"The Gospel Truth: The Gospel Soul And Funk Of Stax Records" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (August 2010 UK Ace Records/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"... I Got The Vibes..."

This cleverly put together set of 20 tracks is a tribute to one man – Alvertis Isbell – or Al Bell to you and I. Bell joined Stax Records in 1965 straight from two successful Radio shows in Washington and Memphis and would eventually own the label several years later. He had a passion for Gospel and its message of love and racial integration and saw the fusion of Soul and Gospel Music as an obvious and natural progression. 

After a few years of aborted attempts with 'Chalice' Records, he struck pop and message gold by signing The Staple Singers in the late Sixties. With them in tow and more label successes following, he formed the Stax offshoot label 'Gospel Truth' for the Seventies – which is where this CD compilation comes in…

Most tracks are culled from that label's rare and lesser-seen album catalogue issued between 1971 and 1976 (later edited down to just 'Truth' Records). There’s a lot of here that’s new to CD, so let’s get to the details first…

UK released 30 August 2010 - "The Gospel Truth: The Gospel And Funk Of Stax Records" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGP 222 (Barcode 029667522229) is a CD Compilation of Remasters that breaks down as follows (78:01 minutes):

1. Son Of The Deacon – THE SONS OF TRUTH (from the 1973 USA LP "A Message From The Ghetto" on Gospel Truth GTS-2714)

2. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child – CLARENCE SMITH (from the 1973 USA LP "Whatever Happened To Love" on Gospel Truth GTS-2716)

3. Do Your Thing – THE MARION GAINES SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "This Too Is Gospel" on Gospel Truth GTS-2713)

4. We're Gonna Have A Good Time – JACQUI VERDELL (1972 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1211, A-side)

5. Brand New Day (Theme From The United Artists Motion Picture "The Landlord") – THE STAPLE SINGERS (1970 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0074, A-Side)

6.  Talk That Talk (Part 1) – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (from the 1975 USA LP "A Soulful Experience" on Truth TRS-4207)

7. I Got The Vibes – JOSHIE JO ARMSTEAD (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1207, B-side of "Ride Out The Storm")

8. You Need A Friend Like Mine – ANNETTE THOMAS (1974 USA 7" single on Truth TRA-3208, B-side of "What Good Is A Song")

9. (There's Gonna Be A) Showdown – THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (1972 USA 7” single on Gospel truth GTA-2014, A-Side)

10. Let Me Come Home – THE HOWARD LEMON SINGERS (from the 1973 album catalogued as "I Am Determined" on GTS-2724)

11.  It Will Soon Be Over – THE MARION GAINES SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "This Too Is Gospel" on Gospel Truth GTS-2713)

12. I Don't Know Where We’re Headed – THE SONS OF TRUTH (from the 1973 USA LP "A Message From The Ghetto" on Gospel Truth GTS-2714)

13. Better Get A Move On – LOUISE McCORD (from the 1972 USA LP "A Tribute To Mahalia Jackson" on Gospel Truth GTS-2711 – also issued as a USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1206)

14. When Will We Be Paid For The Work We Did – THE STAPLE SINGERS (1969 USA 7" single on Stax STA-0052, A-Side)

15. If The Shoe Fits, Wear It – THE 21st CENTURY (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1209)

16. Keep My Baby Warm – CHARLES MAY & ANNETTE MAY THOMAS (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1206, A-Side)

17. I'll Keep On Trying – CLARENCE SMITH from the 1973 USA LP "Whatever Happened To Love" on Gospel Truth GTS-2716)

18. Stumblin' Blocks, Steppin' Stones (What Took Me So Long) – JOSHIE JO ARMSTEAD (1973 USA 7" single on Gospel Truth GTA-1214, A-Side)

19. You Can't Stop Me Now – THE MARION GAINES SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "This Too Is Gospel" on Gospel Truth GTS-2713)

20. Name The Missing Word – THE STAPLE SINGERS (from the 1972 USA LP "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" on Stax STS-3002)

Compiled and annotated by Soul lover and expert DEAN RUDLAND, the 12-page booklet features full-colour plates of rarely seen album sleeves by Clarence White, The Marion Gaines Singers, The Rance Allen Group, The Howard Lemon Singers and Louise McLoud. There’s a couple of USA 45s pictured, a trade advert and a Bible on the cover with the BGP and Stax logos on it – nice! Excepting The Staple Singers, very few of these artists are household names, so Rudland’s researched and informative liner notes make for an enlightening read. NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London has once again done the remastering and a typically great job it is too – full of life and presence. He always seems to get a better sound than I have on other Stax CDs.

The material as you can imagine is as funky as it is righteous – great grooves, positive vibes and all of it imbibed with a feeling of black pride finally breaking through - what heady times they were. Highlights include the fuzzed-up guitar rhythms of the opener "Son Of The Deacon" which is cleverly followed by "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" a Traditional given a radical funky reworking. You’ll also notice from the total playing time that 20 tracks take up 78 minutes – this is because quite a few are over 5 minutes long – feeling like extended workouts (something a lot of listeners love).

