“Sweet Soul Music – 31 Scorching Classics From 1961” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 1 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mary Barry...

"…I Don't Know Why I Love You...But I Do…" 

Compilations like this live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does. The entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to.

Originally released July 2008 in Germany - “Sweet Soul Music - 31 Scorching Classics From 1961" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 16867 AS (Barcode 4000127168672) was Volume 1 in a 15-set series stretching from 1961 to 1975 – one CD to each year (I've reviewed all of them in depth).

Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1961 has the instrumental "Hide Away" by Freddy King), the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in Bear Family's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of a Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake – it’s in the 1963 set). This 1961 issue has 80-pages in its booklet (yes 80!) with a live shot of Solomon Burke on the front sleeve and Berry Gordy standing by his first million-seller gold disc award on the inner flap (“Shop Around” by The Miracles – Track 2) - and it runs to a generous 79:23 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES:

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear guitar intro to "The Watusi" by The Vibrations – as infectious a dance number as the breakthrough Tamla establisher “Shop Around” by The Miracles. I’ve never heard the melodrama of either “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas or “All In My Mind” by Maxine Brown sound so clear (even if both aren’t exactly audiophile recordings). Genius choices include the Doo Wop of “Daddy’s Home” by Shep And The Limelites which is soulful in it’s own lovely slow-paced way and the New Orleans shuffle of "Let The Four Winds Blow" by Fats Domino (stupendous Stereo sound quality).

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through - mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like "Blue Moon", "Stand By Me" and "Last Night" are sorted out by the next big plus...the beautifully clear sound...

THE SOUND:

Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. The clarity on the brass and drums of “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do" by Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry is so clear you’ll probably have to turn the volume down, while Dee Clark’s “Raindrops” opens with just that – an explosion of falling rain before the song kicks in – it’s so sweetly remastered that it may make you double-take on the weather outside…

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 77, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, the 7" single is usually sat beside that - and even if it isn't - the album it came off is - with most of it in colour. Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

Niggles - purists might say that as many as a third of the tracks on here have little to do with "Soul" and more to do with R&B, Doo Wop and even Blues - but personally I like the way Booth blurs the lines. And I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of the heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week. 

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1961" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. I’m now going to have to frighten the bank manager as I acquire the preceding 16 Volumes in the “Blowing The Fuse” series from 1945 to 1960 – I’m just going to have to own them.

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1961

(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. The Watusi – THE VIBRATIONS (Checker 969)

2. Shop Around – THE MIRACLES (Tamla T 54034)

[Featuring Smokey Robinson and co-written with Berry Gordy]

3. All In My Mind – MAXINE BROWN (Nomar N45-103)

4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? – THE SHIRELLES (Scepter 1211)

[Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin]

5. (I Don't Know Why) But I Do – CLARENCE ‘FROGMAN’ HENRY (Argo 5378)

[Written by Robert Guidry [aka Bobby Charles] and Paul Gayten]

6. You Can Have Her – ROY HAMILTON (Epic 9434)

7. Rainin' In My Heart – SLIM HARPO (Excello 2194)

8. I Don't Want To Cry - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 106)

9. Hide Away – FREDDY KING (Federal 12401)

[An Instrumental]

10. Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) – CARLA THOMAS (Satellite 104/Atlantic 2086)

11. Some Kind Of Wonderful – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2096)

12. Big Boss Man – JIMMY REED (Vee Jay VJ 380)

13. Blue Moon – THE MARCELS (Colpix 186)

14. Daddy's Home – SHEP AND THE LIMELITES (Hull H-740)

15. Mother-In-Law – ERNIE K-DOE (Minit 623)

16. Driving Wheel – LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER (Duke 335)

17. Tossin' And Turnin' – BOBBY LEWIS with Joe Rene Orchestra (Beltone 1002)

18. Every Beat Of My Heart – THE PIPS (Vee Jay VJ 386)

[Featuring Gladys Knight on lead vocals]

