"The Epic Years 1972-1976" by POCO – Including Five US Albums "A Good Feelin' To Know" (1972 USA, 1973 UK), "Crazy Eyes" (1973), "Poco Seven" and "Cantamos" (1974), "Live" (1976, recorded 1974) Alongside Five Bonus Tracks – Featuring Richie Furay (ex Buffalo Springfield), Paul Cotton (ex Illinois Speed Press), Rusty Young, Timothy B. Schmit (later Eagles) and George Grantham (August 2019 UK HNE Recordings 5CD Mini Clamshell Box set – Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...A Good Feelin' To Know..."

Never as wildly successful or for that matter (IMO) as musically good as their tuneful counterparts EAGLES – yet across five decades now (1969 to 2019) - the American band POCO has nonetheless clawed their Dobro-picking Steel Guitar pickaxe slashing way into the hearts of many a Country-Rock music fan.

And this excellent and rather natty little box set shows us why – containing as it does five albums lifelong fans have loved to distraction (four studio and one live) - boosted by five rare bonus cuts only recently issued in 2015. And the whole brass buttons is available in great audio and cool presentation and for not a lot of wonga either, considering what’s on offer.

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There's a ton of detail to wade through, so let's have at those Driving Wheels, Western Waterloos and Crazy Eyes...

UK released Friday, 30 August 2019 (9 August 2019 in the USA) - "The Epic Years 1972-1976" by POCO on HNE Recordings HNEBOX121 (Barcode 5013929922105) is a 5CD Mini Clamshell Box Set of New Remasters (Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham) offering five albums (four studio and one live) plus five Bonus Tracks and it plays out as follows:

CD1 "A Good Feelin' To Know" (47:35 minutes):

1. And Settlin' Down [Side 1]

2. Ride The Country

3. I Can See Everything

4. Go And Say Goodbye

5. Keeper Of The Flame

6. Early Times [Side 2]

7. A Good Feelin' To Know

8. Restrain

9. Sweet Lovin'

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth album "A Good Feelin' To Know" - released November 1972 in the USA on Epic KE 31601 and January 1973 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 65216

BONUS TRACKS:

10. I Can See Everything [Remix] - first appeared in July 2015 on the 2CD POCO compilation "The Forgotten Trail (1969-1974) on Retroworld/Floating World FLOATD6229 (Barcode 0805772622920)

11. A Good Feelin' To Know [Single Edit] - A-side to a June 1972 US 45 on Epic 5-10890 (3:27 minute edit) with the album track "Early Times" on the B-side - 19 January 1973 UK 7" single on Epic S EPC 8240 with same flip-side

CD2 "Crazy Eyes" (53:56 minutes):

1. Blue Water [Side 1]

2. Fools Gold

3. Here We Go Again

4. Brass Buttons

5. A Right Along

6. Crazy Eyes [Side 2]

7. Magnolia

8. Let's Dance Tonight

Tracks 1 to 8 are their sixth album "Crazy Eyes" - released September 1973 in the USA on Epic Records KE 32354 and November 1973 UK on Epic Records S EPC 65631.

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Nothin's Still The Same [Remix]

10. Get In The Wind [Remix]

11. Believe Me [Remix]

Tracks 9 to 11 first appeared in July 2015 on the 2CD POCO compilation "The Forgotten Trail (1969-1974) on Retroworld/Floating World FLOATD6229 (Barcode 0805772622920)

CD3 "Poco Seven" (35:57 minutes):

1. Drivin' Wheel [Side 1]

2. Rocky Mountain Hoedown

3. Just Call My Name

4. Skatin'

5. Faith In The Families [Side 2]

6. Krikkit's Song (Passing Through)

7. Angel

8. You've Got Your Reasons

Tracks 1 to 8 are their seventh album "Poco Seven" - released May 1974 in the USA on Epic Records KE 32895 and June 1974 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 80082.

