"Slow Motion" by MAN (2008 Esoteric Recordings Expanded CD – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review By Mark Barry...

"...You've Been Packing All Your Life..."

Following the critical and commercial success of "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" in May of 1974 – MAN wasted no time in popping out their 9th UK LP "Slow Motion" in November of that productive year - once again winning plaudits from their loyal fans and glasses raised by music press critics alike. If anything “Slow Motion” showed maturity and inspiration in the songwriting and a very definite 'Man Sound' in the twin lead guitars of Deke Leonard and Micky Jones. And the album cover photo got banned by the people at Mad magazine too (how very street cred). Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) have colluded and canoodled with the remaining band members directly and reissued their entire vinyl catalogue from 1969 through to 1977 (see list below) in real style. Here are the details for entry number nine...

UK released May 2008 (June 2008 in the USA) – "Slow Motion" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2062 (Barcode 5013929716223) pans out as follows (72:46 minutes):

1. Hard Way To Die

2. Grasshopper

3. Rock And Roll You Out

4. You Don’t Like Us

5. Bedtime Bone [Side 2]

6. One More Chance

7. Rainbow Eyes

8. Day And Night

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 9th album "Slow Motion" – released November 1974 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29675 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA345-G

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Rock And Roll You Out (First Mix) – Previously Unreleased

10. A Hard Way To Live (Live) – non-album B-side to "Day And Night" – a UK 7” single issued May 1975 on United Artists UP 35739

11. Hard Way To Die (Live)

12. Somebody's Calling (Live)

13. May Are Called, But Few Get Up (Live)

14. A Hard Way To Live (Live) – tracks 11 to 14 recorded live at The Keystone, Berkeley, California in April 1975 – Previously Unreleased

For "Slow Motion" MAN was:

DEKE LEONARD – Lead Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals

MICKY JONES – Lead Guitars and Vocals

KEN WHALEY – Bass and Vocals

TERRY WILLIAMS – Drums and Percussion

The 16-page booklet features new liner notes by DEKE LEONARD recalling how the album was made (the stunts pulled by Foghat at Rockfield Recording Studios) and has repros of rare European Picture Sleeves for the one 45 pulled off the album – "Day And Night" b/w "A Hard Way To Live". There’s musical trade adverts for tours with Badfinger, Chris Darrow, Neil Innes and A Band Called 'O' – as well as Rick Griffin’s full painting of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Newman holding a fish which was clipped to only show the fish and a bit of his famous smile. There’s also the telex sent by Leonard to the record company as an explanation of who played what – it was famously printed verbatim complete with errors and gobbledygook. The superb remaster has been handled by PASCHAL BYRNE at Audio Archiving using original master tapes.

"Hard Way To Die" opens the proceedings with a wallop – a clever duet of the vocal being aped by the guitar – coming on like Wishbone Ash when Laurie Wisefield joined them in 1974 – both rocky and melodious at the same time. And you’re also hit with the audio quality of the remaster – easily the best sounding Man CD to date. "Grasshopper" feels like Lindisfarne circa "Dingly Dell" – an acoustic ballad filled with clever vocal breaks – and again with top- notch sound (the drums and bass now perfectly pitched in the mix). "Rock And Roll You Out" feels like "Bananas" Part II – a jaunt on guitar that bewails our hero not being able to get into a gig – woman left me – they’re all locking the boys out. Side 1 ends on "You Don't Like Us" which might have been single number two – except that the aggressive lyrics would have probably put the punters off.

"Bedtime Bone" sounds most like the Prog of "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" from 1972 – guitars battling it out with treated keyboards interspersed with Bluesy chord changes and suitably doomy lyrics. "One More Chance" feels weedy at first but then goes into a great vocal/guitar duet like "Hard Way To Die" and wins the day. Stuart Gordon does a great job of arranging the strings on the Dennis Wilson "Pacific Ocean Blue" vocals of the lovely "Rainbow Eyes" – as sophisticated an acoustic tune as they’ve ever managed. The album ends on the Badfinger Pop/Rock of "Day And Night" – an obvious single with great guitar licks flying over a driving beat.

