"CTI Records: The Cool Revolution" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – featuring 1970 to 1976 Album Tracks by Stanley Turrentine, Hubert Laws, Ron Carter, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, Esther Phillips, Joe Farrell, Deodato, Johnny Hammond, Airto, Milton Jackson, Bob James, Astrid Gilberto, Randy Weston, Gerry Mulligan and more (May 2015 UK and EUROPE Sony Music/Masterworks Jazz 4CD 39-Track Hardback Digibook of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 289 Others Is Available In My

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HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...We Got A Good Thing Going... "

Just the right side of Jazz Funk and Jazz Fusion for yours truly - Creed Taylor indeed knew how to capture cool. 

Much to discuss – so let's get to the painted faces, red and blue clay landscapes and those beautifully enigmatic glossy LP sleeves and CTI label bags... 

UK and EUROPE released May 2015 - "CTI Records: The Cool Revolution" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/Masterworks Jazz 88875079812 (Barcode 888750798121) is a 4CD 39-Track Hardback Digibook Set of Remasters covering 1970 to 1976. Part of CTI Records 40th Anniversary Celebrations; each CD is title-themed and plays out as follows:

CD1 "Straight Up" (75:38 minutes):

1. Sugar - STANLEY TURRENTINE (10:04 minutes) from the January 1971 US LP "Sugar" on CTI Records CTI 6005

2. Moment's Notice - HUBERT LAWS (6:56 minutes, John Coltrane cover) - from the May 1974 US LP "In The Beginning" on CTI Records CTX 3+3

3. So What - RON CARTER (11:17 minutes, Miles Davis cover) - from the February 1975 US LP "Spanish Blue" on CTI Records CTI 6051

4. Autumn Leaves - CHET BAKER (7:05 minutes) - from the February 1975 US LP "She Was Too Good To Me" on CTI Records CTI 6050

5. Speed Ball - STANLEY TURRENTINE (6:35 minutes, Lee Morgan cover) - from the July 1972 US LP "Cherry" on CTI Records CTI 6017

6. The Intrepid Fox - FREDDIE HUBBARD (10:43 minutes) - from the May 1970 US LP "Red Clay" on CTI Records CTI 6001

7. Ifrane - RANDY WESTON (5:12 minutes) - from the June 1972 US LP "Blue Moses" on CTI Records CTI 6016 - not issued on CD in the USA  

8. Free As A Bird - DON SEBESKY featuring FREDDIE HUBBARD and GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (8:09 minutes) - from the December 1973 US 2LP-set "Giant Box" on CTI Records CTX 6031/32 

9. So What - GEORGE BENSON (9:05 minutes, Miles Davis cover) - from the May 1973 US LP "Beyond The Blue Horizon" on CTI Records CTI 6009

CD2 "Deep Grooves/Big Hits" (76:53 minutes):

1. Red Clay - FREDDIE HUBBARD (12:09 minutes) - from the May 1970 US LP "Red Clay" on CTI Records CTI 6001

2. It's Too Late - JOHNNY HAMMOND (10:50 minutes, Carole King cover) - from the 1971 US LP "Breakout" on Kudu Records KU 01

3. Home Is Where The Hatred Is - ESTHER PHILLIPS (3:25 minutes, Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson cover) - from the January 1972 US LP "A Whisper To A Scream" on Kudu KU 05

4. We Got A Good Thing Going - HANK CRAWFORD (5:55 minutes, The Corporation cover) - from the January 1973 US LP "We Got A Good Thing Going" on Kudu KU 08

5. White Rabbit - GEORGE BENSON (6:55 minutes, Grace Slick cover, Jefferson Airplane) - from the 1972 US LP "White Rabbit" on CTI Records CTI 6015

6. Fire And Rain - HUBERT LAWS (7:55 minutes, James Taylor cover) - from the 1971 US LP "Afro-Classic" on CTI Records CTI 6006

7. What A Difference A Day Makes - ESTHER PHILLIPS (4:28 minutes, Dinah Washington cover) - from the 1975 US LP "What A Difference A Day Makes" on Kudu KU 23

8. Follow Your Heart - JOE FARRELL (6:50 minutes, John McLaughlin cover) - from the 1970 US LP "Joe Farrell Quartet" on CTI Records CTI 6003  

9.Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) (8:58 minutes, Strauss cover) - from the 1972 US LP "Prelude" on CTI Records CTI 6021

10. Mister Magic - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (9:02 minutes, Ralph McDonald cover) - from the 1975 US LP "Mister Magic" on Kudu KU 20

CD3 "The Brazilian Connection" (70:09 minutes):

1. Stone Flower - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (3:19 minutes) - from the 1970 US LP "Stone Flower" on CTI Records CTI 6002

