"Ready Or Not: THOM BELL Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring The Stylistics, The Spinners, The Delfonics, The Three Degrees, Archie Bell & The Drells, The Intruders, Ronnie Dyson, Connie Stevens, MFSB, Teddy Pendergrass, Laura Nyro and Labelle, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and more (June 2020 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Could It Be I'm Falling In Love..."

It's funny what fifty years (or thereabouts) can do to perspective.

When I was a hairy-galoot in the early Seventies (where much of this music hails from), most aspiring young hard-rocking dudesters like me (wearing our cheesecloth shirts, desert boots and donkey jackets) would have looked at names like The Stylistics, The Delfonics and The Spinners and made a face akin to stepping into a freshly minted dollop of poodle doo-doo. All those strings and words about making you feel brand new and could I be falling in love and was I ready or not for her special kind of lurve - yucksville central. Where are the Tolkien hoards of Ork un-dead or immortal souls being sold at the crossroads for guitar licks we asked? Why weren't these people Searching For Space, Masters of Reality or at least looking for a Demon's Eye or something eminently sensible like that, eh, eh?

This was the kind of schlock music your sister and her crocheted-smock pals liked – double yuck! And then to throw in cardigan-inducing types like Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis and those matching Three Degrees with all those perfect teeth – why it was enough to make a chap denounce Deep Purple and publicly acknowledge liking Carole King or Cat Stevens or some such horribly sensitive sacrilege...

And yet here we are in 2020, quite rightly worshiping at the podium of THOM BELL – at the feet of melody and composition once again, and not at what was terminally unhip back in the day. And as one of my fellow reviewers has already eloquently pointed out (Runmentionable) - why hasn't this compilation acknowledging the genius of Philly’s Third Man been done before now, who along with Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff put TSOP on the map? It does seem odd actually.

Still, never mind the elephant flares, it's here now, and as you've no doubt gleaned from the flood of five-star reviews, Ace Records and their stunning Kent Soul label imprint have pulled off yet another wise and wily compilation wonder. The Sound Of Philadelphia here we come...to the details...

UK released 26 June 2020 (10 July 2020 in the USA) - "Ready Or Not - THOM BELL: Philly Soul Arrangements And Productions 1965-1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Kent Soul CDTOP 488 (Barcode 029667098021) is a 23-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (77:15 minutes):

1. Here I Go Again - ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS (December 1969 US 45 on Atlantic 293, B-side of "A World Without Music" - Stereo Version also available on the LP "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" on Atlantic SD 8226)

2. I Can't Take It - THE ORLONS (July 1965 US 45 on Cameo 372, B-side of "Don't You Want My Lovin'")

3. You've Been Untrue - THE DELFONICS (April 1967 US 45 on Cameo C-472, A-side)

4. Look The Other Way - LESLEY GORE (October 1968 US 45 on Mercury 72867, B-side of "I'll Be Standing By")

5. Tick-Tock - CONNIE STEVENS (October 1970 US 45 on Bell B-922, B-side of "Keep Growing Strong")

6. What I See - THREE DEGREES (February 1970 US 45 on Neptune N-23, A-side)

7. Moody Woman - JERRY BUTLER (May 1969 US 45 on Mercury 72929, A-side - also from the Stereo LP "Ice On Ice" on Mercury SR 61234)

8. What Kind Of Lady - DEE DEE SHARP (September 1968 US 45 on Gamble G-219, A-side)

9. Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) – THE DELFONICS (November 1968 US 45 on Philly Groove 154, A-side – also from the 1968 US Stereo LP "Sound Of Sexy Soul" on Philly Groove PG 1151)

10. I Wanna Be A Free Girl – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (April 1970 US 45 on Atlantic 2729, A-side)

11. It's The Same Old Love - THE COURTSHIP (May 1972 US 45 on Tamla T 54217F, A-side)

12. People Make The World Go Round - THE STYLISTICS (May 1972 US 45 on Avco AV-4595, A-side)

13. Back Stabbers - THE O'JAYS (June 1972 US 45 on Philadelphia International ZS7 3517, A-side - also from the 1972 US LP "Back Stabbers" on Philadelphia International KZ 31712)

