"Turnin' On" by HIGH INERGY - Album from 1977 on Gordy (USA) and Tamla Motown (UK) (August 2014 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…In The Middle Of Turning Me On…"

The four all-singing, all-dancing Mitchell sisters from Pasadena in California that made up HIGH INERGY were touted at the time by none other than Motown Head Honcho himself Berry Gordy as America's 'new' Supremes. And with songwriters like James Ingram, Bobby Womack, Al Willis and Clay Drayton lining up the catchy tunes – they certainly had what it took to put their debut album to the No. 6 slot in the American R&B charts (No. 28 in Pop).

And this typically superb sounding CD reissue by Britain’s BBR (Big Break Records) of their 1977 Motown debut will give fans the perfect excuse to indulge one more time. Here are the hi steppin' details…

Released 25 August 2014 in the UK (7 October in the USA) – "Turnin' On" by HIGH INERGY on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0304 (Barcode 5013929060432) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (43:05 minutes):

1. Love Is All You Need [Side 1]

2. You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)

3. Some Kinda Magic

4. Searchin' (I've Got To Find My Love)

5. Ain't No Love Left (In My Heart For You) [Side 2]

6. Let Me Get Close To You 

7. Save It For A Rainy Day

8. Could This Be Love

9. High School

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Turnin' On" – released October 1977 in the USA on Gordy G6-978S1 and December 1977 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12074

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) (Single Version)

10. Love Is All You Need (Single Version)

SINGLES: Using the two bonuses and Tracks 7 and 3 - this BBR CD release will allow fans to sequence High Inergy's two US and UK 7" singles from the album as follows:

1. "You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)" b/w "Let Me Get Close To You" - August 1977 on Gordy G-7155F in the USA and October 1977 on Tamla Motown TMG 1087 in the UK

2. "Love Is All You Need" b/w "Some Kinda Magic" - January 1978 on Gordy G-7157F in the USA and March 1978 on Tamla Motown TMG 1103 in the UK

The 12-page booklet has colour photos of the sisters, rare American picture sleeves, label facsimiles and liner notes by RICO 'Superbizzee' WASHINGTON (as well as album credits). But the big news as always with BBR is a KEVIN REEVES and NICK ROBBINS remaster from Universal tapes and it sounds just amazing – clear, punchy and full of life.

Highlights include steppers like "Love Is All You Need" and the sexy slink of "You Can't Turn Me Off…" - while "Let Me Get Close To You" is a Supremes-type smoocher (written by Faye Usher). James Ingram makes his songwriting presence known on both "Save It For A Rainy Day" and "Could This Be Love" – mid-tempo funkers. They went on to make a whopping further 7 albums for Gordy - but their debut album is now remembered more as a beginning of High Energy Disco and Soul.

Another superb reissue from BBR and kicking where it matters – sound and presentation…

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I've reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD & SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Original Album Series" by GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION [featuring Larry Graham] - including the albums "Graham Central Station" and "Release Yourself" (both 1974), "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" (1975), "Mirror" (1976) and "Now Do U Wanta Dance" (1977) (September 2013 Warners/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…We Be's Gettin' Down…"

Funky as a Mosquito doing the Michael Jackson Moon Walk on a Cocaine line in a Mexican Jail - Graham Central Station hit the ground running in 1974 with a debut album as brill as "AWB" - a Soul/Funk band that somehow crossed over and appealed to the white Rock audience. Hardly surprising really - especially as Larry Graham had served his Bass Player apprenticeship with Sly & The Family Stone. And with the now-deleted 2001 Rhino 2CD Anthology "The Jam" commanding a very nasty price tag (fabulous compilation though) - this 5-album Mini Box Set pitched at under twelve quid is a bit of a deal (and they're all remasters too). Here are the dudes in big hats and even bigger flares...

