"Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5" by VARIOUS (May 2019 UK Ace/Kent-Soul CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Continue To Love You..."

After a paltry 16-years of releasing rare and collectable Seventies dancefloor shufflers and arm-linking hysterics - Ace's "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" CD Series on their beloved Kent-Soul label reaches its fifth volume in good old style (see list below for the other four British-released entries).

Amidst the 24-cuts you get four or five unreleased from 2018 and 2019 with the rest primarily focusing on American 45s between 1970 and 1976, a few deep album tracks and compilation stragglers from dates beyond. It's a good ole 'dose of soul' as Chet Ivey would say - here are your collector's top tips...

UK released Friday, 31 May 2009 - "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 450 (Barcode 029667094924) is a 24-Track CD Compilation that plays out as follows (75:12 minutes):

1. Given My Life - MIGHTY WHITES (Previously Unreleased 1977 Dwight White recording, an 2019 Alex Palao mix)

2. L-O-V-E - LEON THOMAS (June 1973 US 7" single on Flying Dutchman FD 26025, B-side to "Boom-Boom-Boom")

3. Rainmaker - C.J. & Co. (an unissued Westbound Records recording first released the November 2018 UK CD compilation "Ain't It Amazing: The Unreleased Westbound Masters)" by C.J. & Co. on Ace/Westbound CDSEWD 165 - Barcode 029667093026)

4. How Can I Go On Without You - JOHN EDWARDS (a previously unreleased Phillip Mitchell song first issued on the January 1996 John Edwards UK CD compilation "Careful Man" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 127 - Barcode 029667212724)

5. Your Momma Had A Baby - STREET PEOPLE (unissued Spring Records recording that first appeared January 2016 on the 12-Track VINYL LP "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul KENT 503 - Barcode 029667004213. This is its first digital debut)

6. Lucky Fellow - THE INDEPENDENTS (from the 1973 US LP "Chuck, Helen, Eric & Maurice" on Wand Records WDS 696 - Chuck and Maurice Jackson with Helen Curry and Eric Thomas)

7. Can We Talk It Over (Edit) - EDDIE FLOYD (previously unissued, a specifically mastered 2019 edit of a 1973 Stax recording first released on the 1998 UK CD compilation "5000 Volts Of Stax" on Stax CDSXD 116 - Barcode 029667911627)

8. What Is Best For Me Is Better For You - WILL HATCHER (May 1975 US 7" single on Wand 11286, B-side of "Who Am I Without You")

9. That's The Story Of My Life - MAJOR LANCE (April 1972 US 7" single on Volt VOA-4079, B-side of "I Wanna Make Up (Before We Break Up)"

10. I'll Continue To Love You - MILLIE JACKSON (Previously Unissued 2019 Edit of a 1976 Spring Records recording)

11. Mrs. So And So's Daughter - LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (Previously Unissued 2019 Edit of a 1974 Aware Records recording)

12. Franchise On Love - FELICIA JOHNSON & T.S.B. INC. (1980 US 7" single on Top's Records 0001, A)

13. Keep On Doin' Whatcha' Doin' (Part 1) - TY KARIM & GEORGE GRIFFIN (1980 US 7" single on Sheridan House SH-78002, A)

14. Ride The Disco Train - THE MODERATIONS (2019 Previously Unissued Dave Hamilton recording from 1988)

15. A Star In The Ghetto - FOXFIRE featuring JOHNNY ADAMS (1974 Kent recording first issued on the 2001 UK CD compilation "For Connoisseurs Only - Kent/Modern Soul Collectables" on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 196 - Barcode 029667219624)

16. Nobody's Doin' A Doggone Thing - LEE PORTER & PEACEFUL PERSUASION (1974 US 7" single on Select-O-Hit SOH 026, A)

17. Dose Of Soul - CHET IVEY & HIS FABULOUS AVENGERS (1975 USA 7" single on Sylvia S-504, B-side of "Get Down With The Geater, Part 1")