The extras are cleverly chosen – opening with a 30 August 1974 ‘First Mix’ of a strong album track "Rock And Roll You Out" which at 4:37 minutes sounds only marginally different to the finished version (but in a good way). The B-side "A Hard Way To Live" was recorded live at The Chicago Auditorium on 21st of March 1974 at "The 1999 Party" and for much of its duration sounds like a great Rocking studio track with that weedy organ sounding like Rory Gallagher's studio band. The four Previously Unreleased Live Tracks has the band in tight condition – Prog Rock mixed with Boogie – eliciting yelps from the small but enthusiastic crowd. My fave here is "Somebody's Calling" – a fantastic boogie tune that runs to only 2:53 minutes – it's not dissimilar to Ten Years After with that Man guitar sound instead of Alvin Lee. An exciting addition to the Man cannon...

So there you have it – like its predecessor "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" - "Slow Motion" is remembered with affection – and on the evidence submitted here - for a reason. A forgotten 70s album that shouldn’t be forgotten - reissued by a label that cares...

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010.

Esoteric have reissued and remastered the entire MAN catalogue in the same upgraded manner with full co-operation from the band (see list below) and I’ve reviewed 4, 6, 9 and 10 to date.

'MAN DISCOGRAPHY' for Esoteric Recordings CD Reissues (2007 to 2014):

1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)

2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)

4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

5. Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)

6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (November 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with "Map Of Wales" insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)

7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)

8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)

9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)

10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)

11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)

12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)

13. All's Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 (Discs 2 and 3) newly mixed from the 24-track tapes. There is also a repro of the "History Of Man" insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)

"The Lost Motown Album" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR (June 2015 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review for Mark Barry...

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RATING: *****

 

"...How Sweet He Is..."

Motown lovers/aficionados will be licking their lips in glee on this one – and with damn good reason. Supposed to have been issued on the Motown subsidiary label Soul SS-722 in early 1971 – the vinyl album "How Sweet He Is" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR was cancelled at the last minute and unceremoniously pulled from the schedules – thereafter remaining a sought-after holy grail for label collectors and lovers of quality Soul.

Five of the 12 cuts made it onto American 7" singles and a further three tracks later turned up on various European CD compilations in the Nineties and Naughties (see lists below). But what's so exciting about this 2015 CD reissue is that researchers for Ace Records of the UK went back into the vaults looking for the album and its associated B-sides and found 'dozens' of outtakes of an extremely high quality. Hence this Expanded CD Remaster gives you the whole 12-track album intact at last and in gorgeous remastered audio – along with a whopping 13 Bonus Tracks - 10 of which are Previously Unreleased. It’s a bit of a reissue sensation really. Here are the vaulted details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "The Lost Motown Album" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 434 (Barcode 029667243421) is a 25-track CD compilation and breaks down as follows (77:28 minutes):

1. Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy

2. Just Another Lonely Night

3. If This World Were Mine

4. A Little Too Much

5. We Can Work It Out

6. Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love)

7. On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World

8. Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me)

9. I'm Gonna Carry On

10. I Feel Like I’m Falling In Love Again

11. You Turn Me Around

12. I Just Can't Forget About You Baby

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "How Sweet He Is" by The Fantastic Four - reputedly scheduled for American release in early 1971 on Soul SS-722 but cancelled...

"Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy" and "Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love)" were first released in August 2010 on the CD compilation "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" (Motown 882 4009). The cover version of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine" first appeared on the September 1998 CD compilation "Motown Sings Motown Treasures" (Motown 530 960 2).

Three US 7" singles on the Soul Label were issued around the aborted album as follows:

1. I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again b/w Pin Point It Down

Released 13 March 1969 in the USA on Soul 35058 (No UK equivalent)

The version of "I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love" on the album is Stereo at 3:09 minutes – the Mono Single edit at 2:48 minutes can be found on the 2007 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969". The B-side was non-album and is track 15 on this CD compilation.

2. Just Another Lonely Night b/w Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me)

Released 23 September 1969 in the USA on Soul 35065 (No UK equivalent)

The versions on the album are Stereo at 3:04 and 3:01 minutes respectively. The Mono single mixes at 2:54 and 3:12 minutes can be found on the 2007 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969".

