"Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Single and Album Tracks from Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, The Ohio Untouchables, Solomon Burke, Patti Labelle, Doris Troy, Carla Thomas, Tommy Hunt, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Walter Jackson, Judy Clay, The Dynamics, The Sweet Inspirations, Howard Tate, Donny Hathaway, Jackie Moore, King Floyd, The Spinners, Sam & Dave, Baby Washington, The Persuaders, Hall & Oates and more (October 2007 USA Rhino Handmade 4CD 82-Track LP-Sized Box Set – Billy Vera Compiled Selection - Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Come See About Me…"

Given the label – Atlantic Records – and the reputation/legend of the reissue company involved – Rhino and the hugely sought-after releases of their Mail-Order division Rhino Handmade Records – then 2007's "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" should have been a shoe-in for masterpiece with a bullet. 

But – and this is a genuine surprise to me - the actual listen and its slightly jarring presentation go against it way more than a fan would like. Rarities often don't make for good plays – they're just rare. And this Box Set all too often includes the obscure over the joyous. Rhino Handmade would argue that that's what they were all about – providing for the deep dive collector. I just wish that in this case, the playback would elicit the excitement in me the title of the set does. 

Rhino Handmade issued three Box Sets in this BILLY VERA-compiled LP-Sized series - each 4CD set with a generic silk-screened sepia-look, a 32 to 36-Page LP-Sized Booklet (Limited Numbered Edition on the last page, 3000 copies), silk-screen look Picture Card Sleeves inside lipped die-cut trays and new Remasters courtesy of long-time Audio Engineers for Rhino and WEA – BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH. But the best way to explain is to go into details. Let's have at them...

USA released 31 October 2007 – "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7739 (Barcode 603497773923) is a 4CD 82-Track LP-Sized Themed Box Set of Remasters that breaks down as follows (all catalogue numbers are either US 45-singles or LPs unless otherwise stated):

CD1 (from 1959 to 1964, 49:28 minutes, 20 tracks, Solomon Burke pictured):

1. Come Rain Or Shine - RAY CHARLES (November 1960, Atlantic 45-2084, A-side)

2. You're The Boss - LaVERN BAKER & JIMMY RICKS (December 1960, Atlantic 45-2090, A-side)

3. On The Horizon - BEN E. KING (April 1961, Atco 45-6194, B-side of "Stand By Me")

4. Your Old Lady - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (July 1961, Atlantic 45-2110, B-side of "Write To Me")

5. I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) - THE IKETTES (November 1961, Atco 45-6212, A-side)

6. Daddy Rollin' Stone - JIMMY RICKS & THE RAVES (March 1962, Atco 6220, B-side of "Homesick")

7. Darling - THE FALCONS (June 1962, Atlantic 2153, A-side - features WILSON PICKETT on Lead Vocals)

8. Stupidity - SOLOMON BURKE (July 1963, Atlantic 45-2196, B-side of "Can't Nobody Love You")

9. My Man - He's A Lovin' Man - BETTY LaVETT (September 1962, Atlantic 45-2160, A-side)

10. Take This Love I've Got - THE FALCONS (February 1963, Atlantic 45-2179, A-side - features WILSON PICKETT)

11. Just One Look - DORIS TROY (April 1963, Atlantic 45-2188, A-side)

12. Love Is Amazing - OHIO UNTOUCHABLES (May 1963, Lu Pine L-1010, B-side of "Forgive Me Darling")

13. (Do The) Mashed Potatoes - Part 1 - NAT KENDRICKS & THE SWANS (1963, Dade 45-5004, A-side)

14. He'll Have To Go - SOLOMON BURKE (January 1964, Atlantic 45-2218, A-side)

15. My Girl Sloopy - THE VIBRATIONS (February 1964, Atlantic 45-2221, A-side)

16. I'm Tired - OHIO UNTOUCHABLES (February 1964, Lu Pine L-1011, A-side)

17. Mojo Hannah - LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS (May 1964, Atlantic 45-2229, A-side)

18. Baby I'm Coming Home - MACK RICE (March 1964, Lu Pine L-1019, B-side of "My Baby")

19. I'm Gonna Cry - WILSON PICKETT (June 1964, Atlantic 45-2233, A-side)

20. I've Got No Time To Lose - CARLA THOMAS (July 1964, Atlantic 45-2238, A-side)

CD2 (from 1964 to 1967, 57:37 minutes, 21 tracks, Ben E. King pictured):

1. Come See About Me - DON COVAY (from the 1964 US LP "Mercy" on Atlantic 8104 in Mono)

2. I Found A Love Oh What A Love - JO ANN & TROY (October 1964, Atlantic 45-2256, A-side - Jo Ann Campbell and Troy Seals)

3. I'm Gonna Run Away From you - TAMI LYNN (March 1965, Atco 45-6342, A-side)

4. Some Things You Never Get Used To - LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS (December 1964, Atlantic 45-2265, A-side)

5. I Don't Want To Lose You - TOMMY HUNT (February 1965, Atlantic 45-2278, A-side)

6. Thank You John - WILLIE TEE (May 1965, Atlantic 45-2287, A-side)

7. Let's Go Get Stoned - THE COASTERS (May 1965, Atco 45-6356, B-side of "Money Honey")

8. Let Me Know When It's Over - ESTHER PHILLIPS (September 1965, Atlantic 45-2304, A-side)

9. Have You Ever Been Disappointed – THE ISLEY BROTHERS (September 1965, Atlantic 45-2303, B-side of "Move Over And Let Me Dance")

10. Groovy Kind Of Love – PATTI LaBELLE & THE BLUEBELLES (January 1966, Atlantic 45-2318, B-side of "Over The Rainbow" - A-side is Track 13 on CD2)

11. Dear Lover - MARY WELLS (December 1965, Atco 45-6392, B-side of "Can't You See (You're Losing Me)")

12. Sookie Sookie - DON COVAY and THE GOODTIMERS (February 1966, Atlantic 45-2323, B-side of "Watching The Late Late Show")

