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"...Traces Of Love Long Ago..."
As a long-time contributor to Amazon - I've
raved about Britain's BIG BREAK RECORDS before and have reviewed many of their
in-depth Reissues and Remasters (see list below).
Each BBR issue has been uniformly superb -
especially for those of us looking for great sound quality rather than the
half-hearted efforts thrown at us by the majors these days (when they can be
bothered). And once again - BBR has delivered on the sound front - even if the
material isn't nearly as stellar as you'd hope for. Here are the ebony traces...
UK released 4 June 2012 (5 June 2012 in the
USA) - "Ebony Woman by BILLY PAUL on Big Break Records CDBBR 0142 (Barcode
5013929044234) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the rare US Neptune Records LP
from 1970 (later reissued by Philadelphia International in 1973) that breaks
down as follows (35:41 minutes):
1. Ebony Woman
2. Mrs. Robinson
3. The Windmills Of Your Mind
4. Everyday People
5. Let's Fall In Love All Over
6. Windy
7. Psychedelic Sally
8. Traces
9. Proud Mary
Tracks 1 to 9 are Billy Paul's 2nd album
"Ebony Woman" - released July 1970 in the USA on Neptune Records
NLPS-201. Neptune was the record label started by the Soul songwriting and
producing duo of Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff. The LP received no UK release
at this time. However - it was re-issued April 1973 on Philadelphia
International Records KZ 32118 in the USA and on Philadelphia International PIR
65931 in the UK - but this time sporting a different front sleeve. This BBR CD
Reissue uses the original 1970 artwork on the front - with the back sleeve
featuring the 1973 photo of a woman's face (Grace Jones). It is this image that
British Soul fans will recognise as the 1973 sleeve (reproduced in full on Page
6 of the booklet). There are no bonus tracks.
This CD reissue comes in one of those
rounded-corner jewel cases and has a detailed 12-page booklet with liner notes
by ANDY KELLMAN (writer for the "All Music Guide"). The A&B-sides
of the lone 7" single initially issued off the album is pictured on Pages
4 and 8 - "Let's Fall In Love Again" b/w "Mrs. Robinson" on
Neptune N-30 - while photos of Paul in his trademark hat pepper the text. There
are also full album-credits on the last pages. But the real news for fans is
the SUPERB SOUND QUALITY...
Remastered from the 1st generation tapes by
NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London - the clarity is fantastic - warm
bass and clean vocals.
Just out of the Sixties - the album is full of
contemporary hits of the time - Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs.
Robinson", Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" and
Noel Harrison's "Windmills Of Your Mind" (theme from "The Thomas
Crown Affair"). The single "Let's Fall In Love Again" was
written by Bobby Martin (a friend of Gamble & Huff) and the title track
"Ebony Woman" harks way back to 1959 when Billy Paul first sang it
jazz-style.
Unfortunately most of these tracks are terribly
dated and I'll admit to only having time for three songs on here - a Swingin'
60t's cover of Horace Silver's "Psychedelic Sally" (you can see some
hippy chick dancing on a podium in a TV studio on this one), a piano-funky take
on Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic "Proud Mary" and a truly
lovely turn on The Classic IV's "Traces" (lyrics from it title this
review).
To sum up - if you're a fan of the album - then
you need to own this BBR reissue of it because of the fabulous sound and tasty
presentation. If you're new to it and are expecting Billy Paul's "Let The
Dollar Circulate" type of Philly Sound - then I'd suggest a listen
'before' you buy...
PS: Big Break Records (BBR)
CD Remasters I’ve reviewed to 2015:
1. Is It Still Good To Ya –
ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)
2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and
SIMPSON (1979)
3. Central Heating –
HEATWAVE (1977)
4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE
(1979)
5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)
6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY
(1977)
7. Harvest For The World -
THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)
8. Go For Your Guns - THE
ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)
9. In The Heart – KOOL &
THE GANG (1983)
10. I Hope We Get To Love On
Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)
11. I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE
NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]
12. Black & Blue -
HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)
13. Love Is The Message -
MFSB (1973)
14. Universal Love – MFSB
(1975)
15. All The Faces Of... -
BUDDY MILES (1974)
16. For The First Time –
STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)
17. I Can See Clearly Now -
JOHNNY NASH (1972)
18. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS
(1969)
19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS
(1972)
20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS
(1973)
21. Down To Love Town – THE
ORIGINALS (1977)
22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL
(1970 and 1973)
23. 360 Degrees Of Billy
Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)
24. War Of The Gods - BILLY
PAUL (1973)
25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM
HOOK (1978)
26. Love For What It Is -
ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)
27. Live: Stompin’ At The
Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)
28. Summernights – SILVER
CONVENTION (1977)
29. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED
SUGAR (1975)
30. Spinners – SPINNERS
(1973)
31. Soul Master – EDWIN
STARR (1968)
32. Involved - EDWIN STARR
(1971)
33. Switch - SWITCH (1978)
34 Watercolors – THE WATERS
(1980)
35. Just As I Am - BILL
WITHERS (1971)
36. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH
& PEOPLES (1983)
