"Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics From 1973" BY VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 13 of 15] (February 2014 GERMAN Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 330-Plus 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 

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"...Remember You've Been Told..."

I reviewed the preceding 10 volumes in this incredible series from 1961 to 1970 (probably the best Bear has ever done) and loved them to distraction. Jurgen Crasser was the remaster engineer for those. 

This time around (1971 to 1975) the sound hero on all five volumes bears the unlikely moniker of WOLFGANG MANNS. And I swear I may have to get 'Wolfgang Is My Main Mann' tattooed on my frumpy Irish buttocks - because these expertly crafted CD compilations are sonically sensational in every way. They're going to blow the minds of Seventies Soul fans everywhere. Here’s the necessary for '1973'...

Released 14 February 2014 in GERMANY on Bear Family BCD 16883 AS (Barcode 5397102168833) - the CD compilation "Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics From 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS breaks down as follows (83:21 minutes)3

1. Could It Be I'm Falling in Love - THE SPINNERS (Atlantic 45-2904)

2. Why Can't We Live Together - TIMMY THOMAS (Glades 1703)

3. The Message - CYMANDE (Janus J 203)

4. Love Train - THE O'JAYS (Philadelphia International ZS7 3524)

5. Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got) - THE FOUR TOPS (Dunhill D-4339)

6. I Can Understand It - THE NEW BIRTH (RCA Victor 74-0912)

7. Leaving Me - THE INDEPENDENTS (Wand WND 11252)

8. Pillow Talk - SYLVIA (Vibration VI-521)

9. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby - BARRY WHITE (20th Century TC-2018)

10. There's No Me Without You - THE MANHATTANS (Columbia 4-45838)

11. Doing It To Death - FRED WESLEY and THE JB's (People PE 621) 

12. Armed And Extremely Dangerous - FIRST CHOICE (Philly Groove PG-175)

13. I Was Checkin' Out She Was Checkin' Out - DON COVAY (Mercury 73385)

14. Yes We Can Can - THE POINTER SISTERS (Blue Thumb BTA 229)

15. Let's Get It On - MARVIN GAYE (Tamla T 54234F) 

16. I Can't Stand The Rain - ANN PEEBLES (Hi 45-2248)

17. Keep On Truckin', Part 1 - EDDIE KENDRICKS (Tamla T 54238F)

18. Hurts So Good - MILLIE JACKSON (Spring SPR 139)

19. Cheaper To Keep Her - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Stax STA-0176)

20. The Love I Lost, Part 1 - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (Philadelphia International ZS7 3533)

21. I've Got To Use My Imagination - GLADYS KNIGHT and THE PIPS (Buddah BDA 393)

22. Back For A Taste Of Your Love - SYL JOHNSON (Hi 45-2250)

23. What Is Hip? (Single Edit) - TOWER OF POWER (Warner Brothers WB 7748)

The three-way fold-out card digipak of the preceding 10 volumes has been kept as has the  live-on-stage Jackie Wilson photo on the spine that is now extended (when you line all 15 spines they make one photograph). This '1973' set features THE SPINNERS on the front cover while the stock 7" of "I Can't Stand The Rain" by ANN PEEBLES graces the inside flap with a further photo of a guitar-playing DON COVAY on the centre-lip. The detachable booklet is properly beautiful - a 74 oversized-pages wad of deep liner notes by world-renowned R&B and Soul expert BILL DALH with Discography info by DAVE 'Daddy Cool' BOOTH. There's black & white/colour publicity pictures of the artists, the single labels/album covers and adverts from the US press. Quality all the way...

As you can see from the catalogue numbers provided above all tracks are US 7" singles and like '1971' it opens with a cleverly chosen triple-whammy of crystal clear sound quality - the lush "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love With You" by The Spinners - the beat-box homemade brilliance of Timmy Thomas "Why Can't We Live Together" and the cool-as-fuck groovy funk of Cymande's "The Message" (lyrics from it title this review). The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that both The Spinners and Timmy Thomas are originally released December 1972 and November 1972 respectively - but it's nice to have them here anyway (charted in early 1973). Even perennials as common as The O'Jays "Love Train" and Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" sound utterly brilliant. 

