VARIOUS ARTISTS – "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 5" – Featuring 1965 to 1975 US 45-Singles and Previously Unreleased Material (March 2015 UK Ace/Kent Dance CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sending Vibrations..."

It never ceases to amaze me just how deep and rich the vein is that runs through American Soul Music. Last day of March 2015 - a good 50 years after the event - and still the Dancer/Shuffler goodies keep coming at us.

"Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 5" from Ace/Kent Dance (Kent Soul and Kent Dance are label imprints Ace Records of the UK employs) does pretty much what it says on the tin – you get eighteen uber-rare/desirable homemade American 45s (worth a fortune and impossible to attain on actual vinyl) complimented by one 2014 CD find and a further six previously unreleased cuts for this 2015 release. And frankly Frank – Northern Soul fans are gonna love it hook, line and sinker. Here are the low-down production details that produced big bucks collectables...

UK released 30 March 2015 – "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 5" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 432 (Barcode 029667243223) pans out as follows (65:06 minutes):

1. When The Boy That You Love (Is Loving You) – THE AVONS (A Bob Holmes Recording – Previously Unreleased)

2. Hang Around – MARVA HOLIDAY (1968 USA 7" single on GNP Crescendo GNP-411, A)

3. That Same Old Feeling – THE VOLUMES (1966 USA 7" single on Impact 1017, A)

4. Just Beginning To Love You – THE STEELERS (1967 USA 7" single on Crash 430, A)

5. I Can't Get Hold Of Myself – CLIFFORD CURRY (1968 USA 7" single on Elf 90013, A)

6. Losing Control – MARY SAXTON (1965 CANADA 7" single on Pace 8-18-1166, A)

7. They Didn't Know – TERRI GOODNIGHT (1966 USA 7" single on Phelectron PH-701, B-side of "The Fighting Is Over")

8. It's All In The Way (You Look At It Baby) – MOUSIE & THE TRAPS (1966 USA 7" single on Toddlin Town 8204, A)

9. It's Alright To Cry Sometime – J.J. BARNES (1964 Ring Recording – Previously Unreleased)

10. Lover Man – THE SOUL BROTHERS (1967 USA 7" single on Sho-Biz 402, A)

11. How I Got Over – DARONDO PULLIAM (1972 USA 7" single on Ocampo 001, A)

12. Hook, Line And Sinker – ROY WRIGHT (1966 USA 7" singles (first) on Vick 210, (then on) Mica 2016, A)

13. Just Another Smile – MEL DAVIS (1969 USA 7" single on Golden State GSR 4-69, A)

14. I'm Sending Vibrations – THE WEBB PEOPLE (Extended Version of USA 7" single TCB Records 1446 – A Rob Keyloch Mix – Previously Unreleased)

15. Butterfly aka I Wish I Knew – THE BALLADS (1975 USA 7" single on Music City 897, A)

16. It Ain't No Achievement – THE MILLIONAIRES (1971 USA 7" single on Specialty 719, A)

17. Two Loves Have I – BIG JOE TURNER (1970 USA 7" single on Blues Time 45001, A)

18. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong – RAY & DAVE (1966 USA 7" single on Mica 501, A)

19. Pins And Needles – EDDY GILES (an originally unissued Murco recording first aired in 2014 on the EDDY GILES CD compilation "Southern Soul Brother: The Murco Recordings 1967-1969")

20. I'm The Reason – CLEO JACKSON, HUCK & THE SOUL PATROL (1969 USA 7" single on Mar-Kee 711, A – mistakenly credited in the booklet and on the inlay as Mar-Kee 717)

21. If You Don't Know, You Just Don't Know - THE DIALTONES (1967 USA 7" single on Dial 4054, A)

22. Do The Popcorn – LITTLE JOHNNY HAMILTON (1969 USA 7" single Soul Shack 531, A)

23. Break Someone Else's Heart – JEANETTE JONES (a Golden State Recorders recording – Previously Unreleased)

24. This Man Wants You – JESSE COWAN (Golden State Recorders recording – Previously Unreleased)
NOTES:
Tracks 1, 9, 14, 23 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (2015)
Track 19 is a 60ts Murco Recording first released 2014 on an Ace CD
All tracks in MONO except 1, 12, 14, 15, 17, 23 and 24 which are STEREO