A truly fantastic inclusion is the Isaac Hayes cover of "Do Your Thing" by The Marion Gaines Singers – a perfect marriage of soul, funk and gospel (..."better pray on"...). As writers - Gamble & Huff provide a typically Philly sound to Rance Allen’s high-vocal acrobatics on "(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown". There’s almost a pre-disco feel to Joshie Jo Armstead’s lovely "I Got The Vibes" (she was a member of The Ikettes), while "You Need A Friend Like Mine" is written by another Stax label stalwart – Frederick Knight. Soul-songwriting heroine Bettye Crutcher (provided hits for William Bell, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor and The Staple Singers among others) penned my favourite on here - "Better Get A Move On" by Louise McCord. It features irresistible funky guitar licks while her great vocals rap lyrical about a woman ditching a mistreating man in a very Marlena Shaw kind of a way – superlative stuff.

Charles May penned both his own "Keep My Baby Warm" and "If The Shoe Fits, Wear It" for The 21st Century – both are more soul than gospel – and are lovely additions. Not surprisingly The Staples Singers are featured three times – their excellent cover of Al Kooper's theme to "The Landlord" movie – “Brand New Day” (lyrics above). But as much as I adore the ground any of The Staple Singers walk on – “When Will We Be Paid…” has never been a rave of mine. Still - the set's closer is a very clever choice – a gem tucked away on their “Be Altitude: Respect Yourself” album from 1972 called "Name The Missing Word" which is lyrically relevant to the comp's theme.

To sum up – it’s an embarrassment of riches if you dig this sort of thing – and even if you don’t – there’s so much on here worth taking a chance on.

Ace Records deliver again folks – another job well done. On to Volume 2 please…

“Wild Target”. A Review Of The 2009 Film on DVD.

"…It’s A Rembrandt!
And Where Does He Live Then?”

I had a feeling from seeing the trailer for "Wild Target" that I’d enjoy it – and like many others - I am more than pleasantly surprised.

Jonathan Lynn's 2009 film is a hugely enjoyable romp – a kicking little movie with a very witty and warm script. That it stars the truly scrumptious Emily Blunt is good enough for most guys - but mix in real comedic talent like Bill Nighy, Rupert Everett, Martin Freeman and Gregor Fisher - and you’re going to have your funny bones tickled - a lot.

What's also unexpected is the genuine (if unlikely) chemistry between Blunt and Nighy. And while the camera simply adores our Em in every scene she appears in - it’s the twitchy Nighy who’s steals the entire film. He is just superb as the stuffy po-faced assassin Victor Maynard still unable to live without his mother and properly pleased with his lifetime of strangulations, poisonings and a good clean bullet in the head (his preferred trademark). His mad upper-crust mother Louisa has even made him a lovely newspaper-clippings memento of all these killings and put them in a scrapbook for his 52nd birthday (how thoughtful). Veteran and classy British actress Eileen Atkins gives an equally scene-stealing performance here too - a great combo with Nighy.

The story goes like his - Ruby (Blunt) falsifies a rare painting, pawns it off on bad guy Rupert Everett for a cool million quid, but gets rumbled. Victor is called in to ‘remove’ said rumbler. But of course he is completely unhinged by the lovely kleptomaniac Rose and their initial mutual loathing eventually develops into something worth fighting for. Rose doesn't need to be extinguished by Victor, but protected by him instead (even if it costs £30,000 a week to do so). And Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley from Harry Potter) is cleverly cast too as the footloose and parentless young lad Tony - who simply gets tangled up in the whole shooting match, but turns out to have natural gun-slinging capabilities – and therefore become the apprentice Victor never had. They form an unlikely trio as (slightly bumbling) professional killers pursue them (Martin Freeman and a very funny Geoff Bell).

Hardly original stuff I know – but as other reviewers have said, I'd rather watch this 'again' than sit through some of the truly awful rom-com pap thrown at us these days by Hollywood. It may not be an oil painting, but it’s a bloody good copy mate.

Like "Tamara Drew" - "Wild Target" is a very likeable British Ealing-Comedy kind of movie - with a great cast and a very, very witty script. It's a good night in and well worth a punt.

I’m off now to dream of lovely Emily and put down the fact that's she's happily married as a minor inconvenience and trivial detail…

"Shattered Dreams – Funky Blues 1967-1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (March 2011 UK Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…They're Socking It To Me…Everywhere I Go…"

"Shattered Dreams – Funky Blues 1967-1978" is the latest release on Ace Records label imprint Beat Goes Public (also known as BGP) and typically it's an absolute belter. I had a feeling it would be good, and it is. Here's the details first…

UK released 28 March 2011 - "Shattered Dreams: Funky Blues 1967-1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGP 229 (Barcode 029667522922) is a Compilation that breaks down as follows (73:26 minutes):

1. Shake 'Em Up – SLIM GREEN (from the 1971 USA LP "Stone Down Blues" on Kent KST 549)

2. It Took A Long Time – FINIS TASBY (1977 Big Town label recording, exclusive to this compilation)

3. Bad Understanding – AL KING (Previously Unreleased until the 2010 CD compilation "Together: The Complete Kent And Modern Recordings" by Al King and Arthur K Adams on Ace CDCHD 1292)

