"Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie 1969-1979" by DOBIE GRAY – Eighty-Track Four-Disc Book Set featuring Six US 45-Single Sides from 1969 to 1972 on White Whale and Anthem Records - plus Seven US Albums and a Further Four 45-Single Sides and One Unreleased Outtake from 1973 to 1979 on Decca, MCA, Capricorn and Infinity Records – Albums include "Drift Away" (January 1973), "Loving Arms" (October 1973), "Hey Dixie" (October 1974), "New Ray Of Sunshine" (December 1975 US, January 1976 UK), "Let Go" (February 1977), "Midnight Diamond" (December 1978) and "Dobie Gray" (October 1979) – Guest Musicians Include Guitarists Troy Seals, Reggie Young, Mentor Williams, Lonnie Mack, Pete Carr with Keyboards from David Briggs, Harmonica by Charlie McCoy, The Muscle Shoals Horns and many more (December 2004 US-Only Hip-O Select 4CD 80-track Card Book Set featuring Seven Albums Plus Ten 45-Single Sides and one Previously Unreleased Outtake – Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

RATINGS: 

Overall ***

Material *** to ****

Presentation *** to ****

Audo *****

"…Give Me The Music That Frees My Soul…"

Timber-voiced singer Lawrence Darrow Brown (Dobie Gray to you and me) can be viewed as a one-hit wonder in Soul/Country-Soul circles - and even that was someone else's great song.

"Drift Away" – a Mentor Williams written-tune that originated in 1970 - was picked up by 60ts Brit star Mike Berry in 1972 for his "Drift Away" LP on the obscure York Records label (York FYK 409). Produced by Mentor Williams and playing guitar in the band for Dobie Gray, DB then seized on the song as well and had a huge hit with the music-moving emotional tune in early 1973 when it was released Stateside on Decca Records 33057 with the equally cool LP cut "City Stars" on the flipside. Its lyrics and melody are classic nostalgia, but in a Soul-Rock kind of way that gave the tune huge crossover appeal. Even Rod Stewart joined in on the Rock Soulful tip when he covered "Drift Away" for his mega "Atlantic Crossing" album in 1975. Not to be outdone by others on his own song, Mentor Williams released his debut album "Feelings" with his version of "Drift Away" on it (June 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2549). There was also a US 7" single with "Feelings" leading the charge on the A-side and "Drift Away" on the flip – but it went unnoticed.

The other six Dobie Gray albums on here and straggler seven-inch singles did marginal business and, in the UK, meant less than naught. In fact, Dobie would have to wait until February of 1979 to see his "Midnight Diamond" LP (released in December 1978) finally become the first album of his to register on the US Billboard R&B charts albeit peaking at a modest No.73. 

Which brings us to this obscure but fantastic-sounding 4CD compilation on the US Mail-Order Label Hip-O Select (via Universal) with its quality ERICK LABSON Remasters from original tapes. LABSON has over 1,200 mastering credits to his name across 30 to 40 years – almost all of the gargantuan Chess Records Catalogue including large swathes of Motown acts, Rock Bands and Artists like The Who, Wishbone Ash, The Mamas & The Papas, The Jayhawks, Neil Diamond, The Dells, Steppenwolf, Buddy Holly, Three Dog Night and loads more. I actively seek out any CD he has had a hand in because the Audio is always a huge improvement on what went before. And this Dobie Gray US-only compilation is no different. To the details because there is a lot…

USA-only released December 2004 - "Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie Gray 1969-1979" by DOBIE GRAY on Hip-O Select B0003621-02 (No Barcode) is an 80-Track Limited Edition Compilation Remastered onto 4CDs in a Book-Sized Card Sleeve. It contains 7 full-albums, 10 x Non-LP 45-single sides and 1 Previously Unreleased Session Outtake that plays outs as follows:

CD1 "The White Whale & Decca Years" (50:17 minutes):
1. Rose Garden
2. Where's The Girl Gone
Tracks 1 & 2 are the Non-LP A&B-sides of a March 1969 US 45-single on White Whale WW-300, A-side is a Joe South cover version made famous by Country singer Lynn Anderson

3. Do You Really Have A Heart
4. What A Way To Go
Tracks 3 & 4 are the Non-LP A&B-sides of a September 1969 US 45-single on White Whale WW-339, A-side is a Paul Williams and Roger Nicholls cover version

5. Guess Who
6. Honey, You Can't Take It Back
Track 5 is the Non-LP A-side of a December 1972 US 45-single on Anthem AN-200, B-side was "Bits And Pieces" – not on this set. Track 6 is the Non-LP A-side of a March 1970 US 45-single on White Whale WW-342, B-side was "Hallelujah" – not on this set

7. Drift Away [Side 1]
8. The Time I Loved You The Most
9. L.A. Lady
10. We Had It All
11. Now That I'm Without You
12. Rockin' Chair [Side 2]
13. Lay Back
14. City Stars
15. Street Lovin' Woman
16. Caddo Queen
17. Eddie's Song
Tracks 7 to 17 are his third album "Drift Away" – released January 1973 in the USA on Decca DL7-5397 and MCA MUPS 489 in the UK (reissued February 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2520). 