14. One Man Band (Plays All Alone) - RONNIE DYSON (January 1973 US 45 on Columbia 4-45776, A-side)

15. Do You Remember Yesterday – THE INTRUDERS (September 1971 US 45 on Gamble G-4016, B-side of "I Bet He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)")

16. I'm Doin' Fine Now - NEW YORK CITY (February 1973 US 45 on Chelsea 78-0113, A-side – also from the 1973 US LP "I'm Doin' Fine Now" on Chelsea BCL1-0198)

17. Life Is A Song Worth Singing - JOHNNY MATHIS (from the 1973 US LP "I'm Coming Home" on Columbia KC 32435)

18. Something For Nothing - MFSB featuring THOM BELL (February 1974 US 45 on Philadelphia International ZS7 3540, B-side of "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" - also from the 1973 US LP "MFSB" by MFSB on Philadelphia International KZ 32046)

19. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - THE SPINNERS (December 1972 US 45 on Atlantic 2927, A-side - also from the 1972 US LP "Spinners" on Atlantic SD 7256)

20. You Make Me Feel Brand New - THE STYLISTICS (from the 1973 US LP "Rockin' Roll Baby" on Avco AV-11010-598)

21. Close The Door - TEDDY PENDERGRASS (May 1978 US 45 on Philadelphia International ZS7 3648, A-side)

22. It's Gonna Take A Miracle - LAURA NYRO and LABELLE (January 1972 US 45 on Columbia 4-45537, A-side - also from the November 1971 US LP "It's Gonna Take A Miracle" on Columbia KC 30987)

23. Track Of The Cat - DIONNE WARWICK (from the 1975 US LP "Track Of The Cat" on Warner Bros BS 2893)

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 15 and 16 in MONO - all others in STEREO

The 20-page booklet is the usual feast of indepth song-by-song analysis sidled by period promo photos, rarely seen seven-inch single picture sleeves, unusual sheet music, and of course those gorgeous Philadelphia International, Atlantic, Columbia, Avco et al 45-labels reproduced by the text (some in promo-form). Many of the entries (Orlons, Jerry Butler, Delfonics, Dusty Springfield etc) by trusted compiler and genuine enthusiast BOB STANLEY benefit from interviews with TB on the making of gems like "Ready Or Not" (the clever use of Trombone and French Horn) or "Back Stabbers" (proud of his string arrangements) and so on. Sometimes his remarks are often sideways to the entry (about other things and not how it was recorded) like how he was surprised to find that The Spinners and their hugely liked Atlantic Records hit "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" was in fact outselling The Rolling Stones at one point. It's a brill little read and like all good liner notes, leaves you wanting to know more. Ace's longstanding Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL has mastered the compilation and I can honestly say it's a joy to listen to from start to finish.

At times the criss-cross of Mono 45s with Stereo album cuts and the upbeat vs. smooch programming makes the listen feel like a Northern Soul night out – even if it is Philly Soul that dominates everything. It opens with the irrepressibly chipper "Here I Go Again" which at ten seconds past two minutes, comes in, does the business and then quickly leaves having satisfied all and sundry. In fact as I recall, "Here I Go Again" was reissued in September 1972 on Atlantic in the UK at the height of the British Northern Soul boom - a dancer par excellence. Cameo Parkway girl-group melodrama follows that with another B-side, only this time by The Orlons. Silly little quarrels make sure the phonecalls are not returned in "I Can't Take It" (you will get past this girls, I promise). Falsetto vocals shimmy in when The Delfonics assure us that he still wants her even though "You've Been Untrue" (love that Harpsichord). I didn't have the Lesley Gore cut "Look The Other Way" nor the Connie Stevens gotta-make-it melodrama of "Tick-Tock" with a wall of strings and drum whacks to make Phil Spector proud (another pair of forgotten B-sides). 

