"Can You Dig It? The 70's Soul Experience" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Eight-Track Cassette Shaped Box Set featuring 136 Tracks from US 45-Singles by Sly & The Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, The Stylistics, Bill Withers, The Temptations, James Brown, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Eddie Holman, The Delfonics, Tyrone Davis, The Friends Of Distinction, The Glass House, Joe Tex, Spinners, The Chi-Lites, Malo, The Staple Singers, The 8th Day, Rose Royce, The Soul Children, Labelle, Ohio Players, War, Average White Band, Rick James and many more (October 2001 US Rhino 6CD 136-Track Box Set in Mock-Up 8-Track Cartridge Packaging with a Perspex Lid, A Fold-Out Door That Reveals 6 Inner CD Slots with Individual Period Style Magazine Covers, a 76-Page Separate Glossy Colour Booklet and Dan Hersch/Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)..."

 

Here in late May 2023 - almost 22-years since its release - this stunning Rhino Box Set is a King of the World as far as I'm concerned. Loads to talk about so immediately to the fly...

 

Despite the Box Set subtitle of 70's Soul Experience - The Friends of Distinction opening track "Grazing In The Grass" was actually released in February 1969 - as are eight more 1969 tracks on CD1. But of course most took a good few months or longer to gain audience interest and didn’t start to show real chart traction until 1970 – hence their inclusions here. The last title on CD6 "Golden Touch" by Rose Royce has an official release date of May 1981 – but again is rooted in that Norman Whitefield Temptations-type 70s sound and is on his own Whitfield Records. 

 

But the core of the 136-tracks on "Can You Dig It? The 70's Soul Experience" is an array of well-known songs - over 60 of which have been R&B and Pop No.1s on the US Billboard charts. 'Dig It' is also a very clever deep dive into titles you have forgotten or need to rehear like the slick low-rider slide of "Cool Aid" by Paul Humphries, the gorgeous truly soulful smooch of "So Very Hard To Go" by the wonderful brass ensemble Tower Of Power, the pull her close sexiness of "Cruisin'" by Smokey Robinson or the homemade but utterly affecting Timmy Thomas classic "Why Can't We Live Together".

 

Produced by DAVID McLEES and DAVID GORMAN for Rhino - all the huge labels of the day are on this 6CD Box Set as well as those plucky independents – Atlantic, Motown, Stax, Polydor, Warner Brothers, Epic, RCA Victor, United Artists, Columbia, ABC and ABC-Dunhill, Mercury, London, Brunswick, Hi Records, Invictus, Avco, Hot Wax, Dakar, Stang, Buddah, Alston, Sussex, Glades, Chimneyville, T Neck, Spring, KoKo, Chelsea, K.T. Records, MGM, Rocky Road, Gamble & Huff with Philadelphia International, Curtis Mayfield with Curtom and loads more. The great news is that Rhino have always had the knack of knowing what to re-release and remaster – and disc after disc thrills with those long lost moments and rediscovered memories. And all of it is wrapped up in Top Notch Remastered sound (Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch at Digiprep) with genuinely informative and often witty liner notes and cool period looks. In fact, between this and their August 1997 seven-inch singles 6CD Box Set Magnum Opus "Beg, Scream & Shout! The Big Ol' Box Of '60s Soul" – they are two awkwardly packaged behemoths I cannot be without – and seeing them on my overcrowded genre shelf still brings me joy. To the tunes and the chemists of cool aid...

 

US released 16 October 2001 - "Can You Dig It? The 70's Soul Experience" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino R2 74346 (Barcode 0081227434625) is a 6CD 136-Track Box Set in Mock-Up 8-Track Cartridge Packaging with Six Period Album Titles Underneath A Perspex Lid. Inside is a foldout door that reveals 6 Inner CD Slots with Individual Period Style Magazine Covers and a 76-Page Separate Colour Booklet. The entire set uses American 45-Single Edits and Playing Times and has been remastered from original tapes by DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT at Digiprep for Rhino. It plays out as follows (I have provided US release dates and catalogue numbers for 45s):

 

CD1 Sly & The Family Stone, October 1972 Artwork (79:10 minutes):

1. Grazing In The Grass – THE FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION (February 1969, RCA Victor 74-0107, A)

2. Color Him Father – THE WINSTONS (May 1969, Metromedia MM-107, A)

3. Hey There Lonely Girl – EDDIE HOLMAN (November 1969, ABC Records 45-11240, A)

4. Crumbs Off The Table – THE GLASS HOUSE (August 1969, Invictus IS 9071, A)

5. Rainy Night In Georgia – BROOK BENTON (December 1969, Cotillion 45-44047, A)

6. Everybody Is A Star – SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (December 1969, Epic 5-10555, B-side of "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin")

7. Give Me Just A Little More Time – CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD (December 1969, Invictus IS-9074, A)

8. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – THE DELFONICS (December 1969, Philly Groove 161, A)

