"Patrice/Pizzazz/Posh" by PATRICE RUSHEN (September 2013 Edsel/Rhino 2CD Reissue and Remaster With 4 Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Look Up And Enjoy…"

With 4 albums already under her belt at Prestige Records in the early to mid Seventies and all at the tender age of only 24 – PATRICE RUSHEN signed to Elektra Records in 1978 - and soon became the darling of the World’s dancefloors.

But this hugely talented Californian singer and multi-instrumentalist has seen her Funky catalogue languishing unloved by digital reissue companies for years or been the province of massively expensive imports. Well along comes Edsel of the UK and they’ve done the total business by the five albums she did with Elektra between 1978 and 1984 - with this – the first of two Double-CD reissue sets.

UK released 30 September 2013 - "Patrice, Pizzazz and Posh" by PATRICE RUSHEN on Edsel/Rhino EDSK 7030 (Barcode 740155703035) offers 3 Albums from 1978, 1979 and 1980 originally on Elektra Records Remastered onto 2CDs with Four Bonus Tracks (A and B-sides of twelve-inch single mixes) and plays out as follows…

Disc 1 (79:00 minutes):

1. Music Of The Earth

2. When I Found You

3. Changes (In Your Life)

4. Wishful Thinking

5. Let’s Sing A Song Of Love

6. Hang It Up

7. Cha-Cha

8. It’s Just A Natural Thing

9. Didn’t You Know

10. Play!

Tracks 1 to 10 are her 5th album “Patrice” – released October 1978 on Elektra Records 6E-160 in the USA and on Elektra K 52104 in the UK.

Tracks 11 and 12 are BONUSES – Hang It Up (12” Version – 7:26 minutes) and Play! (12” Version – 8:14 minutes) are the A&B-sides of a 1978 12” single on Elektra AS-11404 (USA) and K 12336 (UK)

13. Let The Music Play

14. Keepin’ Faith In Love

15. Settle For My Love

16. Message In The Music

Tracks 13 to 16 are Side 1 of her 6th album “Pizzazz” – released October 1979 on Elektra Records 6E-243 in the USA

Disc 2 (71:47 minutes):

1. Haven’t You Heard

2. Givin’ It Up Is Givin’ In

3. Call On Me

4. Reprise (Message In The Music)

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of “Pizzazz”

5. Never Gonna Give You Up (Won’t Let You Go)

6. Don’t Blame Me

7. Look Up!

8. I Need Your Love

9. Time Will Tell

10. The Dream

11. The Funk Won’t Let You Down

12. This Is All I Really Know

Tracks 5 to 12 are her 7th album “Posh” – released November 1980 on Elektra Records 6E-302 in the USA and Elektra K 52260 in the UK

Tracks 13 and 14 are BONUSES – Look Up! (Long Version) and Never Gonna Give You Up (Short Version). Track 13 was a 12” Version on Elektra AS-11469 (USA) and K 12506 T (UK) while the Short Version of Never Gonna Give You Up was only on the 1980 American 12” Promo (Elektra AS-11486)

The outer card wrap gives the whole reissue a quality feel – as does the chunky 32-page booklet which pictures the albums, original Elektra labels, publicity photos, lyrics, track by track recording info and exceptionally detailed liner notes by Soul Expert and long-time Edsel Associate TONY ROUNCE.

The original production values of Charles Mimms, Jr. on all three LPs was top notch anyway – uber high class and funky as a vicar’s sermon after too much wine.  So it’s not surprising to find that the remastered sound by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy is gorgeous throughout – full of presence and toe-tapping detail.

The incredible session-musicians roster also reads like a Mafia hit list of people you’d want on your platters - Abraham Laboriel on Bass and Guitars, Larry Williams on Tenor Sax, David T Walker on Guitar, James Gadson on Drums, Paulinho Da Costa on Percussion… But what’s more impressive is that this lady is a PRINCE – playing a huge array of instruments herself whilst writing, singing and co-producing the whole shebang as a musical genius should. 

It opens with the hugely infectious "Music Of The Earth" then mellows with the lovely "When I Found You". It’s back to floor-filling boogie with "Changes (In My Life)" - but the remaster really shines on the gorgeous acoustic ballad "Wishful Thinking". And funk lovers will thrill to the stepper "It's Just A Natural Thing".

