"War Of The Gods" by BILLY PAUL (2012 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD - Wayne A. Dickson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Trust Your Better Judgment…Challenge Your Heart…"

With all 6 of its tracks written by the dynamic Soul duo of KENNETH GAMBLE and LEON HUFF (with contributions from Bunny Sigler, Cary Gilbert and Joannie Arc) and the music played entirely by MFSB - Billy Paul's 3rd album for Philly is considered by many (including the artist himself) to be his best record. And this new and expanded UK CD reissue of that 1973 Philly gem does it proud. Here are the waring details...

UK released November 2012 – "War Of The Gods" by BILLY PAUL on Big Break Records CDBBR 0184 (Barcode 5013929048430) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Remaster with Three Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows (50:55 minutes):

1. I See The Light

2. War Of The Gods

3. The Whole Town’s Talking

4. I Was Married

5. Thanks For Saving My Life

6. Peace Holy Peace

Tracks 1 to 6 are the vinyl album "War Of The Gods" - released November 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32409 in a gatefold sleeve with an insert. Stateside it reached Number 12 on the R&B charts and Number 110 on the Pop charts. It was also belatedly issued in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65861 in June 1974.

BONUS TRACKS:

7. War Of The Gods (Single Version)

8. The Whole Town's Talking (Single Version)

9. I Was Married (Single Version)

There were 4 x 7" singles issued around the album and this CD will allow fans to sequence them as follows:

1. War Of The Gods (Part 1) [7] b/w War Of The Gods (Part 2)

November 1973 PROMO-ONLY USA 7" single on Philadelphia International AE7 1080

2. Thanks For Saving My Life [5] b/w I Was Married [9]

November 1973 USA 7" single on Philadelphia International ZS7 3538

3. Thanks For Saving My Life [5] b/w I See The Light [1]

November 1973 UK 7" single on Philadelphia International S PIR 1928

4. The Whole Town's Talking [8] b/w I Was Married [9]

April 1974 UK 7" single on Philadelphia International S SPIR 2225

As is customary now- these BBR CDs come in one of those new rounded jewel cases with a 12-page inlay. Liner notes are by noted music-writer ANDY KELLMAN with contributions from BILLY PAUL and BLANCHE WLLIAMS. Several of the Philly 7" singles are pictured - the colour photo of Paul that graced the inner gatefold is centered in the booklet and the rare insert that looked almost like a black and white art print is reproduced on Page 3. Even the words under every song on the rear sleeve are here (those from "I See The Light" title this review). Great attention to detail - but once again the fireworks comes with the SOUND...

Remastered from the original tapes by BBR's resident engineer WAYNE A. DICKSON at Soundmasters in London - the sound quality is typically superb. I've raved about this guy's work before - and this reissue is no different. Lovely clarity - virtually no hiss - warm presence in the speakers - just great and 'so' Soulful too.

The album opens with an absolutely fabulous double-track sucker punch - two trippy-soulful cuts called "I See The Light" at 6-minutes and the epic 10-minute album version of "War Of The Gods" - very Isaac Hayes as it lingers and grooves. Combined with "Peace Holy Peace" (the last track on the LP) they give the whole LP a very mellow socially-conscious feel - more Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" than The O'Jays "Backstabbers" if you know what I mean. Both "The Whole Town's Talking" and "I Was Married" are the more poppy Soul side of Philly and actually sound a little out of place here. But "Thanks For Saving My Life" is an excellent jaunty mid-tempo number. A clever move by BBR is including the sought-after PROMO-ONLY 7" cut of "War Of The Gods" which edits the epic talking-song down to a more manageable 5:37 minutes.

To sum up - as with so much of the Philly label you forget just how good it is. And that stunning MFSB backing group - top stuff. In truth - I'm not a huge fan of the poppier tunes on here - but that threesome of 'lurve' tunes is really exceptional.

I've loved rehearing this great album - and with this fantastic new sound quality - a must-own for Seventies Soul/Fusion lovers everywhere.

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD & SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Ship Ahoy" by THE O'JAYS - A Review Of Their 1973 Philadelphia International LP - Now Remastered & Expanded In 2013 Onto A 40th Anniversary CD By Big Break Records of the UK...