9. The Bells – THE ORIGINALS (January 1970, Soul S 35069, A, Produced by Marvin Gaye)

10. Turn Back The Hands Of Time – TYRONE DAVIS (March 1970, Dakar 45-616, A)

11. Love On A Two-Way Street – THE MOMENTS (March 1970, Stang ST 5012, A)

12. Band Of Gold – FREDA PAYNE (February 1970, Invictus IS-9075, A)

13. O-H-H Child – THE 5 STAIRSTEPS (May 1970, Buddah BDA 165, A)

14. Westbound #9 – THE FLAMING EMBER (April 1970, Hot Wax HS 7003, A)

15. Maybe – THE THREE DEGREES (March 1970, Roulette R-7079, A)

16. The Sly, Slick, And The Wicked – THE LOST GENERATION (April 1970, Brunswick 55436, A)

17. War – EDWIN STARR (June 1970, Gordy G 7101, A)

18. Somebody's Been Sleeping - 100 PROOF AGED IN SOUL (July 1970, Hot Wax HS 7004, A)

19. Express Yourself – CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103^th STREET RHYTHM BAND (August 1970, Warner Brothers 7417, A)

20. Precious, Precious – JACKIE MOORE (October 1970, Atlantic 45-2681, US B-side of "Willpower" – Issued February 1971 in the UK with the sides reversed on Atlantic 2091 054, "Precious, Precious" on the A-side)

21. Funky Nassau, Pt. 1 – THE BEGINNING OF THE END (March 1971, Alston 4595, A)

22. Groove Me – KING FLOYD (September 1970, Chimneyville CH-435, originally B-side of "What Our Love Needs" until DJs flipped the sides and "Groove Me" became the chart hit)

23. I Love You For All Seasons – THE FUZZ (December 1970, Calla C-174, A)

24. Want Ads – HONEY CONE (March 1971, Hot Wax HS 7011, A)

25. Cool Aid – PAUL HUMPHREY & HIS COOL AID CHEMISTS (January 1971, Lizard X21006, A)

 

CD2 Al Green, November 1973 Artwork (77:17 minutes):

1. Don't Knock My Love, Pt. 1 – WILSON PICKETT (April 1971, Atlantic 45-2797, A)

2. Love Or Let Me Be Lonely – THE FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION (February 1970, RCA Victor 74-0319, A)

3. Deeper And Deeper – FREDA PAYNE (September 1970, Invictus IS-9080, A)

4. Pay To The Piper – CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD (October 1970, Invictus IS-9081, A)

5. Mr. Big Stuff – JEAN KNIGHT (March 1971, Stax STA-0088, A)

6. Women's Love Rights – LAURA LEE (July 1971, Hot Wax HS 7105, A)

7. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – THE DRAMATICS (April 1971, Volt VOA-4058, A)

8. Baby Let Me Kiss You – KING FLOYD (March 1971, Chimneyville CH-437, A)

9. Right On The Tip Of My Tongue – BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS (January 1971, Top And Bottom Records 407, A)

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

11. Have You Seen Her? – CHI-LITES (October 1971, Brunswick 55462, A)

12. Theme From Shaft – ISAAC HAYES (September 1971, Enterprise ENA-9038, A)

13. Respect Yourself – THE STAPLE SINGERS (September 1971, Stax STA-0104, A)

14. Family Affair – SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (October 1971, Epic 5-10805, A)

15. Let's Stay Together – AL GREEN (November 1971, Hi Records 45-2202, A)

16. Clean Up Woman – BETTY WRIGHT (November 1971, Alston 45-4601, A)

17. One Monkey Don't Stop No Show, Pt. 1 – HONEY CONE (November 1971, Hot Wax HS 7110, A)

18. Drowning In The Sea Of Love – JOE SIMON (October 1971, Spring SPR 120, A)

19. Ain't Understanding Mellow – JERRY BUTLER & BRENDA LEE EAGER (November 1971, Mercury 73255, A)

20. I've Been Lonely For So Long – FREDERICK KNIGHT (February 1972, Stax STA-0117, A)

21. Suavecito – MALO (February 1972, Warner Brothers WB 7559, A)

22. Hearsay – THE SOUL CHILDREN (June 1972, Stax STA-0119, A)

23. She's Not Just Another Woman – THE 8th DAY (March 1971, Invictus IS-9087, A)

 

CD3 - Curtis Mayfield, February 1974 Artwork (77:49 minutes):

1. I'll Take You There – THE STAPLE SINGERS (March 1972, Stax STA-0125, A)

2. In The Rain – THE DRAMATICS (February 1972, Volt VOA 4075, A)

3. Betcha By Golly, Wow – THE STYLISTICS (February 1972, Avco AV-4591, A)

4. Oh Girl – CHI-LITES (March 1972, Brunswick 55471, A)

5. Lean On Me – BILL WITHERS (March 1972, Sussex SUX-235, A)

6. I Gotcha – JOE TEX (December 1971, Dial D-1010, A)

7. Do Your Thing - Isaac Hayes (February 1972, Enterprise ENA-9042, A)

8. I'll Be Around – THE SPINNERS (July 1972, Atlantic 45-2904, B-side of "How Could I Let You Go" – it was the flipside that hit No. 1 R&B)

9. Too Late To Turn Back Now – CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE (April 1972, United Artists 50910, A)

10. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right – LUTHER INGRAM (April 1972, KoKo KOA-2111, A)

