.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG.JPG)
.JPG)
Eagle-eyed collectors will notice something similar about this new August 2011 UK 3CD set on WEA/Rhino 8122797574 (Barcode 081227975746) - it's a repackaging of three "After Hours" CD Volumes already released in the 2000s.
I bought them then and they were fantastic (I also bought the 2LP vinyl versions). The individual CD volumes are all deleted now and clock in at about a tenner each on the open second hand market – so this three-in-one package at under a ten spot represents great value for money and a smart reissue. But there are changes on all three on these new discs that need pointing out - here are the details...
Disc 1 "After Hours Volume 1" (64:51 minutes):
1. You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt) – ALICE CLARK
2. Somebody (Somewhere) Needs Me – IKE & TINA TURNER
3. I Love Her So Much It Hurts Me – DAVID & RUBEN
4. Think It Over – THE HARVEY AVENUE DOZEN
5. Angel Baby (Don’t You Ever Leave Me) – DARRELL BANKS
6. Go For Yourself – LARRY LASTER
7. I Remember The Feeling – BARBARA LEWIS
8. Satisfied – BEN AIKEN
9. That’s When The Tears Start – THE BLOSSOMS
10. Good Love Gone Bad – THE AMBASSADORS
11. My Heart Needs A Break – LINDA JONES
12. Ooh Baby – DEON JACKSON
13. Crazy Baby – THE COASTERS
14. In The Twilight Zone – THE ASTORS
15. I’m Gonna Run Away From You – TAMI LYNN
16. Get Ready – ELLA FITZGERALD
17. Since You Said You’d Be Mine – LOU RAGLAND
18. Call On Me – THE DYNELLS
19. How Can You Say That Ain’t Love – THE PATTERSON SINGERS
20. Find Me Somebody – BOBBY WOMACK
21. This Is The Thanks I Get – BARBARA LYNN
22. Feels Good – BOBBY WILSON
23. Sufferin' City – JOHNNY COPELAND
24. Just Say Goodbye – ESTHER PHILLIPS
25. After Closing Time – HAL FRAZIER
The original 2002 CD "After Hours" (1965 to 1973) had 24 tracks - this new version has 25. The running order is exactly the same except that Track 17 "Call On Me" by THE DYNELLS is an addition (it's been moved from Track 26 on the original "After Hours 3").
Disc 2 "After Hours Volume 2" (63:07 minutes):
1. Mr. Creator – THE APOLLAS
2. Afternoon Of The Rhino – MIKE POST COLAITION
3. I Can’t Break The News To Myself – BEN E. KING
4. Just Can’t Live My Life – LINDA JONES
5. Something’s Burnin’ – THE MARVELLOS
6. Don’t Pity Me – JOANIE SOMMERS
7. Here I Go Again – ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS
8. Stirrin' Up Some Soul – THE MARKETTS
9. Fireman – VALA REEGAN & THE VALARONS
10. Baby Help Me – PERCY SLEDGE
11. Catch Me I’m Falling – ESTHER PHILLIPS
12. The Joker (On A Trip Through The Jungle) – THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND [with Charles Wright]
13. Thank You Baby For Loving Me – SOUL BROTHERS SIX
14. I Got My Baby Back LORRAINE ELLISON
15. Man With The Golden Touch – CHARLES THOMAS
16. Take Your Love And Run – BARBARA LYNN
17. Where Did I Go Wrong? – THE EMBERS
18. Yes To The Lord – THE STOVALL SISTERS
19. Bar-B-Q – WENDY RENE
20. Don’t You Even Care – LESLEY UGGAMS
21. Keep Me In Suspense – MARY WELLS
22. King Of The Horse – THE DELIGHTS ORCHESTRA
23. You Forgot How To Love – PATTI LaBELLE & THE BLUEBELLS
24. Something New To Do – BOBBY SHEEN
25. West 4th Street – VALERIE & BOBBY CAPERS
The original 2003 CD "After Hours 2 – More Northern Soul…" (1964 to 1972) had 26 tracks but this 2011 version has 25 and there is also some alteration of the line up too. Tracks 4 and 19 from the original CD have been dropped - "Lil Ole Man (Uptight - Everything's Alright)" by BILL COSBY and "That's What You Do To Me" by DEON JACKSON. "Yes To The Lord" by The Stovell Sisters was Track 26 on the original CD but has been moved to Track 18. Track 25 is "West 4th Street" by Valerie & Bobby Capers (it's been moved from Track 29 on the original "After Hours 3"). Outside of these changes, the track running order remains the same as the original.