CD4 "Cantamos" (36:44 minutes):

1. Sagebrush Serenade [Side 1]

2. Susannah

3. High And Dry

4. Western Waterloo

5. One Horse Blue [Side 2]

6. Bitter Blue

7. Another Time Around

8. Whatever Happened To Your Smile

9. All The Ways

Tracks 1 to 9 are their eight album "Cantamos" (Spanish for "We Sing" - released November 1974 in the USA on Epic PE 33192 and December 1974 in the UK on Epic S EPC 80595

CD5 "Live" (38:20 minutes):

1. Medley: Blue Water/Fools Gold/Rocky Mountain Hoedown [Side 1]

2. Bad Weather

3. Ride The Country

4. Angel [Side 2]

5. High And Dry

6. Restraint

7. A Good Feelin' To Know

Tracks 1 to 7 are "Live" - their second live album and eleventh album overall - released March 1976 in the USA on Epic Records PE 33336 and in the UK on Epic EPC 80705. 

The mini clamshell box set is pretty to look at and the 16-page booklet with MALCOLM DOME liner notes contains all the data and discography info a body would need - including page photographs of the inner gatefold for "A Good Feelin' To Know" LP, the back sleeve of "Crazy Eyes", the inner for "Seven" and so on.  The band featured RICHIE FURAY [ex Buffalo Springfield], PAUL COTTON [ex Illinois Speed Press], RUSTY YOUNG, TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT [later with The Eagles] and GEORGE GRANTHAM. The five single card sleeves are nice (each CD label is unfortunately a generic HNE Recordings logo instead of the original American labels) but the real news is AUDIO from two fave engineers of mine - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. After the ever so slight crudity of "A Good Feelin' To Know" - Jack Richardson's Production values seemed to settle down and from "Crazy Eyes" onwards - the Audio is great - really clean and expressive ("Poco Seven" and "Cantamos" too). To the music...

Richie Furay provided "And Settlin' Down", "A Good Feelin' To Know" and "Sweet Lovin'" for the debut while their other lead vocalist and songwriter Paul Cotton stumped up "Ride The Country", "Early Times" and "Keeper Of The Fire". Balladeer Timothy B. Schmit threw in "I Can See Everything" and "Restraint" with "Go And Say Goodbye" being a rather workmanlike cover of a Buffalo Springfield song penned by Stephen Stills. The funny thing about "...Good Feelin'..." is that the band somehow considered it better than "Crazy Eyes" because Furay was still on-board with the band - his contributions to the follow-up "Crazy Eyes" being entirely contractual.

But for me the production values of "Crazy Eyes" and the fact that Furay's departure seems to have woken up the other songwriters by virtue of necessity see stunners like the Eagles Country-Rock speaker-to-speaker panned guitars of "Blue Water" vie for attention with the first of two really good covers - Gram Parsons heartbreaker "Brass Buttons" and the gorgeous melody of J.J. Cale's "Magnolia". But for me the winner has always been the extraordinary 9:37 minutes of the Side 2 opener and album title track "Crazy Eyes". I've often wondered was Randy Meisner listening to this when he did his similar track "Journey of The Sorcerer" on the Eagles 1975 album "One Of These Nights". Poco's "Crazy Eyes" throws in everything - strings, banjos, steel and electric guitars, drum rhythms and an epic-ness that they never again achieved nor attempted. And those five bonus tracks are shockingly good - especially the remix of Schmit's "I Can See Everything" which irons out some of the originals rougher instrumentation edges.

There's amazing audio quality on the slide guitar for "Angel" from "Poco Seven" but the "Krikkit's Song..." from Schmit feels cheesy - things redeemed by the lovely acoustic guitars within 'You've Got Your Reasons".  The "live" set is a weird one - recorded across 3 dates in November 1974 on the "Cantamos" tour - "Live" was belatedly released by Epic to spite the band for defecting to ABC Records. When Poco felt Epic no longer had their backs (which they didn't) and left for a new label and a new beginning - when they released the July 1975 and May 1976 albums "Head Over Heels" and "Rose Of Cimarron" (firm fan faves) - Epic went head-to-head by also releasing a double-album "Very Best Of" in July 1975 to try to steal the thunder from their "Head Over Heels" album. "Live" warmed up fans only weeks before "Rose Of Cimarron". That notwithstanding - the band's performance in those Yale University gigs (9, 28 and 29 Nov 1974) is that of a well-oiled machine - one of the LP's track titles being ignored by a petulant Epic Records - "Restraint".

