"These Foolish Things" by BRYAN FERRY of ROXY MUSIC - October 1973 UK Debut Solo Album on Island Records (Atlantic Records USA) featuring Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music on Guitar, Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music and UK on Keyboards, David Skinner of Twice As Much, Uncle Dog and Clancy on Keyboards, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan and Henry Lowther on Horns, Ruan O'Lochlainn of Bees Make Honey on Saxophone, John Porter of Uncle Dog and Front on Bass with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and Angelic Upstarts on Drums (October 1999 UK Virgin HDCD Reissue with Bob Ludwig Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...It's My Party...And I'll Cry If I Want To... "

 

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall!

 

Who would have thought it – in the year of 1973 - with its serious Progressive Rock breakthrough into the mainstream music charts - "The Six Wives Of Henry The VIII" by Rick Wakeman in January - "The Dark Side Of The Moon" and "For Your Pleasure" by Pink Floyd and Roxy Music in March – "Aladdin Sane" by David Bowie in April – "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield in May - "A Passion Play" by Jethro Tull in July and the double-album "Tales From Topographic Oceans" by Yes in December - Mister Sharp Suits of Leggy Models Inc., does an album of eclectic Thirties to Sixties cover versions and wins The Cool Dude of the Year Award – yet again!

 

With two attention-grabbing genre-redefining albums already in the Island Records bag for Roxy Music (June 1972 for the self-titled "Roxy Music" debut and March 1973 with "For Your Pleasure") - Lead Singer and Principal Songwriter for those Glam Rock darlings wasted no time in getting his solo album debut out into the marketplace. Ferry would set up something of a trend with such albums - following the October 1973 starter in September 1974 with another album of the same ilk – aptly called "Another Time, Another Place".

 

And yet from this most unhip and unlikely of concepts (an album of covers for Gawd’s sake) - Bryan Ferry came up with a Poptastic gem (more or less) that had Avant Garde types donning their Fedora Hats and stroking their satin scarves and feather boas with glee. And it’s good too – in fact 50-years down the line (here in 2023) - Ferry’s brilliantly arranged debut "These Foolish Things" has stood the test of time. It should not work – but with just a hint of Vivian Stanshall wit and tongue-in-cheek, sidling up to Peter Skellern Brass Band nostalgia – our fave uppercrust warbler pulled off an album that keeps you glued – a record filled with less obvious crafty song choices – all reworked to a place where they became something different altogether yet still recognizable.

 

But my real reason for the review is the SOUND. The Bob Ludwig HDCD-Format Remaster on this sucker is an absolute blaster – beautifully clear in a way the original VINYL LP I owned all those decades ago never was. The wallop of the girls giving it woo-woo as BF's session band builds and builds in his version of The Stones anthem "Sympathy For The Devil" is huge. They are clear again on the title track that plays out Side 2. It all sounds bloody glorious.

 

So much to discuss - to the reminders of You and I and our foolish things...

 

UK released October 1999 - "These Foolish Things" by BRYAN FERRY on Virgin FERRYCD1 (Barcode 724384759827) is a straightforward Reissue of the original 1973 album onto Remastered 1999 HDCD (High Density CD) that plays out as follows (43:51 minutes):

 

1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall [Side 1]

2. River Of Salt

3. Don't Ever Change

4. Piece of My Heart

5. Baby I Don't Care

6. It's My Party

7. Don't Worry Baby

8. Sympathy For The Devil [Side 2]

9. The Tracks Of My Heart

10. You Won't See Me

11. I Love How You Love Me

12. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

13. These Foolish Things

Tracks 1 to 13 are his debut solo album "These Foolish Things" – released October 1973 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9249 and Atlantic SD 7304 in the USA. Produced by BRYAN FERRY, JOHN PORTER and JOHN PUNTER – it peaked at No. 5 in the UK (didn’t chart USA).

 

The whole album is cover versions – original artists being Bob Dylan for Track 1, Ketty Lester for Track 2, a Jerry Goffin and Carole King song done by The Crickets for Track 3, a Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns song by Erma Franklin for Track 4, a Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song by Elvis Presley for Track 5, Lesley Gore for Track 6, a Brian Wilson song by The Beach Boys for Track 7.

 

Side 2 is a Mick Jagger/Keith Richards song by The Rolling Stones for Track 8, a Smokey Robinson song by The Miracles for Track 9, a John Lennon and Paul McCartney song by The Beatles for Track 10, The Paris Sisters for Track 11, an Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder song by The Four Tops for Track 12 and the American Standard from 1935 is the album’s Title song (Track 13).

