"Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" by DEREK and THE DOMINOES featuring ERIC CLAPTON (March 2011 Universal/Polydor '40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Almost 300 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3

- Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Psych, Avant Garde, Underground

Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Country Rock and more

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)

"...Bell Bottom Blues..."

I had the 2004 single-disc SACD reissue of "Layla..." and was duly blown away by it (truly awesome audio). So why does anyone need a newly done 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' of this most iconic of double-albums? The answer is that the New 2010 Remaster on Disc 1 absolutely rocks - while the near sixty minutes of non-album single sides, live Johnny Cash Show material and aborted 2nd album outtakes on Disc 2 offer up solid thrills throughout and not just filler (most of it new to CD). In fact CD2 may be the very best 'Bonus Disc' to a Rock DE version that I've ever heard. Got me on my knees...Layla...here are the details...

UK released 21 March 2011 (26 April 2011 in the USA) – "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" by DEREK and THE DOMINOES on Universal/Polydor B0015353-02 (Barcode 600753314296) is a '40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' 2CD Reissue that features Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Bobby Whitlock, George Harrison, Dave Mason, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:16 minutes):

1. I Looked Away [Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton song]

2. Bell Bottom Blues [Eric Clapton song]

3. Keep On Growing [Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton song]

4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out [Jimmie Cox song, Bessie Smith cover]

5. I Am Yours [Eric Clapton song, Lyrics Adapted From A Nizami Poem]– Side 2

6. Anyday [Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton song]

7. Key To The Highway [Big Bill Broonzy cover]

8. Tell The Truth [Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton song] – Side 3

9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? [Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton song]

10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman? [Billy Myles cover]

11. Little Wing [Jimi Hendrix cover] – Side 4

12. It's Too Late [Chuck Willis cover]

13. Layla [Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon song]

14. Thorn Tree In The Garden [Bobby Whitlock song]

Tracks 1 to 14 are the double-album "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" – released November 1970 in the USA on Atco SD 2-704 and December 1970 in the UK on Polydor 2625 005 (it peaked at No. 16 on the US charts – didn’t chart UK).

Disc 2 – BONUS DISC (58:32 minutes):

1. Mean Old World [Little Walter cover, Album Outtake]

2. Roll It Over [Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock song, Non-Album 7" B-side]

3. Tell The Truth [Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock song, Non-Album 7" A-side]

(Tracks 2 and 3 originally recorded in June 1970 at Abbey Road for the George Harrison "All Things Must Pass" sessions - both Produced by Phil Spector - single withdrawn)

4. It's Too Late - Live [Chuck Willis cover]

5. Got To Get Better In A Little While - Live [Eric Clapton song]

6. Matchbox - Live [Carl Perkins cover]

7. Blues Power - Live Encore [Eric Clapton & Leon Russell song]

Tracks 4 to 7 are Derek & The Dominoes 'live' on The Johnny Cash Show, taped 5 November 1970 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. JOHNNY CASH and CARL PERKINS join the band for "Matchbox" only

8. Snake Lake Blues [Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock song]

9. Evil [Willie Dixon song, Howlin' Wolf cover]

10. Mean Old Frisco [Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup cover]

11. One More Chance [Eric Clapton song]

12. Got To Get Better In A Little While Jam [Eric Clapton song, instrumental]

13. Got To Get Better In A Little While [Eric Clapton song, new 2010 vocal by Bobby Whitlock]

Tracks 8 to 13 are the April/May 1971 sessions at the Olympic Studios in London for the aborted 2nd LP (engineering by Andy Johns). The band was Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Bobby Whitlock's vocals on Track 6 were recorded September 2010 in Austen, Texas especially for this release. All tracks remixed by the original engineer ANDY JOHNS in September 2010.

