"Chartbusters USA Volume 1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Sir Douglas Quintet, Van Morrison, The Lovin' Spoonful, Tommy Tucker, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, The Bobby Fuller Four, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Joe South, Brenton Wood, Tommy Tucker, The Ventures, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Seeds, The Hombres, Dobie Gray, The Left Banke, Count Five, The Seeds and many more (October 1999 UK Ace Records CD Compilation - Re-Released June 2009 with Upgraded Booklet and Jewel Case Design - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...She's About A Mover..." 

 

I've been meaning to review this totally brill Ace Records CD Series begun in 1999 for yonks now - and in May 2022 - it's about bruddy time I made good on that sonically meritorious citation.

 

The reason for my hallowed and manically sought after patronage of 'Chartbusters USA' is the SUPERLATIVE AUDIO. In a sea of so many 60ts CD compilations, it's hard to know where to look or buy? But after purchasing Volume One and hearing these stunning Remasters of Mono 45-single mixes from the hip and happening 60ts - I promptly snapped up the other four in the Series - and stunning audio or no, the only one I regret buying is the seriously cheesy COUNTRY EDITION (see list below).

 

The remastered sound is just fantastic throughout and genre diversity abounds - Sixties Pop, Rock, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Soul, Girl Groups, Garage, Psych, TV and Soundtrack Themes, Novelty etc. Lots to shimmy to...here are the details...

 

UK released October 1999 - "Chartbusters USA Volume 1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is the first of five CD compilations in Ace's 'Chartbusters USA' Series (see list below).

 

Ace CDCHD 722 (Barcode 029667172226) offers 30 American MONO 45-Single A-sides Remastered from best possible sources. This CD was UK-reissued June 2009 with the same catalogue number (and Barcode), but with an upgraded booklet and see-through CD tray/rear inlay artwork instead of the standard black tray of the 1999 original. Both issues use the 1999 masters and play out as follows (79:46 minutes):

 

All Tracks Are 45-Single A-side MONO Mixes (except Track 9, B-side)

1. She's About A Mover - SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET 

February 1965 US 45-single on Tribe 45-8308 - Peaked No. 13

April 1965 UK 45-single on London HLU 9964

 

2. Brown Eyed Girl - VAN MORRISON 

May 1967 US 45-single on Bang B-545 - Peaked at No. 10

July 1967 UK 45-single on London HLZ 10150 

 

3. Do You Believe In Magic? - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL 

August 1965 US 45-single on Kama Sutra KA 201 - Peaked at No. 9

October 1965 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25327

 

4. Wooly Bully - SAM THE SHAM and THE PHARAOHS 

February 1965 US 45-single on MGM K 13322 - Peaked at No. 2

May 1965 UK 45-single on MGM Records MGM 1269 

 

5. I Fought The Law - THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR 

November 1965 US 45-single on Mustang 3014 - Peaked at No. 9

March 1966 UK 45-single on London HL 10030 

 

6.Jenny Take A Ride! - MITCH RYDER and THE DETROIT WHEELS 

November 1965 US 45-single on New Voice 806 - Peaked at No. 10

January 1966 UK 45-single on Stateside SS 481

7. Games People Play - JOE SOUTH 

August 1968 US 45-single on Capitol 2248 - Peaked at No. 12

January 1969 UK 45-single on Capitol CL 15579 

8. Gimme Little Sign - BRENTON WOOD

July 1967 US 45-single on Double Shot 116 - Peaked at No. 9

October 1967 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15021

9. Elusive Butterfly - BOB LIND

November 1965 US 45-single on World Pacific 77078 

B-side USA-only of "Cheryl's Goin' Home" - Peaked at No. 5

February 1966 UK 45-single on Fontana TF 670 

Sides reversed - "Elusive Butterfly" as the A, "Cheryl's Goin' Home" as the B

 

