"The Gospel Truth: The Gospel Soul And Funk Of Stax Records" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (August 2010 UK Ace Records/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This cleverly put together set of 20 tracks is a tribute to one man – Alvertis Isbell – or Al Bell to you and I. Bell joined Stax Records in 1965 straight from two successful Radio shows in Washington and Memphis and would eventually own the label several years later. He had a passion for Gospel and its message of love and racial integration and saw the fusion of Soul and Gospel Music as an obvious and natural progression. 

After a few years of aborted attempts with 'Chalice' Records, he struck pop and message gold by signing The Staple Singers in the late Sixties. With them in tow and more label successes following, he formed the Stax offshoot label 'Gospel Truth' for the Seventies – which is where this CD compilation comes in…

Most tracks are culled from that label's rare and lesser-seen album catalogue issued between 1971 and 1976 (later edited down to just 'Truth' Records). There’s a lot of here that’s new to CD, so let’s get to the details first…

UK released 30 August 2010 - "The Gospel Truth: The Gospel And Funk Of Stax Records" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGP 222 (Barcode 029667522229) is a CD Compilation of Remasters that breaks down as follows (78:01 minutes):

1. Son Of The Deacon – THE SONS OF TRUTH (from the 1973 USA LP "A Message From The Ghetto" on Gospel Truth GTS-2714)

2. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child – CLARENCE SMITH (from the 1973 USA LP "Whatever Happened To Love" on Gospel Truth GTS-2716)

3. Do Your Thing – THE MARION GAINES SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "This Too Is Gospel" on Gospel Truth GTS-2713)

4. We're Gonna Have A Good Time – JACQUI VERDELL (1972 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1211, A-side)

5. Brand New Day (Theme From The United Artists Motion Picture "The Landlord") – THE STAPLE SINGERS (1970 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0074, A-Side)

6.  Talk That Talk (Part 1) – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (from the 1975 USA LP "A Soulful Experience" on Truth TRS-4207)

7. I Got The Vibes – JOSHIE JO ARMSTEAD (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1207, B-side of "Ride Out The Storm")

8. You Need A Friend Like Mine – ANNETTE THOMAS (1974 USA 7" single on Truth TRA-3208, B-side of "What Good Is A Song")

9. (There's Gonna Be A) Showdown – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (1972 USA 7” single on Gospel truth GTA-2014, A-Side)

10. Let Me Come Home – THE HOWARD LEMON SINGERS (from the 1973 album catalogued as "I Am Determined" on GTS-2724)

11.  It Will Soon Be Over – THE MARION GAINES SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "This Too Is Gospel" on Gospel Truth GTS-2713)

12. I Don't Know Where We’re Headed – THE SONS OF TRUTH (from the 1973 USA LP "A Message From The Ghetto" on Gospel Truth GTS-2714)

13. Better Get A Move On – LOUISE McCORD (from the 1972 USA LP "A Tribute To Mahalia Jackson" on Gospel Truth GTS-2711 – also issued as a USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1206)

14. When Will We Be Paid For The Work We Did – THE STAPLE SINGERS (1969 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0052, A-Side)

15. If The Shoe Fits, Wear It – THE 21st CENTURY (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1209)

16. Keep My Baby Warm – CHARLES MAY & ANNETTE MAY THOMAS (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1206, A-Side)

17. I'll Keep On Trying – CLARENCE SMITH from the 1973 USA LP "Whatever Happened To Love" on Gospel Truth GTS-2716)

18. Stumblin' Blocks, Steppin' Stones (What Took Me So Long) – JOSHIE JO ARMSTEAD (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1214, A-Side)

19. You Can't Stop Me Now – THE MARION GAINES SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "This Too Is Gospel" on Gospel Truth GTS-2713)

20. Name The Missing Word – THE STAPLE SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" on Stax STS-3002)

Compiled and annotated by Soul lover and expert DEAN RUDLAND, the 12-page booklet features full-colour plates of rarely seen album sleeves by Clarence White, The Marion Gaines Singers, The Rance Allen Group, The Howard Lemon Singers and Louise McLoud. There’s a couple of USA 45s pictured, a trade advert and a Bible on the cover with the BGP and Stax logos on it – nice! Excepting The Staple Singers, very few of these artists are household names, so Rudland’s researched and informative liner notes make for an enlightening read. NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London has once again done the remastering and a typically great job it is too – full of life and presence. He always seems to get a better sound than I have on other Stax CDs.