18. I Ain't Givin' Up - RAY GODFREY (2019 Previously Unissued 1971 Spring Records recording)

19. We'll Go On - EON (Previously Unissued 2019 Edit of a 1975 Scepter Recording)

20. I'll Live My Life Loving You - THE HEADLINERS (2019 Previously Unissued 70ts Recording)

21. Gotta Be Loved Pt. 2 - HERMAN DAVIS (unissued Venus V recording that first appeared January 2016 on the 12-Track VINYL LP "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul KENT 503 - Barcode 029667004213. This is its first digital debut)

22. Hello Stranger - REGGIE MILNER (November 1970 US 7" single on Volt VOA-4048, B-side of "Soul Machine")

23. I Believe - NEW EXPERIENCE featuring ELAYNE STARR (2019 Previously Unissued Dave Hamilton recording from late 70ts)

24. I Guess God Wants It This Way - FREDDIE SCOTT (June 1971 US 7" single on Vanguard VSD-35137, A)

All tracks in STEREO except Tracks 14, 16, 20, 21 and 23, which are MONO

The 16-page booklet sports track-by-track liners notes by Soul expert and aficionado ADY CROASDEL with thanks to other long-time Ace Records collaborators - Dean Rudland, Tony Rounce, Kenny Aitchison and more. While Volt and Flying Dutchman 45 labels will be familiar sights to avid collectors - you don't often get to see 7" singles on labels like Sheridan House, Top's Records or SOH (Select-A-Hit) – but they are shown here. There are publicity photos for Brotherhood, C.J. & Co., Eddie Floyd, Will Hatcher, Major Lance, Millie Jackson and more whilst top Audio Engineer DUNCAN POWELL did the Remasters and they're punchy and full of presence.

Highlights for me are the mid-tempo shuffle of Eddie Floyd pleading his case on "Can We Talk It Over", C.J. & Co.'s slightly Disco (but in a good way) cover of The Moods single from 1970 on Wand called "Rainmaker" and a 60ts-sounding belter done by Millie Jackson in 1976 where the girly overdubs assure us that she'll "...Continue To Love..." (well, until the next Mr. Right comes along anyway). The hugely productive Kent Harris penned the sexy rhythms of "Keep On Doin' Whatcha' Doin'" (you get the 45 edit, the 12" version is almost twice as long), while Loleatta Holloway gets a deserved outing with her self-penned and catchy-as-a-cold "Mr. So And So's Daughter". And on it goes to the tenderness and ached-for freedom of silky-voiced Freddie Scott acknowledging that, "I Guess God Wants It This Way".

A cool release in a very hip series - enjoy...

Ace Records/Kent-Soul "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" CD Series:

1. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul - released October 2003 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 222 (Barcode 029667222228)

2. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 2 - released January 2009 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 310 (Barcode 029667231022)

3. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 3 - released November 2011 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 364 (Barcode 029667236423)

4. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 4 - released August 2015 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 437 (Barcode 029667243728)

5. Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 - released 31 May 2019 on Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 450 (Barcode 029667094924) 

In January 2016, a 12-Track VINYL LP was also issued simply called "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul" on Ace/Kent-Soul KENT 503 (Barcode 029667004213). It sported previously unreleased tracks, two of which are featured here on Volume 5 in digital form for the first time (Tracks 5 and 21 of this CD)

"If You're Not Part Of The Solution... Soul, Politics And Spirituality In Jazz 1967 to 1975" by VARIOUS (April 2019 Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Warriors Of Peace..."

I really love a CD compilation like this - clever choices by knowledgeable types - discoveries by still-learning baby-boomers like me.

Using their Beat Goes Public label - Ace Records of the UK has been down this digital road before. But I have to say that this is a superb addition even by their lofty standards - a genuinely thoughtful exploration of why Jazz musicians began embracing and reflecting in both music and words what Soul and Rock musicians had been airing since the mid Sixties. Those staggeringly productive and explosive years saw in an era of huge social change – and what comes screaming off every entry here is the feeling of great players no longer satisfied with the confines of mere Saxophone expertise and phrasing – it was get on board, shout to the rooftops man or forever be that brooding young man in the corner – or worse - the establishment's kicking-boy.