19. Stand By Me – BEN E. KING (Atco 6194)

20. Raindrops – DEE CLARK (Vee Jay VJ-383)

21. My True Story – THE JIVE FIVE with Joe Rene And Orchestra (Beltone 1006)

22. It's Gonna Work Out Fine – IKE and TINA TURNER (Sue 749)

23. Last Night – THE MAR-KEYS (Satellite 107)

24. I Like It Like That, PART 1 – CHRIS KENNER (Valiant/Instant 3229)

25. A Little Bit Of Soap – THE JARMELS (Laurie 3098)

26. Let The Four Winds Blow – FATS DOMINO (Imperial 5764)

27. Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) – SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2114)

28. Ya Ya – LEE DORSEY (Fury 1053)

29. Please Mr. Postman – THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54046)

30. Gypsy Woman – THE IMPRESSIONS (ABC-Paramount 10241)

[Written by and featuring Curtis Mayfield]
31. Turn On Your Love Light – BOBBY BLAND (Duke 344)

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

“Sweet Soul Music – 28 Scorching Classics From 1962” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 2 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…All Aboard The Night Train…" 

Soul compilations live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well, Bear Family’s magnificent “Sweet Soul Music" CD series slays them in the aisles on all counts - it really does. There are 15 volumes now and the entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to. 

Originally released July 2008 in Germany - "Sweet Soul Music - 28 Scorching Classics From 1962" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Bear Family BCD 16868 AS (Barcode 4000127168689) and is part of a 15-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1975 - one volume to each year (I’ve reviewed them all in depth). 

Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1962 has "You Better Move On" by Arthur Alexander) - the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in Bear Family's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960 - each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake - it's in the 1963 compilation). This 1962 issue has an impressive 72-page booklet with The Isley Brothers on the front sleeve and Barbara George on the inner flap - and runs to a format-busting 79:58 minutes playing time.

TRACK CHOICES: 

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear piano intro to Barbara George and her 'All For One' New Orleans soul shuffle "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" (covered later by Ike & Tina Turner and Fats Domino among others) which is then cleverly followed by Gladys Knight's "Letter Full Of Tears" - a tune full of girl-group melodrama. Genius choices include "Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson sounding not unlike Brook Benton at his slinkiest best (stunning production values) and the name-that-city funk of James Brown's "Night Train" which is crystal clear and an absolute joy to listen to (lyrics above). And although "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker and "Stormy Monday Blues" by Bobby Bland are really Blues and not Soul, I'm loving them on here for the same reason that I played "Green Onions" to the boys in the shop - the awesome clarity of sound - especially in the rhythm sections...

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through - mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. 

THE SOUND: 

Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. The clarity of every instrument on Chuck Jackson's "Any Day Now..." is incredible and the lesser-heard Jazz Instrumental of Jimmy McGriff's Ray Charles cover "I've Got A Woman..." is huge too. 

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 5 and ends on Page 69, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using a quality publicity shot which is then sided by the album cover the track came off (the LP sleeve is usually in colour and a clever contrast against the black and white record company photographs). Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read. 

Niggles - in terms of "Soul" music as many would define it, I'd say that doesn't actually arrive until track 5 which is Solomon Burke's wonderful "Cry To Me". Gene Chandler's "Duke Of Earl" is really Doo Wop and Little Eva's overplayed "Loco-motion" is more Pop than anything else. Esther Phillips' "Release Me" has forever been poisoned for me by the man who tears up telephone books and kept The Beatles off Number 1 in the UK. 

But while the compilation does feel a little all over the place at times, I personally like the way Booth blurs the lines and as a straight-through listen, it works. The Motown-followed-by-Atlantic tracks are 'overplayed' for many of us too, but again - and I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of these heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week.  

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1962" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. 

