"You Got The Power: CAMEO PARKWAY Northern Soul 1964-1967" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring The Four Exceptions, Evie Sands, Frankie Beverly & The Butlers, Bunny Sigler, Jerry Jackson, The Orlons, Bobby Paris, Chubby Checker, Eddie Holman and more (June 2020 US ABKCO Records CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Shake And Shingaling..."

I've reviewed nearly 500 or so R&B and Soul CDs across the years and most buyers will not be in the least bit surprised when I rave about England's Kent Soul releases, Bear Family's Sweet Soul Music Series (15 amazing volumes out of Germany) or any number of American Rhino R&B, Funk and Soul Box Sets. Other British labels like Edsel, Demon and Soul Jazz Records in my prayers too. 

Add to that roster stunning independent newcomers like England's SoulMusic, Big Break Records (of Cherry Red) and Real Gone Music (of the USA) - and it comes as something of a shock to me when I now find myself championing a (ahem) 'major' label - in this case ABKCO Records of the USA - a set of letters far more associated with copyright shenanigans to do with The Rolling Stones and their late 60ts catalogue on London/Decca. 

But, I recently bought and reviewed ABKCO's stunning Sam Cooke 5CD Box Set "The Complete KEEN Years: 1957 to 1960" of 2020 - and here's yet another unassuming gem come slithering out of that New York City-based camp. Perhaps because there are so many Soul Reissues these days – it has gone slightly unnoticed. We need to rectify that. 

For sure "You Got The Power" boasts only 20 Northern Soul tracks from an array of labels under the Cameo-Parkway umbrella (those US 45-labels are pictured on the last page of the booklet) and with that sub 52-minute total playing time, it really should have had five or six more rarities added in. 

But with ADY CROASDELL compilation choices (some of these 1964 to 1967 cuts are so sought after) and TERI LANDI first-generation tape transfers - what "You Got The Power..." loses in waist bulge, it more than makes up for in quality stitching. Fit? It's a cracking listen, and fun too. Let's get to the Shake and the Shingaling...

US released 19 June 2020 - "You Got The Power: (Cameo Parkway) Northern Soul 1964-1967" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on ABKCO 8536-2 (Barcode 018771853626) offers 20-Tracks Remastered and plays out as follows (51:53 minutes):

1. You Got The Power - THE FOUR EXCEPTIONS (June 1966, Parkway P-986, A-side)

2. Because Of My Heart - FRANKIE BEVERLY & THE BUTLERS (1967, Fairmount F-1017, A-side - also 2012 UK Reissue on Outta Sight OSV-074, A-side)

3. (Whao, Whoa) I Love Him So - NIKKI BLU (November 1964, Parkway P-931, A-side - Chubby Checker Production - Ernest Evans and Thom Bell song)

4. Girl Don't Make Me Wait - BUNNY SIGLER (December 1966, Parkway P-123, A-side - Leon Huff song)

5. It's Rough Out There - JERRY JACKSON (September 1966, Parkway P-100, A-side - also October 1966 UK on Cameo-Parkway P-100, A-side and Reissued 2012 UK on Outta Sight OVS-076)

6. Envy In My Eyes - THE ORLONS (October 1965, Cameo C-384, B-side of "No Love But Your Love" - Gamble & Huff Production of Eugene Dozier song)

7. Picture Me Gone - EVIE SANDS (June 1966, Cameo C-413, A-side - also August 1966 UK on Cameo-Parkway C 413, A-side - from the Motion Picture Soundtrack "Step Out Of Your Mind" - a Chip Taylor, Al Gorgoni song)

8. Country Girl - VICKIE BARNES (November 1965, Parkway P-966, A-side)

9. Night Owl - BOBBY PARIS (February 1966, Cameo C-396, B-side of "Tears On My Pillow" - November 1977 UK reissue on London HLU 10553, B-side of "You Didn't Say A Word")

10. Village Of Tears - BEN ZINE (July 1966, Parkway P-996, B-side of "What The Heck's The Hanky Panky")

11. You Just Don't Know (What You Do To Me) - CHUBBY CHECKER (December 1965, Parkway P-965, A-side - January 1966 UK on Cameo Parkway P 862, B-side of "Two Hearts Make One Love")