Long time associate to Ace - DEAN RUDLAND has penned some killer liner notes before, but he's excelled with this musically angry yet hopeful little brute of 75 and half minutes featuring often lengthy tracks culled from three beloved labels - Milestone, Prestige and Muse Records. There's a lot worth tooting your horn about here, so let's get to those warriors of peace, Hard Bop, Modal and Jazz Fusion and the righteous moments their inspired celestial bodies brought to us, most over 50-years ago...

UK released 26 April 2019 - "If You're Not Part Of The Solution... Soul, Politics And Spirituality In Jazz 1967 to 1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CDBGPD 308 (Barcode 029667084123) is a 10-Track CD compilation that plays out as follows (75:30 minutes):

1. If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You're Part Of The Problem - JOE HENDERSON QUARTET (from the 1970 US live LP "At The Lighthouse" on Milestone Records MSP 9028)

2.  Black Feeling - JOHNNY HAMMOND SMITH (from the 1970 US LP "Black Feeling" on Prestige PR 7736)

3. Celestial Bodies - CATALYST (from the 1973 US LP "Perception" on Muse Records MR 5025)

4. John Coltrane - CLIFFORD JORDAN QUARTET (from the 1975 US LP "Night Of The Mark VII" on Muse Records MR 5076)

5. H.N.I.C. (Head Ni**er In Charge) - HAROLD VICK (from the 1974 US LP "Commitment" on Muse Records MR 5054 - a 1967 recording)

6. Towhid - JOHNNY LYTLE (from the 1973 US LP "People & Love" on Milestone MSP 9043)

7. Bitches Brew - EDDIE JEFFERSON (from the 1974 US LP "Things Are Getting Better" on Muse Records MR 5043 - a MIles Davis cover)

8. Africans Unite - GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP (from the 1973 US LP "Juju Street Songs" on Prestige 10057)

9. Warriors Of Peace - AZAR LAWRENCE (from the 1974 US LP "Bridges Into The New Age" on Prestige 10086)

10. Let's Make Peace, Stop The War - FUNK, INC. (from the 1972 US LP "Chicken Lickin'" on Prestige 10043)

The 20-page booklet with DEAN RUDLAND liner notes gives pride of picture place to the ten rare and sought-after LP sleeves as well as musician breakdowns for each cut – huge names like Victor Feldman playing vibes with Harold Vick, Bernard Purdie playing drums for Johnny Hammond Smith whilst also highlighting hidden heroes like Steve Weakley and his guitar work on the “What’s Going On” vibe to Funk, Inc.’s “Let’s Make Peace, Stop The War”.  Long-time Audio Engineer NICK ROBBINS has handled the Remasters and every track is kicking reflecting their original quality production values.

It opens with a winding monster – former Blue Note Records stalwart Joe Henderson and his 11 and half-minute live version of the compilation's title track "If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You're Part Of The Problem". Recorded at The Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach, California in September 1970, Ron McClure provides the funky bass-line ably abetted by pianist George Cable and trumpeter Woody Shaw punching in sexy solos as the night's groove took them. Philly legends Norman Harris and Pat Gleeson provide guitar and synths for the Weather Report-ish feel to "Celestial Bodies" from Catalyst while Harold Vick gets radical and street with his "H.N.I.C." - head brothers in charge - or words to that affect.

From his duo of socially conscious platters - 1972's "The Soulful Rebel" and 1973's "People & Love" - Rudland picks the Islam-themed "Tawhid" from the latter where producer Orrin Keepnews brings out the best in the five players involved including Marvin Cobell on Tenor Sax and Betty Glamann on Harp. The murderous, sickening and farcical communist conflict far away and ripping both countries apart (Vietnam and the USA) permeates into the final duo - Azar Lawrence's "Warriors Of Peace" and Funk, Inc.'s "Let's Make Peace, Stop The War". It's kind of disturbing that half a century on, it feels like there's been some change for sure, but the message is still disturbingly relevant.