2. Ponteio - ASTRUD GILBERTO with STANLEY TURRENTINE (3:55 minutes) - from the 1971 US LP "Gilberto With Turrentine" on CTI Records CTI 6008 

3. First Light - FREDDIE HUBBARD (11:05 minutes) - from the 1971 US LP "First Light" on CTI Records CTI 6013

4. Salt Song - STANLEY TURRENTINE (7:14 minutes, Milton Nascimento cover) - from the 1971 US LP "Salt Song" on CTI Records CTI 6010

5. Pensativa - HUBERT LAWS (6:14 minutes, Claire Fischer cover) - from the 1975 US LP "The San Francisco Concert" on CTI Records CTI ZK 40819

6. Tombo In 7/4 - AIRTO (6:21 minutes) - from the 1973 US LP "Fingers" on CTI Records CTI 6028

7. Sunflower - MILT JACKSON (8:50 minutes, Freddie Hubbard) - from the 1973 US LP "Sunflower" on CTI Records CTI 6024

8. Return To Forever - AIRTO (10:13 minutes, Chick Corea cover) - from the 1972 US LP "Free" on CTI Records CTI 6020

9. Wave - PAUL DESMOND (6:21 minutes, Antonio Carlos Jobim cover) - from the 1974 US LP "Pure Desmond" on CTI Records ZK 40806

10. Carly & Carole - DEODATO (3:38 minutes) - from the 1972 US LP "Prelude" on CTI Records CTI 6021 

 

CD4 "Cool And Classic" (78:22 minutes):

1. My Funny Valentine - GERRY MULLIGAN and CHET BAKER (8:38 minutes, Rogers & Hart cover) - from the 1975 US LP "Carnegie Hall Concert Vol.1" on CTI Records CTI 6054

2. All Blues - RON CARTER (9:35 minutes, Miles Davis cover) - from the 1973 US LP "All Blues" on CTI Records CTI 6037 - not released on CD in the USA

3. Song To A Seagull - DON SEBESKY featuring PAUL DESMOND (5:44 minutes, Joni Mitchell cover) - from the 1974 US 2LP-set "Giant Box" on CTI Records CTX 6031

4. Pavane - HUBERT LAWS (7:40 minutes) - from the 1971 US LP "The Rite Of Spring" on CTI Records CTI 6012

5. What'll I Do - CHET BAKER (3:54 minutes) - from the 1975 US LP "She Was Too Good To Me" on CTI Records CTI 6050

6. Westchester Lady - BOB JAMES (7:23 minutes) - from the 1976 US LP "Three" on CTI Records CTI 6063)

7. A Child Is Born - KENNY BURRELL (9:22 minutes, Thad Jones cover) - from the 1971 US LP "God Bless The Child" on CTI Records CTI 6011

8. Take Five - GEORGE BENSON (7:07 minutes, Paul Desmond cover) - from the 1974 US LP "Bad Benson" on CTI Records CTI 6045

9. Concierto De Aranjuez - JIM HALL (19:18 minutes, Joaquin Rodrigo cover) - from the 1975 US LP "Concierto" on CTI Records CTI 6060

Housed in a colourfully put-together Hardback Digibook with Attached 20-Page Booklet inside (two discs clipped into the front and rear covers) – 4CDs and 39-Tracks have been Transferred and Remastered from original tapes at Battery Studios in New York by a team of quality Engineers – MARK WILDER, MARIA TRIANA and DONNA KLOEPFER. The Audio is lovely throughout even when the earlier recordings threaten to whig-out just once-too-soloing-often. What’s new? All of these famous Jazz, Jazz Fusion and Jazz Funk albums have been reissued on CD over the years, but Tracks 7 on CD1 and 2 on CD4 are not issued on CD in the USA before. 

Visually - littering the essay "CTI Records: The Cool Revolution" by DAN OUELLETTE on Pages 3 to 15 and beyond (he is a contributing writer to DownBeat magazine and author of a biography on the double-bass player Ron Carter) are classy black and white promo photos of the staggering array of Jazz talent Creed Taylor recorded. Primarily taped between 1970 and 1975 and issued on CTI Records and its sidekick Kudu – CTI was in fact originally an imprint of Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1967 - when Taylor finally decided to take the label and its stellar cast/emerging sound to the public in 1970. 

Creed's manta was to make Jazz that was true to its artist's vision while at the same time reach into a curious mainstream too (art and commercialism combined) - and mostly, he ended up doing just that. Rock guys like me who we're loving Prog and the strange Jazz-Rock sounds of say Soft Machine, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Colosseum and even Jeff Beck LPs - were drawn to Jazzers doing say Carole King's gorgeous "It's Too Late" from her magical "Tapestry" album. I bought CTI albums simply because they were on CTI and I knew the quality would be in there - just maybe more accessible than straight-up Blue Note puritanism. The weird thing is that the great white man CREED TAYLOR himself isn't pictured anywhere in the text! 

