"Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul" by ARETHA FRANKLIN (October 2007 UK Rhino 2CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Taking Care Of Business..." 

Jerry Wexler: "...It started to get good in there…"

Aretha Franklin: "...Yes it did…"

For Queen Of Soul fans/lovers of Atlantic Records and their talent-nurturing genius - listening to a clearly enamoured Jerry Wexler talk to Aretha Franklin from the control booth during the Demo recording of "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" is a truly gobsmacking thing - like eavesdropping on magic (the dialogue above). This fabulous and long-awaited plunder of her historic sessions at Atlantic Records between 1967 and 1974 is a dream come true. Here are the 'what it is' details…

UK and USA released in October 2007 – "Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul" by ARETHA FRANKLIN is a 35-track 2CD set on Rhino R2 272188 (USA) and Rhino 8122-79970-3 (in the UK and Europe) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (66:15 minutes)

1. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) [1967 Demo]

2. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) [1967 Demo]

3. Sweet Bitter Love ["Aretha Arrives" outtake, 1967]

4. It Was You [a James Brown cover, "Aretha Arrives" outtake, 1967]

5. The Letter ("Aretha Arrives" outtake, 1967]

6. So Soon [a Van McCoy cover, "Aretha Arrives" outtake, 1967]

7. Mr. Big ["Aretha Now" outtake, 1968]

8. Talk To Me, Talk To Me ["Soul '69" outtake, 1969]

9. The Fool On The Hill [a Beatles cover, "This Girl's In Love With You" outtake, 1968]

10. Pledging My Love/The Clock ["Pledging My Love" is a Johnny Ace cover – a non-album B-side to "Share Your Love With Me", 1969 USA 45 on Atlantic 2650]

11. You're Taking Up Another Man's Place [an Isaac Hayes/David Porter song, "Spirit In The Dark" outtake, 1970]

12. You Keep My Hangin' On [a Holland-Dozier-Holland song, "This Girl's In Love With You" outtake, 1968]

13. I'm Trying To Overcome [an outtake from the "This Girl's In Love With You" and "Spirit In The Dark" sessions, 1968]

14. My Way ["Spirit In The Dark" outtake, Frank Sinatra cover, 1970]

15. My Cup Runneth Over ["Young, Gifted & Black" outtake, 1972]

16. You’re All I Need To Get By (Take 1)

17. You’re All I Need To Get By (Take 2) [16 and 17 are an Ashford & Simpson song (a hit for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) – they're outtakes from 1970 – alternate versions to the single Atlantic 2787]

18. Lean On Me [Joe Cobb/Van McCoy song, non-album B-side to "Spanish Harlem", 1971 USA 45 on Atlantic 2817 (not the Bill Withers song)]

Disc 2 (72:38 minutes):

1. Rock Steady (Alternate Mix) ["Young, Gifted & Black" outtake, 1972]

2. I Need A Strong Man (The To-To Song) ["Young, Gifted & Black" outtake, 1972]

3. Heavenly Father ["Young, Gifted & Black" outtake, 1972]

4. Sweetest Smile And The Funkiest Style ["Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" outtake, 1973]

5. This Is ["Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" outtake, 1973]

6. Tree Of Life [a Gene McDaniels cover, "Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" outtake, 1973]

7. Do You Know ["Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" outtake, 1973]

8. Can You Love Again ["Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" outtake, 1973]

9. I Want To Be With You [“Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)” outtake, 1973]

10. Suzanne [Leonard Cohen cover - “Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)” outtake, 1973]

11. That's The Way I Feel About Cha (Alternate Version) [a Bobby Womack cover - "Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" outtake, 1973]

12. Ain't But The One – with RAY CHARLES and DAVE GRUSIN [a Duke Ellington cover]

13. The Happy Blues ["Let Me In Your Life" outtake, 1974]

14. At Last ["Let Me In Your Life" outtake, 1974]

15. Love Letters ["Let Me In Your Life" outtake, 1974]

16. I'm In Love (Alternate Vocal) [a Bobby Womack song and Wilson Pickett cover, “Let Me In Your Life” outtake, 1974]

17. Are You Leaving Me (Demo)

The 24-page booklet has enthusiastic and knowledgeable liner notes by Soul legends - (Original Producer) JERRY WEXLER and (Noted Writer) DAVID RITZ – the text peppered with in-the-studio photos of Aretha giving it some welly at the microphone and piano. Rhino’s resident tape-wizards BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH have done the transfers and remasters – and wonderful stuff it is too – especially on the Seventies tracks where the production values seemed to just go through the roof.