 

Musicians - the album featured Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music on Guitar, Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music and 'UK' on Keyboards, David Skinner of Twice As Much, Uncle Dog and Clancy on Keyboards, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan and Henry Lowther on Horns, Ruan O'Lochlainn of Bees Make Honey on Saxophone, John Porter of Uncle Dog and Front on Bass with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and Angelic Upstarts on Drums. 

You could not say that the 8-page booklet is anything to write home about – lyrics – musician lists and reissue credits - and that's it I'm afraid. The spine has the DIGITALLY REMASTERED wording but the disc and tray beneath reflect a generic spiral look for the series that is boring and unimaginative. But the BOB LUDWIG Remastered Audio is truly amazing and I have found it to be so on all these Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music HDCD releases. To the music...

 

Ferry stamps his authority and grabs you by the lapels when he turns Dylan's Freewheelin' song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" into an altogether angrier and more sinister attack and even at 5:20 minutes – it works like a charm (not many cover version 50-years old sound this contemporary still). Other highlights include the teen-tearfulness of "It's My Party" that Lesley Gore brought to her 60ts original and "I Love How You Love Me" – like Ferry is channeling his inner Girl Group. The Wall of Sound treatment appears for the Side 1 closer "Don't Worry Baby" – Ferry lifting The Beach Boys up into Phil Spector territory. Funnily enough, he remains most faithful to the two formerly Soul cuts of Erma Franklin's personal devastation anthem "Piece Of My Heart" and coquettish Motown classic "The Tracks Of My Tears" – brass fills and girly vocals – but not much else. And why he chose "You Won't See Me" as his Beatles representation on any album anyone's educated guess, but you have to say that the Fabs 1965 original is way better.

 

Only weeks after his ushered out the Solo Debut, Roxy Music itself would return to Avant Garde Art Rock with their third platter "Stranded" in November 1973 – an album that hit No. 1 in Blighty and its catchy opening Side 1 track "Street Life" would go up to No. 9 on the singles chart too.

 

For sure "These Foolish Things" is not all genius and when I worked at Reckless Records in Soho, it was a regular sell-in when guys were culling their collection excesses. But there is good stuff to be had here and that Audio is worth tracking down the tears of any clown for...

"The Man In The Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Solo Singles 1968-1974" by WILLIAM BELL - A&B-sides of Twelve American 45-RPM 7" Singles featuring Booker T. Jones, Eddie Hinton, Al Jackson Jr. and more (February 2023 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...All God's Children Got Soul..." 

Always somehow second-tier to the likes of Marvin, Aretha and his own label mates Eddie Floyd and Isaac Hayes - William Bell's seriously classy output on Stax Records is due for ripe rediscovery. 

 

I own and reviewed Ace's Volume 1 in this probable 3-parter series covering his 45-single stay at Stax - May 2020's "Never Like This Before: The Complete 'Blue' Stax Singles 1961-1968" - Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 510 (Barcode 029667105620) being a 28-Track all Mono CD Compilation running to just under 76-minutes. 

 

For Volume 2, we move from the 'Blue' label of Stax USA onto 'Yellow' and get just below 78-minutes this time (Volume 3 will probably deal with his duets with Judy Clay, Mavis Staples, Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor). For this CD release, I've provided both US and UK catalogue numbers for collectors. All of God's children got Soul, got no colour y'all. Let's get to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 24 February 2023 - "The Man In The Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Solo Singles 1968-1974" by WILLIAM BELL on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 515 (Barcode 029667107426) is a 24-Track CD Compilation (21 in Stereo, 3 in Mono) that plays out as follows (77:38 minutes): 

 

1. I Forgot To Be Your Lover 

2. Bring The Curtain Down

November 1968 US 45-single on Stax STA-0015, A&B-sides

February 1969 UK 45-single on Stax STAX 110, A&B-sides (same)

6 February 1976 UK 45-single on Stax STXS 2038 reissued and paired "Happy" on the A-side (see Track 5) with "Bring The Curtain Down" on the B-side

 

3. My Whole World Is Falling Down

4. All God's Children Got Soul

April 1969 US 45-single on Stax STA-0032, A&B-sides

30 May 1969 UK 45-single on Stax 121, A&B-sides (same)

Note: In the UK "Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday" b/w "Ain't Got No Girl" was issued prior to "My Whole World..." as a British 45-single 21 March 1969 on Atlantic 584259 - both tracks are on Volume 1 "Never Like This Before" 

 

