"Spinners" by SPINNERS [Known as 'The Detroit Spinners' in the UK] - March 1973 US Debut Album on Atlantic Records – Featuring Producer, Arranger and Songwriter Thom Bell (November 2015 UK Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Wayne Dickson and Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Falling In Love (Again)..."

I already own this fabulously evocative Atlantic Records Soul LP from 1973 inside the SPINNERS "Original Album Series" 5CD set on Rhino – something I reviewed extensively way back in the mists of 2010. So why buy it again?

Because this new 2015 CD reissue is on Big Break Records of the UK (BBR is part of Cherry Red) and I always get a bit excited by their sensationally good Remasters. The Audio on this peach is best ever and along with quality presentation, a Previously Unreleased in the Bonus Tracks that actually enhances, a total playing time of nearly 78 minutes and a miserly mid-price – and I'm a very happy satin-suited bunny. Life ain't easy indeed...here are the Ghetto Children...

UK released 6 November 2015 – "Spinners" by SPINNERS on Big Break Records WCDBBRX 0321 (Barcode 5013929062139) is an 'Expanded Edition' BBR CD Remaster with 8 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (77:43 minutes):

1. Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind [Side 1]
2. Just You And Me Baby
3. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
4. I Could Never (Repay Your Love)
5. I'll Be Around
6. One Of A Kind (Love Affair) [Side 2]
7. We Belong Together
8. Ghetto Child
9. How Could I Let You Get Away
10. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Spinners" by SPINNERS - released March 1973 on Atlantic SD 7256 in the USA and Atlantic K 40477 in the UK. In Britain the band was known as and credited as - THE DETROIT SPINNERS. THOM BELL Produced the album (JIMMY ROACH Produced tracks 11 to 14) and it peaked at No. 1 on the US R&B charts - No. 14 on Pop.

BONUS TRACKS:
11. (Oh Lord) I Wish I Could Sleep
Previously unreleased track - first appeared in 1991 on the 2CD Spinners set "A One Of A Kind Love Affair: The Anthology" on Atlantic/Rhino Remasters 7 82332-2 – also on the 1995 CD Remaster Reissue of "Mighty Love" as one of four bonuses

12. I Just Gotta Make It Happen
13. Mr. Big Man
14. You Sure Are Nasty
Tracks 11 to 14 first appeared as 4 Bonus Tracks on the 1995 CD Reissue of "Mighty Love" on Atlantic/Rhino Remasters R2 71586

15. I'll Be Around (Mike Maurro Mix) – 2015 Previously Unreleased
16. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love (A Tom Moulton Mix)
17. One Of A Kind Love Affair (A Tom Moulton Mix)
Tracks 16 and 17 first appeared on Tom Moulton's "Philly ReGrooved 3: Tom Moulton Remixes" 2CD set from June 2013 on Harmless HURTCD122

18. I'll Be Around (Single Version) - see Single No. 2 below

SINGLES:

This CD will allow fans to sequence the following UK and US 7" Singles 

[09] = Track Number:
1. How Could I Let You Get Away [9] b/w I'll Be Around [5]
July 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2094

2. I'll Be Around [18] b/w How Could I Let You Get Away [9]
August 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2904
September 1972 UK 7" single on Atlantic K 10243 with sides reversed

3. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love [10] b/w Just You And Me Baby [2]
December 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2927
April 1973 UK 7" single Atlantic K 10283

4. One Of A Kind (Love Affair) [6] b/w Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You [3]
April 1973 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2962
May 1973 UK 7" single on Atlantic K 10311

5. Ghetto Child [8] b/w We Belong Together [7]
July 1973 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2973
September 1973 UK 7" single on Atlantic K 10359

SPINNERS [aka Detroit Spinners] were:
BILLY HENDERSON – Tenor
BOBBIE SMITH – Tenor
PHILLIP WYNNE – Tenor
HENRY FAMBROUGH – Baritone
PERVIS JACKSON - Bass

I've had the Rhino CD of the album from 1995 – but this remaster by WAYNE A DICKSON (of BBR) and NICK ROBBINS (of Ace) is superlative – full of warmth and presence. The 16-page booklet is the usual BBR fan fest of American 45 repros, trade adverts and band photos intertwined with in-depth and affectionate liner notes from noted Soul buff CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE. This CD Remaster also comes in one of those round-corner super jewel cases – tasty...

In some respects – it's hard in the distance of 2015 to imagine what a Soul Monster this album really was in 1972 and 1973. Three of the US 45s listed above hit the coveted No.1 spot on their R&B charts – three of them - - all million sellers - "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" and "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" - while the sublime and socially informative "Ghetto Child" peaked at an impressive No. 4 (and should have been a foursome with its illustrious predecessors). But even these belie just how good the 'whole' album is - with the exception for me of the vaudeville jazz brass of "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" which I always thought was wildly out-of-place.