11. Starting All Over Again – MEL & TIM (May 1972, Stax STA-0127, A)

12. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (May 1972, Philadelphia International ZS7 3517, A)

13. You're Still A Young Man – TOWER OF POWER (June 1972, Warner Brothers WB 7612, A)

14. Everybody Plays The Fool – THE MAIN INGREDIENT (June 1972, RCA Victor 74-0731, A)

15. Freddie's Dead (Theme From "Superfly") – CURTIS MAYFIELD (July 1972, Curtom CR 1975, A)

16. I Can See Clearly Now – JOHNNY NASH (July 1972, Epic 5-10902, A)

17. If You Don't Know Me By Now – HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES (September 1972, Philadelphia International ZS7 3520, A)

18. Love Jones – BRIGHTER SIDE OF DARKNESS (August 1972, 20^th Century TC-2002, A)

19. Me And Mrs. Jones – BILLY PAUL (September 1972, Philadelphia International ZS7 3521, A)

20. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (Vocal) – THE TEMPTATIONS (September 1972, Gordy G 7121F, A, 6:58 Minute Vocal Version – B-side was Instrumental)

21. Outa-Space – BILLY PRESTON (January 1972 US Promo-Only 45 on A&M 1320 – May 1972 UK as Officially Released 45-single on A&M AMS 7007, A)

 

CD4 Four Tops, July 1974 Artwork (79:47 minutes):

1. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - SPINNERS (December 1972, Atlantic 45-2927, A)

2. Use Me – BILL WITHERS (August 1972, Sussex SUX 241, A)

3. Love Train - O'JAYS (December 1972, Philadelphia International ZS7 3524, A)

4. Why Can't We Live Together – TIMMY THOMAS (October 1972, Glades 1703, A)

5. Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) – FOUR TOPS (January 1973, Dunhill D-4339, A)

6. I'm Doin' Fine Now – NEW YORK CITY (February 1973, Chelsea 78-0113, A)

7. Pillow Talk – SYLVIA (February 1973, Vibration VI-521, A)

8. So Very Hard To Go – TOWER OF POWER (April 1973, Warner Brothers WB 7687, A)

9. Natural High – BLOODSTONE (February 1973, London 45-1046, A)

10. Let's Get It On – MARVIN GAYE (June 1973, Tamla T 54234F, A)

11. That Lady (Part 1) – ISLEY BROTHERS (July 1973, T Neck ZS7 2251, A)

12. Keep On Truckin' (Part 1) – EDDIE KENDRICKS (July 1973, Tamla T 54238F, A)

13. Hurts So Good – MILLIE JACKSON (August 1973, Spring SPR 139, A)

14. Midnight Train To Georgia – GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (August 1973, Buddah BDA 383, A)

15. I Can't Stand The Rain – ANN PEEBLES (July 1973, Hi Records HI 2248, A)

16. The World Is A Ghetto – WAR (October 1972, United Artists 50975, A)

17. Tell Her She's Lovely – EL CHICANO (July 1973, MCA Records MCA-40104, A)

18. The Love I Lost (Part 1) – HAROLD MELVIN And THE BLUE NOTES (August 1973, Philadelphia International ZS7 3533, A)

19. Cheaper To Keep Her – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1973, Stax STA-0176, A)

20. Show And Tell – AL WILSON (August 1973, Rocky Road RR 30073, A)

21. Lookin' For A Love – BOBBY WOMACK (December 1973, United Artists UA-XW375-W, A)

22. Be Thankful For What You Got – WILLIAM DeVAUGHN (March 1974, Roxbury BRBO-0236, A)

23. Just Don't Want To Be Lonely – THE MAIN INGREDIENT (January 1974, RCA Victor APBO-0205, A)

 

CD5 The Pointer Sisters, May 1975 Artwork (79:51 minutes):

1. The Payback (Part 1) – JAMES BROWN (February 1974, Polydor PD-14223, A)

2. Hollywood Swinging – KOOL & THE GANG (April 1974, De-Lite DEP 561, A)

3. Sideshow – BLUE MAGIC (March 1974, Atco 45-6961, A)

4. Rock The Boat – THE HUES CORPORATION (February 1974, RCA Victor APBO-0232, A)

5. Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man) – THE IMPRESSIONS (March 1974, Curtom CR 1997, A)

6. Rock Your Baby – GEORGE McCRAE (April 1974, T.K. Records 1004, A)

7. Tell Me Something Good – RUFUS (June 1974, ABC Records ABC-11427, A)

8. Yes We Can Can – THE POINTER SISTERS (August 1973, Blue Thumb BTA 229, A – Allen Toussaint song)

9. Hang On In There Baby – JOHNNY BRISTOL (June 1974, MGM Records M 14715, A)

10. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) - B.T. EXPRESS (July 1974, Scepter SCE 12395, A)