It's not all banjo-yee-haw genius for sure, but Poco's "The Epic Years 1972-1976" is nicely presented and combined with the great new Audio, quantity of material and tasty extras actually worthy of the moniker 'bonus' - will have the Poco nut in your home feelin' real good this festive holiday...

"The Brunswick Anthology" by JACKIE WILSON – Featuring Single and Album Tracks from 1957 to 1972 (November 2001 UK Brunswick 2CD Anthology – Original Tape Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Feel Those Vibrations…"

A proper little belter this one – 40 tracks – a shed load of hits and superb sound. Here are the whispers getting louder…

UK released November 2001 - "The Brunswick Anthology" by JACKIE WILSON is a 2CD set on Brunswick BICD1001 (Barcode 5060029810122) and breaks down as follows (all catalogue numbers are USA 7" singles):

Disc 1 (51:34 minutes):

1. Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) (1957, Brunswick 9-55024, A)

2. To Be Loved (1958, Brunswick 9-55052, A)

3. Lonely Teardrops (1958, Brunswick 9-55105, A)

4. That's Why (I Love You So) (1959, Brunswick 9-55121, A)

5. I'll Be Satisfied (1959, Brunswick 9-55136, A)

6. You Better Know It (1959, Brunswick 9-55149, A)

7. Talk That Talk (1959, Brunswick 9-55165, A)

8. Night (1960, Brunswick 9-55166, A)

9. Doggin' Around (1960, Brunswick 9-55166, B-side of "Night")

10. (You Were Made For) All My Love (1960, Brunswick 9-55167, A)

11. A Woman, A Lover, A Friend (1960, Brunswick 55167, B-side of "(You Were Made For) All My Love")

12. Alone At Last (1960, Brunswick 9-55170, A)

13. Am I The Man (1960, Brunswick 9-55170, B-side of "Alone At Last" – see Notes)

14. My Empty Arms (1961, Brunswick 9-55201, A)

15. The Tear Of The Year (1961, Brunswick 9-55201, B-side of "My Empty Arms")

16. Please Tell Me Why (1961, Brunswick 55208, A)

17. Your One And Only Love (1961, Brunswick 9-55208, B-side of "Please Tell Me Why")

18. I'm Coming On Back To You (1961, Brunswick 55216, A)

19. Years From Now (1961, Brunswick 55219, A)

20. You Don’t Know What It Means (1961, Brunswick 55219, B-side of "Years From Now")

[Notes: Track 13 is miscredited in the booklet and on the inlay as "I Am The Man" when its "Am I The Man"]

Disc 2 (57:09 minutes):

1. The Greatest Hurt (1962, Brunswick 55221, A)

2. I Just Can't Help It (1962, Brunswick 55229, A)

3. Baby Workout (1963, Brunswick 55239, A)

4. Shake! Shake! Shake!  (1963, Brunswick 55246, A)

5. No Pity (In The Naked City) (1965, Brunswick 55280, A)

6. Soul Galore (1966, Brunswick 55290, A)

7. Think Twice [credited to Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker] (1965, Brunswick 55287, A)

8. Whispers (Getting' Louder) (1966, Brunswick 55300, A)

9. I Don't Want To Lose You (1967, Brunswick 55309, A)

10. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher (1967, Brunswick 55336, A)

11. I've Lost You (1967, Brunswick 55321, A)

12. Since You Showed Me How To Be Happy (1967, Brunswick 55354, A)

13. For Your Precious Love (credited as Jackie Wilson and Count Basie) (1967, Brunswick 55365, A)

14. I Get The Sweetest Feeling (1968, Brunswick 55381, A)

15. Helpless (1969, Brunswick 55418, A)

16. I Still Love You (1969, Brunswick 55402, A)

17. (I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real (1970, Brunswick 55443, A)

