70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
"...This Time...I'm Gonna Be Sweeter..."
Another one of those innocuous CD compilations by a Soul Lady that passes too many by.
Long after her fabulous stints at Chess/Cadet in the late Sixties and early Seventies that produced classics like "The Spice Of Life" album in 1969 (beloved of Rare Groove aficionados) - Marlena Shaw signed to Columbia Records in the Seventies and released three Funky/Soulful LPs at the end of that revered decade. And that's where this dinky remastered Legacy CD compilation comes a shasaying in...
Released April 1999 in the States - "Go Away Little Boy: The Sass & Soul Of Marlena Shaw" by MARLENA SHAW on Columbia/Legacy CK 64956 (Barcode 074646495629) plays out as follows (64:10 minutes):
1. Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy [co-written with Gerry Goffin and Carole King]
2. I Think I'll Tell Him
3. Rhythm Of Love
4. Moonrise
5. I Wonder
6. Shaw Biz/Suddenly It's How I'd Like To Feel/Shaw Biz (Reprise)
7. I'm Back For More
8. Sweet Beginnings [Leon Ware cover]
9. More [Marlena Shaw song]
10. Walk Softly [Van McCoy cover]
11. No One Yet [Marlena Shaw song]
12. Pictures And Memories
13. Love Dancin' [Linda Clifford/Gladys Knight cover]
14. Touch Me In The Morning [Diana Ross cover]
Tracks 1, 2, 8, 10 and 12 are from the album "Sweet Beginnings", 1977 LP on Columbia PC 34458 in the USA, CBS S CBS 81844 in the UK
Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 are from the album "Acting Up", 1978 LP on Columbia JC 35073 in the USA, no UK release
Tracks 6, 11, 13 and 14 are from the album "Take A Bite", 1979 LP Columbia JC 35632 in the USA, CBS S CBS 83216 in the UK
"Go Away Little Boy" was compiled by LEO SACHS, the detailed liner notes are by BARRY WALTERS and TOM RUFF remastered the original master tapes at the Sony Music Studios. The audio quality is sweet – really clear – very little hiss on any of the songs. It's punchy when it needs to be - subtle and soft too when the strings kick in – in fact typical of the high standards across the entire Legacy range.
Musically this is very Studio 56/Philadelphia International territory – and despite the sass in the subtitle - this compilation is often very mellow. There are funky floor filling tunes on here like "Sweet Beginnings", "More", "Pictures And Memories" and "No One Yet" which late Seventies Three Degrees, Isaac Hayes, Gladys Knight and Ronn Matlock fans will love.
Highlights also include the witty and perceptive "...get out of my life – oh no – come back..." lyrics of the opener "Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy", while the lovely bedroom ballad "Moonrise" features sweet Alto Sax fills by SELDON POWELL. It should also be noted that "Touch Me In The Morning" is the ultra-rare full-length 12" disco mix at 7:19 minutes. And although it doesn't state it on the rear sleeve either, the Linda Clifford cover of "Love Dancin'" is the rare 12" extended version at 7:56 minutes also – two big draws for those who like their club classics.
Part disco, part soul diva, part jazz-vocal and very Seventies – there's a lot on here to enjoy – and Shaw’s vocals are a discovery worth making. "Go Away Little Boy..." is a really good compilation culled from three hard-to-find albums. Dig in...
