“The Platinum Collection” by BROOK BENTON. A Review of the 2007 Rhino CD Compilation.

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“…Hey Mama…Let Me Fix It For You…”

Having had a massive male vocal career with Mercury Records throughout the Fifties & Sixties, Brook Benton's stay at the wonderful Atlantic label for the late Sixties and early Seventies produced a run of good albums that achieved only moderate chart positions and are all but forgotten now - and criminally so. Possessed of the most fantastically deep and expressive voice, he could sing anything from Sinatra's "My Way" to Elton John's "Country Comforts" in a soul/funky/gospel kind of way - and this cool little UK compilation is a great way into that.

Celebrating 60 years of Atlantic (stickered as such on the jewel case and printed on the black & red label), this 20-track June 2007 Rhino set is part of a large series of budget-priced compilations offering generous amounts of classic music for peanuts money. The 4-page inlay is only adequate as you can imagine, and offers no real discography or history - so here's a detailed breakdown of what's on offer (75:14 minutes)...

Brook Benton's 5 US Atlantic/Cotillion albums were:
"Do Your Own Thing", USA July 1969 LP on Cotillion SD-9002
(No Tracks)
"Brook Benton Today", USA February 1970 LP on Cotillion SD-9018
(CD Tracks 1, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16)
"Home Style", USA August 1970 LP on Cotillion SD-9028
(Tracks 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11)
"The Gospel Truth", USA June 1971 LP on Cotillion SD-058
(No Tracks)
"Story Teller", USA 1972 LP on Atlantic SD-9050
(Tracks 2, 4, 17, 18, 19 and 20)

As you can see from the track allocation above, having no songs at all from "Do Your Own Thing" or "The Gospel Truth" is a huge disappointment. But the 14 tracks we do get from the other 3 are welcome - especially the six from "Story Teller" which are new to CD. In 2004 a small US label DBK Works put out "...Today/Home Style" as 2LPs on 1CD but that's now hard to find and pricey - so for both the die-hard fan and the casual buyer, "Platinum" is an extremely inexpensive way of accessing rare music from a lesser-documented period of Benton's amazing career.

Having had a chart hit with his superbly soulful version of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night In Georgia", it's not surprising that he covered three more of his tunes - "For Lee Ann", "Aspen Colorado" and "Willie And Laura Mae Jones". The "Rainy Night..." soundalike "For Lee Ann" features CISSY HOUSTON on almost operatic vocals while the mellow and languid style of "Aspen Colorado" suited Benton's style so well.

A real gem here, however, is the wonderful self-penned "Let Me Fix It", a slinky and sexy soul song, which features THE DIXIE FLYERS on Horns and Keyboards and Cissy Houston on witty Duet vocals. It turned up in 2001 on the Atlantic compilation "Right On! Vol.3" (aimed directly at those who like break beats and grooves) and sent many soul fans back into second-hand record shops in London trying to find his LPs!

Most of the sessions were produced by ace arranger ARIF MARDIN and many of the tracks also feature THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS on Backing Vocals.

Although it doesn't state `remastered' anywhere - it's presumed being Rhino that they are because the sound is wonderful throughout - a little hissy in a few places - but nothing that would detract.

What's needed of course is a Brook Benton Rhino Handmade Limited Edition BOX SET covering all 5 of his albums, the 7" singles and hopefully even some tasty unreleased stuff (there's bound to be some and I'll bet it's good too). Whether that's commercially viable or not is another matter.

In the meantime, this budget-priced remastered compilation is stunning value for money and makes available music that is increasingly hard to find now on original vinyl.

A voice and a talent you need to rediscover - highly recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker, Archie Bell & The Drells, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

.....Brook Benton Atlantic/Cotillion LP Discography.....