3. On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World b/w I'm Gonna Carry On

Released 23 April 1970 in the USA on Soul 35072 (No UK Equivalent)

The versions on the album are Stereo at 3:57 and 2:56 minutes respectively. The Mono single edits at 2:48 and 2:45 minutes respectively are available on the 2008 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10: 1970"

BONUS TRACKS:

13. How Big Is Your Heart

14. It Keeps Raining Down Tears

15. Pin Point It Down

16. Loving You (Is Hurting Me)

17. I've Found My Goal

18. Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy

19. Fan The Flame

20. In A Bad Way

21. I Hate Myself For Loving You

22. I'm Still A Struggling Man

23. Forgive My Jealousy

24. I Shall Not Be Moved

25. The Double Cross

"Loving You (Is Hurting Me)" first appeared on the October 2007 CD compilation "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 3" (Motown 530 3228 2). "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" first appeared June 2003 on the CD compilation "Tamla Motown Connoisseurs, Volume 2" (Spectrum 067 016 2).

The booklet firstly has 4-pages of detailed track-by-track breakdowns – Producers, Recording Dates, Overdubs etc – followed by 8-pages of new liner notes from Soul Expert and long-time Ace associate TONY ROUNCE (a name that’s graced probably hundreds of reissues). The text is peppered with repros of those rare Soul labels (American white label promos too) along with a few publicity shots of the four lads – (Brothers) Joe and Ralph Pruitt, Toby Childs and lead Vocalist "Sweet" James Epps.

Hailing out of Michigan's Detroit - this Soul Group's history with Motown was a frustrating one. Moving on from the small-time independent of Ric Tic to the now mighty Motown must have seemed like a logical step but it turned out to be one of missed opportunities and a career staler (they had further hits in the mid to late Seventies with Westbound Records). Of the 11 singles The Fantastic Four released on Ric Tic Records between 1966 and 1968 – they charted an impressive five (with "The Whole World Is A Stage" going as high as Number 6). But newly signed to Motown - apart from "I Love You Madly" on Soul 35052 which managed Number 10 on the American R&B charts in May 1969 – the band couldn’t get arrested on Berry Gordy's Mothership. And it wasn’t because they lacked the vocals – out front was one of Soul Music’s truly great (unheralded) voices – "Sweet" JAMES EPPS (he's on the far right of the photo). Weighing in at a sizeable poundage – he looks like Solomon Burke but has the sweet pipes of Eddie Ruffin crossed with Ben E. King. This guy has 'SWEET SOUL' in his vocal chords like James Brown has 'HEAVY FUNK' hotwired into his very DNA. It’s now fairly clear that the album title was going to centre around Epps’ name – How "Sweet" He Is – but compiler TONY ROUNCE speculates that perhaps Motown had intended for him to go Solo. Whatever happened – we’re left with the musical legacy...so let’s get to that...

You’re hit with two pleasing elements on first hearing the Side 1 opener "Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy" – the quality of the NICK ROBBINS Remaster and the gruff edge of Epps fantastic voice. This is classy sophisticated late Sixties Soul (the song traces back as far as April 1967 for its backing track with overdub vocals added in 1969). By the time you get to the warm and lovely strings of "This World Is Mine" (Stereo Version) – the vocals are as touching as Soul singing gets. Heartache and drinking pour out of "A Little Too Much" – once again his voice backed up by "too much" chants from the boys. The cover of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" is good rather than great for me but far better is "On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World" which is a typically grieving Motown mid-tempo tune with clever use of a harpsichord. You also notice the omnipresent talents of Producers Al Kent and Bobby Taylor – each of their Productions reeking of that suave Soul sophistication that seemed effortless to the label in the late Sixties. The whole album holds up very well and leaves you wondering why pull such a classy collection...

Of the bonuses there’s a non-album B-side in "Pin Point It Down" – two CD compilation exposures for "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)" and "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" in 2003 and 2007 respectively – and the rest are new for 2015. Things get off to a very promising start with "How Big Is Your Heart" – a shoe in surely for some Northern Soul compilation to come – where Epps sounds so like Eddie Kendricks letting rip. But genuinely gorgeous comes in the form of "It Keeps Raining Down Tears" – a smoocher about walking in the park before his baby says goodbye. The B-side is fab too as are so many of the others...

In their 40th Anniversary Year of reissues – "The Lost Motown Album" by The Fantastic Four is a wonderful release from Ace's Kent Soul label imprint – the kind of CD that only reaffirms why this brilliant reissue company has been beloved by collectors for four solid decades. Way to go boys and a Reissue of the Year for 2015...

