"Hot Runnin' Soul: The Singles 1965-71" by PAUL KELLY (30 January 2012 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell and Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Just My Speed..."

Like most I came to Southern Soul Singer and ace songwriter Paul Kelly via his stunning 1970 single "Stealing In The Name Of The Lord" on Happy Tiger Records - a stinging and full-frontal attack on tele preachers tapping believers in their communities all over the USA at the time. In fact, at first, most race stations wouldn't touch the incendiary subject matter preferring to play and tap the softer flip-side "The Day After Forever" - a beautiful love song in the vein of Howard Tate and Curtis Mayfield. Kelly felt he'd over-stepped the mark - and sexy Tony Joe White piano and guitar funk hook or not - the single was doomed to obscurity y'all (God ain't gonna bless this one).

But Producer and entrepreneur Swamp Dogg (Jerry Williams, Jr.) took our bruised Paul to a Baltimore Radio Station (WWIN) where savvy DJ Rockin' Robin recognised the real hit and the need for its internally socially aware message. Rockin' Robin championed the catchy and pertinent tune until other stations followed playlist suit. And with months of momentum, both he and Kelly eventually saw the 45 hit Cashbox 13 June 1970 with Billboard the week after on the 20th of June - catching a zeitgeist. The Billboard R&B charts finally succumbed to big sales and saw it register the 4th of July 1970 where it took off and made for his highest chart placing weeks later at No. 14. When the mighty Bear Family of Germany were putting together their award-winning "Sweet Soul Music" CD-series from 1960 to 1975 – Bear's "1970" volume including this great song (see separate review).

But what else is there and does it match up – yes and no. This rather cool and brilliant CD compilation from Ace's Kent Soul label imprint gathers together the A&B-sides of twelve 45s from October 1965 on Dial Records through to June 1971 on Happy Tiger Records - many on CD for the first time anywhere. From 1968 onwards is giving me the chills and fever...here are the details...

UK released 30 January 2012 - "Hot Runnin' Soul: The Singles 1965-71" by PAUL KELLY on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 367 (Barcode 029667236720) offers twenty-four USA single-sides in Mono and Stereo and plays out as follows (64:51 minutes):

1. Chills And Fever

(1965 US 45 originally on Lloyd 007. Reissued October 1965 US 45 on Dial 4021, A-side - see 6 for B-side)

2. It's My Baby (1965 US debut 45 on Lloyd 226, A-side - see 4 for B-side)

3. Since I Found You (February 1966 US 45 on Dial 45-4025, A-side - see 5 for B-side)

4. The Upset (1965 US debut 45 on Lloyd 226, B-side - see 2 for A-side)

5. Can't Help It (February 1966 US 45 on Dial 45-4025, B-side - see 3 for A-side)

6. Only Your Love

(1965 US 45 originally on Lloyd 007. Reissued October 1965 US 45 on Dial 4021, B-side - see 1 for A-side)

7. I Need Your Love So Bad

8. Nine Out Of Ten Times (tracks 8 and 7 are the A&B-sides of a November 1966 US 45 on Philips 40409 – note running order)

9. Sweet Sweet Lovin'

10. Crying For My Baby (tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of a May 1967 US 45 on Philips 40457)

11. You Don't Know, You Just Don't Know

12. If This Old House Could Talk (tracks 12 and 11 are the A&B-sides of a September 1967 US 45 on Philips 40480 - note running order)

13. Glad To Be Sad

14. My Love Is Growing Stronger (tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of a March 1968 US 45 on Philips 40513)

15. We're Gonna Make It (After Awhile)

16. Call Another Doctor (On The Case) (tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of a December 1968 US 45 on Dial 4088)

17. Stealing In The Name Of The Lord

18. The Day After Forever (tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of an April 1970 US 45 on Happy Tiger HTS-541)

19. 509

20. Sailing (tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of an August 1970 US 45 on Happy Tiger HTS-555)

21. Hot Runnin' Soul

22. Poor But Proud (tracks 22 and 21 are the A&B-sides of a November 1970 US 45 on Happy Tiger HTS-568 - note running order)

23. Soul Flow

24. Hangin' On In Here (tracks 23 and 24 are the A&B-sides of a 1971 US 45 on Happy Tiger HTS-573)

NOTES: 
Tracks 1 to 14 and 16 are MONO - Tracks 15 and 17 to 24 are STEREO

The 12-page booklet has quality TONY ROUNCE liner notes with help from DAVID COLE - TR clearly enjoying his subject matter. There are photos of those American 45 labels and even a rare UK November 1965 stock copy of Atlantic AT 4053 that carried his first outings - the Northern Soul "Chills And Fever" b/w "Only Your Love" - a twofer that was reissued by Atlantic in the UK in January 1973 at the height of the Wigan dance scene. They even have photos of both sides to the promo-only photo for "Nine Out Of Ten Times" on Philips 40409 informing the US public of "who's new and exciting?" The Remasters are care of two hugely experienced Audio Engineers - DUNCAN COWELL and NICK ROBBINS - and typically they punch on the Mono and sound spaciously fab on the later STEREO cuts. Those Happy Tiger and Philips masters are in fine shape...

I'd admit that the first two 45s will probably only appeal to diehard Northern Soul nuts who will slaver over their copycat Motown dancer vibe. But by the time you get to 1966's "Nine Out Of Ten Times" coupled with "I Need Your Love So Bad" where Kelly began penning the tunes himself (stepping out of the shadow of Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke) - then things start to cook. Tunes like 1968's "Glad To Be Sad" (dig that descending guitar) b/w with the wicked "My Love Is Growing Stronger" - you're getting A&B-sides of really great Sixties Soul - neck-jerking R 'n' B with punchy rhythms - girly vocal backing - yeah baby. Got no money, payday far away, job strikes threatened, both the rent and hock man are at the door - poor Paul pleads with his lady to hang on in there until times get better in the brass-upbeat "We're Gonna Make (After Awhile)". The blood pressure and pulse beating too fast B-side "Call Another Doctor (On The Case)" is good rather than great. 

You're then hit with the double-whammy winner that is "Stealing In The Name Of The Lord" b/w "The Day After Forever" - a fantastic Soul Single that makes my top 50 with a wallet-wallop. "509" is another cool A-side - our hero standing at the train station with a preacher man to finally nail his lady love when she steps off the "509" (its flip-side being a less-convincing plea for peace in the ghetto in troubled times). Better is the compilation's title tune "Hot Runnin' Soul" with its Staple Singers at Stax vibe (but with more guitars). Born in the ghetto and always on the skid - "I've always lived a simple life, worked hard for what I got..." Kelly sings in full-on Curtis Mayfield social commentary mode - thankful for what he's got even if he is "Poor But Proud". 

It ends on a great Sly & The Family Stone funkin' moment with the wild-guitar driven "Soul Flow" - a sort of Rare Earth meets Norman Whitfield Temptations groover - a winning combo in my books. Still trying to make it, Kelly goes balladeer in the truckload of trouble song "Hangin' On In There" - a very cool flip-side that combined with "Soul Flow" makes for damn good 7" single.

There are definitely two PAUL KELLY Soul periods here - the slightly innocent mid-60ts stuff that is more Northern Soul and Motown-ish than Southern Soul gentleman bemoaning his girl or his fate. But that second half floats my boat completely – just my speed - over and over again. And that's a winner to me...