Clever compiler choices go to the lesser-heard prettiness of The Four Tops on Dunhill rather than Motown on "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)" (written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Porter) and the fabulous floor-filling funk of The New Birth on "I Can Understand It" (written by Bobby Womack with Leslie Wilson’s vocals emulating his raspy-vocal style to a tee). More prettiness follows in a truly lovely cover of Chuck Jackson’s “Leaving Me” by The Independents. “Pillow Talk” is a weak choice for me with a fey vocal - but things go up a loverman notch when the Walrus Of Love kicks in with his seductively slinky groove “I’m Just Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby” - great stuff. 

Prince Phillip Mitchell provides a duet vocal with Don Covay on the talking love song "I Was Checkin' Out She Was Checkin' In" (mistakenly credited as Mercury 13385 when its 73385) while the cult dancefloor filler of The Pointer Sisters "Yes We Can Can" has graced many of my Funky Funky home play compilations. Written by the mighty Allen Toussaint - "Yes We Can Can" has its bass and drums punching with real power on this fab transfer. The same aural wallop applies to the low-fi genius of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand The Rain" and the barnstorming vide funk of Eddie Kendricks' "Keep On Truckin'" sounding stunning. Then you're hit with probably the best audio on here - a truly unbelievable remaster of Millie Jackson's "Hurts So Good". I've probably heard this track too many times - but now it's newly alive. And on it goes to three grooving finishers from Gladys Knight (goes all Ann Peebles), Syl Johnson (sounding like Al Green) and a blistering remaster of Tower Of Power’s frantic "What Is Hip?". 

Niggles - like "1972" there's those irritating exclusions (probably due to licensing rights). There’s nothing from Stevie Wonder's groundbreaking "Innervisions" album and a little of Donny Hathaway's Atlantic masterpiece "Extension Of A Man" LP would have replaced some of the more schmaltzy slowies like "There's No Me Without You" with real soulfulness. But other than that I love this CD - nice mixture of the common and the obscure (all sounding as truthful as a Tory politician in Somerset). I also had no problems with playback despite the jam-packed value-for-money playing time of 84 minutes. 

These sets have been a long time coming but man have they been worth the wait. I know long-term Soul fans will look at the track list and price and perhaps baulk at duplicity and cost - DON'T. You've not heard these classics until now. And if you've any joy for Seventies Soul - then you need to have this volume and the other four compilations in your life -because GLORIOUS is the word that comes to mind. These are already my reissues of the year for 2014. 

The mighty Bear Family folks - accept no less...

"Sweet Soul Music - 25 Scorching Classics From 1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 12 of 15] (February 2014 GERMAN Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 330-Plus 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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"...If You've Been There Once...You Can Go Back Again..."

I reviewed the preceding 10 volumes in this incredible series from 1961 to 1970 (probably the best Bear has ever done) and loved them to distraction. Jurgen Crasser was the remaster engineer for those. 

This time around (1971 to 1975) the sound hero on all five volumes bears the unlikely moniker of WOLFGANG MANNS. And I swear I may have to get 'Wolfgang Is My Main Mann' tattooed on my frumpy Irish buttocks because these expertly crafted CD compilations are sonically sensational in every way. They're going to blow the minds of Seventies Soul fans everywhere. Here's the necessary for "1972"...

Released 14 February 2014 in GERMANY on Bear Family BCD 16882 AS (Barcode 5397102168826) - the CD compilation "Sweet Soul Music - 25 Scorching Classics From 1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS breaks down as follows (87:14 minutes):

1. I Gotcha - JOE TEX (Dial D-1010)
2. Hearsay - THE SOUL CHILDREN (Stax STA-0119)
3. Betcha By Golly, Wow - THE STYLISTICS (Avco AV-4591)
4. Gimme Some More - THE JB's (People PE 602)
5. Now Run And Tell That - DENISE LaSALLE (Westbound W 201)
6. In The Rain (Single Edit) - THE DRAMATICS (Volt VOA-4075)
7. Woman's Gotta Have It - (The Preacher) BOBBY WOMACK (United Artists 50902)
8. I'll Take You There (Single Edit) - THE STAPLES SINGERS (Stax STA-0125)
9. Rip Off - LAURA LEE (Hot Wax HS 7204)
10. Outa-Space - BILLY PRESTON (A&M 1320)
11. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right - LUTHER INGRAM (Koko KOA-2111)
12. Everybody Plays The Fool - THE MAIN INGREDIENT (RCA 74-0731)
13. Too Late To Turn Back Now - CORNELIUS BROTHERS and SISTER ROSE (United Artists 50910)
14. Oh Girl - THE CHI-LITES (Brunswick B 55471)
15. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (Philadelphia International ZS7 3517)
16. Think (About It) - LYN COLLINS (The Female Preacher) (People PE 608)
17. Power Of Love - JOE SIMON (Spring SPR 128)
18. Starting All Over Again - MEL and TIM (Stax STA-0127)
19. I'm Still In Love With You - AL GREEN (Hi 45-2216)
20. Baby Sitter - BETTY WRIGHT (Alston A-4614)
21. If You Don't Know Me By Now - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (Philadelphia International ZS7 3520)
22. Get On The Good Foot - Part 1 - JAMES BROWN (Polydor PD 14139)
23. Me And Mrs. Jones (Single Edit) - BILLY PAUL (Philadelphia International ZS7 3521)
24. Trying To Live My Life Without You - OTIS CLAY (Hi 45-2226)
25. Use Me - BILL WITHERS (Sussex SUX 241)

