"Ladies Sing The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (27 May 2022 UK Ace Records 19-Track CD Compilation - Part Of Their 'Songwriters' Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...'Neat The Refinery's Glow..."

 

I'm a huge fan of Ace Records, and this Friday, 27 May 2022 UK CD "Ladies Sing The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace CDTOP 1607 (Barcode 029667105729) is part of their 'Songwriter' Series of compilations.

 

On-going since as far back as 2007 - they were initially about Brill-Building/Muscle Shoals teams like Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry, Cynthia Mann & Barry Weil, Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham, P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri and so on. But then they started in on solo writers like Neil Diamond, Lee Hazelwood, Nilsson, Randy Newman, Donovan, Gene Clark, Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson and now a big daddy indeed - Bruce Springsteen.

 

At 75:37 minutes, and with exceptional audio (most are 00's onwards so are wel recorded anyway) – you get a fabulously detailed 20-page booklet with smart and very even-handed liner notes from compiler SEAN ROWLEY. With a reputed 150 covers listed on Spotify by women covering his now 50-year catalogue - as you can imagine there are some seriously good 'Brooooce' versions on here. But not all of them in truth are successful, let alone advances on the originals or even as moving.

 

I'm 64 this year and have been a Loose Windscreen fan since 1974 - own all his discs - seen him live etc - but what this compilation misses out on is his undoubtedly romantic side. I should explain. The ladies have almost all gone for the darker broodier albums - especially "Nebraska", "The Ghost Of Tom Joad", "Devils And Dust" and the industrial wastelands of America spread around most of his other studio albums going back to "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" in 1978.  What this means is that the overall listen is a tad gloomier than you would want it or it should be. I have always found Bruce hopeful – and that doesn’t actually come across here enough. And worse - I'm not sure that if I didn't line up all of these song choices on a CDR packed with the Springsteen originals - that compilation would knock spots off of this one.

 

Having said such, there have been gems that have surprised people in Springsteen's sometimes bombastic catalogue - the sheer pain seeping out of every pore of "Streets Of Philadelphia" and the staggering genuinely lush romance of "Secret Garden" - both soundtrack songs ("Philadelphia" and "Jerry Maguire"). It's arguable that only Bettye Lavette's stunningly gut-wrenched Soul take on "Streets Of Philadelphia" is the only song on "Ladies Sing The Boss..." that matches if not improves on the original – her voice, a double bass and a lone grand piano coming at you like Mavis Staples getting righteous and making the hairs on your arms stand up and salute.

 

I also think that songs about his children and his relationship crashes are too absent - the gorgeous "If I Should Fall Behind" or "Living Proof" and "My Beautiful Reward". Good choices come off the "Tunnel Of Love" album - Hem's lovely lilting "Valentine's Day" (harmonies between Sally Ellyson and Steve Curtis to die for) - but where is "Tougher Than The Rest" or "My Brilliant Disguise". Goth Queen Moa Holmsten from Meldrum does an equally filmic "Highway 29" about hapless criminal lovers, while the Mandolin take on the campfire light of "Ghost of Tom Joad" by Solas is a joyous find. And who would have thought that the sheer Pop of "Dancing In The Dark" could be given a new lick of paint and come out looking better and even deeper for it (change my clothes, my hair, my face...). Emmylou Harris ends it all on "My Father’s House" – a tale of ties that bind – impossible to beat and a lifetime spent trying to deal with them.

 

Alternatives - Linda Ronstadt did a stunner on her 1998 CD album "We Ran" of "If I Should Fall Behind" and I might also have replaced the Bat For Lashes version of "I'm On Fire" with the Soccer Mommy one and thrown in Trisha Yearwood's cut of the outtake "Sad Eyes" to show that side of his catalogue where sometimes goodies get unreleased for decades. So for the want of better assessment, I rejiggered the tracks playlist, dropped three and added in my recommendations as such...