Compiled and Annotated by long-time Soul Nutter ADY CROASDELL – his 16-pages of liner notes are the usual plethora of repro labels (and a Jeanette Jones Acetate) with rare publicity photos for Mel Davis, Darondo Pulliam and J.J. Barnes snapped in full flow at the 100 Club in London. Marva Holliday gets three photos in the booklet, front cover top left, Page 4 and a full colour plate on the rear – not surprising given her great homemade voice and Tammi Terrell-gorgeous looks. NICK ROBBINS has done the remasters/transfers and given that much of the material sounds decidedly lo-fi and is in Mono – most sound good to great – with the Stereo cuts being particularly great.

It opens with a 1-2-3 count in and we're off into Girl Group territory with Motown affectations. Marva Holliday lays into a Sherlie Matthews song called "Hang Around" on GNP Crescendo GNP-411 and gives fabulous insights into its creation (her inexperienced and young vocal only lend it more charm). Record labels like Phelectron, Toddlin Town and Ocampo aren't exactly rolling off the tongue or household names even in knowledgeable Soul circles. 

Mary Saxton comes on like Tina Turner's younger sister "Losing Control" over her man (great dancer and apparently only available in Canada). The 2nd release on the Phelectron Records label by Terri Goodnight ("They Didn't Know") went for nearly $3000 on Auction in 2010.

Croasdell rightly praises the vocals and arrangements on the Millionaires cut "It Ain't No Achievement" – a rare Soul outing for Specialty Records. How weird is it to hear Atlantic's Big Joe Turner take the Ted Murrell oldie "Two Loves Have I" (covered by crooners like Nat King Cole) and turn it into a successful upbeat brassy Soul dancer! Another that I like is "Pins And Needles" by Eddy Giles – a nice groove and a great voice. I've reviewed Ace's CD on Eddy Giles elsewhere - another belter. And on it goes to an Unreleased Jeanette Jones recording (ninth issued on Kent).

I can't honestly say everything on "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 5" is my absolute travel-bag – but the goodies outweigh the negs by a mile. Another winner from Ace's Kent-Dance and Volume 6 that followed in 2017 is just as good…

Ace Records and Kent Dance's 

"Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities" Series 

(All Releases up to March 2024)

27 August 2001 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 192 (Barcode 029667219228)

30 May 2005 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 2" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 248 (Barcode 029667224826)

26 May 2008 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 3" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 338 (Barcode 029667229524)

28 June 2010 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 4" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 338 (Barcode 029667233828)

30 March 2015 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 5" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 432 (Barcode 029667243223)

24 November 2017 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 6" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 471 (Barcode 029667085922)

26 February 2021 - "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 7" on Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 498 (Barcode 029667101721)

"Loleatta/Cry To Me" by LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY – US Albums from September 1973 and July 1975 on GRC/Aware Records featuring the Songs of Sam Dees, Floyd Smith, Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Johnny Moore & more (October 2020 UK Ace/Kent Soul Compilation – 2LPs onto 1CD with Four Bonus Tracks from 1971 and 1973 – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Be True To Me..."

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You have to love Ace Records - Pandemic all around and still they damn the torpedoes and release a CD like this - asking us addicted inebriated flabby goggle-eyed Netflix types to down the TV remote and 'listen to this, sucker'. 

Chicago-born Soul Singer Loleatta Holloway is featured here by two rare US albums both issued on the General Recording Corporation label (GRC) imprint 'Aware Records' in the autumn of 1973 and the summer of 1975.  

The first sold little and the second despite a minor hit single suffered the fate of the parent record company going into a fraud nosedive just after the vinyl LP hit the shops – leaving the artists and sales of their work in the outside privy. So with both having always been a hard-to-find proposition for UK lovers of Chicago Soul and the Hotlanta Sound – this is a tasty CD reissue indeed. And as you can see from the track list provided below, Kent Soul have also upped the generous playing time to an almost full 80-minutes by tagging on four other cuts as Bonuses - three from Kent CD compilations of old and the other, a rare American 7" single side.

