"The Singles Volume 10: 1975-1979" by JAMES BROWN (February 2011 USA - March 2011 UK - Hip-O Select 2CD Compilation with Seth Foster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 333 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2024 Update)

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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I've been diligently collecting this series of 2CD sets since they started in 2006, and this 10th installment is the fifth twofer to cover his extraordinary Seventies output (Volumes 6, 7, 8 and 9 are the others and feature 1970 to 1975).

Volume 9 had a feeling of JB winding down in terms of quality – treading water a lot of the time - and despite Volume 10 feeling somewhat the same there is still greatness to be heard on this latest edition. Details first...

Released 11 February 2011 on Hip-O's own website in the USA, Volume 10 is British released Monday 28 March 2011 - "The Singles Volume 10: 1975-1979" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0015279-02 (Barcode 602527622408) breaks down as follows…(all catalogue numbers are US 7” singles unless otherwise noted)

Disc 1 (77:23 minutes):

1. Superbad, Superslick Part I

2. Superbad, Superslick Part II

Tracks 1 and 2 are Polydor PD 14295, released September 1975 (for 2, see also Track 5)

3. Dooley's Junkyard Dogs

4. Dooley's Junkyard Dogs - Short Version

Tracks 3 and 4 first appeared as a Promo 7” single in November 1975 on Polydor PRO-005, then was issued as a Stock Copy in January 1976 on Polydor PD 14303

5. Hot (I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved, Loved)

Tracks 5 (and 2 above) are the A&B sides of Polydor PD 14301, released December 1975

6. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons

7. Goodnight My Love

Tracks 6 and 7 are Polydor PD 14304, released March 1976

8. Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time – Part 1

9. Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time – Part 2

Tracks 8 and 9 are People PE 664, released May 1976 [credited to THE J.B.’S with JAMES BROWN]

10. Get Up Offa That Thing

11. Release The Pressure

Tracks 10 and 11 are Polydor PD 14326, released June 1976

12. I Refuse To Lose

13. Home Again

Tracks 12 and 13 are Polydor PD 14354, released August 1976

14. Bodyheat (Part 1)

15. Bodyheat (Part 2)

Tracks 14 and 15 are Polydor PD 14360, released December 1976

16. Kiss In 77

17. Woman

Tracks 16 and 17 are Polydor PD 14388, released April 1977

Disc 2 (75:36 minutes):

1. Give Me Some Skin

2. People Wake Up And Live

Tracks 1 and 2 are Polydor PD 14409, released July 1977 [credited to JAMES BROWN AND THE J.B.’S]

3. Summertime

4. Take Me Higher And Groove Me

Tracks 3 and 4 are Polydor PD 14433, released November 1977 [A-side credited to MARTHA and JAMES (Duet Vocal With Martha High)]

5. If You Don't Give A Dogone About It

6. People Who Criticize

Tracks 5 and 6 are Polydor PD 14438, released January 1978 [credited to JAMES BROWN and The New J.B.’s]

7. Love Me Tender

8. Have A Happy Day

Tracks 7 and 8 are Polydor PD 14460, released March 1978 [credited to JAMES BROWN and The New J.B.’s] (Track 7 was used again — as a B-side to track 11)

9. Eyesight

10. I Never, Never, Never Will Forget

Tracks 9 and 10 are Polydor PD 14465, released April 1978

11. The Spank

Track 11 (and track 7) are Polydor PD 14487, released July 1878

12. Nature (Part I)

13. Nature (Part II)

Tracks 12 and 13 are Polydor PD 14512, released September 1978

14. For Goodness Sakes, Look At Those Cakes (Part 1)

15. For Goodness Sakes, Look At Those Cakes (Part 2)

Tracks 14 and 15 are Polydor PD 14522, released October 1978

16. Someone To Talk To (Part I)

17. Someone To Talk To (Part II)

Tracks 16 and 17 are Polydor PD 14540, released December 1978

18. It's Too Funky In Here

19. Are We Really Dancing

Tracks 18 and 19 are Polydor PD 14557, released May 1979

Like Volumes 8 and 9 (see separate reviews), the 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at — a hugely informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert posters, trade adverts, magazine covers and a thoroughly detailed recording Sessionography. The inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has an advert for a concert at the Miami Baseball Stadium with a string of guests including B.B. King - it's exceptionally well done...