13. Over The Rainbow - PATTI LaBELLE & THE BLUEBELLES (January 1966, Atlantic 45-2318, A-side - B-side is "Groovy Kind Of Love" - Track 10 on CD2)

14. Where's The Girl - BEN E. KING (July 1968, Atco 45-6596, B-side of "It's Amazing")

15. Iron Out The Rough Spots - DON COVAY & THE GOODTIMERS (June 1966, Atlantic 45-2340, B-side of "You Put Something On Me")

16. Make Me Belong To You - BARBARA LEWIS (July 1966, Atlantic 45-2346, A-side)

17. Some Kind Of Wonderful - SOUL BROTHERS SIX (May 1967, Atlantic 45-2406, A-side)

18. Why (Am I Treated So Bad) - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (May 1967, Atlantic 45-2410, A-side)

19. Storybook Children - BILLY VERA & JUDY CLAY (October 1967, Atlantic 45-2445, A-side)

20. It Ain't What You Got - JIMMY HUGHES (November 1967, Atlantic 45-2454, A-side)

21. A Change Is Gonna Come - ARETHA FRANKLIN (from the 1967 US LP "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" on Atlantic 8139)

CD3 (from 1967 to 1969, 61:00 minutes, 21 tracks, Aretha Franklin pictured):

1. Get Down – HARVEY SCALES & THE 7 SOUNDS (September 1967, Magic Touch 2007, A-side)

2. Looking For A Fox – CLARENCE CARTER (December 1967, Atlantic 45-2461, A-side)

3. What Can You Do When You Ain’t Got Nobody – SOUL BROTHERS SIX (November 1967, Atlantic 45-2456, B-side to "You Better Check Yourself")

4. Baby Don't You Do It - ALVIN ROBINSON (May 1968, Atco 45-6581, A-side - cover of a Marvin Gaye 1964 single)

5. I Found A True Love - WILSON PICKETT (September 1958, Atlantic 45-2558, A-side)

6. I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) - SOLOMON BURKE (April 1968, Atlantic 45-2507, A-side) 

7. I've Come A Long Way - WILSON PICKETT (February 1968, Atlantic 45-2484, B-side of "Jealous Love")

8. My Song - ARETHA FRANKLIN (November 1968, Atlantic 45-2574, B-side of "See Saw")

9. Hard To Handle - OTIS REDDING (June 1968, Atlantic 45-6592, A-side)

10. I Say A Little Prayer - ARETHA FRANKLIN (August 1968, Atlantic 45-2546, B-side of "The House That Jack Built")

11. Too Weak To Fight – CLARENCE CARTER (October 1968, Atlantic 45-2569, A-side)

12. Soul Sister, Brown Sugar – SAM & DAVE (December 1968, Atlantic 45-2590, A-side)

13. Ice Cream Song – THE DYNAMICS (January 1969, Cotillion 44021, A-side)

14. You Are The Circus – C And THE SHELLS (March 1969, Cotillion 44024, A-side)

15. Crying In The Rain - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (March 1969, Atlantic 45-2620, A-side)

16. Kind Woman - PERCY SLEDGE (July 1969, Atlantic 45-2646, A-side)

17. I Don't Know – BABY WASHINGTON (August 1969, Cotillion 45-44047, A-side)

18. Reaching For The Moon – BILLY VERA & JUDY CLAY (July 1969, Atlantic 45-2654, A-side)

19. Anyway That You Want Me – WALTER JACKSON (October 1969, Cotillion 45-44053, A-side)

20. Greatest Love – JUDY CLAY (December 1969, Atlantic 45-2697, A-side)

21. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream – BABY WASHINGTON (August 1970, Cotillion 45-44086, A-side)

CD4 (from 1969 to 1975, 71:24 minutes, 20 tracks, Donny Hathaway pictured):

1. Sister Pitiful - JUDY CLAY (September 1969, Atlantic 45-2669, A-side - answer song to Otis Redding's "Mr. Pitiful")

2. Breakfast In Bed - BABY WASHINGTON (November 1969, Cotillion 45-44055, A-side - Gamble & Huff song)

3. (Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover, Part 1 - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (December 1969, Atlantic 45-2686, A-side)

4. God Gave Me A Song - INTERDENOMINATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR of WASHINGTON, D.C. & MARYLAND (February 1970, Cotillion 45-44062, A-side)

5. That's The Way My Baby Is - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (March 1970, Atlantic 45-2720, B-side of "At Last I Found A Love")

6. Precious, Precious - JACKIE MOORE (October 1970, Atlantic 45-2681, B-side of "Willpower")

7. Groove Me - KING FLOYD (September 1970, Atlantic 45-435, B-side of "What Our Love Needs")

8. Plain And Simple Girl - GARLAND GREEN (January 1971, Cotillion 45-44098, A-side)

9. Hold On - JAMES CARR (July 1971, Atlantic 45-2803, A-side - Tommy Tate cover)

10. Thin Line Between Love And Hate - THE PERSUADERS (July 1971, Atco 45-6822, A-side) 

11. A Song For You - DONNY HATHAWAY (from the April 1971 album "Donny Hathaway" on Atlantic SD-360 in Stereo)

12. She's A Burglar - HOWARD TATE (February 1972, Atlantic 45-2860, A-side, for B-side, see 14)

13. Victim Of A Foolish Heart - BETTYE SWANN (April 1972, Atlantic 45-2869, A-side)

14. You Don't Know Nothing About Love - HOWARD TATE (February 1972, Atlantic 45-2860, B-side, for A, see 12)

15. Giving Up - DONNY HATHAWAY (from the April 1971 album "Donny Hathaway" on Atlantic SD-360 in Stereo)

16. How Could I Let You Get Away - THE SPINNERS (July 1972, Atlantic 45-2904, A-side)

17. I Can Understand It, Part 1 - VALENTINOS (March 1973, Clean CN-60005, A-side - Bobby Womack cover)

18. Some Guys Have All The Luck - THE PERSUADERS (September 1973, Atco 45-6943, A-side)

19. She's Gone - DARYL HALL & JOAN OATES (November 1973, Atlantic 45-2803, A-side, 3:24 minutes edit, reissued November 1976 on Atlantic 45-3332, A-side - charted again)