This is pleading lady's soul (chats before the soaring voice sails in) where their men have done them wrong or some bee-ach is trying to steal their man over by the gossips in the grocery store or they realise that Mama was right when she said girl, when it comes to lurve, don't be a part-time lover OR a full-time fool. To the tearful details...

UK released Friday, 30 October 2020 - "Loleatta/Cry To Me" by LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 493 (Barcode 029667100229) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD with Four Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (79:46 minutes):

1. The Man I Love [Side 1]
2. We Did It
3. Our Love
4. Can I Change My Mind 
5. Part Time Lover, Full Time Full 
6. So Can I [Side 2]
7. Only A Fool 
8. Love Woke Me Up 
9. Mother Of Shame 
10. Remember Me 
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Loleatta" - released September 1973 in the USA on GRC/Aware Records AA 2003 - Arranged and Produced by FLOYD SMITH. 

11. Cry To Me [Side 1]
12. I Know Where You're Coming From 
13. The Show Must Go On 
14. The World Don't Owe You Nothing 
15. Just Be True To Me
16. Something About The Way I Feel [Side 2]
17. I'll Be Gone 
18. I Can't Help Myself
19. Casanova 
20. H.E.L.P. M.E. M.Y. L.O.R.D. 
Tracks 11 to 20 are the album "Cry To Me" - released July 1975 in the USA on GRC/Aware AA 2008 - Produced and Arranged by FLOYD SMITH  

BONUS TRACKS:
21. Merrily 
22. What Are You Gonna Do About Tomorrow
Tracks 21 and 22 previously unissued 1973 Aware Records recordings first released March 1996 on the UK CD compilation "The Hotlanta Soul Of Loleatta Holloway" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 135

23. For Sentimental Reasons (US February 1971 45-single, Apache 2004, A-side)

24. This Man's Arms (previously unissued 1971 Aware Records recording first released November 2011 on the UK CD compilation "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 3" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 364

The 16-page booklet provides fantastic liner notes from KEVIN L GOINS (written August 2020 in New York) that has contacted people around the recordings - both Loleatta and her husband/producer Floyd Smith now sadly passed away. The two LPs are pictured, artwork, labels, promo photos and cashbox entries and some very cool photos of the swish Loleatta and her fab ball of hair. 

Audio transfers are courtesy of Ace's long-standing engineer - DUNCAN COWELL and they are gorgeous. Right from the cover of the Gershwin classic "The Man I Love" that opens platter No. 1 through until the outtake bonus tracks - it all reeks of classy Chicago and Hotlanta sexy Soul - some even featuring heavy-on-the-strings arrangements like "Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over)" that were more about getting the song right rather than keeping an eye on the budget. To the music...

The driving force behind both albums was the combo of husband Floyd Smith and the song writing contributions of such friends and luminaries as Sam Dees, Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Johnny Moore and many more. Dees provided "So Can I" for the first album and a huge five more for the second - the single "Cry To Me" (January 1975 on Aware AW-047 with his "So Can I" from the first LP on the flip), "I Know Where You're Coming From", "The Show Must Go On", "The World Don't Owe You Nothing" (a co-write with Frederick Knight of "I've Been Lonely So Long" fame), "The Show Must Go On" and another single "H.E.L.P. M.E. L.O.R.D." that actually hit the streets a full year prior to the second LP in May 1974 on Aware AW-039 with "The World Don't Owe You Nothing" on the B-side. 

She also picked some sexy cover versions - Curtis Mayfield's "Just Be True To Me", Ashford & Simpson's "Love Woke Me Up" (a Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duet for Motown in 1968), "Remember Me" from the pens of Van McCoy and Clyde Otis as well as the classic Tyrone Davis Dakar song "Can I Change My Mind". William Johnson co-authored "Only A Fool" while Loleatta offered up a lone composition on the two LPs in the shape of the lovely "I'll Be Gone". And on it goes to three of hers in the Bonuses (Tracks 21, 22 and 24) – rejected at the time of issue in favour of other more established writers.

This is a lovely CD – as infectious as her smile and as colourful as that flowery dress she's wearing on Page 3 of the booklet with liner notes that ooze their affection for her and her legacy. Another winner in a long line of them for reissue-champs Kent Soul. Recommended...

