"Skinhead Moonstomp: Deluxe Edition" by SYMARIP (2008 Universal/Trojan 2CD DELUXE EDITION Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Let's Start Getting Happy Now…Yeah Yeah Yeah…"

Sporting artwork you'd hide from your ailing Auntie Flo and her dodgy ticker, "Skinhead Moonstomp" has always been something of a misunderstood beast. Many people thought the reprobates depicted on the front alleyway cover were Symarip and maybe for that reason, the album never received the attention its deserved outside of the white British working class skinheads who embraced this hugely influential 1970 reggae album with near religious fervour. The group (pictured on the rear) is actually the Jamaican 7-piece THE PYRAMIDS under their nickname. They were also known as SEVEN LETTERS, THE BEES and for touring purposes - SYMARIP and THE SKINHEADS. Hopefully this fabulous and bravely chosen 2008 Deluxe Edition 2CD reissue will change all that...

There's a lot on here - so let's gets to the braces. UK released 29 September 2008 – “Skinhead Moonstomp: Deluxe Edition” by SYMARIP on Trojan 1776718 (Barcode 602517767188) is a 2CD DELUXE EDITION Reissue/Remaster and breaks down as follows:

DISC 1 (63:10 minutes):

1. Skinhead Moonstomp

2. Phoenix City

3. Skinhead Girl

4. Try My Best

5. Skinhead Jamboree

6. Chicken Merry

7. These Boots Are Made For Walking [Side 2]

8. Must Catch A Train

9. Skin Flint

10. Stay With Him

11. Fung Shu

12. You're Mine

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Skinhead Moonstomp" by SYMARIP issued April 1970 in the UK on Trojan Records TBL-102

Track 13 is "The Fit" [aka "Wish"], Doctor Bird DB-1208 [B]

Tracks 14 and 15 are "Please Stay" and "Special Beat", DB-1194 [A & B]

Tracks 16 and 17 are "Flour Dumpling" and "Equality", DB-1195 [A & B]

Tracks 18 and 19 are "Mama Me Want Girl" and "Sentry, DB-1206 [A & B]

Tracks 20 and 21 are "Soul Crash" and "Throw Me Things", DB-1207 [A & B]

Track 22 is "There Goes My Heart", DB-1208 [A]

Track 23 is "Bam Bam Baji", DB-1209 [A]

NOTES: Tracks 13 to 23 are BONUS 7" singles issued in 1969 on the Trojan affiliated "Doctor Bird" Label with the group credited as SEVEN LETTERS

DISC 2 (69:16 minutes):

1. Hold Him Joe (UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1209, B)

2. Tomorrow At Sundown (UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1306, B-side to the album track "Fung Shu" - Track 11, Disc 1)

3. Parson's Corner [aka Vindication] 

4. Redeem (Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7054)

5. La Bella Jig

6. Holiday By The Sea (Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7055)

7. I'm A Puppet (UK 7" single on Attack ATT-8013, A - Track 3 above as "Vindication" is its B-side)

8. Feel Alright

9. Telstar (Tracks 8 and 9 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Trojan TR-7755)

10. Geronimo (UK 7" single on Duke DU-80, A)

11. To Sir With Love

12. Reggae Shuffle (Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Trojan TR-7770)

13. All For You (UK 7" single on Trojan TR7803, A)

14. Stingo (UK 7" single on Trojan TR-7814, B)

15. Mosquito Bite

16. Mother's Bath (Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Creole CR-1003)

17. Can't Leave Now

18. Teardrops (Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Creole CR-1006)

19. Stop The Train

20. Black And White

21. Lasting Treasure

22. That's Nice

23. Funky Broadway

NOTES: 

Tracks 1 to 7 are SYMARIP - 8 to 18 credited as THE PYRAMIDS - 23 is credited to ROY ELLIS & RICO'S BAND 

Tracks 19 to 23 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The 20-page detailed booklet has an essay on the band, the album's history and the scene surrounding it by LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT co-author of the superb book "Young, Gifted & Black - The Story Of Trojan Records" (see separate review).

Front and rear cover are reproduced on the front and back pages in colour, there's pictures of those lovely and rare UK 7" labels that get collectors weak at the knees, unique foreign picture sleeves, industry adverts, a complete singles and album discography from 1969 to 1971 - and even interviews with the band's principal songwriters MONTY NEYSMITH and ROY ELLIS. Both discs reflect the original Trojan label design and there's a collage of photos of the band reproduced beneath the two see-through trays - all of it very nicely done. (It's also not a BOX SET as Amazon says - it's a DELUXE EDITION 2CD set in the now familiar plastic wrap for the series with a four-way foldout digipak beneath.)