UK released September 2013 - "Original Album Series" by GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION (featuring Larry Graham) on Warner Brothers 8127796513 (Barcode 081227965136) offers five albums in Single Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves (Remasters) that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (38:30 minutes):

1. We've Been Waiting

2. It Ain't No Fun To Me

3. Hair

4. We Be's Getting' Down

5. Tell Me What It Is [Side 2]

6. Can You Handle It?

7. People

8. Why?

9. Ghetto

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "Graham Central Station" released February 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2763 and Warner Brothers K 46286 in the UK

Disc 2 (37:32 minutes):

1. G.C.S.

2. Release Yourself

3. Got To Go Through It To Get To It

4. I Believe In You

5. 'Tis Your Kind Of Music [Side 2]

6. Hey Mr. Writer

7. Feel The Need

8. Today

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd album "Release Yourself" released October 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2814 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56062

Disc 3 (42:07 minutes):

1. The Jam

2. Your Love

3. It's Alright

4. I Can't Stand The Rain

5. It Ain't Nothing But A Warner Bros. Party [Side 2]

6. Ole Smokey

7. Easy Rider

8. Water

9. Luckiest People

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" released August 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2876 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56147

Disc 4 (38:09 minutes):

1. Entrow

2. Love (Covers A Multitude Of Sins)

3. Mirror

4. Do Yah

5. Save Me [Side 2]

6. I Got A Reason

7. Priscilla

8. Forever

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th studio album "Mirror" released June 1976 in the USA On Warner Brothers BS 2937 and on Warner Brothers K 56235 in the UK

Disc 5 (40:27 minutes):

1. Happ-E-2-C-U-A-Ginn

2. Now Do-U-Wanta Dance

3. Last Train

4. Love And Happiness

5. Earthquake

6. Crazy Chicken [Side 2]

7. Stomped Beat-Up And Whooped

8. Lead Me On

9. Saving My Love For You

10. Have Faith In Me

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 5th studio album "Now Do U Wanta Dance" released April 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 3041 and May 1977 UK on Warner Bros K 56359.

These slim card slipcases house five single repro sleeves, there's no booklet and apart from the track lists (on each CD) - there's bugger all info - but as these were remastered by Rhino back in 2001 - those remasters have been used and they sound fantastic.

The Acapella opener "We've Been Waiting" is brilliant but better by far is one of the standout tracks - "Hair". About half way through - Graham's lead vocal is taken over by Patryce Banks (credited as Chocolate). The gorgeous Patryce (Claudia Lennear look out) also provides the fabulous lead vocals on "We Be's Getting' Down" - sounding not unlike a lead in The Voices Of East Harlem or Patti LaBelle letting her lungs out. The beat-box backing, instruments-in-the-distant Production and chanting/preachy vocal refrains in the brilliant Side 2 opener "Tell Me What It Is" sounds like Talking Heads doing Soul - years ahead of its time. Just as fab is the very Isley Brothers vibe of "People" where the group goes into social consciousness about "People dying...people suffering..." - the Clarence McDonald strings giving it a classy and moving feel while David Dynamite's guitar work sounds like Prince five years before the event. The multi-layered "Ghetto" is half Soul/half Gospel - a fantastic deep grooved Staples Singers finisher. The whole album is quite brilliant actually

"Release Yourself" was released in late 1972 was perhaps a little too frantic for its own good - with "I Believe In You" and "Today" being smoochy mid-tempo highlights. "The Jam" opens proceedings with suitably slap-bass wildness on album Number Three but you heart goes to "Your Love" (a R&B Number 1) where once again Chocolate makes the perfect foil for this happy upbeat love song. "It's Alright" and "Feel The Need" were also singles (19 and 18 respectively) and you can hear why.

But my absolute crave is "Love" which peaked at 14 when it should have gone to Number 1. Subtitled "Covers A Multitude Of Sins" - it's one of those brilliant irrepressibly uplifting tunes - funky and soulful. The seven-minute slap-bass crowd-shouting funk of "Entrow" was edited down as a single too - managing a 21 position on the US charts. The voicebox "Now Do-U-Wanta Dance" and the chipper "Stomped Beat-Up And Whooped" feel like a band seeking a hit rather than making one. Their funked-up cover of Al Green's "Love And Happiness" is better.

