"Touch [1980]/Con Funk Shun 7 [1981]/To The Max [1982]" by CON FUNK SHUN (November 2011 UK Cherry Red/Robinsongs Compilation - 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs Plus Four Bonus 12" Single Versions) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Lady's Wild..." 

A clever reissue this – 3 primo CON FUNK SHUN albums from their Eighties Soul-Funk stride lumped together onto 2 remastered CDs with 4 x 12" Single Mixes tagged on as Four Bonus Tracks. That's a lot of Shun for your Mun. Where's my dancing shoes baby. Here are the let's ride and slide details...

UK released November 2011 - "Touch/Con Funk Shun 7/To The Max" by CON FUNK SHUN on Cherry Red/Robinsongs CDBRED 519 (Barcode 5013929151932) offers 3LPs from 1980, 1981 and 1982 Remastered onto 2CDs Plus Bonus Tracks that pans out as follows:

Disc 1 (75:33 minutes):

1. Too Tight [Side 1]

2. Lady's Wild

3. Give Your Love To Me

4. Pride And Glory

5. Kidnapped! [Side 2]

6. Welcome Back To Love

7. Touch

8. Can't Say Goodbye

9. Play Widit

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 6th vinyl album "Touch" – released December 1980 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-4002 and February 1981 in the UK on Mercury 6337 154

10. Lady's Wild (12" Version)

11. Body Lovers (12" Version)

12. Bad Lady [Side 1]

13. I'll Get You Back

14. Body Lovers

15. Promise You Love

Tracks 12 to 15 are Side 1 of their 7th vinyl album "Con Funk Shun 7" (aka "7") – released December 1981 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-4030

NOTE:

Tracks 10 and 11 are BONUS TRACKS on CD1

Disc 2 (72:45 minutes):

1. If You're In Need Of Love [Side 2]

2. Straight From The Heart

3. A Song For You

4. California 1

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of their 7th vinyl album "Con Funk Shun 7" (aka "7") – released December 1981 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-4030

5. Ms. Got-The-Body [Side 1]

6. Let's Ride And Slide

7. Everlove

8. Hide And Freak

9. You Are The One

10. Take It To The Max [Side 2]

11. Love's train

12. Ain't Nobody Baby

13. T.H.E. freak

Tracks 5 to 13 are their 8th vinyl album "To The Max" – released November 1982 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-4067

14. Ms. Got-The-Body (12" Version)

15. Ms. Got-The-Body (Instrumental Version)

NOTE:

Tracks 14 and 15 are BONUS Tracks

The 8-page inlay pictures rare 7" 45-singles on Mercury, album artwork and has a basic history of the band and the albums by RALPH TEE. Long-standing remaster Engineer ALAN WILSON has done the transfers – and because the albums were superbly produced in the first place – that has passed over to the remasters. "7" and "To The Max" sound incredible – as clear and as muscular as you would want.

The emphasis is on Soul Funk ala Gap Band, Kool & The Gang and Heatwave with smoochy ballads inbetween all that booty shuffling. I’ve been after the EWF Funk of "I'll Get You Back" from "7" for years now and it sounds just brill here. Another winner is "Too Tight" – even if the mix is a tad weedy for 1981 while "Give Your Love To Me" is a pretty ballad. The slappy bass intro to "Touch" sums up their sound – aimed at the rear and not the head – great fun.

Packing great value for money on both CDs (check the extended playing times) - fans should dive in – especially given the upgraded sound...

PS: Other Robinsongs CD Remastered Comps for CON FUNK SHUN include:

1. Loveshine/Candy (1978 and 1979 LPs onto 1CD - Robinsongs CDMRED 428)

2. Touch/Con Funk Shun 7/To The Max (1980, 1981 and 1982 3 x LPs + 4 Bonus 12" Single Sides onto 2CDs - Robinsongs CDBRED 519

3. Fever/Electric Lady (1983 and 1985 LPs onto 1CD - Robinsongs CDMRED 636)

"Loveshine [1978]/Candy [1979]" by CON FUNK SHUN (February 2010 Cherry Red/Robinsongs Reissue - 2LPs Remastered Onto 1CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Shake And Dance..."

Two primo CON FUNK SHUN vinyl albums from the band’s late seventies Soul-Funk stride lumped together onto one remastered CD (fro the first time) – the 2^nd release in Robinsongs complete catalogue reissue series for a band that rivalled Earth Wind & Fire in terms of chart success and affection. Here are the Shake and Dance details...

