“Rockpile” by DAVE EDMUNDS (2001 Repertoire 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Dancing And Humming…A Rock'n'Roll Melody…"

This September 2001 Expanded CD gives us all 10 tracks of Dave Edmund's rare debut album "Rockpile" from 1972 and bolsters it up with the A&B sides of 3 singles that preceded its release. Repertoire REP 4966 (Barcode 4009910496626) breaks down as follows (50:54 minutes):

1. Down Down Down [written by Trevor Burton of The Move]

2. I Hear You Knocking [Stereo Album Version] [written by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King, a Smiley Lewis cover]

3. Hell Of A Pain [written by Dave Edmunds]

4. It Ain't Easy [written by Ron Davies, a Nashville songwriter. It was covered also by Three Dog Night, David Bowie (on "Ziggy") and Long John Baldry. Baldry even named an album after the song in 1971 (UK Warner Brothers K 46088) - his version of the track was produced on that album by Rod Stewart and featured both Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones on Guitar and Maggie Bell of Stone The Crows on Backing Vocals]

5. The Promised Land [written by Chuck Berry]

6. Dance, Dance, Dance [written by Neil Young]

7. (I'm A) Lover Not A Fighter [mistakenly credited to Collier - it was written by Jay D Miller, a Louisiana record producer who first gave the song to Lazy Lester; it was released by Lester in 1958 on Excello Records 2143. The Kinks also covered it on their 1964 debut LP (correctly credited to Miller). Dave Edmunds' cover of the song combines elements of both versions]

8. Egg Or The Hen [written by Willie Dixon, a Koko Taylor cover]

9. Sweet Little Rock & Roller [written by Chuck Berry] (lyrics featured above)

10. Outlaw Blues [written by Bob Dylan]

Tracks 1 to 10 make up the album "Rockpile" issued June 1972 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1026 and on London/Mam Records MAM-3 in the USA

11. I Hear You Knocking [7" Single Mix]

12. Black Bill [An Instrumental written by Dave Edmunds]

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B of his first solo single issued October 1970 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 1 [Mono] (reached Number 1 in the charts). Its US issue was on Mam 45-3601.

13. I'm Coming Home [cover of a Traditional Stephen Foster song called "Old Black Joe" reworded and reworked by Jerry Lee Lewis]

14. Country Roll [written by Dave Edmunds]

Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B of his second solo single issued March 1971 on Regal Zonophone RZ 3032 [Stereo]. Its US issue was on Mam 45-3608.

15. Blue Monday [written by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino]

16. I'll Get Along [written by John Williams, the Bass Player]

Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B of his third solo single issued July 1971 on Regal Zonophone on RZ 3037 [Mono]. Its US issue was on Mam 45-3611.

(NOTE: Tracks 1 and 4, "Down Down Down" b/w "It Ain't Easy", were also issued as a 4th UK 7" single in July 1972 on Regal Zonophone RZ 3059. Tracks 11 to 16 were all non-album at the time of their release)

The musicians on "Rockpile" were:

Lead Guitar, Keyboards & Lead Vocals - DAVE EDMUNDS [Love Sculpture]

Second Guitar & Drums - ANDY FAIRWEATHER-LOW [Amen Corner]

Pedal Steel Guitar - B.J. COLE

Bass & Backing Vocals - JOHN WILLIAMS

Drums - TERRY WILLIAMS

The inner flap of the gatefold card digipak pictures 4 rare 7" picture sleeves while the 8-page liner notes feature an affectionate and expertly written history on the album by long-time Decca associate JOHN TRACY. John has done huge numbers of acclaimed liner notes for early Decca and Deram CDs - Thin Lizzy, Savoy Brown, Ten Years After etc.

The great news is the quality of the remaster - the tracks are wonderfully clear and full; there is some minor hiss on the MONO single mixes, but not too bad to make them a chore to listen to.

As you can see from the detailed track breakdown above, the album is top-heavy on cover versions, particularly those songs that have a rhythm 'n' blues or rock 'n' roll feel to them - Edmunds beloved field of expertise. "The Promised Land" was recorded in the summer of 1966 - and I suspect it wasn't re-recorded precisely because this version has that all-important `feel' to it. His version of Dylan's "Outlaw Blues" (from "Bringing It All Back Home") is a fantastic way to end the album.

In the near two decades that I've been mail-ordering rare records, this album on original UK Regal Zonophone vinyl has turned up maybe twice in decent condition - so it's a blast to have it finally reissued - and sounding so good too.

