"Love For What It Is" by ANITA POINTER (2014 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Temporarily Blue…"

The lead singer with one of the most successful Female Vocal Groups in R&B and Soul throughout the Seventies and Eighties (with multiple Grammy award wins on their walls) practically guaranteed ANITA POINTER a shot at Solo stardom – and yet in late 1987 her “Love For What It Is” album barely scraped up to 48 on the US Cash Box R&B charts - while its two singles did even less business. And yet those champions of Soul, Funk and Disco CD reissues Big Break Records of the UK (BBR) seem to think it’s a forgotten piece of Soul class – and on occasion – they’re probably right. Here are the big hair do details…

UK released October 2014 – "Love For What It Is" by ANITA POINTER on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0309 (Barcode 5013929060937) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (77:49 minutes):

1. Overnight Success

2. Love Me Like You Do

3. The Pledge [duet with Philip Bailey]

4. You Don’t Scare Me

5. More Than A Memory

6. Have A Little Faith In Love

7. Love For What It Is

8. Beware Of What You Want

9. Temporarily Blue

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album “Love For What It Is” – released October 1987 in the USA on RCA Records 6419-1-R and RCA Records PD86419 in the UK and Europe

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Overnight Success (12” Dance Mix)

11. More Than A Memory (12” East Coast Mix)

12. Overnight Success (Single Mix)

13. More Than A Memory (12” West Coast Mix)

14. Overnight Success (Instrumental)

15. More Than A Memory (Instrumental)

You get one of those curve-corner jewel cases, a see-through tray that advertises BBR’s other Pointer Sister CD reissues beneath it, a 12-page inlay with excellent liner notes by Christian John Wikane (with memories from Anita) and best of all – a NICK ROBBINS and WAYNE A. DICKSON remaster that elevates everything to amazing clarity.

I wish I could say that the album is a forgotten masterpiece – it isn’t. But as ever – there’s those great moments and songs that warrant a re-listen. Stuff like “You Don’t Scare Me” and “Have A Little Faith In Me” are afflicted with that awful Eighties Drum sound and cluttering brass jabs that keep the tunes busy but lack anything like a soul. Better is the obvious singles “Overnight Success” and “More Than A Memory” – the sort of tunes George Benson would polish of on “20/20”. And the ballad “Temporarily Blue” and “Love Me Like You Do” are the kind of songs you’d hear at the end of a movie as the credit roles on some tropical island where the couple are walking off into the sunset. Actually more interesting from a collector’s point of view is the “Instrumental” mixes of “Overnight Success” and “More Than A Memory” – some cool funk moments.

It’s not genius by any stretch of the imagination – but if you’re a fan – the presentation and the superb audio quality are going to be the biog draws…

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 and 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)

"Stay Free" by ASHFORD and SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Finally Got To Me..."

Like many Soul and Funk fans I’ve been waiting for Big Break Records of the UK to have a proper go at the superb Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson catalogue on Warner Brothers Records having had to do with the Warner Bros 2CD set Rhino put out a few years back (2008). And here BBR comes with "Is It Still Good To Ya" from 1978 (see separate review) and this - “Stay Free” from 1979 – both Remastered and Expanded to perfection with a decent cache of cool bonus mixes. Found A Cure indeed - here are the details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) - "Stay Free" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0325 (Barcode 5013929062535) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Version with 4 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (62:37 minutes).

1. Found A Cure

2. Stay Free

3. Dance Forever

4. Nobody Knows [Side 2]

5. Crazy

6. Finally Got To Me

7. Follow Your Heart

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Stay Free" – released September 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS-3357 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56703

BONUS TRACKS:

8. Found A Cure (Single Version)

9. Nobody Knows (Single Version)

10. Stay Free (Mike Maurro Groove Mix)

11. Found A Cure (Single Version)

There’s a 16-page booklet with liner notes by a veteran of these releases CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - along with photos of US Warner Brothers 45s and those sought after American Promo 12" singles ("Nobody Knows" on PRO-A-437 and "Found A Cure" on DWBS 8874). There are rare 7" pictures sleeves for "Found A Cure" (a huge Number 2 hit at the time) and "Nobody Knows" as well as in-the-studio shots and other quality publicity photos. The remaster is by BBR's own WAYNE A. DICKSON with additional work from the vastly experienced NICK ROBBINS (does tons of work for Ace and other labels). The audio is fabulous – full of power and the amazing Production values afforded the album in the first place. Fans are going to love those 7" single mixes after the extended workouts of the album versions...