"Pizzazz" upped the ante (and hair-dos) and with winners like "Haven’t You Heard" (a US No. 7) and the irresistible crowd-pleaser "Let The Music Take Me" - it was a big album for her. But things went stratospheric with "Posh" featuring the monster "Never Gonna Give You Up" and the utterly wicked "Look Up!" - a fabulous dancefloor pleaser that’s regularly spun even now - 34 years after the event (lyrics from it title this review).  I also love having the longer mixes of those monster hits – a very nice touch on the bonus track front.

To this day these three LPs are held in real affection by Soul and Funk lovers everywhere – and with damn good reason. You have to say that Edsel have done Patrice Rushen’s uplifting musical legacy proud. Way to go boys…

PS:

Edsel have also done Straight From The Heart (1982) and Now (1984) on another 2CD set (Edsel EDSK 7031) with a whopping 10 Bonus Tracks (mostly 12” Mixes and their hugely sought-after Instrumental versions). Also make a further beeline to her stunningly funky "Shout It Out" album on Prestige from 1977 – it was reissued on CD by Soul Brothers of the UK in 2009 and sounds utterly amazing (features "The Hump" and "Let Your Heart Be Free").

“Captain Philips” on BLU RAY (February 2014) – A Review Of The 2012 Paul Greengrass Movie…

Here is a link to Amazon UK to get this BLU RAY at the best price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009VI6A9C

"…A Different World…" – Captain Philips on BLU RAY

It’s April 2009 and Captain Richard Philips and his crew of 20 Americans are travelling on their Cargo Ship MAERSK ALABAMA out of Norfolk, VA to Mombasa via Cape Horn. This passage for the 'truck drivers of the ocean' (as he calls them) will see his container-crammed behemoth pass alongside the notorious Somalia coastline where no less than 6 hostage situations have taken place in the past 2 months alone. 

On sophisticated radars in the elevated Control Cabin – two unidentified small power-driven boats are approaching at suspicious speed in broad daylight and not answering radio hails. The Alabama follows routine avoidance techniques – increases speed, turns so they leave a wake the smaller boats can’t handle, radio in what’s happening to the US Coast Guard, turn on the water canons… But these are determined criminals who get alongside with a ladder... And so it begins…

Filmed in Malta and actually using the Alabama’s sister ship MAERSK ALEXANDER - Director Paul Greengrass uses every nook and cranny of his real steel and paint canvas to get to you. He then hires four unknown Somalia actors to be his terrorists (they have stories to tell he says) who are simply sensational in their parts – going for it with a sweaty gusto that would make many trained actors very nervous indeed (Barkhad Abdi as the Leader took the BAFTA). Throw into this captive/hostage emotional cauldron a Director who lives to pump up the tension to unbearable levels - a huge array of truly great lead and support actors - and you’re on a tummy-rumbling cinematic winner.

"Captain Philips" is a superlative stuff – a thriller with brains – the sort of flick they don’t seem to be able to make any more these days. But special mention must be made of TOM HANKS - who in the last ten minutes (when he’s rescued and slowly begins to break down) – puts in a performance that will make your jaw drop open - and realize why he was nominated for an Oscar. He is simply magnificent throughout and filming for 12 weeks in all manner of swells and seasick situations – cannot have been an easy shoot. Yet I’d say with Charlie Wilson’s War, Castaway, Cloud Atlas and this under his belt – he’s fast approaching that rarefied club of the best actors in the entire world. I also like the way the movie goes into the Somalia political backstory – and it’s not sentimental about any of it – just desperate people pushed to desperate measures…

The BLU RAY picture quality varies from fabulous to adequate – which as any fan of Paul Greengrass movies will know is a major step up. I say this because his style is fast and furious and he goes for the moment and the truth rather than the pretty frame. His film “Green Zone” is notorious as one of the worst prints anywhere on BLU RAY (shot at night in a real-time documentary style). But this time efforts have been made to get a picture that looks great – even on the enclosed decks and in the cabins of the huge ship. Once the movie moves away from that to the small yellow boot of plastic that they keep Philips hostage on – it all gets murkier – particularly as it’s mostly shot at night. But this of course rackets up the tension – so you’re enjoying the movie too much to notice the occasional swarm of grain and fuzziness. Captain Philips is a major production and out in the open sea in daylight – it looks BLU RAY gorgeous. Just don’t expect state of the art all of the time.

The Four Audio channels are English, Italian and Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio – and English Audio Descriptive Track 5.1 Dolby Digital. Subtitles are English, English SDH, Danish, Finnish, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish.