CD Reissues (to July 2015) by ACE RECORDS covering the MOTOWN label:

1. Dance With The Contours – THE CONTOURS (March 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 350)
2. Just A Little Misunderstanding: Rare And Unissued Motown 1965-68 - THE CONTOURS and DENNIS EDWARDS (June 2014, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 419)
3. The Lost Motown Album – THE FANTASTIC FOUR (June 2015, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 434)
4. It Moves Me: The Complete Recordings 1958-1964 - EDDIE HOLLAND (January 2012 2CD Set, Ace CDTOP2 1331)
5. The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway with Bonus Tracks from The Motown Vaults - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (November 2013, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 406)
6. Love & Desire: The Patrice Holloway Anthology  – PATRICE HOLLOWAY (June 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 354)
7. I’ll Pick A Rose For My Rose: The Complete Motown Recordings 1964-1971 - MARV JOHNSON (April 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 351)
8. Here Comes...The Complete Motown Stereo Masters - SHORTY LONG (March 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 369)
9. Say You! The Motown Anthology 1963-1968 - THE MONITORS (June 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 355)
10. The Complete Motown and Tamla Singles Plus – THE SATINTONES (April 2010, Ace Deluxe CDLUX 002)
11. Truly Yours: Their First Motown Album With Bonus Tracks 1963-1967 - THE SPINNERS (June 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 371)
12. Finders Keepers: Motown Girls 1961-1967 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (March 2013, Ace CDTOP 1364)
13. Satisfaction Guaranteed: Motown Guys 1961-69 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (October 2014, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 424)
14. The One Who Really Loves You/Two Lovers: Two Classic Motown Albums - MARY WELLS (December 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 387)

"Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" by MAN (2007 and 2014 Esoteric Recordings EXPANDED CD REISSUE Of Their 1972 LP on United Artists) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Map Of Wales..."

With its elaborate laminate gatefold sleeve and gorgeously illustrated pop-up "Map Of Wales" inner (which is reproduced both sides as a separate sheet and housed in a pouch on the left flap of this CD digipak) - Man’s sixth studio album "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" on United Artists used to be a stalwart of secondhand record shops – along with other faves like 1974's "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" and "Slow Motion". It remains a fan favourite and a good entry point into the more stoner rock elements of this fondly remembered Welsh Prog Rock band...

Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have afforded the 1972 record a lavish CD reissue that comes resplendent with two instrumental extras (there’s also a digital download version available). And in truth - having not listened to my vinyl copy in many decades – I’d forgotten how good this 4-track beast actually is. Here are the self-flagellating details...

UK released November 2007 (reissued June 2014) – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2019 (Barcode 5013929711921) pans out as follows (65:23 minutes):

1. C'mon (11:05 minutes)
2. Keep On Crinting  (8:18 minutes)
3. Bananas (9:28 minutes) [Side 2]
4. Life On The Road (7:18 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 4 are the studio album "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" by MAN – released November 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29417 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA077-F.

BONUS TRACKS:
5. Bananas (Early Instrumental Version) (7:05 minutes)
6. Rockfield Jam (3:14 minutes)

MAN was:
Guitars & Vocals - MICKY JONES
Guitars & Vocals – CLIVE JOHN
Keyboards & Vocals – PHIL RYAN
Bass & Vocals – WILL YOUATT
Drums and Percussion – TERRY WILLIAMS

The three-way foldout digipak holds a 16-page booklet in the right flap and the repro'd "Map Of Wales - Man's Family Jungle" pop-up in the left. There are breakdowns of everyone’s backgrounds and which bands they all came from or migrated into (their revolving door line-up touched upon a huge number of British bands like The Grease Band, Pete Brown’s Piblokto, Badfinger, Gentle Giant and Eyes Of Blue – to name but a few). The booklet has new and witty liner notes by long-standing band member DEKE LEONARD explained how the group kicked him out as Lead Guitarist for this album and brought on board MICKY JONES instead. The text and reminiscences are peppered by memorabilia – a 'aveMANana' button, a Sundown stage pass from September 1972, an October 1972 ticket stub, January to February UK tour dates advertised in one of the trade newspapers of the time, on stage and in the studio photos and other items of 1972/1973 note. It’s very tastefully done.