While both the slick Bass and Piano Funk of "Found A Cure" and the mega dancefloor filler of "Nobody Knows" (what a tune and one that DJs still spin today) dominated the charts at the time (they reached No. 2 and 19 in July and December 1979 on the US R 'n' B singles charts) – album cuts like the brilliant strings and Soul-Funk of "Stay Free" and the pretty mid-tempo ballad of "Crazy" (played in bedrooms everywhere in 1979) will thrill fans of this criminally forgotten A&S album. I remember the LP built strongly on the good stuff from "Is It Still Good To Ya" record from the year previous - to a point where Ashford & Simpson seemed to be on every dancefloor everywhere at the end of that eventful decade. There's fabulous Audio too on another fave of mine – "Finally Got To Me" – beautifully handled and full of punch (I'd honestly forgotten how good this song is). The 7-track LP ends of the pretty "Follow Your Heart" – all swooning strings, rolling piano keys and breathy Valerie Simpson vocals.

The 7" single mix of "Found A Cure" runs to 3:47 minutes and comes as a punchy shock having been so used to the longer album version (all these years). The 3:51 minutes of "Nobody Knows" is the same. Another sweet surprise the 6:23 minute mix of "Stay Free" by ace mixer Mike Maurro who accentuates the slap bass lines and strings (very smartly done). As much as I know his revered reputation amongst Disco and Soul fans – I'm not so sure I'd want to wade through the 10:30 minutes of Tom Moulton's Remix of "Found A Cure" again – too much of a good thing methinks...

So there you have it. Great sound and tasty presentation – another winner from BBR and one that fans of this long-lasting Soul/Funk/R&B duo will need...

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

1. Send It – ASHFORD and 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)

"Is It Still Good To Ya" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Seven Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...The Debt Is Settled..." 

Like many Soul and Funk fans I’ve been waiting for Big Break Records of the UK to have a proper go at the superb Ashford & Simpson catalogue on Warner Brothers Records having had to do with the Warner Bros 2CD set Rhino put out a few years back (2008). And here BBR comes with "Is It Still Good To Ya" from 1978 and "Stay Free" from 1979 – both Remastered to perfection and with loads of cool bonuses. Here are squeeze me details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) - "Is It Still Good To Ya" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0320 (Barcode 5013929062030) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with 7 Bonus Tracks and pans out as follows (70:50 minutes).

1. It Seems To Hang On

2. Is It Still Good To Ya

3. The Debt Is Settled

4. Ain't it A Shame

5. Get Up And Do Something [Side 2]

6. You Always Could

7. Flashback

8. As Long As It Holds You

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Is It Still Good To Ya" – released September 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK-3219 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56547

BONUS TRACKS:

9. It Seems To Hang On (12" Disco Mix)

10. Flashback (12" Disco Mix)

11. Is It Still Good To Ya (Alternate Mix)

12. The Debt Is Settled (Alternate Mix)

13. It Seems To Hang On (Mike Maurro Mix)

14. Flashback (Single Version)

15. It Seems To Hang On (Single Version)

There’s a 16-page booklet with liner notes by a veteran of these releases CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - along with photos of US Warner Brothers 45s and those sought after American Promo 12" singles ("It Seems To Hang On" and "Flashback"). There’s even a photo spread of the US trade advert that accompanied the album's release in the USA. The remaster is by BBR’s own WAYNE A DICKSON with additional work from the vastly experienced NICK ROBBINS (does tons of work for Ace and other labels). The audio is fabulous – full of power and the amazing Production values afforded the album in the first place. And stepper fans are going to love those bonus 12" Disco Mixes that exchange for such huge money...

While both the smooth Funk of “It Seems To Hang On” and the dancefloor filler of “Is It Still Good To Ya” dominated the charts (Nos. 2 and 12 USA R’n’B) – album cuts like the brilliant Soul-Funk of “Get Up And Do Something’” and the warm sweet melody of “You Always Could” will send fans of thios largely forgotten album. Apart from the pseudo Teddy Pendergrass spoken-smooch of “Ain’t it A Shame” - the whole record is classy which wicked grooves like “As Long As It Holds You”. But what puts this CD reissue into another league is the killer extras - DJs will love the 7:00 minute Disco Remix of “It Seems To Hang On” and the 5:32 minutes of “Flashback” – even the 7” single mix of “It Seems To Hang On” at 3:39 minutes is an unexpected winner.