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1962

(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) - BARBARA GEORGE with the A.F.O. STUDIO COMBO (A.F.O. 302)

2. Letter Full Of Tears - GLADYS KNIGHT and THE PIPS (Fury 1054) 

3. Let Me In - THE SENSATIONS (Argo 5405) 

4. Duke Of Earl - GENE CHANDLER (Vee Jay VJ 416)

5. Cry To Me - SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2131)

6. Something's Got A Hold On Me - ETTA JAMES with the RILEY HAMPTON ORCHESTRA (Argo 5409)

7. I Found A Love - THE FALCONS & BAND (Ohio Untouchables) (Lu Pine Productions L-1003) [Features Wilson Pickett on Lead Vocals]

8. You Better Move On - ARTHUR ALEXANDER (Dot 16309)

9. Soul Twist - KING CURTIS & THE NOBLE KNIGHTS (Enjoy 1000)

10. Lover Please - CLYDE McPHATTER (Mercury 71941)

11. Soldier Boy - THE SHIRELLES ((Scepter 1228)

12. Any Day Now (My Beautiful Wild Bird) - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 122)

13. Night Train - JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES (King 5614)

14. Snap Your Fingers - JOE HENDERSON (Todd 1072)

15. Playboy - THE MARVELETTES (Tamla T 54060)

16. I Need Your Loving - DON GARDINER and DEE DEE FORD (Fire 508)

17. Twist And Shout - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (Wand 124) 

18. Boom Boom - JOHN LEE HOOKER (Vee Jay VJ 438)

19. The Loco-Motion - LITTLE EVA (Dimension 1000)

20. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'s (Volt 102 - Reissued on Stax 127)

21. You Beat Me to the Punch - MARY WELLS with Vocal Accompaniment THE LOVE-TONES

22. Do You Love Me - THE CONTOURS (Gordy G-7005) 

23. Stormy Monday Blues - BOBBY BLAND (Duke 355)

24. Up On The Roof - THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2162)

25. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - MARVIN GAYE Vocal Accompaniment The Vandellas (Tamla T-54068)

26. Release Me - ESTHER PHILLIPS ("Little Esther") (Lenox NX-5555)

27. Chains - THE COOKIES (Dimension 1002)
28. I've Got A Woman, Part 1 - JIMMY McGRIFF (Jell 190/Sue 770) [a Ray Charles cover]

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

“Sweet Soul Music – 30 Scorching Classics From 1963” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 3 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Put Your Hand On Hips…Baby Workout…"

Compilations like this live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does. The entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to. 

Released July 2008 in Germany - "Sweet Soul Music - 30 Scorching Classics From 1963" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Bear Family BCD 16869 AS (Barcode 4000127168696) and is part of a 15-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1975 (I've reviewed them all in depth). 

Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1963 has "He’s So Fine" by The Chiffons), the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. 

As with the 16 titles in Bear Family's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake – it’s in this compilation). This 1963 issue has 80-pages in its booklet (yes 80!) with Jackie Wilson on the front sleeve and Marvin Gaye being interviewed by a New York DJ on the inner flap - and it runs to a generous 80:41 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES: 

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear brass and bass of Bobby Bland’s “That’s The Way Love Is” which is followed nicely by Motown’s Mary Wells giving it some aching on “Two Lovers”. Genius choices include the powerhouse vocals of the unlikely sounding Theola Kilgore which impacts like Lorraine Ellison giving it her all on “Stay With Me”. Then there’s the lovely soft shoe shuffle and castanets of Baby Washington’s “That How Heartaches Are Made” and Mongo Santamaria’s Latin gem “Watermelon Man” – a track that’s graced many Sixties Fest compilations because it’s as cool an instrumental as Booker T. & The MG’s “Green Onions” or The Mar-Kays’ “Last Night”. 

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through - mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like "Harlem Shuffle", "On Broadway" and "These Arms Of Mine" are sorted out by the next big plus...the beautifully clear sound...

THE SOUND: 

Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. The clarity of the brass and guitars on Jackie Wilson’s “Baby Workout” is incredible (lyrics above) and the lesser-heard New Orleans feel to “Got You On My Mind” by Cookie And The Cupcakes is huge too. “It’s All Right” by The Impressions is beautiful. And even when the production values given to Jimmy Holiday’s “How Can I Forget” leave more than a little bit to be desired, the remaster is so clear that it makes you focus on his impassioned deep soul vocal work instead. So many tracks on here are impressive this way... 