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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A Number 1 USA R'n'B hit in late 1973 and a heavy-hitter pop breakthrough album - along with "Backstabbers" that went before it in 1972 - "Ship Ahoy" holds a special place in the hearts of every O'Jays fan. It's also one of the Soul gems on a record label that's held in mighty affection to this day - Philadelphia International. And once again it has to be said that BBR of the UK (Big Break Records) has done the album proud with this 40th Anniversary CD reissue. Here are the Phillybuster details...

Reissued February 2013 in the UK - Big Break Records CDBBR 0207 breaks down as follows (55:17 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Ship Ahoy" - originally released in the USA and UK on Philadelphia International KZ 32408 and S PIR 65860 in October 1973.

Track 9 is "Put Your Hands Together (Live In London, December 1973)" while 10 and 11 are "Single Versions" of "For The Love Of Money" and "Now That We Found Love".

This CD will allow fans to sequence the following singles issued around the album:

1. Put Your Hands Together b/w You Got Your Hooks In Me - November 1973 US 7" single on Philadelphia International ZS7 3535.

2. For The Love Of Money b/w People Keep Telling Me - March 1974 US 7" single on ZS7 3744

3. Put Your Hands Together b/w The Air That I Breath - November 1973 UK 7" single on S PIR 1905

4. For The Love Of Money b/w People Keep Telling Me - March 1974 UK 7" single on S PIR 2186

5. Now That We Found Love b/w You Got Your Hooks In Me - August 1974 UK 7" single on S PIR 2577

The jewel case is one of those new rounded corner deals and the 16-page booklet features detailed liner notes by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - a New Yorker writer who is a contributing Editor to "PopMatters" website. The booklet has various US picture sleeves, Philly memorabilia etc. The remaster is by WAYNE A. DICKSON and is superlative - incredibly clean, clear and present reflecting GAMBLE & HUFF'S superb production values back in the day. I can't emphasize enough how good BBR CDs sound - I've reviewed over 15 (see list below) - and this is no different. A joy to listen too...

Side 1 is pretty much flawless - and how good is it to hear the full album stretch of "Ship Ahoy" at nearly nine minutes with its bells and fog horns and spoken passages. “The Air I Breathe" is an uptempo dancer about suburban pollution that could easily have been another successful hit single while the truly lovely "You Got Your Hooks In Me" (lyrics above) is the kind of BUNNY SIGLER ballad that defines their 'lurve' side - pull them close and feel that heat people!

Side 2 opens with the full album version of the fabulously perky "For The Love Of Money" - funkifying your speakers for over seven minutes (the remaster is so good on the bass and brass). "Don't Call Me Brother" apes Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" for its opening seconds but then settles into a stunning smoochy vibe about 'getting yourself together' and 'respecting your woman'. It finishes on the almost disco-precursor "People Keep Telling Me" where someone is doing someone wrong - yet again. The polish of the 'live' version of "Put Your Hands Together" is amazing - the band tight while the boys whip the crowd into a 'let us pray' and 'come on' frenzy - great stuff. And I've been looking for the single edits for years.

This is a superb reissue - and kudos once again to BBR for its top sound quality and classy presentation.

"Cado Belle" by CADO BELLE [featuring Maggie Reilly] (2014 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I'm Rocked To Stony Silence…"

Cado Belle made only two official releases in the UK - their highly revered self-titled debut album in late 1976 and a hard-to-find 4-track 12” Single EP in late 1977 (see below). Across the years there have been two attempts to my knowledge at CD reissue (2004 and 2008) - both of which are hard-to-find and for years have pulled extortionate prices on the Net. Well at last in 2014 - Big Break Records of the UK have gotten hold of the master tapes and interviewed members of the band for this superb expanded CD remaster that gives us their entire recorded output and a bit little more thrown in. Here are the wee Scottish Soul details…

UK released 23 June 2014 on CD (July 2014 in the USA) – "Cado Belle" by CADO BELLE on Big Break Records CDBBR 0268 (Barcode 5013939056831) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (58:32 minutes):

