"The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10: 1970" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2008 US Hip-O-Select 6CD Book Set 146-Track Compilation - Book Set With Front-Cover Attached 45 Single – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 8000 Copies – CD Volumes Nos. 50 to 55 in the Series - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Good God Y'All!"

This extraordinary Hip-O Select series began in the States in January 2005 with Volume 1 covering 1959-1961 and ended a total of 14 book sets later in December 2013 with Volume 12B covering the second half of 1972. For Motown fans - it's been an exhilarating if not costly ride - a whopping 75 numbered-volumes on CD, 14 specially pressed 7" singles attached to the front and a staggering 1847 songs. Each 'Book Set' gives you the USA 7" single mixes in true MONO from the original Motown Master Tapes – promo STEREO versions where applicable and even Rare and Alternate Takes. Each volume is a sumptuous wow (see full list below). I own them all except Volumes 1 and the ever-elusive Volume 6 (now extortionately expensive).

"1970" (like much of 1969) saw Motown on the cusp of change (and badly needed it was too). Norman Whitfield and others saw Motown tentatively move away from the naïve but lucrative 'love on a Saturday night' song-writing machine that dominated Tamla’s Sixties output - to individual Artists and Producers expressing themselves and the real social change sweeping across America and the world ("Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations and Edwin Starr's explosive "War"). Not that they didn't have their eye on the commercial – you get all the big hits of the year as well. So like 1969’s Volume 9 – Volume 10 is a strange hybrid of the right-on versus the happy-wappy. Here are the Tears Of A Clown…

Released June 2008 in the USA on Hip-O Select's B0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209) – "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 10: 1970" by VARIOUS ARTISTS has 6CDs housed in a hardback book set with a 148-page oversized book inside and a 7” single on the front – "The Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (a repro of Tamla T 54199). It’s a non-numbered Limited Edition of 8000 and plays out as follows (basic breakdown)…

Disc 1 (Volume 50), 25 songs, 77:30 minutes:

Disc 2 (Volume 51), 23 songs, 70:13 minutes:

Disc 3 (Volume 52), 25 songs, 75:54 minutes:

Disc 4 (Volume 53), 24 songs, 78:22 minutes:

Disc 5 (Volume 54), 23 songs, 74:50 minutes:

Disc 6 (Volume 55), 24 songs, 76:02 minutes:

The first thing that hammers you (as with all of these releases) is the glory of the packaging – surely a standard by which all others are to be judged. The 7" single lodged in the front lip is not surprisingly "The Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – an exact repro of the October 1970 USA R&B No. 1 single on Tamla T 54199. But inside is the real deal – 147-pages of stunning liner notes and full-colour artist plates – some of which will literally stop you in your tracks they're so beautifully rendered. Stevie Wonder is on Page 24, The Supremes (Trio) on Page 31, Marvin Gaye on Page 62, Rare Earth on Page 77, Martha Reeves And The Vandellas on Page 102, Edwin Starr on Page 113 and so on. The in-depth BILL DAHL liner notes are fabulous giving you a full history of each song and if the B-side is on a previous volume – he tells you which one. Each entry has catalogue numbers, master details, playing credits, Pop and R 'n' B chart positions and so on. There are even three Indexes at the rear – by Artist, Title and Catalogue Number so you find anything easily. And while the packaging is gorgeous – the Audio Remastering is just as thrilling…

Digitally remastered from original Motown Master Tapes by ELLEN FITTON – she’s handled the entire series – and stunning is the only word for it. Most of these single mixes are in MONO – so the punch is pretty lethal when it comes out of your speakers. The effect is to feel like you’re hearing these things anew.

Disc 1 opens with a beauty – "The Bells" and "I'll Wait For You" by The Originals – with both sides co-written by and produced by Marvin Gaye. Edwin Starr gets his production day too with the kicking "Time" while dancing enthusiasts will dig the obscure "Expressin' My Love" by Stu Gardner. Highlights on Disc 2 include the gritty Soul Rock of The Rustix with "Come On People", the lovely ballad "On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World" by The Fantastic Four, while Motown's in-house guitarist Arthur Adams sees his ultra-rare Chisa single "My Baby's Love" b/w "Loving You" get a CD outing for the first time since its 1970 release. And Chuck Jackson's double-ender "Two Feet From Happiness" b/w "Let Somebody Love Me" is one of those singles that should have done better.

Disc 3 and 4 sees the emergence of Soul Artists getting real with what was going on all around them in American politics both National and International - "Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations and Edwin Starr's extraordinary "War" (apparently done in one take – Good God Y'all!). The commercial side is "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 and the underrated "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops. Obscure - but none the less winning are Kiki Dee, Bob & Marcia, Blinky, Danny Hernandez and Yvonne Fair. I also love The Jazz Crusaders, Jr. Walker and Rare Earth on Discs 5 and 6. In truth – like all of these compilations – there is a lot of filler – and it's easy to see why so many of these songs and acts fell by the wayside – but overall the listen is voyage of joy and discovery. Any compilation with the fabulous "Hum Along And Dance" by The Temptations gets my vote.