“Do Your Own Thing”
USA July 1969, Cotillion SD-9002 (Stereo)
Side 1: Touch 'Em With Love/Nothing Can Take The Place Of You/Destination Heartbreak/Woman Without Love/Break Out/She Knows What To Do For Me
Side 2: Set Me Free/With Pen In Hand/Hiding Behind The Shadow Of A Dream/I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself/Oh Lord, Why Lord/Do Your Own Thing

“Brook Benton Today”
USA February 1970, Cotillion SD-9018
UK 1970, Atlantic 2465 004 (Plum Label)
Side 1: Rainy Night In Georgia/My Way/Life Has Its Little Ups And Downs/Can't Take My Eyes Off You/We're Gonna Make It
Side 2: A Little Bit Of Soap/Baby/Where Do I Go From Here? /Desertion/I've Gotta Be Me/

“Home Style”
USA August 1970, Cotillion SD-9028
UK 1970 Atlantic 2400 024 (Plum Label)
Side 1: Whoever Finds This I Love You/For Lee Ann/Willie And Laura Mae Jones/It's All In The Game/Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home
Side 2: Aspen Colorado/Don't Think Twice It's All Right/Born Under A Bad Sign/Are You Sincere/Let Me Fix It

“The Gospel Truth”
USA June 1971, Cotillion SD-058
UK 1971 Atlantic 2400 202 (Plum Label) - Reissued 1972 on Atlantic K 40224
Side 1: Let Us All Get Together With The Lord/Oh Happy Day/Heaven Help Us All/Going Home In His Name
Side 2: Take A Look At Your Hands/If You Think God Is Dead/I Dreamed Of A City Called Heaven/Doing The Best I Can/Precious Lord

“Story Teller”
USA 1972, Atlantic SD-9050
UK 1972, Atlantic K 40314
Side 1: Movin' Day/Willoughby Grove/Shoes/Poor Make Believer/Please Send Me Someone To Love
Side 2: Big Mabel Murphy/She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye/Save The Last Dance For Me/Sidewalks Of Chicago/Country Comfort

“The Platinum Collection” by BARBARA LEWIS. A Review of the 2007 Rhino CD Compilation.

Barbara Lewis is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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“…I’ll Be Yours Until The Stars Fall From The Sky…”

As part of the legendary label's 60th Anniversary celebrations, Atlantic issued a slew of budget-priced compilations under the title "The Platinum Collection" (see below for the full list). This Barbara Lewis set is a straightforward reissue of the "Hello Stranger: The Best Of" compilation issued by Rhino way back in 1994; it's minus the detailed liner notes, but still has that great remastered/restored sound.

Its superb 20 tracks cover her 5 Atlantic albums and some of her non-album single sides. The original 12-page booklet is reduced to a 4-page inlay that doesn't provide much info, so here's a breakdown of what track came from what (51:22 minutes):

"Hello Stranger"
July 1963, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8086 (CD Tracks 1 to 5)
"Snap Your Fingers"
January 1964, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8090 (CD Track 7)
"Baby, I'm Yours"
August 1965, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8110 (CD Tracks 6, 8 and 12)
"It's Magic"
April 1966, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8118 (CD Tracks 10, 13, 14 and 17)
"Workin' On A Groovy Thing"
June 1968, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8173 (CD Tracks 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20)

Track 9 is "Spend A Little Time", a 7" single issued April 1964 on US Atlantic 2227
Track 11 is "Pushin' A Good Thing Too Far", a 7" single issued in October 1964 on US Atlantic 2255

Lewis is like so many of the fabulous Soul Ladies of the Sixties (Maxine Brown on Wand, Barbara Acklin on Brunswick, Clydie King on Stateside, Mabel John on Tamla Motown, Mitty Collier on Chess jump to mind) - beloved by soul fans everywhere for their sheer class and the strength of the material they issued. The fact that Lewis penned six of these tunes is even more impressive. Doo Wop fans should also note that the wonderful Chess group 'The Dells’ provided backing vocals on seven tracks (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11) while the strings were arranged and conducted on Track 17 by ace producer Arif Mardin.