But the album's masterpiece is the hidden one never edited for a 45 – Lead Tenor PHILLIP WYNNE giving it some serious Soul pleading throughout the gorgeous 6:56 minutes of "I Could Never (Repay Your Love)" that ends Side 1. Surely this is what great Seventies Soul is all about – written by BRUCE HAWES – it features melody, passionate vocals and a complimentary arrangement that elevates rather than swamps. Another less-famous gem is "We Belong Together" where vibes and treated guitars ease in the smooth vocals and heartache of "...where's the love we said would never die..." Atlantic chose "How Could I Let You Go" as one of the representations of Quality Soul on their Rhino Handmade "Atlantic Soul" 4CD Box Set of 2009. And what can you say about the gorgeous "Ghetto Child" – a song that resonated lyrically and musically with British and Irish fans - giving it a No. 7 placing in September 1973 on the UK singles charts.

I must admit that the four bonus outtakes that appeared on the 1995 remaster of "Mighty Love" (presented as tracks 11 to 14 on this CD) are massively disappointing. Those looking for the sophistication of the album should look away. Far better is the very cool and complimentary Remix by Mike Maurro of "I'll Be Around" which bigs-up the intro and emphasizes those wonderful string arrangements – although at 7:06 minutes it kind of out-stays its welcome a tad. The Tom Moulton Remixes of "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" and "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" run to 6:40 and 5:51 minutes respectively and do the same trick as the Mike Maurro stab at "I'll Be Around" – with "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" definitely coming off best (what a tune).

I've loved returning to this SPINNERS album - I really have - and I'm quite certain Soul fans out there will smile just looking at its cover. Well done to BBR for doing the business by this affectionately remembered LP and those halcyon days. Buy it and do the Soul Step with your sister on the kitchen floor like you used to. Or just think of that special gal. "...Could It Be I'm Falling In Love..." once again, yes I am... 

"Madhouse" by SILVER CONVENTION – October 1976 UK LP on Magnet Records - Midland International Records in the USA (October 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue with Two Bonuses – Nick Robbins and Wayne A. Dickson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Land Of Make Believe..."

This superb-sounding SILVER CONVENTION CD from Big Break Records of the UK features an Expanded CD version of the Euro-Disco group's third and most adventurous album - "Madhouse".  It may have been a commercially disastrous move at the time - but BBR thinks it's worth looking at again. And as there have been some crappy CD bootlegs on the market of late - an official remaster will be more than welcome by fans. Here are the party people's details...

UK released 3 October 2014 - "Madhouse" by SILVER CONVENTION is on Big Break Records CDBBR 0279 (Barcode 5013939057937) and breaks down as follows (49:24 minutes):

1. Madhouse
2. Plastic People
3. I'm Not A Slot Machine
4. Fancy Party
5. Dancing In The Aisle
6. Everybody's Talking 'Bout Love
7. Magic Mountain
8. Midnight Lady
9. Land Of Make Believe
10. Madhouse (Finale)
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd album "Madhouse" released October 1976 in the UK on Magnet Records MAG 5013 and in the USA on Midland International Records BKL1-1824

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Fancy Party (Single Version) - German Single released October 1976 on Jupiter Records 16-617-AT
12. Dancing In The Aisles (Take Me Higher) (Single Version) - USA Single released November 1976 on Midland International Records MB-10849

The 16-page booklet is packed with photos of the three girls - Rhonda Heath, Penny McLean and Romana Wulf - who were the front of Silver Convention and its Disco Vocal sound. There's a short essay on the album by Stephen Schnee (Orange County, USA) and detailed recording info. But the big news for fans is a stunning NICK ROBBINS and WAYNE A. DICKSON remaster - crystal clear slap bass, funky synths and those trademark swirling strings.

Schnee's liner notes loosely (very loosely) suggest that "Madhouse" is some kind of Disco concept album - aimed at the head and the feet - and in some respects he's probably right. And therein lay its downfall. But for me the real problem with the whole Silver Convention sound is the battle of two camps - the amazing backing musicians and songwriters (Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay) - fronted by insipid and not very inspiring vocalists. The girls have the looks but not the voices. You get amazing almost Steely Dan arrangements on tracks like "I'm Not A Slot Machine" - then those uninspiring vocals kick in - and let's face it - they could be anyone. The musicianship and ideas on "Dancing In The Aisle" is great - but then it's drowned in cheesy lyrics and nondescript vocals.