What I would give to see someone tackle ATLANTIC or STAX or CHESS SINGLES in this manner – but that’s another strengthened shelf sometime in the future. Genius and then some…

 "The Complete Motown Singles" Series by Hip-O Select

(14 Releases as of September 2020)

75 x CD Volumes, 1847 CD Tracks Plus 28 Tracks On 14 x 7" Vinyl Singles

1.  Volume 1: 1959-1961, Released January 2005, Catalogue No. Hip-O Select B-0003631-02 (Barcode 602517643310), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 5000 (Non-Numbered), 155 Tracks, CDs are Volumes 1 to 6

2.  Volume 2: 1962, May 2005, 4CDs, B-00004402-02 (Barcode 602517807552), Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 112 Tracks, Volumes 7 to 10

3.  Volume 3: 1963, October 2005, B-0005352-02 (Barcode 602517845691), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 11 to 15

4.  Volume 4: 1964, February 2006, B-0005945-02 (Barcode 602517882443), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 163 Tracks, Volumes 16 to 21

5.  Volume 5: 1965, August 2006, B-0006775-02 (Barcode 602517789414), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 166 Tracks, Volumes 22 to 27

6.  Volume 6: 1966, November 2006, B-0007872-02 (Barcode 602517092761), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 125 Tracks, Volumes 28 to 32

7.  Volume 7: 1967, May 2007, B-0008993-02 (Barcode 602517341906), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 33 to 37

8.  Volume 8: 1968, October 2007, B-0009708-02 (Barcode 602517431775), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 38 to 43

9.  Volume 9: 1969, December 2007, B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 148 Tracks, Volumes 44 to 49

10. Volume 10: 1970, June 2008, B-0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 50 to 55

11. Volume 11A: 1971, February 2009, B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 56 to 60

12. Volume 11B: 1971, January 2010, B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 61 to 65

13. Volume 12A: 1972, May 2013, B-0012935-02 (Barcode 602527044453)), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 117 Tracks, Volumes 66 to 70

14. Volume 12B: 1972, December 2013, B-0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 100 Tracks, Volumes 71 to 75

PS: Volume 10 (like so many of the others) is Deleted in September 2020 with used copies trading for as much as £250. But Amazon offer the whole set as an MP3 download for £59.99. Use link provided above for details...

"The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – featuring Edwin Starr, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, The Originals, David Ruffin, Soupy Sales, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Shorty Long, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Chuck Jackson, The Fantastic Four, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Earl Van Dyke, Jonah Jones, Billy Eckstein, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, The Honest Men, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, The Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Bobby Taylor, The Lollipops, Blinky, Terry Johnson, Wes Henderson, Joe Harnell, Stu Gardner, Monk Montgomery, Arthur Adams, The Spinners, The Jackson 5, Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha, Rare Earth, The Rustix and more (December 2007 US Hip-O Select/Motown 6CD 148-Track Compilation - Book Set With Front-Cover Attached 45 Single – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 6000 Copies – CD Volumes Nos. 44 to 49 in the Series - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Want You Back..."

This is a truly gorgeous CD reissue – the kind of 6CD sexpot that actually is worth standing up Scarlett Johansson for (well maybe).

I diligently collected all of these now-legendary Hip-O Select American-issued Book Volumes except of course (like a pillock) the elusive and expensive Vol. 6 covering 1966 (a very stupid oversight). My advice would be not to make that same mistake with 'any' volume in this extraordinary series. Much to discuss - so let's hear from 'My Cherie Amour' right away...

US released December 2007 - "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select/Motown B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722) is a 6CD 148-Track Book Set with Front-Cover Attached 45 (a repro of the US single "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5) – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 6000 Copies (CDs are Volumes 44 to 49) that plays out as follows:

CD1, Disc 44, 72:55 minutes (23 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 10 US singles by Edwin Starr, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, The Originals (one extra Alternate Mix), David Ruffin, Soupy Sales, Stevie Wonder (Promo and Commercial Versions of the A-side as well as the more famous B-side "My Cherie Amour"), The Temptations, Shorty Long (Three Tracks, two different A-sides offered - one was withdrawn) and Gladys Knight & The Pips

CD2, Disc 45, 71:39 minutes (25 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 12 singles by Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Chuck Jackson (one extra Alternate Long Version of the B-side "Are You Lonely For Me Baby"), The Fantastic Four, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Earl Van Dyke, Jonah Jones, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Billy Eckstein, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, The Honest Men and Jr. Walker & The All Stars

CD3, Disc 46, 71:51 minutes (25 Tracks)

The A&B-sides (see NOTE) of 13 singles by The Temptations, The Isley Brothers, The Originals, Diana Ross & The Supremes, (one extra Alternate Take of the A-side "No Matter What Sign You Are"), Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (four tracks - two singles – the second 45 5565 is A-side only but has an extra Alternate Mix), David Ruffin, Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Captain Zap and The Motortown Cut-Ups, Bobby Taylor and The Lollipops

(NOTE: The Isley Brothers, The Originals and one of the two Smokey Robinson & The Miracles single - A-sides only)

CD4, Disc 47, 74:18 minutes (25 Tracks)

The A&B-sides (see NOTE) of 13 singles by Blinky & Edwin Starr, Terry Johnson, Bobby Taylor, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Jackson, The Originals, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Wes Henderson, Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Shorty Long, The Fantastic Four and Joe Harnell

(NOTE: Bobby Taylor - A-side only)

