"Waking Hours" by DEL AMITRI (January 2014 UK 'Re-Presents' 2CD Reissue Of Their 1989 2nd Album On A&M Records - Remastered and Expanded) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sweet Memory In Your Mind..."

Hailing out of Scotland as a sort of Soulful yet Indie version of the Faces - like so many I never noticed del Amitri's self-titled debut album on Chrysalis which came and went in May 1985. 

It wasn’t until I heard "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" in the Summer of 1989 that the love affair started. I've subsequently bought maybe twenty CD singles by them over the years - because like Love and Money, The Bible, The Fat Lady Sings, Deacon Blue, The Big Dish and The Silencers - their B-sides were often as good as (if not better than) the album tracks. 

Now fans are being treated to a 'Re-Presents' reissue 2CD series of their three albums on A&M Records - "Waking Hours" (1989 and 1990), "Change Everything" (1992) and "Twisted" (1995). Here's the beer-stained details...

UK released 20 January 2014 - "Waking Hours" on Universal/Mercury 3753354 (Barcode 602537533541) is a 2CD reissue in a jewel case of their 2nd album first issued on A&M Records 9006 in July 1989. On the success of the "Nothing Ever Happens" single in January 1990 - the album was re-released in February 1990 with the sleeve used on this reissue (45:50 minutes).

Disc 2 (51: 02 minutes) gathers up 16 non-album studio tracks from 5 single releases - 2 of which are from 10" and 12" singles - so are new to CD. The remaster has been done by GEOFF PESCHE at Abbey Road and the 16-page liner notes (which feature interviews with Currie and Harvey along with press clippings) are expertly handled by TERRY STAUNTON.

Having had 4 whole years to craft his song-writing skills, lead singer, bassist and principal writer JUSTIN CURRIE has recruited new band members IAIN HARVEY (guitarist) and ANDY ALSTON (Keyboards) and after returning from a small US tour that rejuvenated them - they signed to A&M with an album full of great melodies that were far more radio-friendly than their well-received but commercially flaccid debut. It’s a sign of "Waking Hours" strength that 4 of its 10 tracks became singles - "Kiss This Thing Goodbye", "Stone Cold Sober", "Move Away Jimmy Blue" and "Nothing Ever Happens" with a further stand alone single in 1990 - "Spit In The Rain". 

The original album was beautifully produced in the first place with an almost live-in-the studio feel to every track - real songs sung with real feeling. The remaster barely changes that (its nine seconds longer than my old CD) and is truthfully only ever-so-slightly better. However, album sleepers like the rocking "Opposite View" and the upbeat "When I Want You" now sound gorgeous. "This Side Of The Morning" sounds so like Rod Stewart circa "Every Picture Tells A Story" - a massive compliment in my book. And the whole album still stands up as a total listening experience. 

Disc 2 is extraordinary in many ways - there's at least three meisterwerks on here - the unbelievably rock-soulful and lyrically brilliant "So Many Souls To Change" which focuses on corporate greed screwing our world up - the wistful "...we gave away our innocence..." song "Don't I Look Like The Kind Of Guy You Used To Hate" and the lovely yet distinctly Scottish melancholy of "Spit In The Rain" released as a stand-alone single in October 1990 after the album (lyrics from it title this review). 

Fans will especially enjoy the acoustic strum of "Fred Partington's Daughter" which was exclusive to the 10" vinyl single of "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" (making its CD debut here) and the ramshackle but fun version of "This Side Of The Morning" which we are assured was recorded live at 2 a.m. in a car-park somewhere (exclusive to the 12" vinyl single of "Move Away Jimmy Blue"). Both of these rare tracks make their first CD appearance here and are very welcome additions. 

Never hip and somehow derided in some circles as a poor-man's Faces - I loved del Amitri with a passion. They produced a corker in this album - it deserves major reappraisal and a ten-spot of your hard-earned. This cheap double CD and warm remaster of "Waking Hours" is a reminder of their brilliance. And in 2024, they toured as a support act to the mighty Simple Minds - tasty double-bill. 

Well, here's another twofer you need - I'm off to grow some sideburns...

“Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics From 1975”. A Review Of The February 2014 BEAR FAMILY CD - Volume 15 of 15 In a Yearly Series Covering 1960 to 1975 - All With Stunning Sound Quality, Huge Playing Times and Deluxe Presentation.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

“...Go Sister Go...”

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 “1975”...