The three-way fold-out card Digipak of the preceding 10 volumes has been kept as has the  live-on-stage Jackie Wilson photo on the spine that is now extended (when you line all 15 spines they make one photograph). This '1972' set features THE CHI-LITES on the front cover while the stock 7" of "Hearsay" by THE SOUL CHILDREN graces the inside flap with a further photo of a smiling DENISE LaSALLE on the phone on the centre-lip. The detachable booklet is properly beautiful -
a 76 oversized-pages wad of deep liner notes by world-renowned R&B and Soul expert
BILL DALH with Discography details from DAVE "Daddy Cool" BOOTH. There's black and white/colour publicity pictures of the artists, the single labels/album covers where relevant and adverts from the US music press. Quality all the way...

As you can see from the catalogue numbers provided above all tracks are US 7" singles and like '1971' it opens with a cleverly chosen double-whammy of crystal clear sound quality - Joe Tex and The Soul Children - brass and vocals sounding fabulous. Prince may love The Stylistics and it’s sound quality here is extraordinary but I find the track syrupy even now. Things pick up considerably with another two funky nuggets - The JB's "Gimme Some More" and a total winner from Denise LaSalle "Now Run And Tell That" (lyrics from it title this review). Sonic wows follow with the brilliantly funky Billy Preston instrumental “Outa-Site” and the raindrops/echoed guitar of The Dramatics "In The Rain". But I'm properly blown away by the sound quality on the 7" edit of "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers - just fantastic and one of my all time fave raves. Even perennials as common as "Oh Girl", "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "Me And Mrs. Jones" and "Backstabbers" sound utterly brilliant - while "Use Me", "Think (About It)" and "Get On The Good Foot" are lifted to a plain of Funky Nirvana. 

But if you want real convincing on the sound quality front - you're hit with an irresistible threesome come the middle of the compilation - the torch-song Luther Ingram builder "(If Loving You Is Wrong)
I Don't Want To Be Right", Main Ingredient's chipper "Everybody Plays The Fool" and the fabulous upbeat Northern Soul strings and girly backing vocals of Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose's 
"Too Late To Turn Back Now". Wonderful clarity and real care taken in the transfers. Genius choices go to Joe Simon's lesser-heard stepper "Power Of Love", Otis Clay's 'five packs a day' song "Trying To Live My Life Without You" and Betty Wright's man-getter funky warning "Baby Sitter". And you can't help but think that Hall & Oates stole their entire sound from Mel and Tim's fabulous "Starting All Over Again". It was written by Prince Phillip Mitchell for Stax before he joined Atlantic in the late Seventies (see my reviews for his "Make It Good" and "Top Of The Line" CDs on Rhino) - Hall & Oates covered in on their 1990 set "Change Of Season". The sound quality on "Starting All Over Again" is unbelievable. 

Niggles - there's some heavyweight exclusions - Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Terry Callier, The Dells and War jump to mind (probably due to licensing problems). But other than that - nada. I also had no problem with playback even with an eye-popping playing time of just under 88 minutes. 

These sets have been a long time coming but man have they been worth the wait. I know long-term Soul fans will look at the track list and price and perhaps baulk at duplicity and cost - DON'T. You've not heard these classics until now. And if you've any joy for Seventies Soul - then you need to have this volume and the other four compilations in your life -because GLORIOUS is the word that comes to mind. These are already my reissues of the year for 2014. 

The mighty Bear Family folks - accept no less...

"Sweet Soul Music - 26 Scorching Classics From 1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 11 of 15] (February 2014 GERMANY Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 334 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 (2023 Update)

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Do You Right...Do You Good..."