DEREK and THE DOMINOES were:

ERIC CLAPTON – Guitars, Lead Vocals

BOBBY WHITLOCK – Keyboards and Vocals

DUANE ALLMAN – Guitars (All Tracks except 1 to 3)

CARL RADLE – Bass and Percussion

JIM GORDON – Drums and Percussion

ALBHY GALUTEN – Guest Piano on "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"

Despite how pretty these gatefold card digipaks can be – you have to say that the 12-page booklet is a surprisingly skimpy affair for a supposed 'DE' of an album as highly regarded as "Layla". The double-page photo spread (the inner gatefold of the original vinyl album) is reproduced on both flaps and the inner pages of the booklet with the other pages given over to track-by-track credits - and I'm afraid little else. There isn't any liner notes – no discussions of the supergroup's mercurial talent or its tortured discography – damn shame really. Having said that we are left with the sound and content on Disc 2 which will do very nicely indeed.

The September 2010 Remaster done at Universal Studios went back to the original British Master Tapes and long-time Audio Engineer ELLEN FITTON has done a stunning job. Motown fans will know of her staggering work with the Hip-O Select label out of the USA – all 14 of the massive ‘Complete Motown Single' Sets – 75 Volumes of CDs with 1847 tracks – so this experienced lady knows her way around an original tape box or two. The Audio is fabulous – really bringing out the layers.

While ERIC CLAPTON and DUANE ALLMAN always grabs the lion's share of attention (Allman is on 11 of the 14 tracks) – a quick glance at the writer credits above and you'll see that BOBBY WHITLOCK deserved just as many plaudits. Famously ignored in England (post Cream) and making only 16 in the US LP charts – Atco even had to issue 'Derek Is Eric' stickers to inform supposedly clueless punters as to the true identity of the 'head domino' on the sprawling 2LP set. In fact I've always thought that "Layla..." feels more like the studio double-album The Allman Brothers never made rather than a vehicle for Clapton's songs of love, passion and longing.

It opens with the mid-tempo but fairly nondescript "I Looked Away" - Clapton and Whitlock sharing the vocals with Whitlock's second-half-of-the-song croaking coming off the worst. Better is the more melodious "Bell Bottom Blues" – Clapton doubling up those guitars so well and that chorus sounding not unlike something released by Badfinger on The Beatles' Apple label. But the proper axe-wielding comes with the six and half minute ruckus of "Keep On Growing" where Clapton spends much of the song endlessly racing up and down the frets of several guitars – it's impressively dense, rocking and even a tad flashy. Time for some Blues to end Side 1 – the band call on a Jimmie Cox song made famous in 1929 by Bessie Smith on a Columbia 78" - "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out". It's the first time the distinctive slide of Duane Allman shows – and along with Whitlock's organ – they anchor every tune thereafter with great flits and licks - feeling like the second guitarist Clapton has always needed by his side.

The acoustic ditty "I Am Yours" has come in for some stick over the years but I'd argue its pretty (if not a little overly hissy here). "Anyday" is surely one of the great moments on the album – six and half minutes of Allman and Clapton on fire. Things lighten up considerably with the barroom boogie of Big Bill Broonzy's "Key To The Highway" – the band flexing their playing muscles for 9:38 minutes and enjoying it. Side 3 opens on another Clapton/Whitlock winner and future concert fave – the re-recorded "Tell The Truth". The album version of this guitar boogie weighs in at 6:30 minutes and is more measured than the frantic shorter original Phil Spector produced for the "All Things Must Pass" sessions (the 3:23 minute original recorded in June 1970 was slotted in for a supposed UK 7" single release in September 1970 but that was hastily withdrawn (that version is on Disc 2). "Tell..." is followed by the manic pace of "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?" - but it's resolutely trounced by the side finisher – "Have You Ever Loved A Woman". Recorded 2 September 1970 with Duane Allman taking on the 2nd solo – it's a blistering piece of Rock Blues from the pen of Billy Myles (made famous by Freddie King in 1961 on King Records). Clapton sings the "...so much you tremble in pain..." lyrics with such passion that you can literally feel it translate to his fingers – fabulous stuff and next to the title track – surely one of the album's true highlights.

