"Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 8 - 1970-1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS featuring Aretha Franklin, Jackie Moore, The Beginning Of The End, Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, King Floyd, The Spinners, Betty Wright, Blue Magic, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, The Persuaders and Major Harris (Inside the October 1991 USA Atlantic 8CD LP-Sized Box Set – Then March 2006 UK Singular CD Reissue with Same Tracks and Remasters but with Different Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Above - The April 1987 UK Seven x Double-Album VINYL BOX SET

(Originally Issued December 1985 in the USA)

Both Original Vinyl Box Sets (1985 and 1987) Had 186 Tracks

The Seven CDs in both countries however were Truncated Versions - Down to 163 Tracks 

The UK CDs Volumes 1 to 7 also originally issued April 1987 (reissued October 1990)

Below - The October 1991 8CD US-Only 203-Track Upgraded Box Set (CD only)

Volume 8 was NEW over the 1985 7 x 2LP Vinyl Box Set and 1987 Truncated 7 x CDs

 

Below: US October 1991 Volume 8 Addition by Itself - Newly Formed Artwork Too

Was Not Issued Individually in the USA

Except in UK/Europe in March 2006 in Different Artwork - see Next Set of Photos

                                                    

Below: UK/EU March 2006 Reissue on Rhino/Warner Platinum

Each Volume (1 to 8) Was Released Individually only in UK/EU

There Was Also a Card Wrap Version that gathered up all Eight Volumes

All were Budget-Priced (usually £3.99) and used the 1991 Remasters

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"…Groove Me…"

Here in the spring of 2024 - this unassuming and admittedly rather naff-looking Soul CD compilation from Rhino and Warner Platinum has been in the UK and EUROPEAN budget-priced marketplace for almost the guts of 20-years. Issued back in March 2006 as Volume 8 of 8 – it was/is a bit-part showcase for the mighty Atlantic Records and their staggering Black Music Legacy.

In fact - none of the eight cheap-and-cheerful "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" reissue volumes look like much – garish big-lettered front cover art with a piddly gatefold-inlay inside that barely lists titles and artists and not much else. But man oh man the music is fabulous. However, to understand what you have in hand and the journey as to how it got here requires some serious investigative history that is worth explaining (including the photos provided above. So, here goes… 

The Seven x Double-Albums VINYL BOX SET for "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" was first issued in the USA in December 1985 on Atlantic 7-81620-1 and belatedly in the UK in April 1987 on Atlantic 781 620-1. Housed in distinctive black and red packaging (like their Fifties labels) - the individual 2LP sets inside each had unique artwork, extensive liner notes and were also issued as stand-alone 2LP sets. 

There was NO CD BOX SET VERSION for either the US or UK 1985 or 1987 issues – each Volume inside having been released individually. Worse - 6 of the 7 original CD volumes had their track lists truncated - reducing 186 on the vinyl doubles by 17 to 163 on CD. Those CDs were reissued again in October 1990 in the UK, and at that time, there was still no Volume 8. 

It then transpired that unspecified tracks across the whole seven-volume kaboodle had the wrong takes used. Atlantic USA decided to rectify this and reissue the entire box set again but with more tracks and only on CD. So in October 1991 "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" was relaunched on Atlantic 7 82305-2 in the USA (Barcode 075678230523) - but this time as an 8CD 12" x 12" box set with 203 tracks (17 extra). The individual booklets that came with the original 7CDs were taken out (replaced with a simple gatefold track list inlays that used the old arywork) and expanded into a full-sized 36-page booklet. The reissue also used the distinctive black and red packaging of the 1985 vinyl box on the front, and the artwork style remained the same for each CD on the inside (collage photos). It also admitted that mistaken masters had been used on the original set but were now all correct. It was ONLY issued as an 8CD Box Set and ONLY in America. 

In March 2006 in the UK and Europe however, these 8 Volumes were reissued as stand-alone CDs for the first time (no vinyl), but with different artwork (I have pictured both). They were also released without the booklets that accompanied the 1987 issues or the 1991 reissue box - just basic inlays.

PS: To add further salt to a reissue wound - there was a 255-Track Japanese-Only issue of "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" on Warners/Atlantic WPCR-14441 released 25 May 2012 - again with different artwork - which added on 52 new tracks on 2 NEW BONUS DISCS. Chosen by noted Japanese expert Keishi Suzuki - the two extra CDs contained very rare Fifties Blues and R'n'B on Disc 9 and lesser-seen Soul Sides on Disc 10 - much of it unavailable elsewhere. Those two extra volumes are NOT available anywhere else and are exclusive to that Japanese anthology. Time for a 10 or 12-CD celebration of Atlantic Records – anybody?