20. Hooked For Life - THE TRAMMPS (August 1975, Atlantic 45-3286, A-side)

The LP-sized booklet has some amazing rare photos, Soul Brothers Six with their instruments get all of Page 24, Don Covay and Atlantic Records supremo Jerry Wexler wave at us from Page 21 (with snaps of the Tami Lynn and Jo Ann & Troy 45 labels to the left) and there's a very tasty full-colour plate given over to Donny Hathaway on Page 30 sat at a piano live in concert - his trademark tweed beret on. At the beginning of the book are some beautifully reproduced trade adverts for Barbara Lewis, the Betty LaVett B-side "My Man - He's A Lovin' Man" while Baby Washington gets a colour publicity photo. A lot of the time it feels like the images are taking up space where words and critique could have been, but I have to say it's nice to see artists outside of Atlantic's more famous roster (Aretha, wilson, Otis etc) get pride of place.  

The Audio is a very mixed bag despite BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH transfers and remastering - especially on the rarer stuff on Discs 1 and 2. I felt a lot of it sounded well Mono-rough, but once you get past 1964, the production values go up accordingly and by the time you're playing Howard Tate or The Persuaders on Disc 4 - the Audio is properly gorgeous. It's also nice to see this set dip into Lu Pine, Clean, Chimneyville and other off-shoot Atlantic labels. Niggles: small but worth noting, wrong catalogue number for The Isley Brothers and Howard Tate's "She's A Burglar" is misspelt, the whole sepia thing is both lovely and ever so slightly irritating, the card sleeves fly about inside the box die-cuts and can easily buckle (the tracks lists are almost unreadable on them too) and the first three CDs really should have had more tracks (the playing time on CD1 is a joke). To the tunes... 

Disc 1 leads superbly with the gorgeous "Come Rain Or Shine" by Ray Charles – an early R&B ballad with Soul at its core and a brilliant opening gambit for a compilation like this. But then CD1 kind of gets lost, filled up with R&B New Breed tunes like "You're The Boss" by LaVern Baker and "Daddy Rollin' Stone" by Jimmy Ricks (of The Ravens) - and good as they may be to some people, its not until we get to "Darling" by The Falcons (Track 7) do we get anything that actually approximates Soul as we know it (Wilson Pickett and his distinctive rasp, a Mack Rice and Eddie Floyd-penned ballad). Both of the B-sides by Ben E. King and The Isley Brothers feel like they're searching for some kind of commercial groove and not finding it. Pickett and The Falcons provide a Disc One shouting Soul dancer later on in the shape of "Take This Love I've Got" – a rarity worth showcasing. Rough but clean sound on the equally rare Nat Kendricks & The Swans dance-craze chugger "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes". 

Doris Troy rescues the situation with the classic "Just One Look" but the impossibly rare "Love Is Amazing" by The Ohio Untouchables feels more novelty than Soul (their "I'm Tired" – Track 16 – is far better). Little Esther Phillips is taking a lock of her man's hair and a five dollar bill to a woman called "Mojo Hannah" down in Louisiana – gonna work that thing to get her chap back home real soon (good bopper). Solomon Burke's cover of "He'll Have To Go" is excellent (what a voice and that Ben E. King shuffle in the song), but again the novelty element creeps in with the mock-live frat party take of "My Girl Sloppy" by The Vibrations – a forgettable answer tune to The McCoys 1965 mega-hit "Hang On Sloopy". It ends well though on the torch Soul of "I've Got No Time To Lose" by Carla Thomas and a rare New Breed dancer B-side from Mack Rice in "Baby I'm Coming Home" - down on his knees - begging to wherever his baby is. 

Things pick up immeasurably on Disc 2 with the likes of Don Covay going to the doctor only to realise that his baby's love is the only medicine he needs - "Come See About Me". The goodies continue with a Jeanie Allen tune "I Found A Love Oh What A Love" - Jo Ann Campbell and Troy Seals duetting on a ballad that rises above its soppy lyrics. But given there was room on CD2 to put their B-side cover of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love" in here too - I think a rarity trick was missed on that one. The two Patti LaBelle covers of "Groovy Kind Of Love" and "Over The Rainbow" come across as cringe-worthy cheese. Little Esther can't believe that she and her squeeze are through in the melodrama Soul of "Some Things You Never Get Used To". 

That is trounced however by the gorgeous smoocher "I Don't Want To Lose You" from Pittsburgh's golden-throated Tommy Hunt - a huge tune amongst British collectors who are liable to go into Northern Soul seizures at the mere though of it. Shufflers don't come much better than the summer breeze of "Thank You John" - a strangely happy song about a man who doesn't do right by his gal either physically or monetarily - Willie Tee assuring her that everything will be alright. And while both Esther Phillips and The Isley Brothers acquit themselves admirably in pleader-ballads "Let Me Know When It's Over" and "Have You Ever Been Disappointed" - the "Money Honey" B-side "Let's Go Get Stoned" by The Coasters feels plain out-of-place to me. 

But Disc 2 picks up again with Don Covay's fantastic neck-jerker "Sookie Sookie" - an obscure B-side that hairy-assed John Kay led Steppenwolf would of course almost make their own in 1968 when they rocked that mother on their fab self-titled debut album on ABC/Dunhill. Organist Booker T. Jones, Guitarist Steve Cropper and singer David Porter of Stax fame gifted Don Covay a second groove winner on here in the shape of the seldom-heard "Iron Out The Rough Spots". Another sexy hip-shaker is "It Ain't What You Got" – Jimmy Hughes eating up that Rick Hall Fame Studios production and Fame Gang backing band. CD2 goes out with the scent of social change in the air when The Sweet Inspirations put their hurting ladies touch on the Pops Staples song "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" followed by Aretha taking the beautiful Sam Cooke plea in "A Change Is Gonna Come" into a virtual national anthem.  

