"Music In A Doll's House" by FAMILY (2003 Charly/Pucka 'Super Bit Mapped' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...All Things Remembered..."

I really have a dislike for Charly Records on CD and all its holding companies and side-names - their stuff is always budget-feel with no mastering credits - sounds like other better labels (they've been done in court over this) - and I'm afraid their 'Pucka' label version of Family's debut album "Music In A Doll's House" (1968) is no different. Having said that the audio is undeniably great and given the rarity of the original British vinyl LP (never mind the superior Repertoire CD reissue of a few years ago in Repro artwork and the December 2014 Japanese SHM-CD now both being so expensive) – PUC 701 is the most reasonable way to get this Sixties masterpiece into your home in digital form.

The spine declares that its 'SBM - Super Bit Mapping' without ever saying from what or where. But at least the six-leaf foldout inlay has decent ROGER DEPSON liner notes that outlay the songwriting history behind these audacious Whitney-Chapman creations (they wrote all tracks except "Never Like This" which was penned by Dave Mason of Traffic) and there's a great period photo of the band beneath the see-through CD-tray. Here are the nitty gritty details...

UK released June 2003 - "Music In A Doll's House" by FAMILY on Charly/Pucka PUC 701 (Barcode 827565001026) is a straightforward CD transfer (with Super Bit Mapping) of the 1968 15-track LP in Stereo and plays out as follows (37:06 minutes):

1. The Chase

2. Mellowing Grey

3. Never Like This

4. Me My Friend

5. Variation On A Theme Of Hey Mr. Policeman

6. Winter

7. Old Songs New Songs

8. Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze

9. Hey Mr. Policeman [Side 2]

10. See Through Windows

11. Variations On A Theme Of Me My Friend

12. Peace Of Mind

13. Voyage

14. The Breeze

15. 3 x Time

Tracks 1 to 15 are their debut album "Music In A Doll's House" - released July 1968 in the UK on Reprise RLP 6312 (Mono) and Reprise RSLP 6312 (Stereo) - the STEREO mix is used. Produced by DAVE MASON (of Traffic) - JIMMY MILLER of Rolling Stones fame co-produced "The Breeze" and "Peace Of Mind" - the LP peaked at No. 35 on the UK LP charts.

FAMILY was:

ROGER CHAPMAN - Lead Vocals, Tenor Saxophone and Harmonica

JOHN WHITNEY – Lead and Steel Guitar

JIM KING – Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Harmonica and Vocals

RIC GRECH – Bass, Violin, Cello and Vocals

ROB TOWNSEND – Drums and Percussion

It opens with the utterly extraordinary vocals of Roger Chapman sounding like Joe Cocker on one too many amphetamines - but as the challenging mini-Prog opera of "The Chase" settles down and segues into the undeniably pretty "Mellowing Grey" - a Violin and Cello ballad enveloped in Mellotron - you're reminded of The Zombies "Odyssey And Oracle" and other such musical brilliance (lyrics from it title this review). Dave Mason's "Never Like This" never showed on a Traffic album (or indeed a solo LP) and its "Hole In My Shoe" London-hippy whimsy still stands up as Chapman tells us of the girl with faraway eyes who pours tea and then asks "...how many lumps...is it two...why not make it five..." Reprise tried the flanged and upbeat guitar of the 'so 60ts' melody "Me My Friend" as a 45 on Reprise RS 23270 in July 1968 - but it tanked. With "Hey Mr. Policeman" on the flip-side - the original British issue on one of those wonderful Reprise yellow labels is much harder to find than its £20+ price tag would indicate. For me "Winter" is one the album's highlights and I've always thought should have been the lead-off 45 - it's soaring melody and restrained Chapman vocal and layered production - had Sixties hit written all over it for me.

The harmonica and saxophone boogie of "Old Songs New Songs" would name the June 1971 compilation album "Old Songs New Songs" (Reprise RPM 9007) that remixed older Reprise material for the audience that picked up on the band after the No. 7 chart success of the "Anyway" LP in November 1970. I'd forgotten how good it is and again those unbelievable Chapman vocals still amaze to this day (dig those choir-like interludes as they sing "...Old Songs...New Songs...Keep On Singing..."). The band also gets to stretch out on those Saxophones. Another short (25 seconds) but cute 'interlude' in "Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze" before we get the sinister "Hey Mr. Policeman" where the singer admits that he'd 'kill for that woman' to the backdrop of drunken slide guitars and country violins - the band sounding like Frank Zappa's Mothers with too many whiskey shots. That same menace permeates "See Through Windows" - the lyrics enacted out in Julian Cottrell's photos on the front sleeve (great guitar solo in this tune). A sitar 20-second 'Variation' swirls in and then disappears before we get the brilliant "Peace Of Mind" - another potential 7" single (co-produced by Jimmy Miller of The Rolling Stones fame). "Voyage" tests my patience the most - all mad guitars and Mellotron sinister - but never quite working for me. Better is the stunning melody running through the 'skirts and trousers' tale of English folk in Parks and on beaches in "The Breeze" - for me the album's most ingenious and accessible song. Family's debut album ends on a surprisingly mellow and upbeat note - like The Kinks first being melodious before deciding - to Hell with it - let's get all knees-up and complicated. 

