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Sunday, 1 December 2019

"Looking For You: The Complete United Artist & Veep Singles" by GARNET MIMMS [and The Enchanters] – A&B-sides of Fourteen US Singles from 1963 through to 1967 and more (March 2015 Ace/Kent-Soul CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...



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"...Precious Love..."

Now here's something well tasty for lovers of classic American Sixties Soul – the A&B-sides of fourteen Garnet Mimms singles gathered together in one place for the first time. 

Everything about this CD release smacks of quality – gorgeous audio – equally sweet presentation coupled with the real deal - classy, moving and uplifting music. For me "Looking For You" is already a contender for SOUL REISSUE OF THE YEAR 2015. Here are the details to make you "Cry Baby"...

UK released 30 March 2015 – "Looking For You: The Complete United Artists and Veep Singles" by GARNET MIMMS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP 423 (Barcode 029667242325) will allow fans to sequence his singles as follows (77:01 minutes):

US and UK SINGLES – [7] = track number
1. Cry Baby [1] b/w Don't Change Your Heart [2]
October 1963 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 629
October 1963 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1033

2. Baby Don't You Weep [3] b/w For Your Precious Love [4]
November 1963 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 658
December 1963 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1038

3. Tell Me Baby [5] b/w Anytime You Want Me [6]
February 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 694
April 1964 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1048

4. A Quiet Place [7] b/w One Girl [8]
May 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 715

5. Look Away [9] b/w One Woman Man [10]
October 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 773

6. A Little Bit Of Soap [11] b/w I'll Make It Up To You [12]
1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 796

7. It Was Easier To Hurt Her [13] b/w So Close [14]
1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 848
May 1965 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1090

8. Welcome Home [15] b/w Everytime [16]
1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 868 – WITHDRAWN

9. Everytime [16] b/w That Goes To Show You [17]
1965 USA 7” single on United Artists UA 887

10. Looking For You [18] b/w More Than A Miracle [19]
1965 USA 7” single on United Artists UA 951

11. I'll Take Good Care Of You [20] b/w Prove It To Me [21]
March 1966 USA 7” single on United Artists UA 995
March 1966 UK 7” single on United Artists UP 1130 with “Looking For You” as the B-side

12. It's Been Such A Long Way Home [22] b/w Thinkin' [23]
June 1966 USA 7" single on Veep V 1232
August 1966 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1147

13. My Baby [24] b/w Keep On Smilin’ [25]
September 1966 USA 7” single on Veep V 1234
September 1966 UK 7” single on United Artists UP 1153 with “It Won’t Hurt (Half As Much) as the B-side (not on this compilation)

14. All About Love [26] b/w The Truth Hurts [27]
February 1967 USA 7" single on Veep V 1252
February 1967 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1172

Notes:
Tracks 1 to 4, 7 and 8 credited to GARNET MIMMS & THE ENCHANTERS
All other tracks credited to GARNET MIMMS
All tracks are in STEREO except 22 and 26 – which are MONO
Track 28 is from the USA Stereo LP "As Long As I Have You" on United Artists UAS 6396 and the A-side of a rare French 45 from 1964 on United Artists 35012
There is a British 45 of "As Long As I Have You" released July 1967 on United Artists UP 1186 coupled with a cover of The Beatles' "Yesterday" as its B-side – but both cuts are Live Versions from the 1967 UK-only LP "Live" on United Artists ULP 1174 (Mono) and SULP 1174 (Stereo) and not the Studio Version.

The 16-page booklet is the usual visual gourmet of American and British 45’s repro’d on almost every page – complimented by in-studio snaps of the great Songwriter and Producer Jerry Ragovoy working with Garnet and the Enchanters. There are rare American Picture Sleeves – Billboard Trade Adverts and Reviews – even a colour photo of Garnet looking pensive in Central London in 1971 (wondering where all those Northern Soul royalties went). Speaking of the UK and the affection Mimms is held in here - despite any Top 50 chart action – the British side of United Artists believed in Mimms so much that they released a staggering 10 singles between October 1963 and July 1967 (with a further 3 on Verve up to 1968) and three full albums into the bargain (see Discography attached to this review in the comment section). Relistening to them now – it seems cruel that none took to the charts.

Long-standing go-to Soul Man TONY ROUNCE provides the affectionate and informative liner notes – quite right stating that Garnet is a long overdue contender for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. The remasters carried out by expert Engineer DUNCAN COWELL are exceptionally good. With all but two tracks in glorious STEREO – the punch off these beautiful slices of Soul is full on – tingly indeed.

