“The Music City Story” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review Of 2011 Ace Records Mini Box Set.

"…Didn’t I Do The Best I Could…"

Released January 2011 in the UK, "The Music City Story" on Ace Records ABOXCD 11 is a 3CD mini box set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - “I’m A Working Man - Early To Mid 1950s”, 26 Tracks in Mono. The CD itself is a yellow ‘Delcro’ label, beneath is a repro of the 45 B-side “Keep Me Satisfied, Baby” by CHUCK MORRIS and his BAND on Delcro 102 (66:35 minutes).
Tracks 5, 8 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 21 to 26 are Previously Unreleased.

Disc 2 - “Scheming - Mid 1950’s to Early 1960s”, 26 Tracks in Mono. The CD itself is a brown ‘Music City’ label, beneath is a repro of a Music City Acetate of “I Walk In Circles” by LITTLE LYNN (66:29 minutes).
Tracks 8, 10, 17 and 23 to 26 are Previously Unreleased.

Disc 3 – “Just One More Chance - Early 1960s to Mid 1970s”, 26 Tracks in Stereo. The CD itself is a coloured musical notes version of the Music City label, beneath is a repro of the 45 “Didn’t I” by DORANDO on Music City MC 894 (70:22 minutes).
Tracks 2 to 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 25 and 26 are Previously Unreleased.

This lavishly packaged set chronicles Ray and Jeanne Dobard’s “Music City” Record Label out of Berkeley in California – 78 tracks from 1950 through to 1975. The last track on each disc is a short ‘Radio Ad’ and of the remaining 75 actual songs, a whopping 31 are Previously Unreleased. The first 2 CDs feature mostly Fifties Rhythm ‘n’ Blues and Doo Wop cuts - while half way through Disc 3 it moves into Sixties and Seventies Soul of sorts. The set was compiled and researched by ALEC PALAO with the audio restoration and mastering done by ROB SHREAD and NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London. It’s beautifully done and the exceptional packaging (high even by Ace’s standards) is worth elaborating on…

A colour card-wrap houses a 3-way gatefold foldout digipak. As detailed above, each CD is themed with different period labels with another 45 pictured beneath the see-through clear plastic tray (both visually nice touches) - while the 48-page booklet (sits alongside the digipak) has a 16,000-word essay by ALEX PALAO - which features a full Discography on the last few pages. The over-sized booklet is gorgeous to look at and a properly informative read - trade adverts, archive photos of the family who ran it, rare 45s and acetates, publicity shots, artist contracts, even master cards and tape boxes for the recording sessions.

Disc 1 opens strongly with a jaunty R’n’B tune called “W-P-L-J” by THE 4 DEUCES (short for a cocktail drink featuring White Port and Lemon Juice) – very similar to The Penguins. Track 3 is a gem too – Golden Boy takes Lead Vocals on “Keep Me Satisfied, Baby” which is a very Roy Milton piano-driven R’n’B groove – and the sound quality is stupendous. The Doo Wop starts proper with the lovely “Tell Me, Darling” by THE GAYLARKS from 1955 – while the incredible rare religious vocal workout that is “This Wicked Race” by THE GOLDEN WEST SINGERS is so well produced – and collectors will love both. Jimmy Nelson’s “The Wheel” brings it back to dancing R’n’B.

Previously Unreleased - James Brown collectors will dig “All Around The World” (Track 2 on Disc 3) which features JB’s backing band and is a “Grits & Groceries” belter. Equally nice is the torch ballad “I Can’t Take Any More” by Johnnie Marie Throne (Track 12 on Disc 3) and the Lou Rawls ballad “Too Late To Cry” is a worthy inclusion.

The instrumental B-side “Passing Thru Music City” sounds like crudely recorded Booker T & The Mg’s but it’s a clever choice because it’s cool, while a huge draw for Soul lovers will be Dorando’s gorgeous ballad “Didn’t I” issued on 45 in October 1973 (lyrics above). A rare single which sold about 6000 copies locally, William Pulliam sounded like Al Green on a Soul-Folk tip – it’s possibly worth the price of admission alone (and it’s in top quality sound too).

Downsides - since its release in early 2011, this mini box set has received precious little interest from the public – unusual for a project Ace has put so much time into. Unfortunately, on hearing the actual material itself (especially on Discs 1 and 2), I can understand why. I have to admit that I found a lot of the songs plodding and ordinary and there’s too little decent Soul on Disc 3 (hence the 3 stars).