I reviewed the preceding 10 volumes in this incredible series from 1961 to 1970 (probably the best Bear has ever done) and loved them to distraction. Jurgen Crasser was the remaster engineer for those - this time around (1971 to 1975) the sound hero on all five volumes bears the unlikely moniker of WOLFGANG MANNS. 

And I swear - I may have to get “Wolfgang Is My Main Manns” tattooed on my frumpy Irish buttocks because these expertly crafted CD compilations are sonically sensational in every way. The best this music has ever sounded and I'm certain a shoe-in come the awards session. Here's the testifying details for Volume 11's "1971"...

UK released 14 February 2014 on Bear Family BCD 16881 AS (Barcode 5397102168819) - the CD compilation "Sweet Soul Music - 26 Scorching Classics From 1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is Volume 11 in a set of 15 in the "Sweet Soul Music" Series of CDs and breaks down as follows (84:30 minutes):

1. Precious, Precious - JACKIE MOORE (Atlantic 45-2681)

2. Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Stax STA-0085)

3. Do Me Right - DETROIT EMERALDS (Westbound W-172)

4. Get Your Lies Straight - BILL CODAY [William Chew, Jr.) (Crajon C-48204 and Galaxy GAL-777)

5. Proud Mary - IKE and TINA TURNER ("Workin' Together" USA LP on Liberty LST-7650)

6. Soul Power Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 - JAMES BROWN (King 45-6368)

7. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy G 7105)

8. Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You - WILSON PICKETT (Atlantic 45-2781)

9. Want Ads - THE HONEY CONE (Hot Wax HS-7011)

10. Funky Nassau, Part 1 - THE BEGINNING OF THE END (Alston A-4595)

11. She’s Not Just Another Woman - THE 8TH DAY (Invictus IS-9087)

12. Mr. Big Stuff - JEAN KNIGHT (Stax STA-0088)

13. Treat Her Like A Lady - CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE (United Artists SUA 50721)

14. Suspicious Minds - DEE DEE WARWICK (Atco 45-6810)

15. Ain’t No Sunshine - BILL WITHERS (Sussex SUX 219)

16. Smiling Faces Sometimes - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (Gordy G 7108)

17. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (Volt VOA-4058)

18. Trapped By A Thing Called Love - DENISE LaSALLE (Westbound W-182)

19. Thin Line Between Love And Hate - THE PERSUADERS (Atco 45-6822)

20. A Nickel And A Nail - O.V. WRIGHT (Back Beat 622)

21. Respect Yourself (7" Single Edit) - THE STAPLE SINGERS (Stax STA-0104)

22. Have You Seen Her - THE CHI-LITES (Brunswick 55462)

23. Clean Up Woman - BETTY WRIGHT (Alston 45-4601)

24. Family Affair - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (Epic S-10805)

25. Rock Steady - ARETHA FRANKLIN (Atlantic 45-2838)

26. Let’s Stay Together - AL GREEN (Hi Records 45-2202)

The three-way foldout card digipak of the preceding 10 volumes has been kept as has the live-on-stage Jackie Wilson photo on the spine that is now extended (when you line all 15 spines they make one photograph). This "1971" set features SLY & THE FAMILY STONE on the front cover while the promo 7” of "Suspicious Minds" by DEE DEE WARWICK graces the inside flap with a further photo of a smiling TINA TURNER on the center lip. The detachable booklet is properly beautiful - a 76 oversized-pages wad of deep liner notes by world-renowned R'n'B and Soul expert BILL DALH with Discography info by DAVE "Daddy Cool" BOOTH. There’s black and white/colour publicity pictures of the artists, reproductions of the single labels and album covers where relevant and adverts from the US music press. Quality all the way...

As you can see from the catalogue numbers provided above all bar one are US 7" singles and it opens with a cleverly chosen triple-whammy of sound quality - Jackie Moore, Johnnie Taylor and The Detroit Emeralds. The speaker separation of brass and vocals on the divine "Precious Precious" is expertly handled as is the cool funk of "Do Me Right" (lyrics from it title this review). Genius choices go to the wonderful Wilson Pickett and O.V. Wright tracks - both slow grooving funk with powerhouse vocalists at the helm - like Al Green firing on all sixes. Even perennials as common as "Respect Yourself", "Have You Seen Her", "Family Affair" and "Let's Stay Together" sound utterly brilliant - while “Clean Up Woman” and “Rock Steady” are lifted to a plain of Funky Nirvana.