CD2 "The MCA Years" (67:20 minutes):
1. Good Old Song [Side 1]
2. You And Me
3. I Never Had It So Good
4. Lovin' The Easy Way
5. Loving Arms
6. Reachin' For The Feeling [Side 2]
7. There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me In)
8. Mississippi Rolling Stone
9. Love Is On The Line
10. Rose
Tracks 1 to 10 are his fourth album "Loving Arms" – released October 1973 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-371 and March 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2528. 

11. Hey Dixie [Side 1]
12. How Can You Live All Alone
13. So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)
14. Watch Out For Lucy
15. Old Time Feeling
16. Turning on You [Side 2]
17. Roll On Sweet Mississippi
18. Can You Feel It
19. Performance
20. The Music's Real (Mentor's Song)
Tracks 11 to 20 are his fifth album "Hey Dixie" – released October 1974 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-449 and November 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2578.

21. Watch Out For Lucy (Single Version) – July 1974 US 45-single on MCA Records MCA-40268, A-side, B-side is the LP track "Turning On You" – January 1975 UK 45-single on MCA Records MCA 171 – same flipside as the US issue

CD3 "The Capricorn Years" (73:44 minutes):
1. Harold And The Swinging Rocks [Side 1]
2. Drive On, Ride On
3. If Love Must Go
4. Lover's Sweat
5. A New Ray Of Sunshine
6. I'll Take You Down To Mexico [side 2]
7. Easy Loving Lady
8. Comfort And Please You
9. What A Lady
10. Easy Come, Easy Go
Tracks 1 to 10 are his sixth album "New Ray Of Sunshine" – released December 1975 in the USA on Capricorn Records CP 0163 and January 1976 in the UK on Capricorn Records 2429 132

11. Let Go [Side 1]
12. Do It (aka Do Me)
13. Mellow Man
14. Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Forget 'Em
15. The Best Of My Love
16. Country Love [Side 2]
17. When A Man Loves A Woman
18. But I Do
19. Moonlight Trippin'
20. Can't Stop A Man In Love
Tracks 11 to 20 are his seventh album "Let Go" – released February 1977 in the USA only Capricorn Records ML 1040 (no UK issue). It was released 1978 in Germany and France retitled as "Mellow Man" with the same 10-tracks but with the running order slightly altered. 

21. Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Forget 'Em (Single Version) – August 1976 US 45-single on Capricorn CPS 0259 with the LP track "Mellow Man" as its flipside
22. The Christmas Song – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD4 "The Infinity Years" (79:16 minutes):
1. You Can Do It [Side 1]
2. We've Got To Get It On Again
3. Let This Man Take Hold On Your Life
4. Weekend Friend
5. Miss You Nights
6. I Can See Clearly Now [Side 2]
7. Starting The Night Together
8. Who's Lovin' You
9. I'll Be Your Hold Me Tight
10. Thank You For Tonight
Tracks 1 to 10 are his eight album "Midnight Diamond" – released December 1978 in the USA on Infinity Records INF 9001 and February 1979 in the UK on Infinity Records INS 2001. Produced by RICK HALL. 

11. The "In" Crowd [Side 1]
12. Stumblin' Rock To You
13. Sunny Day To Rain
14. Spending Time, Making Love And Going Crazy
15. You Can't Keep A Good Man Down [Side 2]
16. Fool, Fool
17. All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
18. We Had It All
19. Bridge Of Silence
Tracks 11 to 19 are his ninth album "Dobie Gray" – released October 1979 in the USA on Infinity Records INF 9016 (no UK issue). Produced by RICK HALL and featuring The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Horns

20. The "In" Crowd (Single Version) – November 1979 US 45-single on Infinity Records INF 50,043, A-side (B-side was "Let This Man Take Hold On Your Life" from the previous album "Midnight Diamond" of 1978). With the LP track "Spending Time, Making Love And Going Crazy" chosen as the A-side, the British 45 of September 1979 on Infinity INF 115 put the remake of "The "In" Crowd" on the B-side.