I've always loved Dave Edmunds and his particular slant on Rock 'n' Roll - a modern version of an old sound - filtered by a soul still enamoured with those glorious old 45s. A great little CD set really and heartily recommended…

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 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). 

“Snatch” on BLU RAY. A Review of the 2000 film now on a 2009 BLU RAY.

BULLET-TOOTH TONY: "…Open Him Up! He Ain’t A Tin Of Baked Beans You Know!”

AVI: "England?
Yeah! You Know! England! The Queen, Fish & Chips, Mary Fu**ing Poppins..."

BRICK-TOP: "In the words of the Virgin Mary, come again..."

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE "BLU RAY" VERSION ***

Watching "Snatch" again - but this time on BLU RAY - I'm left reeling - I really am. It's clever, it's ballsy and frankly Frank - it's just so bleeding entertaining!

But most of all - it's riotously funny. I mean if you're not laughing out loud, you're giggling like a fool most of the time. It's warm, confident - it's like an updated Ealing Comedy - so good and so irresistibly English. "Snatch" reminds me of the 1969 original of "The Italian Job" - another gem that works its way into your heart and stays there. This is seriously impressive stuff - and especially as it was only Guy Ritchie's second movie.

But the really great news is the PRINT; it's restored - and for about 95% of the time it looks immaculate in every frame. Very occasionally there's some blurring, maybe a few lines, but that's just the rough and tumble way it was filmed. And it’s very, very few...

The extras are there too, which is great - and it's very reasonably priced. But mostly it's just such a blast to see again - and looking this good - the transfer is a real pleasure to behold.

You also forget about the sheer size and quality of the cast - Benicio Del Toro as the mumbling gambler Frankie Four-Fingers - Alan Ford as the fantastically crass and violent Brick Top - Rade Shelbedgia as the unkillable Russian Boris The Blade - Vinnie Jones as the man hunter Bullet-Tooth Tony - Dennis Farina as the Jewish American Diamond broker, Mike Reid as his English equivalent - Stephen Graham as the hapless sidekick Tommy who thinks too much about dairy products and what they do to the digestive system - and of course, the movie's trump cards - the pairing of Jason Stratham as Turkish and Brad Pitt as Mickey the bare-knuckle Irish boxing champion. Great stuff. Throw in hip music, choppy editing, apt locations and a dictionary of slang to work out what everyone is saying - and it's as chipper as a bulldog who's just swallowed a squeaky toy...

Having recently seen "Sherlock Holmes" at the cinema (and been seriously impressed too), I can feel the need for a Guy Ritchie spending purge coming on...

"Snatch" on BLU RAY is brilliant fun - a winner to look at - and reasonably priced too.

Way to go guys. Recommended - big time.

"History Of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942, The" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 97 Tracks Across 4 CDs including Blind Willie Johnson, Jessie May Hill, Frank Stokes, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Memphis Minnie, Jimmy Rodgers, Sleepy John Estes, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Skip James, Lonnie Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Washboard Slim, Big Joe Turner, Jay McShann, Champion Jack Dupree, Leroy Carr, Roosevelt Sykes, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Louis Jordan and many more (March 2008 UK Rhythm And Blues Records 4CD Card Digibook Box Set – Volume 1 of 4) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00138NHGC&asins=B00138NHGC&linkId=251aa8ea18f2a574d064052d3bfe30d6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"...Blues Done Called Me...Packed My Things And Go... "

 

Released in March 2008 - "The History Of Rhythm & Blues 1925-42" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is the first issue from Rhythm And Blues Records - a new label out of the UK specializing in quality reissues of R&B music from way, way back. Volume 1 in this 4CD Box Set/Book Pack Series has been followed by Volume 2 (1942-52), Volume 3 (1952-1957) and Volume 4 (1957-1962) - all with heavily annotated booklets. I've collected the lot and love them. Here are the debut set's details...

 

Rhythm And Blues Records RANDB001 (Barcode 5065001126000) breaks down as follows...