11. You Little Trustmaker – THE TYMES (July 1974, RCA Victor PB-10022, A)

12. Lovin' You – MINNIE RIPERTON (November 1974, Epic 8-50057, A)

13. Woman To Woman – SHIRLEY BROWN (August 1974, Truth TRA-3206, A)

14. Everlasting Love – CARL CARLTON (July 1974, Back Beat BB 27001, A)

15. When Will I See You Again – THE THREE DEGREES (September 1974, Philadelphia International ZS8 3550, A)

16. Pick Up The Pieces – AVERAGE WHITE BAND (October 1974, Atlantic 45-3229, A)

17. Lady Marmalade – LABELLE (November 1974, Epic 8-50048, A)

18. Walking In Rhythm – THE BLACKBYRDS (January 1975, Fantasy F-736, A)

19. Supernatural Thing - Part 1 - BEN E. KING (January 1975, Atlantic 45-3241, A)

20. Reasons – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (July 1975 US Promo-Only, Columbia AS 131, A – May 1976 UK 45-single on CBS Records S CBS 4240, A)

21. Rockin' Chair – GWEN McCRAE (March 1975, Cat Records 1996, A)

22. I Wanna Get Next To You – ROSE ROYCE (February 1977, MCA Records MCA-40662, A)

23. Love Won't Let Me Wait – MAJOR HARRIS (February 1975, Atlantic 45-3248, A)

 

CD6 Earth, Wind & Fire, August 1975 Artwork (77:47 minutes):

1. Shining Star – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (January 1975, Columbia 3-10090, A)

2. Express - B.T. EXPRESS (January 1975, Roadshow RD 7001, A)

3. Cut The Cake – AVERAGE WHITE BAND (March 1975, Atlantic 45-3261, A)

4. Why Can't We Be Friends – WAR (April 1975, United Artists UA-XW629-W, A)

5. So In Love – CURTIS MAYFIELD (August 1975, Curtom CMS 0105, A)

6. Love Rollercoaster – OHIO PLAYERS (November 1975, Mercury 73734, A)

7. It Only Takes A Minute – TAVARES (July 1975, Capitol/Haven 4111, A)

8. Movin' – BRASS CONSTRUCTION (March 1976, United Artists UA-XW775-Y, A)

9. Kiss And Say Goodbye – MANHATTANS (March 1976, Columbia 3-10310, A)

10. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine – LOU RAWLS (April 1976, Philadelphia International ZS8 3592, A)

11. Dazz – BRICK (September 1976, Bang B-727, A – 5:35 minutes)

12. Best Of My Love – EMOTIONS (May 1977, Columbia 3-10544, A)

13. Strawberry Letter 23 – THE BROTHERS JOHNSON (June 1977, A&M Records 1949-S, A – Shuggie Otis cover/song, Quincy Jones Producer)

14. Float On – THE FLOATERS (June 1977, ABC Records AB-12284, A)

15. Always And Forever – HEATWAVE (December 1977, Epic 8-50490, A)

16. (Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again - L.T.D. (August 1977, A&M Records 1974-S, A)

17. You And I – RICK JAMES (March 1978, Gordy G 7156F, A)

18. What You Won't Do For Love – BOBBY CALDWELL (September 1978, Clouds 11, A)

19. Reunited – PEACHES & HERB (March 1979, Polydor PD 14547, A)

20. Cruisin' – SMOKEY ROBINSON (August 1979, Tamla T 54306F, A)

21. Golden Touch – ROSE ROYCE (February 1981, Whitfield WHI 49681, A)

 

PACKAGING/AUDIO:

This shaped Box Sets stands up as if it's a tower of six eight-track cartridges for a car – a fat and slightly clunky 70ts format that was the precursor for cassette tape (they stopped being made around 1977 when the music-cassette took over, MC). The song titles are (from the top down) "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by Spinners, "Betcha By Golly Wow" by The Stylistics, "Family Affair" by Sly & The Family Stone, "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" by The Temptations and "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers. Atop the Box is a title sticker and on the front is a Perspex canopy which is many cases has either discoloured with the decades or gotten brittle and broken at the corners (sealed copies are both prized and pricey).

 

Once the door beneath is opened – it reveals a long 76-page booklet atop six individual gatefold card digipaks slotted in below. The front cover artwork for each is done to look like a period magazine – Disc 1 for instance is dated October 1972 at 75c and features Sly & The Family Stone, Disc 2 has Al Green for October 1973 and so on until August 1975 on Disc 6 with Earth, Wind & Fire. All text for the actual songs and artists and scene is in the gorgeous long book (the CDs are simply gatefold card sleeves with the titles on the rear). Collectors and fans of the genre therefore are hit with a trio of flirtatious goodies - the gorgeous packaging and booklet, the exceptional song choices and most of all - the top quality Remasters of Single Mixes done from real tapes by long-standing Audio Engineers for Rhino – DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT. Time after time you are hit with transfers done with care - and they are the versions you remember from the radio and store purchases.

 

The glossy booklet features a collage photo of popular eight-track albums on the front and a huge display of 70ts album covers on the rear – everything from Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" (oddly not featured in the play list) to The Chi-Lites giving it a bit of "For God's Sake Give More Power To The People". There is a boxed text paragraph on every song including chart positions, period photos, full page colour snaps of genre heroes like Curtis Mayfield and tons more. A genuine hoot is the 'Jive Glossary' for ill-informed Honkies explaining what Blaxploitation Slang is what (Pages 72 and 73)! While the Fuzz are not surprisingly and derogatorily described at Pigs or The Man, a Sucka is a Fool or a Jive-Ass Punk and Booty is an especially Tight, Round, Plump and Voluminous Posterior. Or try Love Jones for when you absolutely gots'ta gots'ta get'cha thang on! As I say – them boys at Rhino are in the know!