And again, as in previous issues, the first-generation master tapes for the single mixes have been transferred by SETH FOSTER and he's done a truly superlative job — warm, clear and fabulously alive. There is hiss on some cuts like "Summertime," but mostly the music jumps out of the speakers at you — gorgeous sound. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay (it doesn’t give numbers, but presumably it's a worldwide limited edition of 5000 copies like its predecessor).

Disc 1 opens strongly with 2 great driving-funky singles — "Superbad, Superslick" and "Dooley's Junkyard Dogs" (I think the shortened B-side is better than the longer An on Dooley's). The sample of David Bowie's "Fame" provides the backbeat for "Hot [I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved)" where James steals back a little of what everyone stole from him. Unfortunately there follows a cringingly bad disco version of the Nat King Cole 1946 standard "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" with an equally cruddy version of the Jesse Belvin 1956 hit "Goodnight My Love" on the flip. Things improve on "Everybody Wanna Get Funky…" even if the false crowd start irritates a bit – it's good – but what comes next is another league altogether. 

"Get Up Offa That Thing…And Dance 'Til You Feel Better…" was shouted by JB at a lack-lustre audience and he had a hit in his brain. Done with a new band and fresh enthusiasm, they got it down in one take – and it funks like a mother. It's followed by another double-winner – the fast and funky jam "I Refuse To Lose" and its bluesy B-side "Home Again" – great stuff and both sounding spectacularly clear. "Bodyheat" is superb funk too - fully deserving its Number 13 position on the USA R&B charts. "Kiss In 77" is JB in Teddy Pendergrass loverman territory and it only half works, but its B-side "Woman" is far better – stylistically harking back to his 1966 King Records classic "It's A Man's Man's Man's World".

Disc 2 has its dogs as well – his terrible cover of Presley's "Love Me Tender" no matter how heartfelt it was smacks of opportunism almost a full year after Elvis' death, while the cloying "Someone To Talk" is sappy pap. His duet with Martha High on the Gershwin cover of "Summertime" is actually quite good, but when we get to tracks like "Eyesight" and "Nature", Brown just sounds out of time – and worse – he even sounds naff. It ends on a good note though – "It's Too Funky In Here".

To sum up – Volume 10 is similar to Volume 9 – the good and great vying with precisely the opposite (Volumes 7 and 8 are much better). But if you really want to know why he got the title "The Godfather of Soul" in the first place - and especially why funk fans dig him so much - then buy this superbly featured reissue and concentrate only on the good stuff.

By the end of the Seventies, James Brown wasn't troubling the national charts too much, but there’s enough on here to convince that JB truly was a genius. When all others had fallen by the wayside, he was still capable of producing the goods…

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"Candles" by HEATWAVE (November 2010 UK Big Break Records (BBR) Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Nine Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…We’re The Syndicate Of Soul…Gonna Take Control…"

Like many Soul and Funk fans, I’ve been noticing Big Break Records (BBR) and their steady stream of interesting reissues turn up in the racks of better record shops in the West End of London (Sister Ray, Sounds Of The Universe and Reckless).

"Candles" was the kind of early 80's album that boasted 2 or 3 great tracks and the rest was filler – like so many records of the time. But what lifts this reissue above the ordinary is the wad of bonus tracks attached – and especially the truly fabulous remastered sound. Here's the posin' details…

Released 25 November 2010 in the UK - "Candles: Expanded Edition" by HEATWAVE on Big Break Records CDBBR 0024 (Barcode 5013929032422) offers the 1980 LP with nine Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows (79:34 minutes):

1. Gangsters Of Groove [Side 1]

2. Jitterbuggin' 

3. Party Suite 

4. Turn Around 

5. Posin' 'Til Closin' [Side 2] 

6. All I Am 

7. Dreamin' You 

8. Goin' Crazy 

9. Where Did I Go Wrong 

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Candles" first released in December 1980 in the USA on Epic FE 36873 (charted at number 24) and then February 1981 in the UK on GTO Records GTOLP 0047 (charted at number 29).