"Showdown: The Complete 1966 RCA Recordings" by KENNY CARTER (September 2020 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation - Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Land Of Heartache..."

One of the biggest disappointments of my 62-year musical journey - twenty of those years spent in a busy West End Record Shop listening to music all day every day where Soul was a mainstay 50% of the time - was playing Sam Cooke LPs on RCA Victor – and there are at least seven or eight of them.

Most people know his greatest hits that cherry pick his better singles, but not the albums that were often full of truly cheesy material picked for him and not at all in keeping with his Soul Man image ("Night Beat" was an exception where he got to control the content). They were aiming for a wide market. 

Like Kenny Carter, Cooke was on RCA Victor who in my mind had no real idea of what Soul Music was. They simply picked old crooner tunes and standards (Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra) - larruped on the strings and background girly vocals - amped up the melodrama to over-the-top Phil Spector levels - and hoped for the chart-best. Instead of actually feeling Soulful or even moving, they almost always felt old and overwrought - old white men trying to be hip – forcing their clichéd choices on superlative black artists (Aretha Franklin at Columbia felt the same until she went to Atlantic Records and the sparks really started to fly). And unfortunately (at least for me) that's what you mostly get here.

Kenny Carter had a fabulous and expressive deep voice - very similar to say Roy Hamilton or Tommy Hunt or Jerry Butler - and the nine Stereo cuts on here (the other 13 are Mono) professionally recorded in RCA's studios sound sonically stunning. 

UK released 25 September 2020 - "Showdown: The Complete 1966 RCA Recordings" by KENNY CARTER on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 491 (Barcode 029667099622, 67:00 minutes) absolutely rocks soundwise. This is a gorgeous-sounding CD compilation. Unfortunately the syrupy material that is being peddled as 'sophisticated' comes over time-and-time again like strangulated Little Anthony & The Imperials, but without the tunes.

All cuts are from 1965 and 1966 sessions. Six of the 22 cuts have been issued on various Kent/Soul CD compilations between 2007 and 2020 (Tracks 2, 11, 12, 17, 19 and 21), whilst Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 18, 20 and 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED. The remaining six are A&B-sides of three RCA Victor US 45s (Tracks 3, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16). 

ADY CROASDELL has done the beautifully laid out and hugely affectionate liner notes in the jam-packed 28-page booklet - tape boxes - musician charts - Billboard and Cashbox adverts for his debut 45 "Body And Soul" b/w "I've Got To Find Her" on RCA Victor 47-8791 from April 1966 - demo labels for "Showdown" b/w "I've Got To Get Myself Together" on RCA Victor 47-8841 from May 1966 and so on. NICK ROBBINS has done the Remasters and they are stupendous.

But for me, despite the talk of legendary this and never released that - I can all too often hear why the LP never came together. Any single on real Soul labels like Stax, Motown, Atlantic or even Chess and Checker would knock spots of this well produced but ultimately overwrought mid 60ts angst. My wife told me to turn this off as it was giving her a headache – oh dear.

Those who love this sort of polished string-laden heartbreak and misery on a Soulful tip should not hesitate, but I'd suggest to all others - best grab a listen first before purchase...

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

This Review Along With 199 Others Is Available in my

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SOUL GALORE! 
60ts Soul, R&B and Funk
Exception CD Remasters  

 

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"...Just My Speed..."

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

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

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

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

1. Chills And Fever

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

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

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

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

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

6. Only Your Love

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

7. I Need Your Love So Bad

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

9. Sweet Sweet Lovin'

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

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

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

13. Glad To Be Sad

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

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

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

17. Stealing In The Name Of The Lord

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

19. 509

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

21. Hot Runnin' Soul

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

23. Soul Flow

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (27 February 2019 UK Ace/Kent Soul Compilation - 2LPs Remastered Onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Spaced Out..."

Between July 1971 and April 1979 - Norman Whitfield's Motown Soul/Funk band THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH issued eight studio albums in the USA - six on Gordy Records and the final two on his own label Whitfield Records (they were on Tamla Motown and Whitfield in the UK). And much like that other off-kilter Motown act RARE EARTH - their digital output has been a minefield for fans across the decades.