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 5 and ends on Page 76, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, the 7" single is usually sat beside that - and even if it isn't - the album it came off is (usually in colour, a clever contrast with the black and white publicity shots). Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read. 

Niggles – the Etta James track “Pushover” is not great, an odd clunker - while “Shake A Tail Feather” should be on some frantic Frat Party CD rather than here. On that tip, purists will complain that as many as a third of the tracks on here have little to do with "Soul" and more to do with Pop and even Lounge (Ruby And The Romantics). But personally I like the way Booth blurs the lines and as a straight-through listen, it works. The Motown-followed-by-Atlantic tracks are 'overplayed' for many of us too, but again - and I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of these heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week.  

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1963" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. 

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1963

(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. That's The Way Love Is – BOBBY BLAND (Duke 360)

2. Two Lovers – MARY WELLS (Motown M-1035)

3. Our Day Will Come – RUBY AND THE ROMANTICS (Kapp K-501X)

4. These Arms Of Mine – OTIS REDDING (Volt 103)

5. You've Really Got A Hold On Me – THE MIRACLES (Tamla T-54073)

[Written & Produced by Smokey Robinson]

6. Mama Didn't Lie – JAN BRADLEY (Formal 1044)

[Re-issued in the same year on Chess 1845]

7. Tell Him I'm Not Home – CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 132)

8. Got You On My Mind – COOKIE AND HIS CUPCAKES (Lyric 1004)

[Re-issued the same year on Chess 1848]

9. The Love Of My Man – THEOLA KILGORE (Serock 2004)

[Re-issued the same year on Scepter 12170]

10. He's So Fine – THE CHIFFONS (Laurie 3152)

11. Baby Workout – JACKIE WILSON (Brunswick 55239)

12. How Can I Forget – JIMMY HOLIDAY (Everest 2022)

13. That's How Heartaches Are Made – BABY WASHINGTON (Sue 783)

14. Watermelon Man – MONGO SANTAMARIA BAND (Battle BF-45909)

15. On Broadway – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2182)

16. Hello Stranger – BARBARA LEWIS (Atlantic 2184)

[Backing Vocals by The Dells]

17. Pride And Joy – MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54079)

18. If You Need Me – SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2185)

19. Pushover – ETTA JAMES (Argo 5437)

20. Shake A Tail Feather – THE FIVE DU-TONES (One-derful! 4815)

21. Just One Look – DORIS TROY (Atlantic 2188)

22. Easier Said Than Done – THE ESSEX (Roulette R-4494)

23. Cry Baby – GARNET MIMMS & THE ENCHANTERS (United Artists UA 629)

24. Mockingbird – INEX FOXX (Symbol 919) 

25. Monkey Time – MAJOR LANCE (Okeh 4-7175)

26. Heat Wave – MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy G-7022)

27. Part Time Love – LITTLE JOHNNY TAYLOR (Galaxy 722)

28. Harlem Shuffle – BOB AND EARL (Marc 104)

29. It's All Right – THE IMPRESSIONS (ABC-Paramount 10487) [Written by And Featuring Curtis Mayfield]

30. Walking The Dog – RUFUS THOMAS (Stax S-140)

“Sweet Soul Music – 31 Scorching Classics From 1964” by VARIOUS ARTSTS [Volume 4 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Just Kept On Saying…Oh No Not My Baby…"

Compilations like this live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does. The entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to.

