"The Singles Volume 10: 1975-1979" by JAMES BROWN featuring The JB's and Martha High (2011 US Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology - Seth Foster Remasters) - No. 10 in a Series of 11 - A Review by Mark Barry

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HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

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"…Get Up Offa That Thing…And Dance 'Til You Feel Better…"

I've been diligently collecting this series of 2CD sets since they started in 2006, and this 10th installment is the fifth twofer to cover his extraordinary Seventies output (Volumes 6, 7, 8 and 9 are the others and feature 1970 to 1975).

Volume 9 had a feeling of JB winding down in terms of quality – treading water a lot of the time, and despite Volume 10 feeling somewhat the same, there is still greatness to be heard on this latest edition. Details first...

All tracks are credited to JAMES BROWN except where noted and the pairing of numbers below are the A & B-sides of US 7" singles. 

Released 11 February 2011 on Hip-O’s own website in the USA (British released Monday 28 March 2011) - "The Singles Volume 10: 1975-1979" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0015279-02 (Barcode 602527622408) is a 2CD set of Remasters and breaks down as follows…(all catalogue numbers are US 7” singles unless otherwise noted):

Disc 1 (77:23 minutes):

1. Superbad, Superslick Part I

2. Superbad, Superslick Part II

Tracks 1 and 2 are Polydor PD 14295, released September 1975 (for 2, see also Track 5)

3. Dooley’s Junkyard Dogs      

4. Dooley’s Junkyard Dogs - Short Version

Tracks 3 and 4 first appeared as a Promo 7” single in November 1975 on Polydor PRO-005, then was issued as a Stock Copy in January 1976 on Polydor PD 14303

5. Hot (I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved, Loved)

Tracks 5 (and 2 above) are the A&B sides of Polydor PD 14301, released December 1975

6. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons

7. Goodnight My Love

Tracks 6 and 7 are Polydor PD 14304, released March 1976

8. Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time – Part 1

9. Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time – Part 2

Tracks 8 and 9 are People PE 664, released May 196 [credited to THE J.B.’S with JAMES BROWN]

10. Get Up Offa That Thing

11. Release The Pressure

Tracks 10 and 11 are Polydor PD 14326, released June 1976

12. I Refuse To Lose        

13. Home Again

Tracks 12 and 13 are Polydor PD 14354, released August 1976

14. Bodyheat (Part 1)

15. Bodyheat (Part 2)

Tracks 14 and 15 are Polydor PD 14360, released December 1976

16. Kiss In 77

17. Woman

Tracks 16 and 17 are Polydor PD 14388, released April 1977

Disc 2 (75:36 minutes):

1. Give Me Some Skin

2. People Wake Up And Live

Tracks 1 and 2 are Polydor PD 14409, released July 1977 [credited to JAMES BROWN AND THE J.B.’S]

3. Summertime

4. Take Me Higher And Groove Me

Tracks 3 and 4 are Polydor PD 14433, released November 1977 [A-side credited to MARTHA and JAMES (Duet Vocal With Martha High)]

5. If You Don’t Give A Dogone About It

6. People Who Criticize

Tracks 5 and 6 are Polydor PD 14438, released January 1978 [credited to JAMES BROWN and The New J.B.’s]

7. Love Me Tender

8. Have A Happy Day

Tracks 7 and 8 are Polydor PD 14460, released March 1978 [credited to JAMES BROWN and The New J.B.’s] (Track 7 was used again — as a B-side to track 11)

9. Eyesight

10. I Never, Never, Never Will Forget

Tracks 9 and 10 are Polydor PD 14465, released April 1978

11. The Spank

Track 11 (and Track 7) are Polydor PD 14487, released July 1878

12. Nature (Part I)

13. Nature (Part II)

Tracks 12 and 13 are Polydor PD 14512, released September 1978

14. For Goodness Sakes, Look At Those Cakes (Part 1)

15. For Goodness Sakes, Look At Those Cakes (Part 2)

Tracks 14 and 15 are Polydor PD 14522, released October 1978

16. Someone To Talk To (Part I)

17. Someone To Talk To (Part II)

Tracks 16 and 17 are Polydor PD 14540, released December 1978

18. It’s Too Funky In Here

19. Are We Really Dancing

Tracks 18 and 19 are Polydor PD 14557, released May 1979

Like Volumes 8 and 9 (see separate reviews), the 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at — a hugely informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert posters, trade adverts, magazine covers and a thoroughly detailed recording Sessionography. The inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has an advert for a concert at the Miami Baseball Stadium with a string of guests including B.B. King - it's exceptionally well done...