Well at last, with this 27 February 2019 twofer release, Ace Records of the UK (via their Kent-Soul label imprint) has plugged the final CD gaps - their fifth and sixth albums "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October). So for fans of this wicked and often underrated band - this 2019 double-disc reissue will finally allow to purchase their entire catalogue on CD (see list below) and I for one couldn't be a happier Little Red Riding Hood (cosmically speaking of course). Here are the boogie bump boogie details...

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) offers two albums from 1975 Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonus material) and they play out as follows:

CD1 "Cosmic Truth" (41:20 minutes):

1. Earthquake Shake [Side 1]

2. Down By The River

3. UFO's

4. Lil' Red Ridin' Hood

5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me

6. Spaced Out [Side 2]

7. Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'

8. 1990

9. (I Know) I'm Losin' You

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Cosmic Truth" - released March 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-970S1 and June 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8023. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 44 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Disc 2 "Higher Than High" (39:40 minutes):

1. Higher Than High [Side 1]

2. Poontang

3. Life Ain't So Easy

4. Boogie Bump Boogie

5. Help Yourself [Side 2]

6. I'm In The Red Zone

7. Overload

8. I Saw You When You Met Her

9. Ma

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Higher Than High" - released October 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-972S1 and November 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12009. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 52 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Overlooking the alarming period photo of five gold and silver painted faces beneath bleached white afros that adorns the fullness of the centre pages for the 16-page booklet (it might be cosmic man, but my God do they look silly) - Soul and Funk aficionado and long-time associate to Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE provides the suitable loaded and affection liner notes. They're packed with repros of US and UK single labels, rare Euro picture sleeves for "Poontang", "Earthquake Shake", "Higher Than High" and "I Saw You When You Met Her" as well as Promo Photos and LP labels. It's a typically thorough job and the NICK ROBBINS Remasters pack a hefty punch. Great stuff as you would expect from Ace...

The full album cut of "Earthquake Shake" opens proceedings on a fabulous and frantic funky groove - disappearing half way through the song into almost silence (probably though it would make a great single edit) before the Funk slides back on in like a dude entering a bar (the "Cosmic Truth" album opener is a co-write with Joe Harris). Whitfield's band then dives into unusual territory - a fantastic cover version of Neil Young's "Down By The River" from his second album in 1969, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere". Across its six and half minutes, the pace is slowed right down, turning a once hard-edged angry rocking tune and converting it into an ache ballad, the Isley Brothers fuzz guitar floating over sublime vocals. Reminds me of the best tracks on September 1971's "Givin' It Back" by The Isley Brothers where they Soul-ified a whole album of contemporary Rock tunes. It segues right into more drum-driven Funk - the very cool "UFO's" telling us that there's unidentified objects in the sky and the concerned band wants to know where do these uptight lights come from? It was an obvious single and in April 1975 Gordy paired it with "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'" on the B-side of Gordy G 7143F but the Hendrix trippy vocal and groove didn't chart. As far back as October 1974, Gordy had issued "Lil' Red Riddin' Hood" as a US 45 ahead of the "Cosmic Truth" album with "Big John Is My Name" from 1974's "Down To Earth" as its B-side (Gordy G 7140F). It's 'funny smelling cigarette' lyrics reflected the times and again it's a fab Whitfield groove amped up with layers of vocals and stinging guitars over on the left channel. Cool and Funky cuts like "Spaced Out" give us floating keyboard notes that reflect the song's title while their returns to "1990" and a six-minute "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (both originally done by The Temptations) pour on the spacey synth notes and chug-a-bug grooves while telling the people there's trouble in the White House as Americans walk the streets with no food breathing dirty air. Love the whole damn album...

Between July 1971 and April 1979 - Norman Whitfield's Motown Soul/Funk band THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH issued eight studio albums in the USA - six on Gordy Records and the final two on his own label Whitfield Records (they were on Tamla Motown and Whitfield in the UK). And much like that other off-kilter Motown act RARE EARTH - their digital output has been a minefield for fans across the decades.