UK released February 2010 – "Loveshine/Candy" by CON FUNK SHUN Cherry Red/Robinsongs CDMRED 428 (Barcode 5013929142824) offers 2 LPs from 1978 and 1979 Remastered onto 1CD and pans out as follows (66:23 minutes):

1. So Easy [Side 1]

2. Magic Woman

3. Shake & Dance With Me

4. Make It Last

5. Loveshine

6. When The Feeling’s Right [Side 2]

7. I Think I Found The Answer

8. Wanna Be There

9. Can’t Go Away

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3^rd vinyl album “Loveshine” – released June 1978 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-3725 and in the UK on Mercury 9100 055. The album rose to Number 10 on the USA R&B Album Charts.

10. Fire When Ready [Side 2]

11. Chase Me

12. Not Ready

13. Da Lady

14. Candy [Side 2]

15. (Let me Put) Love On Your Mind

16. Main Slice

17. Images

Tracks 10 to 17 are their 4th vinyl album “Candy” – released May 1979 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-3754 (No UK release). The album rose to Number 7 on the USA R&B Album Charts.

The 8-page inlay pictures rare 7” singles on Mercury, album artwork and has a basic history of the band and the albums by RALPH TEE. Although it doesn’t say outright – it sounds to me that long-standing remaster Engineer ALAN WILSON has done the transfers (as he did with other issues) – and because the albums were superbly produced in the first place – that has passed over to the remasters.

The emphasis is on Soul Funk ala Gap Band, Kool & The Gang, Heatwave and Earth, Wind & Fire with smoochy ballads inbetween all that booty shuffling. Thankfully they didn’t compromise to Disco – so boogie tunes like “So Easy” and “Chase Me” still have that glorious late Seventies Soul/Funk feel (like The Jacksons on a good day). There’s huge punch on tunes like “Shake And Dance With Me” which must have filled so many dancefloors back in the day (the effortlessly cool title track “Loveshine” exudes that same great uptempo vibe). Even when they go a bit Isley-Brothers guitar on the smoocher ballad “(Let Me Put) Love On Your Mind” – they pull it off with style.

Packing great value for money (mid-price, 2 albums on 1CD) - fans should dive in – especially given the really great upgraded sound...

"Con Funk Shun/Secrets" by CON FUNK SHUN - 1976 US Debut Album and 1977 US Second Studio Album on Mercury Records (March 2013 UK Cherry Red/Robinsongs Compilation - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Music Is The Way..."

What you get here is two CON FUNK SHUN vinyl albums from the band's outset plus one 12" single as a bonus track lumped together onto one remastered CD (for the first time). This is the 1st release in Robinsongs complete catalogue reissue series for an American Soul/Funk band that rivalled Earth Wind & Fire in terms of sheer chart success and affection (see below). Here are the Ffun details...

UK released March 2013 - "Con Funk Shun/Secrets" by CON FUNK SHUN on Cherry Red/Robinsongs CDMRED 555 (Barcode 5013929155534) offers 2LPs from 1976 and 1977 Remastered onto 1CD plus One Bonus Track and pans out as follows (76:43 minutes):

1. Music Is The Way [Side 1]

2. Tell Me That You Like Me

3. Never Be The Same

4. Owe It To Myself

5. Foley Park

6. Nothing To Lose By Trying [Side 2]

7. Forever Just Ain't Long Enough

8. Another World

9. Sho' Feels Good To Me

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut vinyl album "Con Funk Shun" - released 1976 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-1120 (no UK release).

10. DooWhaChaWannaDoo [Side 1]

11. Who Has The Time

12. Indian Summer Love (Interlude)

13. Tears In My Eyes

14. Secrets [Side 2]

15. Ffun

16. ConFunkShunizeYa

17. I'll Set You Out O.K.

18. Indian Summer Love (instrumental)

Tracks 10 to 18 are their 2nd vinyl album "Candy" - released September 1977 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-1180 and December 1977 in the UK on Mercury 9100 043. The album rose to Number 6 on the USA R&B Album Charts.

BONUS TRACK:

19. Ffun (12" Version) (1977 USA 12" Promo Single on Mercury)

The 16-page booklet pictures rare American 7" singles on Mercury, album artwork, LP label repros and also features a detailed and affectionate history of the band and their first two albums by noted American writer and DJ - RICO WASHINGTON. Long-standing remaster Engineer ALAN WILSON has done the transfers (as he did with other issues) - and because the albums were superbly produced in the first place - that has passed over to the remasters. These things boogie and sound just great.