10. California Dreamin' - THE MAMA'S And THE PAPA'S 

November 1965 US 45-single on Dunhill D-4020 - Peaked at No. 4

February 1966 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1503

11. Walk Away Renee - THE LEFT BANKE 

June 1966 US 45-single on Smash S-2041 - Peaked at No. 5

September 1966 US 45-single on Philips BF 1517 

12. G.T.O. - RONNY & THE DAYTONAS 

June 1964 US 45-single on Mala 481 - Peaked at No. 4

September 1964 UK 45-single on Stateside SS 333

 

13. Working In The Coalmine - LEE DORSEY 

June 1966 US 45-single on Amy 958 - Peaked at No. 8

July 1966 UK 45-single n Stateside SS 528 

 

14. I Can't Stand It - THE SOUL SISTERS 

January 1964 US 45-single on Sue 799 - Peaked at No. 46

No UK Issue

 

15. Hi Heel Sneakers - TOMMY TUCKER  

January 1964 US 45-single on Checker 1067 - Peaked at No. 11

February 1964 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25238 

Also Track 1, Side 1 UK "Hi Heel Sneakers" EP from 1964 on Pye Intl NEP 44027

16. Treat Her Right - ROY HEAD and THE TRAITS

April 1965 US 45-single on Back Beat 546 - Peaked at No. 2

October 1965 UK 45-single (as ROY HEAD) on Vocalion VP 9248

 

17. Eve Of Destruction - BARRY McGUIRE 

August 1965 US 45-single on Dunhill D-4009 - Peaked at No. 1

August 1965 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1469 

 

18. Hawaii Five-O - THE VENTURES 

September 1968 US 45-single on Liberty 56068 - Peaked at No. 4

June 1969 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15221

 

19. Kicks - PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS

February 1966 US 45-single on Columbia 4-43556 - Peaked at No. 4

April 1966 UK 45-single on CBS 202205

 

20. Green Tambourine - THE LEMON PIPERS 

November 1967 US 45-single on Buddah BDA-23 - Peaked at No. 1

January 1968 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25444

 

21. On The Road Again - CANNED HEAT 

April 1968 US 45-single on Liberty 56038 - Peaked at No. 16

June 1968 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15090 

 

22. Psychotic Reaction - COUNT FIVE 

July 1966 US 45-single on Double Shot 104 - Peaked at No. 5

October 1966 UK 45-single on Pye International 7N 25393

23. Pushin' Too Hard - THE SEEDS featuring SKY SAXON

July 1966 US 45-single on GNP Crescendo GNP 372 - Peaked at No. 36

July 1966 UK 45-single on Vocalion VN 9277

 

24. Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) - THE HOMBRES 

July 1967 US 45-single on Verve Forecast KF 5058 - Peaked at No. 12

November 1967 UK 45-single on Verve Forecast VS 1510 

 

25. Soul Deep - THE BOX TOPS 

June 1969 US 45-single on Mala M-12,040 - Peaked at No. 18

July 1969 UK 45-single on Bell BLL 1068  

26. Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - THE SHANGRI-LAS 

July 1964 US 45-single on Red Bird RB 10-008 - Peaked at No. 5

September 1964 UK 45-single on Red Bird RB 10 008 

27. The "In" Crowd - DOBIE GRAY 

November 1964 US 45-single on Charger CRG-105 - Peaked at No. 13

February 1965 UK 45-single on London HL 9953 

 

28. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly - HUGO MONTENEGRO & ORCHESTRA

January 1968 US 45-single on RCA Victor 47-9423 - Peaked at No. 2

August 1968 UK 45-single on RCA Victor RCA 1727 

 