Well at last, with this 27 February 2019 twofer release, Ace Records of the UK (via their Kent-Soul label imprint) has plugged the final CD gaps - their fifth and sixth albums "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October). So for fans of this wicked and often underrated band - this 2019 double-disc reissue will finally allow to purchase their entire catalogue on CD (see list below) and I for one couldn't be a happier Little Red Riding Hood (cosmically speaking of course). Here are the boogie bump boogie details...

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) offers two albums from 1975 Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonus material) and they play out as follows:

CD1 "Cosmic Truth" (41:20 minutes):

1. Earthquake Shake [Side 1]

2. Down By The River

3. UFO's

4. Lil' Red Ridin' Hood

5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me

6. Spaced Out [Side 2]

7. Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'

8. 1990

9. (I Know) I'm Losin' You

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Cosmic Truth" - released March 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-970S1 and June 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8023. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 44 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Disc 2 "Higher Than High" (39:40 minutes):

1. Higher Than High [Side 1]

2. Poontang

3. Life Ain't So Easy

4. Boogie Bump Boogie

5. Help Yourself [Side 2]

6. I'm In The Red Zone

7. Overload

8. I Saw You When You Met Her

9. Ma

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Higher Than High" - released October 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-972S1 and November 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12009. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 52 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Overlooking the alarming period photo of five gold and silver painted faces beneath bleached white afros that adorns the fullness of the centre pages for the 16-page booklet (it might be cosmic man, but my God do they look silly) - Soul and Funk aficionado and long-time associate to Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE provides the suitable loaded and affection liner notes. They're packed with repros of US and UK single labels, rare Euro picture sleeves for "Poontang", "Earthquake Shake", "Higher Than High" and "I Saw You When You Met Her" as well as Promo Photos and LP labels. It's a typically thorough job and the NICK ROBBINS Remasters pack a hefty punch. Great stuff as you would expect from Ace...

The full album cut of "Earthquake Shake" opens proceedings on a fabulous and frantic funky groove - disappearing half way through the song into almost silence (probably though it would make a great single edit) before the Funk slides back on in like a dude entering a bar (the "Cosmic Truth" album opener is a co-write with Joe Harris). Whitfield's band then dives into unusual territory - a fantastic cover version of Neil Young's "Down By The River" from his second album in 1969, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere". Across its six and half minutes, the pace is slowed right down, turning a once hard-edged angry rocking tune and converting it into an ache ballad, the Isley Brothers fuzz guitar floating over sublime vocals. Reminds me of the best tracks on September 1971's "Givin' It Back" by The Isley Brothers where they Soul-ified a whole album of contemporary Rock tunes. It segues right into more drum-driven Funk - the very cool "UFO's" telling us that there's unidentified objects in the sky and the concerned band wants to know where do these uptight lights come from? It was an obvious single and in April 1975 Gordy paired it with "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'" on the B-side of Gordy G 7143F but the Hendrix trippy vocal and groove didn't chart.

As far back as October 1974, Gordy had issued "Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" as a US 45 ahead of the "Cosmic Truth" album with "Big John Is My Name" from 1974's "Down To Earth" as its B-side (Gordy G 7140F). Its 'funny smelling cigarette' lyrics reflected the times and again it's a fab Whitfield groove amped up with layers of vocals and stinging guitars over on the left channel. Cool and Funky cuts like "Spaced Out" give us floating keyboard notes that reflect the song's title while their returns to "1990" and a six-minute guitar-work-out of "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (both originally done by The Temptations) pour on the spacey synth notes and chug-a-bug grooves while telling the people there's no love in the White House as poor Americans walk the streets with no food and their children are breathing in dirty air. Funky and still amazingly relevant – I love the whole damn album. The second album presented here "Higher Than High" simply offers up more of the same - and again with a shockingly high quality rate. Cuts like the Sly & The Family Stone homemade feel to "Poontang" (Hollywood types beware) and the piano-groove of "I'm In The Red Zone" are just brilliant. Gotta tell you papa indeed.

A really great reissue then from Kent-Soul (should we expect anything less) and one that fans will eat up. I miss Funk and Soul like this - rare grooves, social commentary, damn but them was the days my man...