 

* = Replacement

1. State Trooper – Deane Carter (Track 5)

2. Ghost Of Tom Joad – Solas (Track 6)

3. I'm On Fire – Bat For Lashes *

4. Highway 29 – Moa Holmsten (Track 9)

5. Dancing In The Dark – Lucy Dacus (Track 2)

6. Streets Of Philadelphia – Bettye Lavette (Track 11)

7. Valentine's Day – Hem (Track 12)

8. If I Should Fall Behind – Linda Ronstadt *

9. Factory – Lucinda Williams (Track 13)

10. Johnny 99 – Shovels & Rope (Track 14)

11. Cover Me – Thea Gilmore (Track 15)

12. Secret Garden – Kerry Hart (Track 16)

13. Fire – Anna Calvi (Track 17)

14. Nebraska – Aoife O'Donovan (Track 18)

15. Devils And Dust – Jessie Kennedy (Track 4)

16. Sad Eyes – Trisha Yearwood *

17. Thunder Road – Cowboy Junkies (Track 10)

18. Because The Night – Patti Smith (Track 1)

19. My Father's House – Emmylou Harris (Track 19)

 

I am certain others will have different interpretations and perhaps want to send the boys round to my house to sort out my less-than-enlightened choices. In the meantime, this and the Gene Clark CD set recently released by Ace in this Series (see separate review) are making me see my heroes in an even warmer light.

 

Deliver me from nowhere – well - even through other people's takes - Bruce and his evolving songs has always covered my losses with a musical hug...

"Really" by J.J. CALE – December 1972 US Second Album on Shelter Records - January 1973 in the UK on A&M Records featuring Mac Gayden, Norbert Putnam and Kenny Buttrey of Area Code 615, George Soule, Roger Hawkins and David Hood of The Muscle Shoals Swampers Rhythm Section with Vasser Clements, Charlie McCoy, Barry Beckett and more (June 2013 JAPAN-Only Universal SHM-CD Remaster In Mini LP Repro Card Sleeve Artwork with Booklet and Obi) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Got Me Soulin'..."

 

For an artist so beloved, revered and one who keeps getting rediscovered by subsequent generations who weren't even in the tummy of a yummy mummy in the Seventies – getting J.J. Cale on a decent CD Remaster can be summit of a nightmare – especially if you want whole albums.

 

Take his underrated and largely forgotten second LP outing "Really" originally released December 1972 on Shelter Records in the USA and January 1973 in the UK on A&M. After British vinyl reissues in June 1976 (Shelter/Island ISA 5003) and August 1983 on a mid-line Mercury Records PRICE 25 - it's history on UK digital is a tale of whatever we (owners of his catalogue) can get away with and missed reissue chances.

 

May 1990 saw a basic AAD-Mastered CD appear on Mercury 810 314-2 with goodish audio and in the truest sense of the word has remained that way ever since. By way of a proper remaster, June 1997 saw the superb 2CD compilation "Any Way The Wind Blows – The Anthology" on Mercury 532 901-2 (Barcode 731453290129). That 2CD set contained three tracks from "Really" - "Lies", "Changes" and "If You're Ever In Oklahoma" plus a genuine gem and surprise in an outtake - "Midnight in Memphis" which had been recorded at Muscle Shoals along with most all of the album in April 1972 and later had overdubs done in June 1976. To date – and along with five other Previously Unissued Tracks - that excellent outtake of 4:24 minutes is only available on "Any Way The Wind Blows – The Anthology". Which even in June 2022 – brings us to June 2013 and Japan for the whole album "Really"!

 

Fans and collectors salivate over Japanese CD Reissues/Remasters with damn good reason. They may not be as cheap as gull poop – but they're always special and invariably have the best sound and best packaging. And so it is with J.J. Cale and the eight cool albums he issued between 1971 and 1983 - "Really" being one of them. June 2013 saw Japan do proper remasters of all eight. To the details...

 

Released 26 June 2013 in JAPAN-Only - "Really" by J.J. CALE on Universal UICY-75627 (Barcode 4988005771582) is a SHM-CD Reissue (Super High Materials) and features Repro US Mini LP Card Sleeve Artwork. It plays out as follows (31:42 minutes):

 

1. Lies [Side 1]

2. Everything Will Be Alright

3. I'll Kiss The World Goodbye

4. Changes

5. Right Down Here

6. If You're In Oklahoma

7. Ridin' Home [Side 2]

8. Going Down

9. Soulin'

10. Playing In The Street

11. Mo Jo

12. Louisiana Women

Tracks 1 to 12 are his second album "Really" – released December 1972 in the USA on Shelter SW-8912 and January 1973 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 68157. Produced by AUDIE ASHWORTH - it peaked at No. 92 in the USA (didn't chart UK). All Tracks by J.J. Cale expect "Going Down" by Don Nix and "Mo Jo" which is a version of the Muddy Waters Chess Records classic "Got My Mojo Working"

 

A SHM-CD doesn't require a special CD player to play it on (compatible on all machines) - nor does it need audiophile kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the CD format that picks up the nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 10 of them and they're uniformly superb. The Mini LP Repro Artwork (with a banded Obi Strip) uses the US embossed gold lettering sleeve of the original Shelter Records 1972 LP right down to the pasted on rear with song-by-song credits. The booklet is the usual 16-white pages of Japanese liner notes and a stab at the English lyrics - nothing to really get your teeth into and is admittedly disappointing.