For me there's a definite winding down by the time we reach album five - but the first three and most of four are great Seventies Soul and Funk. A very cool and timely reissue - dig in and enjoy...

"Winelight" by GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (featuring Bill Withers) - Album from November 1980 on Elektra Records (January 2001 Warners Jazz/Elektra Masters CD Reissue and Remaster in a Card Digipak) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Want To Spend Some Time With You…"

I can vividly recall being in London on a warm spring Saturday morning in April 1981 (on Holiday from Dublin). Have graduated the year previous from Rock to Soul Music in a big way - I sauntered into the "Record Shack"- Funk Specialists located in the fruit and veg market area of Berwick Street in Soho. Up on the wall was 'Jazz Fusion' album of the month - "Winelight" by GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr.

I'd no idea at the time that it had been a Jazz sensation in the States for over 6 months - crossing over big time to the Pop realm - nominated for two Grammys (and winning). Then the guy behind the counter put the needle down for the umpteenth time that day. I only had to hear the first minutes of its title track and bought it immediately. And it's been on my turntable and on Jazz Radio Station playlists ever since. Here are the uncorked details...

UK released January 2001 - "Winelight" by GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. on Warners Jazz/Elektra Masters 7559-62608-2 (Barcode 075596260824) is a straightforward transfer of the 1980 Elektra Records LP onto Remastered CD that breaks down as follows (39:14 minutes):

1. Winelight [Side 1]

2. Let It Flow (For "Dr. J")

3. In The Name Of Love

4. Take Me There [Side 2]

5. Just The Two Of Us [vocals Bill Withers]

6. Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Winelight" released November 1980 in the USA on Elektra Records 7E-305 and April 1981 in the UK on Elektra Records K 52262. It rose to Number 2 on the US Billboard R&B charts and Number 5 on Billboards Pop charts (UK Number 34 on the Pop charts in May 1981).

The gatefold digipak features the generic 'Warner Jazz' and 'Elektra Masters' logos on the front and rear - you get a very basic gatefold inlay with notes on the album by Chrissie Murray, then Editor of Jazzwise magazine. The inner gatefold flap has all the session details - a huge array of top musicians that are now household names to Soul, Funk and Jazz lovers - Washington, Jr on Alto, Soprano and Tenor Saxophones, Ralph MacDonald on Percussion (he also co-wrote "In The Name Of Love" with William Salter and "Just The Two Of us" with Bill Withers and William Salter), Marcus Miller on Bass, Steve Gadd on Drums, Eric Gale on Guitar and Richard Tee on Keyboards. Bill Withers famously provides vocals on "Just The Two Of Us" (a USA R&B Number 3 hit, Number 2 in the Pop charts).

The remaster is lovely too (doesn't say who did) - warm and sexy. Speaking of which - it isn't just that the "Winelight" album is Funky - it's sensual - in a way that many records after it tried to chase and more often than not - failed. "Winelight" also scored by only having 3 tracks on each side - each beautifully produced (Washington, Jr and MacDonald did the Production) and Engineered (Richard Alderson).  Songs often come at you sideways - like the gorgeous "Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)" indeed poured out of your speakers like good wine with friends. Try resisting that sensational bass into to "Let It Flow (For "Dr. J") that slinks out of your speakers like the love-child of Steely Dan's "Aja" - fabulous stuff.

This CD and most titles in the Elektra Masters series are dirt-cheap now (2019) - often less than three quid from some online retailers. Forget Sainsbury's Chardonnay - here's a glass of aural class for an awful lot less and with a far sweeter aftertaste...

"Wake Up Everybody" HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES - Fourth Studio Album from 1975 (USA) and 1976 (UK) on Philadelphia International Records (April 2010 Edsel 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Tall Order Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good..."