Roger Depson's liner note surmise that the album was probably 'centuries' ahead of its time and for sure it will not be everyone's cup of Darjeeling in 2016. But if you're prepared to open up those miniature windows and take a peekaboo - there's amazing music inside this 1968 doll's house...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6: 1954" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Earth Angel…" 

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. Their "1954" instalment feels to me like a good place to start. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the shoop-shoop-shoops, doobie shang-a-langs and sh-sh-sh-sh-booms...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6: 1954" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17284 AR (Barcode 4000127172846) breaks down as follows (89:04 minutes):

1. Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - THE PENGUINS (DooTone 348, B-side of "Hey Senorita")

2. Work With Me Annie - THE ROYALS (Federal 12169, A)

3. Gloria - THE CADILLACS (Josie 765, A)

4. Ling, Ting, Tong (Capitol 2945, A)

5. The Wind - THE DIABLOS featuring Nolan Strong (Fortune 511, A)

6. Lovey Dovey - THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 1022, A)

7. My Memories Of You - THE HARP-TONES (Bruce 102, A)

8. Hearts Of Stone - THE CHARMS (DeLuxe 6062, A)

9. Darling Dear - THE COUNTS (Dot 1188, A)

10. I'm Slippin' In - THE SPIDERS (Imperial 5291, A)

11. Sincerely - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1581, A)

12. Honey Love - THE DRIFTERS featuring CLYDE McPHATTER (Atlantic 1029, A)

13. A Thousand Stars - THE RIVILEERS (Baton 200, A)

14. Boot 'Em Up - THE DU DROPPERS (Groove 0036, A)

15. Dear One - THE SCARLETS (Red Robin 128, A)

16. Oop Shoop - SHIRLEY GUNTER and THE QUEENS (Flair 1050, A)

17. God Only Knows - THE CAPRIS (Gotham 304, A)

18. Sh-Boom - THE CHORDS (Cat 104, A)

19. Tryin' To Get To You - THE EAGLES (Mercury 70391, B-side to "Please, Please")

20. I Used To Cry Mercy, Mercy - THE LAMPLIGHTERS (Federal 12176, A)

21. Dream Of A Lifetime - THE FLAMINGOS (Parrot 808, A)

22. Mary Lee - THE RAINBOWS (Red Robin 134, A)

23. Please Remember My Heart - THE SOLITAIRES (Old Town 1006, A)

24. It Ain't That Way - THE HAWKS (Imperial 5292, A)

25. I "Do" - THE "5" ROYALES with Charlie 'Little Jazz' Ferguson and His Orchestra (Apollo 452, A)

26. House With No Windows - THE CHECKERS (King 4710, A)

27. My Daddy Stole My Chippie - THE PLAYBOYS

(unissued December 1954 Atlantic/Cat Records recording, first appeared on the US 1995 2CD set "Don't It Sound Good: The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups" on Rhino/Collector's Choice R2 7160)

28. Maybe You'll Be There - LEE ANDREWS and THE HEARTS (Rainbow 252, A)

29. Oh Yes I Know - THE JEWELS (R and B 1303, A)

30. The Letter - THE MEDALLIONS (DooTone 347, A)

31. Riot In Cell Block No. 9 - THE ROBINS (Spark 103, A)

32. Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite - THE SPANIELS (Vee-Jay 107, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1954 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Atlantic, Baton, Mercury and Robin). The CD repros the uber-rare "Tryin' To Get To You" 45 on Mercury that Elvis covered on his 1956 debut album (a Sun Records cut) and the spine eventually makes up a single photograph when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly and can at times be crude - but the sound quality to my ears is improved on anything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity.

When you get past the big guns you've heard too often like "Earth Angel" and "Gloria" - you get the lesser-heard gems like "The Wind" from September 1954 by The Diablos (delicate and pure Vocal Group magic) and the lovely "My Memories Of You" by The Harp-Tones. November saw "Hearts Of Stone" by The Charms take their cover of a hit by The Jewels up to 15 in the charts. And "Sincerely" by The Moonglows is one of my all-time favourites of the genre - genius. "Dream Of A Lifetime" by The Flamingos shows what a class act they always were - and why they hold such a place in the hearts of Vocal Group collectors.

Rhythm `n' Blues boppers pops up more than once - the fantastic and witty "I'm Slippin' In" by The Spiders has our hero trying to sneak into his home at the three o'clock in the morning without the wife noticing. I bought a reissue album by The Du Droppers at the end of the Eighties (I think it was on De-Tour Records) and it contained the swinging brassy dancer "Boot 'Em Up" with Sam 'The Man' Taylor and Budd Johnson on Saxes with wicked guitar from Riff Ruffin. Another boppin' winner is the Rudolph Toombs Jiver "I Used To Cry Mercy, Mercy" by The Lamplighters with Thurston Harris on throaty Lead Vocals (wicked Sax solo too) as who doesn't dig the R'n'B of The "5" Royales

Rarities come in the shape of "God Only Knows" by The Capris which is a four-piece male group fronted by a lady - Savannah Churchill on Lead Vocals. It's just them and a piano - haunting stuff and a brilliant choice for inclusion. Fans of Elvis Presley will flip for the brilliant "Tryin' To Get To You" by The Eagles. Penned by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton (the same team who brought us "Boot 'Em Up" by The Du Droppers) - it's the Bluesy rendition that Elvis copied almost note for note for his 1956 explosive debut "Elvis". How cool is to have the original rarity (apparently a B-side to "Please, Please"). And although it's hissy the brilliant bopper "Mary Lee" by The Rainbows is new to me ands frankly a find. But a genuine sensation is the $500.00 listed "House With no Windows" by The Checkers - a Bluesy number with Little David Baughan on Lead Vocal (an absolute deadringer for Clyde McPhatter). It's just brilliant and comes at you in stunning audio quality.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have large swathes of this already. Bear will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point. Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them...

"Lord Offaly" by DAVID McWILLIAMS (2016 Esoteric Recordings CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Silken Thomas Is My Name..."