12. The 81 - CANDY AND THE KISSES (October 1964, Cameo C-336, A-side - January 1965 UK on Cameo-Parkway C 336, A-side)

13. Shake And Shingaling (Part 1) - GENE WALTERS (1967, Fairmount F-1018, A-side)

14. S.O.S. (Heart In Distress) - CHRISTINE COOPER (January 1966, Parkway P-971, A-side) 

15. Eddie's My Name - EDDIE HOLMAN (April 1966, Parkway P-981, B-side of "Don't Stop Now")

16. Pass Me By - HATTIE WINSTON (1964, Parkway P-956, A-side)

17. The Grass (Will Sing For You) - LONNIE YOUNGBLOOD (November 1966, Fairmount F-1016, A-side)

18. (Your Love Was Just A) False Alarm - TARI STEVENS (March 1955, Fairmount F-1001, A-side)

19. Who Do You Think You Are - THE SOUL CITY (1967, Good Time GT-802, B-side of "Cold Hearted Blues")

20. You Didn't Say A Word - YVONNE BAKER (March 1967, Parkway P-140, B-side of "To Prove My Love Is True" - November 1977 UK reissue on London HLU 10553, A-side)

There are very classy black and white publicity shots of Frankie Beverly & The Butlers, Evie Sands, Candy And The Kisses (their single "The 81" actually dented the US Billboard charts at No. 19 R&B, No. 51 Pop), Christine Cooper, Yvonne Baker, The Orlons, Eddie Holman and Bunny Sigler who each get a page shot, and so on. The track-by-track annotation includes songwriting credits, US and UK Catalogue Numbers, US chart info if any and the last page of the booklet gives you a collage 16 rare 45 labels - Cameo, Parkway, Fairmount, England's Cameo-Parkway. It's nicely done and Croasdell goes into the songs and their history with typically enthusiastic and informative details. The TERI LANDI Remasters are tremendous - full of punch and the sheer hutzpah that 60ts Soul recordings elicit. To the tunes... 

A frantic bom-bom backing group of boys and girls anchors the 'goddess of temptation...relieve me of my frustration' dance-a-thon that is "You Got The Power" - The Four Exceptions tearing into it like their lives depended on it. It's a cool opener and a taster of themes. As it is with all the best Northern Soul compilations like this, misery and elation are the subject matters. My man's the best (say the girls), better than all the crappy rest, then quickly descending in emotional scales to false alarms, jealousy, envy, broken hearts, tickers in distress, send out an S.O.S. to the love doctor - you get the picture. 

Take "Pass Me By" by Hattie Winston, a Thom Bell Production of a song he co-wrote with Arthur Ross. She starts her story with "I was your only girl...I don't know why you cheated and lied..." and in comes the brass and strings as the drums whack out the hoo-hoo pain in the chorus. You can just imagine earnest young men shimmying on a Northern Soul night dancefloor loving every "...now that you disown me..." line (is it any wonder people want the 45 and Croasdell included it here). 

Eddie Holman doesn't drive a big car, doesn't act like a movie star, because pleasin' is his game and he assures us in the great dancer "Eddie's My Name" that business is good (you go Eddie). Evie Sands has eyes and she can see that some other girl is telling her man that it's over, but she pleads "Picture Me Gone" (another great strings and melodrama dancer). And on it goes...

"... What a fool you've been..." - Bobby Paris tells us in his cautionary "Night Owl" B-side. Northern Soul fans need to buy this and not make a mistake like poor heartbroken Bobby...

"Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2015 Ace/Kent Soul CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Gettin' Back Into Circulation..."