18. Let This Be A Letter (To My Baby) (1970, Brunswick 55435, A)

19. Love Is Funny That Way (1971, Brunswick 55461, A)

20. You Got Me Walking (1972, Brunswick 55467, A)

The inlay is a very disappointing 8-page affair with basic track credits, a list of his American and British chart achievements and a few words on Pages 2 and 3 about his career and tragic demise. There are no decent photos to speak of and the gorgeous American 7” picture sleeves that came with "That Why (I Love You So)", "Talk That Talk", "Night", "Alone At Last", "The Greatest Hurt" and "Let This Be A Letter (To My Baby)" are not here (neither are any of the EPs or albums). It’s a functionary affair when the great man surely deserved far better.

But all of that goes out the window when you hear the remasters (doesn’t say who did them) - which are fantastic – full of life, presence and a joy that just won’t quit. Track after track across both discs impress over and over again – the superb original Production values shining through.

Wilson’s knack of touching the public made him one of Brunswick’s biggest sellers. Six of his 61 chart records between 1956 and 1975 hit the US R&B No.1 spot – "Lonely Teardrops", "You Better Know It", "Doggin' Around", "A Woman, A Lover, A Friend", "Baby Workout" and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher". And of course the truly fab "Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)" was a belated UK Number 1 single on the Pop charts in November 1986 after a video took British fans by storm (its original chart placing was 6 in November 1957 on Coral). And such was the popularity of "I Get The Sweetest Feeling" in the Northern Soul clubs of Britain that it hit the UK charts no less than three times (1972, 1975 and 1987) while the uplifting "Higher And Higher" has graced more Movie Soundtracks than you can shake a stick at.

But where this excellent (though admittedly too short) double really works is in the lesser-heard nuggets like the gorgeous Soul dancer "That's Why (I Love You So)" where his operatic vocals and the fantastic Production values of Brunswick collide. "Talk That Talk" is joyful. And speaking of vocal gymnastics – how good are quivering aches and yelps on the bluesy "Doggin' Around" with that church organ and "...you keeps so upset..." lyrics. His own not inconsiderable song-writing talent surfaces in the irrepressible "You Better Know It" (a co-write with Norm Henry) – a song that featured prominently in the movie "Go Johnny Go". 

Things go smoochy with "The Tear Of The Year" (those big strings baby) and again the audio quality is fantastic. There's hiss on "Please Tell My Why" but again after a few moments you ignore it as he does his crying vocal – slaying all in his path. Superb sound resurfaces on "I'm Coming On Back To You" and the gorgeous "You Don't Know What It Means" with its torch-song combo of Strings, Backing Singers and Jackie giving it "Won't Somebody Help Me!" wailing throughout.

When you get to Disc 2, the R 'n' B shouters of the Fifties have segued into crafted and sophisticated Soul penned by secret giants like Carl Davis, Van McCoy and Eugene Record. Over and above the famous tunes like "Whispers", "Higher" and "I Get The Sweetest Feeling"  – you get cool Northern Soul dancers like "I Don't Want To Lose You Now" and ballads in the shape of "No Pity (In The Naked City)". And even when you get out of the Sixties – Johnny Moore and Eugene Record (of The Chi-Lites) were still providing him with superb songs into the Seventies like the hugely upbeat "(I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real" (as joy as Soul can get) and the pleader "Let This Be A Letter (To My Baby)".

Someone (like Bear Family or Ace) should of course do his complete Brunswick/Coral 7" singles run from 1956 to 1975 onto 2 or 3 CD. But until such time as that – seek out this (now deleted) 2CD set of Soulful joy - and find out why the ex-boxer and singing/stage dynamo Jackie Wilson was nicknamed Mr. Excitement…

"NYC 1961-1966" by JACKIE WILSON – Features 48 Brunswick Records Recordings from 1961 to 1966, 25 of Which Are Previously Unreleased and the Remainder Key Singles and Albums Tracks (March 2015 Ace Records UK 2CD Anthology – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Soul Galore..."