 

SOUND:

His 2^nd platter is not the hiss-laden audio debacle his debut "Naturally" was/is – it has much better sound if not lesser tunes. Despite such solid back up from session legends like Mac Gayden, Norbert Putnam and Kenny Buttrey of Area Code 615, George Soule, Roger Hawkins and David Hood of The Muscle Shoals Swampers Rhythm Section, Fiddle Player for the Earl Scruggs Revue Vasser Clements, Charlie McCoy on Harmonica, Barry Beckett on Keyboards (and more) - there is a very definite feel that "Really" is that difficult second album after he had six or seven years to form the songs for his brilliant debut. But audio-wise, this CD is the best we are ever likely to get. To the Tulsa shuffling...

 

The second you play the Side 1 opener "Lies" – the electric piano, his guitar flicks and those voices/horns combined are all in yer face like never before. That accompanying rhythm guitar in the right channel is vying for your attention too as Muscle Shoals legends David Hood and Roger Hawkins lock in the backbeat on Bass and Drums. But then you hear muscle proper in the Bass and Shuffle Drums of "Everything Will Be Alright" – strong and thumping your speakers – and that Bobby Woods piano break like a Jazz album – wow. Gorgeous audio too on the deceptively cool how-can-you-put-me-through-these "Changes" – short at 2:20 minutes, but oh so sweet.

 

"Right Down Here" (she holds me) is a typical Cale groove – Swamp Boogie that chugs along and just gets in the pocket – great sessionmen like Mac Gayden on Lead Guitar with Roger Soule on Drums. Not so sure about the rapid-paced fiddle and shaker "If You're In Oklahoma" – even if Josh Graves puts in a stunning Dobro solo just when the Country shuffle needs it. 12 January 1973 and A&M Records UK put out "Lies" with "Ridin' Home" on the flipside as the album's lead-off 45-single – but AMS 7042 did no business. They tried again (no doubt after DJs flipped the single) 4 May 1973 by putting out AMS 7042 again, but this time with "Ridin' Home" on the A-side with "Lies" on the B-side instead – but its sexy shuffling didn't catch either. 

 

"Going Down" is pretty throwaway, but the sexy Tony Joe White groove of "Soulin'" has long been a Funky Rock poison of mine – Mac Gayden once again upping the unlawful hip-sway with a very cool Slide Guitar. There is some hiss for some on "Playing In The Street" – a frantic Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Country shuffler (Vasser Clements on Fiddle with Jimmy Capps on Guitar) where J.J. recalls a come and get me mama tale of kids playing in the heat. Cale shape-shifts an old R&B Morgan McKinleyfield lyric refrain with his got my "Mo Jo" working but it just don't work on you – it's fun feels like an LP filler rather than an original moment. The album ends on the treat-me-right "Louisiana Women" – ladies looking after wanderer J.J. as he breezes into town and their weed-packed jeans.

 

J.J. Cale was one of my audio heroes growing up - and his influence on Eric Clapton, Dire Straits and even John Mayer is undeniable. What a loss and what an artist. And damn the Japanese for being so good with these bloody things (I've also reviewed "5", "Okie" and "Troubadour") because I need all 8 of them now! My long-suffering bank manager will be pleased...