A great compilation then for peanuts amount of money - and a top way of introducing yourself to the extraordinary richness of the Atlantic label - big-time recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: - LaVern Baker, Archie Bell & The Drells, Brook Benton, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley, Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

- Atlantic Label ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY -

“Hello Stranger” [1963]
Atlantic 8086 (Mono), Atlantic SD 8086 (Stereo SD-8086) in the USA
Side 1: Hello Stranger/Puppy Love/On Bended Knees/My Heart Went Do Dat Da/My Mama Told Me/Gonna Love You Till The End of Time
Side 2: Would You Love Me/Longest Night Of The Year/Does Anyone Want A Lover/We're Too Young To Marry/Love Is A Castle/Think A Little Sugar

“Snap Your Fingers” [1964]
Atlantic 8090 (Mono), Atlantic SD SD-8090 (Stereo) in the USA
Side 1: Snap Your Fingers/Please, Please, Please/Frisco Blues/I'll Bring It Back Home To You/Just A Matter of Time/Twist And Shout/I Don't Want To Cry
Side 2: Turn On Your Love Light/Stand By Me/If You Need Me/What'd I Say/Baby, Workout/Shame, Shame, Shame

“Baby, I’m Yours” [1965]
Atlantic 8110 (Mono), Atlantic SD-8110 (Stereo) in the USA
Side 1: Baby, I'm Yours/My Heart Went Do Da Dat/Come Home/Think A Little Sugar/If You Love Her/Stop That Girl
Side 2: Puppy Love/Hello Stranger/Someday We're Gonna Love Again/Snap Your Fingers/How Can I Say Goodbye/Straighten Up Your Heart

“It’s Magic” [1966]
Atlantic 8118 (Mono), Atlantic SD 8118 (Stereo) in the USA
Side 1: It's Magic/The Shadow of Your Smile/Let It Be Me/Quiet Nights/Since I Fell For You/Don't Forget About Me
Side 2: I Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him/Yesterday/He's So Bad/A Taste Of Honey/Sorrow/Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

“Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” [1968]
Atlantic Stereo LP SD-8173 in the USA
Side 1: I'll Keep Believin'/Workin' On A Groovy Thing/Make Me Your Baby/Girls Need Loving Care/I Remember the Feeling/Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do
Side 2: Make Me Belong to You/Love Makes The World Go 'Round/I'll Make Him Love Me/Only All The Time/Sho-Nuff (It’s Got To Be Your Love)/Thankful For What I’ve Got

“The Best Of” [1971]
Atlantic Stereo LP SD-8286 in the USA
Side 1: Baby, I'm Yours/Hello Stranger/Make Me Your Baby/Don't Forget About Me/I Remember The Feeling/Make Me Belong To You
Side 2: Baby, What Do You Want Me to Do/Puppy Love/Stop That Girl/Come Home/Stand By Me/It's Magic

"Margie Joseph" by MARGIE JOSEPH (2007 Japanese Vivid Sound Label CD Reissue of her 1973 Atlantic Records Soul Album) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I've Been Chained So Long...Getting Free Just Don't Seem Real..."

Having made two albums for Volt in the USA - "Margie Joseph Makes A New Impression" in 1971 " on VOS-6012 and then "Phase II" in 1972 on VOS-6016 - both of which bubbled under the US R&B charts (but many felt could have done better) - big things were expected of the Mississippi singer on her 3rd album and new signing to the legendary home of Soul music - Atlantic Records.

The album "Margie Joseph" was recorded in June and September 1972 at the Atlantic studios in New York and produced by keyboardist and legendary arranger ARIF MARDIN and released February 1973.

This Japan-only February 2007 CD reissue on Vivid Sound VSCD 320 of "Margie Joseph" by MARGIE JOSEPH (Barcode 4540399003207) is a 5" hard-card repro of the American sleeve and is limited to 3000 copies worldwide (46:11 minutes):