By way of info for fans - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH CD REISSUES, A 2019 LIST:

1. "Nothing But The Truth – 3 Motown Albums on 2 CDS Plus Bonus Tracks"

Issued 25 August 2017 in the UK on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP2 469 (Barcode 029667084628)

Contains "The Undisputed Truth" Debut US LP from July 1971, third album "Law Of The Land" from July 1973 and fourth LP "Down To Earth" from August 1974 (all on Gordy Records) Plus Six Bonus Tracks

2. "Face To Face With The Truth" - their second album from February 1972 on Gordy Records – first reissued May 2003 as a CD Remaster on Universal Music Group/Gordy/Miracle Records 067 100-2 (Barcode 044006710020) - see review

3. "Face To Face With The Truth" – June 2015 second CD Reissue of their second album on Universal/Elemental 88509 (Barcode 8435395500941)

4. "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" – Their Fifth and Sixth albums both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October), reissued 27 February 2019 in the UK on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) on 2CDs (no bonus material) – review above

5. "Method To The Madness/Smokin'" – their seventh and eight albums from January 1977 and April 1979 on Whitfield Records reissued 20 November 2015 in the UK on Robinsongs WROBIN2CDD (Barcode 5013929950221) as a 2CD set (no bonus tracks) - see review

"This Is Clarence Carter/The Dynamic Clarence Carter...And More" by CLARENCE CARTER (January 2016 Ace/Kent Soul CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

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SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

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"...That Old Time Feeling..." 

Alabama's CLARENCE CARTER has had his Atlantic Records catalogue reissued a number of times before in both the UK and the USA by good labels like Rhino, Sequel and Collectables. I've even got Japanese Atlantic versions from two years back with great sound and a reasonable price. So why buy yet again?

Because this January 2016 CD reissue is by 'Ace Records of the UK' (using their Kent Soul label imprint) and 'best ever audio' hardly even scrapes the surface. This CD reissue sounds truly amazing – presented in crystal clear glorious STEREO. As if that's not enough enticement this new version also offers up something quite rare – five Previously Unreleased album outakes tagged on at the end that are actually worth shelling out for. 
Ho! Ho! Ho! as the visually-impaired Montgomery Soul Singer would say-chuckle. 
Let's get to the 'looking for a fox' details...

UK released Friday, 29 January 2016 (5 February 2016 in the USA) – "This Is Clarence Carter/The Dynamic Clarence Carter...And More" by CLARENCE CARTER on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 444 (Barcode 029667244428) offers 2LPs onto 1CD plus Five Previously Unreleased Outtakes and plays out as follows (76:41 minutes):

1. Do What You Gotta Do [Side 1]

2. Looking For A Fox

3. Slippin' Around

4. I'm Qualified

5. I Can't See Myself

6. Wind It Up

7. Part Time Love [Side 2]

8. Thread The Needle

9. Slip Away

10. Funky Fever

11. She's Ain’t Gonna Do Right

12. Set Me Free

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "This Is Clarence Carter" in Stereo – released December 1968 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8192 and in the UK on Atlantic 588 152

13. I'd Rather Go Blind [Side 1]

14. Think About It

15. The Road Of Love

16. You've Been A Long Time Coming

17. Light My Fire

18. That Old Time Feeling

19. Steal Away [Side 2]

20. Let Me Comfort You

21. Look What I Got

22. Too Weak To Fight

23. Harper Valley PTA

24. Weekend Love

Tracks 13 to 24 are his 2nd album "The Dynamic Clarence Carter" in Stereo – released March 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8199 and in the UK on Atlantic 588 172

BONUS TRACKS Recorded 1966-1967:

25. I'm Happy-Go-Lucky (Mono)

26. She Ain't Gonna Do Right (Mono)

27. Take Me, Use Me (Stereo)

28. There Won't Be Another Sunset (Mono)

29. I'll Be Over After A While (Mono)

The 16-page booklet features full plates of the American artwork front and rear for both LPs – but cleverly Ace have reproduced the 'Original Notes' on the rear of each LP in clear print so fans can actually read the text. There's new liner notes from Soul Expert DEAN RUDLAND that goes into wonderful track-by-track knowledge. The two other Ace CDs they've done for Clarence Carter have been for his Fame Records 7" singles – the vast majority of which were in MONO – so these album in glorious true STEREO are something to behold. The reissue label's long-standing Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL handled the transfers and Remasters – and wow is all I can say. I've adored "Looking For A Fox" as one of those sneakily great 60ts Soul groovers that slaughter all in its path when you're out on the dancefloor. The album STEREO cut of "Looking For A Fox" presents subtle differences in that it loses the background singers that were on the Mono single cut – but the upside is that the Audio punch is unbelievable and the thrill factor just as good. This is a fantastic sounding CD and Carter fans will absolutely have to ditch all previous versions...