Great sound and tasty presentation – another winner from BBR and one that fans of this long-lasting Soul/Funk/R&B duo will need...

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)

"Send It" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Take Me Up To The Top..." 

Big Break Records of the UK (known also as BBR) have been doing ASHFORD & SIMPSON fans the world over a solid for some time now - reissuing their voluminous Warner Brothers back catalogue onto superb CD Remasters - and all with quality audio, liner notes and rare Bonus Tracks. Here comes another - this time dealing with their American-only 1977 platter "Send It" - a quality album in their cannon of work. Here are the details...

UK released 28 August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) - "Send It" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX0315 (Barcode 5013929061538) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (62:07 minutes):

1. By Way Of Love's Express

2. Let Love Use Me

3. Don't Cost You Nothing

4. Send It

5. Top Of The Stairs [Side 2]

6. Too Bad

7. Bourgie Bourgie (Instrumental)

8. I Waited Too Long

Tracks 1 to 8 are their album "Send It" - released September 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS-3088. It peaked at No. 10 on the US R&B charts and No. 52 on the Pop charts (it was unreleased in the UK).

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Don't Cost You Nothing (12" Disco Mix)

10. Bourgie Bourgie (Joe Claussell's Classic Remix)

11. Send It (Single Version)

12. Don't Cost You Nothing (Single Version)

The 16-page booklet is the usual BBR plethora of American label repros ("Send It" on Warner Brothers WBS 8453 - "Don't Cost You Nothing" on Warner Brothers WBS 8514 and "By Way Of Love's Express" on Warner Brothers WBS 8571) - as well as photos of the hip couple and superbly detailed new liner notes by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE alongside full reissue credits. The 'super' jewel case and see-through CD tray add a touch of reissue class - but the best news is the new Remaster by WAYNE A DICKSON and NICK ROBBINS - two very experienced transfer merchants. All the great Funk lines are in yer face - lovely Bass and Vocals - sweet sound filling your living room. A very nice job indeed...

Their albums always feature goodies amidst the lesser tunes – but "Send It" feels sweet all the way through both sides. It opens with an obvious single "By Way Of Love’s Express" where Nick Ashford tells his lady Valerie Simpson that a train is hurrying his love towards her (what a gent). Their ballads always felt a notch above syrup and the lovely "Let Love Use Me" is proof - a duet-vocal mid-tempo smoocher with strings. But that moment of lurve is roundly whomped by the fabulous dancefloor groove of "Don't Cost You Nothing" - a total Funk-Soul winner clocking in at just under five-minutes in its album form (the Bonus Tracks give us the 12" Disco Mix at 6:48 and the 7" single edit at a svelte 3:40 minutes). I can remember dancefloors filling to this great Piano-Funk groove as DJs spun those 12" singles with their Warner Brothers die-cut sleeves. Side 1 then ends on the album's other killer - the 'spread a little love' slowy "Send It" - a No. 15 R&B hit in August 1977.

Side 2 opens with the bopper "Top Of The Stairs" where our Nick has an urge he's hoping his woman will understand (take me up to the top and we'll get lost in the darkness). "Too Bad" is cool too but my poison is the sensual and slick instrumental "Bourgie Bourgie" - represented here twice by a Joe Claussell Remix in the Bonus Tracks. It ends on the tremulous vocals of "I Waited Too Long" where our hero laments his 'without love' situation and that he missed the last dance (self-inflicted misery pal). The Four Extras come as very cool icing on an already very tasty cake.

A top reissue from BBR once again - well done to all involved - and a must own for fans...

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)

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"Universal Love" by MFSB (2015 Big Break Records Expanded CD – Nick Robbins and Wayne A. Dickson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...My Mood..."

In April 1975 (with the Vietnam War officially declared over by President Ford) – the last troops left Saigon and America was ready to party and feel good. You can see this in the sleeve of June 1975's "Universal Love" by MFSB (MFSB was the in-house Soul Orchestra for Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International label). A sun rises on a vessel-less sea that has flowers of hope floating above it – a far cry from the cover art for MFSB's 2nd album "Love Is The Message" from December 1973 with its ugly skull soldier and atomic bomb explosion looming in the background (the self-titled debut album from April 1973 showed a syringe lying in a coffin - reflecting America’s inner-city slide into drugs). The largely instrumental "Universal Love" album contained sexy rhythms and warm sways totally capturing the National zeitgeist and catapulting it up to No.2 on the American R&B charts and an impressive No. 4 on the US Pop charts. This 2015 Expanded BBR CD is a great celebration of that warmly remembered summer record and here are the tender loving cares (with big strings and even bigger hairdos)...