Specialising in Classic 60ts and 70ts Soul and Rhythm & Blues under the massive Universal Music Company (UMC) umbrella (Motown, Chess, James Brown Single Series etc) - Hip-O Select releases of this nature (their multiple disc sets) tended to go for the matt almost sepia-tinted card sleeve look. They looked and felt classy and even special. And this is no different. Shaped and sized akin to a small paperback book - the gold Limited Edition logo on the rear doesn't indicate a numbered edition though I would imagine as little as 2,000 or less copies were pressed (nor does it even have a Barcode). The front cover, two inners flaps and rear cover hold the four CDs and 20-page colour paperback-sized booklet in card slots. Each flap lists the tracks for CD1, CD2 etc while the lovely-looking booklet features an essay on his career (for this period) by SCOTT SCHINDER dated August 2004, New York City (Pages 2 to 12). Page 13 has a signed note from the singer with a picture of DB above it (also August 2004). Pages 14 to 19 lay out album-by-album production credits, players, writers, single catalogue numbers beneath titles when necessary. Mike Ragogna is the Compilation Producer with Pat Lawrence and Thane Tierney for Hip-O Select. 

Between the text (which confirms his name is Lawrence Darrow Brown and not Leonard Ainsworth as some sources have acclaimed) are some photos and his long-haul story from a Fifties Baptist-Gospel upbringing to and early/mid Sixties singles until his version of "The "In" Crowd" in 1965 broke him through to National attention. There are stories of his time on the "Hair" musical in the early Seventies, acting on US TV's Beverly Hillbillies, his fortuitous connection to songwriters Paul Williams and his brother Mentor Williams – the latter of the two being the author of the magnificent "Drift Away" written apparently during a period of intense self-doubt.

The song "Drift Away" is one of those tunes that screams cover me – especially to Pop and Rock singers looking for that elusive Soul-feel that gives their variant surefire Hitsville crossover appeal ("…gimme the beat boys and free my soul...I wanna get lost in your Rock 'n' Roll..."). John Kay of Steppenwolf covered it on his second solo album "My Sportin' Life" (July 1973 on ABC/Dunhill DSX-50147 in the USA and July 1973 on Probe SPBA 6274 in the UK) while John Henry Kurtz of obscuro band Country Coalition did a version on his debut solo album "Reunion" (November 1972 on ABC Records ABCX-742 in the USA, February 1973 in the UK on Probe SPB 1068). The Kurtz album featured interesting guests like Jeff Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers fame, future Foot Loose singer Kenny Loggins and Doug Dillard of The Dillards on Banjo. When Rhino Handmade reissued the Jackie DeShannon album "Jackie" in 2003 as "Jackie…Plus" (the LP was originally on Atlantic Records in 1972) – they too found an unreleased recording of "Drift Away" and included it on that CD. Hardly surprising then when Dobie Gray talks about the song in the liner notes that he was desperate to record a version of what he and many others knew was a winner. I would argue (as I'm sure many aficionados would to) that Dobie Gray did the definitive version of "Drift Away" (it became his signature song) – a less-is-more approach to the arrangement that let the lyrics breath, the instruments be heard and his naturally Soulful vocals towards the end soar – moving you and not just impressing (comparisons to Bill Withers and Luther Ingram jump to mind). 

To the long-player that carries its name. The audio across the whole "Drift Away" album (which will be many people's fave here) is exceptionally clean and full of warmth – the piano fills at the end of "Eddie's Song" that closes out the LP, the slow acoustic start to "Sweet Lovin' Woman" and those double-upped vocals matching the guitar lines, the funky clavinet of the gambler-come-lover (Ruby and Billy) song "Caddo Queen" and that clever passage after the chorus. The only moment I take umbrage with is the ever-so-slightly Neil Diamond schlock feel to "We Had It All" – but if that is your bag or your song – the audio is fabulous. The bass too of Mike Leach on "Drift Away" (with Reggie Young on Guitar) is so sweet – punchy but not overdone. And as I said earlier, the flipside cut "City Stars" also excellent, making the "Drift Away" 45-single (in any country) a bit of a double-whammy class in my book.

CD2 throws up the "Loving Arms" and "Hey Dixie" albums from October 1973 and October 1974 with a Non-LP A-side tagged on a Bonus (Track 21). As with the "Drift Away" LP, songwriter Mentor Williams is once again at the Producer helm for both records. The "Hey Dixie" album features Country-Rock types like guitarists Lonnie Mack, Troy Seals and Reggie Young backing up by The Muscle Shoals Horns and other cool session dudes. Many Soul fans rate the "Loving Arms" LP as much as they do "Drift Away". Realigning himself with songwriters like Mentor Williams and Ron Davies (a re-run of the same ideas for "Drift Away" in "Good Old Song"), Troy Seals and Will Jennings (a Staples Singers meets Country Rock vibe for "You And Me"), Paul Williams and Roger Nichols (the lovely and mellow never had much money song but I got love of "I Never Had It Good"), the 45-single of "Lovin' The Easy Way" (MCA 40188 with "Rose" from the "Loving Arms" LP as its flipside)coming at you with crystal clear production values. Brit power-vocalist Tom Jones provides a highlight on the album, the title track of "Loving Arms". Personal fave comes in the shape of the gee-tar plucking of "Mississippi Rolling Stone" (a Troy Seals and Don Goodman song). 