A great listen and an eye-opener, well done (as ever) to all involved... 

"The Gilded Palace Of Sin/Burrito Deluxe" by THE FLYING BURRITO BROS featuring Gram Parsons and Members of The Byrds (March 1997 UK A&M ReMasterPieces CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Wild Horses..."

  

I know real downhome Country Music and its bratty sibling Country Rock is actually not everybody’s fave rave if the honest-to-God truth is told – but rehearing these seminal albums from 1969 and 1970 has been a blast for me. In September 2019 (half-a-century later) - the GRAM PARSONS legend only continues to grow and with good reason

I mean for God's sake, the last track on this amazing twofer is "Wild Horses" – the Jagger/Richards ballad masterpiece most of us know from April 1971's "Sticky Fingers" by The Stones. But it was GP with The Flying Burrito Bros. nearly a year earlier in May 1970 on the "Burrito Deluxe" LP who (it could be argued) actually shaped what made The Stones cut so great when it first appeared on that album. The Stones took from that FBB mixture of Country Rock and laced it with a smattering of their own Acoustic Blues thereby giving their gorgeous 1971 version such an ache and damn it – let's say it – beauty (Leon Russell guested as the piano man on the FBB version while legendary sessionman Jim Dickinson did the keys on the Stones take).

And although this 'gatefold-slip of paper as an inlay' cheap and cheerful remaster from 1997 is truly beginning to show its age (docked a star for sheer ordinariness - both albums deserve Universal DE 2CD sets) - as I say - for under three quid in certain corners of the digital schmidgital domain - you can get a whole lot of Country Rock hoo-ha here for a pittance. And these are seminal albums you need in your musical boudoir. Let's get's the whip-crack-away...

UK released 24 March 1997 - "The Gilded Palace Of Sin/Burrito Deluxe" by THE FLYING BURRITO BROS (featuring GRAM PARSONS) on A&M ReMasterPieces 540 704-2 (Barcode 731454070423) offers their Debut and Second Albums from February 1969 and May 1970 in their entirety and plays out as follows (70:49 minutes):

1. Christine's Tune [Side 1]

2. Sin City

3. Do Right Woman

4. Dark End Of The Street

5. My Uncle

6. Wheels [Side 2]

7. Juanita

8. Hot Burrito No. 1

9. Hot Burrito No. 2

10. Do You Know How It Feels

11. Hippie Boy

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "The Gilded Palace Of Sin" - released February 1969 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4175 and April 1969 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 931 in Stereo.

THE FLYING BURRITO BROS were:

GRAM PARSONS - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar and Keyboards

CHRIS HILLMAN - Lead Vocals and Guitar (Mandolin on "My Uncle")

"SNEEKY" PETE KLEINOW - Pedal Steel Guitar

CHRIS ETHRIDGE - Bass and Backing Vocals (Piano on "Hot Burrito No. 1" and "Hot Burrito No. 2")

Guests:

Eddie Hoh (Drums on Tracks 2 and 10) - Jon Corneal (Drums on Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7)

Popeye Phillips (Drums on Tracks 8, 9 and 11) - Sam Goldstein (Drums on Track 6)

Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 11 written and sung by Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons except 11 sung by CH alone

Track 3 is a Chips Moman and Dan Penn song covered by The Sweet Inspirations, Otis Clay and Aretha Franklin

Track 4 is a Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn song covered by James Carr

Tracks 8 and 9 written by Chris Ethridge and Gram Parsons, lead vocal sung by GP, backing vocals by CE and GP

Track 10 is written by Barry Goldberg and Gram Parsons, lead vocals sung by CH and GP

12. Lazy Days [Side 1]

13. Image Of Me

14. High Fashion Queen

15. If You Gotta Go

16. Man In The Fog

17. Farther Along

18. Older Guys [Side 2]

19. Cody, Cody

20. God's Own Singer

21. Down In The Churchyard

22. Wild Horses

Tracks 12 to 24 are their second studio album "Burrito Deluxe" - released May 1970 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4258 and May 1970 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 983.