The goodies keep romancing our stones with "Ready Or Not Here I Come..." - the vocals almost drowned out with those backing arrangements - gonna make you love me. Equally sweeping is the longing of I gotta travel in Dusty Springfield's "I Wanna Be A Free Girl" - the mighty Linda Creed being one of the four writers (Thom Bell, Gamble and Huff were the other three). The last time I listened to the la-l-la of "It's The Same Old Love" by The Courtship -(an obscure Tamla act) was on Volume 12A of The Motown Singles sets covering 1972 - a thrilling lead vocal from Billy Hill (aka Billy Proctor) who could have been Little Anthony's twin brother.

From Track 12 onwards the songs become more familiar but nonetheless for it - winners like "People Make The World Go Round" (Stylistics), "Back Stabbers" (O'Jays), "I'm Doin' Fine Now" (New York City) and a very smart inclusion of Laura Nyro's collaboration with Labelle on an album of cover versions they did on Columbia called "It's Gonna Take A Miracle". Kent Soul CDTOP 488 culminates with 1978 and Dionne Warwick's whole album of Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff material - "Track Of The Cat" – a song apparently written about literally about her feline qualities and presence.

It's become something of a cliché to say that Ace Records of the UK have Soul CD compilations down to a fine art - something they've doing not for years - but actual decades. Still, every now and then, they pull out a true humdinger. 

Congrats to Bob Stanley, Ady Croasdell, Mick Patrick, Sheila Burgel and Gareth Sweeney and all the good bodies involved. Up there for me as one of the Reissues of 2020...

"A Man Needs A Woman" by JAMES CARR – September 1968 US Second Studio LP on Goldwax Records in Stereo, January 1969 UK LP on Bell Records in Stereo - features Duet Vocals with Betty Harris On One Song (March 2003 UK Ace/Kent Soul 'Expanded Edition' 24-Track CD Reissue – Rob Keyloch and Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Hurt So Good..."

This typically fabulous Kent Soul CD takes the second and last proper 60ts album of Soul Hero James Carr (the 11-track "A Man Needs A Woman" was issued September 1968 in the States on Goldwax Records in Stereo) and adds on a further 13 Bonus Cuts to make up a 24-Track 'Expanded Edition' CD.

The five extra songs that appeared on the UK 16-track LP issued by Bell Records in January 1969 are represented here by Tracks 12 to 16 - another seven here are from Japanese reissue LPs and US CD compilations originally issued between 1977 and 1995 (Tracks 17 to 23) - and it even throws in a new Previously Unreleased Goldwax Recording for 2003 – a cover version of the Johnny Cash monster "Ring Of Fire" in Stereo.

March 2003's CDKEND 215 actually more than doubles the original American 11-Track LP - and all of it dripping with Southern Soul class (hurt so good indeed). Soul boys and girls love their heroes and this third installment for Ace Records of James Carr's joyous output is clearly a labour of love for them - Tony Rounce's stunning liner notes all but popping out a prayer mat at the end of every paragraph. And truly, with this man's effortlessly soulful renditions - it's easy to hear why. Let's get down with the man who many reckoned always got the best take on the first take...

UK released 31 March 2003 - "A Man Needs A Woman" by JAMES CARR on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 215 (Barcode 029667221528) offers his second studio album from 1968 (USA) in a Remastered Expanded Edition form and plays out as follows (61:22 minutes):

1. A Man Needs A Woman [Side 1 US and UK LP]
2. Stronger Than Love
3. More Love
4. You Didn't Know It But You Had Me
5. A Woman Is A Man's Best Friend
6. I'm A Fool For You
7. Life Turned That Way [Side 2 US and UK LP]
8. Gonna Send You Back To Georgia
9. The Dark End Of The Street
10. I Sowed Love And Reaped A Heartache
11. You've Got My Mind Messed Up
Tracks 1 to 11 are his second studio album "A Man Needs A Woman" - released September 1968 in the USA on Goldwax GW-3002 in Stereo as an 11-Track LP (see 12 to 16 below for the British LP). Track 6 "I'm A Fool For You" is a duet with BETTY HARRIS

