"Like It Is/Honey-Drippin’ Blues" by (LITTLE) JUNIOR PARKER – February 1967 US LP on Mercury and December 1969 US LP on Blue Rock Records - Both in Stereo – featuring Memphis Sessionmen Willie Mitchell, Gene 'Bowlegs' Miller, Fred Ford and Jimmy Mitchell on Horns, Bobby Emmons on Organ, Joe Hall on Piano with Reggie Young on Guitar (March 2017 UK Beat Goes On Compilation - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Gonna Please You...Yes I Am!"

A blindingly good twofer from England's BGO yet again – pairing two completely overlooked Blues-Soul albums that haven't seen the CD light of day prior to this - ever. 

Originally on Mercury Records and their subsidiary Blue Rock – they came out Stateside in early 1967 and late 1969 (the first even got a British release in both Mono and Stereo) and were clearly aimed at dancefloor feet rather than Blues Guitar purists. Criminally forgotten goodies comes to mind, so let's have at Little Junior cuttin' loose and cookin' his lovin' goose...

UK released March 2017 - "Like It Is/Honey-Drippin' Blues" by (LITTLE) JUNIOR PARKER on Beat Goes On BGOCD1278 (Barcode 5017261212788) offers two US Albums from 1967 and 1969 originally on Mercury Records Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (61:33 minutes):

1. Country Girl [Side 1]

2. You Can Make It If You Try 

3. Wish Me Well 

4. Hey Lawdy Mama

5. Sometimes I Wonder 

6. (Ooh Wee Baby) That's The Way You Make Me Feel

7. Come Back, Baby [Side 2]

8. Just Like A Fish 

9. Baby, Please

10. You Ain't Got No Heart 

11. Cracked Up Over You

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Like It Is" – released February 1967 in the USA on Mercury MG-21101 (Mono) and Mercury SR-61101 (Stereo) and March 1967 in the UK on Mercury 20097 MCL (Mono) and Mercury 20097 SMCL (Stereo). Produced by BOBBY ROBINSON – it didn't chart in either country. Band included Memphis sessionmen Willie Mitchell (the Hi Records and Al Green Producer), Gene 'Bowlegs' Miller, Fred Ford and Jimmy Mitchell on Various Horns, Reggie Young on Guitar, Buddy Emmons on Organ, Joe Hall on Piano, Mike Leech on Bass with Sam Creason on Drums.  

12. Easy Lovin' [Side 1]

13. I'm So Satisfied 

14. You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down 

15. You're The One

16. Reconsider Baby 

17. Lover to Friend 

18. Your Bag Is Bringing Me Down 

19. Ain't Gon' Be No Cutting Aloose [Side 2]

20. Lovin' Man On Your Hands 

21. Your Love's All Over Me 

22. What A Fool I Was 

23. I Got Money 

24. It Must Be Love 

Tracks 12 to 24 are the album "Honey-Drippin’ Blues" – released December 1969 in the USA on Mercury/Blue Rock SRB-64004 in Stereo (no UK issue). 

The card-wrap outer slipcase lends these Beat Goes On reissues a classy feel while the 20-page booklet features all the original artwork and sleeve notes with a new appraisal of all by noted writer CHARLES WARING. He goes into both albums and gives a potted history of Parker back when he was Little Junior Parker for his album in 1961 on Crown Records called "Driving Wheel". Hip-O Select of the USA reissued that famous American LP in its reissue artwork and I've reviewed that rare CD elsewhere. 

BGO's resident mucho-experienced Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON does the usual stalwart business by the transfers and even if the separation in say either "Baby Please" or "You Ain't Got No Heart" sees the drums in one speaker and the guitar and brass in another – they're so alive, kicking and clear – the feel is still great. This is a nice sounding CD reissue and the musicianship of the Memphis sessionmen is tight, contributing a lift when the arrangements needed it. The second album from 1969 sees Production values go up big time, proper Stereo – gorgeous sound in your speakers as you digest the hipster shuffle of "Easy Lovin'" and the lurve-man persuasion in "You're The One". 