To sum up – while this is beautifully presented, I would advise hearing it first if you can. Still, for collectors of Doo Wop, R’n’B and rare Soul 45’s – it may be too difficult to resist…

“The Music Of…” by LABI SIFFRE (September 2001 EMI Gold CD Compilation featuring almost all of two EMI LPs from 1975 "Remember My Song" and "Happy?") - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Remove My Heart...It Don't Do Me No Good..."

  

The gatefold slip of paper that is the inlay on this rather naff-looking CD compilation for some of Labi Siffre’s more obscure 70ts output gives you no information whatsoever on what's what (its total playing time is 78:25 minutes). So here are the gory details...

UK issued in 17 September 2001 - "The Music Of Labi Siffre" by LABI SIFFRE on EMI Gold 535 5752 (Barcode 724353557522) is a single CD compilation that gathers together the guts of two rare and largely forgotten Siffre albums - both from 1975 on EMI Records. With only one song missing from the first LP (available elsewhere) - you can sequence them both from this CD as follows...

"Remember My Song" - his 5th studio album, released March 1975 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3065

Side 1:

I Got The... (Track 1)

Another Year (Track 2)

Down

Old Time Song (Track 3)

The Vulture (Track 4)

Side 2:

Dreamer (Track 5)

Sadie And The Devil (Track 6)

Turn On Your Love (Track 7)

Remember My Song (Track 8)

"Happy?" - his 6th studio album, released November 1975 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3098

Side 1:

Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love-A (Track 9)

You Hurt Me (Track 10)

Doctor Doctor (Track 11)

Second Time Around (Track 12)

Would You Dance? (Track 13)

Side 2:

Supaluvva (Track 14)

Staride To Nowhere (Track 15)

You've Done Something To My Heart (Track 16)

Sally Came To Stay (Track 17)

La-De-Da-De-Da (Lost Without Your Love) (Track 18)

As you see from the list above - the song "Down" from the "Remember My Song" LP is missing from this 18-track compilation. That album (along with earlier LPs on Pye Records) were reissued as CD remasters in 2006 also by EMI - so if you want that song, 3 extra bonus tracks and far better sound - look to the 2006 issue. The "Happy?" album (in its entirety) is only available here.

Both records are very mid Seventies singer-songwriter material, but with a slightly more soulful tint on some tracks. Two huge club hits are "I Got The..." which contains the now famous funky bass-break half way through it as sampled by EMINEM on his "My Name Is" hit - while "The Vulture" has been club played for years now. In fact the original vinyl album of "Remember My Song" used to once command a £150 price tag because it had those 2 songs on it and were unavailable on CD prior to 2001.

Other tracks on "Happy?" are worth having too - the soulful-funky "Second Time Around" and the almost Steely Dan keyboard slink of "Doctor Doctor" (lyrics above). The lovely acoustic "Staride To Nowhere" was even issued as a 45 in the UK and "Sally Came To Stay" has the prettiest of melodies. Siffre would retire from music until 1987's extraordinarily powerful anti-racism song "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records.

It's not all genius of course, but it's dirt cheap, loaded with gems in between the cracks and has very acceptable sound.

From here, I'd advise to go to his first four albums on Pye Records - "Labi Siffre" (1970), "The Singer And The Song" (1971), "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" (1972) and "For The Children" (1973) - I've reviewed them all separately and they're uniformly excellent (with truly superlative remastered sound and bonus tracks).

Siffre has a loyal and dedicated fan following - and there are moments on this unassuming compilation when you can 'so' hear why...

“Charlie And Me – A True Story”. A Review Of The 4th Novel By The Irish Author Catherine Barry (First Issued May 2011 By New Island Books).

"...The Wisdom To know The Difference..."

Catherine Barry was 31 in May 1993 as she stood in the enrapt audience of a Peter Gabriel concert (the European leg of his "Secret World Tour" at "The Point" in Dublin). There was something magical about the combination of the music and the visuals – both perfectly complimenting the thought-provoking lyrics. The sheer positivity of it all hit this young Irish woman’s blurred mind like a freight train of truth. She looked down at the drink she’d been clutching in her right hand all night and felt sudden disgust.
It was her breakthrough moment. It was her "Solsbury Hill".
"Hey!" he said. "Grab your things…I’ve come to take you home…"

Four days later (and without drink for the same amount of time) she entered her first AA meeting. Alienated, shaking with nerves and bowing to the disease’s sly thought-processes – she bolted for the door. But a man’s hand alighted on her shoulder and told her it would be alright – best stay love – best stick it out. It was 'Charlie' – the ramshackle lead character of her book. Sober for 26 of his 52 Dublin years, Charlie Gallagher would become her 'sponsor' – her 'Big Bang' as she describes him. This book (told in the first person) is effectively a homage to him – a thank you letter to an infinitely kind soul who would embolden her in the battle ahead - a thousand times and more.