5. Happy 

6. My Kind Of Girl 

June 1969 US 45-single on Stax STA-0038, A&B-sides 

22 August 1969 UK 45-single on Stax STAX 128 with "Johnny, I Love You" on the B-side (not on either CD compilation)

 

7. Born Under A Bad Sign

8. A Smile Can't Hide (A Broken Heart)

October 1969 US 45-single on Stax STA-0054, A&B-sides 

13 February 1970 UK 45-single with "Bring The Curtain Down" on the A-side (see Track 2) and "Born Under A Bad Sign" on the B-side. "A Smile Can't Hide (A Broken Heart) possibly contains Lead Guitar by Eddie Hinton

 

9. Lonely Soldier 

10. Let Me Ride 

July 1970 US 45-single on Stax STA-0070, A&B-sides 

No UK release for either side

 

11. A Penny For Your Thoughts 

12. 'Till My Back Ain't Got No Bone

May 1971 US 45-single on Stax STA-0092, A&B-sides

No UK release for either side - however, Stax Records UK issued "Winding, Winding Road" b/w "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" instead, 30 April 1971 on Stax 2025 025 ("I Forgot To Be Your Lover" is Track 1 on this CD, "Winding..." not on either CD volume)

13. All For The Love Of A Woman

14. I'll Be Home 

September 1971 US 45-single n Stax STA-0106, A&B-sides 

No UK release for either side 

15. Save Us

16. If You Really Love Him

April 1972 US 45-single on Stax STA-0123, A&B-sides

21 July 1972 UK 45-single on Stax 2025 123 with "Lonely For Your Love" on the A-side with "Save Us" as the B-side

17. Lovin' On Borrowed Time

18. The Man In The Street

March 1973 US 45-single on Stax STA-0157, A&B-sides

No UK release for either side (for all further releases)

19. I've Got To Go On Without You

20. You've Got The Kind Of Love I Need

August 1973 US 45-single on Stax STA-0175

21. Gettin' What You Want (Losin' What You Got)

22. All I Need Is Your Love 

February 1974 US 45-single on Stax STA-0198

23. Get It While It's Hot 

24. Nobody Walks Away From Love Unhurt 

July 1974 US 45-single on Stax STA-0221

NOTES: 

All Tracks in STEREO except Tracks 7, 10 and 24

Compiled and annotated by Soul aficionado TONY ROUNCE (a long-time writer for Ace compilations), our Tone does his usual brilliantly informative track-by-track explanation in the 16-page booklet itself festooned with all those American 'yellow' label Stax 45s that collectors so adore. Fans will notice that Stax catalogue numbers featuring Judy Clay ("Private Number" and "My Baby Specialises"), Mavis Staples ("Love's Sweet Sensation"), Carla Thomas ("I Need You Woman") and multiple-artist releases with Johnnie Taylor and more are 'not' here - they're probably being lined up for a future-date Volume 3. The Audio is superlative right from the super-clean but full-sounding audio to the gorgeous 1968 Southern Soul feel to "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" on to the inner-city wah-wah funk of "Save Us" from 1972 - Remasters by expert Remaster maestro DUNCAN COWELL.

For me this compilation is all about one of my favourite subjects - B-sides that are better or just plain whomp the A. The sheer cultural joy of "All Of God's Children", the sexy Bluesy Soul of "A Smile Can't Hide (A Broken Heart)" where I think it's Eddie Hinton that rips out the most fantastic and unexpected guitar solo half way through and then the far better Presley-melodrama ballad "'Till My Back Ain't Got No Bone" (a co-write with Eddie Floyd) - walking through the city asking everyone have they seen his baby. The shimmering guitar and brass Funk of "I'll Be Home" is another good example - this time the legendary Eddie Hinton confirmed as the guitarist (shame he didn't share vocals). And while I can understand the social motivation of "Save Us" in 1972 as the A Plug Side - whole cities being drowned in drugs - I still prefer the impassioned straight-up Slow Soul of its flipside "If You Really Love Him".