29. Expressway To Your Heart - THE SOUL SURVIVORS 

July 1967 US 45-single on Crimson CR-1010 - Peaked at No. 4 

October 1967 UK 45-single on Stateside SS 2057 

30. Dance To The Music - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE 

November 1967 US 45-single on Epic 5-10256 - Peaked at No. 8

March 1968 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 839 

Reissued June 1968 UK 45-single on Direction 58-3568

Note: Not so you'd notice so much unless you were looking deep - but when this CD compilation was first issued October 1999 by Ace in the UK, it had a black CD tray and therefore no rear inlay that could be seen as in most modern releases. There are also seemed to be some kind of possible dispute over the use of a Sly Stone image at the rear of the booklet. It was reissued therefore in June 2009 (same catalogue number and confusingly with the same Barcode) - but this time with the rear inlay displaying memorabilia through the clear see-through plastic CD tray and the booklet altered to remove the Sly Stone image. The original rear inlay has only 1999 copyright date - the reissue has 1999/2009. 

Whichever you buy, the 20-page booklet is the usual feast of images that reissue label Ace have been doing so well for the guts of 45 years. In-between typically in-depth liner notes from TONY ROUNCE (a name collectors trust and love) are both black and white and colour trade adverts for Roy Head, The Mama's And The Papa's, The Seeds, Dobie Gray, The Shangri-Las and other cool 60ts groovers. Ace picture the rare first British 7" single for Sly & The Family Stone's "Dance To The Music" on Columbia rather than the more commonly seen Direction Records 45 - a hip-pocket record for a microphone-enthralled Van Morrison - sheet music for the fantastic "Hi Heel Sneakers" from Tommy Tucker and even a suitably Egyptian themed advert for Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs where they might crying 'mummy' for other reasons than phoning a parent for the rent money. 

 

As you can imagine - it's 20-pages impress greatly - while the new 2009 rear inlay shows picture sleeves, demo labels, concert photos and trade adverts for names you don't see every day of the week in reissues - Bob Lind, The Lemon Pipers, The Hombres, The Seeds and Count V. Fantastic stuff. And the Remasters from long-standing Audio Engineer to Ace Records and Sony/Blue Horizon by DUNCAN COWELL equal the effort of the booklet. Clean, punchy, packed with oomph even in the frantic Mitch Ryder track - I've never heard these winners sound so good.  

Volume 1 opens on an absolute humdinger that you've most likely forgotten - the fantastic neck-jerking "She's About A Mover" by San Antonio's 'Sir Douglas Quintet' - the band fronted by a 24-year-old Doug Sahm. That's quickly followed by a gorgeous sounding "Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison fresh out of Them and looking to make his first solo mark. Morrison's debut seven-inch single is overplayed by every hits station on the planet I know, but what an opening salvo winner it was and still is - nearly sixty bloody years after the event. 

 

Deep dive cuts for me include the fabulous "I Fought The Law" by The Bobby Fuller Four - a song I will always associate with The Clash who naturally adopted it as something of a theme song (Fuller was dead at 24 reputedly the victim of a mob hit) - while I can never get enough of the easy Soul Brenton Wood oozed with "Gimme Little Sign". Speaking of cool Rhythm 'n' Blues crossing over into 60ts Soul - Roy Head's "Treat Her Right", Tommy Tucker's "Hi Heel Sneakers" and even The Box Tops doing their "Soul Deep" are singles that must be in any self-respecting household. 

 

Genius inclusions go to the TV Series Theme "Hawaii Five-O" by The Ventures - spaghetti Western staple "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" by Hugo Montenegro followed by the magical Hombres track "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" - a cool R&B pounder that John Cougar Mellancamp did as a hidden CD Bonus Track on his 1989 album "Big Daddy". But my innards go to real mush for that trio of Garage Classics - "Kicks" by Paul Revere & The Raiders, "Psychotic Reaction" by Count Five and "Pushin' Too Hard" by The Seeds. Soul is in here too - "The "In" Crowd" and "Dance To The Music" and how beautiful is Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee". 

Volume 2 continues the genius choices with Lalo Schifrin's "Mission Impossible", Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" and Classics IV giving it some "Spooky" while The Turtles piano-plink-and-big-chorus toward "Eleanor" - tunes liable to tempt any compiler of cool-60ts CDR's. 