Sandwiched between the Hard Rock of Atomic Rooster's "Made In England" (with Chris Farlowe on Vocals) in June 1972 and the Jug Band Kazoo Shuffle of the King Earl Boogie Band's "Trouble At Mill" in July 1972 (an off offshoot of Mungo Jerry) – Pye Records Prog Rock label imprint DAWN released David McWilliams' singer-songwriter Folk-Rock LP "Lord Offaly" in July 1972 as well - and it was of course promptly lost in the musical mishmash of that mixed-up summer.

In my twenty-plus years of rarity buying for Reckless Records in London – I've seen maybe three or four copies in people's collections resplendent in its lovely textured gatefold sleeve. In fact – despite charting his first three albums on Major Minor Records in the Top 40 LP charts of 1967 and 1968 – Belfast Folky David McWilliams is all but forgotten now (the Atomic Rooster album from June 1972 is three times the rarity value...yet much easier to find).

But in 2016 - up steps reissue heroes Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) to put our wee historical oversight right. Here are the details for this lovingly presented CD reissue...

UK released Friday, 29 July 2016 (August 2016 in the USA) – "Lord Offaly" by DAVID McWILLIAMS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2559 (Barcode 5013929465947) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 10-track 1972 LP and plays out as follows (43:23 minutes):

1. Go On Back To Momma (From The Film "Gold")

2. She Was A Lady

3. I Will Always Be Your Friend

4. Heart Of The Roll

5. I Would Be Confessed

6. Spanish Hope [Side 2]

7. Blind Men’s Stepping Stones

8. Lord Offaly

9. The Prisoner

10. The Gypsy

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th studio album "Lord Offaly" – released July 1972 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3039 and 1973 in the USA on Pye Records PYE 3302 (distributed by Bell Records). Produced by DAVID McWILLIAMS and DAVE HUNT with all songs written by McWilliams – the LP didn’t chart in either country.

The 20-page booklet is pleasingly detailed featuring typically in-depth liner notes from noted writer MALCOLM DOME. The black and white photo that adorned the inner gatefold of the rare original 1972 British LP is reproduced (so to that gorgeous Gil McWilliams artwork), as are the lyrics that sat beneath the photo. It's a damn shame no one has found out who plays what on what (still a mystery) – but all of that pales once you clap your lugs on the actual remaster. Done by BEN WISEMAN at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire – the 24-bit bit digital transfer from original Dawn Records mastertapes is gorgeous – all that beautifully recorded acoustic instrumentation now shining like a sixpence dipped in Coke – layers of dirt removed. This is a fabulous-sounding remaster – and fans of the record will be thrilled with it...

Depicting far out hippy life and 'free love' to a musical backdrop of MC5 whilst 'the man' establishment tries to oppress all of the aforementioned rumpy-pumpy and good times - the film "Gold" was finally released in 1972 (filmed in 1968) - opening with "Go On Back To Mamma" - its theme song supplied by David McWilliams. It immediately feels 'American' in its Emitt Rhodes structures - a better produced Elton John. It turned up as the B-side to the March 1973 UK 7" single to "Gold" on Mother Records MOT 101. Quite why Dawn didn't use one of the album tracks like "Heart Of The Roll" or even "Go On Back To Momma" as a lead-off single is a mystery - the album could have benefitted from such a plug. The pretty "She Was A Lady" feels very Phillip Goodhand-Tate or even Colin Blunstone - sweet piano and vocals from McWilliams. His philosophy of love and comradeship flows out of the overly busy "I Will Always Be Your Friend" while "Heart Of The Roll" is undoubtedly one of the LP's highlights. It feels like Help Yourself or even McGuinness Flint - McWilliams' vocals like the Eggs Over Easy debut album. Beautiful remaster quality on the Side 1 finisher "I Would Be Confessed" - a 'wondering days are through' confessional which sees David delivery a warm song with sincerity.

My personal fave is the beautiful instrumental "Spanish Hope" which opens the more-overtly Folky Side 2 - a ballad where Acoustic Guitars strums are soon joined by a wailing penny-whistle lament - as deeply Celtic as Simple Minds and just as reminiscent. That same Folk Jaunt follows with "Blind Men's Stepping Stones" where the historical chap Emon Lynott 'curses his fate' as he mandolins his way over the Giant's Causeway.  Sounds like a Bouzouki at the opening of "Lord Offaly" - another undoubted highlight on the LP - a very warm melody from McWilliams that chronicles the distrust of England's King Henry by locals in Ireland's Maynooth. Even at 6:33 minutes - it doesn't overstay its welcome and feels like great Fairport Convention or even Sandy Denny. It ends on more history lessons in the plaintive and hurting "The Prisoner" and "The Gypsy" - tales of hungry ordinary folk paying the price for stealing bread and wine and thereafter transformed into rebels at the hands of their heartless landlords...

McWilliams made two more platters for Dawn Records in the shape of "The Beggar And The Priest" in 1973 (Dawn DNLS 3047) and "Living's Just A State Of Mind" in 1974 (Dawn DNLS 3059) and hopefully Esoteric Recordings have those obscurities also in their reissue sights.

