"The Complete Stax Singles" by LITTLE MILTON – Twenty US 45-Single Sides from 1971 to 1975 on Stax Records (January 1995 UK Ace/Stax 20-Track CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson…"

"The Complete Stax Singles" by LITTLE MILTON probably won't win any 'original title of the year' awards any time soon - but it does what it says on the tin - and in remastered audio style. 

More importantly, it made available to fans (in 1995 that is) of both Little Milton and Stax Records, large chunks of missing catalogue numbers (especially on the flipsides) and a hunk of Soul that's both forgotten and deserves reappraisal. There's so much to enjoy on this CD, there really is - here are the back street details...

UK released January 1995 - "The Complete Stax Singles" by LITTLE MILTON on Ace/Stax CDSXD 106 (Barcode 029667910620) plays out as follows (74:31 minutes):

1. If That Ain't A Reason (For Your Woman To Leave You) - 1971 USA 7" on Stax STA-100, A

2. Mr. Mailman (I Don't Want No Letter) - 1971, Stax STA-100, B

3. I'm Living Off The Love You Give - 1971 USA 7" on Stax STA-111, B

4. That's What Love Will Make You Do - 1971, Stax STA-111, A

5. Before The Honeymoon - 1973 USA 7" on Stax STA-124, B

6. Walking The Back Streets And Crying - 1971, Stax STA-124, A

7. I'm Gonna Cry A River - 1972 USA 7" on Stax STA-141, A

8. What It is - 1972, Stax STA-141, B

9. Rainy Day (Extended Version) - 1972 USA 7" Stax STA-148, A

10. Lovin' Stick - 1972, Stax STA-148, B

11. Who Can Handle Me Is You - 1973 USA 7" on Stax STA-174, B (A-side was a reissue of "What It Is")

12. Tin Pan Alley - 1973 USA 7" on Stax STA-191, A

13. Sweet Woman Of Mine, 1973, Stax STA-191, B (also B-side to STN-0238 in May 1975, see Track 18)

14. Behind Closed Doors - 1974 USA 7" on Stax STA-210, A

15. Bet You I Win - 1974, Stax STA-210, B

16. Let Me Back In - 1974 USA 7" on Stax STA-229, A

17. Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson - 1974, Stax STA-229, B

18. If You Talk In Your Sleep (Extended Version) – May 1975 USA 7" on Stax STN-238, A ("Sweet Woman Of Mine" was its B-side)

19. How Could You Do It To Me (Extended Version) – November 1975 USA 7" on Stax STA-252, B-side to Track 20

20. Packed Up And Took My Mind (Extended Version) – November 1975, Stax STA-252, A-side (B-side is Track 19)

The 6-page fold-out inlay has details on each single release by JOHN RIDLEY including a few photos of those American yellow Stax labels. NICK ROBBINS did the remasters from original analogue tapes and the Audio is superb - really punchy - well-produced Soul with loads of depth - the usual bang-up job from Ace.

With a moniker that suggested Blues rather than Soul - Mississippi's James Milton Campbell nonetheless saw four of his eleven Stax 45's hit the American Billboard R&B charts - "That's What Love Make You Do" in February 1972 rose to 9, his radical reworking of Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors" made 31 in May 1974, "Let Me Back In " rose to 38 in December 1974 while his final Stax showing was a version of Elvis Presley's "If You Talk In Your Sleep" which stalled at 34 in July 1975. Not that he was a stranger to chart success prior to 1972  - Little Milton had managed a huge 16-track hit run at Checkers Records from 1962 right up until 1971 when he signed to Stax. A further lone hit "Friend Of Mine" followed after his Stax run on Glades Records 1734 in March 1976.

Musically his Stax period is part Albert King (talking beginnings followed by Soulful tunes with guitar), pleading loverman Johnnie Taylor and part dancefloor boogie like Rufus Thomas. Winners include the very Bluesy "Walking The Back Streets And Crying", two wicked flips in the Clarence Carter feel to "What It Is" and the slink-funk of "Lovin' Stick". The languid "Packed Up And Took My Mind" sees him so close in Stax style to Albert King its scary - while the funky "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" reminds me of Bobby Bland circa "Dreamer" and "His California Album". Most of it is pleasingly cool too.

"The Complete Stax Singles" has been deleted years now and unfortunately acquired a price tag that often hurts. But if you can get a copy and until something better comes along - don't hesitate - jump in and enjoy...

"When The Day Is Done - The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby " by ROBERT KIRBY [VARIOUS ARTISTS] - Including 1970 to 1978 Songs by Nick Drake, Audience, Vashti Bunyan, Sandy Denny, John Cale (of The Velvet Underground), Shelagh McDonald, Steve Ashley, Ralph McTell, Richard and Linda Thompson, Keith Christmas, Ian Matthews, Maddy Pryor and Tim Hart (of Steeleye Span), Dana Gillespie, Shirley Collins, Gary Shearston and more (February 2018 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Autumn Leaves..."

Blame it on the Beatles I say – "The Summer Of Love" to be precise.

Bishop Stortford's Robert Kirby was seeking a choral scholarship when he first met an equally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 18-year old student at Caius College in Cambridge in the autumn of 1966. The pair bonded over Footlights audition failures (both of them) - but in June of 1967 - the two 19-year old English lads (along with everyone else on the planet for that matter) were quietly blown away by the sheer cinematic majesty of "She's Leaving Home" on Side 1 of the Beatles 1967 musical A-bomb - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Typically ahead of their time and always pushing Rock's boundaries – the Fabs had shown these young hopefuls how to marry Autumnal melody and soundscapes to guitars and simplified instruments. The melancholia-mad young new arranger was ROBERT KIRBY, and his first client was the much-missed and beloved singer-songwriter NICK DRAKE - who would sign to Island Records two years later aged only 20. In fact, eagle-eye collectors will notice the subtle homage to Drake's ethereal September 1969 debut album "Five Leaves Left" in the green colour scheme to the artwork of this fiendishly clever reissue.