12. A Losing Game
13. A Message To Young Lovers
14. Let It Happen
15. You Gotta Have Soul
16. You Hurt So Good
Tracks 12 and 13 are the last two tracks on Side 1 of the 16-track British LP for "A Man Needs A Woman" - released January 1969 in the UK on Bell Records MBLL 113 (Mono) and Bell Records SBLL 113 (Stereo) - the STEREO mixes are used for all 16 tracks on this CD except Track 7 which is in MONO. Tracks 14, 15 and 16 appeared on Side 2 of the British LP after "I Sowed Love And Reaped A Heartache" and with "You Got My Mind Messed Up" as the last song on Side 2.

17. I Can't Turn You Loose
18. Let's Face Facts
19. Who's Been Warming My Oven
20. Please Your Woman
21. Your Love Made A U-Turn
22. The Lifetime Of A Man
23. Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong
24. Ring Of Fire
Tracks 17, 18 and 22 first appeared on the 1977 Japanese LP "Freedom Train" on Vivid Sound VG 3006
Tracks 19 and 20 first appeared on the 1991 Japanese Expanded CD reissue for "You Messed My Mind Up" on Vivid Sound VGCD-002
Tracks 21 and 23 first appeared on the 1995 US CD "The Complete James Carr, Volume II" on Goldwax GWX 47776
Track 24 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in STEREO (2003)
All tracks in STEREO except Tracks 7 and 17 to 23 in MONO

SINGLES:
Ten of these 24 cuts were also issued as US 45s (in Mono) as follows:

You Got My Mind Messed Up b/w That's What I Want To Know
February 1966 US 45 Single on Goldwax 302
Only the A-side is here, Track 11

The Dark End Of The Street b/w Lovable Girl
December 1966 US 45 Single on Goldwax 317
Only the A-side is here, Track 9

Let It Happen b/w A Losing Game
May 1967 US 45 Single on Goldwax 323
Tracks 14 and 12

Gonna Send You Back To Georgia b/w I'm A Fool For You
August 1967 US 45 Single on Goldwax 328
Tracks 8 and 6

A Man Needs A Woman b/w Stronger Than Love
December 1967 US 45 Single on Goldwax 332
Tracks 1 and 2

Life Turned Her That Way b/w A Message To Young Lovers
July 1968 US 45 Single on Goldwax 335
Tracks 7 and 13

The 16-page booklet features new liner notes from COLIN DILNOT (penned February 2003) with further 'project' notes from TONY ROUNCE - a name every Soul lover trusts. There are some colour repro shots of those uber-desirable Goldwax US 45 labels (323, 328, 332 and 335), a 1967 Otis Redding headlining poster with James Carr on the bill and some colour photos of the classy Soul Man in May 1996 doing live shows with guitarist Johnny Rawls. The Audio comes from ROB KEYLOCH transfers and remixes with DUNCAN COWELL Remasters and kicking is the only word to use.

Carr could boogie with the best of them (Wilson Pickett and Clarence Carter over on Atlantic), a fantastic funky groove in cuts like "A Losing Game" and "Stronger Than Love" - but its the torch ballads that he reaches the heights of Otis and Solomon Burke - storming renditions of the classic "The Dark End Of The Street" and the piano church crawl of "A Woman Is A Man's Best Friend" where the brass fills ache alongside his shimmering performance.