Onward and upward - enjoy me hearties...

 

 CHARTBUSTERS USA CD Series from Ace Records of the UK

Five Compilations of 45-Single Mix Remasters

 

Chartbusters USA Volume 1 - October 1999 original release, reissued June 2009 with upgraded booklet and rear-inlay jewel case presentation. The 1999/2009 issues confusingly have the same Catalogue number and Barcodes. However, the original has only a 1999 copyright date - the reissue has 1999/2009.

Ace CDCHD 722 (Barcode 029667172226), 79:46 minutes (30 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Volume 2 - January 2002 original release date

Ace CDCHD 832 (Barcode 029667183222), 79:55 minutes (29 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Volume 3 – 31 March 2003 original release date

Ace CDCHD 890 (Barcode 029667189026), 78:34 minutes (29 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Special Edition – Sunshine Pop (29 June 2009)

Ace CDCHD 1228 (Barcode 029667037129) 72:51 minutes (26 tracks)

 

Chartbusters USA Special Country Edition – 25 November 2016

Ace CDCHD 1488 (Barcode 029667078023), 62:29 minutes (24 tracks)

"Never Like This Before: The Complete 'Blue' Stax Singles 1961-1968" by WILLIAM BELL featuring Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Isaac Hayes and David Porter (27 May 2022 UK Ace/Kent Soul 28-Track CD Compilation - The MONO A&B-sides of Fourteen Singles Remastered - First Time on CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Formula Of Love..."

 

Now here's a humdinger. Using their Kent-Soul label imprint - this is the first of two CD compilations England's Ace Records are doing for William Bells' entire Southern Soul, R 'n' B and Funk output on Stax Records from 1961 up the label giant's crude and undignified crash in 1975.

 

Bell was one of only a handful of artists where much of his entire career encompassed that legendary Soul label (26 releases with them in total). He broke the chain for two years of enforced military service - but otherwise, over a 14-year period, stuck with the circular blues and yellows through thick and thin (he would move on to Mercury Records in 1976 and 1977).

 

This first volume from May 2022 offers you 28-tracks - the A&B-sides of fourteen American 45-singles issued between November 1961 and March 1968 (Bell wouldn't have his first 7" single in Blighty until January 1967 with "Never Like This Before" b/w "Soldier's Good-Bye" put out on Atlantic Records - see list below). 

 

The second volume (released at some later date) will undoubtedly cover the 'Yellow' label period from July 1968 onwards beginning with "Private Number" - his duet hit with Judy Clay on Stax STA-0005. 

 

Beautifully Remastered by Audio Engineer supremo DUNCAN COWELL (at Sound Mastering) - a man who has been with Ace for decades and did many of the mucho-praised Sony/Blue Horizon CD Reissues in the 2000s - this is an audio and presentation winner. I own and have reviewed in detail the four giant STAX Box Sets covering their entire singles output and these MONO variants are just better - punchy and clear and in 2022, benefiting from decades of Audio Engineering experience. 

 

Besides, just one look at the cover, the title and the contents and I'm getting itchy in the Talcum Powder area. Talk about a formula of love. To the details...

UK released Friday, 27 May 2022 - "Never Like This Before: The Complete 'Blue' Stax Singles 1961-1968" by WILLIAM BELL on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 510 (Barcode 029667105620) is a 28-Track CD Compilation (all tracks in MONO) that plays out as follows (75:42 minutes): 

1. You Don't Miss Your Water 

2. Formula Of Love

Tracks 1 and 2 are his US debut 45-single released November 1961 on Stax S-116

 

3. Any Other Love

4. Please Help Me I'm Falling 

Tracks 3 and 4 are his second US 45-single released August 1962 on Stax S-128

5. I Told You So 

6. What'cha Gonna' Do 

Tracks 5 and 6 are his third US 45-single released January 1963 on Stax S-132

 