4. Mellow Together - LOWELL FULSON (USA 7" single on Kent 489, B-side of "Blues Pain", 1968)

5. Country Girl – THE JOHNNY OTIS SHOW (USA 7" single on Kent 506, A-side, 1969)

6. That's What Love Will Make You Do – LITTLE MILTON (USA 7" single on Stax STA-0111, 1971)

7. Your Love Is Good Enough For Me – ICEWATER SLIM (USA LP on Hawk Sound 1002, 1974)

8. Playing On Me – ALBERT KING (USA 7" single on Stax 0166, 1973)

9. You Shattered My Dreams – SMOKEY WILSON (USA 7" single on Big Town 725, Non-Album Track, 1978)

10. The Whole World's Down On You – LARRY DAVIS [Previously Unreleased]

11. Cloudy Day – FINIS TASBY 1977 (Big Town label recording, exclusive to this compilation)

12. I'm Not The Best – BUDDY GUY (USA 7" single on Vanguard 35080, B-side of "Fever", 1968)

13. Comin' At Ya Baby Part 2 – THE JOHNNY OTIS SHOW [Previously Unreleased]

14. Eli's Pork Chop – LITTLE SONNY (From the 1972 USA LP "New King Of The Blues Harmonica" on Enterprise ENS 1005)

15. Gimme Some Of Your Lovin' – ARTHUR K ADAMS (USA 7" single on Modern 1034, 1967)

16. Welcome Home – LOWELL FULSON (Previously Unreleased until the 2001 CD compilation "Black Nights: The Early Kent Sessions" on Ace CDCHD 831)

17. No Matter What The Cost May Be – ALBERT WASHINGTON (from the 1973 USA LP "Sad And Lonely" on Eastbound EB 9007)

18. High Time – SMOKEY WILSON [Previously Unreleased Big Town Recording]

19. You Got Me Movin' – BIG DADDY RUCKER [Previously Unreleased]

20. Good Feeling – FREDDY ROBINSON (Previously Unreleased until the 1999 CD compilation "Bluesology" on Ace CDCHD 728)

21. Tough Competition – RAY AGEE [Previously Unreleased]

It's been mastered by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London and each track is superbly rendered especially the Seventies stuff which has a full and ballsy sound. The 12-page booklet has knowledgeable and informative liner notes by DEAN RUDLAND with 7" singles and colour photos of some artists featured.

Proceedings open very nicely with "Shake 'Em Up" – a Guitar Slim 'chugger' boasting an incessant backbeat overlaid with spoken lyrics – it makes you want to boogie and it's not surprising that it’s a huge hit on the dancefloors of UK clubs. It's followed by a rediscovery - the unlikely sounding FINIS TASBY - a Texan Bluesman who comes over as a funky Albert King on a Meters tip. "It Took A Long Time" is a fantastically good cut (the second on here is an equally cool harmonica funker called "Cloudy Day"). His self-titled album was supposed to come out on Big Town Records in 1977 (even has a catalogue number) but I've never seen one (the company apparently went bust before it was issued). Both tracks are exclusive on CD to this comp – and what finds they are…

There follows two brassy Blues numbers by Al King and Lowell Fulson, which are very good, but even better is "Country Girl" by Johnny Otis. It sounds like a Blues reworking of "Tramp" by Otis Redding and features the 19-year genius Shuggie Otis providing the tasty guitar solo on his father's cut. The double-whammy of Little Milton's 1971 track "That's What Love Will Make You Do" on Stax and Icewater Slim's "Your Love Is Good Enough For Me" from 1974 sum up this great compilation – funky Blues tunes that are practically irresistible – top Seventies production values too.

The six-minute slow blues of "You Shattered My Dreams" by Smokey Wilson sounds a little like Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" from 1976 on Capricorn but with more brass and piano. The bass and guitar on the Previously Unreleased "High Time" by Smokey Wilson has production chops so good, you'd swear it was a Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards session – very funky and very cool. Page 6 of the booklet pictures a nattily dressed Freddy Robinson whose "Good Feeling" is a standout track on here – and again previously unreleased until Ace put it out in 1999 on their "Bluesology" compilation. It all ends on a genuine high – the hard-grooving "Tough Competition" by another lesser-known name - Ray Agee. It sounds not unlike a Shuggie Otis outtake and is just brilliant - how has this gem remained in the can until now (lyrics above)?

Niggles - although the booklet's good, I would have liked more of it – and the detailed track list I provided above, I had to dig out myself. The back inlay gives an original vinyl catalogue number and year, but not what ‘album’ the track is from. The 7” is the same – is it an A or a B? I also think the front artwork doesn’t do this release any favours because in a crowded marketplace, it would be a real shame to see this cool little reissue go unnoticed.

To sum up – "Shattered Dreams..." does exactly what it says on the tin – a Compilation that gives you Funky Blues from 1967 to 1978 and I've been playing it to death since I got my grubby hands on it a few days ago.

Lustier than a Knickerbocker Glory in Wimpy and tighter than a nun's knickers in the Vatican (both endangered species) - you need this Funky Blues nutrition in your life.

I'm off now to buy a Banana Boat - while I still can…

"Fully Qualified Survivor" by MICHAEL CHAPMAN (2011 Light In The Attic Records CD Reissue And Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This review is 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:

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"…Like Jewels In Your Hand…"

Seventies Rock aficionados will no doubt have read gushing reviews telling them to invest their hard-earned in long lost classics - and having been burned a few times before - would view another such review with a certain amount of scepticism. 