CD3 brings us a brand new dance from the Mid West where Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds want to sock it to that girl out there in her bad dress – the frantic feel-so-good "Get Down" surely the kind of tune that will show up in the sequel movie "Baby Driver 2: Driven Again". The very cool neck jerkers continue with Clarence Carter and his fantastic hah-hah-hah "Looking For A Fox" - while Sam & Dave get sweeter than the honey bees make in "Soul Sister, Brown Sugar". Hadn't heard "Ice Cream Man" by The Dynamics – a pretty two-stepper – and even better is "I Don't Know" by Baby Washington, unable to tell us when her man is coming home. Speaking of pretty (perhaps a little too soppy) is The Sweet Inspirations with their "That's The Way My Baby Is" and there's a live-in-a-hall vibe to the obscure "God Gave Me A Song" – a holy roller that's rare but too far for me. And on it goes to the superb doggone funk of "Groove Me" by King Floyd and domestic heartache captured in “Thin Line Between Love And Hate" – The Persuaders and their moment of glory. 

Sat in 2021, you could argue that many of these rarities have been put out by diligent reissue companies in the 14 years since this box set first appeared – so their exclusive inclusion here might not be as relevant as it once was. But like so much on Rhino and Rhino Handmade, I love this label and I had to own it. Just try to get one for a decent price. Onwards and upwards peeps...

RHINO Handmade (USA) Themed Series of 

Atlantic Records 4CD Box Sets

Compiled by BILLY VERA – DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT Remasters

1. "Atlantic Blues {1949-1970}" - September 2007 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7737 (Barcode 603497773725) 4CDs, 80-Tracks in 5" picture card sleeves housed in die-cut hollows in a 12" x 12" Silk Screen Printed Box Set. Inside is a 36-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

2. "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" – October 2007 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7739 (Barcode 603497773923) - 4CDs, 82-Tracks, 36-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

3. "Atlantic Vocal Groups {1951-1963}" - June 2008 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7738 (Barcode 603497773824) - 4CDs, 82-Track, 32-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

"Abracadabra: The Asylum Years" by JUDEE SILL (2006 Rhino 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Like A Wind Song…" 

With her so uncool Granny glasses, plain Jane straight hair and hard-to-pigeonhole melodies - JUDEE SILL's duo of Asylum Label LPs have gathered a cult-status that refuses to go away. Yet as someone who worked in a busy secondhand record shop in London's West End for near twenty years - I can remember in the late Eighties and Nineties when you couldn't give "Judee Sill" or "Heart Food" away. Much like Emitt Rhodes on Probe or Eric Andersen on Capitol (see reviews for both) - they'd sit in the racks in their fetching gatefold sleeves unloved and unwanted. And clearly from this gorgeous 2CD retrospective - that was something of a collective mistake. It's not all genius by any means - but when she hits that mark - her music is truly beautiful. So here are the cross makers and the soldiers of the heart...

UK released June 2006 - "Abracadabra: The Asylum Years" by JUDEE SILL on Rhino/Asylum 8122 79534 2 (Barcode 081227953423) is a 2CD Set of Remasters and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (77:26 minutes):

1. Crayon Angels

2. The Phantom Cowboy

3. The Archetypal Man

4. The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown

5. Lady-O

6. Jesus Was A Cross Maker

7. Ridge Rider

8. My Man On Love

9. Lopin' Along Thru The Cosmos

10. Enchanted Sky Machines

11. Abracadabra

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut album "Judee Sill" - released September 1971 in the USA on Asylum SD-5050 and May 1972 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8751

12. The Pearl (Original Version)

13. The Phoenix (Original Version)

Tracks 12 and 13 were removed from the album to make room for the late inclusion of "Jesus Was A Cross Maker" and subsequently re-recorded for "Heart Food"

14. Ridge Rider (Alternate Version)

15. My Man On Love (Alternate Version)

14 and 15 are Previously Unreleased outtakes from the "Judee Sill" sessions

16. Intro/The Vigilante

17. Lady-O

18. Enchanted Sky Machines

19. The Archetypical Man

20. Crayon Angels

21. The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown

22. Jesus Was A Cross Maker

Tracks 16 to 22 were recorded 'Live In Boston Music Hall', 3 October 1971

Tracks 12 to 22 were first issued on the Rhino Handmade CD Edition of "Judee Sill" on RHM2 7836 in 2003

Disc 2 (77:56 minutes):

1. There's A Rugged Road

2. The Kiss

3. The Pearl

4. Down Where The Valleys Are Low

5. The Vigilante

6. Soldier Of The Heart

7. The Phoenix

8. When The Bridegroom Comes

9. The Donor

10. (No Title)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Heart Food" - released March 1973 in the USA on Asylum SD 5063 and April 1973 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9006

11. The Desperado (outtake from the "Heart Food" sessions)

12. The Kiss

13. Down Where The Valleys Are Low

14. The Donor

15. Soldier Of The Heart

16. The Phoenix

17. The Vigilante

18. The Pearl

19. There's A Rugged Road

Tracks 12 to 19 are Solo Demos for the "Heart Food" album

20. The Donor (Alternate Mix) - Previously Unreleased

Tracks 10 to18 first issued on the Rhino Handmade CD Edition of "Heart Food" on RHM2 7802 in 2003

With its card slipcase, a 20-page sepia-tinted booklet and CD labels that reflect the original Asylum 'door in the sky' logo - this feels like a classy release - and it is. First up is the truly beautiful remastering by long-standing Rhino stalwarts DAN HERSCH and DAVE SCHULTZ. Co-ordinator ANDY ZAC explains in the liner notes that the first generation Stereo master tapes had inherent glitches and distorted her voice. Hidden by vinyl to some degree -the CD is less forgiving - but given that - the job they've done is fabulous - as faithful and as clear as the music is ever going to be. On quieter songs like the piano-driven "When The Bridegroom Comes" - their deftness of touch really lifts the song.