Disc 3 "After Hours Volume 3" (65:05 minutes):
1. Mean It Baby – CARL HALL
2. Send Him Back – THE POINTER SISTERS
3. You Got To Pay Your Dues – THE DRIFTERS
4. A Last Minute Miracle – LINDA JONES
5. Please Operator – TONY & TYRONE
6. Too Late To Say You’re Sorry – DARLENE LOVE
7. Got To Find A Way – CAJUN HART
8. Bright Lights – DELILAH KEENEBRUEW
9. Slippin' Around With You – JIMMY HUGHES
10. Love Don’t Through No Changes On Me – SISTER SLEDGE
11. My Love Is Getting Stronger – CLIFF NOBLES
12. Happiest Girl In The World – PLUS 4
13. Thousand Wonders – ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS
14. Can’t You See (You’re Losing Me) – MARY WELLS
15. I’ll Be Loving You – SOUL BROTHERS SIX
16. Contact – THE THREE DEGREES
17. Tell Me Why – LIFE
18. We Need To Be Loved – THE TEEN TURBANS
19. Frantic Escape – THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS
20. Ain’t That Terrible – ROY REDMOND
21. I Want It Back (Your Love) - THE VOICE BOX
22. Hang My Head And Cry – THE BIG GUYS
23. I Want Somebody (To Show Me The Way Back Home) – WILLIE TEE
24. Nothing Is Impossible – AL PERKINS
25. You’re Losing Me – BARBARA LYNN
The original 2005 "After Hours 3 – More Northern Soul…" (1965 to 1974) had 29 tracks - this new version has 25. Tracks 1 to 18 remain the same running order but "Frantic Escape" by The Innocent Bystanders was Track 28 on the original CD and is now moved to Track 19. Tracks 20 to 25 are the same. Of the remaining four - two have been moved to Disc 1 and 2 as already noted above - the one dropped is "Astral Fire" by THE MYSTIC MOODS.
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
So - across the entire 3 CDs on this 2011 reissue only three of the original songs have been dropped (possibly due to licensing difficulties). Originally each of the first two CDs had an 8-page booklet (12-pages on Volume 3) with a short but informative paragraph on each track. Richard Searling (a DJ at Jazz-FM and Radio Presenter at Smooth-FM in the UK) and Rick Conrad (from Warners Music) compiled and annotated all three - with each set expertly remastered by GIOVANNI SCATOLA. This new versions ditches the booklet (tracks listed only on the three inside card flaps) but this 3CD reissue has the same excellent mastering the original discs had.
With regard to the sound - because of the wildly varying sources and recording dates (many tracks were new to CD at the time of release), the audio quality varied enormously - from superb to just very good - but I've not found any of the tracks anything less than listenable on this new version. Also because of their rarity value, most collectors simply relished having the tracks at all.
Musically - it's an embarrassment of riches - huge hauls of ultra-rare and desirable Soul 45's on legendary labels like Atlantic, Atco, Carla, Fame, Loma, Reprise, Stax and Warner Brothers. Most of the tracks are aimed squarely at the feet - upbeat dancefloor fillers that slaughtered the crowds at the 'Wigan Casino' in the early Seventies. This is joyful stuff - finger-clickers like "I Love Her So Much It Hurts Me" by DAVID & RUBEN from 1969 on Warners 7316 and the fabulous "Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)" by DARRELL BANKS from 1967 on Atlantic 6484 with an infectious bassline that just won't quit (lyrics above).
To sum up - I'm a fairly voracious collector of all things Atlantic so I had to have all three of the original jewel-case CD versions when they came out (cost me a five spot each at the time of purchase). Well this new 3CD card-digipak reissue at less than a tenner online (despite the loss of 3 tracks) is still incredible value for money. And if you're new to the compilations and the music - then you're in for a treat. Now excuse me - while I get some talcum powder out - scuff up the laminated kitchen floor - and badly show my age...