As well as Drake's (delayed) March 1971 follow-up LP "Bryter Layter" (Kirby was integral to the sound of both) – shortly after Drake's debut Richard orchestrated Vashti Bunyan's Folk-Rock LP "Just Another Diamond Day" on Phillips (a cult record from 1970 worth four-figures today) and from thereon found himself a career in helping other artists realize the potential in their songs. And that's where this very cool 20-Track CD compilation from those right-on erect-nippled chappies at England's Ace Records comes a-lollygagging in. Let's get all Laura Ashley (our Laura approves you know) on the details…

UK released Friday, 23 February 2018 (9 March 2018 in the USA) - "When The Day Is Done - The Orchestrations Of Robert Kirby" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [ROBERT KIRBY] on Ace Records CDTOP 1517 (Barcode 029667088022) is a 20-track CD compilation that plays out as follows (78:52 minutes):

1. Introduction - NICK DRAKE (from the March 1971 UK Second LP "Bryter Layter" on Island Records ILPS 9134)

2. Forest And The Shore - KEITH CHRISTMAS (from the 1971 UK LP "Pigmy" on B&C Records CAS 1041)

3. Ophelia's Song - SHELAGH McDONALD (from the 1970 UK LP "Album" on B&C Records CAS 1019)

4. I Keep A Close Watch - JOHN CALE [of The Velvet Underground] (from the 1975 UK LP "Helen Of Troy" on Island Records ILPS 9350)

5. Dancing At Whitsun - TIM HART and MADDY PRYOR [of Steeleye Span] (from the 1971 UK LP "Summer Solstice" on B&C Records CAS 1035)

6. Rainbow River - VASHTI BUNYAN (from the November 1970 UK LP "Just Another Diamond Day" on Phillips 6308 019)

7. I've Seen The Movie - ANDY ROBERTS (from the 1971 UK LP "Nina And The Dream Tree" on Pegasus Records PEG 5)

8. White Witch - SPRIGUNS (from the 1977 UK LP "Time Will Pass" on Decca SKL 5286)

9. It's My Own Way - GILLIAN McPHERSON (from the September 1971 UK LP "Poets And Painters And Performers Of Blues" on RCA Victor SF 8220)

10. Follow On - STEVE ASHLEY (from the 1974 UK LP [recorded 1971] "Stroll on” on Gull Records GULP 1003)

11. Silver Threads And Golden Needles - SANDY DENNY (from the 1977 UK LP "Rendezvous" on Island Records ILPS 9433)

12. Love Is A Funny Thing - SPIROGYRA (from the 1971 UK LP "St. Radigunds" on B&C Records CAS 1042)

13. Friend To Me - GARY SHEARSTON (from the 1975 UK LP "The Greatest Stone On Earth And Other Two-Bob Wonders" on Charisma CAS 1042)

14. Honour Bright - SHIRLEY COLLINS (Unreleased track that first appeared on "Within Sound", a 2002 CD Box Set on Fledg'ling Records CDNEST 5001)

15. First Light - RICHARD and LINDA THOMPSON (from the 1978 UK LP "First Light" on Chrysalis CHR 1177)

16. Raviole - AUDIENCE (from the 1971 UK LP "The House On The Hill" on Charisma CA 1032)

17. Madonna Blue - ILLUSION [Jane Relf, Jim McCarty and others from Renaissance] (from the 1978 UK LP "Illusion" on Island ILPS 9519)

18. Gimme An Inch Girl - IAN MATTHEWS (a Robert Palmer song from the 1978 UK LP "Stealin' Home" on Rockburgh ROC 106)

19.  What Memories We Make - DANA GILLESPIE (from the 1973 UK LP "Weren't Born A Man" on RCA Victor APL 1-0354)

20. Pick Up The Gun - RALPH McTELL (from the 1971 UK LP "You Well-Meaning Brought Me Here" on Famous SFMA 5753)

Your eyes are immediately drawn to a Trade Advert repro'd on Page 3 of the booklet - what a trio - Island Records advising that on 3 July 1969 the public can buy Nick Drake's "Five Leaves Left" (his debut arranged by Kirby), the latest advancement in Folk-Rock by Fairport Convention with the bonkers-titled "Unhalfbricking" and just to rub salt into those confused wounds - "Kip Of The Serenes" by Dr. Strangely Strange (my God was them the days). Spread across 20-pages festooned with album sleeves you rarely see and their equally obscure trade adverts - St. Etienne leading light and all-round good-egg BOB STANLEY provides some of the most entertaining, informative and properly affectionate liner notes I've ever read. Kirby's track record is impressive - not just arrangements for tasteful strings but for the Mellotron, Recorder and Harp. The listen is mostly Folk-Rock on a mellow tip with the feeling of Autumn Leaves falling outside your bedsit window as the cat yawns in the corner. And even if a few of the songs aren’t nearly as gorgeous as the Bobster would have us believe (hence the four stars) – make no mistake – this is an impressive listen and superbly presented release.

Long-standing Audio Engineer and long-time associate to Ace Records NICK ROBBINS has handled the mastering and what a job he's done. I've not heard the Ian Matthews pop of Robert Palmer's "Gimme An Inch Girl" or the brilliant but completely forgotten "Friend To Me" by Gary Shearston sound so good. This is a compilation where you 'want' the audio to be top-notch on every song and it is (I've the Spinney reissue of the Vashti Bunyan album and I'd swear the sound on the key track provided here is better than the 2000 master). On to the pastoral music...

It begins with an absolute humdinger - the entirely orchestral "Introduction" by Nick Drake - the opening track on Side 1 of his second studio album "Bryter Layter" from 1970. Surely one of Kirby's most sublime moments – the gorgeous mood it creates is cleverly followed by seven-minutes of a Folk-Rock song that few of us know - "Forest And The Shore" by Keith Christmas. Kirby makes the Mellotron on this completely overlooked melodic adventure sound like a choir and adds an almost "Nursery Cryme/Foxtrot" Genesis-sound to the long song elevating it into something special. His girlfriend and fellow Folky Shelagh McDonald is up next with the poignant "Ophelia's Song" where she sings of daisy chains and Christmas pinewood lanes and her backing band is most of Sandy Denny's vagabond pals Fotheringay (impressive company to say the least).