But if you want real convincing on the sound quality front - you’re hit with an irresistible threesome come the middle of the compilation - “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Smiling Faces Sometimes” and “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”. Wow! is what comes to mind. I’ve reviewed the superlative Big Break Records (of The UK) remaster of Bill Withers "Just As I Am" (with "Ain't No Sunshine" on it) album but here the drums and rhythm section are so in your face it’s almost disconcerting. The stunning clarity continues with the gorgeous vocal soul of Denise LaSalle with her pleading “what has this man got...” and a blistering “Thin Line Between Love And Hate” by The Persuaders which threatens to start a fight with your speaker cones. Track after track hammers you with clean remasters that don’t sacrifice the original production integrity - songs now full of power and presence. I don't quite dig Dee Dee Warwick’s over-the-top cover of “Suspicious Minds” and the only hissy let down (if you could call it that) is “Just My Imagination...” by The Temptations - but again the sheer musical presence and new clarity makes you feel like you’re hearing this over-familiar song anew - and it juts blows you away. Bottom line is this - you’ve never heard any of these tracks before until now. I also had no problem with playback despite the huge playing time.

They’ve been a long time coming - but man have they been worth the wait. I know long-term Soul fans will look at the track list and price and perhaps baulk at duplicity and cost - DON’T. If you’ve any joy for Seventies Soul then you NEED to have this and the other four compilations in your life because GLORIOUS is the word that comes to mind. I've reviewed 1972 to 1975 too.

The mighty Bear Family folks - accept no less…

“Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years 1967-1969” by SMALL FACES (2014 Charly/Immediate CD [20 Tracks] and LP [17 Tracks] Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC ROCK & POP 1970 to 1974 - Exceptional 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)

"...All The World Is Mine..."

As a consolation prize for those who can’t/couldn’t afford the lavish but pricey "Here Come The Nice" multi-disc Box Set (4CDs, 7" singles and loads of repro memorabilia) - here comes this fabulous single disc compilation that is essentially CD 1 from that motherlode (the singles disc). Here are the details...

UK released Monday 17 February 2014 - "Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years 1967 - 1969" by SMALL FACES is on two formats - the 20-track CD (54:15 minutes) on Charly/Immediate CHARLY 654 X (Barcode 803415765423) - while the 17-track VINYL LP on Charly/Immediate CHARLY L 126 (Barcode 803415182619) is a LIMITED EDITION with the first 2000 copies on 180-Grams Blue Vinyl.

Both CD and LP feature 7" single mixes (all in MONO) from the UK and around the world and breaks down as follows (Tracks 3, 4 and 8 from the CD are not on the LP version):

1.  Here Come The Nice

2.  Talk To You - (Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of the UK 7" single on Immediate IM 050 released 2 June 1967)

3. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me - (B-side of a rare Thailand EP "Get Yourself Together" and the opening track on the Mono version of the "Small Faces" LP) - NOT ON VINYL VERSION

4. Something I Want To Tell You - (Withdrawn 7" single mix - the version on the "Small Faces" LP features and new Vocal Take and mix) - NOT ON VINYL VERSION

5. Get Yourself Together - (B-side to the French "Here Come The Nice" EP - A-side to a Thailand EP)

6. Become Like You - (B-side to the French "Here Come The Nice" EP)

7. Green Circles - (B-side to a French and Uruguay)

8. Eddie's Dreaming (B-side Edit) - NOT ON VINYL VERSION

9. Itchycoo Park - Immediate IM 057 (UK A-side, released 4 August 1967)

10. I'm Only Dreaming - (B-side of 9)

11. Tin Soldier - Immediate IM 062 (UK A-side, released 1 December 1967)

12. I Feel Much Better - (B-side of 11)

13. Lazy Sunday - Immediate IM 064 (UK A-side, released 5 April 1968)

14. Rollin' Home (Part II Of Happiness Stan) - (B-side of 13)

15. Mad John (Single Version) - (an extended version of the song on "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" - released as a single A-side in 1969 in Australia)

16. The Journey (Single Version) - (B-side of 15)

17. The Universal - Immediate IM 069 (UK A-side, released 28 June 1968)

18. Donkey Rides, A Penny A Glass - (B-side of 17)

19. Afterglow Of Your Love - Immediate IM 077 (UK A-side, released 7 March 1969)

20. Wham Bam Thank You Mam (Double A with 19)

Fans will know from the box set that a near five-year search was undertaken to get the best tapes - with speeds and edits brought back to their original states. Supervised by surviving band members IAN McLAGAN and KENNEY JONES alongside Series Producer ROB CAIGER and Executive Producer JEAN-LUC YOUNG - the newly minted remasters by ROB LEYLOCH and NICK ROBBINS sound fabulous - full of presence and power and that centered punch only MONO gives you. In some respects this CD alone will surely go a long way to convincing even the hardest of hearts that The Small Faces were a stunning singles band.