 

Disc 1 (73:54 minutes):

"From The Delta To The City - Country Blues And Spirituals, Jug Bands And Hokum"

1. My Soul is A Witness - AUSTEN COLEMAN (1934, Library Of Congress 1)

2. It's Nobody's Fault But Mine - BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON (1927, Columbia 14303)

3. The Crucifixion Of Christ - JESSIE MAY HILL (1927, Okeh 8490)

4. Shake That Thing - PAPA CHARLIE JACKSON (1925, Paramount 12281)

5. Outside Woman Blues - BLIND JOE REYNOLDS (1929, Paramount 12927)

6. It's A Good Thing - FRANK STOKES (1927, Paramount 12518)

7. Minglewood Blues - GUS CANNON'S JUG STOMPERS (1928,Victor 21267)

8. Match Box Blues - BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON (1927, Okeh 8455)

9. Diddie Wah Diddie - BLIND BLAKE (1929, Paramount 12888)

10. Milk Cow Blues - SLEEPY JOHN ESTES (1930, Victor 38614)

11. Ease It To Me Blues - BARBEQUE BOB (1928, Columbia 14614)

12. No No Blues - CURLEY WEAVER (1928, Columbia 14388)

13. Apaloosa Blues - BOBBY LEECAN and ROBERT COOKSEY (1927, Victor 20853)

14. Little Rock Blues - PEARL DICKSON (1927, Columbia 14286)

15. Kansas City Blues - JIM JACKSON (1927, Vocalion 1144)

16. Train Whistle Blues - JIMMIE RODGERS (1929, Victor 22379)

17. Goin' Back To Texas - MEMPHIS MINNIE (1929, Columbia 14455)

18. Roll And Tumble Blues - WILLIE "HAMBONE" NEWBERN (1929, Okeh 8679)

19. If You Haven't Any Hay - SKIP JAMES (1931, Paramount 13066)

20. Kokomo Blues - SCRAPPER BLACKWELL (1928, Vocalion 1192)

21. It's Tight Like That - GEORGIA TOM and TAMPA RED (1928, Vocalion 1216)

22. Didn't It Rain - BRYANT'S JUBILEE QUARTET (1931, Banner 32175)

23. Beale Street Breakdown - JED DAVENPORT (1930, Vocalion 1478)

24. Milk Cow Blues - KOKOMO ARNOLD (1934, Decca 7026)

 

Disc 2 (72:38 minutes):

"The Rhythm - Piano Boogie-Woogie, Ragtime And Jazz"

1. Get Low-Down Blues - BERNIE MOTEN'S KANSAS CITY ORCHESTRA (1928, Victor 21693)

2. Mr. Johnson's Blues - LONNIE JOHNSON (1925, Okeh 8253)

3. Backwater Blues - BESSIE SMITH (1927, Columbia 14195)

4. Knockin' A Jug - LOUIS ARMSTRONG (1929, Okeh 8703)

5. Bullfrog Blues - CHARLES PIERCE ORCHESTRA (1928, Paramount 12619)

6. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie - PINETOP SMITH (1928, Vocalion 1245)

7. Cow Cow Blues - COW COW DAVENPORT (1928, Vocalion 1198)

8. Guitar Boogie - BLIND ROOSEVELT GRAVES and BROTHER (1929, Paramount 12855)

9. How Long How Long Blues - LEROY CARR & SCRAPPER BLACKWELL (1928, Vocalion 1191)

10. The Dirty Dozen No.1 - SPECKLED HEN (1929, Brunswick 7116)

11. Vicksburg Blues - LITTLE BROTHER MONTGORMERY (1930, Paramount 13006)

12. Sweet Miss Stella Blues - BLU HARMONY BOYS (1929, Paramount 12901)

13. Minnie The Moocher - CAB CALLOWAY & HIS COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA (1931, Brunswick 6074)

14. St. Louis Blues - MILLS BROTHERS (1932, Brunswick 6330)

15. Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn - THREE KEYS (1932, Vocalion 1703)

16. Midnight Hour Blues - LEROY CARR (1932, Vocalion 1703)

17. Lafayette - BERNIE MOTEN'S KANSAS CITY ORCHESTRA (1932,Camden Victor 24216)

18. Flaming Reeds And Screaming Brass - JIMMIE LANCEFORD and HIS ORCHESTRA (1933)

19. Strut That Thing - CRIPPLE CLARENCE LOFTON (1935, Vocalion 02951)

20. Dirty Mother For You - ROOSEVELT SYKES (1936, Decca 7160)

21. Weed Smoker's Dream - HARLEM HAMFATS (1936, Decca 7234)

22. Press My Button - LIL JOHNSON (1936, Vocalion 3199)

23. Night Time Is The Right Time - ROOSEVELT SYKES (1937, Decca 7324)

24. The Blues Ain't Nothin' But - GEORGIA WHITE (1938, Decca 7562)

 

Disc 3 (72:59 minutes):

"Up River To Chicago - Urban Blues And Gospel"