The emphasis is on Soul Funk ala Earth, Wind & Fire, Graham Central Station, Kool & The Gang and even The Commodores with smoochy ballads inbetween all that booty shuffling. The debut album opens with the slap-bass of "Music Is The Way" - a tune that tries hard but is just a little too fast and busy for its own good (even if the audio is superb). Better is the slinky groove of "Tell Me That You Like It" - a guitar groove that would fill dancefloors today. "Owe It To Myself" is a very Hall & Oates groove while "Nothing To Lose By Trying" is a very AWB and while the smoocher "Another World" is loverman TP - it ends on the way forward - the funkily cool "Sho' Feels Good To Me".

Their persistence paid off as the second album was a massive leap forward - and the public thought so too by putting it up to Number 6 on the American R&B album charts (an impressive position for a new band). It helped that the single "Ffun" went to Number 1 on the R&B charts in November 1977 - giving big funky brassy tracks like "ConFunkShunize Ya" (the second single) a Number 31 showing on the charts. The instrumental "Indian Summer Love" is very George Benson circa "Livin' Inside Your Love". Fans are also going to love the 12" single of "Ffun" which extends the album cut from 4:12 to 6:06 minutes - and in a really good way. To my knowledge the 12" was Promo-Only on Mercury Records and has been a long sought after rarity by DJs - so its appearance here on CD fro the first time as a bonus track is a welcome addition.

Packing great value for money (mid-price, 2 albums on 1CD plus a 12") - fans should dive in - especially given the really great upgraded sound...

Other Robinsongs CD Remasters for CON FUNK SHUN include:

1. Loveshine/Candy (1978 and 1979 LPs onto 1CD - Robinsongs CDMRED 428)

2. Touch/Con Funk Shun 7/To The Max (1980, 1981 and 1982 3 x LPs + 4 Bonus 12" Single Sides onto 2CDs - Robinsongs CDBRED 519

3. Fever/Electric Lady (1983 and 1985 LPs onto 1CD - Robinsongs CDMRED 636)

"Pendulum: 40th Anniversary Edition" by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - December 1970 USA - January 1971 UK - Sixth Studio Album on Fantasy and Liberty Records (October 2008 UK Concord Music 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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ALL THINGS MUST PASS
1970

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"...Pagan Baby..."

CCR's popular catalogue had been subject to endless CD reissue in jewel cases and digipaks throughout the 80s and 90s – some good – some ok – some just plain naff. Determined to quash the digital mess – Universal unleashed once more this most American of bands (and their formidable back catalogue) onto the world in 2008 via Concord Music, Inc.

Each album from their July 1968 self-titled debut "Creedence Clearwater Revival" through to December 1970's "Pendulum" got all spruced up with '40th Anniversary Edition' CDs. All six sported cool-looking round-corner jewel cases, expanded booklets, extra tracks and stunning new GEORGE HORN remasters (the round-corner cases have been exchanged for the standard square jobbies of late).

But Creedence being such an iconic '60ts' band their opening salvo for 1970 – the mighty "Pendulum" - always seems to get overlooked in lieu of its more adored predecessors - "Bayou Country", "Green River", "Cosmo's Factory" and "Willy And The Poor Boys". Time to give their swing into the 70ts a proper rubdown...

UK released October 2008 (September 2008 in the USA) – "Pendulum: 40th Anniversary Edition" by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL on Universal/Fantasy/Concord Music Group, Inc. 0888072308817 (Barcode 888072308817) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (54:18 minutes):

1. Pagan Baby [Side 1]

2. Sailor's Lament

3. Chameleon

4. Have You Seen The Rain

5. (Wish I Could) Hideaway

6. Borne To Move [Side 2]

7. Hey Tonight

8. It's Just The Thought

9. Molina

10. Rude Awakening No. 2

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 6th studio album "Pendulum" - released December 1970 in the USA on Fantasy F-8410 and January 1971 in the UK on Liberty LBG 83400. John Fogerty wrote all songs and Produced – the album peaked at No. 5 on the US LP charts and No. 8 in the UK.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. 45 Revolutions Per Minute Part 1

12. 45 Revolutions Per Minute Part 2

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A & B-sides of a US promo-only 7" single on Fantasy 2832/3 released in 1970. Both sides are nearly all dialogue