A very clever CD reissue by Britain’s Edsel Records – the hugely popular "Wake Up Everybody" album from those Seventies Soul champs - Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes.  Expanded with one bonus remix - here are the dope pusher and teach the children details…

UK released April 2010 – "Wake Up Everybody" by HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES on Edsel EDSM0002 (Barcode 740155000233) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster (One Bonus Track) featuring vocalists Sharon Paige and Teddy Pendergrass that plays out as follows (50:21 minutes):

1. Wake Up Everybody [Side 1]

2. Keep On Lovin’ You

3. You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good

4. Don’t Leave Me This Way [Side 2]

5. Tell The World How I Feel About ‘Cha Baby

6. To Be Free To Be Who You Are

7. I’m Searching For A Love

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Wake Up Everybody" released November 1975 on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33808 in the USA and January 1976 on Philadelphia International Records PIR 69193 in the UK. It was their 4th and final studio LP for the famous soul label - and easily their most successful and fondly remembered, reaching the coveted Number 1 spot on the US R'n'B charts that Christmas.

BONUS TRACK:

8. Don't Leave Me This Way (The Tom Moulton Mix) - an 11:02 minutes extended version remixed in 1977

The 20-page booklet provides you with band snaps, lyrics, pictures of the LP label and 7” singles taken off of it as well as superb liner notes by noted soul expert TONY ROUNCE. The CD has been mastered by TALL ORDER of the UK and the sound quality is fantastic – clear and hiss free – it really allows the lush Gamble/Huff MFSB production values to shine.

Philly's ace song-writing team - John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen provided tracks 1, 2, 5 and 6 - while label founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff stumped up writing credits for tracks 3, 4 and 7 and produced the record with their usual lush MFSB arrangements.

The lovely SHARON PAIGE provided duet vocals on "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" and "I'm Searching For Love", but it was (Theodore) TEDDY PENDERGRASS who shone with lead vocals on all tracks - especially the huge title track "Wake Up Everybody" (which effectively launched Pendergrass as a solo star).

But for me one of the unheard gems on this album is Track 2 on Side 1, "Keep On Lovin' You" - as brill a Seventies soul tune as you can get (lyrics above). It's so good to hear it with such top sound quality. 

Niggles - both "Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby" and "Wake Up Everybody" were released as 7" singles with rare edit versions which AREN'T included as bonus tracks here - and I would have preferred those than the rather tiresome extension of the overly familiar "Don't Leave Me This Way". Other than that - this is a superb Philly album - and pitched at a marketplace price that's less than a fiver - it's an absolute steal…

PS: other titles in the series are/will be...

1. Dance Your Troubles Away - ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS (1975) [due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0006]

2. Philadelphia Freedom - M.F.S.B. (1975) [due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0005]

3. When Love Is New - BILLY PAUL (1975) [April 2010, Edsel EDSM0003]

4. Family Reunion...Plus - THE O'JAYS (1975) [April 2010, Edsel EDSM0001]

5. The Three Degrees Live [aka Live In London] (1975) - THE THREE DEGREES (due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0004)

"Definitive Impressions (Volume 1 of 2)" by THE IMPRESSIONS – US Single and Album Tracks from 1961 to 1968 on ABC-Paramount Records – Volume 1 of 2 Volumes (October 1989 and July 2002 Ace/Kent-Soul CD Anthology – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

1989 CD Cover Art Above

2002 CD Re-Issue Artwork (Valid to 2020)

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"...It's All Right..."

Originally released way back in October 1989 as one of their first forays into CD compilations - as I recall Ace's Kent-Soul CDKEND 923 caused quite a stir at the time for two reasons - the rediscovery of The Impressions and just how uplifting their Soul Music is - and the truly gorgeous remastered sound from original tapes (Adam Skeaping did the deed). Hardly surprising then that Ace Records of the UK have chosen to reissue this much-praised CD compilation in 2002 - but with upgraded artwork (Kent Soul logo top left and the three boys in suits) and better TONY ROUNCE liner notes (photos of those cool ABC-Paramount labels and track-by-track discussions).