But Side 4 opens with yet another sweetie – a Soulful ramshackle take on Jimi Hendrix's beautiful ballad "Little Wing". We get an "...ok hit it..." silly inclusion of the Chuck Willis hit on Atlantic Records "It's Too Late" which definitely feels like a throwaway. The title track however is another matter. The intense and forbidden love that dominates the lyrics of "Layla" may have come from the translation of the 12th Century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi whose book speaks of the same. The duelling guitars of Allman and Clapton have become the stuff of legend in this seven-minute Rock Opus – and even to this day "Layla" sounds amazing – especially that wonderful keyboard break half way through. Following the album's release November 1970 in the USA but just prior to its issue in the UK (December 1970) – Polydor and Atco pulled what should have been their ace in the hole 45 – "Layla" b/w "Bell Bottom Blues". But alarmingly it garnished little attention on either side of the pond – genuinely odd nowadays considering what a classic the A-side was and is - and how ingrained into our musical psyche "Layla" as a song truly is. Just outside the Top 50 on initial release in the USA (51) – it would take until June 1972 for the song to get real chart action on reissue (Atco 6809) when it peaked at No. 10. A solo Eric Clapton Acoustic 'unplugged' version went even higher to No. 2 in October 1997 when he radically reworked the song to spectacular effect. The 1970 double album ends of another song that's been slagged off down through the years as sappy and even trite "Thorn Tree In The Garden" – a Bobby Whitlock original sung with his slightly annoying croak. I've always liked it and think the song as pretty an acoustic tune as you're ever likely to hear.

DISC 2 (Bonus Tracks):

It opens with a fantastic find – three members of the band doing a slide acoustic take on Little Walter's "Mean Old World". Clapton and Allman share bluesy guitar licks while Jim Gordon plays Drums (Eric sings Lead) – and it sounds utterly amazing. Two obvious Derek & The Dominoes exclusions from the 1990 '20th Anniversary' Edition 3CD set and not on the 2004 SACD reissue either were the stand alone single "Tell The Truth" b/w "Roll It Over" which I mentioned earlier. Polydor UK tried the original version of "Tell The Truth" (Track 3 on Disc 2) as a 7" single in September 1970 (Polydor 2058 087) with the non-album Clapton/Whitlock original "Roll It Over" (Track 2 on Disc 2) on the flipside – but then withdrew it at the band's insistence. Both tracks were originally recorded at Abbey Road in June 1970 for George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" sessions. Both sides are produced by PHIL SPECTOR with the A-side "Tell The Truth" being a much shorter 3:23 minute version of the re-recorded 6:30 minute take that would eventually appear on the "Layla" double album. It's also frantically faster (I love it actually). But even "Tell..." is as nothing to the totally brilliant flipside "Roll It Over". Unlike the A – the B-side included the stellar talents of GEORGE HARRISON of The Beatles and DAVE MASON of Traffic both on Vocals and Guitar. Clapton takes lead vocals while Carl Radle plays Bass with Jim Gordon on Drums. What a winner this is...and collectable on so many fronts...

The live stuff on the Johnny Cash Show features an introduction by the mighty Johnny when he name-checks all four band-members (sans Duane Allman). The audio is far better than I thought it would be and Eric's playing very fluid especially on the stunning second track "Got To Get Better In A Little While" – a non Layla side that sees Clapton funking-out on Guitar much to the clapping audience's enthusiasm (screams for more). They return with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash to do a cover of Perkin's boppin' classic "Matchbox". After an introduction and a vocal appreciation from Cash and Clapton – they launch into a joyous take of the song The Beatles loved and recorded. "...I'm an old poor boy and I'm a long way from home..." Cash and Perkins sing as Clapton lays into the most tasteful solo (its fabulous stuff). Then Eric agrees to do another song (huge applause) and pulls out the EC/Leon Russell original "Blues Power" where he and the band give the crowd six and half minutes of what they want.