The debut album had been two years in the making for the blind singer – gathering songs and finally getting into Rick Hall's Fame Studios. His debut opens with the rather schlocky Johnny Rivers and Jimmy Webb vehicle "Do What You Gotta Do" – but by the time you get to his fabulous ballad "I Can't See Myself (Crying About You)" and the funky keyboard groove of "Wind It Up" – you're being hit with a lethal combo – great tunes transferred with rolicking audio. Side 2 opens with the chugging Soul of Clay Hammond's "Part Time Love" – the Fame Gang Session Players laying down a blinder on Guitar, Piano and Horns (wow city). Rudland rightly points out that there's a cymbal on "Thread The Needle" that seems to have been overdubbed onto the Stereo mix – the thing is that this sucker sounds so clear - it threatens to punch a hole in your speaker stack. Clarence's utterly gorgeous "Slip Away" is full and clean - and many people's fave raver "Funky Fever" is surely going to make you shimmy your shammy and not give a monkeys what the neighbours think...

His 2nd album only cemented the building reputation of the debut – it opens with a truly stunning transfer of "I'd Rather Go Blind" – a cover of an Etta James classic on Chess. Don Covay & Otis Redding's "Think About It" sounds fantastic too – but Duane Allman fans will freak out for "The Road To Love" – their hero plays a wild guitar solo half way through (flanged left to right and away) and its never sounded this clear to me (and I've had this track at least five times before on varying compilations). Two great sounding tracks follow – Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil's "You've Been A Long Time Coming" and The Doors classic "Light My Fire" – but despite the quality transfer neither ignite and in fact feel slightly uncomfortable against the rest of the real Soul Music on the album. Things return to kick ass with the wonderful slink-funk of "That Old Time Feeling" – a co-write between Carter and Rick Hall. His lovely cover of the Jimmy Hughes chart winner "Steal Away" comes at you with such clarity as to make you double take. But my itchy fingers immediately flick to my double Side 2 craves – "Too Weak To Fight" and the fabulous guitar-funk of "Weekend Love" - both dancing like Abbot Costello with ants in his pants. Even his cover of Jeannie C Riley's "Harper Valley PTA" rocks – a cautionary tale where we're reliably informed by the nice principals of said educational establishment that "...Mrs. Johnson...you're wearing your dresses too high..." (oh dear).

I had though the Previously Unreleased would be throw away (four in Mono and one in Stereo) – but thankfully they're not. After all that Stereo bliss – the Mono "I'm Happy-Go-Lucky" comes as an audio shock but a minute in and I'm hooked – a great groove that shows his undeniable knack for picking a 'feeling' and nailing it. Both it and "There Won't Be Another Sunset" are from the same 1967 session and Rudland is right to describe them as 'rather wonderful'. Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn's "She Ain't Gonna Do Right" is a demo and despite its 'frail' audio still sounds great - while the Stereo "Take Me, Use Me" features some lady vocalists to great effect (uncredited unfortunately). His own "I'll Be Over After A While" ends the music fest on an upbeat note...

I've loved Ace's commitment to Soul and R&B across the four long decades they been in the Reissue game. But for me - a long time reviewer and passionate lover of both genres – this CD is something of an Audio milestone. Fantastic music accompanied by truly awesome transfers of it. 

I know its only the end of January but for little old fart me - this is already a shoe in for 2016 'Soul CD Reissue Of The Year'...

PS: I also highly recommend "The Fame Singles Volume 1: 1966-70" by Clarence Carter that Ace put out in 2012 – it has 24 Mono Tracks in blistering sound quality and features many non-album cuts too. See my review...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK & JAZZ FUSION - an E-Book with over 240 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).