BONUSES:
10. Gangsters Of The Groove (Single Version) [4:02 minutes, Edit]
11. Jitterbuggin' (UK Single Version) [4:00 minutes, Edit]
12. Where Did I Go Wrong (US Single Version) [3:47 minutes, Edit]
13. Posin' 'Til Closin' (UK Single Version) [3:40 minutes, Edit]
14. Turn Around (US Single Version) [3:59 minutes, Edit]
15. Find Someone Like You - a non-album B-side to "Gangsters Of The Groove" 7" single credited on the record as "Someone Like You" [3:58 minutes]
16. Wack That Axe - a non-album B-side to the UK 12" single of "Jitterbuggin'" [3:45 minutes]
17. Gangsters Of The Groove (UK 12" Remix) [5:48 minutes – album version is 4:22 minutes]
18. Posin' 'Til Closin' (UK 12" Version) [5:10 minutes – album version is 5:00 minutes]

In one of those new rounded-corner jewel cases, the booklet has 12-pages of colour photos, album sleeves, GTO and Epic singles and informational liner notes by HAYDEN JONES. The albums credits also include the bonus tracks – it’s very well done. But the big news is the sound…

The original tapes have been digitally remastered by ALAN WILSON at Western Star Studios and he’s done a truly stunning job. Every instrument is full on – and not in a loudness-for-loudness sake kind of way – the remaster is clear, muscular & an absolute blast to listen to.

The record’s big secret was soul/funk songwriter ROD TEMPERTON – he penned 5 of the album’s 9 tracks and more famously went on to write “Rock With You”, “Off The Wall”, “Baby Be Mine”, “The Lady In My Life” and “Thriller” for Michael Jackson. Temperton had been with them in the beginning in 1977, but by this time had long since left, but was still sufficiently involved with the group to arrange and contribute much of this album.

His signature winner “Gangster Of The Groove” opens the proceedings very nicely – it’s soul/disco/funk genius – an irresistible floor-filler even to this day. The problem with the album is that it never reaches that dizzy height again. “Posin’ Til Closin’” and “Turn Around” are good funky tunes and “Dreamin’ You” features that superb bass playing of Derek Bramble, but the soppy Lynsey De Paul cover “All I Am” is hard to listen to now. The finishers “Goin’ Crazy” and “Where Did I Go Wrong” are good too, but never really great. The 12”-only B-side "Wack That Axe" however is a superb bonus track.

The liner notes dedicate the release to band-member and co-producer Johnnie Wilder, Jnr. who died in 2006 – his brother Keith fronts a form of the band to this day. It has to be said that BBR have done his memory proud.

To sum up - "Candles" by Heatwave is a 3-star album given a 5-star treatment by Big Break Records (BBR) - and if you have any affection for it, then you need this superb remaster in your life.

The quality way this CD has been presented is going to make me investigate more of their releases. And at just under seven quid from many online retailers, it's cheap too. Recommended.

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters 

I've reviewed to October 2015

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

11.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

12. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

13. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

14. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

15. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

16. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

17. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

18. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

29. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

30. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

31. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

32. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

33 Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

34. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)

35. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"It Ain’t Gonna Be That Way – The Complete Smash Sessions" by CHARLIE RICH. A Review Of The 2011 Ace Records CD Compilation.

"…Who Is The Coolest Guy…"

Mercury Records of the USA released a CD compilation by Charlie Rich called “The Complete Smash Sessions” in 1992 – I’ve had it a while now to have the music. This new 28 February 2011 reissue CD by Ace Records of the UK is that 29-song US title with a slightly re-jiggered track list. But the real reason for fan-joy here is that Rich’s truly great musical content has finally gotten the superior remastered sound its always deserved (and a nicely expanded booklet too).