Her two minor hits are here - covers of The Turtles "Lady-O" and The Hollies "Jesus Was A Cross Maker" - but her own "There's A Rugged Road" impresses more (Shawn Colvin does a gorgeous version of it on her "Cover Girl" CD from 1994). "My Man On Love" has her signature magic - as lovely a melody as you've ever heard. It was put on the flipside of "Sky Enchanted Machines" when it got released in September 1972 in the UK as a 7" single (Asylum AYM 509). "The Archetypal Man" is witty and perceptive too and I love the 'Alternate Version' of "Ridge Rider" which is simplified and better for it.

But if I were to single out three masterpieces - two would be on the hugely accomplished "Heart Food" album. First is probably everybody's favourite -  the moving and beautiful ache of "The Kiss" - wow! If you get the chance -check out The Old Grey Whistle Test footage of her doing this live with just a piano in 1973 (lyrics from it title this review). Second is the epic 9-minute hymn-like finisher "The Donor" which MICHELE KORT rightly gives paragraphs to in her wonderfully detailed and heartfelt liner notes. It goes off into staggering vocal tangents and pirouettes that predate Kate Bush - and with the combined male and female voices repeating a Kyrie Eleison refrain throughout (Lord Have Mercy) - its musical ambition is like a female Todd Rundgren on a roll. The complicated tympani and vibes arrangements alone must have taken months to get down. It's astonishing stuff.

But best of all is the set's prize - a previously unreleased outtake that I feel matches even "The Kiss". It's called "The Desperado" and should have finished the album instead of the non-titled Track 10 that is merely an Irish air instrumental that might have seemed like fun at the time - but now seems superfluous and badly misjudged. "The Desperado" would have brought the album full-circle - even into Joni Mitchell territory. It's beautifully produced - a lovely acoustic melody - what a find.

Judee Sill won't be for everyone for sure and some may wonder what all the fuss is about - but I've been moved to tears many times by the beauty and talent available on this gorgeous 2CD release.

Aged only 35 - she died at home 23 November 1979 from a drug overdose - with her loss barely reported anywhere. Rest with the angels you beautiful lady...

"Atlantic Blues {1949-1970}" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (September 2007 US Rhino Handmade 4CD LP-Sized Box Set - Billy Vera Compiled - Limited Numbered Edition of 3000 Copies Only - Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Stealing Through My Heart Again…" 

There seems to be mystery in some circles surrounding this excellent but slightly elusive box set. Let's dissipate that discography fog right away...

"Atlantic Blues {1949-1970}" by VARIOUS ARTISTS was released in the USA in September 2007 on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7737 (Barcode 603497773725). 

4CDs in 5" picture card sleeves are housed in die-cut hollows in a 12" x 12" Silk Screen Printed Box Set with a 36-page full-sized booklet. It's numbered to 3000 (on the booklet's last page) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1, 20 tracks, LEADBELLY pictured, 62:24 minutes:

1. Drinking' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - STICK McGHEE (1949, Atlantic 873, A)

2. Drank Up All The Wine Last Night - STICK McGHEE (1949, Atlantic 898, A)

3. The Razor Ball - BARRELHOUSE SAMMY (first appeared on the 1972 BLIND WILLY McTELL US LP "Atlanta Twelve String" on Atlantic SD 7224)

4. Last Dime Blues - BARRELHOUSE SAMMY (as per 3)

5. Mardi Gras In Orleans - ROY "Baldhead" BYRD [Professor Longhair] (1949, Atlantic 897, A)

6. Hey Now Baby - PROFESSOR LONGHAIR (1972 US LP "New Orleans Piano" on Atlantic SD 7225)

7. She Walks Right In - PROFESSOR LONGHAIR (as per 6)

8. Tee Nah Nah - VAN "Piano Man" WALLS and his AFTER HOUR SESSION BOYS [Vocal by SPIDER SAM] (1950, Atlantic 904, A)

9. Let's Do It - STICK McGHEE and His Buddies (1950, Atlantic 912, A)

10. House Warmin' Boogie - STICK McGHEE (1950, Atlantic 926, A)

11. Dallas Bebop Blues - LAWYER HOUSTON (1950, Atlantic 916, A)

12. In The Army Since 1941 - SOLDIER BOY HOUSTON (this is the same song as 11 by the same artist but with different lyrics - first appeared on the 1971 Various Artists LP "Texas Guitar: From Dallas To L.A." on Atlantic SD 7226 in the USA)

13. Goodnight Irene - LEADBELLY (1950, Atlantic 917, A)

14. Vicksburg Blues '51 - LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY (1972 US LP by JIMMY & MAMA YANCEY called "Chicago Piano Volume 1 - Blues Originals Vol.6" on Atlantic SD 7229)

15. Talkin' Boogie - LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY (as per 14 - note 14 is an instrumental whilst 15 has talking vocals throughout)

16. Yancey Special - JIMMY YANCEY (1951 US LP "Yancey Special" on Atlantic 130)

17. Santa Fe Blues - JIMMY & MAMA YANCEY (as per 16)

18. Monkey Woman Blues - JIMMY & MAMA YANCEY (as per 16 - note 16 is a piano instrumental while 17 and 18 have vocals by Mama Yancey)

19. Worried Life Blues - RAY CHARLES (1953 US LP "The Genius Sings The Blues" on Atlantic 8052)

20. All Night Lover Blues - JIMMY "Baby Face" LEWIS and His Band (1949, Atlantic 884, A)

Disc 2, 20 Tracks, RAY CHARLES pictured, 56:46 minutes:

1. Jump Everybody Jump - JOE MORRIS and His Orchestra (1951, Atlantic 931, A, Joe Morris Vocals)

2. Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere - JOE MORRIS and His Orchestra Featuring LAURIE TATE (1951, Atlantic 914, A, Vocals Laurie Tate)

3. I'm So Good To You (Pretty Baby) - JIMMY "Baby Face" LEWIS and his Band (1949, Atlantic 901, A)

4. Rock Me Daddy - JOE MORRIS and His Orchestra featuring LAURIE TATE (1950, Atlantic 965, A)

5. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! - JOE MORRIS and His Orchestra (B-side of 1, is a Louis Prima cover version)

6. Chains Of Love - JOE TURNER with Van 'Piano Man' Walls Orchestra (1951, Atlantic 939, A)

7. Bump Miss Susie - JOE TURNER with Van 'Piano Man' Walls Orchestra (1951, Atlantic 949, A)

8. Let's Get Together And Make Some Love - JIMMY LEWIS and his Band (1951, Atlantic 943, A)

9. Every Time - LIL GREEN with Howard Biggs Orchestra (1951, Atlantic 951, A)

10. I've Got That Feeling - LIL GREEN with Howard Biggs Orchestra (B-side of 9)

11. Sweet Sixteen - JOE TURNER with Van 'Piano Man' Walls Orchestra (1952, Atlantic 960, A)

12. Alarm Clock Boogie - ODELLE TURNER with Jesse Stone & His Orchestra (1952, Atlantic 964, A)

13. Messin' Up - CHUCK NORRIS (1953, Atlantic 994, A)

14. Losing Hand - RAY CHARLES (1953, Atlantic 1037, A)

15. Feelin' Sad - RAY CHARLES (1954, Atlantic 1008, A)

16. TV Mama - JOE TURNER (1953, Atlantic 1016, A, features ELMORE JAMES on Slide Guitar

17. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop - JOE TURNER (B-side of 16)

18. Last Call For Whiskey - CHOKER CAMPBELL [Vocals Harold Young] (1953, Atlantic 1014, A)

19. Tipitina - PROFESSOR LONGHAIR 91953, Atlantic 1020, A)

20. Who's Been Fooling You - PROFESSOR LONGHAIR & his Blues Scholars (B-side of 19)

Disc 3, 20 Tracks, T-BONE WALKER pictured, 64:04 minutes:

1. Big Foot May - HAL PAIGE and his Blues Boys (1953, Atlantic 1032, A)

2. In The Evening - JOE TURNER (1954 Atlantic EP 565)

3. Roll Baby Roll - FLOYD DIXON and His Band (1954, Cat 106, A)

4. Wait Baby - LITTLE JOHNNY JONES (1972 Various Artists US LP "Blues Piano: Chicago Plus" on Atlantic SD 7227)

5. Hoy Hoy - LITTLE JOHNNY JONES  (1953, Atlantic 1045, A)

6. Chicago Blues - LITTLE JOHNNY JONES (as per 4)

7. Hey Bartender - FLOYD DIXON (1954, Cat 114, A)

8. When I Get Lucky - FLOYD DIXON (as per 4)

9. Floyd's Blues - FLOYD DIXON (as per 4)

10. Papa Ain't Salty - T-BONE WALKER (1955, Atlantic 1065, A)

11. Play On Little Girl - T-BONE WALKER (1955, Atlantic 1074, A)

12. T-Bone Blues Special - T-BONE WALKER (as per 12 on Disc 1)

13. Roll `Em Pete - JOE TURNER (1956 US LP "Boss Of The Blues" on Atlantic 1234)

14. Piney Brown Blues - JOE TURNER (as per 13)

15. Down Through The Years - GUITAR SLIM (1956, Atco 6072, A)

16. It's Too Late - CHUCK WILLIS (1956, Atlantic 1098, A)

17. Ain't Nobody's Business - JIMMY WITHERSPOON with Wilber De Paris "New" New Orleans Band (1956 LP "New Orleans Blues" on Atlantic 1266 - credited to Wilber De Paris Plays Jimmy Witherspoon Sings)

18. How Long Blues - JIMMY WITHERSPOON (as per 17)

19. T-Bone Blues - T-BONE WALKER (1958 LP "T-Bone's Blues" on Atlantic 8020)

20. Call It Stormy Monday - T-BONE WALKER (as per 19)

Disc 4, 20 Tracks, FREDDIE KING pictured, 68:02 minutes:

1. After The Lights Go Down Low - AL HIBBLER (1956 US LP "After The Lights Go Down Low" on Atlantic 1251)

2. Empty Bed Blues - LaVERN BAKER (1958 US LP "LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith" on Atlantic 1281)

3. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out - LaVERN BAKER (as per 2)

4. Preaching The Blues - LaVERN BAKER (as per 2)

5. Nasty Boogie - CHAMPION JACK DUPREE (1958 US LP "Blues From the Gutter" on Atlantic 8019)

6. Junker's Blues - CHAMPION JACK DUPREE (as per 5)

7. Along About Midnight - GUITAR SLIM (1971 US Various Artists LP "Texas Guitar: From Dallas To L.A." on Atlantic SD 7226)

8. My Time Is Expensive - GUITAR SLIM (1996 US CD "Atco Sessions" Atlantic 81760)

9. Trouble In Mind - JIMMY RICKS (1964, Atlantic 2246, A)

10. Romance In The Dark - JIMMY RICKS (B-side of 9)

11. Two Years Of Torture - RAY CHARLES (1959 US LP "The Genius Of Ray Charles" on Atlantic 1312)

12. I'm Getting' Long Alright - ESTHER PHILLIPS (1966 US LP "Confessin' The Blues" on Atlantic 1680)

13. Confessin' The Blues - ESTHER PHILLIPS (as per 12)

14. Cherry Red - ESTHER PHILLIPS (as per 12)

15. Going Down Slow - ARETHA FRANKLIN (1967, Atlantic 2427, A)

16. Today I Sing The Blues - ARETHA FRANKLIN (1969 US LP "Soul '69" on Atlantic 8212)

17. River's Invitation - ARETHA FRANKLIN (as per 16)

18. Play It Cool - FREDDIE KING (1970 US LP "Freddie King Is A Blues Master" on Cotillion SD 9004)

19. I Don't Know - FREDDIE KING (1970 US LP "My Feeling For The Blues" on Atlantic SD 9016)

20. My Love For You Will Never Die - OTIS RUSH (1969 US LP "Mourning In The Morning" on Cotillion SD 9006)

PRESENTATION:

