"Inside The Glass House/Thanks I Needed That" by THE GLASS HOUSE – US Albums from 1971 and 1972 on Invictus Records Plus Singles (March 2010 Edsel 2CD Reissue and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Just As Long As You And I Are Together…”

This superlative mid-priced set gathers together two very rare albums by US soul group THE GLASS HOUSE issued on Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Invictus Records" label in 1971 and 1972. 

Unlike the more commercially successful Chairmen Of The Board, Freda Payne, The 8th Day, General Johnson and so on - The Glass House never received British releases for either of their albums - so this twofer CD sert from England's Edsel Records is a wee bit of a HDH /Soulful treat. The 6 bonus tracks (non-album single sides) are just icing on an already very tasty cake. And the remastered sound quality is fabulous too. Here are the shattering details...

Released March 2010 in the UK as a 2CD set - "Inside The Glass House/Thanks I Needed That...Plus" by THE GLASS HOUSE on Edsel EDSD 2057 (Barcode 740155205737) offers Two Seventies US Albums on Invictus Records Remastered onto 2CDs with Five Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (38:25 minutes):

1. Look What We've Done To Love

2. You Ain't Livin' Unless You're Lovin'

3. I Surrendered

4. Hey There Lonely Girl

5. If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)

6. Hotel

7. Touch Me Jesus

8. Heaven Is There To Guide Us

9. Crumbs Off The Table

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut US album "Inside The Glass House" issued June 1971 on Invictus Records ST-7305 (no UK release)

BONUS TRACKS (10 to 12 are single sides - see below):

10. He's In My Life

11. Bad Bill Of Goods

12. I Can't Be You (You Can't Be Me)

Disc 2 (46:37 minutes):

1. V.I.P.

2. A House Is Not A Home

3. I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore

4. Horse And Rider

5. The Man I'll Never Have

6. Thanks I Needed That

7. Giving Up The Ring

8. Don't Let It Rain On Me

9. Stealing Moments From Another Woman's Life

10. Let It Flow

11. Don't Go Looking For Something (You Don't Want To See)

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second and last US album "Thanks I Needed That" issued October 1972 on Invictus ST-9810 (no UK release)

BONUS TRACKS (12 to 14 are single sides - see lists below)

12. Playing Games

13. It Ain't The World (It's The People In It)

14. Let It Flow (Single Version)

Using the album cuts and the six bonus tracks across the 2CDs - you can sequence their entire US 7" singles output as follows...

1. "Crumbs Off The Table" b/w "Bad Bill Of Goods", Invictus IS 9071, September 1969 (B-side is non-album)

2. "I Can't Be You (You Can't Be Me)" b/w "He's In My Life", Invictus IS 9076, June 1970 (both tracks are non-album)

3. "Stealing Moments From Another Woman's Life" b/w "If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)", 1971, Invictus IS 9082

4. "Touch Me Jesus" b/w "If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)", June 1971, Invictus IS 9090

5. "Look What We've Done To Love" b/w "Heaven Is There To Guide Us", September 1971, Invictus IS 9097

6. "Playing Games" b/w "Let It Flow", January 1972, Invictus IS 9111 (Note: the B-side is Track 14 on Disc 2 - the "Single Version" - track 12 is the "Album" version)

7. "V.I.P." b/w "It Ain't The World (It's The People In It)", a solo single credited to SCHERRIE PAYNE, 1972, Invictus IS 9114 (B-side is non-album)

8. "Giving Up The Ring" b/w "Let It Flow", 1972, Invictus IS 9118 (Note: 2nd issue of the "Single Version" of "Let It Flow")

9. "Thanks I Needed That" b/w "I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore", October 1972, Invictus IS 9129

Remastered by PETER RYNSTON at TALL ORDER, the sound quality is blisteringly good - alive and jumping out of your speakers with no real compression. The 20-page booklet has very detailed liner notes by soul expert TONY ROUNCE who also provides photos of those rare 7" singles - it's brilliantly informative and researched with both affection and care (his top class work features on most of Edsel's soul releases).

The Glass House had two uniquely great lead singers, Tyrone "Ty" Hunter and Scherrie Payne (sister of Freda Payne and later a member of The Supremes) who often shared duet vocals. The music is catchy H-D-H soul, bright, poppy and aimed squarely at the charts and your feet. Highlights are many as one infectious tune follows another - the lovely "If It Ain't Love (It Don't Matter)" is typical - misery in an upbeat way (lyrics above). Even the religious message songs are excellent especially "Heaven Is There To Guide Us" which sounds not unlike The Chi-Lites at their best.

It's an embarrassment of Soul riches really - Edsel are to be praised for releasing it and presenting it in such a top way. Ace stuff and heartily recommended...