The hardback book digipak (with the now familiar SF logo sticker) gives us a really lovely 24-page colour booklet with track-by-track annotation from Rob Caiger and Tosh Flood (edited text from the larger box). There’s repros of music magazine reviews, adverts, personal snaps, those great foreign picture sleeves and a little self promotion for Deluxe Editions of “The Autumn Stone” (due in September 2014) and Vinyl Versions of “Ogden’s” and the USA LP “There Are But Four Small Faces”.

While the big hits like "Itchycoo Park" with its novel use of phased guitars and the genius of “Lazy Sunday” will be first ports of call - this compilation throws up criminally overlooked nuggets like "Donkey Rides, A Penny A Ride" (lyrics from it title this review) and the sonic assault of "Wham Bam Thank You Mam". Deep level fans will also chew up the rare versions of "Mad John" and "The Journey". I also love the continuity of the MONO sound - it has a power all of its own - great stuff. I took one look at that cheeky-chappy photo on the cover and I ordered up the LP too (it's a limited edition and will sell out fast).

What a band - and what a blast it is to see their musical legacy be celebrated so well at last. I suspect few will feel different...

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“A Tear And A Smile” by TIR na n’Og [with Sonny Condell and Liam O'Kelly] (2012 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Land Is Misty...My Eyes Are Too…"

Being a Dubliner I instantly knew what "Tir na n'Og" referred to - translated it's Gaelic for "Land Of The Young" (locally pronounced Tier Nah Nogue). We had the stories rammed down our willing throats in History class in school. It comes from the ancient Irish tales of warrior king Ossian (or Oisin in Gaelic). I've had this Prog-Folk duo's second album "A Tear And A Smile" on original UK vinyl for decades (as well as the other two they did - "Tir na n'Og" from 1971 and "Strong In The Sun" in 1973) and loved them all to bits. Guitarists and singers Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly made a lovely racket.

UK released November 2012 - "A Tear And A Smile" by TIR na n'OG [featuring Sonny Condell and Liam O'Kelly] on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2350 (Barcode 5013929435049) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (45:03 minutes):

1. Come And See The Show

2. Down Day

3. When I Came Down

4. The Same Thing Happening

5. Bluebottle Stew

6. So Freely

7. Hemisphere

8. Lady Ocean 

9. Goodbye My Love

10. Two White Horses 

Tracks 1 to 10 are the vinyl LP “A Tear And A Smile” - released in the UK in April 1972 on Chrysalis CHR 1006. 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. The Lady I Know

12. Heidi

Tracks 11 and 12 are a UK 7" single on Chrysalis CHS 2001 issued in 1972 (both non-album tracks at the time). 

The 12-page booklet features liner notes by noted writer TREVOR BOYD and reproduces two rare 7" picture sleeves (out of Europe) as well as colour photos of O'Kelly and Condell. A word about the original vinyl track line up - the UK album "A Tear And A Smile" is as above - But the American issue came out in October 1972 with a radically different track list. It was their first release is the USA so it used some of the English albums tracks, both the A&B sides of the British 7" single and a trio of tunes from the first album. So you'll need to buy their first release "Tir na n'Og" (which I've also reviewed on Esoteric CD remaster) and you can then sequence the US LP variant as follows:

USA TRACK LISTING (October 1972):

Side 1:

Come And See The Show [1]

Daisy Lady ["Tir na n'Og" CD - Track 3]

When I Came Down [3]

The Same Thing Happening [4]

Looking Up ["Tir na n'Og" CD - Track 6]

Side 2:

The Lady I Love [11]

So Freely [6]

Two White Horses [10]

Lady Ocean [8]

Dante ["Tir na n'Og" CD - Track 13]

 The new remaster has been handled by MARK POWELL and PASCHAL BYRNE and is truly gorgeous - crystal clear acoustic instruments with warmth and clarity on every track. It really is a fantastic job done. I've done tags on both of these guys before (see my Profile and there's a tag for each below which will give you a pictorial list of their work over the years). SONNY CONDELL plays Guitar, Clavinet and Percussion while LEO O'KELLY plays Guitar and alternates lead vocals with Condell. All songs are original compositions and the only guests are LARRY STEELE on Bass and BARRY De SOUZA on Drums.

