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:
“…First Thing I
Do…My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You…” - Smoked Sugar by SMOKED SUGAR (2012
BBR Expanded CD Remaster)
This is a
fantastic reissue – an obscure Funk-Soul album from 1975 that few people
outside of deep circles will have heard of (including me) – and typically it’s
a peach worth rediscovering.
Reissued February
2012 in the UK, Big Break Records CDBBR 099 breaks down as follows (38:02
minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10
are the album "Smoked Sugar" - originally released in the USA on 20th
Century Records T-473 in early 1975
Track 11 is
"My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You (Promotional Single Version)".
Track 2 is the album version at 4:09 minutes – this PROMO-ONLY single version
is edited to 3:09 minutes
The jewel case is
one of those new rounded corner deals and the 12-page booklet features detailed
liner notes by RICO "Superbizzee" WASHINGTON – a New Yorker who has
edited and contributed to American music publications like "Free" and
"XLRBR" magazines. The remaster is by PETER DOELL at Universal and is
superlative – incredibly clean, clear and present reflecting HADLEY MURELL'S
superb production values back in the day. I can't emphasize enough how good BBR
CDs sound – I've reviewed nearly 10 now (see list below) – and this is no
different. A joy to listen too…
It opens with a
lethal triple whammy – "I've Found Someone Like You", "My Eyes
Search A Lonely Room For You" and "Bump Me". The first whacks
into existence with a tremendous Al Green type vocal - while the sublime second
track "My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You" is 'the' tuneful
masterpiece on here – no doubt. Imagine The Chi-Lites circa 1972 to 1974 with a
grittier Al Green as the lead vocalist rather than Eugene Record (it’s gorgeous
stuff - lyrics above). The funk of "Bump Me" is a great tune too. In
fact the lead singer JAMES "Jimmy" CONWELL deserves special mention
because his pleading voice lends every song a sort of Soul sweetness that’s
worth its weight in gold. He featured with 60's bands The Exits and The Trips
and had a decade of experience to bring the smooth ranks of Smoked Sugar.
Less successful
is the frantic keyboard funk of "I'm A Blues Singer, Guitar Banger"
that sounds like its trying too hard to be a hit without the killer hook and
words to get it there. Better is the slightly uptempo Philly feel to "I
Can't Get Enough" (remastered drums and bass so clear). Nice too are
"It's Funny Till I Start Crying" where they sound like mid-70’s Errol
Brown of Hot Chocolate and the mid-tempo "Loving You Coming Out Of A Brand
Bag" sounds like a talking Chi-Lites number. It ends on "Keeping Up
My Front" co-written by Conwell and keyboardist Oliver Williams – where
the slow pace changes mid-tune.
It's not all
genius for sure – but the good stuff is great – and huge kudos go to BBR for
reissuing the album (long prized by collectors and used by mixers for samples)
– and with such top sound quality. Recommended.