The first volume in this series "Dore L.A. Soul Sides" issued in April 2014 – caused a bit of a stir amongst lovers of Sixties Soul (Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 417). With a tasty stew of 24 more cut from the same Soul cloth (2 Previously Unreleased) – Volume 2 is likely to elicit just as much affection and excitement (even if the audio is not as sharp as one would have hoped for). Here are the elusive West Coast details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 433 (Barcode 029667243322) is a 24-track CD compilation and fleshes out as follows (65:03 minutes):

1. Getting’ Back Into Circulation – THE ENTERTAINERS IV (2015 Previously Unreleased Remix of a 1965 USA 7” single on Dore 759, A)

2. I’m Givin’ You Notice Baby – THE FIDELS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 761, A)

3. What Did You Gain By That? – KENARD (1970 USA 7” single on Dore 848, A)

4. Wind In My Sails – THE SUPERBS (1972 USA 7” single on Dore 872, A)

5. Funny With my Stuff – THE NATURAL RESOURCES UNPOLLUTED (1971 USA 7” single on Dore 854, A)

6. Pictures In My Window – EDDIE WILLIAMS (1970 USA 7” single on Dore 839, A)

7. That’s What Love Will Do – MILTON JAMES (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 767, A)

8. I Wanna Chance – THE VOWS (1962 USA 7” single on Markay 103, A)

9. I Want You – DEE TORRES (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 762, A)

10. My Pillow – THE DARLINGS (1963 USA 7” single on Dore 677, A)

11. We Together Baby – SMOKY & THE BEARS (1967 USA 7” single on Dore 790, A)

12. Keep On Movin’ – LITTLE JOHNNY HAMILTON & THE CREATORS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 760, A)

13. The Girl That I Loved – BOBBY & EDDIE UNLIMITED (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 809, A)

14. Nitty Gritty City – THE SWANS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 777, A)

15. I Only Cry Once A Day Now – THE PUFFS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 757, A)

16. Goddess Of Love – THE SUPERBS (1965 USA 7” single on Dore 739, A)

17. Nothing Lasts Forever – THE NATURAL RESOURCES (1969 USA 7” single on Dore 1003, A)

18. Just Ain’t My Day – THE ENTERTAINERS IV (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 802, A)

19. Stuffin’ The Bird – RAMLING WLLIE & THE EUOPHONICS (1976 USA 7” single on Dore 918, A)

20. Just A Little Ugly – GAIL ANDERSON (1981 USA 7” single on Dore 973, A)

21. This Girl Is A Good Girl – JOHNNY BRAFF (1975 USA 7” single on 904, A)

22. Saigon To San Francisco – TOUSSAINT McCALL (2015 Previously Unreleased Dore Recording)

23. As I Sit Here – THE WHISPERS (1965 USA 7” single on Dore 740, A)

24. I Look In The Mirror – EDDIE KOOL (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 807, A)

Notes:

Tracks 1 and 22 are Previously Unreleased – all tracks are MONO except 1, 19, 20 and 22 – which are STEREO

The 16-page booklet by long-standing Northern Soul expert and lover ADY CROASDELL and gives a track-by-track history of what’s what and who slept with who...while NICK ROBBINS has done the remasters. There are label repros of rare American 45s for Dore, Nu-Sound, Mackay, Dee Dee Sounds  and Burn Records as well as publicity shots of Little Johnny Hamilton and The Superbs as well as a Trade Advert for The Whispers from April 1968. Tasteful and informative...

It opens with a devastating one-two - both of which are likely to send Northern Soul aficionados (and dancers in general) into something of a lather – an alternate mix of “Gettin’ Back Into Circulation” by The Entertainers IV and the Motown brass-belter “I’m Givin’ You Notice Baby” by The Fidels. I can’t imagine what they cost as 45s but I’m thinking there wouldn’t be much change from a month’s salary (each). We then enter the realm of the genuinely strange – a Soul song that sounds more like some bizarre socially conscious message tune sung by Kenard (lead singer with The Entertainers). Many thought it was never released – it’s rougher than the preceding tracks but is included for its £1000+ rarity value. The Superbs have had their Kent-Soul “Best Of” CD compilation (CDKEND 417) and their “What Did You Gain By That” is another talcum-powder shuffle.

The pace ups with the 1971 “Funky With My Stuff” which is very Shaft influenced (and in a good way). Flicking back to 1966 “Pictures In My Window” by Eddie Williams feels epic too but suffers from what seems to have an ever so slight pitch wobble. The Milton James cut is worse sounding like it was mastered from a stretched tape. Things pick audio-wise with the very Smokey Robinson vocal group feel to “I Wanna Chance” – a lovely mixture of Girl-Group and Soul. That same feel continues with “I Want You” by Dee Torres where the guitar almost feels like Hank Marvin of The Shadows doing Soul with another vocalist at the mike.  Identikit to “Louie Louie” – “We Together Baby” by Smoky & The Bears is a great dancing instrumental that packs a mean punch. Although it’s good – “Keep On Movin’” again sounds ever so slightly bootleg – but I can hear why its been included (very Mayfield). Another winner is “Nitty Gritty City” by The Swans as is the truly funky instrumental “Stuffin’ The Bird”. Traditional Vocal Groups warmth wafts over you as The Whispers do “As I Sit Here” – quite possibly the loveliest track on here.