While the debut album was Half-Folk/Half Prog (with Tyrannosaurus Rex hippy overtones) - this 2nd LP showed a huge improvement in the song-writing department and was accompanied by a really beautiful TONY COX production. It also saw a definite Tir na n'Og sound emerging too (like an older version of Glen Hansard of The Frames or music from the film "Once"). It opens very strongly with a double whammy - the catchy "Come And See The Show" (a song they used to open live shows with when they were supporting fellow label mates Jethro Tull) - and for me the best track on the album - the wonderfully complex and plaintive "Down Day". This Condell original features wistful off-the-cuff arrangements and Nick Drake strings at the end that are truly affecting. It's the kind of tune Kate Rusby might play live in 2014 and blow the audience away with (lyrics from it title this review).

The big acoustic guitar sound of both "When I Come Down" and "The Same Thing Happening" could have been recorded in the 1990s - good tunes with cleverly alternating lead vocals. But the gamely vaudeville jaunt of "Bluebottle Stew" might have been fun to record at the time but now sounds like The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band but not in a good way. Side 2 opens with "So Freely" and continues the duelling acoustic guitars with that Irish brogue in his singing. "Hemisphere" is really pretty with a gorgeous Cello seeing it out while "Goodbye My Love" gets a little Pink Floyd circa "Meddle" in its centre passage. "Two White Horses" sounds like a Simon & Garfunkel outtake from their 1970 "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album. The single "The Lady I Love" is very upbeat but just doesn't grab you with that plaintive feel like one the albums cut would have. "Heidi" - however - is back to that mellow  Irish Folk feel with even some Roy Harper vibes thrown in. It's impressive stuff really...

TIR na n'OG morphed in the late Seventies in the affectionately remembered SCULLION who made 5 albums in Ireland (none are on CD to my knowledge) including the fab "Balance And Control" in 1980 produced by the mighty JOHN MARTYN. Condell even made a CD album in 2013.

TIR na n'OG would definitely be an acquired taste for some. But for me there was always something magical in those hooks and songs - and now their albums have the properly beautiful sounding remasters their catalogue has always deserved…

UK TRACK LISTING for "A Tear And A Smile" (April 1972):

Side 1: 

1. Come And See The Show

2. Down Day

3. When I Came Down

4. The Same Thing Happening

5. Bluebottle Stew

Side 2:

1. So Freely

2. Hemisphere

3. Lady Ocean

4. Goodbye My Love

5. Two White Horses 

USA TRACK LISTING for "A Tear And A Smile" (October 1972):

Fans will need both CDs to sequence this variant of the LP as shown below...

Side 1: 

1. Come And See The Show [1]

2. Daisy Lady [on the "Tir na n’Og" CD]

3. When I Came Down [3]

4. The Same Thing Happening [4]

5. Looking Up [on the "Tir na n’Og" CD]

Side 2:

1. The Lady I Love [11]

2. So Freely [6]

3. Two White Horses [10]

4. Lady Ocean [8]

5. Dante [on the "Tir na n’Og" CD]

"The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B: 1972 (July to December 1972)" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (December 2013 USA - January 2014 UK Hip-O Select 5CD Hardback Digibook Set with Attached 45-Vinyl-Single - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

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"...Mama Just Hung Her Head And Said...Papa Was A Rolling Stone..."

There's a photograph on page 125 of this 14th and final box set for "The Complete Motown Singles" Series that will make most Motown aficionados weak at the knees. It shows a lady in the original Motown Tape Library filing master boxes. I don't know if this mythical place has ever been snapped before - but there's a room I'd like to spend an hour or two in. And I mention it because it's typical of the in-depth and lavish nature of this truly amazing series - beautifully presented and full of fan-pleasing goodies.