Released 14 February 2014 on Bear Family BCD 16885 AS (Barcode 5397102168857) - the CD compilation “Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics From 1975” breaks down as follows 

(86:10 minutes):

1. Lady Marmalade - LABELLE (Epic 8-50048)
2. Supernatural Thing, Part 1 - BEN E. KING (Atlantic 45-3241)
3. Walking In Rhythm - THE BLACKBYRDS (Fantasy F-736)
4. Love Won’t Let Me Wait - MAJOR HARRIS (Atlantic 45-3248)
5. Rockin’ Chair - GWEN McCRAE (Cat 1996)
6. Shining Star - EARTH, WIND and FIRE (Columbia 3-10090)
7. Shackin’ Up - BARBARA MASON (Buddah BDA 459-N)
8. Give The People What They Want - THE O’JAYS (Philadelphia International ZS7 3565)
9. The Hustle - VAN McCOY and THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY (Avco AV-4653)
10. Keep The Home Fires Burnin’ - LATIMORE (Glades 1726)
11. Slippery When Wet - THE COMMODORES (Motown M 1338F)
12. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - NATALIE COLE (Capitol 4109)
13. Fight The Power, Part 1 - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (T-Neck ZS8 2256)
14. How Long (Betcha’ Got A Chick On The Side) - THE POINTER SISTERS (Blue Thumb BTA-265)
15. Do It Any Way You Wanna - PEOPLE’S CHOICE (TSOP ZS8 4769)
16. It Only Takes A Minute - TAVARES (Capitol 4111) 
17. Loving Arms - MILLIE JACKSON (Spring SPR 161)
18. Full Of Fire - AL GREEN (Hi 5N 2300)
19. Love Rollercoaster (Single Edit) - OHIO PLAYERS (Mercury 73734)
20. Love Machine, Part 1 - THE MIRACLES (Tamla T 54262F) 
21. Sweet Thing - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (ABC Records ABC-12149)
22. Hold Back The Night - THE TRAMMPS (Buddah BDA-507)
23. Turning Point - TYRONE DAVIS (Dakar DK 4550)
24. Boogie Fever - THE SYLVERS (Capitol 4179)

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 “1975” set features THE POINTER SISTERS on the front cover while the stock 7” of “The Hustle” by VAN McCOY graces the inside flap with a further photo of the lady threesome LABELLE in wild concert garb 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 (hairy chests, large-brim white hats and patch-inlaid elephant flares ahoy), the single labels/album covers 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 proceedings open in stunning form with Labelle’s irrepressable “Lady Marmalade”. The crystal clear sound quality continues with a double slinky - “Supernatural Thing” and Walking In Rhythm” - but slows down into the bedroom panting of Major Harris being a naughty boy in “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”. Things pick up considerably with Gwen McCrae’s brilliant “Rockin’ Chair” - a tune I've loved for decades - and at last lifted out of former muddiness with a new coat of aural paint. 

Genius choices come in three forms - the talking nosey-neighbors “Shackin’ Up” by Barbara Mason while Latimore’s “Keep The Home Fires Burnin’” is superlative funk. Equally cool in our trio is the wah-wah guitars and chunky bass of “How Long...” by The Pointer Sisters combining with some great string arrangements to deliver a fabulous builder. Even Van McCoy’s over-played “The Hustle” sounds transformed as does the happy Natalie Cole movie-favorite “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”. 

The bopping “Do It Any Way You Wanna” by People’s Choice (written by Leon Huff) contrasts nicely with the barroom Tom Waits impassioned moan of Millie Jackson’s “Loving Arms” in beautiful sound quality. And how good is to hear Al Green sound full-on in your speakers instead of the clamped-down production values we’ve been used to. The Miracles' “Love Machine” is bound to bring out the Afro in you while “Sweet Thing” will bring out the Julio Iglesias bedroom eyes - both stunning in their transfers. 

It goes out with three popular dancers - the fantastically upbeat “Hold Back The Night” by The Trammps (covered by so many) and the “I used to stay out all night long...” of “Turning Point” by Trone Davis on Dakar (sounding lovely) with the future of Disco finishing it all off - “Boogie Fever” by The Sylvers. 

I had honestly thought that this Volume from 1975 would be the weakest - but if anything it’s as brilliant as the 1971 set - a superlative mix of the familiar and lesser-heard - all properly handled by people who care about sound quality. And check out that eye-watering total playing time - 86:10 minutes - God God Y’all Indeed! 

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 and undergrounds 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 - 23 Scorching Classics From 1974”. A Review Of The February 2014 BEAR FAMILY CD - Volume 14 of 15 In a Yearly Series Covering 1960 to 1975 - All With Stunning Sound Quality, Huge Playing Times and Deluxe Presentation.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

“...Diggin' The Scene...With A Gangster Lean...”

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 “1974”...