 

Bell really does bring down the pace with the smooch of "Lovin' On Borrowed Time" - a love-trap captured-by-your-charms pleader where poor Will can't stay away from the arms of another man's wife (we're there for you Bill - stay strong - even if you have to sneak around). A co-write with Horace Shipp, Jr. - "The Man On The Street" is literally Bacharach-Soul - a song that remains moving because of its lyrics - broken folks signing-on-the-dotted-line - pushing forward those repayments to hopefully better days ahead. Stax made the right choice for 'A' with "I've Got To Go Without You" - a gorgeous slow-set song that's backed up with the rather aimless "You've Got The Kind Of Love I Need". By the time we reach 1974, the audio is amazing and William wants to warn us that your woman is looking good to other men on the street and if you're not on the emotional ball, you maybe gettin' what you want elsewhere, but you're "Losin' What You Got". In a nice twofer, the flip is equally good - sweet ladies backing up Bell's vocals for "All I Need Is Your Love" - a co-write with James McDuffe. And it comes to a close with more late-night smooch sides - "Get It While It's Hot" (Bill has been saving up his love) and "Nobody Walks Away From Love Unhurt" - both sides more-than-influenced by Marvin Gaye's 1973 bedroom rummages with "Let's Get It On" (the previous year). 

 

"The Man In The Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Singles 1968-1974" by William Bell isn't all magisterial for sure, but there's some fabulous and largely forgotten sides on this wickedly good CD compilation. Ace Records of the UK do these kinds of retrospectives so good and they have done it again here.

 

I've stashed it alongside 2022's Volume 1 "Never Like This Before" and will cast an affectionate eye on both in the years before the cataracts take over...

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Brenda Holloway, Venetta Fields, The Fantastic Four, Marvin Gaye, Joe Stubbs, Jr. Walker, The Monitors, Frank Wilson, The Contours, Mary Wells, Eddie Holland, The Temptations, Four Tops, Barbara McNair, Earl Van Dyke, Blinky, Tammi Terrell, Ivy Jo Hunter and many more (August 2010 UK Universal/Motown 50-Track 2CD Paul Nixon Collated Compilation of The Rarest Detroit Grooves - Previously Unreleased Tracks from 1962 to 1971 with Jared Hawkes Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Company Time..."

 

Along with British Punk and New Wave multiples, Motown compilations that concentrate on the famous American label's 60ts and 70ts heyday are probably one of the most overdone areas in music. But every now and then, true aficionados of both are allowed to get their aged knickers in a proper twist of self-flagellating excitement when along comes a title/series that actual does rush the blood to all manner of dodgy organs. And for Soul Boys and Gals, Universal's twofer exploration series "A Cellarful Of Motown!" is one of those happy occasions. 

 

Begun in 2002 and making no bones about describing themselves as purveyors of 'The Rarest Detroit Grooves' on their digital label bellies - its last volume was issued 2020. So in over 20 years there have been only five sets - thereby reflecting both the difficulty and time it takes to collate such vault trawls. Door number four is one of my faves - Soul Galore indeed! Let's have at the many (sometimes sketchy) details...  

 

UK released 31 August 2010 - "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Motown 8824009 (Barcode 042288240099) is a 50-Track 2CD Compilation of Remasters covering 'The Rarest Detroit Grooves' between 1962 and 1971 and it plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (69:29 minutes):

1. Kidnapped - THE BLACKBERRIES (Mid-60s, Venetta Fields Lead Vocals)

2. Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love) - THE FANTASTIC FOUR (1967 to 1969 recordings)

3. Your Kiss Kiss - MARVIN GAYE & OMA HEARD (Repaired recording, June 1964)

4. My Baby Moves Me - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (Recovered 1966 Bootleg recording)

5. Cool Cool Baby - JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (March 1966 recording)

6. The Girl I've Chosen To Be My Bride - JOE STUBBS  (Aug/Dec 1968 recordings, brother of Four Tops lead vocalist Levi Stubbs and one-time member of the famed vocal group The falcons)

7. You Didn't Show Girl - THE TEMPTATIONS (March to December 1968 recordings)

8. My Baby Changes Like The Weather - THE VOWS (Unknown recording date)

9. Doctor Of Love - THE MONITORS (1966 recordings, Sandra Fagin Lead Vocals)

10. All I Need Is A Chance - ROBERT DOBYNE (Lead Vocalist with The Artistics, September to October 1965 recordings)

11. The Day You Take One (You Have To Take The Other) - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (June 1967 recordings, considered for the 'Lost & Found' Series, released here)