But this is a Light In The Attic Records release - and after 60 peerless reissues of obscurities that truly deserve reappraisal – LITA have done it again. Beautiful presentation, extraordinary sound quality and songs that beggar the question – how the hell did this little gem get lost in the first place? 

MICHAEL CHAPMAN hails from Leeds in England and was 28 when he recorded his second LP "Fully Qualified Survivor" for EMI’s progressive label imprint Harvest. His debut album "Rainmaker" issued in July 1969 was only Harvest’s 5th LP at that time and signalled the arrival of a major Guitar Player and Rock singer-songwriter. 

1. Aviator

2. Naked Ladies And Electric Ragtime 

3. Stranger In The Room

4. Postcards Of Scarborough 

5. Fishbeard Sunset

6. Soulful Lady [Side 2]

7. Rabbit Hills

8. March Rain 

9. Kodak Ghosts 

10. Andru’s Easy Rider

11. Trinkets & Rings

The LP "Fully Qualified Survivor" by MICHAEL CHAPMAN was released March 1970 on Harvest SHVL 764 in the UK and Capitol/Harvest SW-816 in the USA – and even though it actually charted in the UK at No. 45 on the album charts - it’s a rare record on vinyl and UK originals can command upwards of £100. 

This February 2011 reissue on Light In The Records LITA 060 (Barcode 0826853006026) is a straightforward transfer of that 1970 album remastered from the 1st generation EMI tapes by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London (46:32 minutes). The sound quality is fabulous - clear, warm and full of presence - and fully realises the original quality production values of GUS DUDGEON (of David Bowie and Elton John fame). 

The original gatefold artwork has been retained but upgraded to a lovely silver effect on the card digipak (they’ve also issued it on a beautiful Vinyl Version using the same silver effect artwork – a future collectable). The booklet is an impressive 32-pages long with liner notes by MICK HOUGHTON that feature new interviews with Chapman in 2010. Photos and archive material provided by the artist himself feature black and white snaps of him and the other musicians in the studio, on tour, reproductions of press releases and reviews and so on.

It opens with the epic "Aviator" – a nine and half-minute long acoustic song that has touches of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake in its languid pace. The cello is by Paul Buckmaster and the Violin by Johnny Van Derek. But – and this is a matter of taste – you’re met with his nasally drone of a voice which you will either embrace or loath. It all sounds a bit effected now, but if you give it time, there’s rewards later. Chapman was also a very accomplished guitar player (Bert Jansch, Stefan Grossman and John Renbourn jump to mind) and there follows the first of the album’s three acoustic-instrumentals "Naked Ladies & Electric Ragtime". With his foot tapping in the background, it’s a very pretty ditty and it also emphasises the superlative NICK ROBBINS remaster. The sheer musicality of "Postcards From Scarborough" is shocking – and the strings added by Dudgeon are lovely. "Fishbeard Sunset" is the second instrumental and is a 40-second introduction to a great song - "Soulful Lady". It also heralds a major playing talent – MICK RONSON on Guitar. He crops up again on "Kodak Ghosts" and his contributions are so exciting – rocking like a madman – loose and inspired ("The Man Who Sold The World", "Ziggy" and "Hunky Dory" with Bowie lay ahead). 

Side 2 is far better than Side 1 in my book – giving a run of truly superb tunes. "Rabbit Hills" is my favourite on here – a beautifully realised acoustic song with warm words and a haunting melody that still sounds sweet four decades on (lyrics above). "March Rain" with its Cello, Strings and Acoustic guitar arrangement could be Nick Drake circa "Bryter Layter" – so impressive. Mick Ronson adds lovely electric guitar licks to the treated Chapman acoustic guitars on the mid-tempo "Kodak Ghosts". The fantastically bluesy "Andru's Easy Rider" starts out with him on Piano but then goes into this huge John Fahey 12-string slide-guitar blues-boogie that you wish would overstay its mere two-minute duration. It segues into a funky Tabla and Guitar album finisher called "Trinkets & Rings" which features his trademark nonchalant vocals and electric guitar licks in the background. It’s impressive stuff, it really is…

To sum up - like his fellow Harvest Label mate Roy Harper (and nearest musical comparison), Chapman remains a bit of an unknown even in deep rock circles (Keef Hartley, Bryn Haworth, Mick Greenwood, Judee Sill, Karen Dalton and Fred Neil are others).  But you have to say that this is a smart reissue on the part of Light In The Attic Records in a long line of them (Lou Bond, Kris Kristofferson and Rodriguez come to mind - see reviews) and I’m glad I took a chance on it. I’ve subsequently bought the 2006 remaster of his "Millstone Grit" album from 1973 on Deram and it’s a cracker too. 