Released 14 February 2014 on Bear Family BCD 16884 AS (Barcode 5397102168840) - the CD compilation “Sweet Soul Music - 23 Scorching Classics From 1974” breaks down as follows (82:32 minutes):

1. Boogie Down - EDDIE KENDRICKS (Tamla T 54243F)
2. Lookin’ For A Love - BOBBY WOMACK (United Artists UA-XW375-W)
3. Mighty Mighty - EARTH, WIND and FIRE (Columbia 4-46007)
4. You Make Me Feel Brand New - THE STYLISTICS (Avco AV-4634)
5. Be Thankful For What You’ve Got - WILLIAM DeVAUGHN (Roxbury BRBO-0236)
6. The Payback, Part 1 - JAMES BROWN (Polydor PD 14223)
7. Dancing Machine - THE JACKSON 5 (Motown M 1286F)
8. Sideshow - BLUE MAGIC (Atco 45-6961) 
9. Rock Your Baby - GEORGE McCRAE (T.K. Records 1004)
10. Hollywood Swinging - KOOL and THE GANG (De-Lite DEP 561) 
11. Rock The Boat - THE HUES CORPORATION (RCA Victor APBO 0232)
12. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - YVONNE FAIR (Motown M 1306F)
13. Hang On In There Baby - JOHNNY BRISTOL (MGM M14715)
14. Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) (Single Edit) - B.T. EXPRESS (Scepter SCE 12395) 
15. Let’s Straighten It Out - LATIMORE (Glades 1722)
16. When Will I See You Again - THE THREE DEGREES (Philadelphia International ZS7 3550)
17. Everlasting Love - CARL CARLTON (Back Beat BB-630)
18. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (Truth TRA-3206)
19. I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me) - BOBBY BLAND (ABC Dunhill D-15015)
20. You Got The Love - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (ABC Records ABC-12032)
21. You Little Trustmaker - THE TYMES (RCA Victor PB-10022)
22. As Long As He Takes Care Of Home - CANDI STATON (Warner Brothers WBS 8038)
23. Fire - OHIO PLAYERS (Mercury 73643)

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 “1974” set features EARTH, WIND and FIRE on the front cover while the stock 7” of “You Make Me Feel Brand New” by THE STYLISTICS graces the inside flap with a further photo of a pensive-looking YVONNE FAIR 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 (more afro hairdos than you can shake a stick at) - 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 tracks are US 7” singles and like “1971” it opens with a cleverly chosen triple-whammy of crystal clear sound quality - the hissy but ballsy “Boogie Down” by Eddie Kendricks followed by a truly huge remaster of Bobby Womack’s chipper “Lookin’ For A Love” and a blasting Earth, Wind and Fire laying down a template that would serve them well for years to come. The gooey but lovely “You Make Me Feel Brand New” by The Stylistics sounds amazing - full of extraordinary presence (the kind of Soul your sister liked). It’s followed by a real gem - William De Vaughn’s car-crawling genius of a song “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” - the sound quality on this one track is worth the price of admission alone (lyrics from it title this review). We’re back to serious funk with Part 1 of “The Payback” by James Brown which sounds ludicrously brilliant and is guaranteed to make stone dead hair follicles grow again.  

A brave and clever choice is the unexpected “Dancing Machine” by The Jackson 5 where they try to leave the teenybopper behind and tap into the funk of the time and just about succeed. The pretty “hurry hurry” talking song “Sideshow” by Blue Magic sounds lush and full while the ogre of Disco is being ushered in by a quad of huge hits - “Rock Your Baby”, “When Will I See You Again”, “Rock The Boat” and “Hand On In There Baby”. I hate them all personally but for those who want them in top sound quality - then look no further.   

Far tastier is the genius choice of Yvonne Fair’s utterly brilliant “Funky Music...” - an irresistible chunk of dancing dynamite liable to make Granny boogie that hip-replacement. Falling into the same territory is the “whatever it is...” bump and grind of “Do It...” by B.T. Express. And another nugget is the slow groove of Benny Latimore’s hypnotic piano on “Let’s Straighten It Out” - with its “tossin’ and turnin’ in your sleep...” lyrics - gorgeous stuff. The audio gurus will flip for the sheer sonic improvement contained in Bear’s remaster of Carl Carlton’s jubilant “Everlasting Love”. And a really great double funk act is Bobby Bland and Chaka Khan with Rufus - both sounding fantastic. I even have to admit to a soft spot for the ‘dooby dooby’ Pop/Soul of “You Little Trustmaker” by The Tymes. 

Niggles - like "1972" there's those irritating exclusions (probably due to licensing rights). Where’s the crossover hit “Pick Up The Pieces” by Average White Band, maybe a bit of Lou Bond, Willie Hutch, Chairmen Of The Board,  Ashford & Simpson, The Commodores, Billy Paul... I’d admit that at least 5 of the Disco-orientated tracks make me cringe even now - but there’s no doubting that the compilers had to touch all bases. But yet again there’s that nice mixture of the common and the obscure (all sounding as pert as a grunting gay gymnast in the Russian Winter Olympics). I also had no problems with playback despite the jam-packed value-for-money playing time of 83 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 - 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 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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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)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00MTCDTWS&asins=B00MTCDTWS&linkId=f95dca2244c8856012cccc3c6c25fff6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...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 

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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 
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"...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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