The tapes have been mastered by TIM DEBNEY at Fluid Mastering and the sound quality is similar to the "Tighten Up" DELUXE EDITION in August of 2008 - a mixed bag of the fantastic and the cruddy. This is not audiophile territory - it's reggae music - recorded on a shoestring and all the more gritty and wonderful for it. Having heard this LP on battered vinyl for years, I found most tracks a revelation.

Musically, this is party time. The chugging brass and Ska groove of "Phoenix City" is utterly irresistible and you can just `hear' the roots of THE SPECIALS in "Try My Best".

The extras are cleverly chosen too - not only are they very rare 7"s (many making their CD debut) - they're anthems of the time for that scene. Almost all of the singles have the same set up - a sung A-side with an instrumental on the B - both of which are killer. The cover version of the Joe Meek/Tornados 1962 classic "Telstar" on the back of "Feel Alright" is a typically cool example. At 46 tracks, I'll be dipping into this for years.
Summing up - coupled with the 2CD set of "Tighten Up Volume 1" from August of this year (see separate review), someone in Universal is making damn good choices! It's so good to see great Reggae and Ska get the DELUXE EDITION treatment it has always deserved. A highly recommended purchase and a voyage of musical discovery you'll not regret taking.

PS: the title of this review is the spoken intro to the classic floorfiller "Skinhead Moonstomp"

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is 1960s and 1970s VOLUME 2 - ROCK and POP, FOLK ROCK and PUNK, NEW WAVE and REGGAE - an E-Book with over 200 entries and 2000 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). 

"Blue Magic" by BLUE MAGIC. A Rare US-Only 1974 Atco LP Reissued On CD Remaster in 2007.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

Produced by NORMAN HARRIS of Philadelphia Intl fame (pictured above) and with their songs pumped up by the MFSB Orchestra...

BLUE MAGIC were TED MILLS, WENDELL and VERNON SAWYER, KEITH BEATON and RICHARD PRATT

Released in early 1974 on Atlantic's label imprint ATCO, Blue Magic's first album was dominated by the huge US Number 1 soft soul hit "Sideshow". This October 2007 12-track reissue finally makes that self-titled debut album available on remastered CD (and for the first time in the UK).

Here's the breakdown (56:51 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Blue Magic" released on Atlantic SD 7038 in January 1974
Track 10 is "Guess Who", the non-album B-side to the 1st 7" single off the album
Track 11 is "Where Have You Been", the non-album B-side to the 2nd single off the album
Track 12 is a Tom Moulton Remix of "Look Me Up" issued on a 1976 Atlantic Records compilation called "Disco-Trek", Atlantic SD 18185

The album yielded four singles in the USA:
"Spell" b/w "Guess Who" on Atco 6910, March 1973
"Look Me Up" b/w "What's Come Over Me" on Atco 6930, September 1973
"Stop To Start" b/w "Where Have You Been" on Atco 6949, January 1974
"Sideshow" b/w "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" on Atco 6961, April 1974

The remaster has been done by Rhino's long-time tape-expect BILL INGLOT and a typically SUPERB JOB delivered - very clear despite the often overbearingly lush string arrangements. There are very detailed liner notes by noted soul writer and contributor CHARLES WARING that include interviews with the band - and the label even reflects the original yellow ATCO label and multi-coloured logo - all nice touches.

A cross between The Stylistics and The Chi-Lites "Blue Magic" were soft soul and not to everybody's taste. And while this might seem like the kind of music your sister would buy, both disco and soft soul have seen a resurgence of affection among soul lovers in the last few years - usually because if you dig deep enough second time round, there's great tunes in there somewhere. This seems to have been the case with Blue Magic. Although they charted 3 singles prior, they were forever tied down to their huge "Sideshow" hit, which sort of sidelined better tracks on the album like the Ted Mills penned "Spell" and the sweet seven minutes plus of "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely".

Disco fans will enjoy the bonus remix of "Look Me Up", while the two B-sides are excellent and rare - sort of Philly on Atlantic.

Another top job done by RHINO - and a cleverly chosen title for reissue.