1. I Been Down [Ron Galbraith/Marty Keener song]

2. Make Me Believe You’ll Stay [John W. Anderson song]

3. Let's Stay Together [Al Green/Willie Mitchell/Al Jackson song - Al Green cover]

4. Turn Around And Love You [Donna Weiss song - Rita Coolidge cover]

5. I'm Only A Woman [Ben Peters song]

6. Let’s Go Somewhere And Love [Kenny O’Dell/Larry Henley song - Sandy Posey cover]

7. You Better Know It [David Williams/Calvin White song]

8. Touch Your Woman [Dolly Parton song]

9. I’ll Take Care Of You [Brook Benton song]

10. I’m So Glad I’m Your Woman [Margie Joseph/Arif Mardin song]

11. How Do You Spell Love [Marshall Boxley, Jerry Strickland and Bobby Patterson song]

12. I’d Rather Go Blind [Ellington Jordan and Bill Foster song - Etta James/Chicken Shack cover]

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Margie Joseph" – released February 1973 in the USA on Atlantic SD-7248 and Atlantic K 40462 in the UK.

The musicians involved were:

MARGIE JOSEPH – All Vocals

CORNELL DUPREE and HUGH McCRACKEN – Guitars on 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10 and 12

DAVID SPINNOZA – Guitar on 1, 5, 6, 9 and 11

RICHARD TEE – Keyboards on all

ARIF MARDEN – Additional Keyboards on 10

DAVID NEWMAN – Saxophone & Flute

JERRY GEMMOTT – Bass on 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10 and 12

CHUCK RAINEY – Bass on 1, 5, 6, 9 and 11

CISSY HOUSTON, DEIRDRE TUCK, RENELIE STAFFORD, MYRNA SMITH, SYLVIA SHEMWELL, SAMMY TURNER and RONALD BRIGHT – Backing Vocals

RALPH McDONALD – Percussion on all except 3

NORMAN PRIDE – Percussion on 3 only

7" singles off the album were:

1. Let's Go Somewhere And Love b/w Born To Wander - issued in 1972 on Atlantic 2907 in the USA

2. Touch Your Woman b/w I'm So Glad I'm Your Woman - issued in 1973 on Atlantic 2933 in the USA

3. Let's Stay Together b/w I'd Rather Go Blind - issued in 1973 on Atlantic 2954 in the USA

4. How Do You Spell Love b/w Let's Stay Together - issued in 1973 on Atlantic K 10313 in the UK

NOTE: "Born To Wander" is a Rare Earth cover version and is non-album

The CD itself is housed in a gauze inner bag (does anyone sell these?) while the foldout page insert is entirely in Japanese on one side and blank on the other! If it weren't for the credits on the pasted-on back sleeve on the card replica (complete with Obi), you wouldn’t have any idea of who did what and where. There's no reissue liner notes, but it's obvious from the stunning funky opener "I Been Down" (lyrics above) that remastering has taken place – and a very sweet job has been done too. The sound is warm, full and sweetly clear.

The house band is virtually Aretha's – and the album is sequenced as her releases were at the time – a funky soulful tune followed by a torch ballad and back again. On the quieter songs like "Turn Around And Love You" and "I'll Take Care Of You" a tad of hiss is audible – but because you're too busy enjoying the top session work and Stevie Wonder/Donny Hathaway vibes of the songs – it's not enough to detract.

If I was to point out one niggle it’s this - in the USA the album was preceded by a single, the superb Kenny O’Dell song "Let's Go Somewhere And Love" (a minor hit for Sandy Posey as "Why Don't We Go Somewhere And Love" on Columbia in 1972). Put out on Atlantic 2907 in late 1972 - its B-side was Margie's non-album cover version of Rare Earth's "Born To Wander" and it's a genuine sought-after soul rarity – a fantastically funky tune. It's a damn shame "Born To Wander" wasn't tagged on here as a bonus track. But maybe that's for Rhino to look into - in fact they could do with making all 4 of her Atlantic/Cotillion albums from the 1970s available domestically.

Fab stuff really – and even if it is pricey (as the Japanese imports are) – worth every bent penny & red cent you’ll need to acquire it.

PS: the other two titles in this 5" card sleeve repro series issued in February 2007 were:

1. "Sweet Surrender" on Vivid Sound VSCD-321 (Her 2nd LP for the label issued in August 1974 on Atlantic SD-7277 in the USA)

2. "Margie" is on Vivid Sound VSCD-322 (Her 3rd LP for the label issued in 1975 on Atlantic SD-18126 in the USA)