 

The cool songs choices are everywhere too – the fabulous Quincy Jones production values given to The Brothers Johnson doing a cover version of the Shuggie Otis song "Strawberry Letter 23" (on his 1970 solo debut LP "Here Comes Shuggie Otis" – see separate review), the sheer makes-you-wanna dance vibe to The Tymes and their "You Little Trustmaker", the so-70ts groove William DeVaughn got on his fabulous "Be Thankful For What You Got" (Ben E. King doing his "Supernatural Thing" is the same). Can there be any instrumental more brilliant or stood-the-test-of-time funky than "Pick Up The Pieces" by Scotland's Average White Band? The Invictus and Hot Wax labels – The 8^th Day, Freda Payne and Chairmen Of The Board all bringing back floods of memories - the blue world on his shoulders label bags, remember those? 

 

There is also vibe-genius in the Latin Rock-Soul feel to Malo, War and El Chicano. The entire CD2 comes close to perfection as a listen – you are whomped with a track run that features The Chi-Lites, Bill Withers, Al Green, The Staple Singers, Jean Knight, Isaac Hayes and so many more. You forget the swoon in "Hey There Lonely Girl" by Eddie Holman, the hit-that-dancefloor uplift in "Best Of My Love" by The Emotions, the mellow loveliness of Brook Benton covering the Tony Joe White gem "Rainy Night In Georgia" and the radio sass of absolutely anything on Philadelphia – The O'Jays, Harold Melvin, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls – all slamming it in their own Soulful way. And I dig the forgotten stuff like The Winstons, The Fuzz, The Pointer Sisters giving it some can-can (nice to see them pictured on CD5) and right on up to Bobby Caldwell. And do not get me started on the brilliance of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" – the finest moment amongst many for The Temptations (under Norman Whitefield) where even the single mix weighs in at just under seven-minutes – wow!

 

Niggles – for sure CD6 tapers off a tad into slick productions instead of moving songs from the earlier Seventies. And I would love to have seen this set go even a little deeper – B-sides like "You're So Young But You're So True" on the flip of The Lost Generation Sly & Wicked 45 from 1970 – or even "The Edge Of A Dream" by Minnie Riperton from 1974 that was the flipside to the stunning but the over-compilation-used "Lovin' You". But those are for maybe Part 2 one day (apparently over 300 songs were amassed as a preliminary playlist). Licensing difficulties also denied Rhino a few artists – people like Barry White and The Unlimited Orchestra who were a big part of the early 70ts on 20^th Century Records. Faves of mine like The Undisputed Truth is not here – neither is Donny Hathaway, Rotary Connection, Terry Callier, Rare Earth or even commercial successes like The Commodores making it Easy or Gwen McCrae doing it on her Rocking Chair. But you do get cool discoveries like Luther Ingram, The Soul Children and Cornelius Brothers. You could of course be at these exclusions lists for years. But these are minor hiccups if you could even call them that.

 

I know a UK collector pal of mine of old (with deep pockets as well as a deep passion) who has one sealed copy of "Can You Dig It? The 70’s Soul Experience" and one used version to play! And if that isn’t the ultimate accolade – then I don't know what is. 

 

Dig in, dig it out, just dig it in general – but get this Rhino Records triumph into your digital emporium like it was papa who needs to lay his hat-thang on a rolling stone...

"Complete Albums 1965-1980" by PAUL BUTTERFIELD including THE BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND and BETTER DAYS - Musicians Include Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop, Geoff Muldaur, Amos Garrett, Merry Clayton and many more (November 2015 UK Elektra/Bearsville/WSM/Rhino 14CD 140-Song Clamshell Box Set of Remasters with Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves and Rare/Previously Unreleased Material - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...All These Blues..."

 

Winners and losers on this one – 14CDs with 140-songs including collector-friendly stuff like Rare and Previously Unreleased August 1969 Woodstock recordings tagged on at the end (CD14) as "Live In White Lake, N.Y. 8/18/69" - a reissue of a rare July 1995 Rhino US CD compilation that gathered up the then Previously Unissued December 1964 original band sessions including both guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop called "The Original Lost Elektra Sessions" - and an unannounced 'Extended Edition' of their official "Live" album from 1970.

In a nutshell - you get all of his Elektra albums in glorious Stereo from December 1965 up to September 1971 and the ones that followed on Bearsville in the first part of the Seventies as the band Better Days and then just as Paul Butterfield (some of those gems were produced by Todd Rundgren, Geoff Muldaur and Hi Records legend Willie Mitchell) – an impressive haul in any man's language. Hell, even the "Live" set from 1970 turns out to be the whole double-LP on CD1, but it also sports an additional 8 session outtakes on CD2, unissued material that showed exclusively on a now long-deleted US-only Rhino Handmade 2CD reissue in 2005. And this is without saying so either on the front cover sticker or rear box track list.