CD5, Disc 48, 71:49 minutes (24 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 11 singles by The Marvelettes, Stu Gardner (three tracks, one extra A-side), Monk Montgomery, Stevie Wonder (three tracks, one extra A-side), Arthur Adams, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Spinners, The Jackson 5, Jimmy Ruffin and Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha

CD6, Disc 49, 75:43 minutes (26 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 12 singles by Diana Ross & The Supremes, Four Tops, Chuck Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Rare Earth, David Ruffin (one extra Alternate Mix), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (one extra Alternate Mix), Anonymous Children Of Today, The Rustix, The Five Smooth Stones, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations

As you can see from the lists above, CD3 in this 6-disc set for instance contains tracks by The Isley Brothers, The Originals and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles that have only the A-side – this will be because the flip will have been on Volume 8 for 1968 or Volume 7 for 1967 and so on (the liner notes tell you what master-volume contains the B-side). Also, if you take CD1, you notice that it has a Shorty Long release that had different A-sides on the Motown sheets so this set provides both – stunning attention to collector detail. And you can see that acts like Soupy Sales, The Honest Men, Anonymous Children Of Today, The Five Smooth Stones, Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha and Captain Zap and The Motown Cut-Ups are not exactly household names that trip of your average Soul fan's tongue – so deep level stuff sitting alongside hits like Marvin being "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" or The Temptations pondering life in the "Psychedelic Shack".

You have to talk about the presentation of these things that in every case will have a Motown/Soul Music fan weak at the knees. I have bought and reviewed a lot of tasty Hip-O Select reissues – Muddy Waters, Jimmy Cliff, Emitt Rhodes, Tammi Terrell, Howlin’ Wolf, The 15-Disc Chess Story, Stephen Bishop, Buddy Miles and so on. But these Motown Volumes are the best they ever did – a profoundly fab project that eventually stretched out from 1959 to 1972 with 75 CDs and 1847 Tracks. All transfers were taken from original tapes and included the Single Mono Mixes, Stereo Versions if on Promo 45s, Previously Unreleased Variants and full annotation for every single song. You get catalogue numbers, musician personnel, Producers, overdub details, Billboard R&B and Pop chart placements (if any) and long paragraphs on the recording and its history.

As the packaging has to fit a 45 single on the front cover – the 140 pages of text are large inside the hardback book – allowing full-page colour plates that are genuinely some of the most beautifully rendered photos of Soul Artists that I’ve ever seen. The six discs are housed in individual card leaves at the back with three indexes preceding them – By Artist, By Title and By Label. This allows collectors a way of tracking what they need – very thorough. The only minor miscall for UK fans would be that every catalogue number is American – if you want their British equivalents – I cannot recommend enough a book I reviewed a good few years ago now called “TAMLA MOTOWN: The Stories Behind The UK Singles” by TERRY WILSON - a tall paperback with over 710 pages published by Cherry Red Books. It provides both the US and UK details and is the very best reference source on TM you can get.

The Audio comes via an Engineer I’ve sung the praises of before – ELLEN FITTON – one of Universal’s top Remaster types. Across a total of 148 tracks, you get 71 singles and there are just so many great discoveries in here – the beautifully soulful Originals assuring us that "We've Got A Way Out Of Love", the wall of male-singer class that was Chuck Jackson on his "Are You Lonely For Me Baby", Blues Guitarist extraordinaire Arthur Adams feeling "It's Private Tonight" for him and his gal while Rare Earth span that Rock/Soul divide with their wake-up people tune "Generations (Light Up The Sy) ". And of course you get to return to absolute Mono classics, as you would have heard them on the radio of the day - "Twenty Five Miles" by Edwin Starr, "I Can't Get Next To You" by The Temptations, "My Whole World Ended..." by David Ruffin and loads more. You can also feel the winds of change on this Box set like that of 1967 and 1968 as soppy Saturday night girly themes get supplemented with worries of the day – picket signs and picket lines – I'm still a struggling man – everybody needing clarity and a safe home as the dark clouds get even darker both domestically and abroad.

If you can't afford the physical product in 2020 (which ranges from £80 to over £90) - the MP3 version of 1969 sometimes becomes available from Amazon as a Download for £39.99 (individual tracks are usually 99p). 

Either way - if you want to hear 'The Sound Of Young America' at its best – then look no further my fellow traveller. Stunning...

"The Complete Motown Singles" Series by Hip-O Select

(14 Releases as of September 2020)

75 x CD Volumes, 1847 CD Tracks Plus 28 Tracks On 14 x 7" Vinyl Singles

1.  Volume 1: 1959-1961, Released January 2005, Catalogue No. Hip-O Select B-0003631-02 (Barcode 602517643310), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 5000 (Non-Numbered), 155 Tracks, CDs are Volumes 1 to 6

2.  Volume 2: 1962, May 2005, 4CDs, B-00004402-02 (Barcode 602517807552), Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 112 Tracks, Volumes 7 to 10

3.  Volume 3: 1963, October 2005, B-0005352-02 (Barcode 602517845691), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 11 to 15

4.  Volume 4: 1964, February 2006, B-0005945-02 (Barcode 602517882443), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 163 Tracks, Volumes 16 to 21