An amazing sounding CD then - and a must-buy if you're a fan...
PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I've reviewed:
1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)
2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)
3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)
4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)
5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)
6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)
7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)
8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)
9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)
10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)
11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)
12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]
13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)
14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)
15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)
16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)
17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)
18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)
19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)
20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)
21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)
22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)
23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)
24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)
25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)
26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)
27. Live: Stompin' At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)
28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)
29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)
30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)
31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)
32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)
33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)
34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)
35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)
36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)
37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"You're Gonna Get Next To Me: The Complete Claridge Recordings" by BO KIRKLAND and RUTH DAVIS - Including the December 1976 US Debut Album "Bo & Ruth" on Claridge Records and more (December 2014 UK Ace/Kent-Soul CD Compilation and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Keep On Doing What You're Doing..."

I can recall when this rather dull-looking Soul/Disco album used to sit in secondhand racks around the UK and go nowhere. It was precisely the kind of average-looking Soul LP you used to get in the late Seventies that promised little other than filler fleshing out a single hit. 

But then DJs and Soul Lovers began to look under the hood (away from the obvious winner of the hugely popular club classic "You're Gonna Get Next To Me") - and found a quality Soul album with almost all of the tunes penned bv the smiling Californian singers on the cover - BO KIRKLAND and RUTH DAVIS. Here are next to you details...

UK released December 2014 - "You're Gonna Get Next To Me: The Complete Claridge Recordings" by BO KIRKLAND and RUTH DAVIS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 425 (Barcode 029667242523) contains one LP and six Bonus Single Sides and pans out as follows (64:30 minutes):

1. I Feel The Love In This Room Tonight

2. To Make You Love Me

3. Train of Desire

4. You're Gonna Get Next To Me

5. We Got The Recipe [Side 2]

6. Easy Loving

7. Sure Got A Thing For You - BO KIRKLAND

8. Can You Feel It

9. Grandfather Clock - BO KIRKLAND

10. Stay Out Of My Kitchen

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Bo & Ruth" by BO KIRKLAND and RUTH DAVIS - released December 1976 in the USA on Claridge 1002 and June 1977 in the UK on EMI International INS 3007

11. Loving Arms (1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 427, B-side of "That's The Way The Wind Blows")

12. That's The Way The Wind Blows (1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 427, A)

13. That's A Bet (1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 432, B-side of "Stay By My Side")

14. Stay By My Side (1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 432, A)

15. Heartbreaker - RUTH DAVIS (1978 USA 7" single on Claridge 434, B-side of "Love In A Love Zone")

16. Lost In A Love Zone - RUTH DAVIS (1978 USA 7" single on Claridge 434, A)

This CD will allow fans to sequence the following US and UK 45's as follows:

1. Grandfather Clock [9] b/w Sure Got A Thing For You [7] - BO KIRKLAND

(1975 USA 7" single on Claridge 409)

2. Easy Loving [6] b/w We Got The Recipe [5]

(1976 USA 7" single on Claridge 414)

3. I Feel Love In This Room Tonight [1] b/w To Make You Love Me [2]

(1976 USA 7' single on Claridge 421)

4. You're Gonna Next To Me b/w Stay Out Of My Kitchen (If You Can't Stand The Heat) [10]

(1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 424)

[Note: the 3:05 minutes single edit isn't on this CD, hence no track no provided]

5. That's The Way The Wind Blows [12] b//w Loving Arms [11]

(1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 427)

6. Stay By My Side [14] b/w That's A Bet [13]

(1977 USA 7" single on Claridge 432)

7. Easy Loving [6] b/w Can You Feel It [8]

(August 1977 UK 7" single on EMI International INT 536)

8. Lost In A Love Zone [16] b/w Heartbreaker [15] - RUTH DAVIS

(1978 USA 7" single on Claridge 434)

As you can see from the lists above - you get the 10-track album with six non-album single sides added on as bonuses - all of it remastered onto CD for the first time. The 12-page booklet is festooned with those American Claridge label 45s as well as repro-ing the rare Promo-Only Picture Sleeve to the UK release of "Easy Loving" (Page 3) and an EMI International Press Sheet from June 1977 on the release of the UK platter. And while the NICK ROBBINS remaster is truly fabulous (great audio on every track) - it isn't going to take fans long to work out that there's a major omission here - the 7" edit of the album monster hit "You'll Get Next To Me". It seems like a major mistake to leave it off. Don't get me wrong - the extended album cut at 7:19 minutes is a DJ's dream really - but most folks are familiar with the shorter cut. Worth mentioning...

The album openers with the lovely mid-tempo "I Feel Love In The Room Tonight" and is followed by a stepper "To Make You Love Me". We go full-on smoocher with the strings and sway of "Train Of Desire" where their voices sound sweet. But the opening three are thoroughly trumped by the Side A finisher - the full album version of "You're Gonna Get Next To Me". Even now it's such a winner with that impish chant throughout and its good to hear the tune stretch out too.

