LPs for collectors since their release on Milestone Records in the USA four decades ago. And that's where this amazing twofer/value for money BGP CD comes in.

Here are the Cosmic Voyager details...

UK released October 1992 – "Gears/Forever Taurus" by JOHNNY HAMMOND on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPD 037 (Barcode 029667273725) offers 2LPs from 1975 and 1976 originally on Milestone Records Remastered onto 1CD (in 1992) that pans out as follows (74:22 minutes):

1. Tell Me What To Do [Side 1]

2. Los Conquistadores Chocolates

3. Lost On 23rd Street

4. Fantasy [Side 2]

5. Shifting Gears

6. Can't We Smile

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Gears" - released November 1975 in the USA on Milestone M-9062

7. Old Devil Moon [Side 1]

8.  Countdown

9. Walk In Sunshine

10. Ghetto Samba

11. Cosmic Voyager [Side 2]

12. My Ship

13. Winds Of Change

14. Forever Taurus

Tracks 7 to 14 are the album "Forever Taurus" - released 1976 in the USA on Milestone M-9068

"Tell Me What To Do" has been featured on more Jazz Fusion/Rare Groove compilations than you can shake a stick at - and hardly surprising - what a winner. Its vocal set-up reminds me of Donald Byrd's masterpiece "Places And Spaces (also from late 1975) - another Mizell Brothers involvement. These guys seemed to funkify everyone and everything they touched - modernising their sound and that's what you get with "Gears". The wind and Spanish jabbering that begins "Los Conquistadores Chocolates" soon succumbs to frantic drums, flute and bass - but when it hits about 2 minutes in - the strings and vibes begin and the result is very special indeed. Side One ends with the mellow "Lost On 23rd Street" - with those strange synth flourishes behind that Stevie Wonder clavinet beat.

Side 2 opens with probably everyone's fave - the funky "Fantasy" (co-written by Hammond and the Mizell Brothers). Gorgeous guitar flicks mingle with strings and again those groove vocals while Chuck Rainey on Bass and Harvey Mason on Drums - punch out that that amazing rhythm section. Slap bass opens "Shifting Gears" - soon joined by wah-wah guitar and hip flute flourishes - it's always been my poison on the album (can't resist that funky groove). It ends on the mellow "Can't We Smile" where initial Crusaders-like piano morphs into spacey keyboard warbles and Jean Luc-Ponty type violin soloing.

"Forever Taurus" moved away from the Mizell brothers to the combo of Wade and Ralph Marcus along with a raft of hugely accomplished sessionmen like Trumpeter Chuck Findley, Saxophonist Jack Nimitz and Keyboard whizz Sonny Burke. Wade Marcus provided tunes in the shape of "Countdown", "Ghetto Samba" and "Winds Of Change" while Hammond stumped up "Walk In Sunshine", "Cosmic Voyager" and "Forever Taurus". Hammond's keyboard-funky covers of the standard "Old Devil Moon" and Gershwin's "My Ship" rounded out proceedings very nicely indeed.

A pair of vinyl sweeties - and its testament to their enduring appeal that even after 28 years in the marketplace (2020) - this British-issued Ace/Beat Goes Public twofer CD stills sells for full price and more...

"Taylored In Silk" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR – US Album from June 1973 on Stax Records (July 1975 in the UK) Plus Bonus Tracks (May 2011 'Stax Remasters' Expanded Edition CD Reissue - Joe Tarantino Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I've Got Someone I Can Call My Very Own…"

Now here comes a Stax-Soulful goody – released Stateside first (delayed all the way until 1975 in the UK) – the original American vinyl LP hit the US R&B charts in early July 1973 and quickly proved a winner, eventually settling at No. 3 on the LP charts (back in the days when albums shifted genuinely huge numbers). 

It was held in affection then and remains so to this day. Hardly surprising then that the Taylor in Silk was due a digital dust off and the new custodians of the Stax Records legacy (Concord Music Group of the USA) have done a nice job on this CD reminding us of its lurve charms (the 8-track album is augmented with a generous Six Bonus Tracks - the A&B-sides of three stand-alone US Stax 45s). Here are the velveteen details...

Released Monday 16 May 2011 in the UK - "Taylored In Silk" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR on Concord Music Group, Inc/Stax 0888072328754 (Barcode 0888072328754) is part of the 2011/2012 'Stax Remasters' Series and breaks down as follows (55:58 minutes):

1. We're Getting Careless With Our Love [Side 1]

2. Starting All Over Again

3. Cheaper To Keep Her

4. Talk To Me

5. I Believe In You (You Believe In Me) [Side 2]

6. One Thing Wrong With My Baby

7. I Can Read Between The Lines

8. This Bitter Earth

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Taylored In Silk" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR – released June 1973 in the USA on Stax Records STS-3014 and July 1975 in the UK on Stax Records STX 1012

9. Hijackin' Love

10. Love In The Streets (Ain't Good As The Love At Home) – Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an August 1971 US 45 on Stax STA-0096 (no UK issue)