5.  Volume 5: 1965, August 2006, B-0006775-02 (Barcode 602517789414), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 166 Tracks, Volumes 22 to 27

6.  Volume 6: 1966, November 2006, B-0007872-02 (Barcode 602517092761), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 125 Tracks, Volumes 28 to 32

7.  Volume 7: 1967, May 2007, B-0008993-02 (Barcode 602517341906), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 33 to 37

8.  Volume 8: 1968, October 2007, B-0009708-02 (Barcode 602517431775), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 38 to 43

9.  Volume 9: 1969, December 2007, B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 148 Tracks, Volumes 44 to 49

10. Volume 10: 1970, June 2008, B-0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 50 to 55

11. Volume 11A: 1971, February 2009, B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 56 to 60

12. Volume 11B: 1971, January 2010, B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 61 to 65

13. Volume 12A: 1972, May 2013, B-0012935-02 (Barcode 602527044453)), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 117 Tracks, Volumes 66 to 70

14. Volume 12B: 1972, December 2013, B-0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 100 Tracks, Volumes 71 to 75

"Freedom/Fire Corner" by CLANCY ECCLES and THE DYNAMITES – January 1970 UK LPs on Trojan/Clandisc Records with 26 Bonus Tracks from 1968, 1969 and 1970 (February 2020 UK Doctor Bird 2CD Reissue – Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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ALL THINGS MUST PASS - 1970... - Exceptional CD Remasters  

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"...These Sounds...Leads The Way..."

Doctor Bird Records of the UK (part of Cherry Red) continue their stunning reissue series of all things Trojan Records and affiliated – making available again in 2020 the early releases of Trojan's much-loved 'TTL' Reggae, Rock Steady and Ska LP series issued in bulk between 1969 and 1970 (14 schillings and six old pence to you and I, back in the Brixton Cat days). This time we get two early 1970 UK debut albums from Jamaican Producer, Singer and Player CLANCY ECCLES and his band THE DYNAMITES – the Eccles solo set "Freedom" being new to CD.

Eccles was 29 years old in December 1969 and had already been playing music for a decade, his huge hits on Coxsone and (Nu) New Beat Records back home stretching back as far as the beginning of the Sixties. In fact the early 1970 British debut album "Freedom" (TTL 22) with that famous shot of him riding a motorbike through the Island scrubs had only one new recording on it - itself an update of his 1961 45-classic "Freedom" originally issued on Coxsone Records in Jamaica. The other eleven cuts were largely successful 7" singles A and B-sides ranging from 1967, 1968 and 1969 - so the album was a mop-up greatest hits set of sorts (see detailed list below for catalogue numbers and release dates). The 12-Track Dynamites debut offered four previously released sevens nestling alongside eight new exclusive tracks. Both have been in the Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide for years at hefty sums – original vinyl copies in better than VG grade - particularly difficult to find.

Trojan allocated 'Clandisc Records' to all Clancy-related output - the LP sleeves displaying the Trojan Logo and catalogue number but the labels actually being Clandisc (issues for this label ranged between October 1969 and October 1972). And as if these two rare LPs weren't enough, Doctor Bird amps up this 2CD set with a whopping 26 more Period Bonuses including Previously Unreleased and Six Jamaican Tracks/Singles not originally available in the UK – all of it Remastered by a fave Audio Engineer of mine – Andy Pearce (uncredited). There is a bike-shop of parts to wade through, so once more let's get Fattie Fattie with Auntie Lulu (if you know what I'm saying)...

UK released Friday, 14 February 2020 - "Freedom/Fire Corner" by CLANCY ECCLES and THE DYNAMITES on Doctor Bird DBCDD-050 (Barcode 5013929275034) is a 50-Track 2CD Reissue Offering Two Early 1970 UK LPs on Trojan/Clandisc Records with an Added 26 Period Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

CD1 by CLANCY ECCLES (70:02 minutes):

1. Freedom (1969 Remake of a 1961 Coxsone song, exclusive to TTL 22) [Side 1]

2. What Will Your Mother Say (1967 UK 45 on Pama PM 701, A-side - for B-side see Track 14)

3. Two Of A Kind (1968 UK 45 on Pama PM 729, B-side of "Push It Up", credited to THE TERMITES)

4. The World Needs Loving (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 201, A-side)

5. Dollar Train (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 201, B-side)

6. Constantinople (March 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 648, A-side - for B-side see Track 20)

7. Fattie Fattie (May 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 658, A-side - for B-side see Track 20 on CD2) [Side 2]

8. Auntie Lulu (May 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 658, B-side)

9. Shu Be Du (1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 9, credited as "Bag-A-Boo" on the B-side of "Auntie Lulu" by Slickers)

10. My Girl (April 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 649, B-side of Val Bennett's "Demonstration")

11. I Need You (1968 UK 45 on Nu Beat NU 006, credited as "I Really Love You" on the B-side of "Festival 68" - for A-side see Track 15)

12. Mount Zion (aka Mounzion) (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA-202, B-side of "Vigorton 2" by King Stitt - for A-side see Track 10 on CD2)

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Freedom" – released January 1970 on Trojan/Clandisc TTL 22 (label actually says Clandisc only)

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Open Up (March 1970 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 209, A-side)

