“Beg, Scream & Shout! The Big Ol’ Box Of ‘60s Soul” by VARIOUS ARTISTS (1997 Rhino Records 6CD Box Set In A 7" Singles Carry Box) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Baby Workout…"

Originally USA released August 1997 on Rhino R2 72815 (Barcode 081227281526) - "Beg, Scream & Shout! The Big Ol' Box Of '60s Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is a 6CD Box Set and fully deserves the praise heaped on it over the years.

PACKAGING:

This is beautifully and thoughtfully done. It's housed in a 7" single carry-case complete with handle and steel locking clip on the front - a limited edition of 30,000 (numbered on the hinge by the handle). Inside are 6 x 45 RPM sized inner-sleeves done in glossy repro cards mimicking classic Sixties Soul labels like Atlantic, Tamla, Stax and Chess. Inside each of these cards is a plastic 7" tray with the 5" CD centred in it - the discs themselves coloured as per the famous label's design (Blue for Chess, Yellow for Tamla etc). There's a 16-page 7" sized booklet which gives very detailed Discography and Chart info on each single as well as short liner notes by DAVID GORMAN, REGGIE COLLINS, JAMES AUSTIN, GARY STEWART, DON WALLER, BILLY VERA and Rhino's Top Sound Engineer BILL INGLOT.

But the prize is 144 individual glossy 'cards' (like baseball/trading cards - 2.5" x 3.5 " size) - one for each song! Gorgeous to look at and handle - they're colour-coded and numbered so that even if they get scattered all over the floor - you can reassemble them by colour and number. On the A-side of each card is a beautifully reproduced photo - usually black and white and licensed from the famous Michael Ochs archives. On the B-side are a few paragraphs by the enthusiastic contributors named above discussing the song and artist.  A nice touch on each card is a sort of Trivial Pursuit angle - there's a question posed on the bottom of the A and answered on the bottom of the B. For instance Card 71 for Lou Rawls and his "Dead End Street" hit asks: On what duet with Sam Cooke did Lou sing uncredited? The answer is "Bring It On Home To Me" b/w "Havin' A Party" (I didn't know that). As you can imagine - hundreds of hours must have gone into the collating of these cards and it adds the whole shebang a real element of care and (dare we say it) excitement. [Note Card Numbers 145 with SAM COOKE and 146 with SLY & THE FAMILY STONE are wild cards and the tracks don't appear on the CDs - absent due to licensing difficulties].

SOUND:

Rhino's resident tape wizards BILL INGLOT, DAN HERSCH and BOB FISHER did the Remastering and Audio Restoration and they give paragraphs in the booklet on this. In order to stick to the spirit of the 7" Single' - they located as many of the original MONO masters as they could find - a time-consuming and by all accounts surprisingly difficult task. The results are fabulous. These 144 songs are as you heard them on the Radio at the time - not as you usually hear them now - with whatever badly mastered STEREO CD is nearby. With so many varying sources - the sound quality is uniformly clean and in the cases of say Brunswick, Chess, Minit, Tamla and even Stax and Atco - spectacular. And the flow of the tunes is superb too. But the best way to show the sheer breath of this 6CD collection is to supply a detailed track list (including US 7" single catalogue numbers and release dates)...

TRACKS:

Disc 1, BEG 1, 24 tracks (Card No's 1 to 24), 72:31 minutes:

1. That How It Feels - THE SOUL CLAN (Arthur Conley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Don Covay and Joe Tex) (Atlantic 2530, June 1968)