12. Ain't Gonna Tell You - FRANK WILSON (Unknown recording details)

13. Dancing U.S.A. - THE CONTOURS (Sept 1964 to March 1965 recordings) 

14. That's The Way I See Him - THE MARVELETTES (January 1963 recordings)

15. Have A Little Patience (And Wait) - MARY WELLS (July 1963 recordings)

16. Three Time Loser - MARVIN GAYE (Feb and March 1963 recordings, Backing Vocals by The Vandellas)

17. Lead Me And Guide Me - HOLLAND & DOZIER (May 1963 recordings, probably LaBrenda Ben on Lead Vocals)

18. It's Company Time - THE VERSATONES (July 1963 Novelty recording)

19. Twin Brother - EDDIE HOLLAND (February 1963 for this recording, original was Oct 1962)

20. Think Of The Times - CAROLYN CRAWFORD (And The Velvelettes) (April and December 1964 recordings)

21. You're What's Happening Baby - FOUR TOPS (June 1965 recordings, Levi Stubbs on Lead Vocals)

22. I'll Turn To Stone - DENNIS EDWARDS (June 1967 recordings, Four Tops soloist track)

23. I Need You More Now Than Ever - PAUL WILLIAMS (August 1971 to August 1972 recordings, Temptations soloist)

24. Daddy, Cool - OMA HEARD (No recording details)

25. The Real You - BARBARA McNAIR (Dec 1966, January 1967 recordings) 

 

CD2 (71:58 minutes):

1. Miss Lonely Hearts - THE VANDELLAS (Sept 1956 recordings)

2. The House That Jack Built - J.J. BARNES (October 1966 recordings)

3. The Philly Dog - EARL VAN DYKE (May 1966 recordings)

4. Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You) - THE UTOPIANS (Frank Wilson cover, November 1968 recordings)

5. Only A Lonely Man Would Know - IVY JO HUNTER (August 1968 and June 1969 recordings)

6. It's Gonna Be Always - BLINKY (March, April and June 1969 recordings)

7. Somebody's Waiting For Me - THE CONTOURS (August and September 1966 recordings initially assigned to Marvin Gaye)

8. A Bird In The Hand (Is Worth Two In The Bush) - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (September, October and November 1967 recordings)

9. Don't Let Me Be Lonely - TAMMI TERRELL (Sept to Nov 1965 recordings)

10. Why Don't You Come Home - STEVIE WONDER (July to Sept 1968 recordings)

11. You Can Do It - THE MIRACLES (October 1967 recordings)

12. You Gave Me Love To Live For - DEBBIE DEAN (March 1968 recordings)

13. Head Over Heels In Love With You Baby - THE SPINNERS (Aug, Sept 1966)

14. I'd Cry - CHUCK JACKSON (September 1969 to November 1970 recordings)

15. In The Summer - THE LOLLIPOPS (Sept, December 1969 recordings)

16. Just Let Me Thank You For Loving Me - THE ORIGINALS (1968 to 1970)

17. I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again - DENNIS EDWARDS (1967 to 1968)

18. Sock It Two 'Um - JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (1965 recordings)

19. Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy - THE FANTASTIC FOUR (1967)

20. Born To Be Bad - EDWIN STARR (1969 recordings)

21. She's All I Need (In This World) - MARV JOHNSON (1968 and 1969)

22. Mobile Lil The Dancing Witch - SHORTY LONG (1967 recordings)

23. Hey Girl, Come On Do The Pearl - THE AGENTS (1967 recordings)

24. In The Cool Of The Night - DAVID RUFFIN (1971 recordings)

25. Little Miss Loser - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (1964 recordings)

 

The 20-page booklet is a serious info-fest for the Motown nut who just has to know every nook and cranny. PAUL NIXON - who collated the set - gives a track-by-track detail fest that aims its information at the Archives and the Collectors. For instance when describing the Earl Van Dyke cover version discovery of Smokey Robinson's "The Philly Dog" - we find out it includes the band leader's group The Soul Brothers and is co-written with Warren Moore, Marv Tarpin and Tony Newton - names that will be of interest to label aficionados. Mastering/Remastering was done by JARED HAWKES at Universal and given the nature of unreleased - he's done a bang-up job at making them pop. Loving the colour photos between the pages of label bags, artist publicity shots, Dansette at the ready with 45s strewn around it. Chunes...

 

Finding a Marvin Gaye track no one has catalogued or heard before ("Three Time Loser" on CD1) only to have The Vandellas doing Backing Vocals on it - or a Mary Wells song - or a track by Joe Stubbs - Brother of the Lead Vocalist Levi Stubbs for The Four Tops - is amazing in itself. But this compilation has a Frank Wilson unreleased! To put this into context, Wilson's legendary withdrawn Motown song "Do I Love You" is THE Northern Soul Monster 45 of all time. Reputedly with only one known copy in existence, it changed hands for over half-a-million bucks and is one of the jewels on Ellen Fitton's "The Motown Singles Series" on Hip-O Select. Although the liner notes here tell us that Frank (when contacted) doesn't remember anything about the recording of "Ain't Gonna Tell You" (not even the recording date) - it's enough to have anything new by Wilson to raise the heart-palpitations of any Dancer or Soul fan to the level of needing paramedics standing-by. 