14. Darling Don't Do That (1967 UK 45 on Pama PM 701, A-side - for A-side see Track 2)

15. Festival 68 (1968 UK 45 on Nu Beat NU 006, A-side - for B-side see Track 11)

16. The Revenge - wrong credit - info unknown

17. Bangarang Crash (A Check It) - wrong credit in booklet; probably Trojan TR 647 from March 1969, A-side - for B-side see Track 13 on CD2

18. The Fight (1969 UK 45 on Pama PM 712, A-side - for B-side see Track 21)

19. Don't Brag Don't Boast (aka "Bag-A-Boo") (1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 9, credited as "Bag-A-Boo" on the B-side of "Auntie Lulu" by Slickers)

20. Deacon Don (March 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 648, B-side - for A-side see Track 6)

21. Great (Beat)  (1969 UK 45 on Pama PM 712, B-side – for B-side see Track 18 on CD1)

22. Chinaman (United We Stand) (January 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 638, B-side of "Dulcemania" by Drumbago and Dynamites)

23. Oh My Lover  (August 1968 UK 45 single on Pama PM 740, B-side of "How Come" by Lloyd Terrel - Clancy Eccles is credited as 'Mrs. Miller' on the A-side)

24. Beat Dance (December 1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA-206, B-side of "The Ugly One” by King Stitt)

25. Fattie Fattie (Alternate Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED  

CD2 by THE DYNAMITES (66:24 minutes):

1. Eternally [Side 1]

2. Sam-Fie

3. I Did It

4. This Is The Night

5. One Way Street

6. John Public (June 1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 30, B-side of "Fire Corner" by Clancy Eccles)

7. Skokiaan (Mr Midnight) (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 200, B-side of "Who Yea" by King Stitt - B-side credited as "Mr Midnight" only on some copies) [Side 2]

8. Soul Language (aka "Moonwalk")

9. Say What You Say

10. Vigorton 2 (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA-202, A-side - for B-side by Clancy Eccles see Track 12 on CD1)

11. Next Corner

12. Fire Corner (June 1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 30, A-side - for B-side see Track 6 on CD2) 

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Fire Corner" – released January 1970 in the UK on Trojan/Clandisc TTL 21 (label actually says Clandisc only)

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Rathid by The Dynamites (March 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 647, B-side of "Bangarang Crash" - for A-side see Track 17 on CD1)

14. Who Yea by King Stitt (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 200, A-side - for B-side by Clancy Eccles see Track 7 on CD2)

15. City Demonstration by Val Bennett (April 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 649, A-side - for B-side "My Girl" by Clancy Eccles see Track 10 on CD1)

16. On The Street by King Stitt (November 1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 203, B-side of "Foolish Fool" by Cynthia Richards)

17. Mercilina by The Dynamites (Not originally released in the UK)

18. Silbert Dragon by Winston Wright & The Dynamites (Not originally released in the UK)

19. Lick It Back by King Stitt (Not originally released in the UK)

20. Last Call by Silver Stars [actually "Tribute To Drumbago" by The Dynamites] (May 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 658, B-side - for A-side see Track 7 on CD1)

21. Rough Road by Winston Wright & The Dynamites (Not originally released in the UK)

22. I For I by King Stitt (Not originally released in the UK)

23. Sweet Africa by Clancy Eccles (January 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 639, A-side)

24. The Lion by The Dynamites (May 1970 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 208, B-side of "Madamoiselle" by J. Higgs)

25. Dance Beat (Version III) by Clancy Eccles and King Stitt (Not originally released in the UK)

The 16-page booklet is the usual feast of info and visuals - a wall of those Jamaican New Beat 45s you just don't see at any record fair - the lovely colour artwork for both British albums – black label repros of The Dynamites LP – a German 45 pic sleeve on Fontana for "Fattie Fattie" with "Last Call" by the Silver Stars on the flipside (although it actually plays "Tribute To Drumbago" by The Dynamites) - a page of nine UK 45s on Duke, Clandisc and Trojan - trade adverts and LP reviews for the "Freedom" LP and Discography info on all 50 songs (some of which I've corrected above).

TONY ROUNCE - long-time associate writer for Ace Records - has handled the liner notes and does a typically bang-up job - for instance highlighting that "John Public" is in fact a remake of the African instrumental "Tom Hark" and that "Say What You Say" on Side 2 of The Dynamites album features the organ-keyboard prowess of Winston 'Brubeck' Wright. He points out that ace Saxophonist Val Bennett is here too on many tracks. An unsung hero of the scene, Val contributed to one of the most beloved British instrumental hits of the late 1969 period - the no. 5 placed "Return Of Django" by The Upsetters - a Lee Perry song and a true highlight on the November 1969 "Tighten Up Volume 2" compilation LP (that album also featured Clancy’s "Fattie Fattie"). The Audio as you can imagine fluctuates wildly from shockingly good to more than acceptable (this is late Sixties Reggae and Rock Steady after all) - but as its Andy's careful transfers – each listen always feels like an upgrade to me. To the music...