Unfortunately we next get what I feel is one of several clunkers – the kill-me-soon drone of John Cale. I know people worship at the altar of all things velvety and throw petals at the feet of every VU solo project – but the man's voice is surely on a CIA interrogation list somewhere along with waterboarding and Anne Widdecombe sermons. However that rare wrong foot is quickly blown away by the beautiful "Dancing At Whitsun" brought to us by Steeleye Span's guitar-player Tim Hart and singer Maddy Pryor. Kirby makes the 'Recorder' sing. Mike Oldfield must have been listening to this particularly English instrument because his first three albums "Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge" and "Ommadawn" are steeped in its distinct pastoral sound (Clifford T. Ward and Al Stewart).

Vashti Bunyan has a very clean vocal on the warbling finger-in-the-ear Folk of "Rainbow River" and Kirby's string arrangement arriving a few minutes into the long Andy Roberts break-up song "I've See The Movie" virtually saves the thing from itself. Other goodies include the Gillian McPherson track "It's My Own Way" which features Pentangle's Danny Thompson, Dave Cousins of The Strawbs and jazzman Johnny Almond - while Steve Ashley's "Follow On" was actually recorded in 1971 (unreleased until 1974) and its high-strung acoustic guitar has more than a touch of Duncan Browne's self-titled LP on RAK Records in 1973 (good news in my book). Another amazing production can be found in "Friend To Me" by Gary Shearston and how good is it to hear the Richard and Linda Thompson "First Light" on the digital format anywhere.

With a stonking seventy-eight minutes of overall excellence to choose from there was always going to be a few dribbles on the sonic bib and for me the clunky John Cale and Dana Gillespie/Ralph McTell songs towards the end let the collective side down somewhat. And even if I'm hung from a Cotswold yard-iron and prodded repeatedly in the Irish unmentionables with a pastoral pitchfork by the cloth-capped Mafia of musical taste – no matter how hip and collectable they are I find the Spriguns track just the wrong side of musically twee - and along with other three keep "When The Day Is Done" a hair's breadth away from greatness (many may disagree).

Yet apart from those debatable blips - there's magic here and you can't but help feel a huge well of genuine affection for this gorgeous, timely and very smartly compiled CD. For me "When The Days Is Done – The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby" is already one of the 'Reissues of the Year' 2018 and I can only suspect that Paul Buckmaster's equally extraordinary work with Bowie, Elton John, Nilsson, Carly Simon and so many others is hopefully next in this series.

Another peach from England's Ace Records then and master-compiler/musical-hero Bob Stanley – a Romantic Englishman who is now to be kissed gently on his Sweet Afton by a lacily-clad Lady Chatterley and thereafter forced to lap dance nightly in a Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley three-way. Hell, I'll join in - if my Pilates schedule allows of course.

"…Time has told me…you're a rare, rare find…" – Nick Drake sang on the truly beautiful song "Time Has Told Me". When it comes to arranger Robert Kirby - never were truer words spoken. Well done boys and roll on the next chapter... 

"Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976" by ISAAC HAYES – Twenty 45-Single Sides on Enterprise, Stax Records and Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records in their 7" Single Edited Forms – Musicians Include The Bar-Kays, The Isaac Hayes Movement and a Duet with David Porter (April 2025 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Nick Robbins Remasters – Volume 2 of a Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Ike's Mood 20…"

Second Volume from those terribly with-it chappies over at Ace Records for the Singles Discography of all thangs Isaac Hayes on Enterprise, Hot Buttered Soul and ABC Records. 

Volume 1 hit us in October 2024 (Single CD, 2LP Vinyl set – the same here) and was something of an instant classic with fans and collectors alike. 

But - despite the NICK ROBBINS Remasters delivering big time and containing Enterprise and HBS/ABC single-sides that are difficult to find on CD – even the most die-hard shafting enthusiast would have to contend that Hayes pursued that Disco Dollar just a little too much in the later years (the "Juicy Fruit..." stuff isn't exactly my cup of Darjeeling) - so some of Volume 2 (like Volume 1) has not dated well. And there was the "Wonderful" 9-Track CD compilation that gathered up much of this stuff in Phil De Lancie Remastered form back in September 1994 (issued both in the USA and UK/Europe) which any self-respecting IH fan would already have. But here in April 2025 - that was more than 30-years ago – so updates ahoy.

This gold-chain-clanking beastie contains things like the sought-after B-side "Type Thang" that was featured in the Blaxploitation movie "Shaft's Big Score" but not on the vinyl album, the two single-edits of "Joy Pt 1" and "Joy Pt 2" that will allow fans to hear a more manageable eight-minutes of this wickedly good groove rather than the overdone near 16-minute LP version and the B-side instrumental 45-edit to "Hung Up On My Baby" from the "Tough Guys" Soundtrack of 1974. 

Fans and buyers alike should also note that although Volume 1 was dated 1969 to 1972 – space restrictions did not allow Ace to include his last 45 for that year in Volume 1. Thus Ike's last 45 of 1972 opens Volume 2 (September 1972 in the USA and November 1972 in the UK) - the rest concentrating on 1973 to 1976 on Enterprise Records and his own Hot Buttered Soul label (issued via ABC Records). 

So – and as it is with so many compilations - "Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976" by Isaac Hayes has its highs and lows - but even the slips are not that bad. The UK VINYL 2LP Set (also issued 25 April 2025) on Ace Records HIQLP2 154 (Barcode 029667026116) offers the full 20-tracks/liner notes and will surely become a sought-after double. To the damn-right-baby details…

UK released Friday, 25 April 2025 - "Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976" by ISAAC HAYES on Ace Records CDTOP 1660 (Barcode 029667112628) is a 20-Track Remastered CD Compilation of 45-Single Side Edits And Non-LP Material that plays out as follows (this review provides both US and UK 45-Single Discography details - 77:12 minutes total playing time):

1. Theme From The Men (Instrumental) (4:00 minutes)
2. Type Thang (3:49 minutes)
USA: released 18 September 1972, Enterprise ENA-9058, A&B-sides
UK: released 3 November 1972, Stax Records 2025 146, A&B-sides
A-side is a Leon Ware and Jacqueline Hilliard song. Later recorded by Third Creation and issued (Promo-only) in the USA on Motown M 1250F in 1973. The B-side Type Thang was featured in the "Shaft's Big Score" film but not on the soundtrack album.