Amongst the large number of covers on the "Like It Is" album is an absolute cracker in his dancing take on Memphis Slim’s "Wish Me Well" where session guitarist Reggie Young (subject of an Ace CD all by himself) does Junior Parker proud – tasty flicks throughout. Young does the same on the Jimmy Reed standard "Hey Lawdy Mama" – gotta leave this town – ain’t got no time to lose. Mercury took the opening song "Country Girl" on Side 1 and paired it up with another excellent Parker original "Sometimes I Wonder" as the flipside – but the April 1967 US 45-single on Mercury 72672 didn’t seem to take. Shame, as both are good. 

Less successful is a girly-vocal-laden take on Smokey Robinson's "(Ooh Wee Baby) That's The Way You Make Me Feel" that feels too much like its reaching for a two-minute single hit. Far better is the chugging Blues lurch in "Come Back, Baby" – a popular Ray Charles song used on loads of Euro Atlantic Records singles in 1961 and 1962. Parker follows it with another chugger-winner in the shape of "Come Back A Fish" – a Pearl Woods song Mercury issued way ahead of the album in September 1966 as a flipside (Woods famously co-wrote "Something's Got A Hold Of Me" with Etta James). Using a truly superb smouldering cover of the Curtis Mayfield pleader "Baby Please" on the A-side of Mercury 72620 – they make for a handsome pairing. And on it goes to the Motown R&B bop of "Cracked Up Over You" – Junior Parker understated in his vocal delivery – backed up so well by Piano, Brass and Drums making it a dancefloor draw. 

The December 1969 LP "Honey-Drippin' Blues" clearly feels more produced and sounds just great for it – very much a 60ts Sexy Shuffling Soul LP more than Blues or traditional R&B. Think The Dells meets The Chi-Lites meets Northern Soul joy. His voice just so suits this material too. Hardly surprising that Blue Rock chose "Easy Lovin'" as its leadoff 45-single - it's hooky chorus bound to grab FM-attention. Coupled with the equally cool "You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down" on the flipside - Blue Rock B-4088 was released August 1969 as a US 45-single but it didn't trouble Billboard's top 200 on their R&B charts. 

Lovely warmth to the side-stepper "You’re The One" – a sexy thrill-you-with-my-love piece of slinkiness – his pleading vocals smooth as silk. Parker then cleverly reworks the Lowell Fulson classic "Reconsider Baby" with tiny nods in the arrangement to the fabulous version Presley did on the "Elvis Is Back" way back in 1960. Looky-here-baby lyrical jabs fill "Lover To Friend" as does some nice Harmonica soloing work from Parker. He goes into full-on smooch for "What A Fool I Was" sounding not unlike B.B. King realising he's been a bit of a schmuck when it comes to trusting that woman who studies all the time. 

For sure the song quality dips on album number two with "I Got Money" and the church-organ vs. girly backing singers of "It Must Be Love" feeling like Parker's chasing Aretha Franklin Gospel-Soul authenticity and not quite getting there. But still, there is so much good on this pairing that at less than seven quid in July 2021 on Amazon (brand new) - that makes me wanna advise that you to "Wish Me Well" when it comes to Beat Goes On BGOCD 1278...  

"There's Gonna Be A Showdown" by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS - August 1969 US Album on Atlantic Records in Stereo (November 2004 UK Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM)/Rhino 'Extended Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Fifteen Bonus Tracks – Eleven Single Sides From 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 Plus Four Previously Unreleased) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

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"...Here I Go Again..."

The second Expanded Edition CD Reissue by Warners and Rhino for Archie Bell & The Drells is another reasonably priced well-presented audio winner - the first being November 2004's "Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing", both of those albums from 1968 and also on Atlantic Records (see separate review).

This time remastering their August 1969 third studio album "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" in luverly Stereo - WSM have bolstered up proceedings with a generous eleven 45-single sides and a further Four Previously Unreleased. The other three cuts newly discovered in the Warner Vaults are on the "Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing" twofer reissue along with other non-LP goodies. 