It’s not all genius for sure and unfortunately the Audio really dips on quite a few tracks – but the feel of a 'discovery' hangs over so many of the more Soulful sides. Kent-Soul buyers will love it...

"Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace/Kent-Soul CD Remasters) -- A Review by Mark Barry...

"...More Than A Memory..."

A companion volume to 2013's Various Artists CD compilation "Pied Piper Presents A New Concept In Detroit Soul" on Kent-Soul CDKEND 389 - Ace's second-instalment is 2015's "Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" which serves up 24 more slices of quality 60ts Soul originally on Giant, Karate, RCA Victor and Kapp Records - 10 of which are Previously Unreleased. 

A typically classy affair from ACE (one of England's truly great Soul Music reissue labels - Edsel, Big Break Records and Soul Jazz are amongst the others) - let's get to the two-timing hip-shaking voodoo-woman details right away (baby)...

UK released May 2015 (June 2015 in the USA) - "Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" is a CD compilation on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 429 (Barcode 029667242929) and plays out as follows (59:22 minutes):

1. Voo Doo Madamoiselle - SEPTEMBER JONES (Pied Piper 003, 2014)

2. He'll Be Leaving You - NANCY WILCOX (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 21 July 1966)

3. You Only Live Twice (Alternate) - LORRAINE CHANDLER (Previously Unreleased Until 2015)

4. Could It Be You - SHARON SCOTT (1966 USA 7" Single on RCA Victor 47-8907, A)

5. Ooh It Hurts Me (Alternate) - THE CAVALIERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 23 February 1967)

6. I Need Your Love - THE DYNAMICS (1967 USA 7" Single on RCA Victor 47-9084, A)

7. Watch Yourself - TONY HESTER (1966 USA 7" single on Giant G-707, A)

8. Love Will Find A Way - HARRY GATES (Previously Unreleased Until 2015)

9. They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You) - FREDDY BUTLER (from the 1967 LP "With A Dab Of Soul" on Kapp Records KL-1519)