The Bo Kirkland solo cut "Sure Got A Thing For You" is fabulously slick and slinky Seventies Soul  - very Marvin Gaye "Here, My Dear!" territory. It gets into a groove and shuffle that just won't quit and the remaster brings this out to the full with lyrics "Tried to think of something cute to say...but all that came out of my mouth was Hi..." Of the singles "Stay By My Side" is a more sophisticated Disco tune than the market of the time was used to (it's equally chipper B-side is good too). Her solo 45 "Lost In A Love Zone" is the funkiest of the lot.

It's not all genius by any means and that missing edit of the huge hit is a bit of an oversight - but with the great presentation and especially the upgraded audio quality - fans should dive in and enjoy...

"Spread Your Love: The Complete Minit Singles 1966-1970" by JIMMY HOLIDAY(January 2015 UK Ace/Kent-Soul CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Somebody Special..."

Now here's a CD compilation that will warm the cockerels of even the most jaded Soul listener. In fact in reviewing this gorgeous listen - the word 'class' keeps coming to mind. Kent-Soul have produced some absolute corkers when it comes to Sixties/Seventies Classic Soul CD compilations - but this really is a sweetheart of a release (and to my ears boasts the best audio for JIMMY HOLIDAY material that I've ever heard). Here are micro detailed Minits...

UK released January 2015 - "Spread Your Love: The Complete Minit Singles 1966-1970" by JIMMY HOLIDAY on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 427 (Barcode 029667242721) pans out as follows (73:29 minutes):

1. Baby I Love You (July 1966 US 7" single on Minit 32002, A)
2. You Won't Get Away (July 1966 US 7" single on Minit 32002, B)
3. The Turning Point (September 1966 US 7" single on Minit 32011, A)
4. I'm Gonna Move To The City (September 1966 US 7" single on Minit 32011, B)
5. In The Eyes Of My Girl (1966 US 7" single on Minit 32014, A, scheduled but cancelled)
6. Give Me Your Love (December 1966 US 7" single on Minit 32016, B)
7. Everybody Needs Help (December 1966 US 7" single on Minit 32016, A)
8. Ready, Willing And Able - JIMMY HOLIDAY and CLYDE KING (1967 US 7" single on Minit 32021, A)
9. We Got A Good Thing Goin' - JIMMY HOLIDAY and CLYDE KING (1967 US 7" single on Minit 32021, B)
10. I Wanna Help Hurry My Brother Home (1967 US 7" single on Minit 32023, A)
11. We Forgot About Love (1967 US 7" single on Minit 32023, A)
12. The Beauty Of A Girl In Love (1967 US 7" single on Minit 32028, A)
13. Everything Is Love (1967 US 7" single on Minit 32028, B)
14. Spread Your Love (June 1968 US 7" single on Minit 32040, A)
15. We Got A Good Thing Goin' (June 1968 US 7" single on Minit 32040, B)
16. I'm Gonna Use What I Got (To Get What I Need) (1968 US 7" single on Minit 32053, A)
17. I Don't Want To Hear It (scheduled B-side of 32053, but withdrawn, replaced with 18)
18. I Found A New Love (1968 US 7" single on Minit 32053, B)
19. Baby Boy's In Love (March 1969 US 7" single on Minit 32058, A)
20. If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time (March 1969 US 7" single on Minit 32058, B)
21. Yesterday Died (1969 US 7" single on Minit 32079, A)
22. Would You Like To Love Me (1969 US 7" single on Minit 32079, B)
23. A Man Ain't Nothing With A Woman (1970 USA 7" single on Minit 32097, A)
24. I'm In Love With You (1970 USA 7" single on Minit 32097, B)
25. I've Got Live While I Can (from the 1966 US STEREO LP "Turning Point" on Minit LP-40005)
26. Nobody's Fault But Your Own (from the 1966 US MONO LP "Turning Point" on Minit LP-24005)
Tracks 1, 3 to 5, 7 and 8, 11 and 12, 14 to 17, 21, 23 to 25 are STEREO
Tracks 2, 6, 9 and 10, 13, 18 to 20, 22, and 26 are MONO
By including tracks 25 and 26 from the LP as effectively bonus tracks - this CD will also allow fans to sequence his lone album on the Minit label.

The vinyl album "Turning Point" was issued 1966 in the USA in both Mono (Minit LP-24005) and Stereo (Minit LP-40005)
Side 1:
1. The Turning Point [3]
2. Baby I Love You [1]
3. In The Eyes Of My Girls  [5]
4. I Don't Want To Hear It [17]
5. Everybody Needs Help [7]
6. We Forgot About Love [11]
Side 2:
1. I'm Gonna Move To The City [4]
2. I've Got To Live While I Can [25]
3. Give Me Your Love [6] (Mono)
4. Everything Is Love [13] (Mono)
5. Nobody's Fault But Your Own [26] (Mono)
6. We Got A Good Thing Goin' [15]
Above are all Stereo except where noted