Ace's Trevor Churchill worked at Bell Records in 1968 and 1969 and it was he UK Soul fans can thank for the 16-track British LP. Clever Trev stuck on five bonus cuts – including killers like the 'break your little heart' of "A Message To Young Lovers", the looky-here guitar-and-horns bopper of "You Gotta Have Soul" and the mid-tempo 'I keep hanging around when I know I should go' smooch misery of "You Hurt So Good" (we hear you brother). Amongst the various compilations tracks are goodies too like a cover of Otis Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose" – a pleader in the shape of the 'you got to be strong' "Let's Face Facts" and a jaunty "Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong" where our hero drops into a bar on the way home only to find his woman in a dress that invites more than appreciative advances from another man (oh dear). The unreleased Stereo cover of the Johnny Cash classic "Ring Of Fire" is probably the weirdest and worst cut on here. But even if its obvious as to why it was left in the can – it's a small glitch in an otherwise faultless compilation.

James Carr passed in January 2001 – dogged by Bi-Polar problems and demons – a man who should have a huge star. Well with quality reissue labels like Ace and their Kent Soul imprint – the man and his musical legacy carries on. Beautiful stuff and how…

"Manhattan Soul 3" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2017 Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation - Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Open Up Your Heart..."

In my ravenous search for all things 'Soul' - it's nice every now and then to be surprised - even taken aback - and Ace's "Manhattan Soul 3" has achieved both.

The British reissue label first explored the Soul Side of Scepter, Wand and Musicor Records in February 2011 with "Manhattan Soul" on CDKEND 347 (Barcode 029667234726) - following that in July 2012 with "Manhattan Soul 2" on CDKEND 379 (Barcode 029667237925).

Now it's January 2017 and time for Volume 3. You get 24 slices of rare mostly laid-back New York Soul - four of which are Previously Unreleased. Three others come from long deleted 1980's Kent LPs and are new to CD - while all the rest are mostly first time to the format also (19 in Mono and 5 in Stereo). Here are the in-depth details...

UK released 27 January 2017 (10 February 2017 in the USA) - "Manhattan Soul 3" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 459 (Barcode 029667078528) is a 24-Track CD compilation with Four Previously Unreleased Tracks and plays out as follows (62:25 minutes):

1. Open Up Your Heart (And Let Me In) - DAN and THE CLEANCUTS (1966 USA 7" single on Scepter SCE 12141, A-side)

2. Now That You're Gone - SONNY TURNER and SOUND LIMITED (1972 USA 7" single on Musicor MU 1459, B-side of "Chicago Woman")

3. Haven't I Been Good To You - JOHNNY MOORE (1967 USA 7" single on Wand WND 1165, A-side)

4. Fun City Woman - ANN BAILEY (1973 USA 7" single on Wand WND 11265, B-side of "Sweeping Your Dirt Under My Rug")

5. Nobody Made You Love Me - THE CHARTS (1966 USA 7" single on Wand WND 1124, A-side)

6. Billy Boy - BILLY ADAMS (1963 USA 7" single on Wand 133, A-side)

7. That Same Old Song - THE FABULOUS DINOS (1962 USA 7" single on Musicor MU 1025, A-side)

8. Every Little Bit Helps - HELEN HENRY (Previously Unissued Wand Recording, 2017)

9. Two Stupid Feet - THE SHIRELLES (Previously Unissued Scepter Recording, 2017)

10. Lover - TOMMY HUNT

(Previously Unissued Scepter recording first appeared on the October 1986 UK LP compilation "Your Man" on Kent KENT 059)

11. Giving Up - JUNIOR LEWIS

(Previously Unissued Scepter recording first appeared on the November 1988 UK LP compilation "The Hurt Of The City - Big City Soul Volume 2" on Kent KENT 087)

12. A Part Of Me - EARL KING (1970 USA 7" single on Wand WND 11230, B-side of "Tic Tac Toe")

13. Never In My Life - LEE MOSES (1968 USA 7" single on Dynamo D-115, A-side)

14. Nobody Knows - MAURICE WILLIAMS (1965 USA 7" single on Scepter SCE 12113, A-side)

15. Doesn't It Ring A Bell - THE PLATTERS (on the 1968 USA Mono LP on "Sweet, Sweet Lovin'" on Musicor MS 2156 [UK on Stateside SL 10245])