10. Lost Without You - LORRAINE CHANDLER (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 15 December 1966)

11. Wait A Minute - THE HESITATIONS (on the 1967 Mono LP "Soul Superman" on Kapp Records KL-1525)

12. Love Sick - THE PIED PIPER PLAYERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 22 July 1966)

13. No More Love - SEPTEMBER JONES (1967 USA 7" Single on Kapp Records K-802, A)

14. Set My Heart At Ease - MIKKI FARROW (1966 USA 7" Single on Karate 524, B-side to "Could It Be")

15. More Than A Memory - NANCY WILCOX Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 21 July 1966)

16. Without Someone To Tell Me - THE CAVALIERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 18 July 1966)

17. It's Right Now - THE METROS (1969 USA 7" single on Sepia 3, A, credited to Joe Buckman)

18. Love Is Not A Game - SAM E SOLO (1965 USA 7" single on Ruby 5075, A)

19. What Can I Do - LORRAINE CHANDLER (1966 USA 7" Single on Giant G-703, A)

20. You Better Know Why - SEPTEMBER JONES (Kent 6T 30, 2014)

21. You Don't Know Me Do You - THE METROS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 23 February 1967)

22. Hold To My Baby - THE PIED PIPER PLAYERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 18 July 1968)

23. That's What Love Is - HESITATIONS (on the 1967 Mono LP "Soul Superman" on Kapp Records KL-1525)

24. Give Me Lots Of Lovin' - FREDDY BUTLER (from the 1967 LP "With A Dab Of Soul" on Kapp Records KL-1519)

Compiled by genre-expert and Soul Music aficionado ADY CROASDELL - the 16-page booklet features his typically indepth and affection musings on these deep Soul Sides which have remained for so many years covered in mystery (with thanks to Matt Baker, Robb Klein, Andy Rix and Dave Welding). The liner notes have dug deep too - local newspapers of the time have been scoured and tiny adverts for live shows have been found for Freddie Butler at Little Sam's Grand Bar and The Cavaliers at Mr. Kelley's Ballroom. Other pages show Acetates on United, White Label Demos of American 45's on RCA Victor and a repro of Detroit's WJLB Radio 'Flaming 30 Survey' with honourable mentions of The Metros. There are ultra-rare black and white publicity photos of Sharon Scott, Nancy Wilcox, The Dynamics, Mikki Farrow and a cool colour snap of The Hesitations. The inside inlay pictures a label repro of Mikki Farrow's "Set My Heart At Ease" on Karate Records.

NICK ROBBINS a long-time Ace associate and Engineer has handled the Remasters and the Audio is fantastic right across the Mono board (all but Track 12 are in Mono - 12 is in Stereo).

Pied Piper Productions was formed by musician and songwriter Jack Ashford along with businessman Shelley Haims and Promoter Gerard Purcell - all three of them having connections with session musicians at Motown and licensing contacts with the major labels. Their own imprint Giant Records managed a few releases - but most are now ludicrously rare and expensive on original vinyl.

The compilation opens on a winner - "Voo Doo Madamoiselle" by September Jones where a woman all dressed in black with hypnotizing eyes and a Cadillac are after her man (don't you hate them sorts). The Nancy Wilcox unreleased track "He'll Be Leaving You" is good but the Alternate of Lorraine Chandler's Bond cover "You Only Live Twice" is cheesy rather than tasty. But all that small-potatoes gets slaughtered by an absolute Northern Soul monster - "Could It Be You" by the gorgeous Sharon Scott (from Harrisburg in Pennsylvania). You can literally see the dancefloors of Northern England exploding into joy ten seconds into this fabulous slice of Sixties Soul. Thinking it can't get any better - it only bloody does with no less than a double-whammy of Northern Soul floorfillers "Ooh it Hurts Me" (Alternate) and "I Need Your Love" from The Cavaliers and The Dynamics.

Another gorgeous groover with superb backing vocals is "Wait A Minute" by The Hesitations - a hidden gem on their uber-desirable "Soul Superman" album from 1967 on Kapp Records (the Mono cut is used here). Hesitations Frontman Freddy Butler puts in a blinder on "They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You)" - a sweet mid-tempo stroller written in part by three of the Funk Brothers (Joe Hunter, Bob Babbit and Eddie Willis). Speaking of gorgeous Soul - September Jones puts in a beautifully delicate performance on the lovely "No More Love" - the kind of 45 bound to elicit frenzied bidding on eBay (should a copy turn up). Lyrics from Sam E Solo's "Love Is Not A Game" title this review while Lorraine Chandler's "What Can I Do" is just glorious Northern Soul - pure and simple. Another wicked dancer is "Without Someone To Tell Me" by The Cavaliers featuring an irrepressible beat backed up with fuzz guitar. "It's Right Now" by The Metros is probably the closest to Motown and the whole glorious compilation ends on Freddy Butler's "Give Me Lots Of Lovin'" - the perfect slice of talcum-powdered 2:22 minutes.

Ace's label Kent-Soul has built up a ludicrously high reputation over the years amongst Soul lovers and rabid collectors - but once again they've dumfounded us all by going one rung higher on a ladder that seems to have no ceiling. Follow Your Soul indeed. An absolute belter of a compilation - congrats to all involved...

"After Hours The Collection – Northern Soul Masters". A Review Of The 2011 3CD Digipak Reissue.

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Don't You Know I'm Glad I Found You…I'll Dedicate My Life To You…"

Eagle-eyed collectors will notice something similar about this new August 2011 3CD set – it’s a repackaging of 3 Volumes already released in the 2000’s. I bought them then and they were fantastic (I also bought the 2LP vinyl versions). But there are changes on all three on these new discs that need pointing out – here are the details…

The original 2002 "After Hours" (1965 to 1973) had 24 tracks - the new version in this set has 25 – the running order is exactly the same except that Track 17 "Call On Me" by The Dynells is an addition (it’s been moved from Track 26 on the original "After Hours 3").