"Lord Offaly" is a wonderful album that's way too obscure and shouldn't be. Silken indeed...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 5: 1953" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Crying In The Chapel…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 in clumps of five (May and October) and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the boys Crying In The Chapel...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 5: 1953" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17283 AR (Barcode 4000127172839) breaks down as follows (87:52 minutes):

1. Money Honey - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 45-1006, A)

2. Crying In The Chapel - THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 45-5122, A)

3. Baby, It's You - THE SPANIELS (Chance 1141, A)

4. White Cliffs Of Dover - THE CHECKERS (King 4675, A)

5. Baby Please - THE MOONGLOWS with the Red Holloway Orchestra (Chance CH-1147, A)

6. Is It A Dream - THE VOCALEERS (Red Robin 114, A)

7. Gee - THE CROWS (Rama 5, A)

8. Nadine - THE CORONETS (Chess 1549, A)

9. You're Mine - THE CRICKETS (MGM 11428, A) [Not Buddy Holly's group]

10. Too Much Lovin' (Much Too Much) - THE "5" ROYALES with CHARLIE "LITTLE JAZZ" FERGUSON & His Orchestra (Apollo 448, A)

11. A Sunday Kind Of Love - THE HARP-TONES featuring Willie Winfield (Bruce 101, A)

12. Golden Teardrops - THE FLAMINGOS with Red Holloway's Orchestra (Chance CH-1145, A)

13. Good Lovin' - CLOVERS (Atlantic 45-1000, A)

14. (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I - THE ROBINS (RCA Victor 47-5175, A)

15. My Girl Awaits Me - THE CASTELLES (Grand 101, A)

16. Marie - THE FOUR TUNES with Sid Bass Orchestra (Jubilee 5128, A)

17. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You - BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES (Federal 12129, A)

18. We Could Find Happiness - THE WANDERERS (Savoy 1109, A)

19. I Wanna Know - THE DU DROPPERS (RCA Victor 47-5229, A)

20. Dear Ruth - THE BUCCANEERS with The Joe Whelan Trio (Southern 101, A)

21. Just Walkin' In The Rain - THE PRISONAIRES (Sun 186, A)

22. Get It - THE ROYALS (Federal 12133, A)

23. Lovie Darling - THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 45-995, B-side of "You Are My Only Love")

24. I Had A Love - THE FLAIRS (Flair 1012, A)

25. My Saddest Hour - THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3214, A)

26. Hey Now - TONY WILLIAMS and THE PLATTERS (Federal 12153, B-side of "Give Thanks")

27. I - THE VELVETS (Red Robin 122, A)

28. Baby, Come Back To Me - THE FIVE ECHOES with Fat Cole's Band (Sabre SA-102, A)

29. Nobody's Lovin' Me - THE SWALLOWS (King 4632, A)

30. Big Leg Mama - VANN WALLS and THE ROCKETS (Atlantic 45-988, A)

31. I Can't Believe - THE HORNETS (States S-127, A)

32. You're The One - THE SPIDERS (Imperial 5265, B-side of "I Didn't Want To Do It")

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1953 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Atlantic, Baton, Mercury and Robin). The CD repros the "Good Lovin’" 45 on Atlantic by The Clovers and the spine eventually makes up a single photograph when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but the sound quality to my ears is improved on anything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity (Atlantic tracks especially).

What a difference a year makes - 1953 Vocal Group 7" singles are incredibly hard to find hence the rarities quotient goes through the roof - check out these prices: The Hornets $8000.00, The Buccaneers $4000.00, The Castelles $2000, The Flamingos $1000 (black vinyl), $3000 (red vinyl), The Five Echoes $600 (black vinyl), $1500.00 (red vinyl), The Spaniels $500.00 (black vinyl), $2000.00 (red vinyl), The Moonglows $1000 (black vinyl) and $3000 (red vinyl). Or you can buy The Swallows, The Checkers, The Wanderers and The Prisonaires for a paltry $500.00 each with The Flairs, The Crows, The Five Keys and The Platters putting you back a bargain-basement $400.00 a pop (and so on down The Orioles at a frankly piddly $80.00).

When you get past the big guns you've heard too often like "Crying In The Chapel" and "Gee" - you get the lesser-heard gems like the rare "I" by The Velvets and the gorgeous "You're Mine" by The Crickets (Not Buddy Holly's backing group) - as pure Vocal Group as you can get. "Nadine" (not the Chuck Berry classic) is another slow moody rarity from The Coronets (on Chess). I love the lead vocalist in The Vocaleers "Is It A Dream" - an unusual almost childish ache in his phrasing - so good. And there can't be too many fans who don't have a big place in their hearts for The Harp-Tones and the silky "A Sunday Kind Of Love". The Spaniels and the bluesy Swallows are clever compiler choices too. There’s crackle on the uber-rare “My Girl Awaits Me” by The Castelles for sure but the audio quality on The Robins version of “A Fool Such As I” is utterly stupendous – Bobby Nunn and Grady Chapman sharing the crystal clear audio glories.

Rhythm 'n' Blues boppers pop up more than once - the "my love is yours" saxophone and talking "Get It" by The Royals (the lead singer sounding like Clyde McPhatter) while The Cardinals on Atlantic is that halfway-house mix of R'n'B and Vocal Group. Speaking of great lead vocals "I Wanna Know" by The Du Droppers has our hero pleading, "I wanna know what you do round there?" (not likely to get an answer mate). The Four Tunes go full-on Jackie Wilson "Reet Petite" (complete with warbling vocals) on the fab "Marie" - a great bopping dancer while "Money Honey" by Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters is always worth re-hearing especially in this fabulous sound quality.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have large swathes of this already. Bear will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point. Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them...

"...You keep on loving somebody...while nobody's loving me..." The Swallows croon on King 4632. Give this superb compilation a go and you may find yourself loving it so much - the others in the set will join it in a jiffy...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 4: 1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Won't You Have Mercy Baby..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. 'Have Mercy Baby' because 'This Is Where The Heartaches Begin' if you know what I’m saying 'Rockin' Daddy-O'....