PS: This release is part of Rhino's "CLASSIC SOUL ALBUM - REMASTERED & EXPANDED" Series.
Most titles are first time onto CD and are rare soul albums from the Warner/Atlantic/Cotillion/Elektra vaults.
Some other titles are:

1. Ace Spectrum - "Inner Spectrum" (see REVIEW)
2. Donny Hathaway - "Come Back Charleston Blue O.S.T." (see REVIEW)
3. Leroy Hutson - "Paradise"
4. Ronn Matlock - "Love City" (see REVIEW)
5.Gwen McCrae - "Gwen McCrae"
6. Gwen McCrae - "On My Way"
7. Prince Phillip Mitchell - "Top Of The Line"
8. Prince Philip Mitchell - "Make It Good"
9. The Voices Of East Harlem [feat Donny Hathaway] -"Right On Be Free" (see REVIEW)

"Right On Be Free" by THE VOICES OF EAST HARLEM [feat Donny Hathaway and Phil Upchurch] (October 2007 Rhino 'Expanded & Remastered' CD Reissue - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Simple Song Of Freedom…"

**** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2007 RHINO REISSUE CD 

WITH 11 BONUS TRACKS ***

I've seen the UK variant of this album in all honesty maybe twice in nearly 45 years of collecting vinyl - it's both genuinely hard-to-find and sought-after by Soul collectors. "Right On Be Free" is a sort of Gospel-Funk Righteous-Soul miss-mash.

And as original vinyl copies don't surface that much - this October 2007 UK released ‘Expanded & Remastered’ CD version of "Right On Be Free" by THE VOICES OF EAST HARLEM on Rhino 8122-76435-2 (Barcode 081227643522) with a tasty 11 Bonus Tracks is more than welcome and a good move from a smart reissue label. And this reissue includes the outside talents of PHIL UPCHURCH, DONNY HATHAWAY and WILLIE WEEKS in the reissue stew. Here's the gritty urban breakdown:

1. Right On Be Free

2. Simple Song Of Freedom

3. Proud Mary

4. Music In The Air

5. Oh Yeah

6. For What It's Worth

7. Let It Be Me

8. No No No

9. Gotta Be A Change

10. Shaker Life

Tracks 1 to 10 are the lone album "Right On Be Free" by THE VOICES OF EAST HARLEM - released October 1970 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS-74080 (with the Butterfly Label Design) and Elektra EKS 74080 in the UK with the Red Label Design (later pressings are Elektra 2469 007) — both original issues donning the luxury of a gatefold sleeve.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Oxford Town (A Bob Dylan cover)

12. Sit Yourself Down (A Stephen Stills cover)

Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-album A&B sides of their 3rd US 7" single issued in mid 1971 on Elektra EKM 45753. The Dylan song first appeared of his 1963 masterpiece "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and was a powerful protest song then - here it's typically funked up - heavy on the choppy 60's organ with Cynthia Sessions giving impassioned lead vocals. “Oxford Town” was always a strong tune and this is a great version of it.  The Stephen Stills track is from his 1970 debut album "Stephen Stills" and is a very clever choice of song in that the original had a very soulful even churchy feel to it anyway. The TVOEH version keeps to that feel and for me it's definitely one of the highlights here. (The beautifully handled male lead vocal for "Sit Yourself Down" is unknown - so come out wherever you are and claim the glory).

13. Nation Time

14. I Wanna Be Free

15. Hey Brother

16. Love Is The Answer

17. Kind Woman

Tracks 13 to 17 are all from the aborted second album sessions recorded in New York between June and September of 1971 with all songs produced and overseen by soul maestro DONNY HATHAWAY. All are previously unreleased and make their CD debut here - and what a find they are. It's clear that a truly superb 2nd album was in the making and its criminal that it never made it off the blocks. "Nation Time” is a Gamble & Huff song penned in 1968 which was made a hit by THE EBONYS on their self-titled debut LP for Philadelphia International in 1973. It's an excellent funky tune - sort of Ike & Tina Turner guitar-driven righteous soul. "I Wanna Be Free" is a Richie Furay tune with all the right-on musical and lyrical credentials needed. "Hey Brother" contains a version of Hendrix's "Hey Joe" in there and is just superb. "Love Is The Answer" is possibly by Donny Hathaway but the writer is credited as ‘unknown’. “Kind Woman” is another Richie Furay song from his stay with Buffalo Springfield (on their second album "Last Time Around" from 1968) - TVOEH give it a gorgeous slow ballad working.