The original 2003 "After Hours 2" (1964 to 1972) had 26 tracks, but this 2011 version has 25 – and there is also some alteration of the track line up. Tracks 4 and 19 from the original CD have been dropped – "Lil Ole Man (Uptight – Everything's Alright)" by Bill Cosby and "That's What You Do To Me" by Deon Jackson. "Yes To The Lord" by The Stovell Sisters was Track 26 on the original CD, but has been moved to Track 18. Track 25 is "West 4th Street" by Valerie & Bobby Capers (it’s been moved from Track 29 on the original "After Hours 3"). Outside of these changes, the track running order remains the same as the original.

The original 2005 "After Hours 3" (1965 to 1974) had 29 tracks – the new version has 25. Tracks 1 to 18 remain the same running order – "Frantic Escape" by The Innocent Bystanders was Track 28 on the original CD and is now moved to Track 19. Tracks 20 to 25 are the same. Of the remaining four – two have been moved to Disc 1 and 2 as already noted above – the one dropped is "Astral Fire" by The Mystic Moods.

So - across the entire 3 CDs on this 2011 reissue only three of the original songs have been dropped (possibly due to licensing difficulties).

Each of the first two CDs had an 8-page booklet (12-pages on Volume 3) with a short but informative paragraph on each track. Roger Searling (a DJ at Jazz-FM and Radio Presenter at Smooth-FM in the UK) and Rick Conrad (from Warners Music) compiled and annotated all three – with each set expertly remastered by GIOVANNI SCATOLA.
The new booklet simply repros those issues and has the same excellent mastering the original discs had.

With regard to the sound - because of the wildly varying sources and recording dates (many tracks were new to CD at the time of release), the audio quality varied enormously – from superb to just very good – but I’ve not found any of the tracks anything less than listenable on this new version. Also because of their rarity value, most collectors simply relished having the tracks at all.

Musically – it’s an embarrassment of riches – huge hauls of ultra-rare and desirable Soul 45’s on legendary labels like Atlantic, Atco, Carla, Fame, Loma, Reprise, Stax and Warner Brothers. Most of the tracks are aimed squarely at the feet - upbeat dancefloor fillers that slaughtered the crowds at the 'Wigan Casino' in the early Seventies. This is joyful stuff – finger-clickers like "I Love Her So Much It Hurts Me" by DAVID & RUBEN from 1969 on Warners 7316 and the fabulous "Angel Baby (Don’t You Ever Leave Me)" by DARRELL BANKS from 1967 on Atlantic 6484 with an infectious bassline that just won’t quit (lyrics above).

To sum up - I’m a fairly voracious collector of all things Atlantic so I had to have all three of the original jewel-case CD versions when they came out (cost me a five spot each at the time of purchase). Well this new 3CD card-digipak reissue at less than a tenner online (despite the loss of 3 tracks) is still incredible value for money. And if you’re new to the compilations and the music, then you’re in for a treat.

Now excuse me while I get some talcum powder out, scuff up the laminate on the kitchen floor and badly show my age…

"Dark End Of The Street 1963-69: The Operatic Soul Of…” by ROY HAMILTON. A Review of the 2009 Revola CD Compilation.

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:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

"…When You Resist Me Like This…I Feel Something Is Wrong…The Panic Is On…”

Released in April 2009 by Revola of Australia, this 28-track multi-label compilation is a long overdue look at one of soul music's lesser-appreciated voices - Georgia's own ROY HAMILTON.

Describing his voice - it's a cross between the operatic skill and abandon of Jackie Wilson and the deep crooner tones of Brook Benton. Also - similar to Wilson - Hamilton was a Golden Gloves champion and a classically trained baritone whose career stretched back to the mid Fifties. This particular set, however, concentrates of Hamilton's overlooked Sixties tracks.

Remastered by WARREN BARNETT at the Raven Lab - the sound is fabulous - huge and clear - a great job done. The set was conceived and compiled by JOHN DOWLER who also provides the affectionate 8-page liner notes. The track list, however, leaves out catalogue numbers and other discography info, so here's a detailed breakdown...

