"New Breed R&B with Added Popcorn: Early 60s R&B Dancers Right In Today's Groove" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (Volume 3 of 7 In A Series) – Featuring Tracks from 1957 to 1968 (Including Eight Previously Unreleased) by Luther Ingram, Paul Clifton, Nappy Brown, Banny Prince, Mr. Dynamite, Barbara Perry, King James, The Charmaines, Terry & Jerry, B.B. King and more (February 2008 UK Ace Records/Kent Dance CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Doing The Mule... "

This compilation is entry number three in a very cool Ace Records CD Series (see list of seven titles below) – and I have to admit that I've gone a bit doolally for every single set of 24. But while "New Breed R&B with Added Popcorn..." isn't quite as good as say Volumes 1 or 7 - it still delivers plenty sweaty shirts and tight skirts for even the most discerning of aficionados. 

Like its six other series buddies - "...with Added Popcorn" goes after 60ts American R&B with a Mod, Boogaloo and New Breed dance rhythm bent and is a genuine winner on every front – audio – song choices – discoveries etc. Most of the 24-cuts span 1960 to 1968 with three nods towards the late 50ts, topped off by Eight Previously Unreleased Period Tracks. The remainder are hard-to-find 45s and unissued rarities that first saw the light of day on CD compilations in 2007. Here are the ladies that wobble as they walk, while their Dapper Dan men do the mule...

UK released February 2008 – "New Breed R&B with Added Popcorn: Early 60s R&B Dancers Right in Today's Groove" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records/Kent Dance CDKEND 291 (Barcode 029667229128) is a 24-track CD compilation and plays out as follows (58:07 minutes):

1. Oh Baby Don't You Weep - LUTHER INGRAM (2008, Previously Unissued)

2. She Wobbles When She Walks - PAUL CLIFTON (1962 US 45-single on Teen Post 1100, A – also on Ace CDCHD 1165 – see Track 9)

3. You Love Me Pretty Baby - BANNY PRINCE (1965 US 45-single on Jewel 749, B-side of "You Know I Love You")

4. Mata Hari - CHET "Poison" IVEY (2008, Previously Unissued)

5. I've Got A Feeling For You Baby - GLADYS BRUCE (2008, Previously Unissued)

6. I'm Gonna Start A War - BARBARA & THE BROWNS (1964 Sounds Of Memphis recording first issued June 2007 on the UK Barbara Brown CD compilation "Can't Find Happiness: The Sounds Of Memphis Recordings" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 278)

7. Sh'mon - MR. DYNAMITE (1966 US 45-single on Soultime 001, A)

8. Shirley Jean - GENE BURKS (1964 US 45-single on Arock 1006, B-side of "Take My Hand")

9. Too Young - BOYCE CUNNINGHAM (60s Downey recording first issued on the September 2007 Various Artists CD compilation "R&B On Lakewood Boulevard" on Ace Records CDCHD 1165 - this compilation also features the sought-after Track 2 of this CD)

10. Big Ben - HAROLD ATKINS (2008, Previously Unissued Frisco recording)

11. Coal Miner - NAPPY BROWN (2008, Previously Unissued Alternative and Extended Take of Savoy 1594, US 45-single released January 1961)

12. Tumbling Down - TOM TUMBLEWEED (2008, Previously Unissued Old Town recording)

13. Beautician Blues - B.B. KING (October 1964 US 45-single on Kent 403x45, A)

14. Jack Of All Trades - EUGENE CHURCH (November 1959 US 45-single on Class 261, B-side of "Without Soul")

15. I Idolize You - THE CHARMAINES (1964 Fraternity recording, first issue in 2002 on the UK 45-single Kent Anniversary Special/6ts 6T 18 as the B-side to "Can't Say No" by M&M and The Peanuts)

16. A Man Is A Mean Mean Thing - BARBARA PERRY (2008, Previously Unissued Goldwax recording)

17. First Love Baby - LENA CALHOUN & THE EMOTIONS (October 1961 US 45-single on Flip 357, B-side of "I Ran To You") 

18. I've Got My Eyes On You - MERRY CLAYTON as MARRY CLAYTON (1962 US 45-single on Teldisc 501, B-side to "The Doorbell Rings")

19. I'm A Man - ALBERT WASHINGTON and THE KINGS (January 1968 US 45-single on Fraternity 1002, B-side of "These Arms Of Mine")

20. What'cha Gonna Do - KING JAMES (2008, Previously Unissued Old Town recording)

21. Just Like Yesterday - JOE SIMON (September 1963 US 45-single on Irral 778, A - reissued December 1963 on Dot 16570, A)