1. All Too Familiar

2. Infamous Mister

3. Rocked To Stony Silence

4. I Name This Ship Survival

5. Paper In The Rain

6. That Kind Of Fool [Side 2]

7. Airport Shutdown

8. Rough Diamonds

9. Got To Love

10. Stones Throw From Nowhere

Tracks 1 to 10 are their sole album “Cado Belle” - released October 1976 on Anchor Records ANCL 2015 in the UK and Anchor Records AN 2015 in the USA

BONUS TRACKS:

11. It’s Over

12. September

13. Play It Once For Me

14. Gimme Little Sign

Tracks 11 to 14 are "The Cado Belle E.P." - released November 1977 as a 4-track 12” single in an album picture sleeve in the UK on Anchor Records AN 1

Track 15 is new - an Ashley Beedle re-edit of "I Name This Ship Survival" - it remixes and lengthens the album track from 4:33 minutes to 5:11 minutes

The band arose out of the ashes of two obscure Scottish groups - Stuart MacKillop’s pop combo called “Joe Cool” and a jazz-fusion unit called “Up”. They signed to the then little known Anchor Records Label in the UK (Anchor was home to Paul Carrack’s ACE who had a huge hit with “How Long” from their wonderful “Five-A-Side” album). Their sound was a rock-group with soul/funk leanings – a sort of lighter version of the Average White Band with a Van Morrison feel to the tunes - fronted by a classy female singer. I remember seeing them live in Dublin with my sister several times (they were hugely popular there) and was duly blown away.

CADO BELLE was:

MAGGIE REILLY Lead Vocals

STUART MacKILLOP on Keyboards

ALAN DARBY on Guitar

COLIN TULLY on Saxophone

GAVIN HODGSON on Bass

DAVID ROY on Drums

The 12-page inlay pictures the gorgeous ‘vaudeville’ artwork of the Cado Belle E.P. as well as the two 7” singles lifted off the album - “Got To Love” b/w “Paper In The Rain” on Anchor ANC 1033 (released October 1976) and “Stones Throw To Nowhere” b/w “Airport Shutdown” on Anchor ANC 1038 (January 1977). A bit of a slip up is not producing the inner sleeve of the LP that had the lyrics to each song on either side. But balancing that is new interviews with Lead Singer Maggie Reilly and Saxophonist Colin Tully recalling the album’s history, gigs, lack of chart action and eventual breakup in 1978 when the Anchor label folded leaving them high and dry. But the big news for fans is the fabulous audio quality - really beautiful stuff - gorgeous throughout - especially on one of my all-time faves - the Alan Darby penned “September”. It’s the second track on Side 1 of the E.P. and comes on like Gary Moore’s “Parisienne Walkways” from 1978 - all Soulful guitar and aching lyrics. It’s also nice to hear their covers of “It’s Over” by Boz Scaggs (a co-write with David Paich of Toto - it’s from the 1976 “Silk Degrees” LP) and the 1967 Soul classic “Gimme Little Sign” by Brenton Wood. For many fans - the album cuts “Stones Throw From Nowhere” and “Rocked To Stony Silence” in this beautiful audio quality will thrill - but there’s also the superb Stuart MacKillop tune “Play It Once For Me” on Side 2 of the E.P. - what gems the lot of them.

Contributing to their Soulful Rock vibe is the fantastic Glasgow-born Scottish singer MAGGIE REILLY (not to be confused with Maggie Bell from Stone The Crows). She was similar vocally to Maria Muldaur in ways, even a touch of Chaka Khan circa Rufus. Maggie later had duet hits with Mike Oldfield on three occasions “Five Miles Out” in 1982, “Moonlight Shadow” in 1983 and “To France” in 1984. Since 1976 she’s sessioned as a vocalist on albums by Jack Bruce, George Harrison, Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, Sisters Of Mercy and Mike Oldfield. Maggie has her own website now and a few dedicated to her. Maggie’s latest album “Rowan” was released in 2006 and has received huge praise from all quarters (especially her lovely cover version of “Wild Mountain Thyme”).

So why didn’t CADO BELLE make it? As others have noted - I guess they lacked that one killer hit that would have made people and the charts sit up and take notice - perhaps if they’d released the epic “Stones Throw From Nowhere” first - things might have been different. Still - it’s a sign that they’re still remembered with such affection today - closing in on 40 years after the event…

A stunning BBR (Big Break Records) CD reissue - well done to all involved…

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 250 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).