The material as you can imagine is as funky as it is righteous – great grooves, positive vibes and all of it imbibed with a feeling of black pride finally breaking through - what heady times they were. Highlights include the fuzzed-up guitar rhythms of the opener "Son Of The Deacon" which is cleverly followed by "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" a Traditional given a radical funky reworking. You’ll also notice from the total playing time that 20 tracks take up 78 minutes – this is because quite a few are over 5 minutes long – feeling like extended workouts (something a lot of listeners love).

A truly fantastic inclusion is the Isaac Hayes cover of "Do Your Thing" by The Marion Gaines Singers – a perfect marriage of soul, funk and gospel (..."better pray on"...). As writers - Gamble & Huff provide a typically Philly sound to Rance Allen’s high-vocal acrobatics on "(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown". There’s almost a pre-disco feel to Joshie Jo Armstead’s lovely "I Got The Vibes" (she was a member of The Ikettes), while "You Need A Friend Like Mine" is written by another Stax label stalwart – Frederick Knight. Soul-songwriting heroine Bettye Crutcher (provided hits for William Bell, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor and The Staple Singers among others) penned my favourite on here - "Better Get A Move On" by Louise McCord. It features irresistible funky guitar licks while her great vocals rap lyrical about a woman ditching a mistreating man in a very Marlena Shaw kind of a way – superlative stuff.

Charles May penned both his own "Keep My Baby Warm" and "If The Shoe Fits, Wear It" for The 21st Century – both are more soul than gospel – and are lovely additions. Not surprisingly The Staples Singers are featured three times – their excellent cover of Al Kooper's theme to "The Landlord" movie – “Brand New Day” (lyrics above). But as much as I adore the ground any of The Staple Singers walk on – “When Will We Be Paid…” has never been a rave of mine. Still - the set's closer is a very clever choice – a gem tucked away on their “Be Altitude: Respect Yourself” album from 1972 called "Name The Missing Word" which is lyrically relevant to the comp's theme.

To sum up – it’s an embarrassment of riches if you dig this sort of thing – and even if you don’t – there’s so much on here worth taking a chance on.

Ace Records deliver again folks – another job well done. On to Volume 2 please…

“Shattered Dreams – Funky Blues 1967-1978” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review Of The Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CD Compilation.

This review 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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"…They’re Socking It To Me…Everywhere I Go…"

"Shattered Dreams – Funky Blues 1967-1978" is the latest release on Ace Records label imprint Beat Goes Public (also known as BGP) and typically it’s an absolute belter. I had a feeling it would be good, and it is. Here’s the details first…

Released 28 March 2011, Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGP 229 breaks down as follows (73:26 minutes):

1. Shake ‘Em Up – SLIM GREEN (from the 1971 USA LP “Stone Down Blues” on Kent KST 549)
2. It Took A Long Time – FINIS TASBY (1977 Big Town label recording, exclusive to this compilation)
3. Bad Understanding – AL KING (Previously Unreleased until the 2010 CD compilation “Together: The Complete Kent And Modern Recordings” by Al King and Arthur K Adams on Ace CDCHD 1292)
4. Mellow Together - LOWELL FULSON (USA 7” single on Kent 489, B-side of “Blues Pain”, 1968)
5. Country Girl – THE JOHNNY OTIS SHOW (USA 7” single on Kent 506, A-side, 1969)
6. That’s What Love Will Make You Do – LITTLE MILTON (USA 7” single on Stax STA-0111, 1971)
7. Your Love Is Good Enough For Me – ICEWATER SLIM (USA LP on Hawk Sound 1002, 1974)
8. Playing On Me – ALBERT KING (USA 7” single on Stax 0166, 1973)
9. You Shattered My Dreams – SMOKEY WILSON (USA 7” single on Big Town 725, Non-Album Track, 1978)
10. The Whole World’s Down On You – LARRY DAVIS [Previously Unreleased]
11. Cloudy Day – FINIS TASBY 1977 (Big Town label recording, exclusive to this compilation)
12. I’m Not The Best – BUDDY GUY (USA 7” single on Vanguard 35080, B-side of “Fever”, 1968)
13. Comin’ At Ya Baby Part 2 – THE JOHNNY OTIS SHOW [Previously Unreleased]
14. Eli’s Pork Chop – LITTLE SONNY (From the 1972 USA LP “New King Of The Blues Harmonica” on Enterprise ENS 1005)
15. Gimme Some Of Your Lovin’ – ARTHUR K ADAMS (USA 7” single on Modern 1034, 1967)
16. Welcome Home – LOWELL FULSON (Previously Unreleased until the 2001 CD compilation “Black Nights: The Early Kent Sessions” on Ace CDCHD 831)
17. No Matter What The Cost May Be – ALBERT WASHINGTON (from the 1973 USA LP “Sad And Lonely” on Eastbound EB 9007)
18. High Time – SMOKEY WILSON [Previously Unreleased Big Town Recording]
19. You Got Me Movin’ – BIG DADDY RUCKER [Previously Unreleased]
20. Good Feeling – FREDDY ROBINSON (Previously Unreleased until the 1999 CD compilation “Bluesology” on Ace CDCHD 728)
21. Tough Competition – RAY AGEE [Previously Unreleased]