16. How Could It Be - THE ESQUIRES (1968 USA STEREO 7" single on Bunky BNK 7756, B-side To "I Know I Can")

17. Mr Schemer - BRENTON WOOD (1963 USA 7" single on Wand 145, B-side of "Hide-A-=Way")

18. Ooh Baby - HAROLD HOPKINS  (1965 USA 7" single on Scepter SCE 12120, A-side)

19. What's The Matter Baby - VAN McCOY (Previously Unissued Scepter recording, 2017)

20. The Landlord - THE TABS (Previously Unissued Wand recording incorporating elements of "Mother In Law" by Ernie K-Doe, 2017)

21. You Picked Me - THE SOLDIER BOYS (1962 USA 7" single on Scepter 1230, B-side of "I'm Your Soldier Boy")

22. Remind My Baby Of Me - BILLY BYERS (1964 USA 7" single on Scepter 1283, A-side)

23. Does Love Believe In Me - MELBA MOORE (1966 USA 7" single on Musicor MU 1189, B-side of "Don't Cry Sing Along With The Music")

24. If I Had You - BIG MAYBELLE

(Previously Unissued Scepter recording first appeared on the December 1986 UK LP compilation "Big City Soul Sound - NYC Soul Of The 60's" on Kent KENT 061)

Tracks 9, 10, 16, 19 and 20 are in STEREO - all others are MONO

Tracks 8, 9, 19 and 20 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

As with all of these Kent-Soul CD compilations - the 20-page colour booklet is a joy to behold and read. Legendary collector, fan and knowledgeable type ADY CROASDEL scribes the hugely in-depth liner notes while Billy Adams's "Billy Boy" (Wand 123), The Esquires "How Could it Be" (Bunky BNK 7756) and Melba Moore's "Does Love Believe In Me" all get full-page colour plates - each American 45 resplendent in their gorgeous label bags. There are publicity photos of Ann Bailey, The Shirelles and The Charts and a full page given over to the rare British LP "Sweet, Sweet Lovin'" by The Platters on Stateside. The AUDIO is typically brill - care of long-time engineer NICK ROBBINS - a man who knows his way around a master tape or two. Particularly thrilling to me is the five in glorious STEREO - while the punch out of the MONO 45s rocks too.

"Manhattan Soul 3" is mostly a mellow listen (New Yorker labels getting genuinely Soulful) and I'd argue is a lot tastier because of it. Proceedings open on a slow-stepper designed to send Northern Soul smoochers into a cross-armed frenzy of trancelike moves - "Open Up Your Heart (And Let Me In)" by Dan and The Cleancuts. Sonny Terry and Sound Limited are I believe The Platters under another name and they offer "Now That You're Gone" - another 'gotta hold my head up as soon as my tears dry' moment of heartache. Both of these opening songs bode very well. Things pick up pace with the brassy dancer "Haven't I Been Good To You" - Johnny Moore wanting his baby to stop and think it over (don't look now Johnny but I think she's out the door mate). Ann Bailey's B-side moment "Fun City Woman" is a 60ts dancer released in the wrong decade - the 'ba da' vocals of The Charts is 1966 and the kind of off-key vocal bopper that used to fill all those 1980s Kent LPs with such class.

Both "Every Little Bit Helps" by Helen Henry and The Shirelles with "Two Stupid Feet" are the first of the Previously Unreleased and are way better than they had any right to be. But they're trounced by the three from old Kent LPs now making their way onto CD for the first time - a fabulous cut from the silken voice of Tommy Hunt on "Lover" while the melodrama of Junior Lewis' "Giving Up" is a 'warm and tender touch that used to mean so much' tale of relationship woe. The whack off "How Could It Be" by The Esquires in stunning Stereo will be doing a storm in a Northern Soul club somewhere near you right soon. But for me the real blast here is the rough 'n' ready Lee Moses cut "Never In My Life". Imagine Howlin' Wolf is in a club and it's early in the morning and he's suddenly decided to go Funk-Soul with his band. The recording of "Never In My Life" is undeniably crude but man had this guy got the passion in his voice and Funk in his backing group. Ace promise there's more of this in the future - something lovers of hard-hitting Funk-Soul and Rare Groove will love. Unlike Lee Moses - some of the tracks left me cold like the dreadful Spanish guitar shuffle of Van McCoy's "What's The Matter Baby" but that's offset by joyous dancers like "Nobody Knows" from Maurice Williams and the sweet finger-clicking sway of "Ooh Baby" from a falsetto Harold Hopkins. "The Landlord" turns out to be an answer song to Ernie K-Doe's "Mother In Law" and cleverly skirts around that famous song's groove throughout. And on it goes...