UK released July 2015 – "Universal Love: Expanded CD Version" by MFSB on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0312 (Barcode 5013929061231) breaks down as follows (46:41 minutes):

1. Sexy

2. MFSB

3. Human Machine

4. Love Has No Time Or Place

5. T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care) [Side 2]

6. Let's Go Disco

7. K-Jee

8. My Mood

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd studio album "Universal Love" – released June 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 33158 and July 1975 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 80410

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Sexy (Single Version)

10. T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care) (Single Version)

11. Let's Go Disco (Promotional Single Version)

12. K-Jee (Single Version)

Four 7" singles were released in the UK and USA around the album and this BBR CD will allow fans to sequence 'most' of them as follows...

[9] = Track 9 on the CD:

1. Sexy [9] b/w Human Machine [3]

Released May 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International ZS8 3567

Released July 1975 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 3381

Notes: the A-side is a 7" single edit at 3:13 minutes, the album cut is 3:36 minutes. "Sexy" also turned up at a B-side to the January 1977 UK reissue 7" single of "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" by MSFB on Philadelphia International S PIR 4888.

2. T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care) [10] b/w Love Has No Time Or Place

Released September 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International ZS8 3576

Notes: the A-side is a 7" single edit at 3:20 minutes, the album cut is 3:44 minutes. The B-side "Love Has No Time Or Place" is also an edit at 3:30 minutes but unfortunately isn't included on this CD (the full album version runs to 6:21 minutes). There was no UK 7" issue.

3. Let's Go Disco [6] b/w My Mood [8]

3. Let's Go Disco (Album Version) [6] b/w (D.J. Short Version) [11]

Released September 1975 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 3635. Only the Demo/Promo version had a 'D.J. Short Version' on the B-side running to 2:37 minutes instead of the album's 4:18 minutes on the A.

4. K-Jee [12] b/w My Mood [8]

Released March 1978 in the USA on Philadelphia International ZS8 3641

Released May 1978 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 6287

Notes: the A-side is a single edit at 3:20 minutes while the album full version is 4:19 minutes – the B-side is the full album version at 4:15 minutes.

The CD comes in one of those round-corner jewel cases BBR seems to favour their reissues while the 16-page booklet features new liner notes by noted NYC-based Soul writer CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE. There’s detailed discussion on the sophistication of the album for the Disco genre and its popularity across all boards (including the Pop world) – all of it peppered with photos of those American Philadelphia International labels along with rare European picture sleeves and photos of the huge ensemble orchestra. But the big news (as ever with BBR) is a superb remaster by NICK ROBBINS and BBR's main tape man WAYNE A. DICKSON. Primarily an 8-track instrumental LP with vocals only on "Love Has No Time Or Place" and "Let's Go Disco" – the emphasis was always going to be on the orchestral swirls, guitar licks, bass slaps, brass punches and that high-hat rhythm. This CD sounds fabulous. If I was to single out one track that shows this it’s the gorgeous album finisher "My Mood" – an instrumental that sounds like easy-listening Bacharach taken to another Soulful level. I’ve had this on Philly compilations of old – but the audio off this beauty beats them all. Impressive...

Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff not surprisingly penned the two slick openers – the dancefloor friendly "Sexy" and "MFSB" (Mothers Fathers Sisters Brothers) and they sound fab. Ron Baker of the Salsoul Orchestra co-wrote "Human Machine" with Leon Huff and is a mid-tempo groove with great Steely Dan-ish guitar and keyboard flicks (feels like Disco all grown up and proud of itself). By the time you get to the six-minute "Love Has No Time Or Place" (written by Bruce Hawes and Cynthia Briggs) the group has reached a place of sophisticated excellence that is hard to resist – a perfect hybrid of Disco girl-vocals over George Benson Jazz guitar licks – all of it complimented by that shuffling Philly backbeat and the ever-present lush strings. It’s an impressive groove and frankly sexy too.