There is a lot of talcum powder dancing nirvana available on this rather brill little CD - very tasty indeed. So as Archie Bell, The Drells and their songwriting pals Gamble & Huff used to say, here we go again...

UK released 15 November 2004 - "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS on Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM)/Rhino 5046-76156-2 (Barcode 5050467615625) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster featuring the 1969 Atlantic Records Album in Stereo plus 15 Bonus Tracks (11 Single Sides and 4 Previously Unreleased) that plays out as follows (71:51 minutes):

1. I Love My Baby [Side 1]

2. Houston Texas 

3. (There's Gonna Be A) Showdown 

4. Giving Up Dancing 

5. Girl You're Too Young 

6. Mama Didn't Teach Me That Way 

7. Do The Hand Jive [Side 2]

8. My Balloon's Going Up 

9. Here I Go Again 

10. Go For What You Know 

11. Green Power 

12. Just A Little Closer 

Tracks 1 to 12 are their third studio album "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" - released August 1969 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 8226 in Stereo (didn’t chart R&B but made No. 183 in the Rock LP charts). It received a belated UK release in September 1972 on Atlantic K 40454 with the same 12-tracks but using different artwork. 

NON-ALBUM SINGLES (US catalogue numbers)

13. Get It From The Bottom 

14. I Wish 

Tracks 13 and 14 were the A&B-sides of Atlantic 45-2744, July 1970 

15. A World Without Music   

Track 15 was the A-side of Atlantic 45-2693, December 1969 - its US B-side was "Here I Go Again" (Track 9)

16. Don't Let The Music Slip Away 

Track 16 was the A-side of Atlantic 45-2721, April 1970 - its B-side was the LP cut "Houston Texas" (Track 2)

17. Wrap It Up 

18. Deal With Him 

Tracks 17 and 18 were the A&B-sides of Atlantic 45-2768, October 1970 

19. I Just Want To Fall In Love 

20. Love At First Sight 

Tracks 19 and 20 were the A&B-sides of Atlantic 45-2793, May 1971 

21. Archie's In Love

22. Let The World Know You Got Soul 

Tracks 21 and 22 were the A&B-sides of Atlantic 45-2829, August 1971

23. I Can't Face You Baby 

Track 23 was the A-side of Atlantic 45-2855, January 1972 - the B-side was the LP cut "Green Power" (Track 11) 

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SELECTIONS

24. One Night Affair (Gamble & Huff song, 2:36 minutes) 

25. Smile (2:40 minutes)

26. Slow Down Baby (Gamble & Huff song, 2:43 minutes)

27. Patches (General Johnson & Ron Dunbar song, 3:54 minutes)

Compiled by RICK CONRAD - the 16-page booklet is a pleasingly chunky affair with new liner notes from CHARLES WARING, long-time contributor to the Blues & Soul, Mojo and Record Collector magazines as well as the principal penman for Beat Goes On and their vast array of BGO Soul, Funk and Jazz CD reissues. There are two page-sized Atlantic Records promo photos for the smiling toothsome four-piece as well as repros of those American Atlantic 45s. There is even a Note on the large amount of Bonuses and the newly discovered outtakes - two of which are Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff originals - and a further 2004 interview with Archie Bell commenting on his group's place in Soul Music history.  And the DAN HERSCH/BILL INGLOT Remasters from real tapes kick ass - so many cool Stereo moments. To the tunes...

As the liner notes explain – Archie Bell & The Drells to the American public seemed to be a great SINGLES band – and no more. The "Showdown..." LP was not a success by any means on release in the summer of 1969. It didn’t make the Top 100 US R&B LP charts at all and scraped No. 163 in the adult LP charts where it lasted a paltry 3 weeks. But re-listening to it now, you have to wonder why? Perhaps a glut of so many great Soul records in 1969 – who knows? 