1. Teasin' Brown Blues - LOUIE LASKY (1935, Vocalion 2955)

2. Barrelhouse Woman - LEROY CARR & SCRAPPER BLACKWELL (1934, Vocalion 2791)

3. Lead Pencil Blues - JOHNNY TEMPLE (1935, Vocalion 03068)

4. Policy Dream Blues - BUMBLE BEE SLIM (1935, Vocalion 03090)

5. Naptown Stomp - BILL GAITHER (1935, Decca 7179)

6. Sloppy Drunk Again - WALTER DAVIS (1935, Bluebird 5879)

7. Jockey Blues - JAZZ GILLUM (1936, Bluebird B6409)

8. Holy Mountain - ELDER OTIS JONES (1936, Bluebird 6626)

9. Standing By The Bedside Of A Neighbour - GOLDEN GATE JUBILEE QUARTET (1937, Bluebird 7278)

10. Louise Louise Blues - JOHNNY TEMPLE (1936, Decca 7244)

11. Barrelhouse When It Rains - BIG BILL BRONZY (1937, Arc 70764)

12. Good Morning Schoolgirl - JOHN LEE `SONNY BOY' WILLIAMSON (1937, Bluebird 7059)

13. Preachin' Blues (1936, Vocalion 04630)

14. Number Runner Blues - JIMMIE GORDON (1938, Decca 7536)

15. Tell Me Baby - JOHN LEE `SONNY BOY' WILLIAMSON (1939, Bluebird 8474)

16. Rockin' Chair Blues - BIG BILL BROONZY (1940, Okeh 06116)

17. Diggin' My Potatoes - WASHBOARD SAM (1939, Bluebird 8211)

18. This Train - SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (1939, Decca 2558)

19. Don't You Lie To Me - TAMPA RED (1940, Bluebird 8654)

20. Jivin' The Blues - JOHN LEE `SONNY BOY' WILLIAMSON (1940, Bluebird 8674)

21. I Feel So Good - BIG BILL BROONZY (1941, Okeh 6688)

22. Worried Life Blues - BIG MACEO (1941, Bluebird 8827)

23. Junker Blues - CHAMPION JACK DUPREE (1941, Okeh 06152)

24. Ain't No Business We Can Do - COCTOR CLAYTON (1942, Bluebird B9021)

25. Mean Ol' Frisco - ARTHUR "BIG BOY" CRUDUP (1942)

 

Disc 4 (72:49 minutes):

"Jazzin' The Blues - After Hours Swing, Boogie And Jive"

1. Boogie Woogie Stomp - ALBERT AMMONS and HIS RHYTHM KINGS (1936, Decca 749)

2. Boogie Woogie - COUNT BASIE as JONES-SMITH INC (1936, Vocalion 3459)

3. One-O-Clock Jump - COUNT BASIE (1937, Decca 1363)

4. Sing Sing Sing - BENNY GOODMAN (1937, Victor 25796)

5. Keep-A-Knockin' - LOUIS JORDAN's ELKS RENDEZVOUS BAND (1939, Decca 7609)

6. T'Ain't What You Do - JIMMIE LUNCEFORD and HIS ORCHESTRA (1939, Vocalion 4582)

7. Jumpin Jive - CAB CALLOWAY (1939, Vocalion 5005)

8. I Like To Riff - NAT COLE TRIO (1941, Decca 8592)

9. That's The Rhythm - THREE SHARPS AND A FLAT (1940, Okeh 05971)

10. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - THE CATS and THE FIDDLE (1939, Bluebird 8402)

11. After Hours - ERSKIN HAWKINS (1940, Bluebird 10879)

12. Floyd's Guitar Blues - ANDY KIRK & HIS CLOUDS OF JOY (1939, Decca 2483)

13. Gangster Blues - PEETIE WHEATSTRAW (1940, Decca 8592)

14. Roll `Em Pete - BIG JOE TURNER with PETE JOHNSON (1938, Vocalion 4607)

15. Down The Road A-Piece - WILL BRADLEY TRIO (1940, Columbia 35707)

16. Central Avenue Breakdown - LIONEL HAMPTON and HIS ORCHESTRA (1940, Victor 26652)

17. Death Ray Boogie - PETE JOHNSON (1941, Decca 3830)

18. Natchez Mississippi Blues - LEWIS BRONZEVILLE FIVE (1940, Bluebird 8445)

19. Confessin' The Blues - JAY McSHANN (1941, Decca 8559)

20. What's The Use Of Getting' Sober - LOUIS JORDAN and HIS TYMPANY FIVE (1942, Decca 8645)

21. Take It And Git - ANDY KIRK & HIS CLOUDS OF JOY (1942, Decca 4366)

22. Cow Cow Boogie - FREDDIE SLACK and HIS PORCHESTRA with ELLA MAE MORSE (1942, Capitol 102)

23. Flying Home - LIONEL HAMPTON and HIS ORCHESTRA (1942, Decca 18394)

24. Mean Old World - T-BONE WALKER (1942, Capitol 10033)

 