While many with launch straight into those early Sixties classics – what I love are finally getting to hear two stunning B-sides – her truly beautiful rendition of the Johnny Ace classic "Pledging My Love" doubled with a track called "The Clock" and the fabulous "Lean On Me" (written by Joe Cobb and Van McCoy). Fans have been after these for decades. One of my favourite of her Seventies albums is the forgotten and underrated "Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)" from 1973. How cool is it to see no less than 8 outtakes from its sessions - and for that matter four equally cool tunes from 1972's "Young, Gifted & Black" LP. "Suzanne" (a Leonard Cohen cover) is given an Aretha soulful workout - as is Gene McDaniel's "Tree Of Life". And God is never far from her thoughts – so "Heavenly Father" is filled with emotion as The Sweethearts Of Soul give it in some spirited backing vocals. But proper gorgeous goes to "Can You Love Again" (writer unknown) – what a discovery…

This 2CD out outtakes and rarities set is a triumph – a kind of 'dip in' treasure trove – an embarrassment of riches. Is it any wonder that Jerry Wexler stood in awe as she sang! During those halcyon days in Atlantic Records – it's abundantly obvious that Aretha Franklin was the 'real deal' – the Queen of Soul - proving herself worthy of that crown...over and over again…

"The 8th Day...Plus/I Gotta Get Home...Plus" by THE 8TH DAY feat Melvin Davis (September 2009 Edsel 2CD Remasters, 1971 and 1972 Albums On Invictus and More) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I've Got A Story To Tell You..."

After the song-writing partnership of Holland-Dozier-Holland (Edward-Lamont-Brian) left Motown in the late Sixties, they set up the INVICTUS and HOT WAX labels in the States featuring hot new soul acts like Chairman Of The Board, Freda Payne, Parliament, The Honey Cone, Ruth Copeland, Laura Lee etc.

Part of a slew of UK releases covering all those acts and both of those labels (see list below) - "The 8th Day...Plus/I Gotta Get Home...Plus" by THE 8TH DAY on Edsel ESCD 2068 (Barcode 740155206635) is a superbly presented 2CD Anthology of the H-D-H band fronted by the fantastically expressive vocals of MELVIN DAVIS.

This UK September 2009 remastered 2CD set gathers up both of their rare early Seventies albums, non-album single sides and other related tracks and play out as follows...

Disc 1 (48:26 minutes)

1. She's Not Just Another Woman

2. You've Got To Crawl (Before You Walk)

3. Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)

4. La-De-Dah

5. Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Mo (Three's A Crowd)

6. Just As Long

7. I Can't Fool Myself

8. I'm Worried

9. I've Come To Save You

Tracks 1 to 9 is their debut US album "The 8th Day", April 1971 on Invictus ST 7306

Tracks 10 is "She's Not Just Another Woman", April 1971 USA 7" single mix on Invictus IS 9087 (it's B-side is the album track "I Can't Fool Myself" - Track 7)

Track 11 is "Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Mo (Instrumental)" - it turns up re-titled as "Get Your House In Order" which was issued in 1974 as the instrumental B-side to "Sittin' On A Time Bomb (Waitin' For The Hurt To Come)" by LEE CHARLES on Invictus ZS7 1260 (both tracks were non-album)

Tracks 12 and 13 are "If I Could See The Light In The Window" and "(If I Could See The Light In The Window (Instrumental)", Non-Album A&B of their 3rd US 7" single released December 1971 on Invictus IS 9107

Disc 2 (50:36 minutes):