Side 2 opens with "T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care)" – a jazzy slide in gives way to pure Philly bop – all high-hats, wah-wah guitars, brass and strings. We get a bit Funk with "Let's Go Disco" where they sound like Kool & The Gang and "K-Jee" is cool too –but my poison has always been the masterful Gamble & Huff slink of "My Mood" – a stunning instrumental that feels the ultimate Easy Listening Jazz cool. I'm always putting it on Soul CD-R compilations in order to show off my Soul smarts and Street cred (oh dear)...

So there you have it – a wicked 2015 Expanded CD reissue for MFSB's "Universal Love" and with that crack-a-lacking Audio - a must own for fans everywhere. The only glitch is the absence of that 7" Single Edit of "Love Has No Time Or Place" (a bad mistake really) – but other than that slip up - this is another BBR audio winner - and well done to all the bods in Big Break Records who got it out into the public domain in such style...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed up to July 2015:

1. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

2. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

3. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

4. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

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

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

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

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

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

10. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

11. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

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

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

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

15. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

16. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

17. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

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

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

20. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

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

22. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

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

24. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

25. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

26. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

27. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

28. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

29. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

30. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)
31. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Central Heating: Expanded Version" by HEATWAVE - March 1978 US Second Studio Album/LP on Epic Records featuring Rod Temperton - April 1978 UK on GTO Records (June 2015 UK Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue - Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

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"...Mind Blowing Decisions..."

Rod Temperton's HEATWAVE produced this winning 2nd LP in March 1978 (last day of) on Epic in the USA and April 1978 on GTO Records in the UK (resplendent in its rather naff-looking radiator cover). 

The "Central Heating" album spawned three huge hits - "Mind Blowing Decisions", "The Groove Line" and "The Star Of The Story" (covered by George Benson on his equally R&B-huge 1980 "Give Me The Night" album). Heatwave's "Central Heating" hit the huge marker of a No. 2 slot on the US Billboard R&B Album charts - back when that meant serious numbers of LPs and Cassettes shifted. And that's where this British 'Expanded Version' CD Reissue and Remaster comes a boppin' in...

UK-released 10 June 2015 - "Central Heating" by HEATWAVE on Big Break Records CD Remaster on CDBBRX 0316 (Barcode 5013929061637) takes that 9-track Soul/Funk/Disco LP and adds on Three very clever and desirable Bonus Tracks as an 'Extended Version' Remaster. "Wack The Axe" is an outtake from the "Central Heating" LP sessions that finally turned up as a non album track B-side to "Jitterbuggin'" on the GTO 12" single of 1981 - the other two are 12" Disco Versions of the funky "The Groove Line" and the wonderful Johnny Wilder gem "Mind Blowing Decisions". 

1. Put Out The Word [Side 1]

2. Send Out For Sunshine

3. Central Heating

4. Happiness Together

5. The Groove Line [Side 2]

6. Mind Blowing Decisions

7. The Star Of The Story

8. Party Poops

9. Leavin' For A Dream 

Tracks 1 to 9 are their second studio album (LP) "Central Heating" - released March 1978 in the USA on Epic Records JE 35260 and April 1978 in the UK on GTO Records GTLP 027. Produced by BARRY BLUE - it peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B charts.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Wack The Axe (Outtake from 'Central Heating' Sessions)

11. The Groove Line (12" Disco Version)

12. Mind Blowing Decisions (12" Disco Version)

The CD is beautifully remastered by NICK ROBBINS at London's Sound Mastering (a hugely proficient Remaster Engineer who does a lot of work for Ace Records of the UK) and runs to 60:38 minutes with the bonuses. The 12-page booklet has detailed and informative liner notes by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - a NYC-based writer and lover of Soul Music. The usual classy presentation from BBR...

DJs have long lusted after the US 12" single of "Mind Blowing Decisions" on Epic 28-50597 (released August 1978) because it extends the album cut from 4:19 minutes to a tasty 7:32 minutes giving you a wicked sort of Reggae Groove in the runout passage before it returns to the slinky tune and smooth vocals. The funk marathon of "The Groove Line" is equally brilliant in its 'Extended' Disco form. The hand of Brit Funkster ROD TEMPERTON (famously wrote large chunks of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" LP) is all over the album (and writing) having penned all tracks but two - "Happiness Together" and "Mind Blowing Decisions" which are JOHNNY WILDER, JR. songs (and sung by him). The band also featured ERIC JOHNS and ROY CARTER on Lead and Rhythm Guitars.

Truth be told - the entire "Central Heating" album by HEATWAVE isn't genius - but the great Audio, tasty presentation and those Soul Funk nuggets make it a must buy for fans...

"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.