So as I say – at a huge 140 Tracks - impressive and comprehensive. But where are the details? The lack of a booklet that could easily stretch to 50-plus pages covering his 15-year career is a downer – especially given his genre-groundbreaking place in Blues Rock History and the sheer number of cool session men and women who played on these albums (Clydie King, Merry Clayton, David Sanborn etc).

But – that said – even when the content starts to taper off big time by the time we get to the decidedly weak Bearsville albums of the Seventies and beyond - "Complete Albums 1965-1980" is gorgeous to look at – a fantastic ballsy listen because all are the 1990s Rhino Remasters done by Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot and the Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves are just the dinkiest things (gatefolds include "In My Own Dream", "Live", "Better Days" and "It All Comes Back" - inserts in several too). Much to boogie to...here are the details...

 

UK released November 2015 - "Complete Albums 1965-1980" by PAUL BUTTERFIELD (including The Butterfield Blues Band and Better Days) on Elektra/Bearsville/Warner Strategic Marketing/Rhino 081227951855 (Barcode 081227951955) is a 14CD 140-Song Clamshell Box Set of 13 Remastered albums (one is a 2CD double-live set) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (38:07 minutes):

1. Born In Chicago [Side 1]

2. Shake Your Money-Maker

3. Blues With A Feeling

4. Thank You Mr. Poobah

5. I Got My Mojo Working

6. Mellow Down Easy

7. Screamin' [Side 2]

8. Our Love Is Drifting

9. Mystery Train

10. Last Night

11. Look Over Yonders Wall

Tracks 1 to 11 are the LP "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" - their debut album released December 1965 in the USA on Elektra EKS 7294 in Stereo (May 1966 in the UK with the same catalogue no.)

 

CD2 (44:55 minutes):

1. Walkin' Blues [Side 1]

2. Get Out Of My Life, Woman

3. I Got A Mind To Give Up Living

4. All These Blues

5. Work Song

6. Mary, Mary [Side 2]

7. Two Trains Running

8. Never Say No

9. East-West

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "East-West" by The Butterfield Blues Band - released September 1966 in the USA on Elektra EKS 7315 in Stereo (December 1966 in the UK same no.)

 

CD3 (45:45 minutes):

1. One More Heartache [Side 1]

2. Driftin' And Driftin'

3. Pity The Fool

4. Born Under A Bad Sign

5. Run Out Of Time [Side 2]

6. Double Trouble

7. Drivin' Wheel

8. Droppin' Out

9. Tollin' Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw" - released January 1968 on Elektra EKS 74015 in the USA (February 1968 in the UK same no.)

 

CD4 (36:30 minutes):

1. Last Hope's Gone [Side 1]

2. Mine To Love

3. Get Yourself Together

4. Just To Be With You

5. Morning Blues [Side 2]

6. Drunk Again

7. In My Own Dream

Tracks 1 to 7 are the LP "In My Own Dream" - released August 1968 in the USA on Elektra EKS 74025 in Stereo (September 1968 in the UK same no.) The card sleeve is a gatefold to repro the original LP

 

CD5 (42:09 minutes):

1. Love March [Side 1]

2. No Amount Of Loving

3. Morning Sunrise

4. Losing Hand

5. Walking By Myself

6. Except You

7. Love Disease [Side 2]

8. Where Did My Baby Go

9. All In A Day

10. So Far So Good

11. Buddy's Advice

12. Keep On Moving

Tracks 1 to 12 is the LP "Keep On Moving" - released October 1969 in the USA on Elektra EKS 74053 in Stereo (November 1969 in the UK same no.)

 

CD6 (77:47 minutes):

1. Everything Going To Be Alright [Side 1]

2. Love Disease

3. The Boxer

4. No Amount Of Loving [Side 2]

5. Driftin' And Driftin'

6. Intro To Musicians [Side 3]

7. Number Nine

8. I Want To Be With You

9. Born Under A Bad Sign

10. Get Together Again [Side 4]

11. So Far, So Good

Tracks 1 to 11 are the 2LP-set "The Butterfield Blues Band/Live" – released December 1970 in the USA on Elektra 7E-2001 and February 1971 in the UK on Elektra EKD 2001. A gatefold card sleeve - see also CD7 for more details

 

CD7 (69:30 minutes):

1. Gene's Tune

2. Nobody's Fault But Mine

3. Losing Hand

4. All In A Day

5. Feel So Bad

6. Except You

7. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling

8. Love March

Tracks 1 to 9 first appeared as Previously Unreleased outtakes on the 2004 USA-only 2CD Reissue of the 1970 album "The Butterfield Blues Band/Live" on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7874 (limited to 2,500 copies only)

 

CD8 (39:03 minutes):

1. Play On [Side 1]

2. 1000 Ways

3. Pretty Woman

4. Little Piece Of Dying

5. Song For Lee

6. Train Man [Side 2]

7. Night Child

8. Drowned In My Own Tears

9. Blind Leading The Blind

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" – released September 1971 in the USA on Elektra EKS-75013 and September 1971 in the UK on Elektra K 42095. This Mini LP Card sleeve includes a 2-sided page insert that repro's the original 1971 LP inner bag - band photo on one side - photos/reviews of their preceding six albums on the other side