The 12-page booklet pictures the labels of American Minit 45's and some of their UK equivalents on Liberty (including some tasty demos - full colour spread on the back page), both the American and British sleeves of his lone Minit Records album "Turning Point" (called "Spread Your Love" in the UK), trade adverts and press articles. But best of all are the typically fab liner notes from Soul aficionado TONY ROUNCE that flesh out the sequence of hits and misses (three songs charted on the American R&B charts - track 1 at 21, track 7 at 36 and track 14 at 35) with his knowledge and quotes from interviews of the period. But the big news for fans has to be the audio - done by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London - the remasters are fantastic. There's a wonderful clarity on these transfers (Stereo or Mono). Some have hiss for sure - but far more evident than that is the warmth to the voices and the instruments that feel better to me than my "Imperial/Minit" CD set of old (90s EMI CD).

It opens with a belter and one of his most famous songs "Baby I Love You" - which made 21 on the American R&B charts in 1966. The Stereo cut is fantastic - full of that great Sixties Soul feel. His next effort is the title track to the album "Turning Point" where he pleads "...my love went wrong and my heart got burnt...now I stand alone...at the turning point..." As Rounce quite rightly enthuses about his passionate delivery - the slow string-laden melodrama pace and his hiccupping crying singing (ala Jackie Wilson) don't so much labour the point as wring its neck (a fabulous Soul track). It's flip "I'm Gonna Move To The City" is a Northern Soul dancer if ever there was one.

I can understand why Minit chose "Everybody Needs Help" as the A with it's "help a blind man...life is rough..." lyrics - but personally one of the best tracks on this compilation for me is its flip - the mid-tempo neck-jerker "Give Me Your Love" that sports a wicked keyboard riff throughout sounding not unlike Clarence Carter on Atlantic circa 1968/1969 (a few years before the event). I bought the bopper "Ready, Willing And Able" on one of those Stateside £3.99 LPs back in 1989 - what a great tune - his voice combining with Clyde King to 'sock it to me' perfection. The other chart hit on here is "Spread Your Love" - a frantic passed dancer once again adopted as a favourite by Northern Soul floor shapers in the mid Seventies. "Baby Boy's In Love" gets all James Brown & The JB's funky while his cover of Lefty Frizzell's "If You Got The Money, I've Got The Time" complete with yodels is probably the weirdest song on here. At the tail end I find "Yesterday Died" is among the best.

He passed away aged only 52 in 1987 having suffered from coronary problems for most of his life (including having open-heart surgery in 1968). With his great voice and heartbreak songs - Jimmy Holiday is remembered with such affection and on the evidence presented so superbly by Ace's Kent-Soul here - it's easy to hear why...

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"Hard To Handle: Black America Sings Otis Redding" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (October 2012 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...These Arms Of Mine..."

In the cleverly compiled and musically uplifting "Black America Sings..." series of CD compilations – so far Ace Records of the UK have done Bob Dylan ("How Many Roads"), The Beatles ("Come Together" and "Let It Be"), Bacharach and David ("Let The Music Play"), Sam Cooke ("Bring It On Home") and Stevie Wonder – mostly with applause from the sceptics beside the nods of the already-converted. 

So it was always going to be the turn of the mighty Otis "Dock Of The Bay" Redding at some point in time – and 2012's "Hard To Handle" doesn't disappoint. It even manages to pull off a bit of a coup by throwing a superb Previously Unreleased Take by the great man himself. Here are the dreams to remember...

UK released October 2012 – "Hard To Handle: Black America Sings Otis Redding" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace CDCHD 1352 (Barcode 029667052627) is a 25-track CD compilation of Various Artists and pans out as follows (71:06 minutes):

1. These Arms Of Mine – ALBERT WASHINGTON & THE KINGS (1968 US 7" single on Fraternity 1002, A - and March 1968 UK 7" single on President PT 182, A)

2. Sister Pitiful – JUDY CLAY (1969 US 7" single on Atlantic 2669, A)

3. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) – WILLIAM BELL (1967 US LP "The Soul Of A Man" on Stax S 719)

4. Baby Cakes – MAXINE BROWN (1967 Wand recording first appeared on the 1985 UK LP "Like Never Before" (by Maxine Brown) on Kent 047)

5. Think About It – KING FLOYD (1973 US 7" single on Chimneyville 446, A)

6. Shout Bamalama – MICKEY MURRAY (1967 US 7" single on SSS International 715, A)

7. Security – IRMA THOMAS (Unissued 1968 Chess Recording finally released in July 1990 on the CD compilation "Something Good: The Muscle Shoals Sessions" on Chess CHD-93004)

8. I've Got Dreams To Remember – PERCY SLEDGE (on the "Blue Night" CD album from 1995 on Sky Ranch/Virgin France 7243 8398712 2)

