"...Threads So
Sharp..."
A
strong compilation for Shapiro fans with a generous playing time too and best
of all – superb Audio on many rarities seeing the 2020 digital light-of-day for
the first time anywhere. Hell, there are even a few Northern Soul dancefloor
shufflers in here for those inclined. Threads so sharp and with all the latest
fashion (lyrics from "She Needs Company") – let's face the music and
dance...
UK
released Friday, 28 August 2020 - "Face The Music: The Complete Singles
1967-1984" by HELEN SHAPIRO on Ace Records CDCHD 1573 (Barcode
029667098427) is a 25-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as
follows (77:20 minutes):
1.
Stop And You Will Become Aware
2.
She Needs Company
Tracks
1 and 2 are the B and A-side of a 25 August 1967 UK 45-single on Columbia DB
8256
3.
Make Me Belong To You
4.
The Way Of The World
Tracks
3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a 10 March 1967 UK 45-single on Columbia DB
8148
5.
You'll Get Me Loving You
6.
Silly Boy (I Love You)
Tracks
5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a 13 September 1968 UK 45-single on Pye 7N
17600
7.
Today Has Been Cancelled
8.
Face The Music
Tracks
7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of a 21 March 1969 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17714
9.
You've Guessed
10.
Take Me For A While
Tracks
9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an 18 July 1969 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17785
11.
Take Down A Note Miss Smith
12.
Couldn't You See
Tracks
11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of a 13 February 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N
17893 (see also Track 25)
13.
Waiting On The Shores Of Nowhere
14.
A Glass Of Wine
Tracks
13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of a 24 July 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17975
15.
You're A Love Child
16.
That's The Reason I Love You
Tracks
15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of a 11 April 1975 UK 45-single on DJM Records
DJS 363
17.
Can't Break The Habit
18.
For All The Wrong Reasons
Tracks
17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of an August 1977 UK 45-single on Arista ARISTA
131
19.
Every Little Bit Hurts
20.
Touchin' Wood
Tracks
19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of a March 1978 UK 45-single on Arista ARISTA
178
21.
Let Yourself Go
22.
Funny
Tracks
21 and 22 are the A&B-sides of an April 1983 UK 45-single on Oval HELEN 25
23.
Brickyard Blues
24.
Just Another Weekend
Tracks
23 and 24 are the A&B-sides of a January 1984 UK 45-single on Oval OVAL 26
25.
Das Ist Nicht Die Feine Englische Art
Track
25 is the A-side of a March 1970 GERMAN 45-single on Pye DV 11005. Its B-side
"Take Down A Note Miss Smith" was issued as the A-side in the 'UK'
(see Tracks 11 and 12). "Das Ist Nicht..." is a German Language song
with no English equivalent and was exclusive to the country. It is included on
this CD as a Bonus Track.
Tracks
1 to 14 and 25 are MONO - all others are in STEREO
As
with all of these archival releases from Ace Records of the UK - the 20-page
colour booklet is a feast for the eyes and brain - TONY ROUNCE laying into the
factoids aided and abetted by Helen and her husband of 30-years John Judd. Page
17 has the picture sleeve to the excellent "Brickyard Blues" (an
Allen Toussaint song) whilst the other leaves are littered with Columbia and Pye
Demo labels, foreign picture sleeves and even a trade advert for 1970's classy
"Waiting On The Shores Of Nowhere" - HS starring out at the water
wondering when that English git she'd been promised by Mummy is going to turn
up and get down to some much-needed lovin'. You could argue that Tony is overly
generous in his assessments of singles that were good but never really great
and hence the lack of chart action for a star who'd been on the go since early
1961. Still, it's a great read, his affection for what he clearly sees as a
class act palpable – so fans and newcomers alike will chew it up.
NICK
ROBBINS once again excels himself in the transfers and Audio department - the
opening double-bass notes of the Northern-Soul B-side "Stop And You Will
Become Aware" come floating crystal clear into your living room and the CD
remains that way until the end - the only slightly compromised Audio being the
German Song "Das Ist Nicht..." from 1970 that I suspect is dubbed
from a disc. The song quality may not always hold up, but the Remasters are
really great. To the music...
A
Northern Soul dancer if ever there was one, the CD opens on a B-side instead of
an A - the irrepressibly upbeat talcum powder shuffler that is "Stop And
You Will Become Aware". The Mono Audio rocks whilst the equally
drama-laden brassy A-side "She Needs Company" has our Helen eyeing up
the sharp-dressed dudes of 1967 resplendent in all the latest Modtastic gear.
Beggar or Queen, the darling "Make Me Belong To You" pleader
continues the strong songs on her short stay at Columbia. That bopping A-side
is offset by a lounge-lizard piano-tinkling schmoozer flipside called "The
Way Of The World" - a very Dusty Springfield moment and again with
cracking audio.
1968
saw her opening an account with Pye Records and the making-my-life-worthwhile
"You'll Get Me Loving You" was a good start even if the rather
throwaway B-side "Silly Boy (I Love You) " is a little too girl-group
for its own good. Due to the cloudy condition of her mind, Helen finds
"Today Has Been Cancelled" - the cold exchange of words with her beau
the previous evening, still stinging like a wet kipper in a Billingsgate cafe.
Unfortunately, you can so hear why middle-of-the-road pop material like
"Face The Music" and "Take Me For A While" elicited a yawn
amongst record buyers. Better is "Take Down A Note Miss Smith" - a
very Bobby Gentry "Ode To Billie Joe" groove that even has traces of
Dusty's sexy "Son Of A Preacher Man" too.
"Couldn't
You See" feels like Pye is trying to make Helen fit into Tom Jones
material that was already out-dated by 1970. Way more classy is the cautionary
tale of "Waiting On The Shores Of Nowhere" where her concerned Pater
advises an anxious Helen that she may have to bide her time - sit patiently and
wait for that lurve boat to slip into Shapiro Bay with a big rocking Daddy
handsome at the tiller. "A Glass Of Wine" feels like languid
Bacharach and David - piano accompanied by 'oohs' and 'aahs' from her backing
singers as they croon about his 'magic' prowess. By the time we reach Track 15,
we're into 1975 and a rather good standalone Stereo 45 on DJM Records called
"You're A Love Child". An inquisitive but obviously hurting kid is
reassured that they are not a burden but an 'answer to my dreams' while its
'Philadelphia Freedom' sounding B-side "That's The Reason I Love You"
is clearly trying to find that Kiki Dee market.
From
there on in, it goes from one ok tune to the next - best of which by a country
mile is the Allen Toussaint cover of "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard
Blues)" which is shortened to "Brickyard Blues". Shapiro wasn't
the first great lady to notice the Funky-Rock grooves in Toussaint's New
Orleans songs - Maria Muldaur having covered Brickyard on her 1974 Reprise
Records LP "Waitress In A Donut Shop" (Frankie Miller, James
Montgomery and Three Dog Night also had a go at the tune in 1974). And on it
goes to the rather odd Mono 1970 German single at the end...
For
sure not everything on here is genius and at times you can so hear why the
British charts success of old eluded her during this period. But fans are going
to love the presentation, the affection, the audio and the general classiness
that Ace affords her legacy. "What you're playing just can't make
it...play something sweet...play something mellow...play me something I can get
my teeth into...like Jell-O..." she sang on the Toussaint cover of
"Brickyard Blues". I suspect fans that have waited decades for these
Remasters will do just that...