7. Just As I Thought 

8. I'm Waiting On You 

Tracks 7 and 8 are his fourth US 45-single released April 1963 on Stax S-135

 

9. What Can I Do (To Forget) 

10. Somebody Mentioned Your Name 

Tracks 9 and 10 are his fifth US 45-single released July 1963 on Stax S-138

 

11. I'll Show You 

12. Monkeying Around 

Tracks 11 and 12 are his sixth US 45-single released October 1963 on Stax S-141

 

13. Don't Make Something Out Of Nothing 

14. Who Will It Be Tomorrow 

Tracks 13 and 14 are his seventh US 45-single released February 1964 on Stax S-146

 

15. Crying All By Myself 

16. Don't Stop Now 

Tracks 15 and 16 are his eight US 45-single released July 1965 on Stax S-174

 

17. Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)

18. Marching Off To War 

Tracks 17 and 18 are his ninth US 45-single released May 1966 on Stax 45-191

19. Never Like This Before 

20. Soldier's Good-Bye 

Tracks 19 and 20 are his tenth US 45-single released September 1966 on Stax 45-199

21. Everybody Loves A Winner

22. You're Such A Sweet Thang 

Tracks 21 and 22 are his eleventh US 45-single released March 1967 on Stax 45-212

 

23. Eloise (Hang On in There)

24. One Plus One 

Tracks 23 and 24 are his twelfth US 45-single released July 1967 on Stax 45-227

 

25. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday 

26. Ain't Got No Girl 

Tracks 25 and 26 are his thirteenth US 45-single released November 1967 on Stax 45-237

27. A Tribute To A King 

28. Every Man Oughta Have A Woman 

Tracks 27 and 28 are his fourteenth US 45-single released March 1968 on Stax 45-248 - the last of his releases with the Stax Records 'blue' label design 

This compilation will also allow British fans to sequence his first three 45-single releases in the UK as follows:

 

"Never Like This Before" b/w "Soldier's Good-Bye"

January 1967 UK debut 45-single n Atlantic 584076

 

"Eloise (Hang On In There)" b/w "One Plus One" 

September 1967 UK second 45-single on Stax 601019

 

"A Tribute To A King" b/w "Every Man Oughta Have A Woman" 

May 1968 UK third 45-single on Stax 601038

The 16-page booklet kicks off with typically brilliant and in-depth liner notes from genre aficionado TONY ROUNCE - a writer whose knowledge and love for Soul Music has been gracing Ace liner notes for years (references seven different articles on the back-page credits). Memphis-born William Yarborough (adopted his grandmother's non-mouthful surname of Bell for career purposes) has his lengthy stay at Stax Records picked apart. 

 

The info is aided and abetted by photos of every American 7" single label (demos too when possible), US trade adverts, Billboard press reviews ("What'cha Gonna' Do" is described as a thump-a-weeper - love it) and a couple of classy promo photos from the period (much of the memorabilia is provided by Roger Armstrong and Liz Buckley from their own collections - pals of Ace Records). His British releases are here too - the Atlantic 45 pictured in the booklet with the two blue Stax UK 7" singles used as the rear inlay backing photo beneath the see-through CD tray (see pictures provided). To the tunes...

This is without doubt the best I've heard these Mono Sides sound - tracks like the rare B-side dancer "Just As I Thought", the brass-bopper A-side "I'm Waiting For You" or the funeral-march of "Somebody Mentioned Your Name" with its pleading girly background are all remastered back to life. I'd forgotten just how lovely the semi ballad of "Any Other Way" is - or the sheer smooch of the rare flipside "I'll Show You" where William asks the young lady to trust him (now William) - great audio coming off both. 

 

Organ notes lurch in the pleader "Don't Make Something Out Of Nothing" - Bell urging his fine lady to ignore the malicious gossip of a million girls (it's B-side "Who Will It Be Tomorrow" is a far better dancer side with fabulous audio as a guitar shimmers in front of punchy horns). Southern Soul weepies were never far from William Bell's lips and it doesn't come much better than the sensuous "Crying All By Myself" - the kind of gorgeous melodious slowy where you can just visualize dedicated Northern Soul types mooching about the dancefloor in a two a.m. trance - lost in the magic of it all.