And again (as in previous issues) SETH FOSTER has expertly handled the first-generation master tapes for the single mixes - he's done a truly superlative job — warm, clear and fabulously alive. There is hiss on some cuts like "Summertime" - but mostly the music jumps out of the speakers at you — gorgeous sound. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay (it doesn’t give numbers, but presumably it's a worldwide limited edition of 5000 copies like its predecessor).

Disc 1 opens strongly with 2 great driving-funky singles — “Superbad, Superslick” and “Dooley’s Junkyard Dogs” (I think the shortened B-side is better than the longer An on Dooley’s). The sample of David Bowie’s “Fame” provides the backbeat for “Hot [I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved)” where James steals back a little of what everyone stole from him. Unfortunately there follows a cringingly bad disco version of the Nat King Cole 1946 standard “[I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” with an equally cruddy version of the Jesse Belvin 1956 hit “Goodnight My Love” on the flip. Things improve on “Everybody Wanna Get Funky…” even if the false crowd start irritates a bit – it’s good – but what comes next is another league altogether. “Get Up Offa That Thing…And Dance ‘Til You Feel Better…” was shouted by JB at a lack-lustre audience and he had a hit in his brain. Done with a new band and fresh enthusiasm, they got it down in one take – and it funks like a mother. 

It’s followed by another double-winner – the fast and funky jam “I Refuse To Lose” and its bluesy B-side “Home Again” (great stuff and both sounding spectacularly clear). “Bodyheat” is superb funk too - fully deserving its Number 13 position on the USA R&B charts. “Kiss In 77” is JB in Teddy Pendergrass loverman territory and it only half works, but its B-side “Woman” is far better – stylistically harking back to his 1966 King Records classic “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”.

Disc 2 has its dogs as well – his terrible cover of Presley’s “Love Me Tender” no matter how heartfelt it was smacks of opportunism almost a full year after Elvis’ death, while the cloying “Someone To Talk” is sappy pap. His duet with Martha High on the Gershwin cover of “Summertime” is actually quite good, but when we get to tracks like “Eyesight” and “Nature”, Brown just sounds out of time – and worse – he even sounds naff. It ends on a good note though – “It’s Too Funky In Here”.

To sum up – Volume 10 is similar to Volume 9 – the good and great vying with precisely the opposite (Volumes 7 and 8 are much better). But if you really want to know why he got the title "The Godfather of Soul" in the first place - and especially why funk fans dig him so much - then buy this superbly featured reissue and concentrate only on the good stuff.

By the end of the Seventies, James Brown wasn’t troubling the national charts too much, but there’s enough on here to convince that JB truly was a genius. When all others had fallen by the wayside, he was still capable of producing the goods…

“Duster/Country Roads & Other Places” by THE GARY BURTON QUARTET (2014 Beat Goes On CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

“…Ensemble Integrity…”

This is a smart reissue – and done with real style. Indiana-born Vibraphonist GARY BURTON was already seven albums into a remarkable career at the age of only 24 (he was spotted by fellow label mate and country star Chet Atkins). This beautiful sounding BGO CD reissue offers fans two hugely sought-after vinyl Stereo rarities - his 8^th and 9^th LPs on RCA Records.

UK released August 2014 - Beat Goes On BGOCD 1157 (Barcode 5017261211576) breaks down as follows (68:01 minutes):

1. Ballet

2. Sweet Rain

3. Portsmouth Figurations

4. General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan

5. One, Two, 1-2-3-4

6. Sing Me Softly Of The Blues

7. Liturgy

8. Response

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album “Duster” – released 1967 in the US and UK on RCA Records LSP-3835

9. Country Roads

10. The Green Mountains

11. True Or False

12. Gone, But Forgotten

13. Ravel Prelude (Le Tombeau De Couperin: Prelude)

14. And On The Third Day

15. A Singing Song

16. Wichita Breakdown

17. My Foolish Heart

18. A Family Joy

Tracks 9 to 18 are the album “Country Roads & Other Places” – released 1969 in the USA on RCA Records LSP 4098 and in the UK on RCA Records SF 8042

The first LP has GARY BURTON on Vibes, LARRY CORYELL on Guitar, STEVE SWALLOW on Bass and RICHARD HAYNES on Drums with JERRY HAIN replacing Coryell on Guitar for the 2^nd album.