On a confessional like this there are so many pitfalls the author could have fallen into – the long litany of hurt and humiliation very quickly becoming 'poor me' text – and worse – the more dirt and depravation you dish out, somehow the more commercial it becomes. Luckily this lady has had the smarts to ration the first and not feature the other at all. But to lighten the very real and disturbing blows you do get as the paragraphs and years pass by, the read is also very witty and self-deprecating. Every few pages there’s a 'bollox' here, a 'gobshite' there and a few 'FTW's' into the bargain (**cking Time Wasters). And the sentences come at you in that wonderful way that Irish Writers have – (witty about suffering for her art) "I would wear hand-knitted shawls made out of crude sack and write only with ancient quills…" - (truthful about losing her lover to the disease) "…every time he drank or did drugs, he left me…"

Her journey begins by attending meetings every single night for two years – the first twelve months of which are truly horrific. We learn of an abusive husband (himself an addict) who beat her and their two young children first with verbal terror – then fists and kicks. We get to know about Ireland’s woefully ineffective restraining orders, first name terms with the Police, asked by the program to pray for the monster that tortured them, being constantly broke, surviving through carboot sales. Then - despite at first feeling like a true soulmate - the newest love in her life Michael turns out to love 'the gear' more than he does her. There follows a failed suicide attempt by a cliff at night (stopped by Charlie who sensed her mood in advance)…

But then there are also the small mercies - the crew of the film "The Van" (based on Roddy Doyle’s book) turn up on her doorstep two weeks after a flood has wrecked her entire home and pay her £1000 to use it in their shoot. She rediscovers writing - poems, articles and books follow and pay the bills – and when that runs out – another lucky win alieviates the crippling mortgage and accrued debts… and all of this whilst 'handling' the addiction on a daily basis.

Speaking of which, one of the strengths of "Charlie & Me" is the insights it gives you into just how staggeringly insidious the disease really is. Like a jabbering trickster, the demon is constantly on their shoulder with a voice that is slyly soothing and clinically precise – always looking for an opening – a weak moment.
On a bad day it goes like this:
"My family hates me. My partner’s left me. I’ve lost my job. If I got another job, I wouldn’t be able to hold it down anyway. My looks are going too. People suffer me rather than love me. One won’t matter now. I’d be doing them all a favour. It's just one drink…"
On a good day it tries a different tack:
"I’m four months sober now. I’m doing well. The Christmas Party is here. Everyone drinks at Christmas. It’s fun. I was always much more fun when I’d had a few drinks. Besides, even if I have quick one now with my friends at the office, I’ll be able to get sober again after it. I’ve proved that. I can handle it this time…"

So as the pages pass, you begin to 'get' why a sponsor is so necessary and inexplicably caring – they're recovering addicts themselves. They've been there – heard all of the excuses – manufactured the same lies themselves – done all the dirty deeds to family, friends and even their own children – and all the while felt the same wrecked guilt. A good sponsor (like Charlie) understands implicitly what the addict 'needs' - which differs hugely from what the slippery disease makes the addict say they 'want'. You feel his wisdom and presence throughout the entire book and hurt at his own weakness when a persistent cough he won’t 'deal' with has consequences too…

When you think of the huge number of 'sponsors' planetwide who have given their endless patience and understanding to recovering addicts – it’s a lovely notion and a great idea for a book (it’s almost odd that someone hasn’t thought of it before). There is none of us free of addiction of one sort or another – it’s just that for some - taming the beast is a matter of life or death. "Charlie & Me" chronicles that journey. It’s funny, brutal and at times (like life itself) crushingly sad.

I liked this book. I liked what it’s trying to say – the heart behind it. And I think it’s courageous (in the truest sense of the word) that right now somewhere in the world a formerly lost soul is standing up at an AA meeting and uttering the extraordinary words of "The Serenity Prayer" - and meaning it with every fibre of their being. And every week after that - their 'Charlie' will be standing in the background watching over them - quietly spiritual - smiling as they summon up yet again the sheer will it takes to stay 'well' and reach out for that second chance at life.