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 4: 1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17282 AR (Barcode 4000127172822) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 85:21 minutes):

1. Have Mercy Baby – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12068, A)

2. The Wheel Of Fortune – THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 958, A)

3. Be True – THE VOCALEERS (Red Robin 113, A)

4. Baby Don't Do It – THE '5' ROYALES with Charlie Ferguson – His Tenor and Orchestra (Apollo 443, A)

5. That's When Your Heartaches Begin – BILLY BUNN and HIS BUDDIES (RCA Victor 20-4657, A)

6. One Mint Julep – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 963, A)

7. But I Forgive You – THE SERENADERS (Coral 65093, A)

8. Every Beat Of My Heart – THE ROYALS (Federal 12064, A)

9. Rock Me All Night Long – THE RAVENS (Mercury 8291, A)

10. Hold Me – THE LARKS featuring Eugene Mumford (Apollo 1194, A)

11. That's The Way It's Gonna Be – THE FOUR KNIGHTS (Capitol 2195, A)

12. Beside You – THE SWALLOWS (King 4525, A)

13. You're Part Of Me – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 845, A)

14. Don't Cry Baby – THE ORIOLES with Buddy Lucas Orchestra (Jubilee 5092, A)

15. Let's Give Love Another Chance – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 20-4968, A)

16. The Last Of The Good Rocking Men – THE FOUR JACKS (Federal 12087, A)

17. Make Me Thrill Again – THE MARYLANDERS with Buddy Lucas and His Band Of Tomorrow (Jubilee 5091, A)

18. Rug Cutter – THE FOUR BLAZES (United 127, A)

19.  Don't Be Angry – THE SULTANS (Jubilee 5077, B-side to “Blues At Dawn”)

20. A Beggar For Your Kisses – THE DIAMONDS (Atlantic 981, A)

21. Can’t Do Sixty No More – THE DU-DROPPERS with Ben Smith’s Quintet (Red Robin 108, A)

22. I've Lost – THE ENCHANTERS (Jubilee 5080, A)

23. Flame In My Heart – THE CHECKERS (King 4558, A)

24. Serve Another Round – THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3158, A)

25. One More Time – THE MEL-O-DOTS featuring Ricky Wells (Apollo 1192, A)

26. You're My Inspiration – THE FIVE CROWNS (Rainbow 179, A)

27. Rockin' Daddy-O – THE HEARTBREAKERS (RCA Victor 20-4662, A)

28. Later – THE FOUR FLAMES (Speciality 429, A)

29. That's What You're Doing To Me – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12059, A)

30. Stormy Weather – THE FIVE SHARPS (Jubilee 5104, A)

31. Ting-A-Ling – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 969, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 77 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 45 labels like Atlantic, Red Robin, King, Jubilee, Savoy, Mercury, RCA-Victor, Coral, Apollo and Specialty (one pic is the uber rare 'red vinyl' version of "Baby Don't Do It" by The '5' Royales on Apollo which books at $400.00) and an occasional trade advert (The Four Buddies at the Circle Theatre in October 1952). The CD repros the rare "Don’t Be Angry" by The Sultans on Jubilee and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 31 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 85:21 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. It's also noticeable how many are Independent labels without whom none of this fabulous music would have seen the light of day. It opens on an upbeat R&B tip with the fantastic boogie of "Have Mercy Baby" by The Dominoes lead by the vocals of the legendary Clyde McPhatter. It was a smash and a huge influence on the young Smokey Robinson who explains in the liner notes how McPhatter's high voice (which seemed to win over the girls) gave him hope. "Wheel Of Fortune" is a known Atlantic Vocal Groups rarity and here it sounds spiffing (really clean). "Be True" by The Vocaleers is a pleader while the shuffling boogie of "Baby Don't Do It" by The '5' Royales is classy R&B. "That's Where Your Heartaches Begin" sounds like a post WWII smoocher – a gorgeous vocal by Billy Bunn who clearly admired The Ink Spots the most.

If I was to pinpoint one song on here that shows up how good the Audio Transfer is – it would be the beautifully recorded "Every Beat Of My Heart" by The Royals (written by Johnny Otis). It's just Lead Baritone Charles Sutton and the close harmony voices of The Royals and a tiny amount of chimes. It sold nada on release and is correspondingly rare as the proverbial hen's molars with a stock copy booked at $1500 while a blue vinyl version will set you back a paltry $3000. And here it is sounded minty fresh. "Hold Me" by The Larks is equally lovely with a top vocal from Eugene Mumford. A welcome upping of the pace comes with The Four Knights and their R&B "That's The Way It's Gonna Be" (a bit rough on the audio though) and then back to pleaders from The Swallows and The Four Buddies. There can't be too many genre enthusiasts who don't hear The Orioles and get a bit weak at the knees – but actually better is the genius inclusion of "Let's Give Love Another Chance" by The Four Tunes where the velvet immaculate voice of Baritone William Best (who also doubled on Guitar) makes the song (this is seriously classy stuff).

Although the transfer is a little rough - I'm loving "The Last Of The Good Rocking Men" – a fantastic R&B shuffler very similar to "Sixty Minute Man" by The Dominoes only with Will 'Dub' Jones on Lead Vocals (the actual lead is the deep voiced Ellison White who used to be with The Wings Over Jordan Choir). What a find and I can completely understand its inclusion despite the crackle. "Rug Cutter" is a Duke Ellington cover by The Four Blazes sounding not unlike Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – wickedly enjoyable. We then get a masterpiece of the genre and a flipside rarity – "Don't Be Angry" by The Sultans (written by Lead Vocalist Clyde Wright). On release it was hooked up with a faster "Blues At Dawn" on the A - but it's the B that draws gasps and I'm not surprised this beautiful pleader ("...don't be angry...let me stay") commands $800+ on the collector’s market. Love the witty R&B dancer "Can't Do Sixty No More" by The Du Droppers where our hero advises his woman that even though he loves her he can’t do that speed anymore...so a short thirty minutes will have to suffice (oh dear).