The chunky 20-page booklet has detailed and informative liner notes by noted genre expert CHARLES WARING with reminiscences from the great man himself and full session/recording facts. There’s pictures of Burton in the studio (complete with hip goatee), repro’d artwork and a lovely card slipcase on the outside. But what really hits you is the stunning audio quality. From the moment “Ballet” opens “Duster” and on to “General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan” – the 2014 ANDREW THOMPSON remaster hammers home the craftsmanship of the playing and the gorgeous BRAD McCUEN production values for both records.

The playing is exquisite throughout and the Steve Swallow (of Stan Getz’s band) and Michael Gibbs original songs more than impress – they’re full of beautifully played moments allowing both Coryell and Hain to let rip on their guitars while Gary does his tasteful thing in the background.

A beautifully realized remaster with quality presentation - top notch - and a definite reissue of 2014 in my book…

"Don't You Want To Rock?" By WYNONIE HARRIS (May 2015 Ace Records 2CD Remasters) - A Review Of Mark Barry...

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"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

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"...Jumpin' Like Mad..."

Ace Records of the UK have been steadily putting out these classy "Acetate Series" CD compilation for shouters and players from the golden age of American Blues and R'n'B for some years now. 

And their latest gives Nebraska's irrepressible WYNONIE HARRIS a long-anticipated double-whammy (literally). Once a featured Lead Singer with Lucky Millinder's Band – Harris was 34 and at the peak of his singing abilities when he joined the mighty King Label in November 1947. 

So Ace have gone the distance on this 48-track twofer for a man who is held in as much affection as Louis Jordan on Decca. Disc 1 gives you 23 Masters on King Records - while Disc 2 jumps up and offers an amazing 25 'Alternate' Boogies – all making their Previously Unreleased debut on CD. It's a Rockin' Fest  for sure - so let's get to the good time details right away...

UK released 25 May 2015 (19 June 2015 in the USA) – "Don't You Want To Rock? – The King and Deluxe Acetate Series" by WYNONIE HARRIS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1124 (Barcode 029667071925) boogies as follows:

Disc 1 – The Masters (62:48 minutes):

1. Love Is Like Rain (1948 USA 78" on King 4217, A)

2. Rose Get Your Clothes (1948 USA 78" on King 4202, A)

3. Wynonie's Boogie (1948 USA 78" on King 4202, B-side to "Rose Get Your Clothes")

4. Your Money Don't Mean A Thing (1948 USA 78" on King 4217, A)

5. Good Morning Mr Blues (April 1948 USA 78" on King 4210, A)

6. Blow Your Brains Out (June 1948 USA 78" on King 4226, B-side to "Lollipop Mama")

7. Blowin' To California (1948 USA 78" on King 4252, B-side to "Bite Again, Bite Again")

8. Crazy Love (Comes Love) (23 December 1947 recording, first appeared on the 1968 UK LP "Kings Of Rhythms & Blues" on Polydor 623 273 credited to Tiny Bradshaw & Wynonie Harris)

9. Bite Again, Bite Again (1948 USA 78" on King 4252, A)

10. Lollipop Mama (June 1948 USA 78" on King 4226, A)

11. I Believe I'll Fall In Love (1948 USA 78" on King 4445, A)

12. Grandma Plays The Numbers (1948 USA 78" on King 4276, B-side to "I Feel That Old Age Coming On")

13. She Just Won't Sell No More (1948 USA 78" on King 4292, A)

14. I Want My Fanny Brown (September 1949 USA 78" on King 4304, A)

15. I Feel That Old Age Coming On (1948 USA 78” on King 4276, A)

16. Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee (1949 USA 78" on King 4292, AA)

17. All She Wants To Do Is Rock (September 1949 USA 78" on King 4304, AA)

18. I Can’t Take It No More (1949 USA 78" on King 4342, B-side to "I Like My Baby's Pudding")

19. Sittin' On It All The Time (1949 USA 78" on King 4330, AA)

20. I Like My Baby's Pudding (1949 USA 78" on King 4342, AA)

21. Baby, Shame On You (1949 USA 78" on King 4330, A)

22. Oh Babe! (1949 USA 78" on King 4418, AA)

23. Teardrops From My Eyes (1949 USA 78" on King 4419, A)

Tracks 22 and 23 credited to Wynonie Harris with Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra

Disc 2 – The Alternates (69:14 minutes):

1. Good Rockin' Tonight – Take 1 (Breakdown) of King 4210

2. Good Rockin' Tonight – Take 2 of King 4210

3. Love Is Like Rain – Take 3 of King 4217

4. Wynonie's Unissued Blues – Take 2

5. Baby, Shame On You – Take 1 of King 4330

6. I Believe I'll Fall In Love – Take 1 of King 4445

7. Don't You Want To Rock? – Take 1

8. Love Is Crazy (Crazy Love) – Take 2

9. Good Morning Mr Blues – Take 1 of King 4210

10. From Good To Bad Blues – Take 1

11. Grandma Plays The Numbers – Alternate of King 4276

12. She Just Won't Sell No More – Take 2 of King 4296

13. Love Is Crazy (Crazy Love) – Take 1

14. I Want My Fanny Brown – Alternate of King 4304

15. I Feel That Old Age Coming On – Take 1 of King 4276

16. Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee – Take 3 of King 4292

17. All She Wants To Do Is Rock – Take 3 of King 4304

18. Sittin' On It All The Time – Take 1 of King 4330

19. I Like My Baby's Pudding – Take 2 of King 4342

20. Triflin' Woman – Take 1 of King 4415

21. Oh Babe! – Take 1 of King 4418

22. Teardrops From My Eyes – Take 1 of King 4419

23. Don't You Want To Rock? – Take 2

24. Love is Crazy (Crazy Love) – Take 3

25. Good Rockin' Tonight – Unedited Master of King 4210

The 16-page booklet (and the inside of the back inlay) picture a whopping 16 of those cool-looking King 78"s while rarities on Vogue Records of the UK and even a King DJ 10” get a look in ("Triflin' Woman", King 4415, A). In-between all that are American trade adverts and publicity photos showing a suited Wynonie clowning it up with a order-waitress and a woman dressed in cowboy duds packing a pistol (nice). Liner-notes hero TONY ROUNCE discusses every session in detail explaining that most cuts barely got past 3 takes (the band was so tight) - it’s the usually classy affair from Ace.

DUNCAN COWELL has handled the transfers/remastering – and given that many of these are scratchy 78”s and Acetates – the audio is remarkable right through both discs – full of beans and life. Only on certain tunes like "All She Wants To Do Is Rock" do the clicks and pops threaten to overtake proceedings.

The risqué is never far from the surface in titles like "She Won’t Sell No More" where our hero laments a lady whose been rumbled by the cops and has had to curtail her open all hours business. "Lollipop Mama" is typically witty and clever R'n'B fare where the band gets a rare vocal talk-in before Harris launches into that trademark "Well!" shout on "Grandma Plays The Numbers" – a song that has the old biddy feeling fruit in the marketplace to get inspiration for the Lottery. Rudolph Toombs' masterpiece "Teardrops In My Eyes" would of course be a sensation for Ruth Brown over on Atlantic Records in October 1950 – Harris keeps its R’n’B lilting pace in tact.

Disc 2 is a blast. It opens with a one-minute breakdown on the legendary "Good Rockin' Tonight" where someone hits a bum note. Take 2 isn't as rough as Take 1 and its like eavesdropping on history – tremendous stuff. "Wynonie's Unissued Blues" comes from a 13 December 1947 session in New York (the first of four sessions that month) – Syd Nathan getting a stockpile of usable tunes in the can before the Recording Ban of 1948. The blasting R'n'B of "Baby, Shame On You" features superb Tenor Saxophone work from a young Dexter Gordon while the staggeringly incorrect "I Want My Fanny Brown" tells us that a 40-year old will make you come back for more. 

Once again (and disappointingly) the wonderful swing of "All She Wants To Do Is Rock" is pretty rough in its transfer – better is a very clean "I Like My Baby's Pudding" where our hero sings the praises of his lady recipes (nice of him you have to say). In ends well on a very ballsy and clear 'unedited' master of "Good Rockin' Tonight" that only reminds you of how important a crossover record it was.

"...Have you heard the news...there's Good Rockin' Tonight...." – Harris sang on that King Records classic. And we've been at it ever since. Amen to that...