After 40 years in the reissue-game – it’s safe to say that Ace Records of the UK have a downright knack with these CD compilations. They've once again pulled out yet another 24-track shimmy-shaker - a very cool start to 2017.

It falls short of genius in a few places for sure – but there’s enough on here to make me holler and I’ve not stopped playing the bugger since it arrived on my prickly doormat a few days back. In fact Volume 3 of "Manhattan Soul" makes me wanna investigate Volume 1 and 2 again in a hurry - and that's got to be the best compliment of them all. Way to go boys...

"Ian Levine's Solid Stax Sensations" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace/Kent-Soul CD – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...You're My Only Temptation..."

I love enthusiasm. Take "Your Love Is Strange" by The Dramatics. British DJ and Northern Soul devotee IAN LEVINE practically endangers his undergarments when describing the song - calling it "Awesome Detroit" and "So Cooooooool!" And when its incessant hooky groove (that literally gets under your skin) combines with the stunning gravel-for-breakfast lead vocal of Ron Banks – I have to say that the obsessed Englishman is absolutely on the money. Rave on my son...

"Solid Stax Sensations" is brilliant stuff – a stormingly good CD compilation in a sea of lesser competitors. Mostly made up of American Stax and Volt singles from 1969 to 1974 – you get 25 primo tracks - lesser-heard gems sitting nicely alongside Club favourites and one Previously Unreleased Stax outtake. It also boasts truly wonderful Audio and a double-album's value for money at 73 minutes. Here are the solid sender details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) – "Ian Levine's Solid Stax Sensations" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 435 (Barcode 029667243520) breaks down as follows (72:58 minutes):

1. And I Love You – BOBBY WHITLOCK (1968 USA 7" single on Hip HIA-8001, A)

2. Ain't No Need Of Crying – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (1974 USA 7" single on Truth TRA-3210, A)

3. Can You Win – CHARLENE (1970 USA 7" single on Paradox PAR-105, B-side to "Love Changes")

4. (Let Hurt Put You In The) Loser's Seat – JONI WILSON (1971 USA 7" single on Volt VOA-4070, A)