"Flame In My Heart" and "Serve Another Round" by The Checkers and The Five Keys are Vocal Group and R&B – even if the Five Keys track is a bit rough around the transfer edges. Time to dance with The Mel-O-Dots and The Dominoes who give us infectious boppers "One More Time" and "That's What You're Doing To Me" where Clyde tells us he's "...gonna rock...gonna roll..." - and who am I to disagree. The Five Sharps cut is very rough ("Stormy Weather") clearly dubbed from a worn disc - but the finisher is the wickedly cool and altogether better-sounding "Ting-A-Ling” by The Clovers On Atlantic. To sum up – a hugely enjoyable entry in the series of 15 with many standout moments – the kind of compilation enthusiasts will love.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear... 

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 3: 1951" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Lemon Squeezing Daddy..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. You get 32 tracks and a genre-expanding total playing time of 89:05 minutes – some kind of record I think. So let’s talk about 'The Glory Of Love' with our 'Lemon Squeezing Daddy'...if I might be so bold...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 3: 1951" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17281 AR (Barcode 4000127172815) breaks down as follows (I've provided American 78" catalogue numbers on all tracks – 89:05 minutes):

1. Sixty-Minute Man – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12022, A)

2. The Glory Of Love – THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3099, A)

3. Sweet Slumber – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 779, A)

4. Don't You Know I Love You – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 934, A)

5. Will You Be Mine – THE SWALLOWS (King 4458, A)

6. Baby Please Don't Go – THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 5065, A)

7. Gotta Find My Baby – THE RAVENS (Columbia 39194, A)

8. My Reverie – THE LARKS (Apollo 1184, A)

9. Shouldn't I Know? – THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 938, A)

10. Wine – THE HOLLYWOOD'S FOUR FLAMES (unique 003/Fidelity 3001, A)

11. Where Are You (Now That I Need You) – THE MELLO-MOODS with The Schubert Swanston Trio (Robin 105, A)

12. Who'll Be The Fool From Now On – THE MARSHALL BROTHERS (Savoy 825, A)

13. That's What The Good Book Says – BOBBY NUNN with The Robbins (Modern 807, B-side of "Rockin'")

14. I'm Afraid – BILLY BUNN and His Buddies (RCA Victor 20-4483, A)

15. Asking – THE CAP-TANS (Coral 65071)

16. Lemon Squeezing Daddy – THE SULTANS (Jubilee 5054, A)

17. Heartbreaker – THE HEARTBREAKERS (RCA Victor 20-4327, A)

18. My Dear – THE FOUR DOTS (Dot 1043, B-side of “You Won’t Le Me Go”)

19. Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues – THE FOUR KNIGHTS (Capitol 1707, A)

20. Little Small Town Girl (With The Big Town Dreams) – THE BLENDERS (Decca 27403, A)

21. I Guess You're Satisfied – THE VICTORIANS (Specialty 411, A)

22. I Gotta Go Now – THE RHYTHM KINGS with Isaac Royal & Orchestra (Apollo 1181, A)

23. Just In Case You Change Your Mind – THE 4 DEEP TONES (Coral 65061, A)

24. How Blind Can You Be – THE FALCONS featuring Goldie Boots (Regent 1041, A)

25. Give Me One More Chance – THE ROYALS (Apollo 434, A)

26. Honey Chile – THE DRIFTERS (Excelsior 1314, A)

27. I'll Try To Forget I Loved You – THE VARIETEERS (MGM 10888, A)

28. Rain Is The Teardrops Of Angels – KING ODOM FOUR (Derby 757, A)

29. Would I Mind – STEVE GIBSON and The Original Red Caps (RCA Victor 50-0138, A)

30. May That Day Never Came – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 2200131, A)

31. Fool, Fool, Fool – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 944, A)

32. I Am With You – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12039, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 78 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 78 and 45 labels like Columbia, Apollo, Unique, Robin, Savoy, Dot, RCA Victor, Excelsior, Coral, Regent and Specialty. There is an occasional other photo (a neon of The Robins at the Savoy Ballroom for gigs on the 2, 3 and 4 of July) and a trade advert (The Tingling Harmony of The Four Tunes). The CD repros the rare "Just In Case You Change Your Mind" by The 4 Deep Tones on Coral and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 32 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 89:05 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. It opens with the sublime crossover smash "Sixty-Minute Man" by The Dominoes – one of the wittiest and sexiest of R 'n' B tunes that must have slayed them in the aisles back in the day – the girls screaming as Bill Brown advises them 'to come up and see old Dan' for his one-hour wonder session. We immediately melt into proper Vocal Group magic with the deep harmonies and warmth of "The Glory Of Love" where we "...got to cry a little...and laugh a little..." in order to appreciate the glories of being head-over-heels. We get further sappy sleepyhead with "Sweet Slumber" by The Four Buddies (sounding beautifully clear despite its age) while the slinky 'Don't You Know I Love You" shows why collectors adore the sheer class of The Clovers – surely one of Atlantic's best 50ts R&B acts. Uber rare and sounding awesome is "Will You Be Mine" by The Swallows featuring the sweet Lead of Eddie Rich joined half-way through by Norris 'Bunky' Mack. Perennial favourite of every bar-boogie band that's every existed – Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go" gets a Vocal Group going over by The Orioles (and again sounds fabulous).

"...Well, well...I came home this morning just about the break of dawn...the house was empty...all the pillows was gone..." There can't be any genre lovers who don't get weak at the knees at the deep-as-an-ocean voice of Jimmy Ricks going at a jaunty R&B number backed by The Ravens – what a treat! You’re then hit with a double whammy of vocal-group loveliness - "My Reverie" from The Larks and "Shouldn’t I Know?" by The Cardinals – both sounding glorious and massively evocative of the age. We get boozy with The Hollywood's Four Flames on their drink some "Wine" dancer that is followed by the sombre echo of The Mello-Moods and their cautionary tale of love. Worse - The Marshall Brothers warn us that she may have "...found someone new..." - unforgiveable frankly.