The "Hey Dixie" album sounds like its title, Country Soul meets Pop and R&B. Lonnie Mack and Troy Seals provide the title track and the mellower "How Can You Live All Alone". Another Mentor Williams song (a co-write with Jack Conrad) comes in the shape of "So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)" – a tad cheesy in the lyrics and overdone strings department. Lonnie Mack wrote the Country Soul boogie of "Watch Out For Lucy" where the waitress is more dangerous than the band (there is a Single Version of the song at the end of CD2 as a Bonus). "Roll On Sweet Mississippi", "Can You Feel It" and a cover version of the Allen Toussaint song "Performance" continue the honky-tonk-ified schtick but it all feels a tad too ordinary to impress. But again, if these albums are your big dish of prime ribs, then you have never heard them sound or taste this good. 

CD3 covers his two albums on Capricorn Records "New Ray Of Sunshine" (December 1975 in the USA, January 1976 in the UK) and "Let Go" from February 1977 (USA, no UK issue) - a label more comfortable with The Allman Brothers Band and The Marshall Ttucker Band Southern boogie. "New Ray Of Sunshine" was produced by Troy Seals and Dobie Gray but for "Let Go" he went to Rick Hall's Fame Label studio and his Muscle Shoals backing band. The "New Ray Of Sunshine" album is a halfway-house between Soul, Funk and the Country Soul of say Eddie Hinton. The audio on tracks like "Harold And The Swinging Rocks" and "Drive On, Ride On" is so damn clear and muscled enough to add to the band's funk. Will Jennings (who would go on to do huge amounts of co-writes with Steve Window of The Spencer David Group, Traffic and Blind Faith in the late Seventies and Eighties for his hugely successful stints on Island Records) wrote the sappy "If Love Must Go" - itself followed by the Clavinet Pop-Funk of "Lover's Sweat". But tracks like "A New Ray Of Sunshine" and "I'll Take You Down To Mexico" have an awkward genre feel - like they don't know what they want to be - Rock - or Rock Soul - when both end up not hitting either spot. The album comes to a big-ballad finish with "Easy Come, Easy Go" - love walking off down the road real slow - too much time for DB to see it disappear over the horizon of bad decisions. 

Rick Hall and his production crew opens the 1977 LP "Let Go" with a sophisticated Soul smoocher - hurts to say her name - gorgeous audio. But as with the album before it poor material like the seriously cheesy "Mellow Man" and the staggeringly incorrect lyrics of the funk work-out "Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em" - not a story I want to hear DB. His cover version of the gorgeous Eagles ballad "The Best Of My Love" from their 1974 album "On The Border" is awful - the bippity-boppity shuffle of Country Love is not a whole lot better. Dobie's stab at Percy Sledge's fabulous 60ts Atlantic Records anthem "When A Man Loves A Woman" tries hard with its strings and guitars but again feels forced and not a patch on the genuinely moving original. Beautiful Bass Notes audio on "But I Do" but like the falsely upbeat schtick of "Midnight Trippin'" and the singalong finisher "Can't Stop A Man In Love" - it all feels like three-stars when you crave five. The final insult comes in the unreleased outtake – a 1977 Hallmark Movie and Greeting Card pour-on-the-syrup version of "The Christmas Song" – the magic of 1973's "Drift Away" drifting off into the distance depressingly fast. 

Straight-up nicking The Bee Gees sound and arrangements - "You Can Do It" is chasing the 'Saturday Night Fever' dollar so hard it's liable to disappear up its open-top silk shirt. Lurve-cack like "Let This Man Take Hold Of Your Life" and a cover of the Cliff Richard hit "Miss You Nights" only add to the falsehood even if they sound amazing. Johnny Nash and his Reggae hit of 1972 "I Can See Clearly Now" gets funked up to little point and saccharin strings drown "Who's Lovin' You" in layers of Soulless fairy dust. At least "Thank You Tonight" ends a very patchy album on a semi-high note. The self-titled "Dobie Gray" opens with a truly dreadful moment where Dobie butchers his Sixties masterpiece "The "In" Crowd" with a heavy-handed Disco take. Once again the Production values are top notch but super-produced ballads like "Sunny Day To Rain" and the cringe-lyrics of "Spending Time, Making Love And Going Crazy" are not tunes I will reach for ever again. 

So there you have it - "Drift Away: A Decade Of Dobie 1969-1979" by Soul Man Dobie Gray is the very definition of a musical mixed-bag - the first two albums in spiffing sound quality and actually worth returning too. But the rest is serious hard work if I'm honest. 

Released in December 2004 and like all American Hip-O Select reissues - limited and desirable - it also has the added wallop of costing you should you want a copy. But once you clap your tired lugs on that sweet-as-a-nut remastered sound quality -  fans will have to own it...