1. I Gotta Get Home (I Can't Let My Baby Get Lonely)

2. Cheba

3. Good Book

4. Anything

5. Rocks In My Head

6. Faith

7. Get Your Mind Straight

8. Heaven Is There To Guide Us

Tracks 1 to 8 is their 2nd US album "I Gotta Get Home (I Can't Let My Baby Get Lonely)", April 1972 on Invictus ST 9809

Track 9 is "You Made Me Over", a 1973 USA 7" solo single by MELVIN DAVIS on Invictus ZS7 1259

Tracks 10 and 11 are "I'm Worried (Single Edit)" and "Just As Long (Single Edit)", non-album shortened versions of tracks from "The 8th Day" LP issued in 1972 as a MELVIN DAVIS solo single on Invictus IS 9115

Track 12 is "It's Instrumental To Be Free", a non-album B-side to "You've Got To Crawl (Before You Walk)" issued September 1971 on US 7" single Invictus IS 9098

Track 13 is "Free Your Mind" - it's a remix of "It's Instrumental To Be Free" (Track 12) and it appeared as the B-side of the UK 7" single "Love Machine" by THE POLITICIANS on Hot Wax HWX 114

The 16-page booklet has affectionate and informative liner notes by noted British soul lover and expert TONY ROUNCE while the remastered sound by ALCHEMY is warm, clear and gorgeous to the ear (surprisingly free of hiss).

Their debut album opens with a lethal one-two sucker punch - "She Not Just Another Woman" and "You Gotta Crawl (Before You Walk)" - 20 seconds into either and you're hooked. It's easy to see why both reached number 3 on the US R'n'B charts in 1971. This is truly fabulous Seventies soul with one foot still in the Sixties vibe; it's The Temptations - it's Stevie - it's Jackie Wilson on Brunswick with a little RCA Sam Cooke thrown in. It sounds like a reinvigorated Motown hit-making machine with a point to prove - the arrangements, the tight band, the wonderful brass fills that make your feet tap - all topped by the killer vocals of Northern Soul favourite MELVIN DAVIS (who toured as recently as Summer 2009 to rapturous applause by soul lovers hungry for the real deal). Then just as you're about to pigeonhole The 8th Day as a H-D-H singles-machine, you get the stunning seven and a half minutes of "Just As Long" - as lovely a soul ballad as you're ever likely to hear - that starts out almost as an instrumental and then builds - so sweet.

Niggles - the liner notes for Disc 2 have IS 9098 as 9090 and IS 9115 as 9117 - both miscredited in the booklet - and collectors will know that there's a 7" single edit of "You Gotta Crawl" which lops off 15 seconds from the album version that could have been put on here, but it's a minor exclusion.  Besides - prior to the availability of the Net - and as someone who's worked in second-hand records shops for nearly 20 years - I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually seen copies of these rare US LPs and singles.  What a treat to have them all finally presented to us - and in such a cool way too.

Great stuff Edsel - love it, love it, love it - recommended big time.

PS: other titles in this series are:

1. CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD - Give Me Just A Little More Time Plus... (Featuring bonus albums by GENERAL JOHNSON and HARRISON KENNEDY) (Edsel EDSD 2053, 2CDs)

2. CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD - Bittersweet + Skin I'm In + Bonus Album by DANNY WOODS Aries  (Edsel EDSD 2055, 2CDs)

3. RUTH COPELAND - Self Portrait + I Am What I Am albums Plus... (Edsel EDSD 2067, 2CDs)

4. HOLLAND-DOZIER-HOLLAND - Love & Beauty - The Complete Invictus Masters (Edsel EDSD 2056, 2CDs)

5. PARLIAMENT - Osmium Plus... (Edsel EDSS 1031, 1CD)

6. FREDA PAYNE - Band Of Gold + Contact  + The Best Of + Reaching Out (Edsel EDSD 2054, 2CDs)

PPS: for those who want to go deeper into the Invictus and Hot Wax labels, Sequel Records of the UK released a huge number of related CDs in 1999 featuring artists not covered in this 2009 reissue series - some of those names are 100 Proof Aged In Soul, Flaming Ember, The Politicians, The Glass House, Barrino Brothers, Eloise Laws and several cool Various Artist compilations like "Invictus Chartbusters"

"The Columbia Masters" by EARTH, WIND & FIRE - 1972 to 1990 (June 2012 UK Sony/Legacy 16CD Clamshell Box Set with Remasters and Bordered Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Let's Groove…"

With 15 albums (2 of which were originally vinyl doubles) and a packed Bonus Disc personally chosen by the band's principal songwriter and guiding force Maurice White - there’s a huge cache of Soul/Funk goodies on here – so let's get to the cosmic details right away. 