3. Rolling Down A Mountainside (4:18 minutes)
4. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right (4:43 minutes)
USA: March 1973, Enterprise ENA-9065, A&B-sides as above
UK: 20 April 1973, Stax 2025 117, sides reversed, A-side was (If Loving You…)

5. Joy Pt 1 (4:35 minutes)
6. Joy Pt 2 (3:41 minutes)
USA: released November 1973, Enterprise ENA-9085, A&B-sides
UK: released 8 February 1974, Stax Records 2025 220, A&B-sides
Note: A&B-sides is an Isaac Hayes song – the full length 15:55 minute album cut is on the October 1973 US LP "Joy" on Enterprise ENS-5007 (October 1973 UK on Stax 2325 111, reissued UK on Stax STX 1016 in August 1974)

7. Wonderful (3:37 minutes)
8. Someone Made You For Me (4:00 minutes)
USA: released March 1974, Enterprise ENA-9095
UK: no UK issue
Note: Non-LP track in the USA at the time of release. A -side by Isaac Hayes, B-side by Henry Glover (both produced by IH). Finally released on a US compilation CD album called "Wonderful" in September 1994 on Stax SCD-8585-2 (Stax CDSXE 112 in the UK). The 9-track "Wonderful" CD compilation gathered up seven of his Non-LP Enterprise US singles and added in two Live Songs from the "Wattstax/The Living Word" two double-albums - "Ain't No Sunshine" (a Bill Withers cover at 17:38 minutes) and a longer live take of "Rolling Down A Mountainside" at 5:27 minutes – both recorded in Los Angeles, 20 August 1972 (from Volume 1 and 2 respectively)

9. Title Theme (2:32 minutes)
10. Hung Up On My Baby (Instrumental) (3:37 minutes)
USA: released July 1974, Enterprise ENA-9104, A&B-sides
UK: released 30 August 1974, Stax STXS 2004, A&B-sides
Note: the A-side is the same length as the "Tough Guys" Soundtrack LP cut to the Paramount film "Three Tough Guys" – but the B-side is an edit to the full-length LP version of 6:15 minutes

11. Chocolate Chip (Vocal) (3:45 minutes)
12. Chocolate Chip (Instrumental) (4:05 minutes)
USA: released August 1975, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12118, A&B-sides
UK: released 22 August 1975, ABC Records ABC 4076, A&B-sides
Note: written by IH, both tracks from the 1975 US LP "Chocolate Chip" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-874 - LP versions are 5:30 and 5:32 minutes respectively

13. Come Live With Me (3:24 minutes)
14. Body Language (3:45 minutes)
USA: released October 1975, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12138, A&B-sides
UK: no UK issue
Note: written by IH, both tracks from the 1975 US LP "Chocolate Chip" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-874 – LP versions are 6:35 and 5:31 minutes respectively

15. Disco Connection (3:38 minutes)
16. St. Thomas Square (4:39 minutes)
USA: released 15 February 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12171, A&B-sides
UK: released 19 March 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC 4100, A&B-sides
Note: credited to ISAAC HAYES MOVEMENT – both tracks on the 1975 US LP "Disco Connection" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-923 – LP versions are 6:14 and 5:52 minutes respectively

17. Rock Me Easy Baby (Pt.1) (3:32 minutes)
18. Rock Me Easy Baby (Pt.2) (3:55 minutes)
USA: released April 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12176, A&B-sides
UK: released 11 June 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC 4111, A&B-sides
Note: from the 1976 US LP "Groove-A-Thon" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-925 – full LP version is 8:17 minutes

19. Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak) Pt. I (3:43 minutes)
20. Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak) Pt. II (3:07 minutes)
USA: released August 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12206, A&B-sides
UK: released 10 September 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC 4136, A&B-sides
Note: from the 1976 US LP "Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-953 – full LP version is 6:15 minutes

As it was with Volume 1 - the 16-page booklet of Volume 2 features fantastically detailed liner notes from Ace's long-standing Soul Expert and Scribe – TONY ROUNCE – a sure sign of quality – and clearly a big fan of the mighty Hayes. All pages are sided with US, UK and European label repros and rare picture sleeves (dig the Pic Sleeves for "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" and "Joy" on Pages 5 and 7). By the time we get to 1974, 1975 and 1976 – most territories have dispensed with anything as elaborate as a picture sleeve and instead the booklet pops for 45 Promo Copies on the Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records labels. A good read and fabulous Remasters from long-time Audio Engineer for Ace - NICK ROBBINS – this period featuring super clear Production values and a band in the pocket every time – even if the material does not reach the pinnacle of his earlier Stax output. To the tunes…

For 1972, "Theme From The Men" sounds like Disco four years before the charts caught on to its rhythms – gorgeous audio as those strings and brass jabs kick in. Loving the wah-wah and arrangement that has the slightest touch of 007 about its swagger. Followed by one of my fave-raves - you're a square type-thang if you're feet ain't moving to the so-period Soundtrack-meets-Soul of "Type Thang". Strings feature heavily before the Big Ike comes in with his winners-and-losers chocolate éclair vocals - "Rolling Down A Mountainside" – the Movement funking with those brass and strings backing up by a driving beat. I doubt there a wrong version of the right love song that is "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" – a fabulous Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and Raymond Jackson song made famous by Luther Ingram and others. Many countries probably played this over the official A. 

You can feel the sophistication and era changes in "Joy" – a fabulous groove on an admittedly patchy album (of the same name). Whittled down from its marathon 16-minutes on the LP – Hayes cleverly gives Part 2 to DJs on the flipside so with two copies they could cue-in Part II as punters got into the groove they did not want to end. This joyful Funky pairing is my current go-to combo on this compilation. "Wonderful" is another cool groove even if the lyrics are a tad cheesy – a Non-LP 45 with the Bacharach/David-embracing smoocher "Someone Made You For Me" on the flipside. No such lurve shenanigans with the wild guitars and very Blaxploitation vibe to "Title Theme" (the movie Two Tough Guys) – warbling high-hats, fuzz licks and brass – the production though has always bothered me and still does. Way better is the high-stepping instrumental "Hung Up On My Baby" which feels like George Benson and Phil Upchurch with something funky going on in a sensual guitar way (brass joins the soloing about one and half-minutes in to fab effect, followed by a fuzzed-up Isley Brothers type guitar solo). You can so hear why this cut is sought after – all business and no bollox.