As if these goodies aren't enough to put the release into five-star status – we get even more brilliance – 6 outtakes from the aborted 2nd LP recorded in London April/May 1971. "Snake Lake Blues" is an instrumental that you can't help feel was probably waiting for lyrics that never came. But whatever way you look it – Clapton's playing on "Snake..." is fantastic and the remastered audio just kicking (clear, warm and full). The same applies to a wickedly good version of Willie Dixon's "Evil" which he'd return to on his solo LPs. Fans will double take at the identikit Dobro sound on "Mean Old Frisco" – practically a doppelganger for the sound of the version that would turn up a full seven years later on Clapton's "Slowhand" LP. The same stunning audio (remixed by Andy Johns) applies to the superb acoustic boogie of "One More Chance" and the two ramshackle but wildly exciting versions of that Johnny Cash show stopper – "Got To Get Better In A Little While". The first is a Funky Jam instrumental at just under four minutes (utterly brilliant) while the full 6:05 minutes version has Bobby Whitlock's vocal mixed into it in September 2010 – a seamless job done too – wow!

For the insatiable there's even a Super Deluxe Edition version of this "Layla" reissue that gathers up the double live set that followed the album (sans Duane Allman), Surround Mixes, Single Sides and an awful lot of other stuff.

But if you want the short sharp shock – then this double-dose 2011 DELUXE EDITION of "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" is a superlative reminder of why people painted Derek's name on walls once upon a time..

"This Is The Story: The 70's Albums Vol.1, 1970-1973 - The Jean Terrell Years" by THE SUPREMES - A Review Of The 2006 Hip-O Select 3CD Book Set...

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:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

“…Can’t Make It On My Own…” - This Is The Story: The 70's Albums Vol.1, 1970-1973 - The Jean Terrell Years by THE SUPREMES (2006 Hip-O Select 3CD Book Set)

The full title of this beautifully presented set is - "This Is The Story: The 70's Albums Vol.1, 1970-1973 - The Jean Terrell Years”. It's a limited edition of 5000 and was issued in December 2006 by Universal's premium label in the States - Hip-O Select (Jean Terrell replaced Diana Ross as the new lead after Ross left for her solo career).

It gives you 5 full albums with previously unreleased material and rare sides across 3 picture-disc CDs each of which is in a card leaf at the back of the set. The 44-page booklet that precedes the discs pictures each LP (front and rear), gives detailed track-by-track information, provides liner notes on each release and has interview contributions from all concerned. The whole thing is housed in an over-sized hardback silver book sleeve with three die-cut circles at the front to show the three Supremes of the period underneath - Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson and Cindy Songbird. The words "limited edition' are embossed in gold on the back. As you can imagine, the artwork in itself is a thing of beauty and gives the whole project an air of real class. Here are the song details…

Disc 1 (77:31 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are the US album "Right On", April 1970, Motown MS-705

Tracks 13 to 22 are the US album "New Ways But Love Stays", October 1970, Motown MS-720

Disc 2 (79:54 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are the US album "Touch", June 1971, Motown MS-737

Tracks 11 to 23 are The "Promises Kept" Sessions, 1971.

11 to 23 are previously unreleased and were recorded for an LP release in late 1971 that never materialized

Track 24 is from the Various Artists US album called "Rock Gospel: The Key To The Kingdom", October 1971, Motown M-743L

Disc 3 (75:45 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are the US album "Floy Joy", May 1972, Motown M-751L

Tracks 10 to 20 are the US album "The Supremes Produced & Arranged By Jimmy Webb", November 1972, Motown M-756L

Tracks 21 and 22 are from the US album "At Their Best", June 1978, Motown 904

ELLEN FITTON digitally remastered all tracks from the original Motown master tapes at Universal Studios in the USA and a typically stunning job has been achieved. Hip-O Select releases are consistently praised for their great sound and this peach does not disappoint.