THE FLYING BURRITO BROS was:

GRAM PARSONS - Lead Vocals and Piano

CHRIS HILLMAN - Lead Vocal, Bass and Mandolin

BERNIE LEADON - Lead Guitar and Dobro

"SNEEKY" PETE KLEINOW - Pedal Steel Guitar

BYRON BERLINE - Fiddle

MICHAEL CLARKE - Drums

Guests:

Leon Russell - Piano on "Man in The Fog" and "Wild Horses"

Leopoldo C. Carbajal - Accordion and Tommy Johnson - Tube

Track 13 is a Harlan Howard cover, Track 15 is a Bob Dylan cover and Track 22 is a Rolling Stones cover

Track 20 written by Bernie Leadon (later with Eagles), Track 16 is co-written by Leadon with GP

Track 18 is co-written with Leadon, Hillman and GP

The gatefold slip of paper that acts as an inlay (same for most of these A&M ReMasterPieces CD Reissues) has a functional liner note from SID GRIFFIN (January 1997) that outlines their genesis, poor sales and subsequent deification as creators of the Country-Rock sound. The Remaster is by ROGER WAKE and is very clean and full of detail although if I'm honest I prefer the Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot remasters on the Rhino Gram Parsons 2CD Anthology set "Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels" in 2001 (features five tracks from the debut and four from the second).

The band's pedigree was incredible - Hillman and Parsons with The International Submarine Band for their legendary "Safe At Home" LP from April 1968 on LHI Records and then a stint with The Byrds for "Sweethearts Of The Rodeo" in July 1968 on Columbia Records. Bernie Leadon would be poached eventually to join Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Don Felder in The Eagles, Hillman and Michael Clarke had been in the Byrds too and Sneaky Pete Kleinow has a sessionman rap sheet longer than Bob Dylan's lyrics in 1965. Let's get to the nudie suits...

"She's a devil in disguise...telling dirty lies..." - the lyrics tell us as the album opens happily with "Christine's Tune" - a pedal-steel shuffler punctured with wild guitar - a sort of Everly Brothers meets Link Wray moment. Better is the fabulous "Sin City" - a Country moaner apparently inspired by Gram's manager Larry Spector who relieved GP of his money and dignity on the 31st floor of a gold-plated office block. We're then hit with two covers - the late 60ts Soul classics "Do Right Woman" and "Dark End Of The Street" (Aretha Franklin and James Carr) where the duet vocals are not just complimentary but gorgeous. Of the other albums classics, I've always loved "Hot Burrito No. 1" - in fact check out Raul Malo's beautiful vocal take on it on the 1999 tribute CD compilation "Return Of The Grievous Angel" on Almo Sounds. Another cold-dirty-room winner from the debut turned up on that 1999 tribute - "Juanita" - done by the mouth-watering duo of Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris. The 'come on wheels, take this boy away’ song "Wheels" sees Parsons in one speaker while Hillman fills the other - very tasty.

After the miserable 50,000 sales attributed to "The Gilded Palace Of Sin" debut (it peaked at No. 164 in the US charts and didn't register at all in the UK) - better things were expected of "Burrito Deluxe" with its edgier more Rock 'n' Roll feel. It also sported an exclusive Jagger/Richards ballad "Wild Horses" before The Stones did their own version and new blood in the line up with Bernie Leadon (soon to be an Eagle in 1972). After the 'I got a thing I wanna try with you' barbecue boogie of "Lazy Day" - other Tex Mex faves include the accordion-flavoured "Man In The Fog" and the jangling guitars of "Older Guys" while elements of Bernie Leadon's "God's Own Singer" sport a similar melody to "Train Leaves Here This Morning" on the 1972 "Eagles" debut (credited to him and Gene Clark on that LP). And it all ends on "Wild Horses" - a song that is still emotionally loaded for me 50 years on - a tune I never tire of hearing...