It’s been mastered by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London and each track is superbly rendered especially the Seventies stuff which has a full and ballsy sound. The 12-page booklet has knowledgeable and informative liner notes by DEAN RUDLAND with 7” singles and colour photos of some artists featured.

Proceedings open very nicely with “Shake ‘Em Up” – a Guitar Slim 'chugger' boasting an incessant backbeat overlaid with spoken lyrics – it makes you want to boogie and it’s not surprising that it’s a huge hit on the dancefloors of UK clubs. It’s followed by a rediscovery - the unlikely sounding FINIS TASBY - a Texan Bluesman who comes over as a funky Albert King on a Meters tip. “It Took A Long Time” is a fantastically good cut (the second on here is an equally cool harmonica funker called “Cloudy Day”). His self-titled album was supposed to come out on Big Town Records in 1977 (even has a catalogue number) but I’ve never seen one (the company apparently went bust before it was issued). Both tracks are exclusive on CD to this comp – and what finds they are…

There follows two brassy Blues numbers by Al King and Lowell Fulson, which are very good, but even better is “Country Girl” by Johnny Otis. It sounds like a Blues reworking of “Tramp” by Otis Redding and features the 19-year genius Shuggie Otis providing the tasty guitar solo on his father’s cut. The double-whammy of Little Milton’s 1971 track “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” on Stax and Icewater Slim’s “Your Love Is Good Enough For Me” from 1974 sum up this great compilation – funky Blues tunes that are practically irresistible – top Seventies production values too.

The six-minute slow blues of “You Shattered My Dreams” by Smokey Wilson sounds a little like Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” from 1976 on Capricorn but with more brass and piano. The bass and guitar on the Previously Unreleased “High Time” by Smokey Wilson has production chops so good, you’d swear it was a Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards session – very funky and very cool.
Page 6 of the booklet pictures a nattily dressed Freddy Robinson whose “Good Feeling” is a standout track on here – and again previously unreleased until Ace put it out in 1999 on their “Bluesology” compilation. It all ends on a genuine high – the hard-grooving “Tough Competition” by another lesser-known name - Ray Agee. It sounds not unlike a Shuggie Otis outtake and is just brilliant - how has this gem remained in the can until now (lyrics above)?

Niggles - although the booklet’s good, I would have liked more of it – and the detailed track list I provided above, I had to dig out myself. The back inlay gives an original vinyl catalogue number and year, but not what ‘album’ the track is from. The 7” is the same – is it an A or a B? I also think the front artwork doesn’t do this release any favours because in a crowded marketplace, it would be a real shame to see this cool little reissue go unnoticed.

To sum up – “Shattered Dreams” does exactly what it says on the tin – it gives you Funky Blues from 1967 to 1978 - and I’ve been playing it to death since I got my grubby hands on it a few days ago.

Lustier than a Knickerbocker Glory in Wimpy and tighter than a nun’s knickers in the Vatican (both endangered species) - you need this Funky Blues nutrition in your life.