Both cuts of "Chocolate Chip" have a relentlessly Funky backbeat that must have torn up dancefloors - James Brown and Isaac Hayes melted into one brass-driving gem. Time to lurve baby - Ike has done a lot of playing around (big cities and smaller towns) but now he's found a girl he wants to settle with and she needs to "Come Live With Me". Gorgeous production values for sure and a clear Remaster - but this kind of soppy smooch is hard to hack in 2025. Better is the guitar, high hat and piano slink in "Body Language" where her action produces satisfaction (steady now Ike). And again - really great audio with presence and power as the strings lift things up about 1:25 minutes in. 

For me the ever-so-slight rot started in on "Disco Connection" - a half-decent groove but one that still feels somehow uninspired. But I had forgotten how good the instrumental B-side "St. Thomas Square" was - a pleasant surprise. 1976 and we're embracing a combo of Disco and Funk with (mostly) great results - his "Rock Me Easy Baby" and "Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)" singles filled with loverman lyrics and sexy-lexy 'long as you please me' grooves (check out Part 2 of Rock Me Easy Baby – heavy on the Tablas and Heavy breathing). For sure "Juicy Fruit..." is the lesser of the two – but I know genre lovers who swear it's a forgotten deep cut that should be revisited. And again - fantastic audio filling your overheating speakers.

Like its predecessor Volume 1 - despite its occasional dips - I am going to keep coming back to "Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976". This is another win-win compilation for Ace - suave Symphonic Soul and Funk making me dig it...easy baby...

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"Make Mine Mondo! 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 28-Tracks from 1954 to 1967 of Fuzzed Out Garage Bands - Manic Instrumentals and Wayward Rockabillies on the Dore Label and its Subsidiaries (November 2024 UK Ace Records CD Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

Overall ****

Presentation ****

Audio *** to ****

"...Hullee Gullee..."

June 2018's mad as a wine-drinking Euro bureaucrat "Make Mine Mondo!" CD compilation from Ace Records concentrated primarily on the Doré Records label – a US 50ts and 60ts independent with a seriously eclectic roster.

That 2018 Volume 1 offered up nearly 68-minutes of wildly adventurous styles and largely unknown names (part genius, part yeah-baby nuttiness) – lambasting our lavishly creamy and unsuspecting fragilities with Fifties and Sixties Garage, Rockabilly, off-centre Instrumentals, Fuzz Guitar Psych, Doom Girl Groups, the occasional surfing tune and much more (1958 to 1969) - nearly all of which worked and entertained like the beautifully presented liner notes promised it would.

Well, what we get here (a full six years later) is Volume 2 for November 2024 - this time covering 1954 to 1967. "Make Mine Mondo! 2" offers up the same butt-wobbling array of drunken Rock 'n' Rollers, yee-haw Rockabillies, unhinged instrumentals and fuzz-guitar loopers - but this time on an array of different labels orbiting around Doré - Flip, Acree, Era, Mira, Rayjack, Downey, Bamboo, Daytone and more. Only one of these Non-LP As and Bs is a returning name from Volume 1 (The Zanies) – the others are often so obscure, there are barely images for them should you do a Net search. Rare and Rocking indeed. Time for Beaver Patrol, Voodoo Doll and The Outlaw Blues (they got their Mojo working I can tell you) – to the details...

UK released Friday, 29 November 2024 - "Make Mine Mondo! 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Records CDTOP 1642 (Barcode 029667111829) is a 28-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (66:59 minutes):

1. Clap Your Hands – AMBERTONES (December 1965 US 7" single on Rayjack 1001, A-side - Reissued January 1966 on Newman 601, A-side)

2. Slander - TY WAGNER (November 1966 US 7" single on Era 3168, A-side)

3. Viet Nam – BOBBY JAMESON (1965 US 7" single on Mira 208, A-side)

4. By Bye Baby (My Pride) – SHANK And MAYDIEA (August 1962 US 7" single on Flip 45-361, A-side)

5. Beaver Patrol – THE BLAZERS (July 1963 US 7" single on Acree 101, A-side)

6. Café Bohemia – THE ENCHANTERS (1961 US 7" single on Bamboo Records 513, B-side of "Touch of Love")

7. I'm A Blind – THE WIZARD'S (May 1966 US 7" single on Era 3161, B-side of "I Want To Live")

8. The Voodoo Doll – BOBBY PLEASE & THE VOODOO DOLLS (1958 US 7" single on Flip 45-342, A-side)

9. Hurricane – CONRAD and THE HURRICANE STRINGS (December 1963 US 7" single on Daytone G-6401, A-side)

10. I Got My Mojo Working – JOYCE HARRIS & THE DAYLIGHTERS (Originally Unissued Domino Records recording first released on the 1997 UK CD Compilation "The Domino Records Story" on Ace Records CDCHD 506 – a Trailer Version of "I Got My Mojo Working" was also UK 45-single issued February 2024 on Ace Records NW 518 with the 1961 recording "No Way Out" as its B-side)

11. Crab Louie – THE SANDABS (July 1962 US 7" Single on Bamboo 522, B-side to "Beach Ball" by Little Herbie and The Sandabs on the A-side, Little Herbie is Herb Newman – reissued July 1963 on the B-side of Catch 107 credited to Little Herbie And The Wise Guys – A-side was "I Want My Beach Ball")

12. I Ain't Drunk – LONNIE "THE CAT" (April 1954 US 7" Single on RPM Records 45x410, A-side)

13. Red Hot Rockin' Blues – JESSE JAMES (September 1958 US 7" Single on Kent 45x314, B-side of "South's Gonna Rise Again")

14. The Wild Bird – THE JIVE-A-TONES (1958 US 7" Single on Fraternity F-823, A-side)

15. Jambo – CLAUDE McLIN (1963 US 7" Single on Mac-Jac Records MJR-1208, B-side of "Jacquelyn")

16. Stalled – THE ZANIES (June 1962 US 7" Single on Doré 638, A-side)

17. Hullee Gullee – FRED RICHARDS (April 1959 US 7" Single on Flip 45-344, B-side of "Barricade")

18. Non-Stop Blues – THE OUTLAW BLUES (January 1967 US 7" Single on Era 3171, A-side)

19. Sleepy Hollow – THE LAST WORD (June 1966 US 7" Single on Downey D-137, A-side)

20. Talk To Me Baby – DONNIE BOWSER (June 1961 US 7" Single on Bamboo 508, B-side of "Tomorrow")

21. Mumbles – JOHNNY BACHELOR (March 1959 US 7" Single on Era 1091, A-side – also issued March 1960 in the UK as a 45-single on London HLN 9074, A-side)