But the big news is a new remaster from original tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE – a name associated with a whole slew of much-praised Prog Rock CD reissues – the Polydor, Decca, Deram, Island and Vertigo 3CD Mini Box Sets on Universal (I've reviewed all of them – see my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1960s and 1970s Volume 1" Book for full and detailed reviews). BEN WISEMAN and head honcho at Esoteric MARK POWELL remastered the bonus cuts – again from 8-track master tapes. The audio is fantastic – really bringing out the duelling guitars – the bass is warm too – but I’d say that the Terry Williams drums lack a certain something. They’re way back in the mix and I don’t know if that’s just the way they were recorded in July of 1972 at Rockfield Studios (produced by Dave Edmunds) or something that can’t be made better in the transfer. For instance on "Bananas" at about 2:40 when the song goes into that beautiful keyboard solo – not surprisingly the keyboard pings are to the fore as are the chiming guitars left and right – but you’re also aware that the rhythm seems to be in the background distance – just a little too much.

The album opens with "C'mon" – a sort of boogie riff that builds and builds – lyrics first "get up!" – guitar battles – then about three minutes in – it suddenly slows like a Yes magnum opus would and goes into this slow marching pace bluesy/trippy passage where the Phil Ryan keyboards suddenly add this whole extra Prog Rock dimension to the song – and it doesn’t quit for the whole eleven-minute duration. It's actually a magnificent passage of music – very 1970s – but also very good. Finishing Side of the original vinyl LP - "Keep On Crinting" is an instrumental that lasts a paltry seven minutes  - but is still a huge part of the MAN set playlist to this day. It’s probably one of their most musical Prog pieces – the guitars counter-melody off each other – and this time at least you can hear the drums. Side 2 gives us a perennial that no MAN concert can be without – "Bananas". Again the guitars do battle and are very much to the fore in the mix – the drums once again pushed back when you wish they had more oomph. The Ten Years After chugging-boogie of "Life On The Road" ends the record in style ("...ain't got no money...living in a caravan..."). Thankfully the guitars and rhythm are in-your-face this time (in a good way) – in fact it feels like The Allman Brothers have sent up camp in Pontypridd...

At first I thought the first Bonus Track "Rockfield Jam" a rather pointless instrumental of just over three minutes that showcases some good guitar playing but otherwise remains a bit disappointing. But the bugger’s actually grown on me. Genuinely better however is the Alternate Early Version of a huge fan fave – "Bananas". This early version is minus the lyrics about marijuana that used to thrill audiences so. It’s a couple of minutes shorter than the final album cut but still has that great guitar battle/duet thing going on for its duration – it’s a genuinely superb bonus.

So there you have it – "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" is a wicked early Seventies Rock album that’s been done a proper solid by a reissue label that cares.

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010. Esoteric have reissued and remastered the entire MAN catalogue in the same upgraded manner with full co-operation from the band (see list below) and I’ve reviewed 4, 6, 9 and 10 to date.

Esoteric Recordings MAN discography is as follows:
1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)
2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)
3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)
4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)
5. Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)
6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (November 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with "Map Of Wales" insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)
7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)
8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)
9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)
10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)
11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)
12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)
13. All's Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 (Discs 2 and 3) newly mixed from the 24-track tapes. There is also a repro of the "History Of Man" insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)

"Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2015 Ace/Kent Soul CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Gettin' Back Into Circulation..."

The first volume in this series "Dore L.A. Soul Sides" issued in April 2014 – caused a bit of a stir amongst lovers of Sixties Soul (Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 417). With a tasty stew of 24 more cut from the same Soul cloth (2 Previously Unreleased) – Volume 2 is likely to elicit just as much affection and excitement (even if the audio is not as sharp as one would have hoped for). Here are the elusive West Coast details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 433 (Barcode 029667243322) is a 24-track CD compilation and fleshes out as follows (65:03 minutes):

1. Getting’ Back Into Circulation – THE ENTERTAINERS IV (2015 Previously Unreleased Remix of a 1965 USA 7” single on Dore 759, A)