9. Give Away None Of Your Love – BUDDY MILES (1971 US 7" single on Mercury 73261, A and in the UK on Mercury 6052 127)

10. I'm Missing You – MITTY COLLIER (1969 Previously Unissued Chess Recording – First Release Here – 2012)

11. I Can't Turn You Loose – JAMES CARR (1968 unfinished Goldwax Recording finally released on the 1977 Japan-Only LP "Freedom Train" on Vivid Sound VG 3006)

12. Chained And Bound – BETTYE SWANN (1969 US LP "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me?" on Capitol ST 270)

13. Just One More Day – CLARENCE CARTER (1975 US LP "Loneliness & Temptation" on ABC Records ABCD 896)

14. Wholesome Love – ARTHUR CONLEY (1967 US LP "Shake, Rattle & Roll" on Atco SD 33-215)

15. Hawg For You – TINA BRITT (1969 US 7" single on Minit 32082, A – and – on the 1969 LP "Blue All The Way" on Minit LP 24023)

16. Loving By The Pound (Take 2) – OTIS REDDING (Previously Unissued Volt Recording, 2012)

17. Hard To Handle – PATTI DREW (1968 US 7" single on Capitol 2339, A)

18. A Year, A Month And A day – ARTHUR CONLEY (Previously Unreleased 1968 Atco Recording, 2012)

19. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) – LOU RAWLS (1968 US LP "The Way It Was The Wait It Is" on Capitol ST-215)

20. Monkey On My Back – JACKIE HAIRSTON (1967 US 7" single on Atco 6464, A)

21. Keep Pushing Me – JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY (1966 Bell Recording first issued on the 2009 CD compilation "Shake A Tail Feather! The Best Of" on Sundazed SC 11096)

22. Good To Me – DONALD HEIGHT (1967 US 7" single on Shout 223, A)

23. Respect – ARETHA FRANKLIN (1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 2403, A)

24. (Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay – THE STAPLE SINGERS (1969 US 7" single on Stax 0031, A)

25. I Got The Will – ETTA JAMES (on the 1988 LP/CD "Seven Year Itch" issued in the UK on Island ILPS/CID 9923)

NOTES: Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 18, 20, 21 and 22 are MONO
Tracks 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 to 17, 19 and 23 to 25 are STEREO

The beautifully-annotated 20-page booklet peppers the typically brilliant TONY ROUNCE paragraphs with publicity photos of Mickey Murray, Albert Washington, Irma Thomas, Bettye Swann, James Carr, Clarence Carter, Maxine Brown (on the cover of Blues & Soul Magazine in December 1967), Lou Rawls at Fame Studios in 1971, James & Bobby Purify, The Staple Singers, Arthur Conley and Rick Hall at the Fame Studios in the Autumn of 1966 - and so on. There is even a rare 7" picture sleeve of Buddy Miles and his "Give Away None Of Your Love" 45 from 1971 that I’m sure was promo-only (I’ve never seen it before). The audio is particularly strong. Long-standing mastertape engineer NICK ROBBINS has done the Remasters at Sound Mastering in London – and despite the differing sources – each song packs a punch - especially the cuts in Stereo which sound vital and full of that (largely Sixties) energy.

Otis's style of guttural-blast one second and aching-ballad the next - virtually set up a template for Male 60ts Soul and most of these interpretations follow those styles (some slowing down the pace on fast songs or vice versa). While Aretha's "Respect" and The Staples Singers doing "Dock Of The Bay" are probably too overly familiar for most Soul fans - stuff like Tina Britt's fantastic chugger "Hawg For You" screams out to be rediscovered. There's clever choices too using 'later' recordings from the 70’s, 80s and 90s – Clarence Carter's unexpectedly touching version of "Just One More Day" from a 1975 ABC Records LP most people have long forgotten (and clearly shouldn’t have) as well as "I Got The Will" powered through by Etta James in 1988 (on Island Records) and most pleasing of all - a 90's Percy Sledge tackling "I've Got Dreams To Remember" - a rendition that oozes heart and not just well-produced style.

Amongst the 60ts stuff are names that will make most Soul aficionado hearts flutter a little faster - the great James Carr, Maxine Brown and Bettye Swann. Winners include a superb-sounding torch ballad by Mitty Collier on "I'm Missing You" (previously unreleased too) and a 1966 Bell Records recording of "Keep Pushing Me" by James And Bobby Purify (great 60ts guitar Funk). While I’ve already mentioned the driving groove of "Hawg For You" by Tina Britt – the Black Crowes come to mind when I hear Patti Drew's blistering funk of "Hard To Handle" (which the Crowes covered almost verbatim on their 1991 debut to such great effect). 