 

J.J. CALE albums 

In the June 2013 Japan-Only SHM-CD Reissue Series

 

1. Naturally (1971) on Universal UICY-75627 (Barcode 4988005771582)

2. Really (1972) on Universal UICY-75628 (Barcode 4988005771599)

3. Okie (1974) on Universal UICY-75629 (Barcode 4988005771605)

4. Troubadour (1976) on Universal UICY-75630 (Barcode 4988005771612)

5. "5" (1979) on Universal UICY-75631 (Barcode 4988005771629)

6. Shades (1981) on Universal UICY-75632 (Barcode 4988005771636)

7. Grasshopper (1982) on Universal UICY-75633 (Barcode 4988005771643)

8. No. 8 (1983) on Universal UICY-75634 (Barcode 4988005771650)

"Chartbusters USA Volume 1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Sir Douglas Quintet, Van Morrison, The Lovin' Spoonful, Tommy Tucker, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, The Bobby Fuller Four, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Joe South, Brenton Wood, Tommy Tucker, The Ventures, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Seeds, The Hombres, Dobie Gray, The Left Banke, Count Five, The Seeds and many more (October 1999 UK Ace Records CD Compilation - Re-Released June 2009 with Upgraded Booklet and Jewel Case Design - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...She's About A Mover..." 

 

I've been meaning to review this totally brill Ace Records CD Series begun in 1999 for yonks now - and in May 2022 - it's about bruddy time I made good on that sonically meritorious citation.

 

The reason for my hallowed and manically sought after patronage of 'Chartbusters USA' is the SUPERLATIVE AUDIO. In a sea of so many 60ts CD compilations, it's hard to know where to look or buy? But after purchasing Volume One and hearing these stunning Remasters of Mono 45-single mixes from the hip and happening 60ts - I promptly snapped up the other four in the Series - and stunning audio or no, the only one I regret buying is the seriously cheesy COUNTRY EDITION (see list below).

 

The remastered sound is just fantastic throughout and genre diversity abounds - Sixties Pop, Rock, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Soul, Girl Groups, Garage, Psych, TV and Soundtrack Themes, Novelty etc. Lots to shimmy to...here are the details...

 

UK released October 1999 - "Chartbusters USA Volume 1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is the first of five CD compilations in Ace's 'Chartbusters USA' Series (see list below).

 

Ace CDCHD 722 (Barcode 029667172226) offers 30 American MONO 45-Single A-sides Remastered from best possible sources. This CD was UK-reissued June 2009 with the same catalogue number (and Barcode), but with an upgraded booklet and see-through CD tray/rear inlay artwork instead of the standard black tray of the 1999 original. Both issues use the 1999 masters and play out as follows (79:46 minutes):

 

All Tracks Are 45-Single A-side MONO Mixes (except Track 9, B-side)

1. She's About A Mover - SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET 

February 1965 US 45-single on Tribe 45-8308 - Peaked No. 13

April 1965 UK 45-single on London HLU 9964

 

2. Brown Eyed Girl - VAN MORRISON 

May 1967 US 45-single on Bang B-545 - Peaked at No. 10

July 1967 UK 45-single on London HLZ 10150 

 

3. Do You Believe In Magic? - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL 

August 1965 US 45-single on Kama Sutra KA 201 - Peaked at No. 9

October 1965 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25327

 

4. Wooly Bully - SAM THE SHAM and THE PHARAOHS 

February 1965 US 45-single on MGM K 13322 - Peaked at No. 2

May 1965 UK 45-single on MGM Records MGM 1269 

 

5. I Fought The Law - THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR 

November 1965 US 45-single on Mustang 3014 - Peaked at No. 9

March 1966 UK 45-single on London HL 10030 

 

6.Jenny Take A Ride! - MITCH RYDER and THE DETROIT WHEELS 

November 1965 US 45-single on New Voice 806 - Peaked at No. 10

January 1966 UK 45-single on Stateside SS 481

7. Games People Play - JOE SOUTH 

August 1968 US 45-single on Capitol 2248 - Peaked at No. 12

January 1969 UK 45-single on Capitol CL 15579 

8. Gimme Little Sign - BRENTON WOOD

July 1967 US 45-single on Double Shot 116 - Peaked at No. 9

October 1967 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15021

9. Elusive Butterfly - BOB LIND

November 1965 US 45-single on World Pacific 77078 

B-side USA-only of "Cheryl's Goin' Home" - Peaked at No. 5

February 1966 UK 45-single on Fontana TF 670 

Sides reversed - "Elusive Butterfly" as the A, "Cheryl's Goin' Home" as the B

 