2. I’m Givin’ You Notice Baby – THE FIDELS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 761, A)

3. What Did You Gain By That? – KENARD (1970 USA 7” single on Dore 848, A)

4. Wind In My Sails – THE SUPERBS (1972 USA 7” single on Dore 872, A)

5. Funny With my Stuff – THE NATURAL RESOURCES UNPOLLUTED (1971 USA 7” single on Dore 854, A)

6. Pictures In My Window – EDDIE WILLIAMS (1970 USA 7” single on Dore 839, A)

7. That’s What Love Will Do – MILTON JAMES (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 767, A)

8. I Wanna Chance – THE VOWS (1962 USA 7” single on Markay 103, A)

9. I Want You – DEE TORRES (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 762, A)

10. My Pillow – THE DARLINGS (1963 USA 7” single on Dore 677, A)

11. We Together Baby – SMOKY & THE BEARS (1967 USA 7” single on Dore 790, A)

12. Keep On Movin’ – LITTLE JOHNNY HAMILTON & THE CREATORS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 760, A)

13. The Girl That I Loved – BOBBY & EDDIE UNLIMITED (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 809, A)

14. Nitty Gritty City – THE SWANS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 777, A)

15. I Only Cry Once A Day Now – THE PUFFS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 757, A)

16. Goddess Of Love – THE SUPERBS (1965 USA 7” single on Dore 739, A)

17. Nothing Lasts Forever – THE NATURAL RESOURCES (1969 USA 7” single on Dore 1003, A)

18. Just Ain’t My Day – THE ENTERTAINERS IV (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 802, A)

19. Stuffin’ The Bird – RAMLING WLLIE & THE EUOPHONICS (1976 USA 7” single on Dore 918, A)

20. Just A Little Ugly – GAIL ANDERSON (1981 USA 7” single on Dore 973, A)

21. This Girl Is A Good Girl – JOHNNY BRAFF (1975 USA 7” single on 904, A)

22. Saigon To San Francisco – TOUSSAINT McCALL (2015 Previously Unreleased Dore Recording)

23. As I Sit Here – THE WHISPERS (1965 USA 7” single on Dore 740, A)

24. I Look In The Mirror – EDDIE KOOL (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 807, A)

Notes:

Tracks 1 and 22 are Previously Unreleased – all tracks are MONO except 1, 19, 20 and 22 – which are STEREO

The 16-page booklet by long-standing Northern Soul expert and lover ADY CROASDELL and gives a track-by-track history of what’s what and who slept with who...while NICK ROBBINS has done the remasters. There are label repros of rare American 45s for Dore, Nu-Sound, Mackay, Dee Dee Sounds  and Burn Records as well as publicity shots of Little Johnny Hamilton and The Superbs as well as a Trade Advert for The Whispers from April 1968. Tasteful and informative...

It opens with a devastating one-two - both of which are likely to send Northern Soul aficionados (and dancers in general) into something of a lather – an alternate mix of “Gettin’ Back Into Circulation” by The Entertainers IV and the Motown brass-belter “I’m Givin’ You Notice Baby” by The Fidels. I can’t imagine what they cost as 45s but I’m thinking there wouldn’t be much change from a month’s salary (each). We then enter the realm of the genuinely strange – a Soul song that sounds more like some bizarre socially conscious message tune sung by Kenard (lead singer with The Entertainers). Many thought it was never released – it’s rougher than the preceding tracks but is included for its £1000+ rarity value. The Superbs have had their Kent-Soul “Best Of” CD compilation (CDKEND 417) and their “What Did You Gain By That” is another talcum-powder shuffle.

The pace ups with the 1971 “Funky With My Stuff” which is very Shaft influenced (and in a good way). Flicking back to 1966 “Pictures In My Window” by Eddie Williams feels epic too but suffers from what seems to have an ever so slight pitch wobble. The Milton James cut is worse sounding like it was mastered from a stretched tape. Things pick audio-wise with the very Smokey Robinson vocal group feel to “I Wanna Chance” – a lovely mixture of Girl-Group and Soul. That same feel continues with “I Want You” by Dee Torres where the guitar almost feels like Hank Marvin of The Shadows doing Soul with another vocalist at the mike.  Identikit to “Louie Louie” – “We Together Baby” by Smoky & The Bears is a great dancing instrumental that packs a mean punch. Although it’s good – “Keep On Movin’” again sounds ever so slightly bootleg – but I can hear why its been included (very Mayfield). Another winner is “Nitty Gritty City” by The Swans as is the truly funky instrumental “Stuffin’ The Bird”. Traditional Vocal Groups warmth wafts over you as The Whispers do “As I Sit Here” – quite possibly the loveliest track on here.

It’s not all genius for sure and unfortunately the Audio really dips on quite a few tracks – but the feel of a 'discovery' hangs over so many of the more Soulful sides. Kent-Soul buyers will love it...