Compiled by the peerless BILLY VERA (assisted by MASON WILLIAMS) - initially I was disappointed by the size and content of the booklet - only 36 pages and a lot of that filled with track lists that don't even list musicians (but have catalogue numbers). But the more I delved - the more I began to dig it. First of all I love the way it looks and feels - all of the photos and text are given this sepia tint that feels like you're riffling through an old newspaper that's aged with decades. The BILLY VERA liner notes are great fun and informative of course and the plethora of Cash Box and other US music magazine adverts peppering the text looks fabulous - as do the full page photos given over to artists who never get real recognition - Chocker Campbell, Jimmy Yancey, Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker and Guitar Slim. But musically is where the real action is - cool choices and a dip into the murky lesser-heard Blues past of Atlantic Records and its subsiduaries...

CONTENT/SOUND: Long-standing tape engineers BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH have done a wonderful job with the remastering. As you can imagine - given their age - 'some' of the tracks on Disc 1 can sound rough ("All Night Lover Blues" by Jimmy "Baby Face" Lewis has bad tape disintegration) but actually 95% don't - beautifully transferred - full of life and lovely clarity. The bulk of the 4 CDs concentrate on the rarer Forties and Fifties sides with only Disc 4 reaching The Sixties and Seventies half way through its playing time. In fact the eagle-eyed collectors amongst you will notice from the disc-by-disc breakdown above that some of those superb "Blues Originals" LPs that came out of the States in their lovely textured gatefold sleeves in 1972 (Atlantic SD 7224, 7225, 7226 and 7229) are being given CD reissue here for the first time in many cases. And of course on top of that there's those rare early 78's and 45's on Atlantic, Atco and Cat to savour...

Fantastic discoveries include the pure acoustic blues of "Dallas Bebop Blues" by Lawyer Houston that sounds just incredible given its vintage - while Leadbelly's classic "Goodnight Irene" sounds like it was recorded in a shack adjacent to cotton fields (basic and atmospheric). The piano instrumental "Vicksburg Blues '51" by Little Brother Montgomery has incredible atmosphere and there's a classy sepia photo of him taking up the whole of Page 19.

Disc 2 ups the pace considerably by introducing Jump Blues in the shape of Joe Morris and Jimmy Lewis...and there's gorgeous slow blues from Lil Green on "I Got That Feeling" (lyrics from it title this review). She gets a full-page photograph on 21 whilst my personal hero Big Joe Turner gets Page 22 - a superb photo of him standing by Atlantic bosses Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun and piled-high boxes of the "Corrine Corrina" 45 - all three burly men smiling as wads of centerless singles are shipped out to eager punters. Just as rocking is Odelle Turner who tears it with "Alarm Clock Blues". But "Messin' Up" by Chuck Norris is clearly dubbed off a bad 45 and is included for rarity value. Genius choice goes to the lesser-heard Ray Charles masterpiece of Blues "Losing Hand". And I don't care how knackered the 45 of "Last Call For Whiskey" is - it's the most fun and a wonderful inclusion ("drunk with your elbows on the bar..."). Discs 3 and 4 see genius like "Roll 'Em Pete" by Joe Turner updating his Forties hit with superb brass backing while the Jimmy Witherspoon and Wilber De Paris sides are a brilliant inclusion. T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Ricks, Champion Jack Dupree and the irrepressible LaVern Baker ("Empty Bed" is so good) all impress.

To sum up - although it may seem too 'slight' at first - over time I've grown to adore this box - it's a lovely thing to listen to and behold. And I know the playing times are too short and in some respects it's a bit of a 'missed opportunity' as other reviewers have quite rightly pointed out. But living with what I've got - I play "Atlantic Blues" more than other box sets with twice as much under the hood. In fact I liked it so much - I had to get my grubby paws on the other 12" x 12" entries in this short-lived Rhino series. So for me - recommended like a tin of rejuvenating spinach...

RHINO Handmade Series of Themed Atlantic Records Box Sets

Numbered Limited Editions of 3000 Copies

Compiled by BILLY VERA – DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT Remasters

1. "Atlantic Blues {1949-1970}" - September 2007 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7737 (Barcode 603497773725) - it contains 4CDs/80-Tracks in 5" picture card sleeves housed in die-cut hollows in a 12" x 12" Silk Screen Printed Box Set. Inside is a 36-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

2. "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" – October 2007 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7739 (Barcode 603497773923) – it contains 4CDs/82-Tracks in 5" picture card sleeves housed in die-cut hollows in a 12" x 12" Silk Screen Printed Box Set. Inside is a 36-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

3. "Atlantic Vocal Groups {1951-1963}" - June 2008 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7738 (Barcode 603497773824) – it contains 4CDs/82-Tracks in 5" picture card sleeves are housed in hollows inside a 12" x 12" Silk Screen Printed Box Set. Inside is a 32-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

"Tim Buckley" by TIM BUCKLEY - October 1966 Debut Album on Elektra Records in Mono and Stereo with Previously Unreleased (January 2011 US Rhino-Handmade 2CD Reissue with Bruce Botnik Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Old Love...New Love..."

 

There are those who call Tim Buckley's music 'magical' whilst others dismiss his Jazz style arrangements and vocal gymnastics as 'grating' or even 'nonsense'. I'm firmly in the first category (he was a bona-fide genius and true innovator). And despite its reputation as a good 'beginning' or lesser work (even amongst rabid fans) - I'd argue that there's genuine beauty to be rediscovered on his 1966 self-titled debut album "Tim Buckley" - reissued here in grand style and with great respect by Rhino Handmade of the USA. Here are the aural highs and lows...