 

And yet this set is full of those kind of finds - names like Robert Dobyne or The Vows or Debbie Dean or The Utopians or The Versatones are not exactly rolling off the tongues of your average listener. The Acetate for "I've Got A Right To Cry" is legendary and despite searches across decades, it was never found in the Motown vaults - until now. The 'Demo' vocal of "Lead Me And Guide Me" attributable to Holland-Dozier-Holland (Track 17, CD1) turns out to be that recording from 31 May 1963. Although other details are sketchy, Paul Nixon nonetheless describes its discovery as 'the' find of the series. Northern Soul rarity hunters will also love "Think Of The Times" which has female hero of the NS scene Carolyn Crawford backed up by The Velvelettes - sounding saucy and leaning into that microphone. You would think too that every Four Tops session would have been plundered by now, but again, Nixon finds a Levi Stubbs lead vocal worth having in the shape of "You're What's Happening Baby" - a worth-having dancer laid down over two days in June 1965. One-time duet vocalist with Marvin Gaye, Oma Heard has The Pipkins-written "Daddy, Cool" while that manic club scene vibe is created for Barbara McNair's "The Real You". 

Fans of floorfillers will dig The Vandellas giving it some on their "Miss Lonely Heart" - a classic Motown driver from September 1965 penned by Smokey Robinson and Ivy Jo Hunter. J.J. Barnes tries manfully to channel his inner Marvin Gaye on "The House That Jack Built" whilst band-leader Earl Van Dyke gives us no such subtlety on his rim-shot scorcher "The Philly Dog" (backed up by The Soul Brothers). A co-write with Beatrice Verdi, Ivy Jo Hunter's "Only A Lonely Man Would Know" pours on the angst - a song Marvin then cut on his 1969 album "M.P.G." Lovers of Edwin Starr's duet partner Blinky will be pleased to see something new in "It's Gonna Be Always" - an Al Hamilton and Jean Toney song from 1969. The ballad found by Marvin's best duet partner Tammi Terrell was recorded September 1965 and tinkered with up until November - is a heart-warmer penned by Smokey and Ivy Jo Hunter. And on it goes back to the start where Brenda Holloway gets to close this fab twofer with her "Little Miss Loser" from 1964 - the year that Motown broke huge. 

Motown, Tamla, Gordy, Tamla Motown - wow! What a rich vein they tapped and by the looks of it will still be doing so for years to come...

 

Titles in the 2CD "A Cellarful Of Motown!" Series are (UK editions):

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown!"

3 June 2002 UK Universal/Motown 544 619-2 (Barcode 731454461924)

All 40-Tracks Previously Unreleased except "Riding High On Love" by Jr. Walker & The All Stars on CD2 (Track 10)

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 2"

4 July 2005 UK Universal/Tamla Motown 982 929-7 (Barcode 602498292976)

All 42-Tracks of The Rarest Detroit Grooves Remastered by Gary Moore

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 3"

15 October 2007 UK Universal/Motown 5303228 (Barcode 600753032282)

45-Track 2CD compilations (hidden tracks) with Gary Moore and Ellen Fitton Remasters

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4"

31 August 2010 UK Universal/Motown 8824009 (Barcode 042288240099)

50-Track 2CD compilation with Jared Hawkes Remasters

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 5"

18 September 2020 UK Caroline Records/Motown CAROLR090CD (Barcode 600753847008)

43-Track 2CD compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters

"Anthology: 50th Anniversary" by FOUR TOPS - Single and Album Tracks from July 1964 to August 1988 (Three Unreleased) on Motown, Dunhill, Probe, ABC, Casablanca, RSO, Geffen and Arista Records featuring Levi Stubbs, Renaldo 'Obie' Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul 'Duke' Fakir with Songs by Smokey Robinson, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Bristol, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and many more (January 2004 US Hip-O Records/Motown/Universal 2CD Compilation of Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...In A Different World..."

 

Blessed with proper access to the extensive Motown Tape Library, Universal's imprint Hip-O Select (or Hip-O Records as they were initially known) began punching out CD compilations that sent most serious collectors into raptures. 

 

Even if they were expensive for catalogue material from the Fifties and Sixties - the presentation was (mostly) classy and sometimes wildly inventive, the notation cool and from proper sources, they usually contained unreleased - in short - the whole shebang collector-wise. But it was the AUDIO that blew you away (and still does). Really great and vastly experienced Remaster Engineers like Erick Labson (Chess and Cadet), Ellen Fitton (Motown Singles Books Series) and that other genius - SUHA GUR. I actively search down his transfers, because they inevitably amaze. 