No more sighing, no more crying, go home to my father and be free – Clancy sings as he rides his motorbike across the fields of his beloved country and opens his debut album account with a 1969 remake of "Freedom". We slip back to 1967 for "What Will Your Mother Say" (Clancy and his gal are in love) while that organ sound on "The World Needs Loving" is fantastically clear and present. Other faves include the cool of "Dollar Train", the long-to-hear those joy-bells ringing of "Shu Be Du", the fruitily witty "Auntie Lulu", the weight-busting shuffle of "Fattie Fattie" (dig those girl singers) and the ‘we want to go back home’ of "Mount Zion" that closes out the album – an LP that doesn’t feel like a clump of 45s bunged together hoping to be coherent.

If I’m honest, as much as I like the parent album, the Bonus Cuts on CD1 and CD2 are fabulous stuff – the reggae until morning comes of "Deacon Don", the don’t you brag and don’t you boast and stop acting like a "Bag-A-Boo", the hold me close duet vocal smooch of "Oh My Lover" (dig those guitar changes) – very cool stuff and sounding toppermost.

Most folks will know the shouting swing-with-me song "Fire Corner" by The Dynamites from the "Tighten Up Volume 2" compilation - that wicked organ fill jumping out of your speakers as the tune makes your feet shuffle like a man in need of a penny. Other goodies include the echoed organ chugging instrumental "I Did It" with its irresistible neck-jerking rhythm and the this-is-mad call to arms that is "Vigorton 2" again with fantastic soloing from Winston Wright. And on it goes with heaps more where that came from.

Doctor Bird Records are in their third year of releases (since 2018) that frankly bring a wee tear to my aging myopia (this is their fiftieth title with many more to come). Long may the freedom train keep firing up like this...

"One Step On" by JODY GRIND – October 1969 UK Debut Studio Album on Transatlantic Records in Stereo - featuring Tim Hinkley, Ivan Zagni, Louis Cennamo and Barry Wilson with Guest Arranger David Palmer (November 2016 UK Esoteric Recordings Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Mark Powell Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
And Others Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

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"...Night Today..."

Taking their name from Horace Silver's 1967 Jazz album on Blue Note called "The Jody Grind" - England's short-lived but mighty JODY GRIND managed only two Progressive Rock albums on the largely Folk Indie label Transatlantic Records.

Their October 1969 debut "One Step On" received favourable press and elicited a devout fan following (especially in Europe) - while their second and last album "Far Canal" from September 1970 massively improved on its predecessor. But neither did any real business sales-wise. Still - that hasn’t stopped good labels like Akarma in Italy and Strange Days in Japan reissuing Jody Grind’s recorded legacy on CD. Which brings us to these new and superlative 2016 remasters out of the UK...

England’s Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have built up a huge rep with collectors for quality in both Audio and Presentation – and these two November 2016 CD Expanded Edition Reissues for this long forgotten British Prog Rock Trio will only add to that growing list of Reissue accolades.

The first album "One Step On" is really good - a Hammond-Organ and Guitar-driven band let loose in the studio with Jethro Tull's arranger David Palmer helping out on Horns and Brass. And it's easy to hear why both of their albums have a stonking £200+ price tag allocated to each (and often a lot more). There's a shed load of details to get through - so here are the (wait for it) peaky grinders (ouch)...

UK released 26 November 2016 - "One Step On" by JODY GRIND on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2567 (Barcode 5013929466746) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (49:13 minutes):

1. One Step On [Side 1]

(a) In My Mind (b) Nothing At All (c) Interaction (d) Paint It Black

2. Little Message [Side 2]

3. Night Today

4. U.S.A.

5. Rock 'N' Roll Man

Tracks 1 to 5 are their debut studio album "One Step On" - released October 1969 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 210. Produced by HUGH MURPHY and Arranged by DAVID PALMER - the album was not issued in the USA and didn't chart in the UK. All tracks written by Ivan Zagni and Tim Hinkley except "Paint It Black", which is a Rolling Stones cover version.

BONUS TRACKS:

6. Night Today (Alternate Version)

7. Rock 'n' Roll Man (Single Version)

JODY GRIND was:

TIM HINKLEY – Hammond Organ, Piano, Electric Piano and Lead Vocals

IVAN ZAGNI - Electric Guitars

LOUIS CENNAMO – Bass on "Paint It Black", "Little Message" and "Rock 'N' Roll Man"

BARRY WILSON - Drums and Percussion

The 16-page booklet has informative and well-researched liner notes from Esoteric’s own MARK POWELL – who also compiled, co-ordinated and remastered the original tapes. The elaborately constructed picture of a Wizard in his big pointy hat and cape stood in front of a recording console that adorned the inner gatefold of original British LPs is repro’d throughout the pages (Tim Hinkley doing the honours). Powell gives a potted history of the band (slots in Timebox and Patto), slogging it out on the Prog Rock/Avant Garde live circuit as Jody Grind, signing their eclectic music with Nat Joseph to his Transatlantic Records label and on onwards up to entering Morgan Studios in July 1969 to record the album. Beginning with its eighteen-minute long Side 1 opus in four parts, the Audio is fantastic – beefy without being too trebled for the sake of it – very clear and impressive work.

Formed in November 1968 by Keyboardist Tim Hinkley with Guitarist Ivan Zagni and Drummer Martin Harryman. Harryman left to work with Elkie Brooks in Dada (over on Atlantic Records) to be replaced with Drummer Barry Wilson.