I’m off now to buy a Banana Boat - while I still can…

“The New Folk Sound Of…” by TERRY CALLIER. A Review of his Sixties debut album on Prestige now reissued on a 2003 CD Remaster with Three Bonus Tracks.

"…Better Days Coming…You And Me Brother…We Can Make It So…”

There are now TWO CD issues of this album…

The first was released in 1995 in the UK on one of Ace Records label imprints - Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 101 (second image above). It was a straightforward reissue of the US vinyl album on Prestige PR 7383. It ran to 37:46 minutes and had no mastering or remastering credits. The sound quality was ok, but it has been made redundant by…

This 2nd issue (first image above) – an upgraded 2003 remaster that adds three previously unreleased outtakes from the original session to the album’s eight tracks (55:01 minutes).

This new version on Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 156 has been transferred by JOE TARANTINO at the Fantasy Studios in California – and if I was to describe what’s better - it’s the vocals – they’re far more amplified and to beautiful effect. Unfortunately, it’s still a gatefold slip of paper that provides no history of the record (the original May 1965 liner notes are reproduced, but it’s the usual vague Sixties babble that doesn’t actually inform you of anything).

Aged only 23, “New Folk Sound Of…” was recorded by SAMUEL CHARTERS in the Webb Recording Studios in Chicago in just one day – 29 July 1964 – and released in the late summer of the following year. There are only 3 musicians – TERRY CALLIER on Guitar and Vocals, TERBOUR ATTENBOROUGH on Bass and JOHN TWEEDLE also on Bass. Another surprise is that all the songs are covers – five being Public Domain Traditionals while the other three were from songwriter catalogues of the time.

Side 1 opens with the lovely and lonesome “900 Miles” which sets up his style and the album’s overall feel. Although it’s just him on Acoustic Guitar with his voice high up in the mix and the other instruments behind him, the effect is more FOLK-SOUL than just Folk or Roots. It’s beautifully atmospheric – the kind of album you’d play on a quiet Sunday morning when you just want something soothing on the ear and brain.

Some tracks work better than others. It’s difficult to hear “Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be” now without thinking of a schoolyard song we used to sing which rudely rhymed a “Lavatory” with “Matter Be”. But things get better with the quietly lovely “Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be” and “Cotton Eyed Joe”. The difference on the remaster of “Cotton Eyed Joe” is stark – the vocals soar out of the speakers.

One of the album’s true masterpieces is Side 2’s opener - the plea for racial equality and an end to all war - “It’s About Time” (lyrics above). Written by a beat poet and a female US songwriter (Kent Foreman and Lydia Wood) and running to a mere 3:33 minutes, it features a lovely guitar strum, but this time it has the added double bass of TERBOUR ATTENBOROUGH which lifts the song out of it’s folk-roots feel into something so much more powerful and substantial. It still sounds awesome to this day – as meltingly relevant then as it is now. It’s followed by “Promenade In Green” which is a Negro song from Alabama copyrighted by Robert Kaufman and Len Chandler in 1961 (a year before Callier started singing) – it’s heart-meltingly lovely. “I’m A Drifter” is excellent too, but probably overstays its welcome at just short of nine minutes.

The extras are a revelation. It’s easy to see why they were left off the album – it’s not that they’re sub-standard it’s just that they were more of the same and something had to give. Which is good news for us some 45 years later because the gambling song “Jack O’ Diamonds” is superb, but the real winner is his cover of the Judy Collins song “The Golden Apples Of The Sun” which incorporated the poetry of William Butler Yates into the words. It’s gorgeous. What a find!

As you’ve no doubt gathered, I’ve been soppy about Terence Orlando Callier for years, so perhaps my review is overly gushing – but once your weary lugs actually hear this criminally forgotten gem, you’ll understand why…

Despite the lack of notes and an appreciation of the man’s legacy – this is a great reissue of a soft and graceful start – and a philosophy to life that continues to inspire to this day.

I strongly urge you to get this superb CD reissue into your life.

PS: see also my reviews for the two albums he followed “Folk Sound” with - “Occasional Rain” (1972 on Cadet) and “What Color Is Love” (1973 on Cadet).