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"...I Found Sunshine..."
When Ace Records of the UK started issuing CDs back in the late Eighties (much to the excitement of collectors) – this peach on CDKEN 911 was amongst their first vanguard of titles (originally released June 1987). I bought their Jackie Wilson CD compilation too - "Reet Petite" from May 1986 on Ace CDCH 902. I purchased both because they boasted astonishing remastered sound direct from original Brunswick master tapes.
So why lose a winner to time because Ace has clearly decided to upgrade this early CHI-LITES CD compilation gem (the old artwork is pictured on the rear inlay - see photo above) by reissuing it in June 2004 with a different sleeve and better booklet (the same amazing Audio has been used). So here is the power to the people…
Re-issued February 2004 (see PS below) – "The Best Of The Chi-Lites: The Original Brunswick Recordings 1969-1976" by THE CHI-LITES on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEN 911 (Barcode 029667291125) breaks down as follows (74:18 minutes):
1. Give It Away (January 1969 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55398, A-side)
2. Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was (July 1969 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55414, A-side)
3. 24 Hours Of Sadness (February 1970 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55426, A-side)
4. I Like Your Lovin' (Do You Like Mine) (July 1970 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55438, A-side)
5. Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) (November 1970 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55442, A-side)
6. (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People (April 1971 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55450, June 1971 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1138, A-side)
7. Have You Seen Her (October 1971 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55462, Number 1 R&B hit, December 1971 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1146, A-side)
8. Oh Girl (April 1972 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55471, Number 1 R&B hit, April 1972 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1156, A-side)
9. The Coldest Days Of My Life (July 1972 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55478, July 1972 UK 45-single on MCA Records MU 1162)
10. We Need Order (December 1972 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55489, December 1972 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 1, A-side)
11. A Letter To Myself (February 1973 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55491, March 1973 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 2, A-side)
12. Stoned Out Of My Mind (July 1973 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55500, September 1973 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 7, A-side)
13. I Found Sunshine (November 1973 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55503, June 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 12, A-side)
14. Homely Girl (February 1974 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55505, March 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 9, A-side)
15. Too Good To Be Forgotten (May 1974 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55512, B-side to "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table)" in the USA - September 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 13, A-side in the UK)
16. There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table) (May 1974 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55512, B-side to "Too Good To Be Forgotten" in the USA - September 1974 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 13, B-side in the UK)
17. Toby (January 1975 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55515, January 1975 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 15, A-side)
18. It's Time For Love (October 1975 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55520, August 1975 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 25, A-side)
19. You Don't Have To Go (July 1976 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55528, June 1976 UK 45-single on Brunswick BR 34, A-side)
The 1987 original UK CD (as I recall) had a basic inlay – the 2004 reissue features great liner notes for noted Soul expert TONY ROUNCE in a 12-page upgrade – a man whose name has turned up on countless Ace and Edsel reissues. This time the track-by-track text is peppered with those great US Brunswick singles, UK demos and Trade Adverts. But once again what really grabs you is the audio - fantastically good remasters full of detail and huge presence – Ultimate Sound from original Brunswick Tapes done by ADAM SKEAPING. As most fans will know the Brunswick label famously had the talents of the 5-time Grammy winner BRUCE SWEDIEN as their Audio Engineer (later worked on Michael Jackson's "Thriller") and man does it show.
Take a song like "We Need Order" – a No. 13 Billboard R&B hit in the States (not so in the UK) – it's a mixed tempo song – slinky one second – fast the next. The remaster brings out the fabulous rhythm and layered vocals and brass. The whole run sounds truly amazing and makes for a serious audio nostalgia fest that will have more than a few olden types like me reaching for the Kleenex before the kids see.
Every one of the 19 entries detailed above charted on the American Billboard R&B listings (they had 8 in the UK with "Have You Seen Her" having been a hit twice in 1972 and 1975). The first five tracks were US only 45s - tremendous Chicago-based Soul/R&B - the first British 'Brunswick' 7" single was the seriously synth-funky "(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People)".
Of course the big secret with THE CHI-LITES was the songwriting talent of EUGENE RECORD - even now in 2024 - you forget how good his songs are and why they were so popular. The talking/strings tunes like "A Letter To Myself" and "The Coldest Days Of My Life" border on the cheesy for sure and yet they tug on the heart strings with ease.
"Have You Seen Her", "Oh Girl" and "Homely Girl" are gorgeous Seventies Soul and now bona fide classics (covered by many in tribute). And while I love the huge synth intro to "(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People" and the Beyoncé-sampled brass of "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" – my real poison on here has always been the fabulous "It's Time For Love" from 1975 – which in my book should have been a Number One. For me it encompasses everything that was so dash-darn good about 70ts Soul - Can You Dig It Y'all! Yes! I Do Brother!
There are lots of cheap CHI-LITES compilations (some with re-recordings bearing the same title) - but I urge you to look no further (seek this Kent Soul compilation out). A winner then and now…
PS: Rather confusingly both the 1987 and 2004 CDs for this release use exactly the same catalogue number CDKEN 911 – and worse – the same barcode 029667291125. I mention this because a seller will use the Barcode to locate the right issue for sale. You can therefore get the 1987 original issue with the lesser liner notes instead of the 2004 version with the upgraded booklet – so 'check' with your buyer that it is the 2004 version you're getting (the artwork presently showing on Amazon with the Kent Soul logo in the top right hand corner).
I have included Front, Inner and Rear artwork photos above for the 2004 reissue so you know what to look for...
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