It opens with the game-changer "Cry Baby" which virtually introduced torch-song Soul with its huge production values and melodrama pleading – Mimms sounding like an equal to Jackie Wilson (a compliment most Soul singers would take any day of the week). Despite the strength of his second heartbroken release "Baby Don’t You Weep" (another Jerry Ragovoy penned pleader) – US DJs took to the Jerry Butler cover version of "For Your Precious Love" on the B-side which made it chart at 9 on the American R&B charts in November 1963 with the A reaching only 11. And it's easy to hear why – it's just beautiful – and presented here in glorious Stereo, packs an emotional wallop that transcends the 50 years plus since it was released.

Things go into a dancer shuffle with the clapping hands of "Tell Me Baby" - but again it’s the torch song B-side "Anytime You Want Me" that impresses more – his vocals soaring like Jackie on a roll. Things go shuffling Sam Cooke with Johnny Dollar trying to get away from the man next store with a radio in "A Quiet Place". Songwriting heroes Bert Berns and Jerry Ragovoy provide the walking-down-the street ache in both "One Girl" and "Look Away". His cover of The Jarmels "A Little Bit Of Soap" feels too poppy by far - but Production values soar on the chipper "Everytime" with a melody and hook that’s not a million miles away from "It's Alright" by The Impressions.

His pairing of the Northern Soul dancer "Looking For You" with the beautifully delivered ballad "More Than A Miracle" are seen by Soul collectors and connoisseurs as the pinnacle of his masterful art (both sides penned by Ragovoy with Doc Pomus sharing a credit on the B-side). Beauty and double-sided genius crop up yet again on "I’ll Take Good Care Of You" b/w "Prove It To Me". While "I’ll Take Good Care Of You" is undeniably hissy in places – it has so much emotion going on - that you’re swept away in the passion of it all. Countering the smooch of the A-side - cool groove of the month goes to its flip-side "Prove It To Me" – a really wicked mover. Janis Joplin covered both "Cry Baby" and "My Baby" on her magnificent “Pearl” album in 1971 – tapping into Garnet’s impassioned delivery for both cuts. And on it goes through to "As Long As I Have You" – a fantastic floor-filling stepper including here as a sort of CD bonus because it turned up (not in his native America) but in France on an uber-rare United Artists 45 that now commands big bucks.

So there you have it – class from start to finish. Ace Records of the UK have reissued some corkers in their time with the Kent-Soul imprint – but "Looking For You: The Complete United Artists & Veep Singles" by Garnet Mimms will surely be up there for years to come.

Well done to everyone involved for treating the man and his music with the respect and affection they both deserve... 

ACTUAL TRACK LIST
 
1. Cry Baby (August 1963 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 629, A)
2. Don't Change Your Heart (August 1963 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 629, B-side to "Cry Baby")
3. Baby Don’t You Weep (November 1963 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 658, A)
4. For Your Precious Love (November 1963 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 658, B-side to "Baby Don't You Weep")
5. Tell Me Baby (February 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 694, A)
6. Anytime You Want Me (February 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 694, B-side of "Tell Me Baby")
7. A Quiet Place (May 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 715, A)
8. One Girl (May 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 715, B-side to "A Quiet Place")
9. Look Away (October 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 773, A)
10. One Woman Man (October 1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 773, B-side to "Look Away")
11. A Little Bit Of Soap (1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 796, A)
12. I'll Make It Up To You (1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 796, B-side of "A Little Bit Of Soap")
13. It Was Easier To Hurt Her (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 848, A)
14. So Close (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 848, B-side to "It Was Easier To Hurt Her")
15. Welcome Home (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 868, A -WITHDRAWN)
16. Everytime (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 868, B –WITHDRAWN – eventually issued as the A of UA 887)
17. That Goes To Show You (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 887, B-side of "Everytime")
18. Looking For You (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 951, A)
19. More Than A Miracle (1965 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 951, B-side of "Looking For You")
20. I'll Take Good Care Of You (March 1966 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 995, A)
21. Prove It To Me (March 1966 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 995, B-side to "I'll Take Good Care Of You")
22. It's Been Such A Long Way Home (June 1966 USA 7” single on Veep V 1232, A)
23. Thinkin' (June 1966 USA 7" single on Veep V 1232, B-side to "It's Been Such A Long Way Home")
24. My Baby (September 1966 USA 7" single on Veep V 1234, A)
25. Keep On Smilin' (September 1966 USA 7" single on Veep V 1234, B-side of "My Baby")
26. All About Love (February 1967 USA 7" single on Veep V 1252, A)
27. The Truth Hurts (February 1967 USA 7" single on Veep V 1252, B-side of "All About Love")
28. As Long As I Have You (from the 1964 USA Stereo LP "As Long I Have You" on United Artists UAS 6396 and French-Only 1964 7" single on United Artists 35012, A)

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