Michael Clarke migrated to Firefall on Atlantic Records; Hillman to The Desert Rose Band and Florida boy Gram Parsons (not nicknamed the "Waycross Waif" for no reason) got lost of course in drugs and stardom and was tragically already gone by 1973. Parsons put out two wildly brilliant solo sets - "GP" in January 1973 and the posthumous January 1974 LP - "Grievous Angel" – another chapter for those. 

But these two platters with The Burritos are where that amazing journey really started to cook. Take a trip into this particular Sin City...

"Chess NORTHERN SOUL: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked by MOJO" by VARIOUS (August 2005 Universal/Chess/MOJO CD Compilation - Gary Moore Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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60ts Soul, R'n'B, Mod, Northern Soul, New Breed and More
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"…A Love Like Ours…Let's Wear It On Our Face…"

The respected and much-loved MOJO Magazine of the UK decided in 2005 to use their knowledge and compile a series of rather cool (and cheap) Chess Records CD compilations.

Four appeared using generic card digipak artwork with the '20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO' logo in the bottom left corner - "Chess ORIGINALS" (actually has 25 tracks, total playing time of 70:08 minutes), "Chess SOUL SISTERS" (56:09 minutes), "Chess TEARJERKERS" (58:50 minutes) and this sweaty Saturday night playlist at 58:48 minutes - "Chess NORTHERN SOUL".

There was also a 15-track CD sampler of sorts that preceding the four themed comps called "Chess CLASSICS" which was given away with copies of the MOJO August 2005 magazine when it went on sale in July of that year. It came in a jewel case (no catalogue number nor barcode) and actually had several tracks not featured in the four comps but that are on other Chess CD Remaster compilations (acts like Chuck Berry, Do Diddley and so on).

When it comes to three CDs on classic Soul Music - of course Ace Records of the UK and their Kent-Soul label imprint have had this sort of comp down pat for nearly three decades and have been thrilling fans like me with further trawls in the digital age almost on a monthly basis. But I feel that the "Chess NORTHERN SOUL" entry is one of those fabulous little CD compilations that slipped through the cracks in a crowded reissue onslaught.

The MOJO magazine's respected Soul authority and uber-fan LOIS WILSON did the smart-choice compiling back in 2005 and I've always dug them as short but oh so sweet listens. And even now in September 2019, most are still available at a frankly laughable pre Brexit outlay (get them before the panic sets in and they shut down the emotional borders on us all). Time to grab the Johnson's sniffy talcum powder out, don your dancing pom-poms and rectify that unforgivable anomaly by your woefully out-of-touch wallet. Here comes the pleasure tome for those eager men in large legged pants...

UK released 25 August 2005 - "Chess NORTHERN SOUL: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked by MOJO" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830153 (Barcode 602498301531) and breaks down as follows (58:48 minutes):

1. Let's Wade In The Water - MARLENA SHAW (1966 USA 7" single on Cadet 5549, A)

2. It Ain't Necessary - MAMIE GALORE (1968 USA 7" single on St. Lawrence 1012, A)

3. Hold On - THE RADIANTS (1968 USA 7" single on Chess 2037, A)

4. Wear It On Our Face - THE DELLS (from the May 1968 US LP "There Is" on Cadet Records LPS-804)

5. A Love Reputation - DENISE La SALLE (1967 USA 7" single on Chess 2005, A)

6. Ordinary Joe - TERRY CALLIER (from the 1972 US LP "Occasional Rain" on Cadet Records CA 50007)

7. More Love, That's What We Need - THE GOSPEL CLASSICS (1968 USA 7" single on Checker 5050, A)

8. Leave It In The Hands Of Love - FONTELLA BASS (1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1131, B-side of "Recovery")