13. Hey Tonight (Live in Hamburg, Germany, 17 September 1971) - Previously Unreleased

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL was:

JOHN FOGERTY – Lead Vocal, Guitar and Organ

TOM FOGERTY – Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals

STU COOK – Bass and Backing Vocals

DOUG CLIFFORD – Drums and Backing Vocals

Quite why the tracks were put in a different running order on the rear sleeve has always puzzled me (why is "Borne" spelt with an 'e') - but it's nice to see that the live photo by Baron Walman of Fogerty fronting the band that was on the inner gatefold of my Liberty Records album is used as a centre-page spread in the 16-page booklet. JOEL SLEVIN provides insightful liner notes that include an interview with main man John Fogerty about their aspirations to fill the slot left by the recently broken up Beatles (Fogerty wanted John, Tom, Stu and Doug to be as well known as John, Paul, George and Ringo – almost got there John). There are photos of the band in the studio and repro’s of rare 45 picture sleeves for "Hey Tonight" and "Have You Ever Seen The Rain". There is discussion on the rare CCR promo '45 Revolutions' - Doug Clifford imitating Top 40 bay Area DJ Tom Campbell - the boys giggling and goofing off. A three-piece band fronts the Previously Unreleased "Hey Tonight" recorded in Hamburg on the band's final tour for the "Live In Europe" album (which would turn out to be the band's last performance). There are reissue credits and colour photos - very tasty...

Side 1 opens with a total kick-ass winner - the brilliant riff of "Pagan Baby" - 6:23 minutes of pure Creedence genius. In truth it probably goes on for a little 'too' long - but I've always loved it and the remaster here is magnificent. By immediate contrast we get the keyboard choogle of "Sailor's Lament" where the boys sing "shame...it's a shame..." as a refrain throughout.  Fogerty gives it some brass fills on the hugely likeable "Chameleon" - but classic status has to go to the gorgeous and simple strum of "Have You Ever Seen Rain" (with or without a question mark). We get a bit Hammond B-3 organ on the Bluesy "(Wish) I Could Hide Away" - and again a fabulous remaster brings it to life.

Side 2 opens with another crave of mine "Borne To Move" - surely the great unreleased 45 that never happened - boogieing and strutting like only CCR could. What a winner - and all of it sounding fresh as a newly minted decimal pound coin (dig that Bass and Drum break). There can be few CCR fans who don't get a rush to the solar plexus at the opening seconds of the brilliant "Hey Tonight" - relegated to the B-side of "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" in the UK on Liberty LBF 15440 (released March 1971 in the UK). Sounding not unlike The Moody Blues - the organ of "It's Just A Thought" expands their sound beyond that of just guitar and drums. Both it and "Molina" sound stupendous here. And it ends on their "Tomorrow Never Knows" Psych/Prog freak out moment - "Rude Awakening No. 2" - a cacophony of backwards Guitars and strangulated Keyboard sounds that left many baffled and perhaps a tad disappointed.

If you wanted more - "Pendulum" has been thrown into two worthy Box Sets – June 2009's 7-disc replica sleeves of "Creedence Clearwater Revival (40th Anniversary Editions)" on Fantasy/Concord Music Group. Inc. 0888072315716 - or the March 2015 6-disc Box Set of "1961-1972" - that contains the pre-CCR Gollywogs material and some Previously Unreleased. But bluntly with this album and the other five studio album slices on Amazon at less than four quid each – complete with booklets, extras and that gorgeous sound – I find these single disc reissues are the simplistic ones for me...

"...You keep on changing your face..." - John Fogerty sings on "Chameleon". Nothing changes my love for this band or this great album. I know it's not all genius and some even dislike it - but I'm a sucker for CCR and this '40th Anniversary CD Edition' of "Pendulum" is the one to nab...

"Born Under A Bad Sign" by ALBERT KING - August 1967 US LP on Stax Records in Stereo (June 2013 USA/UK/EU Concord Music Group 'Stax Remasters' Expanded Edition CD Reissue - Joe Tarantino Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more...

 

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"…Hard Luck And Trouble…"

I’ve been collecting and reviewing this “Stax Remasters” series since they first started to appear in May 2011 - and this is only release number 9 – but what a belter it is.