2. La La Means I Love You - THE DELFONICS (Philly Groove 150, January 1968)

3. The Whole World Is A Stage - THE FANTASTIC FOUR (Ric-Tic 122, February 1967)

4. Stand By Me - BEN E. KING (Atco 6194, April 1961)

5. You're The Best (That Ever Did It) - THE PRECISIONS (Atco 6669, March 1969)

6. Eight Men, Four Women - O.V. WRIGHT (Back Beat 580, April 1967)

7. Every Little Bit Hurts - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (Tamla 54094, March 1964)

8. Nothing Takes The Place Of You - TOUSSAINT McCALL (Ronn 3, January 1967)

9. Private Number - JUDY CLAY & WILLIAM BELL (Stax 0005, July 1968)

10. I Don't Want To Lose Your Love - THE MAD LADS (Volt 143, January 1967)

11. Who's Lovin You - THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1157, October 1969)

12. Cry Baby - GARNETT MIMMS (United Artists 629, July 1963)

13. Dry Your Eyes - BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS (Dionn 500, January 1967)

14. Yes, I'm Ready - BARBARA MASON (Arctic 105, March 1965)

15. The Love I Saw Was Just A Mirage - SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54145, January 1967)

16. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - SAM & DAVE (Stax 210, January 1967)

17. That's How It Is (When You're In Love) - OTIS CLAY (One-derful 4848, July 1967)

18. Sweet Inspiration - THE SWEEET INSPIRATIONS (Atlantic 2476, January 1968)

19. Baby, I'm Yours - BARBARA LEWIS (Atlantic 2283, March 1965)

20. It Tears Me Up - PERCY SLEDGE (Atlantic 2358, October 1966)

21. I Had A Talk With My Man - MITTY COLLIER (Chess 1907, September 1964)

22. Love Makes The World Go Round - DEON JACKSON (Carla 2526, January 1966)

23. Back Up Train - AL GREEN & THE SOUL MATES (Hot Line 15000, October 1967)

24. Choice Of Colors - THE IMPRESSIONS (Curtom 1943, May 1969)

Disc 2, BEG 2, 25 tracks (Card No's 25-49), 73:09 minutes:

1. Ice Cream Song - THE DYNAMICS (Cotillion 44021, January 1969)

2. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - OTIS REDDING (Volt 126, April 1965)

3. Stay In My Corner - THE DELLS (Vee-Jay 674, May 1965)

4. Selfish One - JACKIE ROSS (Chess 1903, July 1964)

5. Hey There Lonely Girl - EDDIE HOLMAN (ABC 11240, November 1969)

6. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday - WILLIAM BELL (Stax 237, November 1967)

7. Funny - JOE HINTON (Back Beat 541, July 1964)

8. Wrong Number (I Am Sorry, Goodbye) - AARON NEVILLE (Minit 657, February 1963)

9. The Entertainer - TONY CLARKE (Chess 1924, March 1965)

10. It's Got To Be Mellow - LEON HAYWOOD (Decca 32164, July 1967)

11. Can I Change My Mind - TYRONE DAVIS (Dakar 602, November 1968)

12. Sunny - BOBBY HERB (Philips 40365, June 1966)

13. Cowboys To Girls - THE INTRUDERS (Gamble 214, March 1968)

14. Don't Make Me Over - DIONNE WARWICK (Scepter 1239, October 1962)

15. Oh No Not My Baby - MAXINE BROWN (Wand 162, October 1964)

16. Fly Me To The Moon - BOBBY WOMACK (Minit 32048, July 1968)

17. I Do Love You - BILLY STEWART (Chess 1922, January 1965)

18. Voice Your Choice - THE RADIANTS (Chess 1904, December 1964)

19. I'm Your Puppet - JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY (Bell 648, September 1966)

20. Release Me - ESTHER PHILLIPS (Lenox 5555, October 1962/Reissued on Atlantic 2411, May 1967)

21. Rainbow - GENE CHANDLER (Vee-Jay 468, January 1963)

22. Sad Girl - JOE WIGGINS (I.P.G. 1008, August 1963)

23. Wish Someone Would Care - IRMA THOMAS (Imperial 66013, February 1964)

24. In the Heat Of The Night - RAY CHARLES (ABC 10970, August 1967)

25. Stay With Me - LORRAINE ELLISON (Warner Brothers 5850, September 1966)

Disc 3, SCREAM 1, 22 tracks (Card No's 50 to 71), 63:08 minutes:

1. Function At The Junction - SHORTY LONG (Soul 35021, March 1966)

2. Memphis Soul Stew - KING CURTIS (Atco 6511, August 1967)

3. The "In" Crowd - DOBIE GRAY (Charger 105, December 1964)

4. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman - THE STARLETS (originally credited as The Blue-Belles) (Newtown 5000, March 1962)

5. Love Makes A Woman - BABARA ACKLIN (Brunswick 55379, June 1968)

6. Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette) - THE O'JAYS (Imperial 66102, April 1965)

7. Make Me Yours - BETTYE SWANN (Money 126, April 1967)

8. She Shot A Hole In My Soul - CLIFFORD CURRY (Elf 90002, April 1967)

9. You're No Good - BETTY EVERETT (Vee-Jay 566, October 10963)

10. I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) - THE IKETTES (Atco 6212, December 1961)

11. 7-Rooms Of Gloom - THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1110, May 1967)

12. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone - ARETHA FRANKLIN (Atlantic 2486, February 1968)

13. Wack Wack - THE YOUNG HOLT TRIO (Brunswick 55305, November 1966)

14. Got To Get Off My Mind - SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2276, February 1965)

15. You've Been In Love Too Long - MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7045, July 1965)

16. Pouring Water On A Drowning Man - JAMES CARR (Goldwax 311, October 1966)

17. Rescue Me - FONTELLA BASS (Checker 1120, August 1965)

18. Show Me - JOE TEX (Dial 4055, February 1967)

19. Friendship Train - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35068, October 1969)

20. Temptation `Bout To Get Me - THE KNIGHT BROS. (Checker 1107, May 1965)

21. Snatching It Back - CLARENCE CARTER (Atlantic 2605, February 1969)

22. Dead End Street - LOU RAWLS (Capitol 5869, March 1967)

Disc 4, SCREAM 2, 22 tracks (Card No's 72 to 93), 59:31 minutes:

1. Out Of Sight - JAMES BROWN (Smash 1919, July 1964)

2. Get On Up - THE ESQUIRES (Bunky 7750, July 1967)

3. Only The Strong Survive - JERRY BUTLER (Mercury 72898, February 1969)

4. Teasin' You - WILLIE TEE (Atlantic 2273, February 1965)

5. Backfield In Motion - MEL & TIM (Bamboo 107, September 1969)

6. Piece Of My Heart - ERMA FRANKLIN (Shout 221, October 1967)

7. I Don't Want To Cry - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 106, January 1961)

8. Girl watcher - THE O'KAYSIONS (ABC 11094, July 1968)

9. I Was Made To Love Her - STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54151, May 1967)

10. B-a-b-y - CARLA THOMAS (Stax 195, July 1966)

11. You Are The Circus - C & THE SHELLS (Cotillion 44024, March 1969)

12. I'm In Love - WILSON PICKETT (Atlantic 2448, March 1969)

13. Searching For My Love - BOBBY MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES (Checker 1129, February 1966)

14. He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' - THE VELVELETTES (V.I.P. 25013, December 1964)

15. The Chokin' Kind - JOE SIMON (Sound Stage 2628, February 1969)

16. Seesaw - DON COVAY (Atlantic 2301, October 1965)

17. 39-21-46 - THE SHOWMEN (Minit 662, February 1963)

18. A Fool In Love - IKE & TINA TURNER (Sue 730, July 1960)

19. Bye Bye Baby - MARY WELLS (Motown 1003, November 1960)

20. The Oogum Boogum Song - BRENTON WOOD (Double Shot 111, March 1967)

21. Just One Look - DORIS TROY (Atlantic 2188, May 1963)

22. Time Is Tight - BOOKER T & THE M.G.'s (Stax 0028, February 1969)

Disc 5, SHOUT 1, 26 tracks (Card No's 94 to 119), 70:38 minutes:

1. Sweet Soul Music - ARTHUR CONLEY (Atco 6463, February 1967)

2. Cissy Strut - THE METERS (Josie 1005, March 1969)

3. Tighten Up - ARCHIE DELL & THE DRELLS (Ovide 228, December 1967 - original issue - reissued on Atlantic 2478, January 1968)

4. Harlem Shuffle - BOB & EARL (Marc 104, November 1963)

5. Are You Lonely For Me - FREDDIE SCOTT (Shout 207, November 1966)

6. Stop - HOWARD TATE (Verve 19573, January 1968)

7. The Funky Judge - BULL & THE MATADORS (Toddlin' Town 108, July 1968)

8. Some Kind Of Wonderful - SOUL BROTHERS SIX (Atlantic 2406, April 1967)

9. The Monkey Time - MAJOR LANCE (Okeh 7175, June 1963)

10. Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart - THE SUPREMES (Motown 1094, April 1966)

11. Twine Time - ALVIN CASH & THE CRAWLERS (Mar-V-Lus 6002, December 1964)

12. Tainted Love - GLORIA JONES (Avi 338, 1964)

13. My Pledge Of Love - THE JOE JEFFREY GROUP (Wand 11200, May 1969)

14. Sock It To 'Em J.B. P- Part 1 - REX GARVIN (Like 301, May 1966)

15. Can I Get A Witness - MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54087, September 1963)

16. I Want You To Have Everything - LEE ROGERS (D-Town 1035, November 1964)

17. The Real Nitty Gritty - SHIRLEY ELLIS (Congress 202, November 1963)

18. She's Looking Good - RODGER COLLINS (Galaxy 750, January 1967)

19. The Horse - CLIFF NOIBLES & CO. (Phil-L.A. Of Soul 313, May 1968)

20. Who's Making Love - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Stax 0009, September 1968)

21. T.C.B. or T.Y.A. - BOBBY PATTERSON (Jetstar 114, March 1969)

22. Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around The World) - LITTLE MILTON (Checker 1212, January 1969)

23. It's Your Thing - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (T-Neck 901, March 1969)

24. Open The Door To Your Heart - DARRELL BANKS (Revilot 201, June 1966)

25. I Can't Stand It - SOUL SISTERS (Sue 799, February 1964)

26. We Got More Soul - DYKE & THE BLAZERS (Original Sound 86, April 1969)

Disc 6, SHOUT 2, 25 tracks (Card No's 120 to 144), 68:05 minutes:

1. Baby Workout - JACKIE WILSON (Brunswick 55239, February 1963)

2. Agent Double-O-Soul - EDWIN STARR (Ric-Tic 103, July 1965)

3. Barefootin' - ROBERT PARKER (Nola 721, March 1966)

4. I Do - THE MARVELOWS (ABC-Paramount 10629, April 1965)

5. Mustang Sally - SIR MACK RICE (Blue Rock 4014, April 1965)

6. Expressway To Your Heart - SOUL SURVIVORS (Crimson 1010, August 1967)

7. Cool Jerk - THE CAPITOLS (Karen 1524, March 1966)

8. But It's Alright - J.J. JACKSON (Calla 119, August 1966)

9. Tell Mama - ETTA JAMES (Cadet 5578, October 1967)

10. Nothing But A Heartache - THE FLIRTATIONS (Deram 85038, February 1969)

11. (I Know) I'm Losing You - THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7057, November 1966)

12. The Memphis Train - RUFUS THOMAS (Stax 250, March 1968)

13. Last Night - MAR-KEYS (Satellite 107, June 1961)

14. Shake A Tail Feather - THE FIVE DU-TONES (One-derful! 4815, April 1963)

15. First I Look At The Purse - THE CONTOURS (Gordy 7044, July 1965)

16. Big Bird - EDDIE FLOYD (Stax 246, February 1968)

17. The Cheater - BOB KUBAN & THE IN-MEN (Musicland U.S.A. 20001, January 1966)

18. Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead - THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54120, July 1965)

