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"...Play Something
Pretty..."
Stax Soul man JOHNNIE TAYLOR got a commercial second wind when he signed to Columbia Records in the USA – promptly charting three albums in a row - "Eargasm" in 1976 (a Number 1 USA R&B LP), "Rated Extraordinaire" in 1977 (No. 6) and "Ever Ready" in 1978 (No. 35).
This gorgeous-sounding CD reissue/remaster by SoulMusic Records of the UK
(part of Cherry Red) deals with the next two Columbia platters dating from 1979
and 1980 (charted 53 and 75) lumped together onto one CD with a massively
expanded booklet. Here are the track-by-track details...
UK released September 2014 – "She's Killing Me/A New Day" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR on SoulMusic Records SMCR 25124
(Barcode 5013929082434) offers 2LPs originally from 1979 and 1980 Remastered onto 1CD and pans out as follows (74:46 minutes):
1. Little Dancin' Queen
2. Play Something Pretty
3. (Ooh-Wee) She's Killing
Me
4. The Users
5. Love Account
6. Pulling The Train
7. I Can't Leave You Alone
Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "She's Killing Me" – released October 1979 in the USA on Columbia Records JC
36061
8. The Heart Break Kid
9. I'd Rather Hurt Myself
10. I've Got This Thing For
Your Love
11. Signing Off With Love
12. Baby Lay Down
13. Sneakin' Sneakin'
14. I Wanna Get Into You
15. Sylvia
16. Baby Don't Hesitate
Tracks 8 to 16 are the album "A New Day" – released August 1980 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36548
The 16-page booklet is far
more substantial than I'd expected it to be – full album artwork – recording
details – repros of the album labels and 45's around both records as well a
superbly detailed set of liner notes by American Soul/Funk specialist MATT BRAUER.
It looks great and shows a great attention to fan-pleasing details.
But the real fireworks lies
in an ALAN WILSON remaster of two albums that were professionally produced.
Ballads like "Play Something Pretty" and the conscience-prodding "Love Account" sound incredible – full of great vocals and instrumentation. Funkier Disco
tunes like "Little Dancin' Queen" and the guitar flicking/brass pumping
dancefloor filler “Pulling The Train” sound great – plenty of vim and vigour.
By the time we get to album two – the same amazing Production values are
brought to the talking funk of "The Heart Break Kid" and the smooch of "Signing
Off With Love". We go slappy-bass with "Sneakin' Sneakin'" where some lady
isn't quite being honest about her night time activities – ending on the John Shaft slinky "Baby Don't Hesitate".
Great remaster, some cool
tunes and a substantial booklet – a quality presentation overall by SoulMusic
Records of the UK. Fans should dive in – especially given the quality upgrade
in the audio...