22. Mama Julie - TERRY & JERRY (April 1958 US 45-single on Class 226, A - also issued 1965 as a UK 45-single on R&B Records MRB 5009, B-side of "People Are Doing It Every Day") 

23. Doing The Mule - BILLY BLAND (July 1963 US 45-single on Old Town 1143, A)

24. A Lover's Prayer - VERNON GREEN and THE MEDALLIONS (1957 US 45-single on Dooto 425, A)

Tracks 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 16 and 20 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED - all tracks in MONO

The 16-page booklet is the usual Ace info-fest – track-by-track explanations by Compiler and Enthusiast ADY CROASDELL (has handled most of these New Breed CD compilations). The text is peppered with rare label repros from Jewel, Soultime, Arock, Savoy and Class sat alongside publicity photos of names that are too long forgotten – R&B ladies Barbara Brown and Barbara Perry in colour, Black and Whites of a lean-back Eugene Church, Vernon Green and The Medallions peeking through a door, Albert Washington clutching his Strat while B.B. King signs to Kent Records in 1958. There is even a Test Pressing of the Gladys Bruce track – not something you would imagine comes up for sale too often on the collector’s market. 

The multiple quality transfers come care of DUNCAN COWELL – Ace’s long-standing Audio Engineer who along with Nick Robbins - does such a stunning job on these recordings. The emphasis is on dancers and clarity joy pops out of your speakers - unreleased or not. To the tunes....

Although days are so lonely and nights are so drear, "Baby Weep No More" for Luther Ingram cause his Previously Unissued bopper is an amazing find. The fun continues when Paul Clifton tells us that his gal "Wobbles When She Walks...", then rolls her eyes and generally makes his poor heart beat a little faster (steady yourself man) - while Banny Prince and his "Pretty Baby" has that great whack-drum shuffling beat that drives New Breed lovers to talcum-powder distraction. And spare a dime (never mind a thought) for a smitten Chet "Poison" Ivey who practically begs "Mata Hari" not to lure him into giving away any military secrets for a night of undoubtedly stunning passion lest he face more than emotional fallout the following morning (how about the Firing Squad Chet). Another great shuffler comes in the organ Boogaloo of "I've Got A Feeling" by Gladys Bruce. Speaking of sassy ladies, Barbara Brown notices that a shimmy-shammy gal is dancing just a little too close to her entirely innocent man and not being born yesterday, our Babs promises "I'm Gonna Start A War" with that Saturday Night harlot. 

Other highlights include a Hammer and Saxophone combo in an Extended "Coal Miner" by Nappy Brown (working that lung-dust until he drops) - while Gene Burks gives us a tremendous 'can-I-take-you-home-with-me' bopper in the shape of "Shirley Jean". B.B. has met a fine beautician in a very good condition - a hard-working, good-looking mama that will ensure that Mr. King doesn't have to worry about a doggone thing (isn't that nice). Eugene Church meanwhile is slipping between Eskimo and Airline Pilot in his "Jack Of All Trades" in an effort to do all that his baby requires. 

Merry Clayton could never have guessed that her sweet 1963 vocals in "I've Got My Eyes On You" would six years later turn into a 'murder' rasp and roar for The Rolling Stones in 1969 when she duetted with Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter". Albert Washington gets cocky too in his fab "I'm The Man" - a great vocal and shuffle beat - while the mysterious Terry & Jerry (no one seems to know who they are) can't help getting excited as their "Mama Julie" wears a tight skirt, walks so groovy and talks so sweet - and all at the same time too. And on it goes.. 

For sure there were quite a few I felt were good rather than great (hence the four stars), but for 'dancers right in today's groove' - "New Breed R&B with Added Popcorn" is an afternoon listen I'll take any night of the week...

Titles in Ace's "New Breed R&B" CD Compilation Series on Kent Dance

In Release-Date Order (2001 to 2020)

1. New Breed R&B: Soulful 60s Blues For Today's Dances (July 2001, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 199 – Barcode 029667219921)

2. King New Breed Rhythm & Blues (July 2002, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 210 – Barcode 029667221023)

3. New Breed R&B With Added Popcorn – Early 60ts R&B Dancers Right In Today's Groove (February 2008, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 291 – Barcode 029667229128)

4. King New Breed R&B Volume 2 (April 2012, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 373 – Barcode 069227237321)

5. New Breed Blues with Black Popcorn (April 2013, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 393 – Barcode 029667239325)

6. New Breed Workin': Blues With A Rhythm (January 2016, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 443 – Barcode 029667244329)

7. New Breed R&B: Saturday Night Special (July 2020, Ace Kent Dance CDKEND 492 – Barcode 029667098823)