Hindsight, however, has been kinder – especially for those looking to limber up their limbs. Time to talk about the song the album is most famously associated with. Sporting a deadly Motown backbeat and irresistible dancefloor shuffle, "Here I Go Again" had belatedly become a huge hit on the British Northern Soul circuit. Issuing the 1969 cut in Blighty in August 1972, Atlantic K 10210 eventually entered the UK Pop charts in early October 1972 and thereafter rose up to an impressive No.11. A further surprise came when the LP's title song "(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown" was smartly paired with the popular Drells 60ts anthem "Tighten Up" on Atlantic K 10263 in January 1973 - only to see that British 45 rise to No. 36.Both A-sides from the album "Showdown..." and their equally tasty flips would become the Houston foursome's British chart debuts. 

Recorded at various sessions between October 1968 and May 1969 – a huge eleven of the twelve tracks on the LP made it onto singles – the exception being Archie's own "Mama Didn't Teach Me That Way" (the booklet provides their catalogue numbers beneath each track entry should you want to know what went where). The songwriter shadows of Gamble & Huff as well as Thom Bell loom large on quality tracks like "Do The Hand Jive" and the bopper "I Love My Baby" - while Archie placed a further tasty titbit in the shape of the Side 2 finisher "Just A Little Closer". 

The non-LP US 45s appeared quickly after the relative failure of the August LP – starting at December 1969 with the excellent Atlantic 2693 that unwisely put "A World Without Music" on the A-side with the winner that is "Here I Go Again" relegated to the flipside. The singles kept on coming through 1970 and into 1971 – getting funk and sexy on cuts like The Temptations-sounding "Wrap It Up". And even if the no-dancing warning in "A World Without Music" wouldn't be my cup of tea in 2021, "One Night Affair" in the unreleased foursome is a discovery G&H fans will chew up. 

"...I been in a daze, gotta find another girl that can be trusted... " Archie warns in the so Northern Soul dancer "My Balloon's Going Up". So many great tunes like that bringing me back to a misspent youth. Think with your heart, this is one you can trust...

"Four Albums Plus A+B Sides And E.P. Tracks On Three Discs" by GENO WASHINGTON & THE RAM JAM BAND – Featuring Four UK Mono Albums "Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt... Live!" (December 1966 Live Set), "Shake A Tail Feather" (June 1967 Studio LP), "Hipsters, Flipsters, Finer-Poppin' Daddies!" (September 1967 Live LP), "Running Wild" (November 1968 Live Set on Pye and Final LP) Plus Singles, EP Tracks and Unreleased Recordings Encompassing 1966 to 1972, all on Piccadilly and Pye Records (November 2020 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) 3CD 81-Track Compilation of New 2020 Remasters – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"... Uptight (Everything's Alright)..."

In October 2016, Edsel of the UK reissued the entirety of Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band's recorded output across two three-Disc Sets - "Geno! The Piccadilly & Pye Studio Recordings" on Edsel EDSK 7114 (Barcode 740155711436) with 47 tracks - and “Geno – Live!!!” on Edsel EDSX 3032 (Barcode 740155303235) with 36 tracks – 83 songs in total. 

Those 2016 issues were in fact exact reissues of MONO remasters that dated back to 1998 when Sanctuary of the UK had put out the British Soul band's output on two Sequel Records compilations - "My Bombers My Dexy's My Highs: The Sixties Studio Sessions" on Sequel NEMCD 973 (Barcode 5023224097323) including at that time - eight previously unreleased outtakes being heard for the first time - and "Geno! Geno! Geno! Live In The Sixties" on Sequel NXTCD 295 (Barcode 5023224329523). 

What you get here in late November 2020 (during a pandemic no less) is a like-for-like Beat Goes On (BGO) reissue of the whole shebang in a one-stop package; its range covering Piccadilly and Pye recordings from 1966 to 1972 newly remastered for this release. So across 3CDs with huge laying times (see below), you will be able to sequence one full studio album, three full live sets, the A&B-sides of twelve 45-singles (three of which are GW solo offerings), two four-track EPs and even the unreleased eight that Sequel uncovered in 1998. Eighty-One Soul and R&B blasts from the past in all. There is a huge amount of "Geno!" to shake a tail feather at, so let’s get foot stompin' with the details...