19. Shake And Fingerpop - JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35013, July 1965)

20. Boogaloo Down Broadway - THE FANTASTIC JOHNNY C  (Phil-L.A. Of Soul 305, September 1967)

21. Soul Finger - BAR-KAYS (Volt 148, April 1967)

22. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) - KIM WESTON (Gordy 7046, September 1965)

23. Leaving Here - EDDIE HOLLAND (Motown 1052, January 1964)

24. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - DAVID RUFFIN (Motown 1140, January 1969)

25. Ain't Nothin' But A House Party - THE SHOW STOPPERS (Heritage 800, April 1968)

As you can see the music is not presented in release-date order but as `themes' - the first two (BEG) are mostly pleaders and smooching ballads while the last four (SCREAM and SHOUT) are mid tempo tunes, dancers and pieces that just let it rip. It's also refreshing to note that Rhino didn't do for the obvious "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" or "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" sequencing - but instead chose to dig deeper into the off-the-beaten track releases many of which are getting CD release here for the first time. There isn't much duplication of artists either.

Favourites include "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" by The Mad Lads, "Love Makes The World Go Round" by Deon Jackson, "In The Heat Of The Night" by Ray Charles, "Function At The Junction" by Shorty Long, the stunning instrumental "Wack Wack" by The Young Holt Trio, "Barefootin'" by Robert Parker and the lesser-heard but oh so sweet "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Amongst the rarities are nuggets by The Precisions, Joe Hinton, The Starlets, Joe Wiggins, C & The Shells, The Velvelettes, Howard Tate, The Knight Brothers, Bull & The Matadors and The Showmen.

Almost 20 years down the line - "Beg, Scream & Shout!" is of course showing its age and you could probably buy three 2CD Soul sets for half-the-price and get roughly the same. But oh that quality sound and that truly sumptuous packaging - both doing this stunning American Soul music so proud.

I can safely say that this is one box I'd grab if the house were burning down - and you can't say that of a hundred cheapo comps...

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"Can You Dig It? The Music And Politics Of Black Action Films 1968-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - A Review Of The 2009 Soul Jazz 2CD Set With A 100-Page Booklet In A Card Wrap by Mark Barry...

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"…A Hell Of A Tester…"

Fans of Funky and Soulful Soundtracks have always had to pay out huge sums of money for certain LPs – many of which are now over 40 years old. Well at last – Soul Jazz Records of London have done them all a fur coat by collating together the very best of the Blaxploitation period. And what a garish piece of audio jewelery it is.

2CDs are housed in a card wrap with a truly sensational 100-page booklet slotted in beside the double jewel case (there are also two VINYL DOUBLE ALBUMS (Disc 1 and 2) which are now sought after in themselves). 

Released October 2009 in the UK – "Can You Dig It? The Music And Politics Of Black Action Films 1968-1975" on Soul Jazz Records SJR CD214 (Barcode 5026328202143) is a 2CD Compilation that breaks down as follows…

Disc 1 (56:40 minutes):

1. Coffy Is The Color by ROY AYERS (Coffy, 1973)

2. Blacula by GENE PAGE (Blacula, 1972)

3. Shaft In Africa by JOHNNY PATE (Shaft In Africa, 1973)

4. Brother’s Gonna Work It Out by WILLIE HUTCH (The Mack, 1973)

5. Charley by DON COSTA (The Soul Of Nigger Charley, 1973)

6. "T" Plays It Cool by MARVIN GAYE (Trouble Man, 1973)

7. Across 110^th Street by BOBBY WOMACK (Across 110^th Street, 1972)

8. Willie Chase by J.J. JOHNSON (Willie Dynamite, 1973)

9. Down And Out In New York City by JAMES BROWN (Black Caesar, 1973)

10. They Call Me MISTER Tibbs by QUINCY JONES (They Call Me Mister Tibbs, 1970)

11. Keep On Movin' On by MARTHA REEVES (Willie Dynamite, 1973)

12. Theme From Black Belt Jones by DENNIS COFFEY (Black Belt Jones, 1974)

13. Freddie's Dead by CURTIS MAYFIELD (Superfly, 1972)

14. Wilford's Gone by THE BLACKBYRDS (Cornbread, Earl And Me, 1975)

15. Theme Of Foxy Brown by WILLIE HUTCH (Foxy Brown, 1974)

16. Run Fay Run by ISAAC HAYES (Three Tough Guys, 1974)

Disc 2 (65:47 minutes):