Back to the CD in hand. So, what you have here is an American-Based CD from 1991 subsequently issued 2006 in Europe. For this review – we will concentrate on Volume 8 of 8. Here are the track-by-track details…

Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 Volume 8: 1970-1974
UK/Europe released 20 March 2006 on Rhino/Atlantic/Warner Platinum 8122-77583-2 (Barcode 081227758325) – 20 Tracks, 73:26 minutes, 5 Bonuses:

1. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) – ARETHA FRANKLIN (2:57 minutes)
US 45: July 1970, Atlantic 45-2751, A-side
UK 45: August 1970, UK Atlantic 2091 027, A-side
US LP: "Spirit In The Dark", August 1970 on Atlantic SD 8265
UK LP: "Don't Play That Song", September 1970 on Atlantic 2400 021

2. Precious Precious – JACKIE MOORE (3:25 minutes) *
US 45: August 1970, Atlantic 45-2681, B-side of "Willpower" 
UK 45: February 1971, Atlantic 2091 054, A-side with "Willpower" as the B
US LP: "Sweet Charlie Babe", 1973 on Atlantic SD 7285
UK LP: "Sweet Charlie Babe", 1973 on Atlantic K 40544 
LP also contains "Willpower"

3. Groove Me – KING FLOYD (3:01 minutes)
US 45: September 1970, Chimneyville CH-435, B-side of "What Our Love Needs" – US DJs played the flipside "Groove Me" and it then became the dominant hit
UK 45: Jan 1971, Atlantic 2091 051, A-side
US LP: "King Floyd", May 1971 on Cotillion SD 9047
UK LP: "King Floyd", 1971 on Atlantic 2466014

4. Patches – CLARENCE CARTER (3:09 minutes)
US 45: July 1970, Atlantic 45-2748, A-side
UK 45: September 1970, Atlantic 2091 030, A-side
US LP: "Patches", October 1970 on Atlantic SD-8267 
UK LP: "Patches", November 1970 on Atlantic 2400 027

5. Don't Knock My Love (Part 1) – WILSON PICKETT (2:23 minutes) *
US 45: April 1971, Atlantic 45-2797, A-side
UK 45: July 1971, Atlantic 2091 124, A-side
US LP: "Don't Knock My Love", December 1971 on Atlantic SD 8300
UK LP: "Don't Knock My Love", December 1971 on Atlantic K 40319

6. Funky Nassau (Parts 1 & 2) – BEGINNING OF THE END (5:10 minutes)
US 45: March 1971, Alston 4595, A&B-sides
UK 45: July 1971, Atlantic 2091 097, A&B-sides
US LP: "Funky Nassau", 1971 on Alston SD 33-379
UK LP: "Funky Nassau", 1974 on Atlantic K 40304

7. Thin Line Between Love And Hate – THE PERSUADERS (3:23 minutes)
US 45: July 1971, Atco 45-6822, A-side
UK 45: November 1971, Debut on Atlantic 2091 164, A-side
US LP: "Thin Line Between Love And Hate", 1972 on Win Or Lose SD 33-387
UK LP: "Thin Line Between Love And Hate", 1972 on Atlantic K 40370

8. Rock Steady – ARETHA FRANKLIN (3:12 minutes) 
US 45: October 1971, Atlantic 45-2838, A-side
UK 45: November 1971, Atlantic 2091 168, A-side

9. Day Dreamin' – ARETHA FRANKLIN (3:58 minutes) *
US 45: February 1972, Atlantic 45-2866, A-side
UK 45: March 1972, UK Atlantic K 10154, A-side
Tracks 8 and 9
US LP: "Young, Gifted & Black", January 1972 on Atlantic SD 7213
UK LP: "Young, Gifted & Black", January 1972 on Atlantic K 40323

10. You've Got A Friend – ROBERTA FLACK and DONNY HATHAWAY (3:24 minutes)
US 45: May 1971, Atlantic 45-2808, A-side
UK 45: June 1971, Atlantic 2091 116, A-side
A Carole King cover version (from her February 1971 LP "Tapestry"; also a hit for James Taylor from his April 1971 LP "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon")
US LP: "Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway", May 1972 on Atlantic SD 7216
UK LP: "Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway", June 1972 on Atlantic K 40380