The two substantial extras are Commentary with Director PAUL GREENGRASS and "Capturing Captain Philips". The 2nd is in several parts and filmed in HD but it will allow you to play all and is nearly an hour long. It features contributions from almost all of the actors, Greengrass, Greg Goodman (Executive Producer), Michael Bronner (Co Producer), the real Captain Richard Philips and his wife Andrea (a conversation they have titles this review), news footage of the hostage crisis at the time, Director of Photography and Principal Cameraman Barry Ackroyd. It’s fantastically detailed and adds a great deal to the viewing.

"Captain Philips" is world-class cinema – telling you a story you probably haven’t heard – doing it with skill and commitment – and featuring actors who can thrill and surprise no matter how well you think you know them.

Take this container load of salty dogs hostage in your home…and real soon.

“Live – The Final Tour” by JIM CROCE/MAURY MUEHLEISEN – A Review Of The Edsel 2012 CD Reissue And Remaster

Here is a link to Amazon UK to get this CD at the best price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008BENFWC

“…Never Seen A Grape…” Live – The Final Tour by JIM CROCE

Made by a member in the audience of a Louisiana University 'sometime' in 1973 (it’s disputed whether or not its January or September 1973) – this CD was originally put out by Essential in 1999. It now receives a welcome reissue in 2012 on Edsel EDSS 1036 as a UK remaster (54:16 minutes - Barcode 740155103637).

On stage with guitar and vocals and accompanied by Maury Muehleisen on lead acoustic guitar and backing vocals – the sound quality varies from superb to weak (as you can imagine). It isn’t as bad as a bootleg - but it isn’t mixing desk quality either – with the acoustic guitar playing being weedy and thinny in places. But it is very clean and sonically acceptable – and in truth – the slight eavesdropping feel to the recording only to the obviously rambunctious atmosphere.

His dialogue to the audience before "Roller Derby Queen" is fabulous – literate – witty – confident – he goes on about getting drunk while dating a girl (dialogue above). The same happens with "Next Time, This Time" and pretty much every other tune in between. It builds a tangible repartee with the audience who laugh along and are clearly digging it. By the time he gets to his huge hit "You Don’t Mess Around With Jim" the crowd are clapping with gusto.

Two songs are new – his hilarious cover of The Coasters "Shopping For Clothes" and an English ballad called "Ball Of Kirriemuir" about 'four and twenty virgins…out on a Saturday night…' who are no longer very chaste come the boozy evening’s end.

JIM CROCE boarded a light aircraft on 20 September 1973 to get to a gig in Sherman in Texas  – the plane crashed on take off killing all six inside. He was only 30.

This lovely and timely reissue confirms what a truly tragic loss that was. 

“Keep Your Soul Together/Polar AC/Skagly” by FREDDIE HUBBARD (2014 Beat Goes On - 3LPs Remastered Onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

"…Happiness Is Now…"

Fans of Jazz labels CTI (Creed Taylor Incorporated) and KUDO have had their appetites whetted with tasty reissues for years (the beautifully presented "Cool Revolution" 4CD set from 2010 is one). But at last a British reissue label takes these fondly remembered Seventies Fusion albums out of the realm of expensive imports and presents them with real class and superlative sound quality.

UK released April 2014 (May 2014 in the USA) - “Keep Your Soul Together/Polar AC/Skagly” by FREDDIE HUBBARD on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1144 (Barcode 5017261211446) features 3 entire LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (78:56 minutes)
1. Brigette
2. Keep Your Soul Together
3. Spirits Of Trane
4. Destiny's Children
Tracks 1 to 4 are the album "Keep Your Soul Together" - released 1973 in the USA on CTI Records CTI 6036

5. Polar AC
6. People Make The World Go Round
7. Betcha, By Golly Wow
8. Naturally
9. Son Of Sky Dive
Tracks 5 to 9 are the album "Polar AC" - released November 1975 in the UK on CTI Records CTI 6056

Disc 2 (41:24 minutes):
1. Happiness is Now
2. Theme From "Summer Of `42"
3. Cascais
4. Skagly
5. Rustic Celebration
Tracks 1 to 5 are the album "Skagly" - released 1980 in the USA on Columbia Records FC 36418

As with all of these BGO reissues it comes with an outer card slipcase which gives the whole thing a quality feel and generic look. The 20-page booklet features full annotation, album sleeves, pictures of his stellar musicians and a wonderfully detailed appraisal of Hubbard and the albums by noted Mojo Jazz columnist CHARLES WARING. But the big news is the beautiful Sound...

Remastered in 2014 by ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Performance in London - the world-class original production values of Rudy Van Gelder are only accentuated here - lovely warmth and clarity abound - and space around the instruments too - it's a fabulous job done.