UK released Friday, 27 November 2020 (delayed from September 2020) - "Four Albums Plus A+B Sides And E.P. Tracks On Three Discs" by GENO WASHINGTON & THE RAM JAM BAND on Beat Goes On BGOCD1433 (Barcode 5017261214331) offers 81-Tracks across 3CDs newly remastered in 2020 and plays out as follows: 

Disc One (80:55 minutes): 

1. Philly Dog 

2. Ride Your Pony 

3. Uptight (Everything's Alright)

4. (I'm A) Road Runner 

5. Hold On, I'm Comin'

6. Don't Fight It 

7. Land Of A Thousand Dances (Part 1) / (Part 2) 

Note: Part 2 of Land opened [Side 2] of the original LP

8. Respect

9. Willy Nilly 

10. Get Down With It 

11. Michael (The Lover) 

12. Que Sera Sera 

13. You Don't Know (Like I Do)

Tracks 1 to 13 are their debut album, a live set called "Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt...LIVE!" - released December 1966 in the UK on Piccadilly NPL 38026 (Mono) and NSPL 38026 (Stereo) – the Mono Mix is used. The Mono mix peaked at No. 5 on the UK LP charts 

14. Raise Your Hand [Side 1]

15. You Got Me Hummin' 

16. Three Time Loser 

17. Tell It Like It Is 

18. Use Me 

19. Understanding 

20. Knock On Wood [Side 2]

21. Bonie Maronie

22. Never Like This Before 

23. I'm Your Puppet 

24. Who's Foolin' Who 

25. (I Gotta) Hold On To Your Love

Tracks 14 to 25 are their only studio album "Shake A Tail Feather" - released June 1967 in the UK on Piccadilly NPL 38029 (Mono) and NSPL 38029 (Stereo) – the Mono Mix is used here (didn't chart). 

BONUS TRACKS (A&B-sides):

26. Water 

Track 26 is a 29 April 1966 UK 45-single on Piccadilly 7N 35312, A-side - B-side was the album track "Understanding" (Track 19, Disc One)

27. Hi! Hi! Hazel 

28. Beach Bash 

Tracks 27 and 28 are the A&B-sides of a 15 July 1966 UK 45-single on Piccadilly 7N 35329

Disc Two (79:03 minutes):

1. Herk's Works [Side 1]

2. Day Tripper/I Can't Turn You Loose 

3. You Left The Water Running 

4. In The Midnight Hour 

5. Hi-Heel Sneakers 

6. Shotgun 

7. Raise Your Hand [Side 2]

8. Who's Foolin' Who 

9. Things Get Better 

10. It's A Wonder 

11. She Shot A Hole In My Soul 

12. Wild Thing

Tracks 1 to 12 are their third album, their second live set "Hipsters, Flipsters, Finger-Poppin' Daddies!" - released September 1967 in the UK on Piccadilly NPL 38032 (Mono) and NSPL 38032 (Stereo) - the Mono Mix is used. The Stereo variant peaked at No. 8 in the UK LP charts. 

13. I Take What I Want [Side 1]

14. Knock On Wood 

15. Gimme A Little Sign/Raise Your Hand 

16. Michael (The Lover) 

17. Que Sera Sera 

18. Rock Me Baby (Part 1) / Rock Me Baby (Part 2) 

[Part 2 of Rock Me Baby is where Side 2 of the original LP began]

19. Hi-Heel Sneakers/Mary Ann 

20. I Get So Excited 

21. Holdin' On With Both Hands 

22. Jumpin' Jack Flash 

23. I Got You Babe 

Tracks 13 to 23 are their fourth and last album, a live set called "Running Wild" - released November 1968 in the UK on Pye NPL 18219 (Mono) and NSPL 18219 (Stereo) - the Mono Mix is used (didn't chart)

BONUS TRACKS (A&B-sides):

