70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
"…First Thing I Do…My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You…"
This is a fantastic reissue – an obscure Funk-Soul album from January 1975 (with roots in 1974) that few people outside of deep circles will have heard of (including me) – and typically it's a peach worth rediscovering.
UK released February 2012 - "Smoked Sugar" by SMOKED SUGAR on Big Break Records CDBBR 099 (Barcode 5013929039926) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with one Bonus Track that breaks down as follows (38:02 minutes):
1. I Found Something Of My Own [Side 1]
2. My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You
3. Bump Me
4. I'm A Blues Singer, Guitar Banger
5. Don't Let That Feeling Hit Me Again
6. It's Funny Till I Start Crying [Side 2]
7. Loving You Coming Out Of A Brand New Bag
8. I Can't Get Enough
9. I'm A Winner
10. Keeping Up My Front
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Smoked Sugar" - originally released in the USA on 20th Century Records T-473 in January 1975
BONUS TRACK:
11. My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You (Promotional Single Version)
Track 2 is the album version at 4:09 minutes – this PROMO-ONLY single version is edited to 3:09 minutes
The jewel case is one of those new rounded corner deals and the 12-page booklet features detailed liner notes by RICO "Superbizzee" WASHINGTON – a New Yorker who has edited and contributed to American music publications like "Free" and "XLRBR" magazines.
The remaster is by PETER DOELL at Universal and is superlative – incredibly clean, clear and present reflecting HADLEY MURELL's superb production values back in the day. I can't emphasize enough how good BBR CDs sound – I've reviewed nearly 10 now (see list below) – and this is no different. A joy to listen too…
It opens with a lethal triple whammy – "I've Found Someone Like You", "My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You" and "Bump Me". The first whacks into existence with a tremendous Al Green type vocal - while the sublime second track "My Eyes Search A Lonely Room For You" is 'the' tuneful masterpiece on here – no doubt. Imagine The Chi-Lites circa 1972 to 1974 with a grittier Al Green as the lead vocalist rather than Eugene Record (gorgeous stuff - lyrics above). The funk of "Bump Me" is a great tune too. In fact the lead singer JAMES "Jimmy" CONWELL deserves special mention because his pleading voice lends every song a sort of Soul sweetness that’s worth its weight in gold. He featured with 60's bands The Exits and The Trips and had a decade of experience to bring the smooth ranks of Smoked Sugar.
Less successful is the frantic keyboard funk of "I'm A Blues Singer, Guitar Banger" that sounds like it’s trying too hard to be a hit without the killer hook and words to get it there. Better is the slightly uptempo Philly feel to "I Can't Get Enough" (remastered drums and bass so clear). Nice too are "It's Funny Till I Start Crying" where they sound like mid-70’s Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate and the mid-tempo "Loving You Coming Out Of A Brand Bag" sounds like a talking Chi-Lites number. It ends on "Keeping Up My Front" co-written by Conwell and keyboardist Oliver Williams – where the slow pace changes mid-tune.
It's not all genius for sure – but the good stuff is great – and huge kudos go to BBR for reissuing the album (long prized by collectors and used by mixers for samples) – and with such top sound quality. Recommended.
Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I've reviewed
1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)
2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)
3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)
4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)
5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)
6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)
7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)
8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)
9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)
10. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)
11. I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]
12. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)
13. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)
14. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)
15. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)
16. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)
17. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)
18. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)
19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)
20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)
21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)
22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)
23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)
24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)
25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)
26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)
27. Live: Stompin' At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)
28. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)
29. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)
30. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)
31. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)
32. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)
33. Switch - SWITCH (1978)
34. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)
35. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)
36. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)