9. Landslide - TONY CLARKE (1965 USA 7" single on Chess 1979, A)

10. Sweeter Than The Day Before - THE VALENTINOS [featuring Bobby Womack] (1966 USA 7" single on Chess 1977, B-side of "Let's Get Together")

11. More And More - LITTLE MILTON (1967 USA 7" single on Checker 1189, A)

12. Peak Of Love - BOBBY McCLURE (1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1152, A)

13. Run For Cover - THE DELLS (from the May 1968 US LP "There Is" on Cadet Records LPS-804)

14. You Colored My Blues Bright - LITTLE MILTON (1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1162, B-side of "Feel So Bad")

15. Make Sure (You Have Someone Who Loves You) - THE DELLS (from the February 1969 US album "Always Together - The Dells Musical Menu" on Cadet LPS-822)

16. Boo-Ga-Loo Baby - TOMMY & CLEVE (1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1154, A)

17. Look At Me - TERRY CALLIER (1968 USA 7" single on Cadet 5541, A)

18. The Fugitive Kind - TONY CLARKE (1965 USA 7" single on Chess 1935, B-side of "Poor Boy")

19. I Can't Help Myself - THE GEMS (1964 USA 7" single on Chess 1908, A)

20. Wade In The Water - RAMSEY LEWIS (from the 1966 US LP "Wade In The Water" on Cadet Records LPS 774)

Compiled and annotated by LOIS WILSON - the oversized 16-page booklet (inside a gatefold card digipak) is a lovely thing to behold - insightful paragraphs on each of the songs - 7" single labels reproduced, black and white publicity shots and even a full-page repro in colour of the girl dancing by the sea on the American LP sleeve of "Wade In The Water" by Ramsey Lewis. Very nicely done...

Same as the other compilations in this series - long-time Audio Engineer GARY MOORE at Universal carried out the excellent remasters. The audio varies from source-to-source - incredible one moment and more than acceptable the next. But as with the "Soul Sisters" entry in this series - all of that gets blown out of the water by the sheer joy of the music (recorded well or not). And once again very clever song choices abound here 'hand-picked' by those canny bods at England's fabulicious MOJO magazine. You get snappy B-sides instead of overplayed A's combined with crowd pleasers like "Wade In The Water" and Tony Clarke's fantastic "Landslide" all nestling alongside rare album cuts and obscure groups (The Valentinos featured a young Bobby Womack).

The compilation begins and ends with a Northern Soul stalwart - Ramsey Lewis' "Wade In The Water" sung by Marlena Shaw first as a dancefloor invite - then bookended by his original piano//brass driven instrumental. Sounding like something out of a Sixties Bond movie - Mamie Galore's "It Ain't Necessary" was co-written by Jerry Butler and Produced by a Funk fave of mine - Monk Higgins. But as lovely as "Necessary" is - it gets trounced for me by the 3:25 minutes of talcum powder bliss that follows - "Wear It On Our Face" by THE DELLS. Produced and Arranged by Cadet's resident in-house genius CHARLES STEPNEY - it has everything a great Northern Soul Record should have - a driving dancing beat, impassioned vocals, brass fills complimenting clever string arrangements and a simply irresistible upbeat joy that makes your hip replacements itch. It's properly gorgeous stuff and actually makes me tearful at times (lyrics from it title this review).

And there you have it - so many great tunes you don't know and need to. "Chess Northern Soul" is the kind of CD compilation that has gotten lost in an overcrowded marketplace. Check it out peeps and remember - like Johnson's Baby Powder on a flabby bottom - be liberal with that dancing powder once you get this disc into your CD player - you hip-shaking mama's...

The Four Compilation Titles in the 20 August 2005 (UK)

UNIVERSAL/CHESS/MOJO CD Series are:

1. Chess ORIGINALS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830156 – Barcode 602498301562)

2. Chess NORTHERN SOUL: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830153 – Barcode 602498301531)

3. Chess SOUL SISTERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830155 – Barcode 602498301555)

4. Chess TEARJERKERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830154 –Barcode 602498301548)