Genius songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller get their first ever record credit on the flipside of a Bobby Nunn 78" – "That's What The Good Book Says" – accompanied by The Robins (misspelt of the label as The Robbins). All the hallmarks of their witty rocking R&B is there – the irresistible rhythm and those great words hat just seem to roll off the tongue "...Noah was taking that brim and mixing it with wine...having himself a real crazy time..." It's followed by a gorgeous inclusion – "I'm Afraid" by Billy Bunn who's crying high falsetto was described by RCA Victor as their answer to Johnnie Ray – and on the strength of this wonderfully evocative smoocher – you have to say that RV weren't talking trash. Chimes lead in Sherman Buckner's unique vocal twinge on the weepy "I'm Asking" as he wonders what made his gal cry (his royalty cheques maybe) - only to have that innocence trounced by the decidedly fruity "Lemon Squeezing Daddy" from The Sultans where Clyde Wright tells us that out in California they grow big and round (whatever can that nice boy be talking about). Gorgeous Audio greets dear listeners for the genre-defining "Heartbreaker" by The Heartbreakers where you can just see five guys in matching suits standing under lampposts singing out their warning to all the ladies – "...I'm a heartbreaker from now on..." (many women in the district packed in relationships for good after this). Clearly dubbed from a very old Dot 78" - "My Dear" by The Four Dots is not just here for sheer rarity value - but because it’s a genuine lost beauty (you wish there was a better take of it).

But best track on the whole compilation may very well be the brilliant "Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues" - a cover of the Les Paul B-side to "How High The Moon" - also from 1951) that does what it says on the tin. You get footsteps acting as the backdrop while the voices go "ooh" throughout and then Lead Tenor Gene Alford starts whistling after his smooth as velvet lines. It's the kind of nugget that will surely turn in some hip TV program soon where a man with a Fedora or Pork-Pie Hat tips the rim at the camera before he shoots someone who deserves his comeuppance. As if "Walkin'..." isn’t sweet surprise enough – you're then hit with another gorgeous winner – the lovely and lilting "Little Small Town Girl (With The Big Town Dreams)" fronted by the beautiful voice of Ollie Jones of The Ravens (what a total peach - it's going on a CD compilation of mine right now). More R&B boppers come in the shape of the organ-driving "I Gotta Go Now" by The Rhythm Kings and "Honey Chile" by The Drifters. Rough transfers include the impossibly rare "I Guess You're Satisfied" (the Specialty 45 is pictured on Page 51) and "Just In Case You Change Your Mind" by The 4 Deep Tones. Final genius inclusion is the beautiful (almost Ink Spots feel to) "Rain Is The Teardrops Of Angels" by the unlikely sounding King Odom Four (what a sweetheart of a tune). Then it all ends on two winners fans will surely own already – "Fool, Fool, Fool" by Atlantic's The Clovers and "I Am With You" by The Dominoes with Clyde McPhatter warbling a goodun (both sounding better than anything I've had them on before)...

To sum up – I hadn't really expected to enjoy this 1951 instalment as much as I have but it's typical of these compilations – surprises and discoveries that floor you. Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. But Bear Family will argue '...not in this sound quality or looking this good...' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by an independent record company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 2: 1950" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…If You See The Tears In My Eyes..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. You get 30 tracks and a genre-expanding total playing time of 83:04 minutes. So let’s talk about a 'Cool Saturday Night' where you're so romantically enamoured with your gal that you'll practically beg the boss at the Fire Station to 'Chief, Turn The Hose On Me'...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 2: 1950" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17280 AR (Barcode 4000127172808) breaks down as follows (I've provided American 78" catalogue numbers on all tracks – 83:04 minutes):