10. California Dreamin' - THE MAMA'S And THE PAPA'S 

November 1965 US 45-single on Dunhill D-4020 - Peaked at No. 4

February 1966 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1503

11. Walk Away Renee - THE LEFT BANKE 

June 1966 US 45-single on Smash S-2041 - Peaked at No. 5

September 1966 US 45-single on Philips BF 1517 

12. G.T.O. - RONNY & THE DAYTONAS 

June 1964 US 45-single on Mala 481 - Peaked at No. 4

September 1964 UK 45-single on Stateside SS 333

 

13. Working In The Coalmine - LEE DORSEY 

June 1966 US 45-single on Amy 958 - Peaked at No. 8

July 1966 UK 45-single n Stateside SS 528 

 

14. I Can't Stand It - THE SOUL SISTERS 

January 1964 US 45-single on Sue 799 - Peaked at No. 46

No UK Issue

 

15. Hi Heel Sneakers - TOMMY TUCKER  

January 1964 US 45-single on Checker 1067 - Peaked at No. 11

February 1964 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25238 

Also Track 1, Side 1 UK "Hi Heel Sneakers" EP from 1964 on Pye Intl NEP 44027

16. Treat Her Right - ROY HEAD and THE TRAITS

April 1965 US 45-single on Back Beat 546 - Peaked at No. 2

October 1965 UK 45-single (as ROY HEAD) on Vocalion VP 9248

 

17. Eve Of Destruction - BARRY McGUIRE 

August 1965 US 45-single on Dunhill D-4009 - Peaked at No. 1

August 1965 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1469 

 

18. Hawaii Five-O - THE VENTURES 

September 1968 US 45-single on Liberty 56068 - Peaked at No. 4

June 1969 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15221

 

19. Kicks - PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS

February 1966 US 45-single on Columbia 4-43556 - Peaked at No. 4

April 1966 UK 45-single on CBS 202205

 

20. Green Tambourine - THE LEMON PIPERS 

November 1967 US 45-single on Buddah BDA-23 - Peaked at No. 1

January 1968 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25444

 

21. On The Road Again - CANNED HEAT 

April 1968 US 45-single on Liberty 56038 - Peaked at No. 16

June 1968 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15090 

 

22. Psychotic Reaction - COUNT FIVE 

July 1966 US 45-single on Double Shot 104 - Peaked at No. 5

October 1966 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25393

23. Pushin' Too Hard - THE SEEDS featuring SKY SAXON

July 1966 US 45-single on GNP Crescendo GNP 372 - Peaked at No. 36

July 1966 UK 45-single on Vocalion VN 9277

 

24. Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) - THE HOMBRES 

July 1967 US 45-single on Verve Forecast KF 5058 - Peaked at No. 12

November 1967 UK 45-single on Verve Forecast VS 1510 

 

25. Soul Deep - THE BOX TOPS 

June 1969 US 45-single on Mala M-12,040 - Peaked at No. 18

July 1969 UK 45-single on Bell BLL 1068  

26. Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - THE SHANGRI-LAS 

July 1964 US 45-single on Red Bird RB 10-008 - Peaked at No. 5

September 1964 UK 45-single on Red Bird RB 10 008 

27. The "In" Crowd - DOBIE GRAY 

November 1964 US 45-single on Charger CRG-105 - Peaked at No. 13

February 1965 UK 45-single on London HL 9953 

 

28. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly - HUGO MONTENEGRO & ORCHESTRA

January 1968 US 45-single on RCA Victor 47-9423 - Peaked at No. 2

August 1968 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1727 

 

29. Expressway To Your Heart - THE SOUL SURVIVORS 

July 1967 US 45-single on Crimson CR-1010 - Peaked at No. 4 

October 1967 UK 45-single on Stateside SS 2057 

30. Dance To The Music - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE 

November 1967 US 45-single on Epic 5-10256 - Peaked at No. 8

March 1968 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 839 

Reissued June 1968 UK 45-single on Direction 58-3568

Note: Not so you'd notice so much unless you were looking deep - but when this CD compilation was first issued October 1999 by Ace in the UK, it had a black CD tray and therefore no rear inlay that could be seen as in most modern releases. There are also seemed to be some kind of possible dispute over the use of a Sly Stone image at the rear of the booklet. It was reissued therefore in June 2009 (same catalogue number and confusingly with the same Barcode) - but this time with the rear inlay displaying memorabilia through the clear see-through plastic CD tray and the booklet altered to remove the Sly Stone image. The original rear inlay has only 1999 copyright date - the reissue has 1999/2009. 