 

And it's no different with Motown's FOUR TOPS (Suha did the work on this) - four young men from Detroit's North End that were in other groups, but sang together on a dare at a party in 1954. After that, the chemistry went on to a signing with Berry Gordy's Tamla and Motown Records and 2004 found them still an official item - 50-years down the line. In fact, as I write this review in the tailend of January 2023 - next year (2024) will be an astonishing 70-years for THE FOUR TOPS. 

 

And although they're effectively a yesteryear act now and perhaps in the shadow of the more popular Temptations, Four Tops produced gems and masterpieces and this is the twofer place to find them. To the still waters and shadows of love...

 

US released 13 January 2004 - "Anthology: 50th Anniversary" by FOUR TOPS on Hip-O Records/Motown/Universal B0000488-02 (Barcode 044003961722) is a 48-Track 2CD Compilation of Motown, Dunhill, Probe (UK), ABC Records, Casablanca, RSO, Geffen and Arista Records Tracks from July 1964 to August 1988 with New Remasters from Original Tapes. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (78:47 minutes):

1. Baby I Need Your Loving (July 1964 US 45-single, Motown 1062)

2. Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worth Living) (November 1964 US 45-single, Motown 1069)

3. Ask The Lonely (January 1965 US 45-single, Motown 1073)

4. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) (April 1965 US 45-single, Motown 1076)

5. It's The Same Old Song (July 1965 US 45-single, Motown 1081)

6. Something About You (October 1965 US 45-single, Motown 1084)

7. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) (February 1966, Motown 1090)

8. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever (May 1966, Motown 1096)

9. Reach Out I'll Be There (August 1966, Motown 660)

10. Standing In The Shadow Of Love (November 1966, Motown 1102)

11. Bernadette (February 1967, Motown 1104, A-side)

12. I Got A Feeling (B-side of "Bernadette" and August 1966 US LP "Four Tops On Top", Motown 647)

13. 7-Rooms Of Gloom (May 1967, Motown 1110, A-side)

14. I'll Turn To Stone (B-side of "7-Rooms Of Gloom")

15. You Keep Running Away (August 1967, Motown 1113)

16. Walk Away Renee (originally January 1968 US-45, Motown 1119 - this is a Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

17. If I Were A Carpenter (April 1968, Motown 1124)

18. Yesterday's Dreams (June 1968, Motown 1127)

19. I'm In A Different World (September 1968, Motown 1132)

20. What Is A Man (April 1969, Motown 1147)

21. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me (June 1969, Motown 675, reissued Nov 1969, Motown 1159 - this is a Previously Unreleased Extended Stereo Single Mix)

22. It's All In The Game (March 1970, Motown 1164)

23. Still Water (Love) (August 1970, Motown 1170)

24. River Deep - Mountain High - THE SUPREMES and FOUR TOPS (November 1970, Motown 1173 - Previously Unreleased Stereo Single Edit)

25. Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life) (December 1970, Motown 1175)

26. In These Changing Times (May 1971, Motown 1185)

27. MacArthur Park (Part II) (August 1971, Motown 1189)

NOTES: 

Tracks 16, 21 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED versions

CD2 (79:27 minutes):

1. A Simple Game (UK Single Mix) (September 1971 UK-45, Tamla Motown TMG 785)

2. I Can't Quit Your Love (April 1972 US-45, Motown 1198)

3. (It's The Way) Nature Planned It (August 1972, Motown 1210)

4. Keeper Of The Castle (October 1972, Dunhill 4330)

5. Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) (January 1973, Dunhill 4339)

6. Are You Man Enough (May 1973, Dunhill 4354, also on the Original Soundtrack Album "Shaft In Africa" and their album "Main Street")

7. Sweet Understanding Love (August 1973, Dunhill 4366) 

8. I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind (January 1974, Dunhill 4377)

9. One Chain Don't Make No Prison (March 1974, Dunhill 4386)

10. Midnight Flower (June 1974, Dunhill 15005)

11. Seven Lonely Nights (April 1975, ABC 12096)

12. We All Gotta Stick Together (August 1975, ABC 12123)

13. Catfish (August 1976 on ABC 12214; then September 1976 on ABC 12223)

14. H.E.L.P. (October 1978, ABC 12427)

15. When She Was My Girl (July 1981, Casablanca 2338)

16. Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over (January 1982, Casablanca 2345)