11. Standing In For Jody

12. Shackin' Up – Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of a January 1972 US 45 on Stax STA-0114 and May 1972 UK on Stax 2025 083

13. Doing My Own Thing (Part 1)

14. Doing My Own Thing (Part 2) – Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of an April 1972  US 45 on Stax STA-0122 (no UK issue)

The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by BILL DAHL who did the exceptional liner notes on Bear Family’s 1961-1970 "Sweet Soul Music" CDs (10 volumes) and their 1945-1960 "Blowing The Fuse" series on R'n'B music (16 volumes). I’ve reviewed nearly all of them. You also get the original artwork on the front and rear of the booklet, musician and session details etc. But it's a shame the booklet doesn’t go any further. There’s no new photos, no memorabilia - and it makes the inlay feel workmanlike at best – even a little dull – when it should have spread its wings a little. But the big news is the SOUND…

I've reviewed the other titles in this new 'Stax Remasters' Series (see list below) and duly raved about the fabulous sound quality on all – especially after years of lacklustre reissues in jewel cases and repro digipaks. Well this is the same. 24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes at JOE TARANTINO Mastering in Berkeley, California – the audio quality is fantastic – which of course makes you reassess every song – and here it gives incredible clarity to these hugely underrated slices of Seventies Soul.

The whole album is good and very much in a smoochy mode – songs about lovin' and cheatin' and not getting' caught cheatin' etc. "I Believe In You (You Believe In Me)" made the top spot on the US R'n'B charts in June 1973 (lyrics above) while the lovely cover of Prince Phillip Mitchell's "Starting All Over Again" is superlative Stax Soul.  The witty lyrics of Mack Rice' "Cheaper To Keep Her" still bring a smile to a face and a tap to a foot - while the sound quality on the mid-tempo "I Can Read Between The Lines" is gorgeous.

And the funkier singles are a huge treat – off-setting the slightly loverman feel of the album. "Hijackin' Love" made Number 10 on the US R'n'B charts – and with its fantastically punchy funk rhythm – it's easy to hear why. The "…using me for a spare…" choppy Soul of "Standing In For Jody" is great - as is the JB funk of its wicked B-side "Shackin' Up" (another song about another woman's husband). The guitar opening of "Doing My Own Thing" makes you think you’ve stumbled on a John Lee Hooker Blues session, but it then settles into a great Soulful groove which brings the guitar back later. "Part 2" feels like a great James Brown B-side you’re glad you’ve rediscovered. Very, very good indeed…

To sum up – this is as superlative value-for-money reissue with top-notch Seventies Soul and sound quality that trumps everything that’s gone before…

PS: STAX REMASTERS Series to 2014 are (all reviewed):

1. Green Onions – BOOKER T & THE M.G.’S (1962)

2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (1970)

3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)

5. Born Under A Bad Sign - ALBERT KING (1967)

6. I’ll Play The Blues For You – ALBERT KING (1971)

7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)

8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)

9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)

"She's Killing Me/A New Day" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR - Albums Originally from 1979 and 1980 on Columbia Records (September 2014 UK SoulMusic Records CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Play Something Pretty..."

Stax Soul man JOHNNIE TAYLOR got a commercial second wind when he signed to Columbia Records in the USA – promptly charting three albums in a row - "Eargasm" in 1976 (a Number 1 USA R&B LP), "Rated Extraordinaire" in 1977 (No. 6) and "Ever Ready" in 1978 (No. 35). 

This gorgeous-sounding CD reissue/remaster by SoulMusic Records of the UK (part of Cherry Red) deals with the next two Columbia platters dating from 1979 and 1980 (charted 53 and 75) lumped together onto one CD with a massively expanded booklet. Here are the track-by-track details...

UK released September 2014 – "She's Killing Me/A New Day" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR on SoulMusic Records SMCR 25124 (Barcode 5013929082434) offers 2LPs originally from 1979 and 1980 Remastered onto 1CD and pans out as follows (74:46 minutes):

1. Little Dancin' Queen

2. Play Something Pretty

3. (Ooh-Wee) She's Killing Me

4. The Users

5. Love Account

6. Pulling The Train

7. I Can't Leave You Alone

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "She's Killing Me" – released October 1979 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36061

8. The Heart Break Kid

9. I'd Rather Hurt Myself

10. I've Got This Thing For Your Love

11. Signing Off With Love

12. Baby Lay Down

13. Sneakin' Sneakin'

14. I Wanna Get Into You

15. Sylvia

16. Baby Don't Hesitate

Tracks 8 to 16 are the album "A New Day" – released August 1980 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36548

The 16-page booklet is far more substantial than I'd expected it to be – full album artwork – recording details – repros of the album labels and 45's around both records as well a superbly detailed set of liner notes by American Soul/Funk specialist MATT BRAUER. It looks great and shows a great attention to fan-pleasing details.

But the real fireworks lies in an ALAN WILSON remaster of two albums that were professionally produced. Ballads like "Play Something Pretty" and the conscience-prodding "Love Account" sound incredible – full of great vocals and instrumentation. Funkier Disco tunes like "Little Dancin' Queen" and the guitar flicking/brass pumping dancefloor filler “Pulling The Train” sound great – plenty of vim and vigour. 