As the Side 1 eighteen-minute title-track four-parter opens with tasty Hammond Organ and Guitar licks chugging-mellow as they build a very definite vibe, you are immediately reminded of several imaginative bands who pushed the envelope of Rock – Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Flock, The Nice, Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly and even dollops of Brian Auger’s Retaliation. The playing is great and the music way better than it had any right to be. Zagni lets rips with impress guitar soloing as the "In My Mind" portion smooches on, only to be followed by Hinkley getting all Spencer Davis Group on his Hammond (you can imagine that this must have been a blast live). About nine-minutes in we get doomy with the "Nothing At All" second section where Brass fills accompany the huge Hammond chords – looking for a place to go – travelling in that direction. The "Interaction" segment is a drum solo that is followed by the final five minutes - a clever fast-paced whig-out – a cover of "Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones that feels perfectly placed.

Transatlantic clearly thought the extended very-Ten Years After guitar boogieing cover version had some legs so someone turned it into a 7" single in both Germany and Portugal - giving it a Mono Single Mix. The German single from 1970 on Metronome M 25 201 had "Little Message" from Side 2 as its B-side and came in a wicked picture sleeve (Tim Hinkley giving some Keith Emerson on his Hammond) – while the Portuguese 45 on Zip Zip Records 30 011 had a Single mix of "Rock n' Roll Man" on its flipside – one of the two Bonus Tracks presented here.

Over on Side 2, a very ELP Hammond keyboard run opens "Little Message" – a rapid Blood, Sweat & Tears puncher with relentless heavy-guitars that tells everyone that the band want to get down (yeah baby). I can’t help thinking it would have made for a better A-side choice than the obvious lunge for the known Stones winner and would have established Jody Grind as perhaps in there with the "25 Or 6 to 4" Chicago mob. Things get decidedly keyboard Jazz Prog with "Night Today" – a slowy that is accompanied by some sexy brass fills but is perhaps let down by Hinkley and his forced vocals. The heavy-heavy 6:41 minutes of "U.S.A." has our heroes going back to America – a long road they just got to take (there could be a devil woman involved). Their debut ends with four and half minutes of uncharacteristic Chuck Berry type boogie about Tennessee and Rock and Roll that has to go Johnny go (you get the drift). Once Zagni plays a blinder channelling his inner Johnny Winter as that axe pans from speaker to speaker.

After the first album - both Zagni and Wilson exited too to be replaced with Bernie Holland and Pete Gavin for album number 2 - "Far Canal" – an even more sophisticated effort than the debut. Following the collapse of Paul Korda's Dada after only one self-titled LP on Atlantic Records – Tim Hinkley (ex Climax Line Blues Band) then joined Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer for the first Vinegar Joe LP over on Island Records – later starring in Mike Patto's offshoot band Boxer too (Patto and he were both in Climax Line Blues Band). Hinkley subsequently played on stage with Chapman & Whitney's Streetwalkers (ex Family), Dr. Feelgood, Bad Company, Snafu, Thin Lizzy and has done session work on solo LPs for The Who's Roger Daltrey and Vinegar Joe's Elkie Brooks.

The four then three-piece JODY GRIND are a footnote in Rock's History now (2020) – Prog Rockers who liked to boogie too (with their Arthur Brown face paint and Wizard hats on), and I can so understand why their two albums garnish such fever in collector’s circle. Well done to all involved for getting their legacy out there and in such good shape too...

"Face The Music: The Complete Singles 1967-1984" by HELEN SHAPIRO - Including Foreign Language Only Issues and Many Other First-Time-On-CD Rarities (28 August 2020 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Threads So Sharp..."

A strong compilation for Shapiro fans with a generous playing time too and best of all – superb Audio on many rarities seeing the 2020 digital light-of-day for the first time anywhere. Hell, there are even a few Northern Soul dancefloor shufflers in here for those inclined. Threads so sharp and with all the latest fashion (lyrics from "She Needs Company") – let's face the music and dance...

UK released Friday, 28 August 2020 - "Face The Music: The Complete Singles 1967-1984" by HELEN SHAPIRO on Ace Records CDCHD 1573 (Barcode 029667098427) is a 25-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (77:20 minutes):

1. Stop And You Will Become Aware

2. She Needs Company

Tracks 1 and 2 are the B and A-side of a 25 August 1967 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 8256

3. Make Me Belong To You

4. The Way Of The World

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a 10 March 1967 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 8148

5. You'll Get Me Loving You

6. Silly Boy (I Love You)

Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a 13 September 1968 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17600

7. Today Has Been Cancelled

8. Face The Music

Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of a 21 March 1969 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17714

9. You've Guessed

10. Take Me For A While

Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an 18 July 1969 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17785

11. Take Down A Note Miss Smith

12. Couldn't You See

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of a 13 February 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17893 (see also Track 25)

13. Waiting On The Shores Of Nowhere

14. A Glass Of Wine

Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of a 24 July 1970 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 17975

15. You're A Love Child

16. That's The Reason I Love You

Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of a 11 April 1975 UK 45-single on DJM Records DJS 363

17. Can't Break The Habit

18. For All The Wrong Reasons

Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of an August 1977 UK 45-single on Arista ARISTA 131

19. Every Little Bit Hurts

20. Touchin' Wood

Tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of a March 1978 UK 45-single on Arista ARISTA 178

21. Let Yourself Go

22. Funny

Tracks 21 and 22 are the A&B-sides of an April 1983 UK 45-single on Oval HELEN 25

23. Brickyard Blues

24. Just Another Weekend

Tracks 23 and 24 are the A&B-sides of a January 1984 UK 45-single on Oval OVAL 26

25. Das Ist Nicht Die Feine Englische Art

Track 25 is the A-side of a March 1970 GERMAN 45-single on Pye DV 11005. Its B-side "Take Down A Note Miss Smith" was issued as the A-side in the 'UK' (see Tracks 11 and 12). "Das Ist Nicht..." is a German Language song with no English equivalent and was exclusive to the country. It is included on this CD as a Bonus Track. 