22. Soul Serenade – BEAU DOLLAR & THE COINS (1966 US 7" Single on Fraternity F-960, A-side – Produced by LONNIE MACK)

23. No Way Out – JOYCE HARRIS (January 1961 US 7" Single on Domino R-905, A-side – Reissued March 1961 in the USA on Infinity INX-005, A-side)

24. Tell Me Why – KICKS (1964 US 7" Single on X-P-A-N-D-E-D Sound X-102, B-side of "Oh My Baby (Always Be True)")

25. Don't Leave Me Baby – JOE LOVER And THE GAYLADS BAND (1960 US 7" single on Parliament P-1001, A-side – Reissued 1961 in the USA on Paxley P-754, A-side)

26. So What!! – THE LYRICS (November 1965 US 7" Single on Era 3153, B-side of "You Can't Hurt Me" – Reissued May 1968 in the USA on Feather 101, B-side of "Why'd He Go")

27. Church Key Twist – BOB VAUGHT & THE RENEGAIDS with Barbara Atkins (1962 US 7" Single on Impact 24-IM, A-side – Reissued May 1962 in the USA on Bamboo 520, A-side)

28. The Cave (Part1) – GARY 'Spider' WEBB (April 1961 US 7" Single on Bamboo 504, A-side)

NOTES:
All Tracks MONO except Tracks 3, 5, and 19 in STEREO

Volume 1 came with a 26-page booklet – Vol.2 has 20 – and again each page of the ROB FINNIS liner notes is peppered with those rare US 45-single labels, a Forbidden World magazine, trade reviews for the Fred Richards song, pictures of one-time Elvis Presley mentor and friend Jesse Lee Denson (aka Jesse James), Saxophonist Claude McLin (looking like Inspector Clouseau with Hat and Pipe), a Domino Records Promotional black and white for Etta James-soundalike Joyce Walker (there is a recent interview with the lady quoted) and Ohio Rockabilly hero Donnie Bowser getting his two-frantic-minutes of Rock and Roll B-side glory. 

Finnis knows his onions and what listeners want – his superlative liner notes illuminating histories on so many virtual unknowns while Ace's trusted Audio Engineer NICK ROBBINS delivers (as best he can) on a huge variety of Mono 7" singles (only 3 are in Stereo). It should be said – Mondo 2 is very far from Audiophile territory – these homemade productions reflecting their manic strung-together nature – but there is no doubting the punch they pack which I can't help think is exactly what Frat Boys like me want from a CD like this. To the music and its wild variety of genres...

Things begin with a manic tambourine-shaking brass-and-guitar blaster calling all hipsters to get their bellbottoms on and party. Not surprisingly called "Clap Your Hands" - The Ambertones were right on the zeitgeist money. An absolute garage monster – party mania slice number two follows with the wavering Hawaiian guitar sounds and screeching organ of Ty Wagner bemoaning his wayward girl and her big mouth in "Slander". Even better is the Bo Diddley-type sonic assault of Harmonica and Rhythm from Bobby Jameson doing his vocal and lyrical worst to "Viet Nam" – a fantastic frantic piece of social-conscious 60ts R&B. Things slinky-on-down with a clever duet vocal from Ed Wells (as Shank) and his sister Maydiea Cole (as Maydiea) – and as the liner notes – it is an oddly endearing performance that stays on the right side of lounge-cool.

Next up is the first instrumental of "Make Mind Mondo! 2" – Vern Acree, Jr. giving it some Link Wray Rumble-type guitar rat-a-tat attacks while Saxophonist Larry Robins (both in The Blazers) tries to keep up in their homemade and self-financed "Beaver Patrol. The Enchanters start out in their opening notes as a 50ts Vocal Group would – but suddenly about 20-seconds in "Café Bohemia" turns into a shimmy-shaker with echoed Tablas and lounge-lizard type Saxophones schmoozing the olive-laden martinis. So mid-60ts The Wizards and their "I'm A Blind" – remind me of melodious Kinks while the very funny novelty record "The Voodoo Doll" has our poor lead singer opening a box from his gal - who in a call-and-answer duet vocal assures him that the contents within will take only three days to make him hers (permanently – and is he freaked by that). More instrumental madness only this time with a decided Surf vibe - "Hurricane" by Conrad and His Hurricanes virtually dripping bikinis and beach bums riding the waves man.

A rip-roaring prize here is surely the Wanda Jackson/Judy Henske-like wail of Joyce Harris giving us the fab "I Got My Mojo Working" – an unreleased 60ts Rock and Roller first released in 1997 on an Ace CD. A clever follow comes in the fun-time Sax-driven shout and response what-do-you-want "Crab Louie". Rhythm and Blues comes in the form of a drink-denial Shopping For Clothes tune - "I Ain't Drunk" – Lonnie "The Cat" assuring us the he ain't high – he's just drinking! Another fantastic find for Rockabilly and Rock and Roll fans is the go-for-it-boys beat-basher "Red Hot Rockin' Blues" – a fast and furious B-side from Jesse James. Time for a shuffler that sounds like early Chuck Berry at Chess – only a very cool "The Wild Bird" is a guitar instrumental from The Jive-A-Tones. Sounding like a human Jew's Harp as he literally scats dings and dongs to an Organ and Drums bip-bop beat – Claude McLin is having a blast with "Jambo" – a fabulous inclusion. And the fun continues with the car-not-starting beep-beep of "Stalled" – another great bopping instrumental B-side from The Zanies. Shivering guitars hover a distant beatbox drumbeat in the eerily brill "Hullee Gullee" – Fred Richards earning his place. 