 

Otis Redding's arrival and musical style is felt on the flip-side "Don't Stop Now" - a properly cool shuffler (hardly any wonder that Stax S-174 is so sought after with "Crying All By Myself" on the A). Can't quite get into "Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)" - a begging letter to other men to leave his baby alone. And for the first time, Bell shows his political teeth on the Vietnam flipside "Marching Off To War" - field pack on his back waving off his tearful sweetheart. 

Up next comes the compilation's title track "Never Like This Before" - a great Sam & Dave-like energizer - mash up my mind baby with your love whilst I dig that guitar vs. horns battle over there. His voice is in full-on excellence mode for another Vietnam slowie - the brilliant "Soldier's Good-Bye". Hardly surprising that Atlantic Records UK chose this duo of winners for his debut British 45 - and I think its Steve Cropper playing the brilliant guitar throughout. Speaking of missed opportunities - how did a double-whammy combo like the pleading "Everybody Loves A Winner" paired with the brass-bopper "You're Such A Sweet Thing" not tear people's hearts out and thereafter tear up the savvy British charts. When you lose, you lose alone, he sang on the A-side - so true it seems. 

 

Rounding it all up - the hugely popular dancer "Eloise (Hang On In There)" is a big Northern Soul go-getter - a co-write (like so many of these Stax sides) with Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & The MG's. Isaac Hayes and David Porter provided the big love smooch of "One Plus One" for the B-side - Bell sounding comfortable on this deceptively simply song. There's a mixture of Sam & Dave, Otis Redding and even Clarence Carter in the so-very-Stax shuffler "Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday" - another winner from Bell and Booker T. Jones (never have to worry about sitting by the phone - oh yeah). Bell joined writing forces with Steve Cropper, David Porter and Isaac Hayes for the manly problems presented in "Ain't Got No Girl" (money in a fruit jar ain't gonna help). It all comes to a dignified end with the 1968 listen-people ache of "A Tribute To A King" - Bell's moving memorial to Otis Redding and his horrible loss to a plane crash. And I had completely forgotten its flipside "Every Man Oughta Have A Woman" - a gorgeous ballad where both William Bell and Booker T. Jones create a seriously sexy vibe. 

CD compilations like "Never Like This Before: The Complete 'Blue' Stax Singles 1961-1968" by William Bell is a very real reason why genre fans look to Ace Records of the UK with a heart that beats just a little bit faster. Nailed it once again boys and girls and big-time kudos to all involved...

"Dusty Sings Soul" by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD – 1964 to 1969 UK Cover Versions of Soul songs taken from 45-singles, EPs and LPs on Philips Records (March 2022 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Some Of Your Lovin'..."

 

As if anyone in the Western hemisphere (let alone Blighty) needed proof positive of just how good a reissue label Ace Records of the UK really is - point the 2022 accusational finger over here you KGB operative, because this is a deeply, deeply classy release. 

 

"Dusty Sings Soul" has me dribbling at the bottom lip while the hairier one atop is quivering in some sort of music spasm not known to many of England's top drug-dealers (I checked). It even has me using heady adjectives and verbs in a frankly cavalier manner unworthy of my literary genius (but more of that later). 

 

Dusty-philes will probably have all of this for sure, but for those of us who just aren't that invested in Dusty Springfield outside of the more familiar 60ts hits, this is a fabulous way to catch her in genre pockets she adored and spent years emulating - American Soul Music and its little sister Rhythm 'n' Blues. 

 

Haven't left the overtly and ever so slightly po-faced Folk Pop of The Springfields behind in 1963, her burgeoning solo career was going to be different. Hip and happening at the Twisted Wheel, rather than knitting cardigan patterns around the hearth with a warm mug of cocoa. 