All 4 lengthy compositions on "Keep Your Soul Satisfied" are Hubbard originals and it opens with the beautiful vibes of "Brigitte" - sounding just so cool and mellow (just as I remember my used vinyl copy). The title track is fabulous fusion with the keys and treatments of George Cables to the fore. Side 2 of the LP opens with improv jazz sporting sensational drumming from Ralph Penland - while we get street funky with the finisher "Destiny's Children" which could so easily have been in a Blaxploitation movie of the time.

1975's "Polar AC" brought on board long-standing CTI superstars George Benson, Hubert Laws, Bob James and Lenny White. Originally aired by The Stylistics in late 1971 on their debut album (written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed) - "People Make The World Go Round" is one of those songs that gets covered to death (Neville Brothers, Marc Dorsey, Christine Day, and Innerzone Orchestra have all had a go) but Hubbard got their first. His version of their "Betcha By Golly, Wow" is cool too - stretching to 8 minutes (it may have inspired Prince to cover it). Things mellow out to Cannonball Adderley's "Naturally" with gorgeous strumming from Benson and jazzy shuffles from Billy Cobham on the sticks - ending on his own excellent "Son Of Sky Dive" sounding just spiffing.

In keeping with predominant sound of the times - things got seriously funky and Soulful for 1980's "Skagly" - bringing into the sessions keyboardist George Duke and even Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers fame on Guitar (title track). It opens with the chipper "Happiness Is Now" featuring superb musicianship from Billy Childs on keys and Carl Burnett on Drums (so "Aja" at times in its execution). The sweet feel to "Theme From "Summer Of '42 (The Summer Knows)" is so languid. Genius percussionist Paulinho Da Costa adds his rhythmic magic to the upbeat "Cascais" featuring great horn trades off between Hubbard and Headley Coleman. The near 15-minute funk work-out of Skagly" is a bit of a monster - great in places - but probably overstaying its welcome a tad. And it ends with "Aja" funky jam of "Rustic Celebration" which I've always loved.

I remember buying CTI albums at the time because as a Rock guy I knew they'd be aimed as geysers like me - chaps who liked their Fusion with a bit of Funk and dare we say it - Soulfulness. Revisiting these fabulous Hubbard albums has been a blast. A quality reissue - kudos indeed...

“21 Grams” – Soundtrack CD by GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA

"…Light In The Darkness…" – 21 Grams Soundtrack CD by GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA

I remember watching the movie "The Motorcycle Diaries" in the cinema in 2004 and being ever so subtly moved by the accompanying soundtrack of Ry Cooder type guitar strums. It was a type of “Paris, Texas” vibe -all moody slide-guitars and strings rattling with menace and foreboding - but with a South American twist this time. It was hypnotic stuff and I knew I had to own it immediately.

Like Thomas Newman – there is something about GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA and his incidental film music that sends me – and whenever I include it on a CD-R for play purposes – friends always ask,  “Who is this!”

I quickly began vacuuming up everything I could get my grubby paws on by the guy – backtracking to 2003’s “21 Grams". He appears to be the preferred music man for Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu who also did the much praised “Amores Perros” and “Babel” (see review for the BLU RAY).  

The guest tracks are “Cut Chemist Suite” a rap song by OZOMATTI, “Low Rider” the 1976 Soul Rock classic by WAR. “You’re Losing Me” a 1973 US Funky Soul gem by ANN SEXTON and “When Our Wings Are Cut, Can We Still Fly” by THE KRONOS QUARTET. Best of the oddities is actor BENECIO DEL TORO doing a spoken version of Big Joe Turner’s Fifties anthem “Shake, Rattle & Roll” – it sounds like spoken TOM WAITS and is so cool - it’s frankly embarrassing. The rest are GS originals.

The music is trippy treatments bolstered up by shimmering guitars, a Harmonium and South American Pipes – “Can Dry Leaves Help Us?” even uses dialogue from the father and two children who phone their mum (and never come home). “Can We Mix The Unmixable?” is the same cool jumble but with a House backbeat. My fave though is the haunting “Can Light Be Found In The Darkness” which flicks electric guitars pings from speaker to speaker at the start while a Harmonium gives it backbeat power – ending in his trademark strummed acoustic guitars. It’s fabulous stuff…

This CD now appears to be passing hands for staggering sums of money - but I'd argue - it's worth it. I bought the Japanese 16-track version on Geneon GNCE-3011 (Barcode 4988102230258).

Beautiful, trippy, moving and cool as fuck – next stop for you should be the 2CD set for the amazing “Babel” which is frankly better than this – and that’s saying a lot…