18. Angry (Tony Davillo cover)

19. (We Are) New York Lightning (Tony Davillo cover)

Tracks 18 and 19 are the non-album A&B sides of their 4th 7" single issued in late 1971 on Elektra EKM 45775. "Angry" features a duet vocal (male & female singers are unidentified) and is excellent - righteous and soulful in all the right ways. The B-side is a slower more soulful song - very nice - a superb extra to have. TONY DAVILLO wrote both the A&B – a session guitarist who also worked with The Edwin Hawkins Singers. 

20. Run Shaker Life (Live) (Richie Havens cover)

21. Soul To Soul (Live)

Tracks 20 and 21 are exclusive to the Various Artists album called "Soul To Soul" issued in the USA on Atlantic in September 1971 (SD 7207). It was recorded in Ghana on 6 March 1971 at a live concert in the capitol city Accra put together to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the African country's independence from British rule.  At times the group sound like 'live' Santana circa '69/'70 - absolutely on fire and kicking. (For those interested the DVD of the show was made available in 2004.)

The core 10-track album is top-heavy with other people's songs - "Simple Song Of Freedom" is a Bobby Darin cover, "Proud Mary" a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "For What It's Worth" is the famous Buffalo Springfield track - while "Let It Be Me" is an Everly Brothers slow song all funked up. "Run Shaker Life" is a Richie Havens song that turned up on his 1969 2LP set "Richard P. Havens, 1989". Throw in two traditional songs in the shape of "No No No" and "Music In The Air" and that leaves only 3 original songs; "Right On Be Free" and "Gotta Be A Change" are penned by leading light in the Harlem area of New York, and founder of the group, singer CHUCK GRIFFIN. "Oh Yeah" is written by and features fantastic lead vocals from BERNICE COLE.

Two singles came off the album but did no business; they were "Right On Be Free” b/w “Gotta Be A Change" (Elektra 210013) and "Oh Yeah” b/w “No No No" (Elektra 210018)

Remastered by tape maestro BILL INGLOT - the sound quality on this great CD reissue is typically superb. The Remaster brings out the funky-as-fuck bass playing of Chuck Rainey - while Richard Tee's organ permeates every track with a church/choir feel. The liner notes suggest that the house band for these sessions is that of Hathaway's live ensemble, PHIL UPCHURCH on Funky Guitar, WILLIAM WEEKS on Bass and FRED WHITE on Drums - and they are superb. HATHAWAY fans will simply have to own these - I love that guy - what a loss he was to Soul Music.

But it's the assembled voices that dominate every song - and at times - just a little too much so. I would admit that these blasting righteous tunes may not be everybody's cup of Darjeeling - but for me they and the superb extras make it an essential purchase.

To sum up - this is an exceptional release in any man's language - a rare and sought-after album complete with the A&B's of two ridiculously rare 45s and a wad of great previously unreleased material. Is it any wonder fans love Rhino as a label. Way to go boys…

PS: This release is part of Rhino's "CLASSIC SOUL ALBUM - REMASTERED & EXPANDED" Series. Most titles are first time onto CD and are rare soul albums from the Warner/Atlantic/Cotillion/Elektra vaults. The other titles are:

1. Ace Spectrum - "Inner Spectrum" (see REVIEW)

2. Blue Magic - "Blue Magic" (see REVIEW)

3. Donny Hathaway - "Come Back Charleston Blue O.S.T." (see REVIEW)

4. Leroy Hutson - “Paradise" (see REVIEW)

5. Ronn Matlock - "Love City" (see REVIEW)

6. Gwen McCrae - "Gwen McCrae"

7. Gwen McCrae - "On My Way"

8. Prince Phillip Mitchell - "Top Of The Line” (see REVIEW)

9. Prince Philip Mitchell - "Make It Good” (see REVIEW)

PPS: 

PLEASE NOTE - the ROBF album has been reissued since 2007 (in Japan at a budget price) 'without' the bonus tracks - use the Barcode provided above to get the correct 2007 Rhino CD. Unfortunately it's been deleted years now so prices will fluctuate up and down…mostly up...

"Inner Spectrum" by ACE SPECTRUM (2007 Rhino 'Expanded & Remastered" CD Reissue with Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Don’t Want To Play Around…"

Released on vinyl June 1974 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7299 - "Inner Spectrum" by ACE SPECTRUM is actually a very Gamble & Huff Philly sounding record. Quite apart from being something of a lost classic - its smooth string-drenched Soul has always been hard to find on vinyl (particularly in the UK) and pricey too. So its 'UK' reissue on this 2007 Expanded CD Remaster by America's Rhino is very welcome indeed to soul fans everywhere. Here are the details...