But one of the prizes on here for Redding collectors will surely be Take 2 of "Loving You By The Pound" which is new and exclusive to this set. As Otis never sang a song the same way twice – his slight vocal variations are fascinating. Although his vocal is storming – it still feels not up to his usual powerhouse performance and was probably why another Take was chosen as the master. Still – it's a real find.
Another winner from Ace and a compilation I keep returning too. I suspect both Otis Redding and Soul Music fans will feel the same...

Titles in the Ace Records Black America Sings CD Compilation Series

(In Release Date Order - September 2010 to March 2026)

1. "How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan"
UK released September 2010 on Ace Records CDCHD 1278 (Barcode 029667042420)

2. "Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney" 
UK released May 2011 on Ace Records CDCHD 1300 (Barcode 029667045322)

3. "Hard To Handle: Black America Sings Otis Redding"
UK released September 2012 on Ace Records CDCHD 1352 (Barcode 029667052627)

4. "Let The Music Play: Black America Sings Bacharach & David"
UK released March 2014 on Ace Records CDCHD 1398 (Barcode 029667059121)

5. "Bring It On Home: Black America Sings Sam Cooke"
UK released October 2014 on Ace Records CDCHD 1420 (Barcode 029667062725)

6. "Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney & Harrison" 
UK released September 2016 on Ace Records CDCHD 1483 (Barcode 029667077026)

7. "Here, There And Everywhere: Black America Sings John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison"
UK released November 2024 on Ace Records CDTOP 1654 (Barcode 029667111621) 

8. "Black America Sings Stevie Wonder" 

UK released 27 March 2026 on Ace Records CDTOP 1671 (Barcode 029667114622)

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"Los Angeles Soul: Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Volume 1 of 2 - Covers 1962 to 1971 (March 2015 UK Ace/Kent-Soul 24-Track CD Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters and Six Previously Unreleased Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry…

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"...You Make My Fever Rise..."

As a long-standing reviewer, it becomes something of a commonplace reflex to award 5-stars to Kent-Soul CD releases - the Soul imprint label of Ace Records of the UK. 

Ace Records celebrate 50 years of reissues in 2025 (1975 to 2025) - fifty whole years of Ted Carroll's baby knocking out quality reissue after quality reissue. And as I sit here listening to the utterly superb "Los Angeles Soul..." CD compilation (six of these suckers are Previously Unreleased) - I'm thinking - I hope these English guys never quit because here we go again...

UK released 24 March 2015 - "Los Angeles Soul: Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 430 (Barcode 029667243025) pans out as follows (69:05 minutes):

1. I Want Action - JEANETTE JONES (Previously Unreleased, October 1968 recording)

2. You Saved Me From Destruction - DIFOSCO (1971 USA 7" single on Earthquake EQ-28, A)

3. No In-Between - JOHNNY ADAMS (1967 USA 7" single on Modern M 1036, A)

4. I Was Born To Love You - JOHNNY COPELAND (Unissued 1971 recording first appeared Sept 1995 on the UK CD compilation "Serious Shades Of Soul: For Collectors Only" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 119)

5. My Love She's Gone - THE INTENTIONS (1966 USA 7" single on Kent K 455, A)

6. I Only Have Eyes For You - JIMMY BEE (1970 USA 7" single on Kimberly 88101 and then reissued on Kent KS 4531, A)

7. Cherry Pie - LORD CHARLES & THE PROPHETS (1966 USA 7" single on Modern M 1016, A)

8. I Don't Know - EARL WRIGHT (1968 USA 7" single on Virgo VI-101, A)

9. Give Me A Chance - VENETTA FIELDS with the IKETTES (Unissued Kent Recording first appeared on the Sept 1992 UK CD Ikettes compilation "Fine Fine Fine" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 063)

10. You Are My First Love - PAT HUNT (USA 7" single first issued Nov 1961 on Exodus EX-6101 as "First Love" - re-recorded/reissued February 1962 on Kent 374 as "You Are My First Love", A)

11. Sing Me A Love Song - FELICE TAYLOR (Previously Unreleased Kent Recording)

12. All That Shines Is Not Gold - THE WINDJAMMERS (1971 USA 7" single on Kent KS 4548, A)

13. Tear My Love Down - WAYNE BOYKIN (Previously Unreleased 1969 Modern Recording)

14. Push On Jesse Jackson - PACE-SETTERS (Extended Version of USA 7" single on Kent KS 4565 - Previously Unreleased)

15. I Know She's Gonna Leave - WILLIE GAUFF & THE LOVE BROTHERS (Previously Unreleased)

16. Gone On Home - TOMMY YOUNGBLOOD (from the 1969 US LP "The Soul Of Tommy Youngblood" on Kent LP 541)

17. It's Been A Long Time Baby - THE OTHER BROTHERS (1967 USA 7" single on Modern 1027, A)

18. You Are My Sunshine - JACKIE SHANE (1967 USA 7" single on Modern M 1031, A)

19. You're My Girl - LARRY SANDERS (1968 USA 7" single on Modern M 1053, A)

20. Move A Little Closer - MILLIE FOSTER (Previously Unissued Kent recording)

21. I Need Money - RUTH DAVIS (1971 USA 7" single on Kent KS 4543, A)

22. Take A Look In Your Mind - ROBERT RAMSEY (1971 USA 7" single on Kent KS 4552, A)

23. I Need A Love - WALLY COX (1970 Golden State/Kent recording first issued on the April 2000 UK CD compilation "Golden State Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 179)