Released July 2008 in Germany, "Sweet Soul Music - 31 Scorching Classics From 1964" is on Bear Family BCD 16870 AS and is part of a 10-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1970 (I've reviewed 1965 and the second five in the series which were released in September 2009 - 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970). Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1964 has "Needle In A Haystack” by The Velvelettes), the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in Bear Family's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of a singer leaning into an audience to make a handshake - I think it's Otis Redding). This 1964 issue has 88-pages in its booklet (yes 88!) with The Dixie Cups on the front sleeve and The Larks in dance mode on the inner flap - and it runs to a whopping 81:40 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES:
I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear Doo Wop intro to “What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am)” by The Tams which is followed by the zippy “brought you from the South” song “Gonna Send You Back To Georgia (A City Slick)” by Timmy Shaw. There’s a lot of middle-tempo tunes that are part Rhythm ‘n’ Blues and part Soul like the cool dancer “The Jerk” by The Larks and while B.B. King’s bar-band standard “Rock Me Baby” is pure Blues and Chuck Berry’s “No Particular Place To Go” is Rock ‘n’ Roll – both are welcome inclusions (the stereo on the Berry track in particular is fabulous). Genius choices include the lovely slow build of “Steal Away” by Jimmy Hughes, the Mink DeVille street shuffle of “Devil With A Blue Dress” by Shorty Long, the punchy James Brown funk of Willie Mitchell’s instrumental “20-75” and the sophisticated crooner vibe of Joe Hinton’s “Funny (How Time Slips Away)”.

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through - mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like "My Guy", "Dancing In The Street'" and "Under The Boardwalk" are sorted out by the next big plus...the beautifully clear sound...

THE SOUND:
Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. The clarity on the sublime "On No Not My Baby" by Maxine Brown (lyrics above) is thrilling. The Acapella vocal intro to “Chapel Of Love” by The Dixie Cups is so squeaky clean as are the bass and brass parts that follow. It’s impressive stuff soundwise…

THE BOOKLET:
Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 84, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, the 7" single is usually sat beside that - and even if it isn't - the album it came off is - with most of it in colour. Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

Niggles – purists might say that as many as a third of the tracks on here have little to do with “Soul” and more to do with Pop, R&B and even Blues, but personally I like the way Booth blurs the lines and as a straight-through listen, it all works. Also the Motown-followed-by-Atlantic tracks are 'overplayed' for many of us, but again - and I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of these heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week.

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1964" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next.

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough. Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1964
(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) – THE TAMS (ABC-Paramount 10502)
2. Gonna Send You Back To Georgia (A City Slick) – TIMMY SHAW (Vocal Background by The Sternphones) (Audrey 010)
[Reissued on Wand 146]
3. Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um – MAJOR LANCE (Okeh 4-7187)
4. Who Do You Love – THE SAPHIRES (Swan S-4162)
5. Hi-Heel Sneakers – TOMMY TUCKER (Checker 1067)
6. The Way You Do The Things You Do – THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7028)
7. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) – BETTY EVERETT (Vee Jay VJ-585)
8. Ain't Nothing You Can Do – BOBBY BLAND (DUKE 375)
9. Wish Someone Would Care – IRMA THOMAS (Imperial 66103)
10. Rock Me Baby - B.B. KING (Kent 393)
11. Chapel Of Love – THE DIXIE CUPS (Red Bird RB 10-001)
[Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector]
12. My Guys – MARY WELLS (Motown 1056)
13. No Particular Place to Go – CHUCK BERRY (Chess 1898)
14. Steal Away – JIMMY HUGHES (Fame 6401)
15. Security – OTIS REDDING (Volt 117)
16. Devil With The Blue Dress – SHORTY LONG (Soul 35001)
17. Under The Boardwalk – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2237)
18. Where Did Our Love Go – THE SUPREMES (Motown 1060)
19. 20-75 – WILLIE MITCHELL (Hi 2075)
20. Funny (How Time Slips Away) – JOE HINTON (Back Beat 543)
21. Out Of Sight – JAMES BROWN AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Smash S-1919)
22. Dancing In The Street – MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7033)
23. That's How Strong My Love Is - O.V. WRIGHT (Goldwax 106)
24. Mercy, Mercy – DON COVAY & THE GOODTIMERS (Rosemart 801)
25. Baby I Need Your Loving – THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1062)
26. I Had A Talk With My Man – MITTY COLLIER (Chess 1907)
27. I Can't Believe What You Say (For Seeing What You Do) – IKE AND TINA TURNER (Kent 402)
28. Price – SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2259)
29. Oh No Not My Baby – MAXINE BROWN (Wand W 162)
30. The Jerk – THE LARKS (Money 106)
31. Needle In A Haystack – THE VELVETTES (V.I.P. Records V.I.P.-25007)