Hurtling towards the end run, we get another fuzz-guitar garage romper in the shape of the driving "Non-Stop Blues" – a head-shaker that has nothing to do with its misleading title. A lone bass note introduces yet another prize on here – the superb Stereo of "Sleepy Hollow" – The Last Word sounding like The Animals and Them combined as they try to convince us there is no headless horseman. Back to Rhythm and Blues Fats Domino rolling rhythm fun - "Talk To Me Baby" by Donnie Bowser - which is followed by the whisper in his ear baby "Mumbles" – dig that echoed Eddie Cochran type vocal. And on it goes with the fantastic Harmonica R&B of "So What!!" to the pleading Vocal Group vibe of "Don't Leave Me Baby" to the Bobby Boris & The Crypt Kickers echoed weirdness of "The Cave (Part 1)" where Jimmy and Julie keep calling out to each other but are lost in the dark.

I had thought that Volume 1 of "Make Mine Mondo!" was going to be a chore – but it wasn't – and to my weary ears – Volume 2 is even better. With so many genres vying for your attention, it's gotta be hard to make it all work and yet – once again – Ace Records have pulled it off. 

In short - "Make Mine Mondo! 2" is another wee nugget CD compilation (November 2024) from the worryingly disturbed minds of men who should know better over at Steele Road, London NW10. Recommended...

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"Hot Buttered Singles: 1969-1972" by ISAAC HAYES – Nineteen 45-Single Sides on Enterprise (USA) and Stax Records (UK) in their Edited Form – Musicians Include The Bar-Kays, The Isaac Hayes Movement and a Duet with David Porter (October 2024 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Duncan Cowell Remasters – Volume 1 of a Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

Overall ****

Audio **** to ***** (mostly 5)

Presentation: *****

"…Ike's Mood 19…"

Purely on the facial - this is a humdinger of a release from those terribly with-it chappies over at Ace Records in England. But as with so many compilations, it ain't all as yeah-baby as any self-respecting dude/dudette would hope for.

Nine yellow-label Enterprise US singles plus One Bonus Instrumental – 19 tracks. There are 45-single edits galore on here that fans will dig (Non-LP B-sides too) all spliced together in the one place as opposed to the huge meandering Symphonic Soul trips on the expanded albums. The Audio absolutely rocks too (Duncan Cowell Remasters), there's the usual quality booklet that deep dives each release and their convoluted Stax/Enterprise Records Blaxploitation history (16-Pages of Tony Rounce liner notes) and it has a near 79-minute playing time too – all impressive.

But a Seasonal cheeseball twofer towards the start and the last five of the nineteen seriously let the side down including a badly thought-out duet with David Porter and an old instrumental on which Hayes only plays Sax – hence the four – and not the winning five. 

But - as it is also a DOUBLE VINYL-ALBUM issue for 25 October 2024 as well as CD – I can see both formats appealing to a huge part of the Big Man's rabid fanbase. To the gold chainmail baby…damn right…

UK released Friday, 25 October 2024 - "Hot Buttered Singles: 1969-1972" by ISAAC HAYES on Ace Records CDTOP 1650 (Barcode 029667024013) is a 19-Track Remastered CD Compilation of 45-Single Side Edits And Non-LP Material that plays out as follows – this review provides both US and UK 45-Single Discography details (78:37 minutes):

1. Walk On By (4:32 minutes)
2. By The Time I Get To Phoenix (6:54 minutes)
USA: released July 1969, Enterprise ENA-9003, A&B-sides
UK: released 17 October 1969, Stax Records STAX 133, A&B-sides
Both Tracks edited from their album versions on "Hot Buttered Soul"

3. The Mistletoe And Me (3:55 minutes)
4. Winter Snow (2:57 minutes)
USA: November 1969, Enterprise ENA-9006, A&B-sides
UK: no UK issue
Appears to have been re-issued November 1970 with the same catalogue number in the USA – a Re-Promote – Neither Song on LP – Both are Early 60ts Hayes compositions

5. I Stand Accused (4:04 minutes)
6. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (7:01 minutes)
USA: released August 1970, Enterprise ENA-9017, A&B-sides
UK: released August 1970, Stax Records STAX 154, A&B-sides
Note: A-side is a Jerry and Billy Butler cover version – full length 11:30 minute cut is on the April 1970 US LP "The Isaac Hayes Movement"; B-side is a cover version of the Bacharach and David song made famous by Dusty Springfield and is the same running time as the LP cut

7. The Look Of Love (3:17 minutes)
8. Ike's Mood 1 (5:57 minutes)
USA: released January 1971, Enterprise ENA-9028 (see Note)
UK: no UK issue
Note: Despite Ace's alignment of the tracks – the A-side in the USA was "Ike's Mood 1" with the edit of "The Look Of Love" on the B-side (the album version of the Bacharach and David song popularized by Dusty Springfield is 11:11 minutes). Despite his huge popularity in the States at the time (number 1 albums on the R&B charts) – the meandering/building "Ike's Mood 1" which was a guitar and piano Symphonic Soul instrumental punctuated by lady backing-vocals, but it did not score big on the US Billboard 45-Singles chart (the LP version is 6:31 minutes). The edited sung B-side "The Look Of Love" however made No. 79 on the Hot 100. Both tracks from the December 1970 US LP "…To Be Continued"

9. Never Can Say Goodbye (3:37 minutes)
10. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) (4:22 minutes)
USA: released April 1971, Enterprise ENA-9031, A&B-sides
UK: released 16 July 1971, Stax 2025 029, A&B-sides
Note: initially released as a stand-alone 45 – the A-side (a Clifton Davis song also covered by The Jackson 5 at the time of this release – both versions charted in the USA side-by-side) later appeared on the "Black Moses" 2LP set in December 1971; B-side is a Hank Williams cover version, is Non-LP and in Mono (all others Stereo)

11. Theme From Shaft (3:15 minutes)
12. Café Regio's (2:43 minutes)
USA: released September 1971, Enterprise ENA-9038, A&B-sides
UK: released 26 November 1971, Stax 2025 069, A&B-sides
Note: the UK issue credited the A-side as Theme From "Shaft"; this iconic Soul-Funk song has been reissued at least six times since in Britain; both songs (the B is an instrumental in a Lounge Music style) are from the Blaxploitation 2LP movie Soundtrack "Shaft" (released July 1971) starring Richard Roundtree in the lead role with all music by Isaac Hayes