24. You're Gonna Miss Your Chance - MAURINE WILLIAMS & THE MT. OLIVE 2nd B.C. CHOIR (1971 USA 7" single on Chelsea 102, B-side of "Washed In The Blood")

Tracks 1, 6, 12, 14, 16, 20, 22 and 24 are STEREO

Tracks 2 to 5, 7 to 11, 13, 15, 17 to 19, 21 and 23 are MONO

Tracks 1, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 20 are Previously Unreleased

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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

The knowledgeable and passionate Soul Music lover ADY CROASDELL has compiled, researched and written the 16-page liner notes and as ever with these Kent-Soul CD compilations the text is brought to life by gorgeous US 45 label repros - Kent, Modern, Kimberly, Virgo and Earthquake Records. Each track is talked about in detail with oodles of deep collector info (writers, arrangers, chart histories) and quality black and white publicity photos of unsung heroes like Venetta Fields, Tommy Youngblood and Millie Foster. Gorgeous stuff. But again the NICK ROBBINS remasters elevate proceedings from the ordinary to the sublime with eight of the 24 cuts in glorious Stereo. This CD sounds fabulous - the Sixties Mono cuts sitting nicely alongside the Seventies productions. Top job done yet again...

It opens with a fabulous unissued Jeanette Jones track in Stereo (she's the classy lady on the front cover) - a version of "I Want Action" (lyrics above) which was a Ruby Winters cut in 1967 on Diamond Records. Page 3 pictures unbelievably rare and pretty looking 8-track 12" acetate on Golden State for a proposed LP. "You Saved Me From Destruction" by Difosco (Big Dee Irwin under another name) on the Earthquake label is the kind of Northern Soul dancer fans going bananas for - complete with a slightly Psych backbeat (apparently the label only managed 3 releases). Both Johnny Adams and Johnny Copeland aim for the feet with "No In-Between" and "I Was Born To Love You" - great dancers the pair of them. But then we're hit a properly gorgeous obscurity - "My Love She's Gone" by The Intentions - it's the kind of sweet vocal nugget you wish you could find in some carboot sale for 50p - then drive all your mates wild with its irrepressible upbeat feel and William Brown's stunning vocals (he sang with the vocal group The Dukes).

Weird yet strangely wonderful is Jimmy Bee's Soulful take on the Flamingo's 1959 End classic - "I Only Have Eyes For You" - he keeps it to the original but adds in organ and brass as it smooches along (very tasty). The compilation then cleverly downgears into a cover version of Marvin & Johnny's "Cherry Pie" where the obscure Lord Charles & The Prophets sound like Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones circa 1966 Decca doing a clever Soul choice - a lovely shuffle and great vocal from some unknown. Genius choice goes to "I Don't Know" by Earl Wright (gorgeous transfer from Nick Robbins) - as sweet a Soul tune as you could ask for. The sweet Motownesque vocals of Felice Taylor (sounding like a young Diana Ross) elevate the bopping "Sing Me A Love Song" - amazing to think that this calibre of Soul gem has been in the can until now (they even produce a 1967 press cutting from the Boss Soul magazine on Page 9 about her).

Stereo blasts its way into your speakers with the excellent "All That Shines Is Not Gold" (a Wally Cox song) by the young-boy vocals of The Windjammers while we get raw funky with "Tear My Love Down" - a stunning previously unreleased find (why wasn't this huge!). But then we hit unchartered territory - a truly fantastic 5:27 minute driving funky extended version of "Push On Jesse Jackson" that comes on like Sly & The Family Stone meets Shaft via Norman Whitfield/Temptations social conscience (wow!). And on it goes to a staggeringly good but obscure B-side - "You're Gonna Miss Your Chance" by Maurine Williams and The Mount Olive 2nd B.C. Choir (has Betty Gouche' on the A-side). It's a Gospel song done with piano and vocals - so Soulful - and I swear to God it would make Aretha in her "Amazing Grace" prime a tad worried. What a finisher...

Break out the wine glasses you sons and daughters of Marvin Gaye - because those talcum-powder tank-top boys at Ace Records have only gone and done it again...

PS: 30 August 2019 also saw the UK issue of Volume 2 in this series - "Los Angeles Soul Volume 2: Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy 1962-1973" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 486 (Barcode 029667096225) - another 24-Track CD compilation