24. Que Sera Sera 

25. All I Need 

Tracks 24 and 25 are the A&B-sides of a 30 September 1967 UK 45-single on Piccadilly 7N 35346

Disc Three - BONUS TRACKS, A&B-Sides and E.P. Tracks (79:13 minutes):

1. If You Knew 

2. Always 

Tracks 1 and 2 were exclusive to the 4-Track January 1967 "Hi!" EP on Piccadilly NEP 34054, the other two tracks were the A-sides of their first two British 45s - "Hi Hi Hazel" and "Water" (Tracks 26 and 27 on Disc One)

3. Michael

4. (I Gotta) Hold On To My Love 

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a 24 January 1967 UK 45-single on Piccadilly 7N 35359

5. I've Been Hurt By Love 

Track 5 is the non-album B-side of "She Shot A Hole In My Soul", released June 1967 in the UK on Piccadilly 7N 35392 – A-side is Track 11 on Disc 2

6. Tell It Like It Is 

7. Girl I Want To Marry You 

Tracks 6 and 7 are the A&B-sides of a 1 September 1967 UK 45-single on Piccadilly 7N 35403

8. Different Strokes 

9. I'm Your Puppet 

Tracks 8 and 9 are exclusive to the December 1967 UK 4-Track EP "Different Strokes" on Pye NEP 24293 - the other two studio songs are "You Got Me Humming" and "Use Me" - Tracks 15 and 18 on Disc One 

10. I Can't Quit Her 

11. Put Out The Fire 

Tracks 10 and 11 are the non-album A&B-sides of a June 1968 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17570

12. Bring It To Me Baby 

13. I Can't Let You Go 

Tracks 12 and 13 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 15 November 1968 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17649

14. My Little Chickadee 

15. Seven Eleven 

Tracks 14 and 15 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 6 June 1969 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17745

16. Alison Please 

17. Each And Every Part Of Me 

Tracks 16 and 17 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 15 January 1971 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45019 - solo single credited to Geno Washington only

18. Feeling So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.D.O.O.)

Track 18 is the A-side of a 23 July 1971 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45085 - B-side was "My Little Chickadee" (Track 14 on Disc Three) - as Geno Washington

19. Dirty Dirty 

20. Give 'Em A Hand 

Tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of a 11 February 1972 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45121 - as Geno Washington

21. If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)

22. Going Back 

23. Listen To My Love Song That Ain't Got A Rhyme 

24. Careful Not To Break The Spell 

25. I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman 

26. Boomerang 

27. She's All I Got 

28. Summer Fever 

Tracks 21 to 28 are outtakes first issued 1998 on the UK CD compilation "My Bombers My Dexy's My Highs: The Sixties Studio Sessions" on Sequel NEMCD 973 (Barcode 5023224097323)

PS: in December 1968, Pye Records issued a second 4-track EP called "Small Package Of Hipsters" on Pye NEP 24302 that consisted of four tracks from the debut live album (Three on Side 1 and the last on Side 2). They can be sequenced using Tracks 1,2, 3 and 8 on Disc One.

The chunky four-way foldout card digipak feels clunky compared to BGO's generic card slipcase with a 2CD jewel case inside - a stylish presentation that makes their reissues look distinguished. So I can't say I'm a fan of this packaging that I find is too easy to tear if you don't handle it ultra-carefully. In its favour - as you can see from the photos I've provided, BGO has used full-colour plates of the cover art on the two inner flaps while the 24-page booklet features new liner notes from one of Mojo's and Record Collector's top Sol and Jazz contributors CHARLES WARING. The first eight or so pages reproduce the original artwork and original LP liner notes from the 60ts and there is a rudimentary discography that I've expanded above. Waring does his usual thorough and affectionate job - filling you in on the considerable and somewhat unacknowledged contribution Indiana's Geno Washington made in the UK between those halcyon years of 1966 to 1968. A black American with a set of lungs and equally huge personality to match fronting five or six white English Mod boys – all of which dug American R&B and Soul the most. 