17. I Believe In You And Me (July 1982, Casablanca 2353, B-side of "Sad Hearts")

18. Back To School Again (May 1982, RSO 1069)

19. I Just Can't Walk Away (September 1983, Motown 1706)

20. Mean Green Mother From Outer Space - LEVI STUBBS and Chorus (from the November 1986 US Original Soundtrack LP "Little Shop Of Horrors" on Geffen 24125)

21. Indestructible (7-Inch Extended Single) (August 1988 US 12"-Single on Arista AD1-9705-B)

The chunky card digipak looks and feels substantial with new liner notes from Motown affcianado STU HACKEL which is followed by detailed track-by-track credits (28-pages in total). In-between are period photos (mostly 60ts and 70ts) and the usual reissue credits at the rear. But the big news is SUHA GUR Remasters which are fantastic. They even manage three Previously Unreleased on CD1 and some rarities on Cd2. Nice done - to the chunes... 

 

As you play the CD1 openers "Baby I Need Your Loving" or "Ask The Lonely" - you feel the sheer class of the group and are absolutely whomped by that big booming Motown sound courtesy of The Funk Brothers (Motown's inhouse band) - gorgeous transfers that accentuate Levi Stubbs and his fabulous deep tenor vocals. And while radio-friendly hogs will immediately reach for the big chart hits like "It's The Same Old Song", "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", "Bernadette" and the wonderful melodrama (and much confusion) of "Reach Out I'll Be There" - Northern Soul dancers will plumb for those lesser played feet-shuffler sides like "Something About You", the stomping "Shake Me, Wake Me..." and "I Got A Feeling" (a B-side that's been included on this compilation for just that purpose).

Many will have forgotten the loveliness of some of these recordings - "Yesterday's Dreams" (an Ivy Jo Hunter co-write) from the September 1968 album of the same name or the lonely-day Holland-Dozier-Holland bopper "I'm In A Different World" produced by H-D-H and R. Dean Taylor. "Walk Away Renee" is filled with the same sweet vibes (presented here as a Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix), although their valiant attempt at Tim Hardin's socially conscious "If I Were A Carpenter" stills feels uncomfortable to me. They try again with being on the America-in-Turmoil ball with the Johnny Bristol searching song "What Is A Man" - brothers being sent off to fight for their country while Universities would casually turn a blind eye to their enrolment applications. And again the ballad swoon and beauty returns with "It's All In The Game" - a track from the "Still Waters Run Deep" album of March 1970 that Motown plucked out as a single. Here it's Stereo impact is gorgeous - heart flying away.

The first and only rarity on CD1 comes in the shape of "Don't Take Him Take Your Love From Me" - A Stereo Single Mix that's Extended. Penned by that dynamic duo Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong - Levi goes for broke with the vocals as the Funk Brothers groove with brass and backing singers (2:56 minutes). Good, but so much better is the stunning audio on "Still Water (Love)" - another 1970 cut from the "Still Waters Run Deep" LP - a lovely Frank Wilson and Smokey Robinson co-write.

CD1 comes to an end with a string of their first forays into the new decade - the Seventies - the Pamela Swayer penned "Just Seven Numbers..." and co-penned with Frank Wilson "In These Changing Times..." being highlights. 

CD2 opens with the exclusive mix given to the British 45 for "A Simple Game" - Tamla Motown TMG 785 from September 1971 - a song penned by Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues (the US 45 on Motown 1196 had an alternate mix). The wah-wah guitars/strings Funk Sound of the Seventies makes itself known on "I Can't Quit Your Love" - a cut from the April 1972 LP "Nature Planned It" that some club dancers enjoy. Better for me is the Frank Wilson penned smoocher "(It's The Way) Nature Planned It" - a very 'Just My Imagination' groove that gave them a No. 8 hit on the US Billboard R&B singles charts. Levi shows he still has it in the pleading love song stakes with the lovely "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)" - a big hit for them when The Stylistics, Chi-Lites and The Spinners were all mining the same territory. 

Still cool is "Are You Man Enough" where someone is trying to steal with your right to choose - a hit on two albums "Shaft In Africa" and their own "Main Street". The syrup starts to grate a tad by the time we get to "I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" - better is the funkier Dennis Lambert song "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" from 1974 which Santana would cover and make a single off on their 1978 Columbia album "Inner Secrets". And on it goes to Levi Stubbs waxing lyrical about aliens in a dentist's office.

It isn't all magic for sure, but the sound is toppermost and those deep dive discoveries are way cool. This is the one you need...all night long...