In 2015 at the age of 74 - it probably seems slightly odd to Michael Chapman now to be the subject of adoration and rediscovery for Folk/Rock he penned 45-years ago – but better late than never. A top job done boys and a major reissue for 2011…

"Rocks" by BIG JOE TURNER (March 2011 Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD   

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"…The Sun Comes Shining Through…"

Bear Family’s "Rocks" series now numbers in excess of 40 titles released since their Wanda Jackson starter in 2002, but this new 2011 addition given over to the frankly beautiful BIG JOE TURNER is liable to quicken even the most hardened collector’s pulse. His Fifties Atlantic R'n'B sides are the stuff of legend, but have always suffered from 'acceptable to good' sound quality when fans have longed for more. Well, at last, this peach finally delivers. The sound quality here is FABULOUS - far better than anything put out in the last 25 years of CD reissues. "Rocks" will leave fans reeling - and the 52-page booklet is a typical BF joy to behold.

There’s a lot to get through, so lets get down to the nitty gritty – "Rocks" by BIG JOE TURNER was released Monday 28 March 2011 on Bear Family BCD 17215 AR (Barcode 4000127172150) and breaks down as follows (70:35 minutes):

1. Jump For Joy (Atlantic 1184, A-side, May 1958)
2. Well, All Right (Atlantic 1040, A-side, September 1954)
3. Flip, Flop And Fly (Atlantic 1053, A-side, February 1955)
4. Love Roller Coaster (Atlantic 1146, A-side, August 1957)
5. Honey Hush (Atlantic 1001, A-side, September 1953)
6. I Need A Girl (Atlantic 1155, A-side, 1957)
7. Lipstick, Powder And Paint (Atlantic 1100, A-side, August 1956)
8. TV Mama [featuring Elmore James on Guitar] (Atlantic 1016, A-side, January 1954)
9. Hide And Seek (Atlantic 1069, A-side, August 1955)
10. Adam Bit The Apple (Freedom F-1531, B-side, March 1950)
11. My Gal’s A Jockey (National 4002, A-side, July 1946)
12. Feelin’ Happy (Federal 1540, A-side, January 1951)
13. Jumpin’ Tonight (Imperial 5090, B-side, June 1950)
14. Shake, Rattle And Roll (Atlantic 1026, A-side, May 1954)
15. Boogie Woogie Country Girl (Atlantic 1088, B-side, April 1956)
16. Teen-Age Letter (Atlantic 1167, A-side, 1957)
17. Corrine Corrina (Atlantic 1088, A-side, April 1956)
18. Midnight Cannonball (Atlantic 1069, B-side, August 1955)
19. Bump Miss Susie (Atlantic 949, B-side, December 1951)
20. Crawdad Hole (Atlantic 1001, B-side, September 1953)
21. Morning, Noon And Night (Atlantic 1069, B-side, December 1955)
22. Rock A While (Atlantic 1100, B-side, August 1956)
23. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop (Atlantic 1016, B-side, January 1954)
24. The Chicken And The Hawk (Up, Up And Away (Atlantic 1069, A-side, December 1955)
25. Roll ‘Em Pete (Vocalion 4607, A-side, January 1939)
26. Rebecca (Decca 11001, B-side, December 1944)
27. Around The Clock Blues, Part 1 (Stag 508, A-side, December 1947)
28. Around The Clock Blues, Part 2 (Stag 508, B-side, December 1947)
[NOTE: the above list is laid out as follows: Title, Label, Catalogue Number (mostly 7” singles), Side and Release Date. Tracks 10 to 13 and 25 to 28 are 78”s. A full Discography referencing this CD is in the ‘comment’ section attached to this review]

The 3-way foldout card digipak houses an oversized 52-page booklet, a themed CD featuring a repro of the rare Freedom 78” from 1950 and even pictures a 50’s collector’s card. The booklet is beautiful – published and unpublished photographs, loads of trade adverts, tour posters, an album sleeve and a very detailed track-by-track discography. Page 41 carries a colour photo of BILL DAHL with Big Joe and 2 others – I mention this because Dahl wrote the superlative and knowledgeable liner notes and they ooze affection and classy writing. There’s even a little Joe Turner 'face' logo at the end of each page – talk about attention to detail! But the real deal is in the SOUND…

I’ve raved about JURGEN CRASSER and his superlative remastering of old recordings before - the 10 Volumes of the “Sweet Soul Music” series (1961 to 1970) and the 16 volumes of the “Blowing The Fuse” series (1945 to 1960). I’ve reviewed all but 3 and have been consistently wowed by the sound quality he gets – but he’s outdone himself here. The clarity off the Atlantic tracks especially is wonderful – alive, warm and rocking out of your speakers with an energy that belies their 50-year age.

There are niggles though with regard to track choice and how some of the other inclusions sound; tracks 10 to 13 and 25 to 28 (as noted above) are older recordings taken off 78’s and they do sound rough. I can understand their inclusion on sheer rarity basis, but I would have preferred more of the rare single B-sides on Atlantic. Also – why only 28 tracks and 70 minutes? Some of these “Rocks” discs have 34 tracks with 82-minutes and more of playing time? I also can’t say I needed the original 1938 Vocalion take of “Roll ‘Em Pete” when I could have had the much better remake on 1956’s “Boss Of The Blues” Atlantic LP – an absolute joy to listen too – but not on here…

Still – these are minor points – and detract from what has been for me a blast to listen to. I can’t be rational about Joe Turner – I’ve loved his great music for decades and my son plays him to distraction – yet I never tire of it.

To sum up – you can buy the same material cheaper of course, but if you want the real deal, then paying that bit extra for this import will pay dividends. This is a very definite jewel in the crown of Bear’s “Rocks” series – and that’s really saying something.