USA released June 2013 - "Born Under A Bad Sign" by ALBERT KING on Stax/Concord Music Group STCX-34334-02 (Barcode 888072343344) offers his 1967 Stax LP Remastered onto CD plus Five Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks and is part of their "Stax Remasters" Series (see list below, all reviewed). 

With the same release date and pictured above - the UK/EU released CD variant for "Born Under A Bad Sign" by Albert King is on Stax/Concord Music Group/Universal Music Group International 0888072343344 (Barcode 888072343344) and it breaks down as follows (47:00 minutes):

1. Born Under A Bad Sign [Side 1]

2. Crosscut Saw

3. Kansas City

4. Oh, Pretty Woman

5. Down Don't Bother Me

6. The Hunter

7. I Almost Lost My Mind [Side 2]

8. Personal Manager

9. Laundromat Blues

10. As The Years Go Passing By

11. The Very Thought Of You

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Born Under A Bad Sign" – released August 1967 in the USA on Stax Records S-723 (no UK release)

BONUS TRACKS (All Previously Unreleased):

12. Born Under A Bad Sign (Take 1 – Alternate)

13. Crosscut Saw (Take 1 – Alternate)

14. The Hunter (Take 1 – Alternate)

15. Personal Manager (Take 15 – Alternate)

16. Untitled Instrumental

The 16-page booklet has typically insightful and fun liner notes from Chicago's resident Blues and R 'n' B writing genius BILL DAHL – a man whose talent and passion for the music has graced literally hundreds of reissues and major Box Sets. The pages that follow Dahl reproduce Michael Point's observations from the 2002 CD reissue – then the original liner notes on the back of the 1967 LP - and finally musician and reissue credits. JOE TARANTINO has handled the remaster (as he has for the whole "Stax Remasters" series) and it's superb – full of life and clarity. There's hiss (as there always is on Stax sessions) – but it doesn't detract from the listen – if anything – it feels more live-in-your-living-room for it.

"Born Under A Bad Sign" opens with that title track winner (surely his signature tune) and follows it with another – "Crosscut Saw". Real fast you notice the tight and uber cool band – Stax House players BOOKER T & THE M.G.'s (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Al Jackson, Jr and Booker T. Jones) themselves backed up by the fabulous MEMPHIS HORNS (Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love and Joe Arnold). It's as classic Stax Blues as you can get (Soul too). "Kansas City" still sounds slightly out of place but "The Hunter" turned FREE on and "Personal Manager" is just genius. Unappreciated gems include his cover of Fenton Robinson's "As The Years Go Passing By" and his barroom bluesy take on the crooner classic "The Very Thought Of You" (a 1934 classic).

With the CD having only 47:00 minutes playing time – the 7" single edit of "Personal Manager" (which excludes Albert's guitar solo) could easily have been tagged on – especially as it's actually one of the best tracks on here. But what we do get is a genuine thrill for King fans – a unreleased take. You can see why it was canned though – it runs a tad too fast and looses that fabulous Bluesy feel the master take has. And I love the song’s slyly salacious lyrics "...I want to be your milk man every morning…and your ice-cream man when the day is through…" In fact the other Take 1 Alternates are brilliantly recorded – really clear – you can hear he's getting a feel for the songs but the power on each is there – right from the start. Even the short but untitled 'instrumental' is a winner.

Great stuff – and a must buy…

CD Titles in the "STAX REMASTERS" series are (all reviewed):

1. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (1962) 
3 September 2012 UK CD on Barcode 888072339606

2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (1970)
10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328747

3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)
13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331778 

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)
13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331761

5. Born Under A Bad Sign – ALBERT KING (1967)
June 2013 UK CD on Barcode 888072343344

6. I'll Play The Blues For You - ALBERT KING (1972)
22 May 2012 UK CD on Barcode 888072337169 

7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)
10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328761

8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)
10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328754

9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)
13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331785

PPS: For those who want to delve deeper into 60ts and 70ts Soul on both Stax and Atlantic Records and are perhaps willing to flash the cash - check out my in-depth review for the October 2012 "Atlantic Soul Legends" set. It's a European made Mini Box Set on WEA Music/Warner Music France/Rhino 8122797264 (Barcode 0081227972646) that contains '20 Original Albums' in Mini LP Card Sleeves and Remasters. "Green Onions" is entry number two amongst them (after Ray Charles and before Solomon Burke). Also including cool types like Donny Hathaway, Sam Dees and Howard Tate - "Atlantic Soul Legends" sells for under £35 and is a stunning little beast most haven't noticed...