In the absence of actual US stars like Otis and Aretha and Marvin and so on – Geno Washington and the incendiary live shows of The Ram Jam Band (took their name from a pub called The Ram Jam Inn in Rutland, East Midlands, ten travelled down to London) provided the nearest thing ravenous British fans could get to their Soul and R&B heroes. In some ways it explains why the live debut caused such a sensation – hammering a No. 5 slot on the British LP chart at Christmas 1966 (the year of "Revolver") – but the studio follow-up in 1967 that should have smashed it - didn't bother the UK Top 50 chart at all. Geno Washington and his sweaty-betty band were all about the excitement of the stage and anything else just felt tepid.  

But while all that sounds fine in context, the danger here in 2021 for newcomers and revisiting fans alike is that what was so hip and happening then can today feel like some glorified covers band. And in truth by the time you get to the third live set "Running Wild" trying desperately to ape the No. 5 UK LP placing of their live debut "Hand Clappin... " – it does begin to wear thin. 

But don't let that put you off. When Kevin Rowland's Dexy's Midnight Runners immortalised the frontman singer in their name-checking "Geno" single of March 1980 on Late Night Feelings/Parlophone R 6033 – its infectious beat reminded fans of Washington's glorious past and contributions. It's Rock-Soulful feel and arrangements also caught the public mood – storming up to No. 1 (it was produced by ex Jellybread singer and keyboardist Pete Wingfield, of "Eighteen With A Bullet" fame). The Remastered Audio here is care of ANDREW THOMPSON, but it excludes Stereo in favour of what BGO licensed from Sanctuary - all material in MONO (the Edsel represses were also all Mono). They sound great and I'm sure will have many who loved the originals digging the new breed clarity. And I had forgotten about those sevens and that very cool "Hi!" EP from January 1967. 

Not all genius for sure, but man what memories and with the Edsel and Sanctuary sets long deleted and subsequently costing - this is a smart and timely reminder by England’s BGO of an American man ensconced in Blighty with his boys own Mod-tastic crew – the whole lot of whom broke down the genre barriers and let the joy of music in...

"With A Little Help From My Friends" and "Singing/Playing" by LARRY CARLTON – 1968 US Debut Album on Uni Records and 1973 US Second Studio Album on Blue Thumb Records – featuring Three Members of The Crusaders on the 1973 LP (6 March 2020 UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 2LPs onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...One More Chance..."

Very much a tale of two musical cities, the debut from 1968 talks of 'Larry's Bag...' in the cheesy liner notes that unfortunately sets up a functional two-to-three star starter LP from one of the most gifted of guitar players (and future Crusader). But his 1973 effort "Singing/Playing" is a world away from that underwhelming first LP – a wee bit of a forgotten and overlooked gem - fabulous production values and some really clever song choices.

And typically BGO whomp you with top quality audio from their long-time resident Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON. A snazzy card slipcase on the outside, a 16-page fact-filled booklet with new liner notes from Mojo magazine's main Jazz writer CHARLES WARING and you get the quality reissue picture here. Let's get to those slick-licks...

UK released 6 March 2020 - "With A Little Help From My Friends - and - Singing/Playing" by LARRY CARLTON on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1405 (Barcode 5017261214058) offers his first two studio albums from 1968 and 1973 newly Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (68:56 minutes):

1. With A Little Help From My Friends - Beatles cover [Side 1]
2. MacArthur Park - Jimmy Webb song, Richard Harris cover
3. Don't You Care? - Buckinghams cover
4. When Sunny Gets Blue - Johnny Mathis cover (amongst others)
5. Honey - Bobby Goldsboro cover
6. Monday Monday - The Mamas and The Papas cover [Side 2]
7. Eleanor Rigby - Beatles cover
8. The Odd Couple - Neil Hefti song, cover of the movie theme
9. By The Time I Get To Phoenix - Jimmy Webb song, Glen Campbell cover
10. People Get Ready - Curtis Mayfield song, Impressions cover
Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut album "With A Little Help From My Friends" - release 1968 in the USA on Uni Records 73036 (no UK issue)