As Big Joe Turner belts out "Shake, Rattle And Roll" and the band boogies behind him and my feet tap maniacally to that irresistible beat, I’m reminded of its lyrics “…The sun comes shining through…”

Amen to that baby!

***************************************************************************

"BIG" JOE TURNER Discography referencing the 28-track Bear Family CD “Rocks”
Released in Germany March 2011 on Bear Family BCD 17215 AR
Track Identifier [19] = Track 19, [2] = Track 2 etc
Discography is in release date order

78”s:
Vocalion 4607 (January 1939) – Roll ‘Em Pete [25] b/w Goin’ Away Blues
[Credited to Joe Turner and Pete Johnson]

Decca 11001 (December 1944) – It’s The Same Old Story b/w Rebecca [[26]
[Credited to Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson Trio]

National 4002 (July 1946) – My Gal’s A Jockey [11] b/w I Got Love For Sale
(Reissued in 1950 as National 9106)

Stag 508 (December 1947) – Around The Clock Blues, Part 1 [27] b/w Around The Clock Blues, Part 2 [28]
[Credited as Big Vernon – featured Pete Johnson on Piano]

Freedom F 1531 (February 1950) – Still In The Dark b/w Adam Bit The Apple [10]

Imperial 5090 (June 1950) – Story To Tell b/w Jumpin’ Tonight [13]
(“Jumpin’ Tonight” was reissued under the title “Midnight Rockin’” on Colony 108 (78”) in 1952)

Federal 1540 (January 1951) – Feelin’ Happy [12] b/w (After A While) You’ll Be Sorry

78” and 45’s:
Atlantic 939 (May 1951) – Chains Of Love b/w After My Laughter Came Tears
Atlantic 949 (December 1951) – The Chill Is On b/w Bump Miss Susie [19]
Atlantic 960 (April 1952) – Sweet Sixteen b/w I’ll Never Stop Loving You
Atlantic 970 (July 1952) – Don’t You Cry b/w Poor Lover’s Blues
Atlantic 982 (1953) – Still In Love b/w Baby I Still Want You
Atlantic 1001 (September 1953) – Honey Hush [5] b/w Crawdad Hole [20]
[Note: re “Honey Hush” – see also re-recorded version on Atlantic 2044]
Atlantic 1016 (January 1954) – TV Mama [8] b/w Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop [23]
Atlantic 1026 (April 1954) – Shake, Rattle And Roll [14] b/w You Know I Love You
Atlantic 1040 (October 1954) – Well, All Right [2] b/w Married Woman
Atlantic 1053 (February 1955) – Flip, Flop And Fly [3] b/w Ti-Ri-Lee
Atlantic 1069 (August 1955) – Hide And Seek [9] b/w Midnight Cannonball [18]
Atlantic 1080 (December 1955) – The Chicken And The Hawk (Up, Up And Away) [24] b/w Morning, Noon And Night [21]
Atlantic 1088 (April 1956) – Corrine Corrina [17] b/w Boogie Woogie Country Girl [15]
Atlantic 1100 (August 1956) – Lipstick, Powder And Paint [7] b/w Rock A While [22]
Atlantic 1122 (December 1956) – Midnight Special Train b/w Feeling Happy
Atlantic 1131 (March 1957) – Red Sails In The Sunset b/w After A While
Atlantic 1146 (August 1957) – Love Roller Coaster [4] b/w A World Of Trouble
Atlantic 1155 (1957) – I Need A Girl [6] b/w Trouble In Mind
Atlantic 1167 (1957) Teen-Age Letter [16] b/w Wee Baby Blues
Atlantic 1184 (May 1958) – Jump For Joy [1] b/w Blues In The Night

45”s:
Atlantic 2034 (1959) – Got You On My Mind b/w Love, Oh Careless Love
Atlantic 2044 (1959) - Tomorrow Night b/w Honey Hush
[Note: “Honey Hush” here is a re-recording - original 1953 cut is the A of Atlantic 1001]
Atlantic 2054 (1960) – Chains Of Love b/w My Little Honey Dripper
Atlantic 2072 (1960) – My Reason For Living b/w Sweet Sue

7” EXTENDED PLAYS:
1. “Joe Turner Sings”, Atlantic EP 536 (1955)
Side 1: Honey Hush [5] / Sweet Sixteen
Side 2: Chains Of Love / TV Mama [8]

2. “Joe Turner”, Atlantic EP 565 (1956)
Side 1: Shake Rattle And Roll [14] / Flip, Flop And Fly [3]
Side 2: In The Evening, When The Sun Goes Down

3. “Joe Turner”, Atlantic EP 586 (1957)
Side 1: Corrine Corrina [17] / The Chicken And The Hawk… [24]
Side 2: Feeling Happy [12] / Hide And Seek [9]

4. “Rock With Joe Turner”, Atlantic EP 606 (1958)
Side 1: Boogie Woogie Country Girl [15] / The Chicken And The Hawk… [24]
Side 2: Midnight Special / Crawdad Hole [20]

ALBUMS:

1. “Joe Turner” [aka “Rock & Roll”], Atlantic 8005 (1957)
Side 1:
1. Shake, Rattle And Roll [14]
2. Flip, Flop And Fly [3]
3. Feeling Happy [12]
4. Honey Hush [5]
5. Well, All Right [2]
6. The Chicken And The Hawk [24]
7. Honey Hush [5]
Side 2:
1. Corrine, Corrina [17]
2. Midnight Special Train
3. Hide And Seek [9]
4. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop [23]
5. Crawdad Hole [20]
6. Sweet Sixteen
7. Chains Of Love

2. “Rockin’ The Blues”, Atlantic 8023 (1958)
Side 1:
1. We’re Gonna Jump For Joy [1]
2. Teen Age Letter [16]
3. Love Roller Coaster [4]
4. Lipstick Powder And Paint [7]
5. Morning Noon And Night [21]
6. I Need A Girl [6]
7. Red Sails In The Sunset
Side 2:
1. Blues In The Night
2. After A While
3. World Of Trouble
4. Trouble In Mind
5. TV Mama [8]
6. You Know I Love You
7. Still In Love

3. “Big Joe Is Here”, Atlantic 8033 (1960)
Bump Miss Susie [19]

4. “The Best Of”, Atlantic 8081 (1963)
Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop [23]

"Do What You Want Be What You Are – The Music Of Daryl Hall & John Oates" by HALL & OATES (October 2009 US RCA/Legacy 4CD Book Set Anthology From 1967 to 2007 with Vic Anesini Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

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1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

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 "…When You Pull Them All Together…You Make My Dreams Come True…"

Across the last 3 decades, Hall & Oates fans have had to put up with the occasional half-assed Best Of CD with so-so sound and a slew of very expensive Japanese imports for their huge canon of albums and 40-years-plus career. All of that piecemeal approach ends with this superlatively musical and beautiful sounding 4CD retrospective.

There's so much on here so let's detail the nuts and bolts first - "Do What You Want Be What You Are - The Music Of Daryl Hall & Joan Oates" by HALL & OATES was US-released 13 October 2009 on RCA/Legacy 88697 36974 2 as a 4CD Book Set of Remasters and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (78:12 minutes):
1. Girl I Love You – THE TEMPTONES (feat Daryl Hall) – 1967, USA 7" single on Artic 130
2. I Need Your Love – THE MASTERS (feat John Oates) – 1966, USA 7" single on Crimson CR-1008
3. Says These Words Of Love - THE TEMPTONES (feat Daryl Hall) – 1967, USA 7" single on Artic 136
4. Perkiomen [1970, Unreleased Recording]
5. I'm Sorry
6. Fall In Philadelphia
7. Waterwheel
8. Lily (Are You Happy) (5 to 8 from their debut LP "Whole Oates", 1972)
9. Had I Known You Better
10. Las Vegas Turnaround
11. She's Gone (9 to 11 from "Abandoned Luncheonette", 1973)
12. You're Much Too Soon
13. Is It A Star – 12 and 13 from "War Babies", 1974
14. It's Uncanny
15. Love You Like A Brother (14 and 15 were new recordings on the compilation "No Goodbyes", 1977)
16. Lady Rain
17. Beanie G. And The Rose Tattoo
18. Better Watch Your Back
19. Abandoned Luncheonette
20. When The Morning Comes (16 to 20 are all Previously Unreleased Live Versions, recorded 3 Oct 1975 at The New Victoria Theatre in London)

Disc 2 (78:59 minutes):
1. Carmellia
2. Sara Smile
3. Alone Too Long (1 to 3 are from "Daryl Hall & John Oates", 1975)
4. Gino (The Manager) (2009 Remix, Previously Unreleased)
5. Ennui On The Mountain
6. Out Of Me, Out Of You (5 and 6 are from "Daryl Hall & John Oates", 1975)
7. Back Together Again
8. Rich Girl
9. Crazy Eyes (7 to 9 from "Bigger Than Both Of Us", 1976)
10. Have I Been Away Too Long
11. August Day
12. It's A Laugh (10 to 12 from "Along The Red Ledge", 1978)
13. I Don't Wanna Lose You (7" Remix) (1978 USA 7" single, album cut on "Along The Red Ledge")
14. Wait For Me (from "X-Static", 1979)
15. Time's Up (Alone Tonight) (Previously Unreleased Outtake from "X-Static", 1979)
16. The Woman Comes And Goes (from "X-Static", 1979)
17. How Does It Feel To Be Back
18. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (Righteous Brothers cover version)
19. Kiss On My List (17 to 19 from "Voices", 1980)
20. Everytime You Go Away (Live In Tokyo, Japan, 1996, Previously Unreleased)

Disc 3 (80:00 minutes):
1. You Make My Dreams (from "Voices", 1980)
2. Private Eyes
3. Head Above Water
4. Did It In A Minute
5. Your Imagination
6. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (2 to 6 from "Private Eyes", 1981)
7. Don't Go Out (a "Private Eyes" Outtake, Previously Unreleased)
8. Maneater
9. Family Man
10. One On One
11. Go Solo (8 to 11 are from "H2O", 1982)
12. Say It Isn't So (from "Rock 'N Soul Part 1", 1983)
13. Adult Education [USA 12" Mix on RCA JD-13736] (original album cut on "Rock 'N Soul Part 1", 1984)
14. Out Of Touch (7" Single Mix) (original album cut on "Big Bam Boom")
15. Method Of Modern Love
16. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid (15 and 16 are from "Big Bam Boom", 1984)
17. Possession Obsession (Live) (from "Live At The Apollo With David Ruffin And Eddie Kendrick", 1985)
18. A Nite At The Apollo Live! – The Way You To The Things You Do/My Girl (Live, 7” Version) (original album cut on "Live At The Apollo With…")