 

Twenty-four cuts and nearly 64-minutes of music stretch from 1964 to 1969, and you can literally hear the spirit and joy in Dusty's renditions as she lays into Motown, Stax, Atlantic, Chess and all points in-between. Can I Get A Witness - you betcha baby - here are the pieces of her heart...

 

UK released Friday, 25 March 2022 - "Dusty Sings Soul" by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD on Ace Records CDCHD 1612 (Barcode 029667105224) is a CD compilation of 24-Tracks spanning 1964 to 1969 that plays out as follows (63:54 minutes):

 

1. Can I Get A Witness

First Track on "Dusty", September 1964 UK 4-Track EP on Philips BE 12564

Original: Marvin Gaye - September 1963 US 45-single on Tamla T-54087, A

 

2. Long After Tonight Is All Over 

From her 2nd LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty", October 1965 UK on Philips SRBL 1002

Original: Jimmy Radcliffe - October 1964 US 45-single on Musicor MU-1042, A

 

3. Won't Be Long 

From her 2nd LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty", October 1965 UK on Philips SRBL 1002

Original: Aretha Franklin - December 1960 US 2nd 45-single on Columbia 41923, A

 

4.Bring Him Back 

From her 3rd LP "Where Am I Going", October 1967 UK on Philips SBL 7820 

Original: Sissie Houston (Cissy) - April 1966 US 45-single on Congress CG-268, A

 

5. All Cried Out

Second Track on "Dusty", September 1964 UK 4-Track EP on Philips BE 12564

Original: Darlene Paul - June 1964 US 45-single on Capitol 5200, A

 

6. Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart 

From LP "Dusty...Definitely", November 1968 UK on Philips 7864

Dusty's version features guest vocalists Madeline Bell, Lesley Duncan and Kay Garner with John Paul Jones on Bass, who would later join Led Zeppelin

Original: Erma Franklin - as "Piece Of My Heart", October 1967 US 45-single on Shout S-221, A

 

7. Do Re Mi 

From her Debut LP "A Girl Called Dusty", August 1964 UK on Philips 7594

Original: Lee Dorsey - December 1961 US 45-single on Fury 1056, A

 

8. Welcome Home
From her 3rd LP "Where Am I Going", October 1967 UK on Philips SBL 7820 

Original: Walter Jackson - April 1965 US 45-single on Okey 4-7219, A

 

9. Some Of Your Lovin'

September 1965 Non-LP UK 45-single on Philips BF 1430, A

Dusty's version features guest vocalists Madeline Bell, Lesley Duncan and for the first time, Kiki Dee

Original: The Honey Bees (written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King) - April 1965 US 45-single on Fontana F-1505, B-side of "You Turn Me On Boy"

 

10. That's How Heartaches Are Made

From her 2nd LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty", October 1965 UK on Philips SRBL 1002

Original: Baby Washington - March 1963 US 45-single on Sue Records 783, A

 

11.  It Was Easier To Hurt Him 

From her 2nd LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty", October 1965 UK on Philips SRBL 1002

Original: Garnet Mimms - March 1965 US 45-single (as "It Was Easier To Hurt Her") on United Artists UA 848, A

 

12. Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone 

From her 4th LP "Dusty...Definitely", November 1968 UK on Philips 7864

Dusty's version features guest vocalists Madeline Bell, Lesley Duncan and Kay Garner with John Paul Jones on Bass, who would later join Led Zeppelin

Original: The Temptations - from their July 1967 US LP "With A Lot O' Soul" on Gordy GS 922 in Stereo

 

13. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (Mono)

June 1964 UK 45-single on Philips BF 1348, A

Original: Tommy Hunt - August 1962 US 45-single on Scepter 136, A

 

14. Every Ounce Of Strength (Mono)

March 1966 UK 45-single on Philips BF 1482, B-side of "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (No Che No Vivo Senza Te)" 

