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"…Cry To Me…"
Twenty-Four slices of Sixties and Seventies moaning and wailing and pleading for a second chance – sounds like my cup of Soul Tea. Some have said this set isn't as good as previous 'Deep Soul' compilations by Ace’s stunning Kent-Soul imprint label - but I beg to differ.
Even on the previously unreleased stuff like "You Must Leave Her Because You Love Her" – the quality is shockingly high. This compilation is a slow burner and full of nuggets (Little Ann graces the cover with her title song – a big fave on YouTube these days - 2019). Here are the nitty gritty details first…
UK released August 2010 (September 2010 in the USA) – "Deep Shadows: The Best Of Kent Ballads" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 342 (Barcode 029667234221) is a 24-track CD compilation of Remasters that breaks down as follows (77:21 minutes):
1. Cry To Me – LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (1975 US 7" single on Aware AW 047, A-side)
2. I've Done It Again – THE CHARMELS (A Volt Label Recording first issued September 1999 on the CD compilation "Let's Crossover Again: Stax/Volt Vibes To Blow Your Mind" on Ace Kent/Soul CDKEND 174)
3. What Have You Got To Gain By Losing Me – JEANETTE JONES (Previously Unissued Golden State Recorders recording)
4. Gotta Find A Way – THE HESITATIONS (A GWP Recording first issued July 2005 on the CD compilation "GWP NYC TCB" on Ace Kent-Soul CDKEND 249)
5. There's Another In My Life – PHILLIP MITCHELL (1975 US 7" single on Event 223, A-side)
6. You Must Leave Her Because You Love Her – THE PARAMOUNT FOUR (Previously Unreleased Bob Holmes Recording)
7. Showdown – THE SHALADONS (A GWP Recording first issued October 2007 on the CD compilation "Larry Banks' Soul Family Album" on Ace Kent-Soul CDKEND 284)
8. Seeing is Believing – L.V. JOHNSON (A Volt Label Recording first issued September 1999 on the CD compilation "Let's Crossover Again: Stax/Volt Vibes To Blow Your Mind" on Ace Kent/Soul CDKEND 174)
9. You Didn't Love Me Anyhow – ACT 1 (edited version of a track on their 1974 US debut LP "Act 1" on Spring Records SPR 6704)
10. Whether It's Right Or Wrong – JACKIE LEE & DELORES HALL (1966 US 7" single on Mirwood 5528, A-side)
11. You Got Me – JAIBI (Previously Unissued GWP recording, Rob Keyloch mix)
12. I Won't Be Such A Fool Anymore – THE MODETTES (An Alex Palao Mix of a GWP recording first issued on the October 2009 CD compilation "GWP NYC TLC Volume 2" on Ace Kent-Soul CDKEND 326)
13. No More Like You – RAY POLLARD (1965 US 7" single on Shrine SR 0103, A-side)
14. It Can Happen To You – THE QUOTATIONS (April 1968 US 7" single on Di Venus Records DV-107, B-side to "I Don't Have To Worry")
15. Can't You See I’m Busy – AUSTIN TAYLOR (1964 US 7" single on Sprout Artist 731, A)
16. No One Can Take The Place Of You – THE RAVINS (A Dave Hamilton Production, 1965 US 7" single on Demo Ristic AR 857, A)
17. I Love My Baby – TOMMY & EDDIE (1966 US 7" single on Money Records 124, A)
18. Tag Tag – SAM DEES (A GRC Recording from 1965 first issued September 1995 on the Sam Dees CD "Second To None" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 125)
19. Sweet Loving Woman – GARLAND GREEN (1974 US 7" single on Spring 146, A)
20. You Make Me Feel Like Someone – JOHNNY GILLIAM (1968 US 7" single on Modern M 1052, A)
21. You Must Be Losing Your Mind – JIMMIE RAYE (A JRE Production supervised by Matt Parsons, 1967 US 7" single on Garrison 3008, A)
22. I'm A Lonely Man – BOBBY BURN (1968 US 7" single on Chant Records CH-522, A)
23. How Long Can This Last – DEBBIE TAYLOR (1969 US 7" single on GWP Records GWP 510, A)
24. Deep Shadows – LITTLE ANN (First appeared on the April 1998 CD compilation "Dave Hamilton's Detroit Dancers Vol.1" on Ace Kent-Soul CDKEND 154)
[Note: Tracks 3, 6 and 11 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]
The 16-page booklet has a 4000-word essay on each track by Britain’s best Soul authority TONY ROUNCE – a name that has graced countless quality CD compilations for Ace and Edsel. In between text are photos of those rare American 45s (the mere sight of the 'Shrine' label will make Northern Soul fans weak at the knees and reach for the wallet), label publicity photos and even a rare Tape box. DUNCAN COWELL has mastered the tracks from original analogue recordings and the audio quality is typically fabulous.
Musically songs like "Showdown" by The Shaladons and "Seeing Is Believing" by L.V. Johnson are torch tunes of the highest quality – not just schmaltz – but touching. The truly gorgeous and powerful "You Got Me" by Jaibi is a song they've used before – but here we get a better remix by Rob Keyloch that brings the backing vocals to the fore – what a gem. It doesn't say who the lead female vocalist on "I Won't Be Such A Fool Anymore" by The Modettes - but what a great performance and such a lovely ballad. The Production values on the Ray Pollard 'Shrine Label' track is low key but what a song and what bubbling-under passion – it's no wonder Northern Soul fans cream their shorts over stuff like this.
I know there are those that say the moment you exit the Sixties – the Soul Ballad takes a nosedive into schlock way too often – all production values and no heart. There is of course an awful truth to this – but then there's tracks like Phillip Mitchell's "There's Another In My Life" and Garland Green's "Sweet Loving Woman" which despite their cheesy spoken bits – have loveliness at their core that transcends. The opener "Cry To Me" by Loleatta Holloway is another - a lovely Sam Dees/David Camon song in the vein of those breathy pleaders ("...baby I see you packing…") and despite its slightly dated Seventies feel – when she finally launches into the vocal – it so works. Both 1968's "I'm A Lonely Man" by Bobby Burn and 1969's "How Long Can This Last" by Debbie Taylor are gorgeous stuff too – so pretty with their down-tempo rhythms and string arrangements that go down like a fine wine (or two).
"Deep Shadows: The Best Of Kent Ballads" is a compilation that creeps up on you – I find I return to it more and more. Wonderful stuff – and as ever – another classy winner from those British Soul nuts at Ace and Kent-Soul…
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