1. Shaft by ISAAC HAYES (Shaft, 1971)

2. Pusherman by CURTIS MAYFIELD, Superfly 1972)

3. Theme From Cleopatra Jones by JOE SIMON (Cleopatra Jones, 1973)

4. You Can't Even Walk In The Park by JOHNNY PATE (Shaft In Africa, 1973)

5. Sweetback's Theme by BRER SOUL and EARTH, WIND & FIRE (Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, 1973)

6. Make It Good To Yourself by JAMES BROWN (Black Caesar, 1973)

7. Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile by ISAAC HAYES (Truck Turner, 1973)

8. Travelling To Get To Doc by GRANT GREEN (The Final Comedown, 1972)

9. Time Is Tight by BOOKER T & THE M.G.'s (Uptight, 1968)

10. Aragon by ROY AYERS (Coffy, 1973)

11. Easin' In by EDWIN STARR (Hell Up In Harlem, 1973)

12. Strung Out by GORDON STAPLES (Mean Johnny Barrows, 1975)

13. Zombie March by NAT DOVE and the DEVILS (Petey Wheatstraw, 1974)

14. Make A Resolution by THE IMPRESSIONS (Three The Hard Way, 1974)

15. The Bus by SOLOMON BURKE and GENE PAGE (Cool Breeze, 1972)

16. Las Vegas Strut by JACK ASHFORD (Blackjack, 1978)

17. Lay In On Your Head by DON JULIAN (Savage, 1973)

18. Ed And Digger by GALT MacDERMOT (Cotton Comes To Harlem, 1970)

DUNCAN COWELL and PETE REILLY did the remasters at London’s Sound Mastering and despite the huge number of different licensed sources – the audio quality is uniformly superb – full of detail, bite and great atmosphere. But the booklet is in the stunning Bear Family league at 100-pages. Expertly compiled and wonderfully written by STUART BAKER – as the fat inlay is oversized and actually bound into a mini paperback – the read is great and photos from each of the films a visual blast. 

Each of the movies gets a couple of pages as do the major players (actors and musicians) – Pam Grier, Sidney Poitier, Jim Brown, Oscar Micheaux, Isaac Hayes, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly – as well as themes like "Pimps And Pushers", "Motown At The Movies", "Stax Action" and "American International Pictures". And not to be outdone by all that black male macho posturing – the dark skinned ladies more than have their day (Pam Grier gets the cover and rightly so). But on pages 24 and 25 there is a two-page colour photo spread of the truly gorgeous and sexy TAMARA DOBSON in "Cleopatra Jones" – what a woman and surely one of the great beauties of the time (sadly lost to us in 2006).

Musically all the big boys are here – Isaac Hayes with his album version of that most iconic of all "Shaft" – Curtis with Superfly, James Brown with Black Caesar and of course Marvin Gaye with his utterly brilliant "Trouble Man" gem from late 1972 on Motown. It's nice to see that the compilers simply didn't load it down more of that obvious quad – but instead went after Dennis Coffey, Willie Hutch, Joe Simon, Grant Green, Galt MacDermot (of the "Hair" musical fame) and Johnny Pate.

I love the way the Instrumentals sit so well alongside the bad brother on the streets vocal themes – it makes for a funky and enjoyable boogie (and both discs run to realistic listening times/neither is crammed). Admittedly there are only so many Shaft high-hat rhythms and Blacula wah-wah pedal guitars a body can stand – but overall – the consistency of the movie music on here is deeply impressive. And no matter how many times I hear Bobby Womack's wonderfully evocative "Across 100^th Street" theme song (lyrics above) - I get a jolt to the memory banks allied with a grin on my mush and always think of Pam Grier on that airport walkway at the beginning of Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" film of 1997 where he pays tribute to his lifelong obsession with Blaxploitation movies.