11. Clean Up Woman – BETTY WRIGHT (2:47 minutes)
US 45: November 1971, Alston A-4601, A-side
UK 45: March 1972, Atlantic K 10143, A-side
US LP: "I Love The Way You Love", February 1972 on Alston SD 33-388
UK LP: "I Love The Way You Love", March 1972 on Atlantic K 40364

12. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love – SPINNERS (4:13 minutes)
US 45: December 1972, Atlantic 45-2927, A-side
UK 45: April 1973, Atlantic K 10283, A-side as The Detroit Spinners
US LP: "Spinners", March 1973 on Atlantic SD 7256
UK LP: "The Detroit Spinners", May 1973 on Atlantic K 40477

13. Killing Me Softly With His Song – ROBERTA FLACK (5:52 minutes)
US 45: January 1973, Atlantic 45-2940, A-side
UK 45: February 1973, Atlantic K 10282, A-side

US LP: "Killing Me Softly With His Song, January 1973 on Atlantic SD 7271

UK LP: "Killing Me Softly With His Song, February 1973 on Atlantic K 50021

14. Where Is The Love - ROBERTA FLACK and DONNY HATHAWAY (2:42 minutes)
US 45: April 1972, Atlantic 45-2879, A-side
UK 45: July 1972, UK Atlantic K 10202, A-side
US LP: "Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway", May 1972 on Atlantic SD 7216
UK LP: "Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway", June 1972 on Atlantic K 40380

15. I'll Be Around – THE SPINNERS (3:13 minutes)
US 45: July 1972, Atlantic 45-2904, B-side of "How Could I Let You Get Away"
UK 45: September 1972, Atlantic K 10243, B-side of "How Could I Let You Get Away" – credited as The Spinners in both the USA and UK - although they were known as THE DETROIT SPINNERS in the UK. Sometime in September or October 1972, the British 45 was then flipped and reissued with "I'll Be Around" listed as the A-side and the band finally credited as The Detroit Spinners. The backing band was essentially MFSB – Norman Harris on Guitar, Ronnie Baker on Bass and Earl Young on Drums
US LP: "Spinners", March 1973 on Atlantic SD 7256 
UK LP: "The Detroit Spinners", March 1973 on Atlantic K 40477

16. Feel Like Makin' Love – ROBERTA FLACK (2:55 minutes)
US 45: July 1974, Atlantic 45-3203, A-side
UK 45: June 1974, Atlantic K 10467, A-side

US LP: "Feel Like Makin' Love", March 1975 on Atlantic SD 18131

UK LP: "Feel Like Makin' Love", April 1975 on Atlantic K 50049

17. One Of A Kind (Love Affair) – SPINNERS (3:32 minutes) *
US 45: April 1973, Atlantic 45-2962, A-side 
UK 45: July 1973, Atlantic K 10311, A-side, credited as The Detroit Spinners
US LP: "Spinners", March 1973 on Atlantic SD 7256 
UK LP: "The Detroit Spinners", March 1973 on Atlantic K 40477

18. Sideshow – BLUE MAGIC (4:08 minutes) *
US 45: March 1974, Atco 45-6961, A-side
UK 45: August 1974, Atlantic K 10494. A-side

19. Mighty Love, Pt. 1 – SPINNERS (4:55 minutes)
US 45: January 1974, Atlantic 45-3006, A-side
UK 45: March 1974, Atlantic K 10416, A-side, credited as The Detroit Spinners
NOTE: The playing time is mistakenly noted on the rear and in the inlay as 3:19 minutes but it plays the Full LP version at 4:55 minutes; the 4:55 minutes playing time was noted correctly as such on the 1991 US Box Set issue

20. Love Won't Let Me Wait – MAJOR HARRIS (3:46 minutes)
US 45: February 1975, Atlantic 45-3248, A-side
UK 45: July 1975, UK Atlantic K 10585, A-side

BONUS TRACKS: 
* Tracks 2, 5, 9, 17 and 18 are five 1991 Bonus Tracks not on the 1985 US 7 x 2LP Vinyl Box Set or the individual 1987 UK 7 x CD versions