There's an outer card wrap that houses a 3-way fold out 4-disc clip holder. The 32-page booklet (attached to the centre inner sleeve) gives detailed track-by-track analysis of each song - when it was recorded, players if known, USA 78" catalogue numbers, chart positions etc... Between the texts are trade adverts, some artist publicity photos and small colour pictures of those beautiful Vocalion, Bluebird, Okeh, Decca and Brunswick 78" labels. The read for each entry is fabulous - great detail and clear affection for his subject matter. Some of these artists like Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan and Amos Easton (Bumble Bee Slim) were huge and had massive recording careers. There's a very cool advert for Cab Calloway 'world famous orchestra leader' endorsing Schenley Whiskey because it 'tastes better'.

 

Downsides - although the set looks nice, the discs are hard to get out of the clips and the attached booklet is difficult to read because it's attached. The 2nd volume from 2009 in this series rectified all that - different inner holder and a pouch for a separate booklet (see separate review). If you want a full printed out version, the same detailed text is available from their website in colour.

 

Expertly and lovingly compiled by NICK DUCKETT and remastered by PR INTERNATIONAL - given the vintage of the recordings (1925 to 1942), the sound quality obviously varies enormously - some are awful, but others are superlative. It's amazing how good some of the Thirties Blues sounds - "Knockin' A Jug" by Louis Armstrong is stunning and the amazingly lewd "Lead Pencil Blues" by Johnnie Temple (a man not troubled by Viagra problems) sounds so good - it's eerie.

 

But what doesn't vary is the sheer charm of the recordings themselves - the ballsy nature of the lyrics - the poverty and despair of an entire part of society on the move (lyrics from Bessie Smith's "Backwater Blues" - Track 3 on Disc 2 - give this review it's title). It's like eavesdropping on history - and it's a feel that is both funny and heartbreaking at the same time. I also found that around the centre of Disc 2, the track choices 'so' begin to work - flowing into each other - it weaves a magical listen that had many customers coming to the counter in our shop asking, "who's this?"

 

Retailing at under twenty quid (and often less) from most online retailers, and despite its packaging niggles, this box set of 97 remastered classics and obscurities is both revelatory and great value for money - and it's music you'll find yourself loving and wanting more of. A rather lovely reissue really - recommended...

“Bring Back The Love: Classic Dells Soul” by THE DELLS [feat Terry Callier, Larry Wade, Bobby Miller and Charles Stepney] (1996 US MCA/Chess CD with Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...What A Day...Everything's Going My Way..."

First appearing in February 1996 - "Bring Back The Love: Classic Dells Soul" is a US-only CD compilation that gives us 14 Primo Sixties & Seventies tracks by Illinois' wonderful Soul/Vocal Group THE DELLS covering their recording output from early 1969 to late 1974 on the Chess label imprint - Cadet.

All tracks are lovingly remastered by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON (has handled huge swathes of the Chess/Cadet/Argo catalogue to great effect) and the 12-page booklet has affectionate and informative liner notes by ANDY McKAIE and contributions from two of the group members - McGill and Barksdale.

"Bring Back The Love: Classic Dells Soul" by THE DELLS on MCA/Chess CHD-9360 (Barcode 0076732936023) features 5 Cadet albums and some of the singles issued off them and it breaks down as follows (52:11 minutes):

1. The Glory Of Love [January 1971 US 7" single on Cadet 5679, A]

2. Oh What A Day [January 1970 US 7" single on Cadet 5663, A] (lyrics above)

3. I Can't Do Enough [March 1969 US 7" single on Cadet 5636, A]

4. Darling Dear

5. Strung Out Over You

6. A Little Understanding [July 1970 US 7" single on Cadet 5672, B-side to 12]

7. Bring Back The Love Of Yesterday [1974 US 7" single on Cadet 5703, A, 1st issue of 5703]

8. If You Move I'll Fall

9. Doe Anybody Know I'm Here [January 1969 US 7" single on Cadet 5631]

10. If You Really Love Your Girl (Show Her)

11. Be For Real For Me

12. Long Lonely Nights [July 1970 US 7" single on Cadet 5672, A - see also 6]

13. I'm Not Afraid Of Tomorrow

14. Sweeter As The Days Go By [October 1974 US 7" single on Cadet 5703, B-side to "Learning To Love You Was Easy (It's So Hard Trying To Get Over You)", 2nd issue of 5703]