With 68 songs on offer - the material itself is a mixed bag of the great and the ordinary. In truth, I can remember when Motown collectors tended to poo-poo this period of The Supremes story as weak and half-hearted. But that definitely needs re-assessment on the strength of this set. It's fantastic to hear "Stoned Love" and "Nathan Jones" in top sound quality at last. And the whole Smokey Robinson written/produced album "Floy Joy" can be described as a lost Motown masterpiece ignored by way too many soul fans. Their August 1972 chart hit "Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love" could easily grace any Northern Soul compilation and take pride of place too. Then there's the fabulous collaboration album with the "Wichita Lineman" author JIMMY WEBB - lush melodies and strings abound - and again - another forgotten sweetheart that deserves rediscovery. "5:30 Plane" for instance - from that album - is a gorgeous song presented here in truly beautiful sound quality - an undiscovered classic if there ever was one (lyrics above). It will appeal to Bacharach fans, Webb lovers and soul boys alike - a rare achievement to nail all three audiences. The anti-racism tune "When Can Brown Begin" could be cheesy, but it's not - it's beautifully handled.

Deemed not fit for release at the time, the quality of the unreleased "Promises Kept" tracks vary. I don't know whether to consider the funked-up version of "Eleanor Rigby" inspired - or a travesty - probably a bit of both! But that's then followed shortly afterwards by "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" - a superb little number with a genuinely uplifting vibe to it.  And the cover of the Four Tops "Still Water (Love)" is lovely too - it's peppered with lovely brass breaks and lush string arrangements and a superbly soulful lead vocal too - just great.

Five star sound and packaging with three-to-four star material. Even at a price - I had to have it. I'm going to be dipping into this set a lot in the future and I would say you should too. Recommended.

"The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B: 1972 (July to December 1972)" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (December 2013 USA - January 2014 UK Hip-O Select 5CD Hardback Digibook Set with Attached 45-Vinyl-Single - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

This Review Along With Over 285 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 

70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00MTCDTWS&asins=B00MTCDTWS&linkId=f95dca2244c8856012cccc3c6c25fff6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Mama Just Hung Her Head And Said...Papa Was A Rolling Stone..."

There's a photograph on page 125 of this 14th and final box set for "The Complete Motown Singles" Series that will make most Motown aficionados weak at the knees. It shows a lady in the original Motown Tape Library filing master boxes. I don't know if this mythical place has ever been snapped before - but there's a room I'd like to spend an hour or two in. And I mention it because it's typical of the in-depth and lavish nature of this truly amazing series - beautifully presented and full of fan-pleasing goodies.

UK released Monday 6 January 2014 (December 2013 in the USA) - "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B: 1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select B0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193) is a 5CD Hardback Digibook set with Attached 45-Vinyl Single that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (overall Disc No. 71) has 22 tracks, 69: 26 minutes

Disc 2 (overall Disc No. 72) has 20 tracks, 63:08 minutes

Disc 3 (overall Disc No. 73) has 19 tracks, 70:17 minutes

Disc 4 (overall Disc No. 74) has 18 tracks, 65:11 minutes

Disc 5 (overall Disc No. 75) has 21 tracks, 69:03 minutes

The comprehensively annotated pages give you all the details you'd want - writers, arrangers, exact catalogue numbers, release dates, session and recording details from the official Motown files and a paragraph on each release (some of which are over two pages long). There are also some of the most beautiful photographs of artists’ ever produced - fabulous full-page plates. To top it all off there are 3 very detailed indexes at the rear - Artist, Title and Label (using the Disc numbers provided above).

A word about the sound quality... As with this entire series - the remastering has been done by ELLEN FITTON – an engineer that I've noted before for top quality work (I've tagged many of her releases on Amazon for a pictorial - go to my Profile page and you'll see ELLEN FITTON REMASTERS in the Tags section below). It has to be said that to my ears - this is the very best I've ever heard Seventies Motown sound - absolutely sensational. Take tracks like Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" backed with "You've Got It Bad Girl" - WOW! Even better is the Marvin Gaye double whammy "Trouble Man" backed with "Don't Mess With Mr. T" - beautifully clear and full of presence. But the bomb for me is a B-side I've been after on CD for literally decades. "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" is almost 12-minutes long on the album - the single was edited down to four seconds short of 7 minutes - but it's B-side is the rare "Instrumental" version at 4:48 minutes. Although it's not strictly voiceless (a chorus line sung here and there) - it is unique and it just amazing. To my knowledge it makes a first appearance here - sounding incredible. Right from the opener by The Supremes "Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love" - the audio is gorgeous. 