Some had complained about the sound quality on the original 1987 CDs - as well as wrong versions of songs being used (personally I found the audio quality of the VINYL doubles to be superlative). So Atlantic made efforts with the 1991 CD reissue which is what these 2006 Euro issues are based on. That 1991 Box Set told us that all tracks were "digitally remastered from mono and true stereo originals" and that "in this edition, the proper tracks have been used in all cases" (these 2006 quote the same). BOBBY WARNER and JIMMY DOUGLAS carried out the Digital Transfers while ZAL SCHREIBER and STEVE INNOCENZI did the mastering. The quality on these CDs is shockingly good - full of life and clarity. Each is a joy to listen to. Sure in the decades since there have been reissues (by Bear Family especially) that knock spots off the 1991 sound (try their "Joe Turner Rocks" or their "Sweet Soul Music" volumes 1961 to 1975 – I have reviewed all of them). But what you do get is fantastic all the way to the finish. To the tunes…

The Aretha opener "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" has never been one of my faves, but even on an average day - The Queen of Soul rocked and her vocal in the tune is fabulous. Dealing in dirt and looking at love as a two-way street - Jackie Moore stumps up Volume 8's first genuine classic and a largely forgotten sexy groove - her "Precious Precious" - a fantastic groover presented here in gloriously clear audio. Speaking of hey-there-sugar-dumpling - King Floyd struck B-side gold with his own "Groove Me" - all sock-it-to-me-mama Seventies Funk that still sounds so contemporary. Legend has it that blind Soul Singer and Songwriter Clarence Carter hated doing "Patches" and I can understand why - singing its truths must have felt both hick and hurtful at one and the same time. I can understand why it was a chart stormer back in the day, but in 2024 its 'washed all the crops away' story telling is something I don't want to ever hear.

Back to proper groovin' with the wicked Wilson Pickett givin' it some "Don't Knock My Love..." - Part 1 with a relentless toe-tapping backbeat while he fills in after the fuzz guitars with that distinctive vocal rasp of his. Volume 8 now gives you both Parts of "Funky Nassau" - the big moment for The Beginning Of The End. Mini and Maxi Skirts and Afro Hair Do's have the band taking care of business - playing it Funky now. Chrissie Hynde and her Pretenders did a stunning cover version of The Persuaders and their forgotten actions-speak-louder-than-words "Thin Line Between Love And Hate" - it's domestic misery vs. love of a wanderer vs. violence clearly striking a chord that unfortunately carries over to this day. But while "Thin Line..." is a stone winner - it's left in the dust by the staggering groove of Aretha's "Rock Steady". Exactly what it is - move your hips from side to side - what it is - what it is - is a Funky and lowdown feeling. With the gorgeous and moving ballad "Day Dreamin'" (a Bonus Track) following - her crown as The Queen of Soul genuinely starts to make sense as presented here by this lethal double-whammy (fantastic clarity - the band funking the nuts out of your speakers). 

Further nuggets include a young Betty Wright sounding far-too-experienced in her fabulous "Clean Up Woman" - an infidelity warning to other girls (hugely popular still on radio and dancefloors). The Spinners (known as The Detroit Spinners in the UK) start to make their classy presence known with two total winners from their March 1973 self-titled debut LP - perennial radio faves "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?" and "I'll Be Around" - while "Mighty Love" from their second album is none too shabby either. That underrated debut (see separate review I did for the BBR UK CD Reissue) also had the superb socially-aware soft-Soul of "Ghetto Child" which unfortunately isn't included as a Bonus when there was room (mistake that). 

There's admitted fairly audible hiss on the Roberta Flack song "Killing Me Softly With His Song" but then the album its near six-minute heartbreak comes from has been notorious for that (even after Remaster) for years (apparently written about a Don McLean concert - the title refers to a moment when one of his acoustic love songs moved the listener to tears). The slinky bedroom lurve of "Feel Like Makin' Love" is an overlooked Roberta Flack gem while Blue Magic's "Sideshow" and Major Harris' "Love Won't Let Me Wait" are so-Seventies in their step-right-up chatty cheese vs. oh baby-baby moaning vocal styles that both will elicit far too many warped yet fond memories of clinches and longings at parties for listeners of a certain vintage (like moi). 

In 2024 and despite being technically deleted, you can get Volume 8 of 8 of Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (or any of the others) individually on popular auction sites often for less than four quid. There was even a flimsy card wrap version in March 2006 that put all eight together as an all-in budget-priced package – usually available for about £30 to £35. 

But I would argue that such is the riches on offer across all eight volumes that you consider the big daddy - splashing out on that 1991 US LP-Sized 8CD Box Set with its full booklet and genuine sense of visual purpose. Set you back maybe £60 – but what a wow it is! If that isn't in your budget purview – then go for this Thunderbuck Ram of a CD compilation. 

But I warn you – the need for the other seven and booklet explanations will quickly manifest itself thereafter…