 

By the time we get to album two – the same amazing Production values are brought to the talking funk of "The Heart Break Kid" and the smooch of "Signing Off With Love". We go slappy-bass with "Sneakin' Sneakin'" where some lady isn't quite being honest about her night time activities – ending on the John Shaft slinky "Baby Don't Hesitate".

Great remaster, some cool tunes and a substantial booklet – a quality presentation overall by SoulMusic Records of the UK. Fans should dive in – especially given the quality upgrade in the audio...

"Loving Explosion" by THE ELIMINATORS – Debut and Only Album from July 1974 on BRC Records [Brunswick Records Corporation] in the USA (June 1999 UK Soul Brother Records CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Feel So Good Inside…"

Talk about a forgotten nugget that shouldn't be. Released in the USA in July 1974 on BRC Records (Brunswick Records Corporation) – THE ELIMINATORS lone album is amazingly accomplished Soul/Funk that sounds more 1969 to 1971 than 1974. 

Forgiving the awful atomic bomb artwork - "Loving Explosion" is kind of a cross between Chi-Lites Chicago Soul and Isley Brothers Brass-driven Funk with a gritty James Brown vocalist out front (Levon Meyers tearing it up) backed up at times by The Meters. If that isn't enough to get your 70ts juices a-flowin' - then you may want to check your pulse – because you could already be dead... 

This wonderful 1999 reissue on SOUL BROTHER RECORDS of the UK also sounds incredible – full of power, presence and warmth. The album was originally recorded with the Ultra-Range Sound Process – and as every Soul Fan whose every bought any Brunswick Records compilation on CD knows – their Production values were absolute top notch at all times.

1. Loving Explosion [Side 1]

2. Get Satisfied

3. Love Your Woman

4. Give It Up

5. Try, Try, Try

6. Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can) [Side 2]

7. Taking Love, And Making Love

8. Get Satisfied (Pt. 2)

9. Loose Hips

10. Rump Bump

UK released June 1999 (reissued March 2003 and July 2009)  – "Love Explosion" by THE ELIMINATORS on Soul Brother Records CD SBCS 4 (Barcode 5013993570424) is a straightforward CD transfer of their lone album originally released July 1974 in the USA on BRC Records BRC 7-7001 (35:05 minutes). There's no liner notes of any real import – just a basic gatefold slip of paper that reproduces the band's declaration on the rear sleeve and naught else. For fans here are the details…

Produced by ALONZO TUCKER (Directed by Jonathan Robinson) – The Eliminators were:

Levon Meyers – Vocalist

Donald Clark – Vocal and Harmonica

Calvin Rhodes – Guitar

Robert Burris – Rhythm Guitar

James Anderson - Organ

James Funches – Alto Sax and Flute

Jonathan L. Robison – Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Godosakahi Jordan - Tenor

Nathaniel Williams – Bass

Clifford Little - Conga

Carl Johnson – Drums

It doesn't say who remastered what or where – and at times it feels like some of this may have been dubbed off vinyl but don't let that put you off – the sound quality is fantastic – full of those top Brunswick Production values.

Musically were in Young Holt Unlimited territory with the fabulous opener "Loving Explosion" – and immediately the throaty vocals of Levon Meyers impresses (there's no credit for the great female backing vocals). We slide into a Meters down-south-funkin' groove with "Get Satisfied" featuring superb speaker-to-speaker funky guitar while the high falsetto of Donald Clark makes itself known too. Things go blown James Brown & The JB's with "Give It Up" - fantastic rhythm and brass punches making it an irresistible dancer (BBR tried it as a single on BBR Records BRC 113 in 1974). Side 1 ends on a great smoocher "Try, Try, Try" again with Levon and the Girls giving in some heartbreak.

Side 2 opens with more Meters-influenced funk "Blood Donor Needed" – a plea to the ghetto people to offer up their blood to aid gunshot kids. The smoochy "Taking Love And Making Love" is Tyrone Davis meets The Chi-Lites – superbly arranged - the kind of Summer Song that sails out of a inner-city ghetto-blaster like a sweet breeze. Funk fans will love "Get Satisfied Part 2" – an instrumental of the A with a killer groove. But the album ends on two highs – "Loose Hips" and the "People Say" (by The Meters) groove of "Rump Bump" where the whole thing comes together – top rhythm section, brass breaks, organ and Levon giving it some Joe Tex vocals. Tremendous finisher.

Forgotten and obscure for sure – The Eliminators deserved a better fate than that. At least this wonderful Soul Brother CD (they also reissued a vinyl copy) remembers their Soul/Funk moment of glory in 1974 with sonic style. 

There was even a 180-Grams VINYL LP repressing of "Loving Explosion" by The Eliminators in March 2019 by Demon of the UK on Demon Records DEMREC362 (Barcode 5014797898707). This is a Soul/Funk album that deserves your readies - check it out soon…