Released June 2012 – "The Columbia Masters" by EARTH, WIND & FIRE is a 16CD Mini Box Set on Sony Legacy 88697894692 and breaks down as follows:

1. Last Days And Time, November 1972 album, 11 tracks, 39:52 minutes

2. Head To The Sky, May 1973, 6 tracks, 36:39 minutes

3. Open Our Eyes, March 1974, 11 tracks, 39:53 minutes

4. That's The Way Of The World, March 1975, 8 tracks, 38:54 minutes

5. Gratitude, November 1975 2LP set, 16 tracks, 66:11 minutes

6. Spirit, October 1976, 9 tracks, 36:23 minutes

7. All 'n' All, November 1977, 11 tracks, 38:58 minutes

8. The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol.1, November 1978, 10 tracks, 40:10 minutes

9. I Am, June 1979, 9 tracks, 37:40 minutes

10. Faces, November 1980 2LP set, 17 tracks, 66:07 minutes

11. Raise!, November 1981, 9 tracks, 38:30 minutes

12. Powerlight, March 1983, 9 tracks, 41:20 minutes

13. Electric Universe, November 1983, 8 tracks, 37:19 minutes

14. Touch The World, November 1987, 10 tracks, 42:47 minutes

15. Heritage, February 1990, 17 tracks, 51:22 minutes

16. Constellations – The Universe Of EW&F, 2012 Exclusive, 16 tracks, 68:10 minutes

Their first two albums "Earth, Wind & Fire" (1971) and "The Need Of Love" (1972) were both on Warner Brothers in the USA – so are not covered by this box set. And the eagle-eyed collectors amongst you will also have noticed the absence of bonus tracks on all albums when the 1999 and 2001 Legacy single-issue CD remasters all had about 4 extras each. But there is Disc 16 – which has "Live From Rio" stuff, 12" instrumental mixes and duets.

The chunky 40-page mini booklet is fabulous – well put together with full album annotation – an Intro from Leo Sachs – photos of singles and publicity photos. Overall mastering is by Mark Wilder – but a quick listen to any disc and its clear that the Legacy remasters of old have been used – and that means great sound quality throughout. And a bonus for us who appreciate our Repro Artwork – each card is a gatefold – even the albums that had a single sleeve issue initially.

The chart statistics surrounding EWF are staggering - "Shining Star", "Sing A Song", "Getaway", "Serpentine Fire", "Got To Get You Into My Life" (a Beatles cover), "September", "Let's Groove" and "System Of Survival" were all Number 1s in the USA R 'n'B Billboard charts. Every other chart entry they had between 1973 ("Evil") and 1990 ("For The Love Of You” with MC Hammer) are all here too – nearly 40 of them! But what a set like this does is to allow you to dip into those lesser-travelled paths – the stunning Fusion instrumental "Power" on "Last Days And Time" – the lovely Isley Brothers Soul of "Keep Your Head To The Sky" – the out-and-out Power Funk of "Mighty Mighty" (a Number 4 in March 1974) – and the irresistible floor-filling joy of "Let Me Talk" which opened the ambitious double-album "Faces".

Sixteen CDs worth of EWF is probably a little too much for the average Soulster (a single Best Of will do) – but at its presently reduced price of just over a twenty spot – in 2014 "The Columbia Masters" doesn't half offer ludicrously great value for money. And all of it sounding like it's ready to put ants in your pants. Always a joyous Soul and Funk band – Earth, Wind & Fire's "The Columbia Masters" is a winner…