5. You're My Only Temptation – ROZ RYAN (1970 USA 7" single on Volt VOA-4040, A)

6. City Of Fools – COLETTE KELLY (1969 USA 7" single on Volt VOA-4018, A)

7. Hang On – ANNETTE THOMAS (1972 USA 7” single on Stax STA-0118, A, from the film “Class Of ‘74”)

8. If You Look Into My Eyes – PROUD AS PUNCH (1970 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0081, A)

9. I Refuse To Be Lonely – THE STINGERS (1969 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0035, A)

10. The Man In The Middle – WILLIAM BELL (1973 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0157, A)

11. I Still Love You – THE T.S.U. TORONADOES (1969 USA 7" single on Ovide 243 and Volt VOA-4030, A)

12. Habit Forming Love – REGGIE MILNER (1969 USA 7” single on Volt VOA-4028, A)

13. Put Me In The Mood – SYLVIA & THE BLUE JAYS [Previously Unreleased, 2015]

14. Where Would You Be Today – ILANA (1971 USA 7" single on Volt VOA-4064, A)

15. Special Kind Of Woman – PAUL THOMPSON (1970 USA 7" single on Volt VOA-4042, A)

16. One More Chance – MARGIE JOSEPH (1969 USA 7” single on Volt VOA-4012, A)

17. Your Love Was Strange – DRAMATICS (1972 USA 7” single on Volt VOA-4029, A)

18. Cool My Desire – THE CHEQUES (1969 USA 7” single on HIP HIA-8014, A)

19. The Stars – BARBARA LEWIS (on the 1970 US LP "The Many Grooves Of Barbara Lewis" on Enterprise ENS 1006 and a 1991 UK Reissue 7" single on Horace's HRH-007, B-side to "I'll Never Stop Loving That Man" by Carla Lewis)

20. The Whole World's A Picture Show – THE NEWCOMERS (1974 USA 7" single on Truth TRA-3213, A)

21. I Know A Man Who – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1212, A)

22. The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy – JOHN GARY WILLIAMS (1974 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0205, A)

23. Since I Lost My Baby's Love – MAJOR LANCE (1972 USA 7" single on Volt VOA-4069, A)

24. If I Give It Up, I Want It Back – DAVID PORTER (1971 USA 7" single on Enterprise ENA-9037, A)

25. Gonna Make It Alright – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1208, A)

The 16-page booklet features wildly enthusiastic liner notes from Genre Lover and Expert IAN LEVINE (a well respected UK Soul Music DJ) - and to say his joy at this music shines through is like saying Picasso liked the odd cube. Levine’s heart and life is in this music and his impeccable taste comes shining through time and time again. As much of the Volt and Gospel Truth stuff from 1969 to 1972 (both Stax subsidiary labels) is pretty much a mystery to most – the newcomer is going to love this feast of Northern Soul while the old hands will admire the clever choices and the pace of the sequencing. This is a fabulous Soul CD to listen to – tracks like the joyous "Where Would You Be Today" by Ilana (a Van McCoy tune on which he also sings backing vocals) or the impossibly expensive yet utterly brilliant "Special Kind Of Woman" by Paul Thompson are proper knockouts.

You also have to mention the superb AUDIO – remastered to perfection by DUNCAN COWELL. Cowell has been an Audio Engineer for Ace compilations for years now and handled most of the brilliant Blue Horizon label CDs of which I’ve reviewed at least 20. The sound is warm, full of presence and hits you time and time again. When you play "The Whole Wide World's A Picture Show" by The Newcomers – vocals, brass, guitars, rhythm section and strings – it all sits centre stage and feels alive and full of well – Soul. Thankfully the compilation avoids anything that's Disco masquerading as Soul (the latest tracks being 1974 with the earliest 1969) and it’s a good strategy (all killer – no filler). There's a heavy bias towards Northern Soul dancers like the wicked groove of "City Of Fools" by Colette Kelly ("...love behind every door...") and "I Still Love You" by The T.S.U. Toronadoes (deliberately spelt that way). Levine calls the wonderful William Bell socially conscious track "The Man In The Street" as being "P for perfect" – and I’d agree. Another sweetheart mid-tempo tune is "You're My Only Temptation" by Roz Ryan (titles this review) while the Previously Unreleased "Put Me In The Mood" by Sylvia & The Blue Jays was probably canned because of its "...ain't gonna let you kiss me unless you put me in the mood..." racy lyrics. And who can resist the gorgeous vibe to "Since I Lost My Baby's Love" by Major Lance – sounding utterly stupendous here too.

Stax compilations are ten-a-penny in truth and with The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Volume 2 and 3 Box Sets (9 and 10 discs) now reissued in 2015 and selling for below forty quid (I’ve reviewed both) – you could argue that it would simply be better to bulk up and make your own compilations. But that's to miss the point. "Ian Levine's Solid Stax Sensations" has been made with real love, affection and expertise - and when you groove to the lovely Barbara Lewis album cut "The Stars" – resistance is not just futile but silly. And would we want it any other way. Way to go Ian – time to get the talcum powder tins at the ready again...