UK released October 2007 – "Inner Spectrum" by ACE SPECTRUM on Rhino 8122-76429-2 (Barcode 081227642921) is an 'Expanded & Remastered' CD Edition with three Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows...

1. Don't Send Nobody Else

2. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

3. If You Were There

4. Moving On

5. Pickup [Side 2]

6. Me And My Love

7. Easy

8. I Don't Want To Play Around

Tracks 1 to 8 make up the original June 1974 US vinyl album "Inner Spectrum" (Atlantic SD 7299). BILL INGLOT – one of Rhino's long-standing Audio Engineers has remastered the original tapes to perfection – this is a wonderful sounding Soul CD.

BONUS TRACKS:

The last three cuts are bonuses. Track 9 is the 'Mono Single Version' of the hugely popular 1974 single hit "Don't Send Nobody Else" on Atco 3012 penned by the dynamic songwriting duo of NICHOLAS ASHFORD and VALERIE SIMPSON. Track 10 is an 'Alternate Take' of "Don't Send Nobody Else" in Stereo (similar to the album cut) - while the CD finishes with "Runnin' Out Baby" - a completely new song by Johnson and Zant found in the vaults and aired for the first time anywhere for this issue.

A four-piece male vocal Soul group - ACE SPECTRUM consisted of RUDY GAY, AUBREY JOHNSON, ELLIOT ISAAC and ED ZANT with Gay, Zant and Johnson being the principal songs writers. The album's overall feel is that of the O’JAYS meets the CHI-LITES meets the SPINNERS meets HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUENOTES – soft sensual soul with tasty brass fills puncturing the string arrangements complimenting the ever cascading falsetto vocals. Each band member was able to hold their own as a lead vocalist, yet they made an equally impressive sound as a foursome. This is particularly in evidence in the album's big ballad finisher "I Don't Want To Play Around" penned by Ed Zant and Aubrey Johnson. It saunters along with vocal pyrotechnics for about 4 of its lush 7 minutes when it suddenly goes into a Salsa finish – funky as James Brown’s DNA – and so Philly that its just not true! Lovers of all forms of Seventies Soul will adore it!

There are a number covers on the album. Track 2 is first up. James Taylor's sweetly aching “Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" is similar to "Love The One You're With" by Stephen Stills - a rock tune that lends itself to Soul interpretation – and will always come out a winner because the song itself is so strong. It was The Isley Brothers who first realized the Soul feel to "Lonely" when they covered it for their 1973 album "3 + 3" (the original is on James Taylor’s 1972 Warner Brothers album "One Man Dog"). The Ace Spectrum version is even slower than The Isleys take and ooh so sweet - one of the genuine gems on this re-release.  Mining that same Isleys album - "If You Were There" is a cover from it and a lovely version too.

I would admit that some may find the sound of these tracks just 'too' syrupy for their liking but if you’re willing to take a chance – it’s a purchase you will enjoy so much. They released another album "Low Rent Rendezvous" in 1975 again on Atlantic Records (SD 18143) but that album isn’t in this series – maybe next time.

To sum up – a rare Soft Soul album most people thought they would never actually see on a proper domestically released CD – and yet another superb job done by Rhino. Recommended...

PS: This release is part of Rhino's 'CLASSIC SOUL ALBUM - REMASTERED & EXPANDED' Series. Most titles are first time onto CD and are rare soul albums from the Warner/Atlantic/Cotillion/Elektra vaults. Other titles are:

1. BLUE MAGIC – Blue Magic [see REVIEW]

2. DONNY HATHAWAY – Come Back Charleston Blue [see REVIEW]

3. LEROY HUTSON – Paradise [see REVIEW]

4. RONN MATLOCK – Love City [see REVIEW]

5. GWEN McCRAE – Gwen McCrae

6. GWEN McCRAE – On My Way

7. PRINCE PHILIP MITCHELL – Top Of The Line [see REVIEW]

8. PRINCE PHILIP MITCHELL – Make It Good [see REVIEW]

9. THE VOICES OF EAST HARLEM – Right On Be Free [see REVIEW]

PPS: In 2016 - the 2007 CD has been deleted a good few years now and acquired a nasty price tag- so shop around when trying to acquire a copy...