 

CD9 (58:55 minutes):

1. Good Morning Little School Girl

2. Just To Be With You

3. Help Me

4. Hate To See You Go

5. Poor Boy

6. Nut Popper No. 1

7. Everything's Gonna Be All Right

8. Lovin' Cup

9. Rock Me

10. It Hurts Me Too

11. Our Love Is Driftin'

12. Take Me Back Baby

13. Mellow Down Easy

14. Ain't No Need To Go No Further

15. Love Her With A Feeling

16. Piney Brown Blues

17. Spoonful

18. That's All Right

19. Goin' Down Slow

Tracks 1 to 19 are the CD compilation "The Original Lost Elektra Sessions" by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – originally released July 1995 in the USA on Elektra Traditions/Rhino R2 73505 (Elektra Traditions/Rhino 0349-73505-2 in the UK and Europe). Originally Produced by Elektra's Paul A. Rothchild – the abandoned Previously Unreleased Stereo recordings were made December 1964 for their first album, finally receiving an airing in 1995. The Band included Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop on Guitars, Jeremy Arnold on Bass and Sam Lay on Drums with Butterfield on Vocals and Harmonica. Mark Naftalin plays organ only on "Love Her With A Feeling". The mixing and remastering waa done by Dan Rothchild and Joe Gastwirt. This CD compilation was also reissued 2013 on Wounded Bird WOU 3505 in the USA – but both have been deleted years.

 

CD10 (37:24 minutes):

1. New Walkin' Blues

2. Please Send Me Someone To Love

3. Broke My Baby's Heart

4. Done A Lot Of Wrong Things

5. Baby Please Don't Go [Side 2]

6. Buried Alive In The Blues

7. Rule The Road

8. Nobody's Fault But Mine

9. Highway 28

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Better Days" by Paul Butterfield (aka "Paul Butterfield's Better Days") – released January 1973 in the USA on Bearsville BR 2119, February 1973 in the UK on Bearsville K 45515 (Produced by Paul Butterfield and Geoff Muldaur). This Mini LP Card sleeve is a Gatefold and includes a double-sided three-way foldout insert that repro's the original 1973 insert

 

CD11 (39:05 minutes):

1. Too Many Drivers [Side 1]

2. It's Getting Harder To Survive

3. If You Live

4. Win Or Lose

5. Small Town Talk

6. Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It [Side 2]

7. Poor Boy

8. Louisianna Flood

9. It All Comes Back

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "It All Comes Back" by Paul Butterfield's Better Days – released November 1973 in the USA on Bearsville BR 2170, January 1974 in the UK on Bearsville K 45517. Has songs written by Bobby Charles, Geoff Muldaur and Rick Danko.

 

CD12 (35:38 minutes):

1. You Can Run But You Can't Hide [Side 1]

2. (If I Never Sing) My Song

3. The Animal

4. The Breadline

5. Ain't That A Lot Of Love

6. I Don't Wanna Go [Side 2]

7. Day To Day

8. Here I Go Again

9. The Flame

10. Watch 'Em Tell A Lie

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Put It In Your Ear" by Paul Butterfield – released December 1975 in the USA on Bearsville BR 6960 and February 1976 in the UK on Bearsville K 55509 – Musicians include Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band, David Sanborn, Eric Gale and Fred Carter. This Mini LP Card sleeve includes a one-sided page insert that repro's the original 1975 LP insert

 

CD13 (35:08 minutes):

1. I Get Excited [Side 1]

2. Get Some Fun In Your Life 

3. Footprints On The Windshield Upside Down

4. Catch A Train 

5. Bread And Butterfield 

6. Living In Memphis [Side 2]

7. Slow Down 

8. I Let It Go To My Head 

9. Baby Blue

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "North South" by Paul Butterfield – released January 1981 in the USA on Bearsville BSK 6995 (no UK issue).

 

CD14 (70:17 minutes): 

1. Intro (1:07 minutes)

2. Born Under A Bad Sign (13:39 minutes)

3. No Amount Of Loving (6:13 minutes)

4. Driftin' And Driftin' (12:09 minutes)

5. Morning Sunrise (8:01 minutes)

6. All In A Day (9:04 minutes)

7. Love March (10:08 minutes)

8. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (2:51 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 8 are called "Live In White Lake, N.Y. 8/18/69". Tracks 2, 4 and 6 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - Tracks 3, 7 and 8 first showed 2009 in the 6CD 40th Anniversary Box Set "Woodstock 40 (3 Days Of Peace & Music)" on Rhino 8122 79859 7 (UK and Europe). Although the title confusingly doesn't mention 'Woodstock' - this November 2015 CD represents the first time the 'complete show' has been represented on CD.

The Clamshell Box Set is sturdy enough and the 14 Mini LP Card Sleeves are full covers back and front and not those bordered versions you get in the cheaper "Original Album Classics" 5CD Capacity Wallets that look slightly naff. There are gatefolds where there should be and inserts too (see notes above). There is no Mastering Credits - but its obvious on Audio that these are the 90s Rhino Remasters – they kick like a mule and in glorious Stereo too. You could argue that the Mono variants of the first few 60ts LPs should have been added in for this box and some kind of booklet or poster included celebrating the band – but let us deal with what we do have...