UK released Monday 6 January 2014 (December 2013 in the USA) - "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B: 1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select B0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193) is a 5CD Hardback Digibook set with Attached 45-Vinyl Single that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (overall Disc No. 71) has 22 tracks, 69: 26 minutes

Disc 2 (overall Disc No. 72) has 20 tracks, 63:08 minutes

Disc 3 (overall Disc No. 73) has 19 tracks, 70:17 minutes

Disc 4 (overall Disc No. 74) has 18 tracks, 65:11 minutes

Disc 5 (overall Disc No. 75) has 21 tracks, 69:03 minutes

The comprehensively annotated pages give you all the details you'd want - writers, arrangers, exact catalogue numbers, release dates, session and recording details from the official Motown files and a paragraph on each release (some of which are over two pages long). There are also some of the most beautiful photographs of artists’ ever produced - fabulous full-page plates. To top it all off there are 3 very detailed indexes at the rear - Artist, Title and Label (using the Disc numbers provided above).

A word about the sound quality... As with this entire series - the remastering has been done by ELLEN FITTON – an engineer that I've noted before for top quality work (I've tagged many of her releases on Amazon for a pictorial - go to my Profile page and you'll see ELLEN FITTON REMASTERS in the Tags section below). It has to be said that to my ears - this is the very best I've ever heard Seventies Motown sound - absolutely sensational. Take tracks like Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" backed with "You've Got It Bad Girl" - WOW! Even better is the Marvin Gaye double whammy "Trouble Man" backed with "Don't Mess With Mr. T" - beautifully clear and full of presence. But the bomb for me is a B-side I've been after on CD for literally decades. "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" is almost 12-minutes long on the album - the single was edited down to four seconds short of 7 minutes - but it's B-side is the rare "Instrumental" version at 4:48 minutes. Although it's not strictly voiceless (a chorus line sung here and there) - it is unique and it just amazing. To my knowledge it makes a first appearance here - sounding incredible. Right from the opener by The Supremes "Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love" - the audio is gorgeous. 

The downside is that it's obvious why so many of the tracks in-between the huge hits didn't make it - most are just too ordinary - some just stylistically out of place. But even the unknowns and less-than-famous tracks have nuggets too - Rare Earth, The Undisputed Truth, The Crusaders, Valerie Simpson and Eddie Kendricks - all of which are ace (and definite discoveries are Puzzle, Lesley Gore, G.C. Cameron and Willie Hutch).

First proposed in casual conversation in 2004 - Hip-O Select issued Volume Number 1 in early 2005 and only now - in January 2014 - does it finish at 12B covering July to December 1972. 9 years, 75 CDs documenting everything from 1959 to 1972, 1849 singles, 435 Billboard Hot 100 Entries, 60 Number One hits etc. I'm missing only the pricey Volume 1 and 6 in the whole series - but I'm so glad I kept up with the purchases. If we get lucky Hip-O Select are working on the 'Los Angeles' years (1973 onwards).

A truly amazing series goes out with a sonic blast…

"The Motown Singles Collection" by Hip-O Select 

(14 Released Volumes as of January 2021)

75 x CD Volumes, 1847 CD Tracks Plus 28 Tracks On 14 x 7" Vinyl Singles

1. Volume 1: 1959-1961, Released January 2005, Catalogue No. Hip-O Select B-0003631-02 (Barcode 602517643310), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 5000 (Non-Numbered), 155 Tracks, CDs are Volumes 1 to 6

2. Volume 2: 1962, May 2005, 4CDs, B-00004402-02 (Barcode 602517807552), Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 112 Tracks, Volumes 7 to 10

3. Volume 3: 1963, October 2005, B-0005352-02 (Barcode 602517845691), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 11 to 15

4. Volume 4: 1964, February 2006, B-0005945-02 (Barcode 602517882443), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 163 Tracks, Volumes 16 to 21

5. Volume 5: 1965, August 2006, B-0006775-02 (Barcode 602517789414), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 166 Tracks, Volumes 22 to 27

6. Volume 6: 1966, November 2006, B-0007872-02 (Barcode 602517092761), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 125 Tracks, Volumes 28 to 32

7. Volume 7: 1967, May 2007, B-0008993-02 (Barcode 602517341906), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 33 to 37

8. Volume 8: 1968, October 2007, B-0009708-02 (Barcode 602517431775), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 38 to 43

9. Volume 9: 1969, December 2007, B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 148 Tracks, Volumes 44 to 49

10. Volume 10: 1970, June 2008, B-0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 50 to 55

11. Volume 11A: 1971, February 2009, B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 56 to 60

12. Volume 11B: 1971, January 2010, B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 61 to 65

13. Volume 12A: 1972, May 2013, B-0012935-02 (Barcode 602527044453)), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 117 Tracks, Volumes 66 to 70

14. Volume 12B: 1972, December 2013, B-0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 100 Tracks, Volumes 71 to 75