Tracks 1 to 14 and 25 are MONO - all others are in STEREO

As with all of these archival releases from Ace Records of the UK - the 20-page colour booklet is a feast for the eyes and brain - TONY ROUNCE laying into the factoids aided and abetted by Helen and her husband of 30-years John Judd. Page 17 has the picture sleeve to the excellent "Brickyard Blues" (an Allen Toussaint song) whilst the other leaves are littered with Columbia and Pye Demo labels, foreign picture sleeves and even a trade advert for 1970's classy "Waiting On The Shores Of Nowhere" - HS starring out at the water wondering when that English git she'd been promised by Mummy is going to turn up and get down to some much-needed lovin'. You could argue that Tony is overly generous in his assessments of singles that were good but never really great and hence the lack of chart action for a star who'd been on the go since early 1961. Still, it's a great read, his affection for what he clearly sees as a class act palpable – so fans and newcomers alike will chew it up.

NICK ROBBINS once again excels himself in the transfers and Audio department - the opening double-bass notes of the Northern-Soul B-side "Stop And You Will Become Aware" come floating crystal clear into your living room and the CD remains that way until the end - the only slightly compromised Audio being the German Song "Das Ist Nicht..." from 1970 that I suspect is dubbed from a disc. The song quality may not always hold up, but the Remasters are really great. To the music...

A Northern Soul dancer if ever there was one, the CD opens on a B-side instead of an A - the irrepressibly upbeat talcum powder shuffler that is "Stop And You Will Become Aware". The Mono Audio rocks whilst the equally drama-laden brassy A-side "She Needs Company" has our Helen eyeing up the sharp-dressed dudes of 1967 resplendent in all the latest Modtastic gear. Beggar or Queen, the darling "Make Me Belong To You" pleader continues the strong songs on her short stay at Columbia. That bopping A-side is offset by a lounge-lizard piano-tinkling schmoozer flipside called "The Way Of The World" - a very Dusty Springfield moment and again with cracking audio.

1968 saw her opening an account with Pye Records and the making-my-life-worthwhile "You'll Get Me Loving You" was a good start even if the rather throwaway B-side "Silly Boy (I Love You) " is a little too girl-group for its own good. Due to the cloudy condition of her mind, Helen finds "Today Has Been Cancelled" - the cold exchange of words with her beau the previous evening, still stinging like a wet kipper in a Billingsgate cafe. Unfortunately, you can so hear why middle-of-the-road pop material like "Face The Music" and "Take Me For A While" elicited a yawn amongst record buyers. Better is "Take Down A Note Miss Smith" - a very Bobby Gentry "Ode To Billie Joe" groove that even has traces of Dusty's sexy "Son Of A Preacher Man" too.

"Couldn't You See" feels like Pye is trying to make Helen fit into Tom Jones material that was already out-dated by 1970. Way more classy is the cautionary tale of "Waiting On The Shores Of Nowhere" where her concerned Pater advises an anxious Helen that she may have to bide her time - sit patiently and wait for that lurve boat to slip into Shapiro Bay with a big rocking Daddy handsome at the tiller. "A Glass Of Wine" feels like languid Bacharach and David - piano accompanied by 'oohs' and 'aahs' from her backing singers as they croon about his 'magic' prowess. By the time we reach Track 15, we're into 1975 and a rather good standalone Stereo 45 on DJM Records called "You're A Love Child". An inquisitive but obviously hurting kid is reassured that they are not a burden but an 'answer to my dreams' while its 'Philadelphia Freedom' sounding B-side "That's The Reason I Love You" is clearly trying to find that Kiki Dee market.

From there on in, it goes from one ok tune to the next - best of which by a country mile is the Allen Toussaint cover of "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" which is shortened to "Brickyard Blues". Shapiro wasn't the first great lady to notice the Funky-Rock grooves in Toussaint's New Orleans songs - Maria Muldaur having covered Brickyard on her 1974 Reprise Records LP "Waitress In A Donut Shop" (Frankie Miller, James Montgomery and Three Dog Night also had a go at the tune in 1974). And on it goes to the rather odd Mono 1970 German single at the end...

For sure not everything on here is genius and at times you can so hear why the British charts success of old eluded her during this period. But fans are going to love the presentation, the affection, the audio and the general classiness that Ace affords her legacy. "What you're playing just can't make it...play something sweet...play something mellow...play me something I can get my teeth into...like Jell-O..." she sang on the Toussaint cover of "Brickyard Blues". I suspect fans that have waited decades for these Remasters will do just that...