11. Easy Evil [Side 1]
12. I Cry Mercy
13. One More Chance
14. With Respect To Coltrane
15. American Family [Side 2]
16. Wavin' And Smilin'
17. Captain, Captain
18. Free Way
Tracks 11 to 18 are his second studio album "Singing/Playing" - released 1973 in the US on Blue Thumb Records BTS 46 (no UK issue)

With beautiful audio on both platters (especially the second) - the debut is all instrumental covers and you can see from the detailed track list provided above uses contemporary hits of the 1968-day alongside some deeper cuts. His band featured Trumpeters Graham Young, Virgil Evans and jack Caan with Organist Terry Trotter, Bassist David Carre and Drummer Michael F. Mills. But even on crowd-pleaser melodies like "Eleanor Rigby" where he admittedly tries to do his version of the "Revolver" classic – it all feels like George Benson whacking out a 99 cents LP for Saturday shoppers who should know better. The uptempo Jazz-happy beat given to "People Get Ready" is awful pap ruining a gorgeous song. Let's cut to the altogether more rewarding Box Number Two…

Featuring Keyboardists Joe Sample and Michael Omartian with Bassists Wilton Felder, Reinie Press, Max Bennett and Joe Osborn and Drummers Ron Tutt, John Guerin, Jim Gordon and Norbert "Stix" Hooper – Carlton turns out to have quite a cool Ned Doheny type voice. Two tracks on his second platter – a cover of Tom Scott's "With Respect To Coltrane" and Carlton's own "Free Way" - feature three key members of his future musical compatriots The Crusaders – Keyboardist Joe Sample, Bassist Wilton Felder and Drummer Norbert 'Stix' Hooper (Carlton would become their fourth band member for the best years of their Blue Thumb and ABC Records output right up to "Street Life" in 1979). Another huge session player Michael Omartian who has credits with Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, Rickie Lee Jones (and so many more) turns up giving it some Electric Piano on two Alan O'Day songs - "Easy Evil" and "American Family". I first touched on the fantastic "Easy Evil" on John Kay's cool second solo LP outside Steppenwolf - "My Sportin' Life" from 1973. I think as many as fifteen covers of this sideway-referencing drug-addiction song exist including variants by Merl Saunders, Travis Wammack and even actor John Travolta. Carlton gives his "Easy Evil" a very effective Classics IV "Spooky" groove and a sensuous laid-back vocal – very cool and with gorgeous clean-as-a-whistle audio too.

The obscure but delightful cover of "I Cry Mercy" was written by Tim and Steve Smith and first showed on the one and only Smith Perkins Smith album called (unoriginally) "Smith Perkins Smith" on Island Records in 1972 (featuring Wayne Perkins). I’ve always adored this album and in April 2020, it still remains stubbornly sans digital. What a blast to hear it here – anchored by ace sessionmen Jim Gordon on Drums and Joe Osborn on Bass and maybe too many syrupy strings. Speaking of uber obscure variants – Carlton also tackles a song called "Wavin' And Smilin'" penned by Bob Siller of the Reprise Records Psych act Mephistopheles (1969). He also had a sank-like-a-trace solo album called "This Is Siller's Picture" on RCA Victor Records in 1968. But his "Wavin’ And Smilin’" isn't on either, so is an exclusive here.

Things even get a tad Little Feat with the slinky Rock-Funk of "One More Chance" - the ladies echoing the title-chorus being Oma Drake, Julia Tillman and Maxine Willard - Carlton doing his best subtle B.B. King licks as the groove chugs along. A huge guitar sound jumps out at you for Tom Scott's "With Respect To Coltrane" - and if one track was to show how far Carlton had come from doing competent Woolworth's type covers - it's this one. His playing here is doubled-up and I'm reminded of Gary Moore in his "Grinding Stone" days when he'd make you sit up and perspire in awe.

A clever reissue from England’s Beat Goes On – fans will have to own it for that great audio upgrade – while the Jazz-Funk curious will find much to savour in the "Singing/Playing" album. Respect to Larry C...