The downside is that it's obvious why so many of the tracks in-between the huge hits didn't make it - most are just too ordinary - some just stylistically out of place. But even the unknowns and less-than-famous tracks have nuggets too - Rare Earth, The Undisputed Truth, The Crusaders, Valerie Simpson and Eddie Kendricks - all of which are ace (and definite discoveries are Puzzle, Lesley Gore, G.C. Cameron and Willie Hutch).

First proposed in casual conversation in 2004 - Hip-O Select issued Volume Number 1 in early 2005 and only now - in January 2014 - does it finish at 12B covering July to December 1972. 9 years, 75 CDs documenting everything from 1959 to 1972, 1849 singles, 435 Billboard Hot 100 Entries, 60 Number One hits etc. I'm missing only the pricey Volume 1 and 6 in the whole series - but I'm so glad I kept up with the purchases. If we get lucky Hip-O Select are working on the 'Los Angeles' years (1973 onwards).

A truly amazing series goes out with a sonic blast…

"The Motown Singles Collection" by Hip-O Select 

(14 Released Volumes as of January 2021)

75 x CD Volumes, 1847 CD Tracks Plus 28 Tracks On 14 x 7" Vinyl Singles

1. Volume 1: 1959-1961, Released January 2005, Catalogue No. Hip-O Select B-0003631-02 (Barcode 602517643310), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 5000 (Non-Numbered), 155 Tracks, CDs are Volumes 1 to 6

2. Volume 2: 1962, May 2005, 4CDs, B-00004402-02 (Barcode 602517807552), Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 112 Tracks, Volumes 7 to 10

3. Volume 3: 1963, October 2005, B-0005352-02 (Barcode 602517845691), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 11 to 15

4. Volume 4: 1964, February 2006, B-0005945-02 (Barcode 602517882443), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 163 Tracks, Volumes 16 to 21

5. Volume 5: 1965, August 2006, B-0006775-02 (Barcode 602517789414), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 166 Tracks, Volumes 22 to 27

6. Volume 6: 1966, November 2006, B-0007872-02 (Barcode 602517092761), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 125 Tracks, Volumes 28 to 32

7. Volume 7: 1967, May 2007, B-0008993-02 (Barcode 602517341906), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 33 to 37

8. Volume 8: 1968, October 2007, B-0009708-02 (Barcode 602517431775), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 38 to 43

9. Volume 9: 1969, December 2007, B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 148 Tracks, Volumes 44 to 49

10. Volume 10: 1970, June 2008, B-0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 50 to 55

11. Volume 11A: 1971, February 2009, B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 56 to 60

12. Volume 11B: 1971, January 2010, B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 61 to 65

13. Volume 12A: 1972, May 2013, B-0012935-02 (Barcode 602527044453)), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 117 Tracks, Volumes 66 to 70

14. Volume 12B: 1972, December 2013, B-0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 100 Tracks, Volumes 71 to 75

“The Solo Albums: Volume 4 – Love Breeze & Where There’s Smoke…” by SMOKEY ROBINSON (2011 Hip-O Select/Motown CD Reissue - Ellen Fitton Remaster) - 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)

"…Baby Let's Cruise…Away From Here..."