"Can You Dig It? The Music And Politics Of Black Action Films 1968-1975" is a truly brilliant compilation and that it sounds so good and is presented in such an awesome way – makes it all the more impressive. 

Besides – you just know your life is half-full and your home a lesser place without a compilation that has the track "Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile" on it. Yeah Baby…

“Red Clay/Straight Life/First Light” by FREDDIE HUBBARD – A Review Of His First 3 LPs For CTI Records (Creed Taylor Inc) In 1970 and 1971 – Now Remastered And Expanded Onto 2CDs By Beat Goes On Records Of The UK (BGO) In July 2014…

Freddie Hubbard 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

“…Playing It Straight...” 

- Red Clay/Straight Life/First Light by FREDDIE HUBBARD (2014 2CD Remasters)

Produced by Blue Note’s legendary sound engineer Rudy Van Gelder – Trumpeter FREDDIE HUBBARD saw his first three albums for CTI Records (Creed Taylor Inc) released in 1970 and 1971 – and this superb BGO 2CD reissue does those straight-up Jazz pieces a solid. Here are the details…

UK released July 2014 – Beat Goes On BGOCD 1154 (Barcode 5017261211545) breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (66:54 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 4 are the album “Red Clay” – released June 1970 in the USA on CTI Records CTI 6001

Track 5 is a cover version of John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey” and is a Bonus Track

Track 6 is the first cut on the album “Straight Life” – released March 1971 in the USA on CTI Records CTI 6007

Disc 2 (78:12 minutes):

Tracks 1 and 2 are the remainder of the album “Straight Life””

Tracks 3 to 7 are the album “First Light” – released December 1971 in the USA on CTI Records CTI 6013

Tracks 8 and 9 “Fantasy In D” and “First Light (Alternate)” are Bonus Tracks

For “Red Clay” Hubbard’s band consisted of HERBIE HANCOCK on Piano, JOE HENDERSON on Saxophone, RON CARTER on Bass and LENNY WHITE on Drums. For “Straight Life” - JOE DeJOHNETTE replaced Lenny White on Drums and added GEORGE BENSON on Guitar - while the “First Light” sessions kept the “Straight Up” line-up but also added HUBERT LAWS on Flute as well as a host of other Horn and Vibe players.

The 16-page booklet features liner notes by noted musicologist CHARLES WARRING and new interviews with Lenny White about the harrowing recording session with his Jazz heroes in every corner of the studio (he was only in his early twenties). The outer card wrap also lends these BGO reissues a feeling of class – but truth be told – I really miss the gorgeous artwork of those glossy hard-card gatefold sleeves that caught your eye and made you part with cash. The tiny pictures of them don’t do the aesthetic feel of those original vinyl gems any real justice. Shame that. But as ever with BGO – making up for any shortcomings is the fantastic remastered sound…

As you can imagine the Rudy Van Gelder production values on these contemporary Jazz pieces are immaculate throughout and ANDREW THOMPSON’s 2014 remasters bring this to very much to the fore – each cut is warm, clear as a bell and full of presence. The beautiful “Dolphins” (from “Red Clay”) is presented to us with such delicacy – it’s a joy to the ear. Hubbard also dug his Beatles Solo work – the 10-minute outtake on John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey” is suitably jagged, manic and a brilliant interpretation of an awkward song - while Paul McCartney’s “Ram” centrepiece “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” (from 1971) retains the original’s whimsy and pretty melody (nicely mixing in strings with the Trumpet to give a sort of “I Am The Walrus” effect). And the two outtakes from “First Light” are real finds too.

Like so many others Hubbard would go the route of Jazz Fusion on the albums that followed - “Keep Your Soul Together” (1973) and “Polar AC” (1975) – his next phase with the iconic CTI label.

A beautifully done reissue – and despite missing that fab artwork - wholeheartedly recommended…