 

Down through the years the musician list is impressive and varied – guitar maestro Mike Bloomfield originally combined with Elvin Bishop for the Sixties, Mark Naftalin and Ted Harris on Keyboards, Jeremy Arnold, Bugsy Mough and Rod Hicks on Bass, Bill Davenport, Sam Lay, George Davidson and Phil Wilson on Drums with regular guests like Horn Players David Sanborn, Gene Dinwiddie, Keith Johnson, Steve Madaio and Trevor Lawrence with Ralph Wash on Guitar, Amos Garret on Bass, Merry Clayton, Bobby Charles, Maria and Geoff Muldaur on Vocals, Bobbye Hall on Congas and many, many more. Paul A. Rothchild from Elektra and Todd Rundgren from Bearsville have produced too.

 

Outside of diehard fans of primo Blues Rock that have to have it all, for many casual divers the cheap-as-chips and just as tasty March 2010 Rhino/Elektra "Original Album Series" 5CD Capacity Wallet is enough to open accounts and go no further. It contains the December 1965 groundbreaking debut "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" through to the October 1969 "Keep On Moving" LP (essentially CDs 1 to 5 here) - but this fab box set finally offers fans and the curious alike a whole lot more – and some of it (not all) is absolutely worth the stretch of your wallet. That expanded Rhino Handmade 2CD-variant of "Live" recorded March 1970 at The Troubadour in Los Angeles shows a band cooking – four brass players led by Guitar, Keyboards, Bass and Drums – tight and proud and Butterfield taking centre-stage.

 

Although it’s no audiophile recording, the 1969 famously explosive Woodstock set sees the band jam through twelve and thirteen minutes Blues-Rock winners (like Canned Heat on speed) much to the applause of the crowd – this 2015 Box Set being the first time the full show has been issued on one CD (see notes above). The card sleeve artwork for sure isn’t exactly the most inspiring 60ts art representation in the world, but at least we have the set.

 

I've also always had a soft spot for 1971's lesser-heard but expertly produced "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" album with its array of Vocalists - Butterfield of course on the Funky "Play On" - Rod Hicks giving it some Shuggie Otis shuffle on the so-cool "1000 Ways" (edit out that mad start and you've a killer Funky-Funky Soul-Rock groove). Super-session-ladies Clydie King, Merry 'Gimme Shelter' Clayton and Venetta Fields beef up the Soul (these fab girls were used by Steely Dan!). Check out the sound quality on the wildly Chicago-funky instrumental "Song For Lee" that finishes Side 1 - it'll lift your speakers out of their complacency. Gene Dinwiddie leads off 'this is New York City!' vocal soulfulness of the sexy "Trainman" - another deep album gem. This incarnation of The Butterfield Blues Band even had Bobbye Hall of Bill Withers' band on Congas and Bongos - nice.

 

DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT – two top quality Audio Engineers long associated with Rhino and their handling of the vast WEA catalogue did the Remasters in the 90s. The music is incredibly bluesy and ballsy –truly stunning Paul Rothchild Sixties Production values coming at you on every disc. The instrumental "Thank You Mr. Poobah" for instance willy have your speakers for breakfast. The opening guitars on "Walkin' Blues" are the same – back in the mix – but still powerful. Don't get me wrong – these CDs aren't amped up for effect – they're just beautifully handled, sonicaly obvious too that the original master tapes are in tip-top condition. And throughout, you get Butterfield's deep and muscular harmonica slaying all in its path.

 

Sixties highlights are many and varied – their Soulful and Brassy cover of Marvin Gaye's "One More Headache", the wailing Blues of Otis Rush's "Double Trouble" and the huge Albert King power of "Born Under A Bad Sign". I love the slinky cover of Abbey Road's "Come Together" (Beatles), the bass line that opens the slightly jazzy "Last Hope's Gone" – a sort of precursor to Blood, Sweat & Tears debut album "Child Is The Father To The Man". Elvin Bishop provides the witty "Drunk Again" with lyrics like "...ain't got a dime and smelin' like a brewery…". Another tremendous chugger is "No Amount Of Loving" from the "Keep On Moving" album - a tune they'd return too for the fantastic 2LP "Live" set.

 

The problems start to come in when Butterfield began producing watered-down and weedy versions in the Seventies – the two by his band Better Days offer some gems like the very Allman Brothers-sounding "Too Many Drivers" and the nasty Sly Stone Funk of "It's Getting Harder To Survive" (sung by Ronnie Barron), but by the time you reach "Put It In Your Ear" in 1976 on Bearsville and especially "North South" in 1981 (I reviewed these on an Edsel CD Reissue years ago) – he was no longer charting and there were obvious reasons why. 

 

"Complete Albums 1965-1980" by Paul Butterfield has in itself been deleted a good few years now and increased alarmingly in price. Sure there's no booklet and there should have been, but if you can get this 14CD 140-song beast for the right amount of dosh - don't hesitate...