Original: Carla Thomas - May 1965 US 45-single on Stax 172, B-side of "Stop! Look What You're Doing" - A-side written by Steve Cropper, David Porter & Isaac Hayes

 

15. I Wanna Make You Happy 

Track 1, Side 2 - April 1965 "Dusty In New York" 4-Track EP on Philips BE 12572

Original: Margaret Mandolph - May 1965 US 45-single on Planetary P-106, A

 

16. Nothing 

From her Debut LP "A Girl Called Dusty", August 1964 UK on Philips 7594

Original: Marie Knight - October 1961 US 45-single (as "Nothing in The World") on Okeh 4-7141, B-side of "Come Tomorrow"

 

17. Oh No Not My Baby 

From her 2nd LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty", October 1965 UK on Philips SRBL 1002

Original: The Shirelles - from 1965 US LP "Swing The Most" on Pricewise P 4001 

 

18. I Had A Talk With My Man 

From her 2nd LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty", October 1965 UK on Philips SRBL 1002

Original: Mitty Collier - August 1964 US 45-single on Chess 1907, A

 

19. I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face 

From her 3rd LP "Where Am I Going", October 1967 UK on Philips SBL 7820 

Original: Pat Thomas - October 1964 US 45-single on Verve 10333, A

 

20. Every Day I Have To Cry 

Track 2, Side 2, April 1964 UK Debut EP "I Only Want To Be With You" on Philips BE 12560

Original: Arthur Alexander - Unreleased Recording from 1962 on Dot Records

 

21. Love Power 

From her 4th LP "Dusty...Definitely", November 1968 UK on Philips 7864

Original: The Sandpipers - October 1967 US 45-single on Calla C-141, A

 

22. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream 

From her 3rd LP "Where Am I Going", October 1967 UK on Philips SBL 7820 

Original: Aretha Franklin - from the March 1967 US LP "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" on Atlantic SD 8139 

 

23. Am I The Same Girl 

September 1969 UK 45-single on Philips BF 1811, A (Mono)

Original: Barbara Acklin - January 1969 US 45-single on Brunswick 55399, A

 

24. What's It Gonna Be 

September 1967 UK 45-single on Philips BF 1608, A

Original: None - Jerry Ragovoy and Mort Shuman song she did first 

 

All tracks in STEREO except 13, 14 and 23 which are MONO

 

The 20-page booklet is gorgeous, all those Philips 45 labels, colour EP sleeves, UK LP cover art and sheet music - the usual classy Ace Records affair. Long-time Soul aficianado, genre expert and collaborator with Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE outdoes even his own lofty standards by providing fact-crammed liner-notes to each song. This is a great read by someone who clearly reveres his subject matter, crisscrossing her cover version with the original. The AUDIO is cracking throughout (three Mono, twenty-one Stereo cuts) provided by NICK ROBBINS - stuff like the gorgeous "Some Of Your Lovin'" and "What's It Gonna Be" (huge fan faves) sounding huge and full of life. 

 

Influenced by great ladies of Soul like Baby Washington, Barbara Acklin, Erma Thomas and Carla Thomas - Dusty showed her staggering street smarts by choosing to cover Aretha on only her second 45-single release in the USA for Columbia Records. The big writers for Motown (Holland-Dozier-Holland) and Brill Building geniuses like Gerry Goffin and Carole King are not surprisingly amidst the versions - but check out her savvy at spotting a Stax B-side "Every Ounce Of Strength" by Carla Thomas - a Steve Cropper, David Porter and Isaac Hayes tune - a song that was reputedly lined up for her cancelled fifth UK EP "Heartbeat". 

 

For sure the tempo wanes and the magic drops in places, and I'm pretty sure I never want to hear the overly sampled hit-list radio regular "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" even again. But make no mistake, "Dusty Sings Soul" is a great CD compilation for 2022 and one that will bring a tear to the eyes of her many fans and open up others to her right-on career choices - 60ts Soul...