Tracks 3 and 9 are from the US LP "Always Together" released January 1969 on Cadet LPS-822

Tracks 1 and 6 are from the US LP "Love Is Blue" released August 1969 on Cadet LPS-829

Tracks 2, 4, 12 and 13 are from the US LP "Like It Is, Like It Was" released February 1970 on Cadet LPS-837

Track 8 is from the US LP "The Dells" released in November 1973 on Cadet LP-50046

Track 5 is from the US LP "The Dells Vs The Dramatics" released in March 1974 on Cadet LP-60027

Tracks 7, 10, 11 and 14 are from the US LP "The Mighty, Mighty Dells" released in September 1974 on Cadet LP-60030

For these recordings THE DELLS were:

Marvin Junior (Baritone Lead), Chuck Barksdale, Verne Allison, Michael "Mickey" McGill and Johnnie Carter

If you already own the stunning 2CD set "Standing Ovation" compilation from 2007 (39 songs with equally wonderful remasters - again by Erick Labson), the good news is that there's only 2 duplicates - ""Strung Out Over You" and "Bring Back The Love Of Yesterday". 

Another draw is the involvement of CHARLES STEPNEY in 8 of the songs. Along with songwriter BOBBY MILLER, Stepney arranged and conducted the sessions at Cadet for luminaries such The Rotary Connection, Terry Callier, Ramsey Lewis and Minnie Riperton's first solo LP "Come Into My Garden". A sort of a Phil Spector of Soul - Stepney was a bit of a genius really and is a big name in small circles (see also my reviews for "Occasional Rain" and "What Color Is Love" by Terry Callier and The Dells double mentioned above).

These Dells albums are now increasingly hard to find - and most of the tracks are also elusive on the CD format.

A lovely compilation then - and even though the playing time should have been bumped up way over the seventy-minute mark, the superb quality of the remasters makes up for it.

"Bring Back The Love/Classic Dells Soul" is great soul music in great sound. Classic indeed…

“The Virgin Book Of TOP 40 CHARTS” – A Review. A Good Reference Source & A Great Trip Down Memory Lane...

A huge number of artists in this book are part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" 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

When I got this long and brill 1053-page paperback (with an introduction by DAVID McALEER), I hardly knew where to start...the detail is gargantuan.

It contains every Top 40 UK Singles chart beginning at 10 March 1960 and ending at 3 January 2009 (US customers should note this is ONLY UK charts).

“The Virgin Book Of TOP 40 CHARTS” breaks down like this…
To the far left is the chart position (1, 2, 3 etc), then to the right of that is a column that gives you 'last week's chart position' - which allows you to trace back when the record first showed up on the charts. The title of the song is in BLOCK CAPITOLS while the artist is standard print so you can differentiate quickly and easily which is which. It then gives you the label (Capitol, HMV, RAK, Bell, Polydor etc), but unfortunately not the catalogue number (you need the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles for that). It is updated to 2009 - which the Guinness one isn't.

Another real ace is a track-by-track index in the rear; say you want to check on "Give Me The Night" by GEORGE BENSON - it tells you look at the week ending 2/8/80 which is when it first charted - you know exactly where to locate it - very handy. The final column to the far right gives you the number of weeks it’s been on chart (3, 7 etc).

Browsing through the years if of course half the fun. You notice stuff. There were an awful lot of Number 1’s that were truly awful – and seemed to stay there for an eternity. It’s also interesting to notice that despite having actually lived when "Ride A White Swan" by T.REX first hit the charts in October 1970 - there are titles in that week and the subsequent weeks that I don't remember at all (and some you'd rather forget).

I then figured I'd try to set up some of these Top Forty lists in iTunes on my computer. I chose a week from 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 - and I found to my astonishment that even with 46,000 songs at my disposal (don't ask!), I only had about half in each list. Many are elusive on CD still.

Downsides - there's no pictures at all to break the monotony - and all those dry lists have little to accompany them by way of text on the changing face of music and the charts - like the Guinness books do (there are a few pages at the beginning on Chart statistics). But it’s still a fantastic reference source. And long overdue too.

I got my copy for just under seven on-line - despite its official twenty-pound price tag.

A great blast from the past - and highly recommended.