Oh my giddy aunt - what a reissue! How many decades have we waited for this fabulous double slice of Mr. Excitement Soul? In fact this UK release feels like Rhino's monumental unearthing of Aretha Franklin's unissued Atlantic sides on the "Rare & Unreleased Recordings..." 2CD sensation in 2007.

"NYC 1961-1966" offers fans 48 Soulful tracks across 2CDS - 25 of which are Previously Unreleased (17 new songs and 8 Alternate Takes) from Jackie Wilson's hugely successful stay at Brunswick Records. There's one song (Track 15 on Disc 1) from a long-deleted 1987 American LP on Rhino while the remaining 22 cuts are much-needed remasters of rare single sides - many of which haven't been on CD in decades. And quite apart from the wad of unreleased goodies - the Audio Remasters by DUNCAN COWELL at Audio Archiving from original Brunswick tapes are simply sensational - gorgeous sound throughout - giving full reign to Wilson's operatic vocals and his troupe of ace musicians. There's a wad to get through here so let's get stuck into this treasure trove right away...

UK released Monday 30 March 2015 (April 2015 in the USA) - "NYC 1961-1966" by JACKIE WILSON is a 48-track 2CD set on Ace Records CDTOP2 1428 (Barcode 029667071024) and pans out as follows:

Disc 1 (69:03 minutes):

1. I Believe I'll Love On (November 1965 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55283, A)

2. Me, My Mother's Son (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 11), recorded 11 August 1965 in NYC)

3. 3 Days 1 Hour 30 Minutes (January 1966 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55289, A)

4. I've Gotta Get Back (Country Boy) (January 1966 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55289, B-side to "3 Days 1 Hour 30 Minutes")

5. All My Lovin' (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 7), recorded 3 December 1965, NYC)

6. Soul Galore (Previously Unreleased Take 8 (unedited) of Brunswick 55290 (A), recorded 3 December 1965, NYC)

7.  Think Twice by Jackie Wilson &LaVern Baker (Previously Unreleased Take 4 of Brunswick 55287 (A), recorded 11 August 1965, NYC)

8. Please Don't Hurt Me (I've Never Been In Love Before) by Jackie Wilson & LaVern Baker (January 1966 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55287, B-side of "Think Twice")

9. No Pity (In The Naked City) (June 1965 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55280, A)

10. I'm So Lonely (June 1965 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55280, B-side of "No Pity (In The Naked City)")

11. I Can't Stand Another Hurt (In My Heart) (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 4), recorded 8 April 1965, NYC)

12. Watch Out (November 1964 USA 7"single on Brunswick 55273, B-side of "She's All Right")

13. She's All Right (November 1964 USA 7"single on Brunswick 55273, A)

14. Soul Time (March 1965 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55277, B-side of "Danny Boy")

15. Silent One (Take 4 - Previously Unreleased Song that first appeared on the "Through The Years" Jackie Wilson LP in 1987 on Rhino RNLP 70230 (CD was 1992 on Rhino R2 70230)

16. Change Me (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 8), recorded 8 October 1964, NYC)

17. Haunted House (February 1964 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55260, B-side of "I'm Travelin' On")

18. I'm Travelin' On February 1964 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55260, A)

19. Expressions (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 7), recorded 26 March 1964, NYC)

20. Dream aka I Dreamed (What A Dream Last Night) (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 3), recorded 26 March 1964, NYC)

21. Big Boss Line (Previously Unreleased Take 7 of Brunswick 55266, B-side of "Shake! Shake! Shake!")

22. Twistin' & Shoutin' (Doing The Monkey) (Previously Unreleased False Start/Take 2 of a song on the 1964 Jackie Wilson LP "Somethin' Else!!" on Brunswick 754117)

23. Hole Me, Need Me (Previously Unreleased Song (Overdub Take 7), recorded 6 January 1964, NYC)

24. Start The Record Over (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 11), recorded 7 August 1963, NYC)

NOTES for Disc 1:

All Tracks STEREO except Track 10 - which is MONO

All Tracks credited to Jackie Wilson except Tracks 7 & 8 - which are Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker

Previously Unreleased Songs (2015) - Tracks 2, 5, 11, 16, 19, 20, 23 and 24

Previously Unreleased Song (1987) - Track 15

Previously Unreleased Alternate Takes (2015) - Tracks 6, 7, 13, 21 and 22

USA 7" Singles - Tracks 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17 and 18

Disc 2 (62:57 minutes):

1. The New Breed (September 1963 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55250, B-side of "Baby Get It")

2. Say I Do by Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins (July 1963 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55243, B-side of "Shake A Hand")

3. Shake A Hand by Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins (July 1963 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55243, A)

4. Don't Laugh At Me aka Don't Make Me Cry (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 8), recorded 7 August 1963, NYC)

5. Love (Is Where You Find It) (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 5), recorded 7 August 1963, NYC)

6. You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too (Previously Unreleased Song (Take 5), recorded 28 February 1963, NYC)

7. Call Her Up (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take 7 of Brunswick 55263 (A))

8. What Good Am I Without You? (December 1962 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55236, A)

9. Shake! Shake! Shake! (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take (no number) of Brunswick 55246 (A))

10. Baby Workout (Previously Unreleased Alternate False Start/Take 5 of Brunswick 55239 (A))

11. I Just Can't Help It (June 1962 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55229, A)

12. My Tale Of Woe (June 1962 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55229, B-side of "I Just Can't Help It")

13. Baby, That's All (August 1962 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55233, A)

14. I Hurt So Bad (Somebody Help Me) (Previously Unreleased Song, recorded 7 August 1962, NYC)

15. Tears (Don't Care Who Cry Them) (Previously Unreleased Song, recorded 7 August 1962)

16. Sing (And Tell The Blues So Long) (Previously Unreleased Song, recorded 25 January 1962, NYC)

17. I Found Love by Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins (March 1962 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55224, A)

18. There's Nothing Like Love by Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins (March 1962 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55224, B-side of "I Found Love")

19. The Dancing Man (Previously Unreleased Song, recorded 25 January 1962, NYC)

20. You Don't Know What It Means (August 1961 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55219, B-side of "Years From Now")

21. Years From Now (August 1961 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55219, A)

22. The Test Of Time (Previously Unreleased Song, recorded 22 May 1961, NYC)

23. Lonely Life (June 1961 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55216, B-side of "I'm Comin' On Back To You")

24. I'm Comin' On Back To You (June 1961 USA 7" single on Brunswick 55216, A)

Notes for Disc 2:

All tracks are STEREO except Tracks 9, 10, 11 and 12 - which are MONO

All tracks credited to Jackie Wilson except Tracks 3 & 4 and 17 & 18 - which are Jackie Wilson and Linda Hopkins

Previously Unreleased Songs (2015) - Tracks 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 22

Previously Unreleased Alternate Takes (2015) - Tracks 7, 9 and 10

USA 7" Singles - Tracks 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23 and 24

The 24-page booklet is jam-packed with pages of Brunswick label repro's, Cashbox Trade Adverts and Reviews and Session-by-Session liner notes by noted authority ROB HUGHES (with contributions from Roger Armstrong and Bob Dunham). It has to be said because the liner notes are laid out in session order - the read can be awkward. If you want to find Track 1 on Disc 1 it's on Page 20 because it's from August 1965 - while Track 23 on Disc 2 from May 1961 is on Page 6. I can understand why it's pitched this way - it makes Discography sense. Each entry is incredibly detailed even stating 2/20 or 1/22 before each line so that you know exactly which track is where (Disc 2 Track 20 or Disc 1 Track 22 and so on). The pictures and adverts are gorgeous to look at (a full-page print for "What Good Am I Without You?" on Brunswick 55236 as the inside back inlay for instance). There are classy black and whites of Jackie in the Studio with Dick Jacobs and Nat Tarnopol dotted throughout the text (and back page). It's typical Ace Records quality all the way...