It's very moving. And like this book, it's beautiful…

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and…the wisdom to know the difference..."

"He’s So Fine + Lonely Teardrops...Plus" by JACKIE WILSON (2011 Hoodoo Records CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry....

"...It Thrills Me So...I Turn A Back-Over Flip..."

Hoodoo Records is a relatively new label to the reissue marketplace and in the last few years have amassed lots of these releases - 'twofer' sets that mostly concentrate on the first two albums of an artist and then add on some relevant extras (see list below). This excellent reissue puts out Jackie Wilson's first two Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues/Soul albums for the Decca subsidiary label Brunswick - and adds on six bonus tracks. Here are the ‘so fine’ details…

Released in April 2011 in the UK – "He's So Fine + Lonely Teardrops: The Definitive Remastered Edition" by JACKIE WILSON on Hoodoo Records 263393 (Barcode 8436028698158) offers two LPs Remastered onto 1CD plus Six Bonus Tracks and it breaks down as follows (71:33 minutes):

1. Etcetera

2. To Be Loved

3. Come Back To Me

4. If I Can Have You

5. As Long As I Live

6. Reet Petite

7. It’s Too Bad We Had To Say Goodbye [Side 2]

8. Why Can’t You Be Mine

9. I’m Wanderin’

10. Right Now

11. Danny Boy

12. It’s So Fine

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "He's So Fine" - released March 1958 on Brunswick Records BL 54042 in the USA and October 1958 on Vogue Coral LVA 9087 in the UK [both MONO]

13. Lonely Teardrops

14. Each Time (I Love You More)

15. That’s Why (I Love You So)

16. In The Blue Of Evening

17. The Joke (Is Not On Me)

18. Someone To Need Me (As I Need You)

19. You Better Know It

20. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon

21. Singing A Song

22. Love Is All

23. We Have Love

24. Hush-A-Bye

Tracks 13 to 24 are his 2nd LP "Lonely Teardrops" - released March 1959 in the USA on Brunswick Records BL 54045 and September 1959 on Coral LVA 9108 in the UK [both MONO]

BONUS TRACKS:

25. I'll Be Satisfied (a non-album track issued in 1959 as the A-side of USA 7" single on Brunswick 55136)

26. The Magic Of Love (issued in April 1960 as the B-side to the UK 7" single "Doggin' Around" on Coral Q 72393 and appears on the "So Much" LP of 1960)

27. Give Me You by BILLY WARD and HIS DOMINOES (which featured Jackie Wilson on Lead Vocals - issued in September 1955 on King Records 1502)

28. Rags To Riches by BILLY WARD and HIS DOMINOES (which featured Jackie Wilson on Lead Vocals - issued in October 1953 on King Records 1280)

29. You Can't Keep A Good Man Down by BILLY WARD and HIS DOMINOES (which featured Jackie Wilson on Lead Vocals) - issued in July 1953 on Federal 12139

30. Never Go Away (a non-album track issued in 1959 as the B-side to "You Better Know It" on USA 7" single Brunswick 55149)

The packaging tells us it’s 'digitally remastered' but craftily doesn't state by who or where and what was used. But it doesn’t take your ears long to work out that these Brunswick masters are in great shape because the sound quality is glorious – most of it is fresh, clean and muscular without being overbearing. It’s very good indeed…

The 16-page booklet has an essay by Vic Westley and it’s peppered with colour photos of 7" singles, trade adverts, concert snaps and even has the original liner notes for the "He's So Fine" LP featured on a separate page – it’s an informative read and very nice to look at.

The songs themselves vary - the magical "Reet Petite" of course and the Grammy winning "Lonely Teardrops" and the jaunty "That's Why (I Love You So)" with its irresistible beat (lyrics above) shine. But then there's the inevitable terrible crooner crud in-between - standards like "In The Blue Of Evening", "Danny Boy" and "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" – but time hasn't been kind to any of them. Luckily the more mid-paced and ballad R 'n' B numbers fare better – "Each Time (I Love You More)" and "I'm Wanderin'" are all saved by his wonderful operatic vocals. "It's So Fine", "If I Can't Have You" and "Why Can't You Be Mine" are such fun too – a little like the material Presley was drawn to (Wilson was a huge influence on him).