1. Count Every Star – THE RAVENS (National 9111, A)

2. Turkey Hop, Part 1 – THE JOHNNY OTIS ORCHESTRA – Vocal By: The Robins (Savoy 732, A)

3. I'd Rather Be Wrong Than Blue – THE BEAVERS (Coral 65026, A)

4. Do Something For Me – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12001, A)

5. When You Come Back To Me – THE CLOVERS (Rainbow 122, B-side to "Yes Sir, That’s My Baby")

6. Chief, Turn The Hose On Me – THE CAP-TANS (Dot 1018, A)

7. If You See The Tears In My Eyes – THE DELTA RHYTHM BOYS (Atlantic 900, A)

8. At Night – THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 5025, A)

9. Jumping Jack – THE THREE RIFFS (Apollo 1164, A)

10. I'll Never Love Anyone Else – STEVE GIBSON and The Red Caps (Mercury 5380, A)

11. I've Got No Time – THE WHISPERS (Apollo 1156, A)

12. I Will Wait – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 769, A)

13. Old Fashioned Love – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 22-0085, A)

14. Cool Saturday Night – THE STRIDERS (Apollo 1159, A)

15. Do You Love Me – THE CATS and THE FIDDLE (Gotham 239, A)

16. I Don't Mind Being All Alone – THE COLEMANS (Regal 3297, A)

17. Gone (My Baby’s Gone) – THE BLENDERS (Decca 48156, A)

18. I’ll Never, Never Let You Go – THE SHADOWS (Sittin' In With 583, A)

19. She's Gone – THE DOZIER BOYS (Aristocrat 409, A)

20. As Long As I Live – THE FOUR BLUES (Apollo 1160, A)

21. I Don't Have To Ride No More – THE RAVENS (National 9101, A)

22. Mr. Blues – THE MASTERKEYS (Abbey 3017, A)

23. Please Believe In Me – THE CAROLS (Columbia 30210, A)

24. Nevertheless – THE MILLS BROTHERS (Decca 27253, A)

25. My Heart Cries For You – THE 5 LARKS (Apollo 1177, A)

26. Young Girl – THE FLAMES (Selective 113, A)

27. Who Is There To Blame – THE FOUR ACES (4 Star 1408, A)

28. Love Come Back To Me – KING ODOM FOUR (Derby 736, A)

29. Rival Blues – THE RIVALS (Apollo 1166, A)

30. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – THE JUBALAIRES (Capitol 845, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 78 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 78s like Savoy, Derby, Apollo, Abbey, National, Sittin’ In With, Rainbow and Dot and a solitary advert poster for The Cats And The Fiddle. The CD repros the rare "Turkey Hop, Part 1" by The Johnny Otis Orchestra on Savoy and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 30 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 83:04 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. 1950 opens with the "...Da Da Dum..." of "Count Every Star" by The Ravens - the stunning vocals of Louis Heywood out front instead of Jimmy Ricks who provided the Bass lines (classy NYC vocal group sounding gorgeous too). We up a gear for "Turkey Hop" with its R&B shuffle – Bobby Nunn giving it some Bass while the band saxophone shimmies through the later half of this excellent shuffler. Clearly dubbed from a 78" – the audio on the lovely "I'd Rather Be Wrong Than Blue" is still amazing – featuring a beautiful central tenor vocal from Freddy Hamilton that gives us "...you make me tick...you make me tock...just like my grandfather's clock..." Clyde McPhatter sails out of your speakers for "Do Something For Me" while the rest of The Dominoes give it some classy "ooh" in the background. Uber rare flipside "When You Come Back To Me" by The Clovers is a million miles away from their usual rocking Atlantic Records fare – it features the high as a steeple vocals of Johnny 'Buddy' Bailey and came out on the tiny independent Rainbow Records – hardly surprising then that its ballad magic is booked at a cool $1,500. Lead Tenor Sherman Buckner of The Cap-Tan's wants an immediate watering down in "Chief, Turn The Hose On Me" because he’s developed a temperature of 1000 degrees since he kissed his baby (methinks she’s hot).

Old-fashioned harmonies dominate two lovelies in a row – "If You See The Tears In My Eyes" by The Delta Rhythm Boys and "At Night" by The Orioles – both emotionally hopeless pleaders. Time to bop when The Three Rifts want you to do the "Jumping Jack" – and irresistible saxophones and piano boogie will make sure you comply. Worse sounding track has to be "I'll Never Love Anyone Else" by Steve Gibson & The Red Caps clearly taken from a wrecked disc – but it's so rarely ever heard – inclusion is a clever choice. The audio immediately leaps into the startling with "I've Got No Time" by The Whispers where the unknown Lead Vocalist sounds like Brook Benton in full-on wooing mode (what a lovely tune). More audio excellence follows in the charming and innocent "I Will Wait" by The Four Buddies where Leon 'Larry' Harrison puts in a stunning vocal backed by the "oohs and aahs" of his singing pals and a simple guitar (a brilliant choice by the compilers).

Impossible romantic yet not cloying in any way – the gorgeous "Old Fashioned Love" by The Four Tunes is wonderful stuff up until they inexplicably punch up the pace to fast half way through it and ruin the loving vibe created in the first half. The chant of "Ping, ping, ping..." time opens "Cool Saturday Night" where the weather is not on the minds of The Striders - pining like muppets in a local park for their gals. Rough transfer for "I Don't Mind Being All Alone" by The Colemans (still a pretty song though) while romance dominates "I'll Never, Never Let You Go" by The Shadows and the swooning "As Long As I Live" by The Four Blues where the Lead Vocalist assures us that "...love sees with the heart and not the mind..." (so he ain't going nowhere). "...Daddy why should you roam...when everything you want is right here at home..." sings Jimmy Ricks in the saucy "I Don't Have To Ride No More" by The Ravens (I hope that boy’s listening). More bopping fun comes in the shape of "Mr. Blues" by The Masterkeys where the group want Mister Blues to come back and Hucklebuck some more (and shout too if he feels up to it).

Undiluted genius arrives with The Mills Brothers (a colour photo of them adorns Page 57) and a beautifully transferred "Nevertheless" where they croon those immortal opening lines "...Maybe I'm right and maybe I'm wrong and maybe I'm weak and maybe I'm strong...but nevertheless I'm in love with you..." The audio on this truly lovely song is reference – congrats to all involved. And on it goes with more crooners in "Young Girl" by The Flames, "Who Is There To Blame" by The Four Aces and "Lover Come Back To Me" by King Odom Four. It has to be said that the last few cuts mentioned and "Rival Blues" by The Rivals that follows them are all dubbed from badly worn discs – so don't expect miracles on the Audio front. It ends on a real high though - a wistful winner from The Jubalaires called "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" where the boys happily advise all to "...have faith in your dreams...and your rainbow will come smiling through..." - I say amen to that.

To sum up – 1950 seemed to be dominated by smoochers and pleaders telling us of their undying fidelity and commitment so this is probably the most out-and-out 'romantic' compilation in the series so far. By the time you get to 1951 and onwards - lewd naughtiness and rambunctious behaviour was creeping in and people were having more fun (thank Gawd). Having said that - the run is broken up nicely with just enough fun R&B dancers to make it enjoyable – even if some of those transfers are rough. Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. But Bear Family will argue '...not in this sound quality or looking this good...' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by an independent record company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...