And even now in 2019 I'm reminded of just how beautiful these remasters are. Comprehensively covering their hugely productive period at ABC-Paramount Records between 1961 and 1968 before they veered off into Curtis's Curtom Records – CD Volume 1 of "Definitive Impressions" wallops you with hit after hit - practically one every two months in 1964 and 1965. Here are the people get ready details...don't need no baggage...just get on board...

Re-issued July 2002 - "Definitive Impressions" by THE IMPRESSIONS on Ace Records/ Kent-Soul CDKEND 923 (Barcode 029667292320) is a 28-Track CD Compilation (Volume 1 of 2) that breaks down as follows (72:38 minutes):

All tracks are US 7" singles in Stereo except 21 and 23 in Mono:

1. Gypsy Woman (November 1961, ABC-Paramount 10241, A)

2. Grow Closer Together (1962, ABC-Paramount 10289, A)

3. Little Young Lover (1962, ABC-Paramount 10328, A)

4. Minstrel And Queen (1962, ABC-Paramount 10357, B-side to "You've Come Home")

5. I'm The One Who Loves You (1962, ABC-Paramount 10386, A)

6. Sad, Sad Girl And Boy (1963, ABC-Paramount 10431, A)

7. It's All Right (September 1963, ABC-Paramount 10487, A)

8. Talking About My Baby (January 1964, ABC-Paramount 10511, A)

9. I'm So Proud (March 1964, ABC-Paramount 10544, A)

10. Keep On Pushing (June 1964, ABC-Paramount 10554, A)

11. I've Been Trying (March 1965, ABC-Paramount 10622, B-side of "People Get Ready")

12. Girl You Don't Know Me (1964, ABC-Paramount 10537, A)

13. I Made A Mistake (1964, ABC-Paramount 10544, B-side of "I'm So Proud")

14. You Must Believe Me (August 1964, ABC-Paramount 10581, A)

15. Amen (November 1964, ABC-Paramount 10602, A)

16. People Get Ready (February 1965, ABC-Paramount 10622, A)

17. Woman's Got Soul (April 1965, ABC-Paramount 10647, A)

18. Meeting Over Yonder (June 1965, ABC-Paramount 10670, A)

19. I Need You (September 1965, ABC-Paramount 10710, A)

20. Just One Kiss From You (1965, ABC-Paramount 10725, A)

21. You've Been Cheatin' (November 1965, ABC-Paramount 10750, A)

22. Since I Lost The One I Love (1966, ABC-Paramount 10761, A)

23. Can't Satisfy (August 1966, ABC 10831, A)

24. You Always Hurt Me (March 1967, ABC 10900, A)

25. I Can't Stay Away From You (October 1967, ABC 10964, A)

26: We're A Winner (January 1968, ABC 11022, A)

27: We're Rolling On (Part 1) (April 1968, ABC 11071, A)

28: I Loved And Lost (August 1968, ABC 11103, A)

Chicago's Impressions placed all but a handful of these in the American Top 50 R&B charts with "It's All Right", "Keep On Pushing", "Amen" and "We're A Winner" all reaching the coveted No. 1 spot. Coming close is "Gypsy Woman" and "I'm So Proud" both stalling at No. 2 while "You Must Believe Me" and "People Get Ready" hit No.3. The remasters are wonderfully atmospheric - the brass and drum shuffle of "It's All Right" with that flicking guitar over in the right speaker - so clear and full of that Sixties optimism.

You're then also reminded of the force of nature/powerhouse behind the group - CURTIS MAYFIELD who wrote almost everything on here. Something like say "We're A Winner" is perfect Pop Soul - an infectious lyric that is filled with positivity about that "blessed day has come...we're moving on up...I don't mind leaving here...to show the world we have no fear...because we're a winner..."

Gorgeous music - sound that does it justice too - what a winner indeed...

PS: As I pointed out above - Ace have reissued this 1989 CD in 2002. But rather confusingly they've used both the same catalogue (CDKEND 923) and Barcode (029667292320) again. So when ordering from an online retailer - make sure you request the 2002 upgrade (with its better booklet) - because both the 1989 and 2002 issues have the same barcode and an online retailer may not know the difference...