Disc 4 (78:17 minutes):
1. Everything Your Heart Desires (Video Mix) [Rare 1988 CD single version]
2. Missed Opportunity
3. Keep On Pushin' Love (2 and 3 from “Ooh Yeah”, 1988)
4. Storm Warning ("Change Of Season" Outtake, Previously Unreleased)
5. Change Of Season (from "Change Of Season", 1990)
6. Starting All Over Again (Live In Tokyo, Japan, 1995, Previously Unreleased)
7. So Close (Live In Portland, Oregon in 2006, Previously Unreleased)
8. Do It For Love
9. Forever For You
10. Heartbreak Times (8 to 10 from "Do It For Love", 2003)
11. All The Way From Philadelphia (Previously Unreleased)*****
12. Have You Ever Been In Love [Demo] (Previously Unreleased)
13. Me And Mrs. Jones (Live At John Jay College, New York, 24 March 2003, Previously Unreleased cover version of The O'Jays Philadelphia classic)
14. I Want Someone (Live From Daryl's House, Previously Unreleased cover version of The Mad Lads Stax Records classic)
15. Do What You Want, Be What You Are (Live 2007, Previously Unreleased)
16. Dreamer ('72-'09 Redux, Previously Unreleased Re-recorded Version)

The first thing that hits you (apart from the superlatively annotated booklet with reminiscences on every song by the duo) is the SOUND. I've raved about VIC ANESINI remasters before (The Jayhawks, Stevie Ray Vaughan) and his transfers here are fabulous – warm, clear and never too pushed on the treble front. Every track is a revelation to me. The sonic hit off "She's Gone" is just amazing – it'll put chills on your arms. Then there's the parade of hit-after-hit that is shockingly impressive – "Wait For Me", "Out Of Touch" and "Do It For Love".

But better than that are the albums cuts that finally get to shine – "August Day", "You Make My Dreams" (lyrics above), "Your Imagination", "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" and "Keep On Pushin' Love" - gems that deserve rediscovery. The unreleased stuff is admittedly not exactly bulging at the seams, but what they've chosen is actually worth inclusion. The "Have You Ever Been In Love" Demo is superb - while their molecular-level love of Soul Music shines through with their inclusion of classy covers by The O'Jays ("Me And Mrs. Jones") and The Mad Lads ("I Want Someone"). And the box set's title song "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" is given an awesome 2007 live going over that show these white Philly dudes have more soul in their little fingers than most people do in their entire bodies. Pretty impressive stuff…

Niggles – fans will immediately notice that two huge favourites "When The Morning Comes" and "Everytime You Go Away" are represented here by 'live' versions and not their beloved studio originals – but I'd defend the choices. The 1975 version of "When The Morning Comes" features a rare 'duo-only' live setting and its intimacy is just lovely - while the 9:30 minutes version of "Everytime You Go Away" features a churchy organ feel and is fabulously fleshed out with Acapella passages that elicit a genuinely thrilled response from the Japanese audience. I can see why they were chosen. The same applies to the beautiful Phillip Mitchell song "Starting All Over Again" – Hall has chosen a live version, but he's done so because it somehow has the depth it deserves this way.

Omissions - there's a great soulful exclusive on the 1999 soundtrack to "Runaway Bride" called "And That's What Hurts" – and it really should be on here (perfect box set material). There's nothing from the brilliant and criminally forgotten "Marigold Sky" album (1997) or the equally tasty Cover Versions set "Our Kind Of Soul”" from 2005 - that peach had covers but also 3 new songs, one of which was the blindingly good "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" – again a no-show. There's not enough from the wonderful "Change Of Season" album either and of course no solo stuff. Still – and I must stress this – what’s on here is the business.

Since 2009 Daryl Hall has become something of an Internet hero with his stunning "Live From Daryl's House" broadcasts – they feature him and invited musical pals going through Hall & Oates back catalogue with sidesteps into other favourite songs too. It features a band professionally set up in his living room with chitty-chatty clips in between. Check out soulful YouTube clips of "Pick Up The Pieces" with Alan Gorrie from the Average White Band, "Can We Still Be Friends" with Todd Rundgren, "Something To Talk About" (a Bonnie Raitt cover) and "Black Horse And A Cherry Tree" with KT Tunstall and "Cruel To Be Kind" with Nick Lowe. And prepare yourself to be quietly blown away.

To sum up - for most people a simple 1CD 'Best Of' or 2CD 'Essentials' would probably suffice, but I'd urge to dig deeper into your pocket. This Box Set is an impressive body of work – superbly presented, well thought out and beautifully mastered. It deserves (like the best things in life) to be put high on your "kiss list". And don't let those Eighties clothing choices put you off either.

Honestly – sometimes you just need a shoulder-pad and a big hairdo. Way to go boys…