Let’s get to the details first because there’s a lot - Ace CDCHD 1298 (69:34 minutes) will allow you to sequence his 2 Sixties albums on Smash Records as follows:

“The Many New Sides Of Charlie Rich”, 1965 USA LP on Smash MGS-27070 [Mono] and SRS-67070 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Mohair Sam [9]
2. I Can't Go On [7]
3. Dance Of Love [8]
4. A Field Of Yellow Daisies [15]
5. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water [20]
6. Everything I Do Is Wrong [11]
Side 2:
1. She's A Yum Yum [24]
2. It Ain't Gonna Be That Way [1]
3. Just A Little Bit Of You [4]
4. Moonshine Minnie [26]
5. Down And Out [21]
6. Lonely Weekends [A Smash Re-Recording Of His 1960 Hit on Phillips] [28]

“The Best Years”, 1966 USA LP on Smash MGS-27078 [Mono] and SRS-67078 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. No Home [6]
2. So Long [16]
3. The Best Years [14]
4. Party Girl [2]
5. You Can Have Her [19]
6. Have I Stayed Away Too Long [12]
Side 2:
1. Hawg Jaw [27]
2. Something Just Came Over Me [5]
3. Double Dog Dare Me [25]
4. Just A Little Bit Of Time [17]
5. Blowin' Town [18]
6. Tear's A Go-Go [13]

The remaining 5 tracks are made up of the following:
“Man About Town” [10], “Let The Party Roll On” [22] and “Santa Claus’ Daughter” [29] were all previously unreleased outtakes which first appeared on the American 1992 compilation mentioned above - while “That’s My Way” [3] and “When My Baby Comes Home” [23] are the non-album A & B-sides of a 1966 USA 7” single on Smash 2060.

As you can see from the above LPs, they were issued in ‘both’ Mono and Stereo – this CD uses only the STEREO mixes on ALL tracks except 3 on the 2nd LP – “Party Girl”, “Just A Little Bit Of Time” and “Hawg Jaw” – these are Mono mixes.

The original US booklet was a barely illustrated skimpy 8-pages in black and white – here we get 16-pages with both album sleeves featured in full colour plates, pictured US 7” singles (stock and demo), trade newspaper reviews and black & white publicity and family photos. It’s very nicely done and features knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by renowned British writer and music lover DEAN RUDLAND.

The remastered sound is by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London and the difference is HUGE. Think Sixties Presley meets Roy Orbison on Monument - catchy tunes with top production values.
Best sound ever is on the fantastically hip “Mohair Sam” (lyrics above), the lovely ballad “A Field Of Yellow Daisies” (written by his wife Margaret Ann) and the jaunty piano of “She’s A Yum Yum” is so clear now too. The low down and gritty “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Waters” is the kind of Bluesy Sixties song I adore - can’t get enough of it.

Then we get what I consider to be a genuine Sixties masterpiece – “It Ain’t Gonna Be That Way”. I play this sucker to death – and it sounds just awesome here. The Monkees-pop-vibe of “Just A Little Bit Of You” has fantastic audio too – even if he does ape Roy Orbison’s growl on the chorus. “Down And Out” is as ludicrously catchy as a Sixties’ tune gets – just great - while “Something Just Came Over Me” is near-perfect pop.

And as if this isn’t riches' enough, the 3 outtakes are all uptempo crackers – a cover of Joe South’s “Let The Party Roll”, a cover of William Young’s “Man About Town” and a happy bopper from his wife Margaret Ann – “Santa Claus’ Daughter”. The B-side of “That’s My Way” is the rare but brilliant “When My Baby Comes” and it will be gracing a cool 60ts comp of mine as soon as possible.

Niggles – the 3 mono mixes are a puzzle – I say this because the original 1992 US CD doesn't even hightlight them as such (at least the Ace title does) - but where are the 'Stereo' versions of these 3 tracks? But these are minor irritations on a CD that has genuinely put a smile on my weary mug.

To sum up – this is a brilliant and timely reissue. Charlie Rich had the voice, he wrote most of the songs and he even looked the part – yet it would take the Seventies and his Silver Fox Country ballads period before he finally got the credit he so obviously deserved. Charlie Rich (like Eden Kane and Terry Reid) is the kind of artist who needs rediscovery – and this CD is a superb starting block.

A fabulous job-done by Ace (yet again) and already one of my reissues of 2011.

"Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings Of The 60s And 70s" (February 2011 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 333 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2024 Update)

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…When You Talk That Sweet Talk…I Burn Like Oil On Fire…"

Across the 24 cuts on "Who's Blue?" - 18 sides are rare 45-Single B-sides/Album Tracks all new to CD at the time of 2011 release - with one song (Track 8) being a previously unreleased outtake from 1964. There's a lot on here, so let's get to the details…

UK released 28 February 2011 - "Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings Of The 60s And 70s" by ETTA JAMES on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 345 (Barcode 029667234528) is a CD Compilation of Remasters that breaks down as follows (67:49 minutes):

1. Only A Fool
(From "Etta James", 1973 USA LP on Chess 50042
Also 1974 USA 7" on Chess CH 2148, B-side of “Leave Your Hat On”)

2. Take Out Some Insurance
(From "Losers Weepers", December 1970 USA LP on Cadet 847
Also 1971 USA 7" single on Chess CH 2112, A-side
Also 1975 USA 7" single on Chess CH 2171, B-side of “Lovin’ Arms”)

3. I'm So Glad (I Found A Love In You)
(From "Call My Name", January 1967 USA LP on Cadet 4055
Also 1967 USA 7" single on Cadet 5552, B-side of "I Prefer You")

4. (I Don't Need Nobody To Tell Me) How To Treat My Man
(A Previously Unreleased Track That First Appeared On The 2000 Universal 3CD set "Etta James - The Chess Box")

5. Fire
(1968 USA 7" single on Cadet 5620, A-side)

6. I've Been A Fool
(From "Etta Is Betta Than Evvah!", 1976 USA LP on Chess 19003
Also USA 1976 7" single on Chess ACH-30001, B-side of “Jump Into Love”)

7. You're The Fool
(From "Losers Weepers", December 1970 USA LP on Cadet 847)

8. Can't Shake It
(Previously Unreleased 1964 Argo/Chess Recording, Released Here For 1st Time)

9. Do Right
(From "Queen Of Soul", 1964 USA LP on Argo 4040)

10. Nobody But You
(From "Etta James", 1962 USA LP on Argo 4013)

11. Seven Day Fool
(From "The Second Time Around", 1961 USA LP on Argo 4011)
(Also 1961 USA 7" single on Argo 5402, A-side)

12. That Man Belongs Back Here With Me
(From "Queen Of Soul", 1964 USA LP on Argo 4040
Also 1964 USA 7" single on Argo 5477, B-side of “Breaking Point”)

13. Look Who's Blue
(1964 USA 7" single on Argo 5465, Non-Album Track, B-side of "Loving You More Every Day")

14. You Can Count On Me
(From “Etta James”. 1962 USA LP on Argo 4013)

15. It Could Happen To You
(From “Sings For Lovers”. 1962 USA LP on Argo 4018)

16. Street Of Tears
(1962 USA 7” single on Argo 5418, B-side of “Stop The Wedding”)

17. Don't Pick Me For Your Fool
(From "Call My Name", January 1967 USA LP on Cadet 4055
Also 1967 USA 7" single on Cadet 5564, A-side)

18. Are My Thoughts With You
(From "Funk", January 1970 USA LP on Cadet 832)

19. My Man Is Together
(From "Funk", January 1970 USA LP on Cadet 832)

20. I'm Sorry For You
(1966 USA 7" single on Cadet 5526, Non-Album Track, B-side of "Only Time Will Tell")

21. I Worry 'Bout You
(From "Queen Of Soul", 1964 USA LP on Argo 4040
Also 1963 USA 7” single on Cadet 5452, B-side to “Two Sides (To Every Story)”)

22. Let Me Know
(From "Etta James", 1962 USA LP on Argo 4013)

23. What Fools We Mortals Are

24. Sweet Memories
(Tracks 23 and 24 from "Funk", January 1970 USA LP on Cadet 832)

The 24-page booklet is beautifully done – jam-packed with full colour plates of rarely seen album sleeves, pictured US 7" singles on Argo, Cadet and Chess, Sixties trade adverts for Cashbox and black & white publicity photos – a typically top job done by Ace. As well as the cleverly laid out pictorials - each song is broken down into properly detailed liner notes done by MICK PATRICK. The audio quality is great throughout too – full of life and presence – your speakers rattling with the bass and drums (remastering and audio restoration has been done by NICK ROBBINS and ROB SHREAD at the Sound Mastering Studios in London).

Proceedings open strongly with a brass floor-filler from 1973 called "Only A Fool". But Funk isn't really what's on offer here overall (mores the pity). The not-so-aptly titled "Funk" LP from 1970 is a good example – it's featured here by 4 tracks, but they're pleading ballads and not kick-ass stuff the album title suggests. "What Fools We Mortals Be" and "My Man Is Together" are the better two.