 

USA released 11 January 2011 - "Tim Buckley" by TIM BUCKLEY on Rhino Handmade/Elektra RHM2 526087 (Barcode 603497947874) is an Expanded Edition 2CD Deluxe Edition of his 1966 Debut Album on Elektra Records that plays out as follows:

 

Disc 1 (69:37 minutes):

1. I Can't See You [Side 1]

2. Wings

3. Song Of The Magician

4. Strange Street Affair Under Blue

5. Valentine Melody

6. Aren't You The Girl

7. Song Slowly Song [Side 2]

8. It Happens Every Time

9. Song For Jainie

10. Grief In My Soul

11. She Is

12. Understand Your Man

Tracks 1 to 12 are the STEREO version of his debut album "Tim Buckley" - released October 1966 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS-74040. Tracks 13 to 24 are the MONO Mix on Elektra Records EK-4040

 

Disc 2 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (53:01 minutes):

1. Put You Down

2. It Happens Every Time

3. Let Me Love You

4. I've Played That Game Before

5. She Is

6. Here I Am

7. Don't Look Back

8. Call Me If You Do

9. You Today

10. No More

11. Won't You Please Be My Woman

12. Come On Over

Tracks 1 to 12 are by THE BOHEMIANS (his first group) and are Demos recorded 8 November 1965 in Anaheim, California. The line up was: TIM BUCKLEY - Vocal and Rhythm Guitar, JIM FELDER - Bass, LARRY BECKET - Drums and BRIAN HARTZLER - Guitar.

 

13. She Is

14. Aren't You The Girl

15. Found At The Scene Of A Rendezvous That Failed

16. Wings

17. My Love Is For You

18. Song Slowly Song

19. Song Introductions by Larry Beckett

20. I Can't See You

21. Birth Day

22. Long Tide

Tracks 13 to 22 are ACOUSTIC DEMOS recorded during the summer of 1966 in Anaheim, California with Buckley on Vocals and Guitar. LARRY BECKETT provides Lead Vocals on two songs - "Found At The Scene Of A Rendezvous That Failed" and "Birth Day" and the Intro to "Song Slowly Song" (all other vocals by Tim Buckley).

 

The presentation is lovely. An over-sized outer card wrap (rustic cardboard effect) is held in place by a ribbon on the rear. Opening the three-way fold out card sleeve gives you a 5" card repro of the album artwork on the left with a mock-up Elektra Records "Previously Unreleased' sleeve in the centre and on the left - a 20-page oversized booklet with superbly informational liner notes by American Writer THANE TIERNEY (with the overall project handled by Mason Williams). But the big news for fans is the gorgeous sound and the new extras.

 

Remastered from original tapes by original Engineer BRUCE BOTNICK - both mixes of the album reveal lovely detail. There's hiss for sure but it's natural - Botnick has allowed the recordings to breath and the feeling of intimacy is so pronounced as to make you double take (no compression nor loudness). I also couldn't believe how good the straight-out-of-your-speakers Mono mix sounds - so punchy and full of power. "Strange Street Affair Under Blue" sounds so Doors in Mono - while the ethereal and trippy "Song Of The Magician" and "Song Slowly Song" both 'feel' better in Stereo.

 

After cutting his chops on stage - Tim Buckley was only 18 when he was contracted to Elektra Records (allegedly the same day they signed The Doors). The Doors connection continued by having Paul Rothchild and Bruce Botnick as Producer and Engineer respectively. Tracks like the jaunty "Song For Jainie" and "I Can't See You" show a level of songwriting maturity that is spine tingling. The guitar phrases in "I Can't See You" even sound a little like Jeff Buckley's "Grace". But it's the pretty tunes like "Valentine Melody" and "Song Slowly Song" that move you - where his amazing octave range is given flight. The lovely "Wings" also benefits from the string-arrangements of JACK NITZSCHE while "Aren't You The Girl" has VAN DYKE PARKS on various keyboard instruments.

 

The liner notes explain that the Demos on CD2 are just that - crudely cut demos (courtesy of The Bohemians). There are wobbles, dips and instruments buried way back in the mix of the November 1965 session - but historically it's extraordinary stuff to be hearing after all these decades. "I've Played That Game Before" is new, but far prettier is "Here I Am". Thankfully the second batch of personal demos features a far warmer recording and therefore ups the intimacy. Over and over - his voice strikes you. "My Love Is For You" is ok - "Birth Day" is awful and "Long Time" is nice.

 

So there you have it - gorgeous remasters of the original album - with both mixes warranting inclusion - and some nice new songs on CD2.

 

He would go on to greatness with "Happy Sad" (March 1969 USA), the beautifully languid "Blue Afternoon" (November 1969) and "Lorca" (June 1970) and the beginning of the end for me with the mostly unlistenable Jazz Avant Garde "Starsailor" (November 1970) only to spend years in the Seventies trying to play unsuccessful catch up (Tim passed June 1975, very young). And on 17 Nov 1966 - Tim and his wife Mary would bring a son into the world called Jeffrey Scott Buckley, who would also go on to musical greatness - his stunning debut album "Grace" from August 1994 - and life sadness too, just like his mercurial father. But this is where the 'Buckley' legend begins.

 

My only wish is that Rhino Handmade makes good on the rumour that "Happy Sad" and "Blue Afternoon" will both follow in this lavish series. What a thought...

 

PS: check out my review for "The Complete Album Collection" by Elektra/Rhino from October 2017 that contains the fabulous "Works In Progress" CD compilation (Disc 8 of 8). Originally issued October 1999 by Rhino Handmade in the USA-only as a stand-alone limited edition CD - this peach has 16 superbly remastered Studio Outtakes dated from May 1967 through to July 1968 and highlights Buckley and his crew in the very best light...