Whichever you buy, the 20-page booklet is the usual feast of images that reissue label Ace have been doing so well for the guts of 45 years. In-between typically in-depth liner notes from TONY ROUNCE (a name collectors trust and love) are both black and white and colour trade adverts for Roy Head, The Mama's And The Papa's, The Seeds, Dobie Gray, The Shangri-Las and other cool 60ts groovers. Ace picture the rare first British 7" single for Sly & The Family Stone's "Dance To The Music" on Columbia rather than the more commonly seen Direction Records 45 - a hip-pocket record for a microphone-enthralled Van Morrison - sheet music for the fantastic "Hi Heel Sneakers" from Tommy Tucker and even a suitably Egyptian themed advert for Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs where they might crying 'mummy' for other reasons than phoning a parent for the rent money. 

 

As you can imagine - it's 20-pages impress greatly - while the new 2009 rear inlay shows picture sleeves, demo labels, concert photos and trade adverts for names you don't see every day of the week in reissues - Bob Lind, The Lemon Pipers, The Hombres, The Seeds and Count V. Fantastic stuff. And the Remasters from long-standing Audio Engineer to Ace Records and Sony/Blue Horizon by DUNCAN COWELL equal the effort of the booklet. Clean, punchy, packed with oomph even in the frantic Mitch Ryder track - I've never heard these winners sound so good.  

Volume 1 opens on an absolute humdinger that you've most likely forgotten - the fantastic neck-jerking "She's About A Mover" by San Antonio's 'Sir Douglas Quintet' - the band fronted by a 24-year-old Doug Sahm. That's quickly followed by a gorgeous sounding "Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison fresh out of Them and looking to make his first solo mark. Morrison's debut seven-inch single is overplayed by every hits station on the planet I know, but what an opening salvo winner it was and still is - nearly sixty bloody years after the event. 

 

Deep dive cuts for me include the fabulous "I Fought The Law" by The Bobby Fuller Four - a song I will always associate with The Clash who naturally adopted it as something of a theme song (Fuller was dead at 24 reputedly the victim of a mob hit) - while I can never get enough of the easy Soul Brenton Wood oozed with "Gimme Little Sign". Speaking of cool Rhythm 'n' Blues crossing over into 60ts Soul - Roy Head's "Treat Her Right", Tommy Tucker's "Hi Heel Sneakers" and even The Box Tops doing their "Soul Deep" are singles that must be in any self-respecting household. 

 

Genius inclusions go to the TV Series Theme "Hawaii Five-O" by The Ventures - spaghetti Western staple "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" by Hugo Montenegro followed by the magical Hombres track "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" - a cool R&B pounder that John Cougar Mellancamp did as a hidden CD Bonus Track on his 1989 album "Big Daddy". But my innards go to real mush for that trio of Garage Classics - "Kicks" by Paul Revere & The Raiders, "Psychotic Reaction" by Count Five and "Pushin' Too Hard" by The Seeds. Soul is in here too - "The "In" Crowd" and "Dance To The Music" and how beautiful is Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee". 

Volume 2 continues the genius choices with Lalo Schifrin's "Mission Impossible", Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" and Classics IV giving it some "Spooky" while The Turtles piano-plink-and-big-chorus toward "Eleanor" - tunes liable to tempt any compiler of cool-60ts CDR's. 

Onward and upward - enjoy me hearties...

 

 CHARTBUSTERS USA CD Series from Ace Records of the UK

Five Compilations of 45-Single Mix Remasters

 

Chartbusters USA Volume 1 - October 1999 original release, reissued June 2009 with upgraded booklet and rear-inlay jewel case presentation. The 1999/2009 issues confusingly have the same Catalogue number and Barcodes. However, the original has only a 1999 copyright date - the reissue has 1999/2009.

Ace CDCHD 722 (Barcode 029667172226), 79:46 minutes (30 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Volume 2 - January 2002 original release date

Ace CDCHD 832 (Barcode 029667183222), 79:55 minutes (29 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Volume 3 – 31 March 2003 original release date

Ace CDCHD 890 (Barcode 029667189026), 78:34 minutes (29 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Special Edition – Sunshine Pop (29 June 2009)

Ace CDCHD 1228 (Barcode 029667037129) 72:51 minutes (26 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Special Country Edition – 25 November 2016

Ace CDCHD 1488 (Barcode 029667078023), 62:29 minutes (24 tracks)