13. Do Your Thing (3:17 minutes)
14. Ellie's Love Theme (3:16 minutes)
USA: released February 1972, Enterprise ENA-9042, A&B-sides
UK: no UK issue
Note: the A-side is an edit, album version is almost 20-minutes; both tracks on the 2LP Soundtrack to "Shaft"

15. Let's Stay Together (3:46 minutes)
16. Soulsville (3:45 minutes)
USA: released February 1972, Enterprise ENA-9045, A&B-sides
UK: no UK issue
Note: the A-side Instrumental is an Al Green cover on which Hayes plays Saxophone; the B-side is one of the few Vocal Tracks on the "Shaft" Soundtrack

17. Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) (4:21 minutes)
18. Baby I'm-A Want You (4:35 minutes)
USA: released April 1972, Enterprise ENA-9049, A&B-sides
UK: no UK issue

19. Soul-A-Lujah (2:29 minutes)
USA: released July 1969, Stax STA-0040, B-side only
UK: no UK issue
Note: the A-side of this 45 is also called "Soul-A-Lujah" – a sung version credited to seven Stax artists – Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Pervis Staples, Carla Thomas, Mavis and Cleotha Staples – the B-side featured here is credited to Isaac Hayes and under the title as (Instrumental featuring Isaac Hayes on Clavinet)

The 16-page booklet features fantastically detailed liner notes from Ace's long-standing Soul Expert and Scribe – TONY ROUNCE – a sure sign of quality. All pages are sided with US, UK and European label repros and rare picture sleeves (dig the Belgium and German Pic Sleeves for "Shaft" and "Let's Stay Together" on Pages 9 and 12). The rare but rather ugly-looking 1969 typed title sleeve for "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (with "Walk On By") that plugs the forthcoming "Hot Buttered Soul" LP is on Page 5 while British Yellow-Label Stax Demos sit proudly on Page 4. A good read and fabulous Remasters from DUNCAN POWELL even though he cannot do much with the jam-pig's ear that is "Let's Stay Together" or the rough and ready too-frantic "Soul-A-Lujah".

Completists will also quickly notice that despite the title-moniker of 1969-1972 – there are missing issues which Ace say will probably turn up in a future Volume – 1972 to 1976 or something like that. February 1971 in the UK saw the pairing of an edited "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" b/w "Our Day Will Come" on Stax 2025 029 (both on the "…To Be Continued" LP) which is absent – as is "Theme From The Men" b/w "Type Thang" issued September 1972 in the States on Enterprise ENA-9058 and November 1972 in the UK on Stax 2025 146. Haye's second 45 from January 1964 originally on Brunswick 55258 with the pairing of "Sweet Temptation" on the A and "Laura (We're On Our Last Go-Round)" on the flipside was licensed and reissued November 1970 on San American Records 950 to cash-in on his huge popularity – AWOL also. To the tunes…

There were few people in 1969 that expected a Soul Titan to tackle a Bacharach and David pop ditty made famous by Dionne Warwick – but Isaac Hayes did just that – he socked it to them – literally. From the opening punch of "Walk On By" – the clear and punchy Remaster is fabulous – those ladies begging our Isaac not to have tears in his eyes (you put a hurt on me baby). But it's the Symphonic Soul combined with fuzzed-up wah-wah guitars and his languid dripping-with-sex voice that grabbed an entire world by the shorts. The talking-for-the-most-part Soulified cover of the Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell Country-Pop classic "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" is turned into a sermon – a seven-minute preach about leaving his woman seven times and seven times coming back (maybe he’ll get it right for return number eight, about three-thirty in the morning on the highway to despair) – and then he sings about three and half minutes in – and magic is struck. 

Given the Number 1 R&B LP status of both the double-albums "Shaft" and "Black Moses" in July and December 1971 with sales still hammering all comers in the first two months of 1972 - it is hardly surprising that Enterprise put out two Isaac hayes 45s in February 1972. First up came the killer combo of "Do Your Thing" b/w "Ellie's Love Theme" (both from "Shaft") quickly followed by the slightly odd instrumental version of the Al Green gem "Let's Stay Together" with the last remaining Vocal cut from the Shaft Soundtrack as its flipside – the brilliant and far-better "Soulsville". Even an instrumental with Hayes on it made No.25 on the R&B Billboard charts with a remarkable No.48 on Pop. 

Gorgeous is the only way to describe the stunning audio on "Never Can Say Goodbye" – no pain or heartaches on that front (dig that Flute schmooze – yeah baby). But I suspect it will be the flipside fans make a beeline to – Hayes reacting to a painful and on-going separation in real time and with real emotion. "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" has a melody and those old-time-feeling lyrics that seemed to bring out the best in him – lush and surely worth the price of entry for many IH fans (even if it is the only cut on here in Mono). 

Written by Allen Jones and Homer Banks but made famous by Johnnie Taylor in January 1967 (Stax 209) and Luther Ingrams in March 1970 (KoKo KOA-2105) – the Luther Ingram ballad version of "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)" is an absolute stomp-on-all-comers go-to favourite of mine when it comes to Seventies Soul – I love it so much. So, imagine my disappointment when two titans like Isaac Hayes and David Porter do a cover that ruins it completely. What was cute in 1969, by the time they have reached 1974, the wah-wah and funk formula not only feels dated, but even badly recorded on the audio front (the vocals just don't sound right or even powerful). Their slowed-down high-hat tapping stab at the David Gates-written Bread classic "Baby I'm-A Want You" is not a whole lot better – feeling too close to elevator music - no surprise that the American listening public did not take to either.

Despite its piddly faults towards the end run of tracks - I keep coming back to "Hot Buttered Singles: 1969-1972". This is a win-compilation for Ace and surprising it has not been done before (all the 45-edits in one place). I find myself playing this suave Symphonic Soul brute like a child rediscovering wonder and disappointment – thankfully, mostly the first. Can you dig it…yes you can my peeps…

PS: there is also a 2LP 19-Track VINYL version (no extra cuts) issued Friday, 25 October 2024 of "Hot Buttered Singles: 1969-1972" by Isaac Hayes on Ace Records HIQLP2 138 (Barcode 029667023818). It has Inner Sleeves that reproduce all of the liner notes in the CD booklet.

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In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book (on all Amazon sites)

GET IT ON - 1971

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

A HUGE 3,136 e-Pages 

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Just Click Below To Google, Purchase or See My Author Page

For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)