All tracks are USA 7" singles unless otherwise stated (76:13 minutes):

1. Let Go (1963, MGM 13138, A-Side)
2. Midnight Town - Daybreak City (1963, MGM 13157, A-Side)
3. The Sinner (El Pecador)
(1963, MGM 13175, B-Side to "Theme To The V.I.P.'s")
4. The Same One
5. For Your Precious Love
6. Crying In The Chapel
[1 to 3 are 7" singles as indicated, but 1 to 6 are also on the USA LP "Warm Soul", 1963 on MGM SE-4139)
7. The Panic Is On (1964, MGM 13217, A-Side, Non-Album Track)
8. Answer Me, My Love (1964, MGM 13247, A-Side, Non-Album Track)
9. Gloomy Sunday
10. Don't Worry About Me
(9 and 10 are from the LP "Sentimental, Lonely & Blue", 1964 on MGM SE-4233)
11. Heartache (Hurry On By)
(1965, RCA Victor 47-8641, A-Side, Non-Album Track)
12. Tore Up Over You
(1965, RCA Victor 47-8705, B-side of "And I Love Her")
13. The Impossible Dream
(1966, RCA Victor 47-8813, A-side)
14. God Bless The Child
15. Reach Out For Me
16. You'll Never Walk Alone
(12 and 13 are 7" singles as indicated, but 12 to 16 are also on
the USA LP "The Impossible Dream", 1966 on RCA Victor LSP 3532)
17. Let The Music Play (Previously Unreleased)
18. Crackin' Up Over You
(1966, RCA Victor 47-8960, B-Side to "Walk Hand In Hand")
19. I Taught Her Everything She Knows
(1967, RCA Victor 47-9061, A-Side)
20. Lament
(1967, RCA Victor 47-9061, B-side of "I Taught Her Everything...")
21. You Shook Me Up
(1967, RCA Victor 47-9171, B-Side of "So High My Love")
22. Wait Until Dark
(1967, Capitol 2057, B-Side to "Let This World Be Free")
23. My Peaceful Forest
(first appeared on the 1998 Ace/Kent CD "Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood")
24. The Dark End Of The Street
(1969, AGP Records 113, A-Side)
25. 100 Years
(1969, AGP Records 125, B-side to "It's Only Make Believe")
26. Angelica
(1969, AGP Records 116, A-Side)
27. Hang-Ups
(1969, AGP Records 116, B-Side to "Angelica")
28. It's Only Make Believe
(1969, AGP Records 125, A-Side)

"The Panic Is On" has been a Northern Soul monster on the circuit for years and its easy to see why - it's everything a great soul single should be - joyful, powerful, makes you wanna sway - it's just the balls. But equally impressive is the rare and lesser-known non-album side "Heartache (Hurry On By)" - it's got a slow huge soulful feel - like Jackie Wilson meets The Righteous Brothers - girly vocals underpinning Hamilton's passionate wailing. Bit of a gem frankly.

"Tore Up Over You" is less successful - it's just too Tom Jones in that brass-heavy Sixties frantic kind of a way. "The Impossible Dream" is the same - cheesy rather than tuneful. But they're redeemed by a lovely and very soulful take on the Billie Holiday standard "God Bless The Child" where he sounds like a confident Brook Benton - truly beautiful production values too - the strings and brass simply oozing out of your speakers.

"Let The Music Play" is a 1965 recording previously unreleased until now - it's a Bacharach/David cover version and is typically period melodrama - very good indeed. Then comes the other huge Northern Soul dancer - the Billy Barnes/Roy Hamilton self-penned "You Shook Me Up" - an obscure B-side that goes for big money among collectors. Again, you can hear why - heartbreak and dancefloor backflips - really great stuff.

While the hippy claptrap of "My Peaceful Forest" is a heavy-handed production too far, his rendition of "The Dark End Of The Street" is not just classic - it's almost definitive. The rest of the American Group Productions sides are equally lovely - especially the finisher - a cover of Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe" - done in a soulful way with a churchy organ.

So there you have it - it's not all masterful of course, but when it's good - it's wonderful - and with this top notch sound quality - a properly cool listen.

Roy Hamilton suffered a stroke in mid 1969 and died tragically young - aged only 40.

Time for major rediscovery I think - highly recommended.