Far cooler is the lone track from 1976 called "I've Been A Fool". It features the All Platinum label house band The Rimshots– and is a guitar-driven low down and dirty rock-funk tune (a great choice by compiler Mick Patrick - both as an album track and as a forgotten B-side). Also as a listen "Who's Blue?..." is a fascinating delve into the different styles her career pumped out into the public domain. There's the crooner side of Etta in "It Could Happen To You", a tune popularized by Jo Stafford and Dinah Washington before Etta. A slightly pop-country tip on "Look Who's Blue" an old Don Gibson standard and the consummate balladeer on great unfairly forgotten B-sides like "I'm Sorry For You" and "I Worry 'Bout You".

Special praise has to go to Ace for the previously unreleased nugget uncovered in some tape box somewhere "Can't Shake It" – it may be a loner on here, but man is it good. Other highlights for me are the hard-hitting dancer "Don't Pick Me For Your Fool" and the Stax Otis Redding sounding "Fire" – a Willie Dixon song sung originally by Koko Taylor (lyrics above).

To sum up –as a voracious collector of the Chess label, "Who's Blue?..." is a winner for me. And speaking of Ace Records, they're a little like great Woody Allen films (they come and go without enough people noticing them) - we are perhaps in danger of taking for granted how good Ace has become at these kind of compilations. Lovely stuff and a job well done boys.

“Easy-A”. A Review Of The 2010 Film Now On A 2011 BLU RAY.

"…If You Hear A Rumour That I Have Chlamydia…Just Ignore It…"

"Easy-A" is a superb, witty and incredibly fresh coming-of-age flick with a razor-sharp script.

Olive Penderghast is an intelligent twenty-something woman (Emma Stone). Olive is articulate, grounded and quick with a retort - and definitely not a loose woman who goes with any boy behind the bike shed. In fact her virginity is still 'secretly' intact. Her best friend however is Marianne who hasn't had any part of her anatomy intact for quite some time (a scene-stealing part for Alison Michalka). Marianne has temptress hair, an ample bosom and tight blouses that show you her credentials in no uncertain terms. Possessed of a trashy mouth and practically the campus trollop, Marianne can't wait for her friend Olive to lose her cherry. So in an attempt to alleviate her constant vocal pressurizing, Olive tells Marianne that she has done 'it' at the weekend. She gives Marianne all the necessary details. Big mistake...

Next day, Olive's gay friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) hears the delicious news and is thrilled. He spots an opportunity. Brandon can't stand the pretence any more and asks Olive (in her new found waywardness) to fake making out with him so he can be accepted by all the fit hetro guys in collage. Olive agrees because she feels for Brandon. They stage a hysterically funny make out scene in a bedroom at a party with everyone listening at the door. He emerges as the male stud and hero to the lads. Soon the rumour mill starts and via the net and mobile phones, Olive attains a reputation as sleep-around-central. But then her goer status escalates, bringing down the religious nuts on her immoral ass (a great performance by Amanda Bynes) which causes Olive all sorts of grief - including even losing Todd (Penn Badgley) her childhood pal and real love. So what started out as a harmless joke in a toilet and a helping hand given to a friend in need - turns into a cottage industry that escalates out of control. It's very funny, spunky and consistently entertaining.

To hold your own as a lead in something like "Easy-A" takes real gumption and dare we say it - starpower - and Emma Stone has it. She is just gorgeous in this film - funny, playful and luminous in a way that an actress hasn't been in a very long time. It's a breakthrough part for her. Throw in a great supporting cast like Stanley Tucci (her father), Thomas Haden Church (her teacher), Patricia Clarkson (her mother), Lisa Kudrow (the collage councillor) and Malcolm McDowell (the collage Principal) to name but a few, genuinely cool jokes and one-liners and a jab or two at the tyrants who want to run our lives - and you have a winner on your hands.

The BLU RAY image is beautiful too - and there are some great extras with the cast and crew.

I loved "Easy-A" - it's young, it's funny, it's ballsy and sexy too.

Do yourself a favour and put it high on your rental/to buy list.