I've already mentioned the superlative Audio - which I think is shockingly good. The odd track like "Watch Out" starts out with thrilling studio chatter but 95% of the rest are straightforward start and finish songs with little messing about in-between. When you play track 1 on Disc 1 Eddie Singleton's "I Believe I'll Love On" - a 1965 single in full-on STEREO - the Audio is glorious - it stays that way pretty much throughout.

"Me, My Mother's Son" (track 2 on Disc 2) begins the run of Previously Unreleased material and its very good - a dancer that pushes the guitar to the right and the brass to the left. "3 Days 1 Hour 30 Minutes" is very Wilson Pickett in its frantic funk but actually better is the slower talker-tune on the flipside - "I've Gotta Get Back (Country Boy)". Northern Soul clubbers will chew up the stepper "All My Lovin'" - the first genuinely great unreleased track. You can hear why Take 8 of "Soul Galore" was left in the can (the vocals at the start don't quite work) - but that doesn't stop the tune from being a barnstormer - great groover. Again another B-side outdoes the A for me with "Please Don't Hurt Me (I've Never Been In Love Before)" where the powerhouse duo of Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker go head-to-head in a slow "beggin' you please" vocal battle.

I've had the June 1965 single "No Pity (In The Naked City)" on at least 3 compilations before but never heard it sound this good or clear (absolute stunner - and nice to hear its rare B-side "I'm So Lonely" follow it). We're hit with another gorgeous sounding Previously Unreleased track - "I Can't Stand Another Hurt (In My Heart)" - it's a hurting ballad and his vocal is superb (even if the organ dominates the tune a little too much). 7" single genius crops up with "Watch Out" (the flip of 1964's "She's All Right") - what a choppy winner with very cleverly layered vocals from other bass singers in the group (Ray Gordy Orchestra). Unfortunately the fabulous studio chatter ("take it down just a hair") that should precede the song has been added onto to the end of the track before it "I Can't Stand Another Hurt..." I can understand why Ace did this - it allows you to cue up the single "Watch Out" without intrusive stuff at the beginning (worth pointing out).

Another thumping dancer B-side turns up with "Soul Time" (flip of 1965's cover of the Irish air "Danny Boy"). "Silent One" is lovely stuff - it originally appeared on the American Rhino LP "Through The Years" in 1987 (reissued on Rhino CD in 1992) and to my knowledge hasn't been available since. It's a winner and beautifully produced too. But then we're hit with what I think is the prize on Disc 1 - a pleader ballad - the unreleased "Change Me" recorded in October 1964 in Stereo. It's Soul melodrama in all the best ways. "Haunted House" is a gorgeous B-side - full of atmosphere and Sixties Soul. Of the remainder the hand-clapping foot-stomping "Big Boss Line" is another winner - presented here as an Alternate Take for this infectious B-side.

Disc 2 opens with "The New Breed" where Jackie tells us the kids of America have found their groove with Soul Music (too damn right). I've had the "Shake A Hand" duet with Linda Hopkins before but I've never had its storming B-side "Say I Do" where the big-throated pair roar into the microphones like they're trying to outdo each other. It's followed by three unreleased - the ballad "Don't Laugh At Me", a salsa tune called "Love (Is Where You Find It)" and a mid-tempo number entitled "You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too" - they're good rather than being great. Better is the Alternate Take of "Call Her Up" where his vocals are typically enthusiastic.

Having had so much Stereo - the cluster of Mono cuts in the middle of Disc 2 come as something of a shock - not that the False Start and Take 5 of "Baby Workout" isn't brilliant (it is). We go all Vocal Group on fab little bopper "I Just Can't Help It" (the uncredited backing group may be the Hollywood Flames with Donald Height) and I've never heard its rare B-side "Tale Of Woe" before anywhere else. Of the next three unreleased I like "Sing (And Tell The Blues So Long)" the best and the audio on the single "Years From Now" b/w "You Don't Know What It Means" is truly fantastic. It ends on the chipper "I'm Comin' On Back To You" sounding like it was minted yesterday.

Not everything on these 2CDs is unmitigated genius - but man the good stuff far outweighs the bad by a mile. A superlative release from the mighty Ace Records of the UK and surely one of 'the' Soul Reissues of 2015...