Niggles – some of the bonus tracks make no rhyme nor reason – the inclusion of "I'll Be Satisfied" and "Never Go Away" as non-album songs are right and proper – but "Ask" is the non-album B-side of "I'll Be Satisfied" and it isn't on here? The inclusion of "The Magic Of Love" isn't right either because it's off the next album "So Much" from 1960 - while the three Billy Ward and His Dominoes choices hark back to his material at Federal and King and his output there would take up a whole CD in itself (and has). It's a shame, because had that other B-side been included here, this release would have allowed fans to sequence all 8 of his first solo single releases around the 2 LPs. It's a minor point I know, but one worth making.

Summing up - it doesn’t take particular genius to work out that all of these Fifties issues are proliferating in 2010 and 2011 because of the 50-year Copyright law – but that doesn't stop this CD from being a bit of a peach really. Great music, nice packaging and really clear sound make it a tasty little number indeed. And didn't the mighty "Mr. Entertainment" deserve just that…

Recommended.

April 2011 – other Hoodoo Records releases so far include:

1. La Vern & Rock & Roll – LaVERN BAKER [Two Rare Atlantic LPs from 1956 and 1957 Plus 4 Bonus Tracks]

2. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters + Singin' & Swingin' – HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS [2 LPs on King plus 2 Bonus Tracks]

3. Rollin’ Till The Break Of Dawn – 25 Original Chess Masters - CHUCK BERRY

4. Little Boy Blue – The Duke Sides 1952-1959 – BOBBY BLAND [22 Tracks]

5. Please Please Please & Think! – JAMES BROWN and HIS FAMOUS FLAMES [His First 2 LPs with 4 Bonus Tracks]

6. Rock & Roll & Miss Rhythm – RUTH BROWN [2 Rare LPs From 1957 and 1959 Plus 4 Bonus Tracks]

7. The Fabulous Cadillacs & The Crazy Cadillacs – THE CADILLACS [Two LPs from 1957 and 1959 Plus 6 Bonus Tracks]

8. Dee Clark & How About That – DEE CLARK [His first 2 LPs from 1959 plus 4 bonus tracks]

9. The Coasters & One By One – THE COASTERS [Two Rare LPs from 1958 and 1960 Plus 3 Bonus Tracks]

10. Eddie Cochran & Singin' To My Baby – EDDIE COCHRAN [His 2nd and 1st LPs Plus 9 Bonus Tracks]

11. Rockin’ Robin – BOBBY DAY [features his 11-track 1958 debut LP plus 13 bonus tracks]

12. Esquerita! – The Definitive Edition – ESQUERITA [20 Tracks]

13. Little Bitty Pretty One – THURSTON HARRIS [25 Tracks]

14. Oh! Suzy-Q – DALE HAWKINS [12-track album plus 12 bonus tracks]

15. Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks & Mr. Dynamo – RONNIE HAWKINS and THE HAWKS [Two Rare LPs from 1959 and 1960 Plus 5 Bonus Tracks]

16. At Home With… - The Epic and Okeh Recordings – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS [12-track album plus 11 bonus tracks]

17. Shout! The Definitive Edition – THE ISLEY BROTHERS [The 1958 “Shout!” LP Plus 8 Bonus Tracks]

18. Little Mister Willie John + Talk To Me – LITTLE WILLIE JOHN

19. No Buts, No Maybes – PROFESSOR LONGHAIR [28 Tracks]

20. Nightless Lover – The Specialty Sides – PERCY MAYFIELD [29 Tracks]

21. Clyde and Rock 'n' Roll – CLYDE McPHATTER

22. Rack 'Em Back – New Orleans R&B Stompers – BOBBY MITCHELL & THE TOPPERS (26 Tracks)

23. Doin' The Hlly Gully & Dance By The Light Of The Moon – THE OLYMPICS [2 Rare LPs Plus 5 Bonus Tracks]

24. The Exciting Lloyd Price + Mr. Personality – LLOYD PRICE

25. Rock With Me Baby – Classic Recordings 1956-1960 - BILLY LEE RILEY [26 Tracks]

26. Gonna Let It Go This Time – RAY SHARPE [20 Tracks]

27. Crazy About You Baby – The Complete 1950-1957 Recordings – RUFUS THOMAS [20 Tracks]

28. Here's Larry Williams – LARRY WILLIAMS

29. Rockin' With The Sheik Of The Blues – The Okeh and Atlantic Recordings (29 Tracks) – CHUCK WILLIS

30. He's So Fine & Lonely Teardrops – JACKIE WILSON (His Rare 1958 and 1959 LPs Plus 6 Bonus Tracks]