This is the 4th of 6 volumes by Hip-O Select chronicling Smokey Robinson's solo albums for Motown. It was initially available from their US website from 28 Jan 2011 and then commercially released 15 Feb 2011. Now it’s the UK’s turn - let’s get to the details…

UK released 21 February 2011 (28 January 2011 in the USA) - "The Solo Albums: Volume 4 – Love Breeze & Where There's Smoke…" by SMOKEY ROBINSON on Hip-O Select/Motown B0015163-02 (Barcode 602527586359) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD plus 1 Bonus Track and breaks down as follows (78:15 minutes):

1. Why You Wanna See My Bad Side

2. Love So Fine

3. Feeling You, Feeling Me

4. Madam X

5. Shoe Soul [Side 2]

6. Trying It Again

7. Daylight & Darkness

8. I'm Loving You Softley

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 6th solo album "Love Breeze" - released February 1978 in the USA on Tamla T7-359R1 and in May 1978 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12081.

9. It's A Good Night

10. I Love The Nearness Of You

11. The Hurt's On You

12. Ever Had A Dream

13. Get Ready [Side 2]

14. Share It

15. Cruisin'

Tracks 9 to 15 are his 7th solo album "Where There’s Smoke…" - released May 1979 in the USA on Tamla T7-366R1 and August 1979 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12115. Side 1 is called 'Smoke' (tracks 9 to 12) and Side 2 is called 'Fire' (tracks 13 to 15).

BONUS TRACK:

16. Get Ready (12-Inch Instrumental) - June 1979 non-album B-side to the US 12" single of "Get Ready" on Motown M 000027D1

The gatefold card-digipak has the same generic look and feel of the Volumes 1 to 3 and 5. This edition (Vol. 4) has a 28-page colour booklet containing liner notes by PETER DOGGETT (formerly of Record Collector magazine and author of the book "There's A Riot Going On"). It also reproduces the American artwork front and rear for each album (even though in truth they're impossible to read), has photographic outtakes from the album sleeves, the lyrics to all the songs and detailed recording and release credits. It’s very tastefully done…

Remastered by ELLEN FITTON from the original Stereo tapes - the sound quality is superb (she did an equally great job on Volumes 1 and 3). I've reviewed CDs remastered by Fitton before - she's one of Universal's top engineers (others are Erick Labson, Suha Gur, Gavin Lurssen, Gary Moore and Kevin Reeves). I've created a TAG above (pictorial displays of artwork) for both her remasters and Hip-O Select releases she’s been involved in that are worth noting.

Unfortunately, like Volume 3, the really great sound quality helps you to swallow the huge amount of saccharine pap that Motown produced in those disintegrating years – and these 1978 and 1979 offerings are guilty of the same. Both have been (and will probably always remain) absolute dollar-bin fodder on both sides of the pond. But – and this is the big but – there’s rediscoveries on here absolutely worth making…

The smoochy "Feeling You, Feeling Me" would do a night in a Theopolis P. Wilderbeast shagpad proud - while "Madame X" is a sort of "Cruisin'" variant that talks about 'faces in discotheques' and is excellent. "Shoe Soul" is a terrible song about sneakers, but the lovely slink of "Daylight & Darkness" is much better. And again the sound quality is ace. The slap-bass, strings and hooky beat of "It’s A Good Night" reflect the club sound of 1979 and it’s a good opener for the "Where There’s Smoke…" album. "Share It" is an uptempo love song – the kind of infectious Summer-feeling hit that Smokey is so good at. Then of course there’s the huge and sexily wonderful "Cruisin'" (lyrics above) which is represented here in its full six-minute glory. It was issued as an edit on 7” single and is wicked - I’ve had it on CD for a few years now just to have the track – shame there wasn’t room for that unique version of it on here.

There's one bonus track, but it’s a peach and a genuinely sought-after rarity. "Get Ready" was originally done by RARE EARTH back in 1970 (Smokey wrote the song) – his new version is a funked-up one. But the reason DJs love the B-side so much is because it removes the lyrics, peppers it with a girly chorus every now and then and concentrates instead on the funky guitar…and man what a groove it is – fabulous stuff.

To sum up – like Volume 3 – it’s not all genius of course and there’s cringingly awful stuff on both albums. But there’s also the good gear - that cracking bonus track and the warm and funky sound that make it another enjoyable purchase in this ongoing series…