The songs range from three minutes to nearly twenty with most being elongated Jazz workouts of six to eight minutes. Love that Miles Davis up-date that Ron Carter does to his "So What” (from the classic "A Kind of Blue" album) - Esther Phillips spotting the genius of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson for "Home Is Where The Hurt Is" and Don Sebesky with Paul Desmond as they rearrange some new girl from Canada who was making waves at the time – Joni Mitchell and her debut album's "Song To A Seagull" (I wonder what she thought of their version?). And on it goes like that, nice surprise after nice surprise.  

When I bought this 4CD Digibook Pack a good few years ago now, it was regularly on offer for under £20. But in January 2021, it has jumped back up to over £70. 

If you can nab one at the right price, "CTI Records: The Cool Revolution" will indeed do what it claims on the tin. As Mrs. Taylor once said, I feel the Creed in me. 

Nice one...

"The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11B: 1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – July to December 1971 featuring these artists in release date order - The Messengers, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, The Originals, David and Jimmy Ruffin, Stoney & Meatloaf, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Kendricks, The Rustix, Diana Ross, Valerie Simpson, Lodi, Four Tops, Popcorn Wylie, My Friends, Chuck Jackson, G.C. Cameron, Sunday Funnies, The Elgins, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Jack Hammer, Michael Jackson, Suzee Ikeda, Tom Clay, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, Tony & Carolyn, Bobby Taylor, Thelma Houston, Rare Earth, Virgil Henry, The Undisputed Truth, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Bobby Darin, Dave Prince and P.J. (January 2010 US Hip-O Select/Motown 5CD 120-Track Hardback Digibook Compilation With Front-Cover Attached 45 Vinyl-Single – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 8000 Copies – CD Volumes Nos. 61 to 65 in the Series - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 285 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

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"...Got To Be There..."

Issued in February 2009, Volume "11A" in this extraordinary Complete Singles Series featured January to June of 1971 for all of Motown’s US labels. So this "11B" Volume (released January 2010) covers the second half of that pivotal year, July to December 1971 (see Barcodes provided below to locate either volume).

So much to discuss and like its illustrious and beautifully presented predecessor, this is another must-own, must-have 'Got To Be There' package of Seventies Soul, Funk, R&B and Rock-Soul. To the details...

US released January 2010 - "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11B: 1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select/Motown B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903) is a 5CD 120-Track Book Set covering July to December 1971. It comes with a Front-Cover Attached Vinyl 45 (a repro of the US single "Got To Be There" by Michael Jackson on Motown M 1191F inset into a die-cut hole so you can see the label) and is a Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 8000 Copies (CDs are Volumes 61 to 65) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1, Disc 61, 78:42 minutes (24 Tracks)

CD2, Disc 62, 73:16 minutes (24 Tracks)

CD3, Disc 63, 77:07 minutes (24 Tracks)

CD4, Disc 64, 76:51 minutes (24 Tracks)

CD5, Disc 65, 78:06 minutes (24 Tracks)

The thing about a set like this is how it allows you to go deeper - acts like Lodi, The Rustix, Popcorn Wylie, My Friends, G.C. Cameron, Sunday Funnies, Jack Hammer, Suzee Ikeda, Tom Clay, Tony & Carolyn (Rinaldi), Bobby Taylor, Virgil Henry, Dave Prince and the anonymous P.J. are not exactly household names that trip of your average Soul fan's tongue.  Marvin Lee Aday and Cheryl "Shaun" Murphy are the real names of Meatloaf and Stoney, while P.J. is the life loving and damn sexy Patti Jerome – wife of Harry Balk – a musical power couple who went back to the end of the 50ts and beginning of the 60ts. 

And while crossover Rock-Soul-Funk crews like The Undisputed Truth and Rare Earth will up any compilation with class and swivel-hips - how cool is it to see great Soul Vocalist names like Chuck Jackson, Thelma Houston and Valerie Simpson alongside the cabaret-strut of Bobby Darin – all aided by the huge hits from The Temptations, The Supremes and the emerging boy-wonder Michael Jackson (full colour plate on Page 122). There are an awful lot more Stereo Promo Versions too – one for almost all of the singles on CD65 for instance. 

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 124 pages of text inside the hardback book are large – allowing full-page colour plates that are genuinely some of the most beautifully rendered photos of Soul Artists that I’ve ever seen (I have never ever thought Diana Ross sexy, but check out the luminous Afro-haircut colour photo of her on Page 66 – wow). There are lesser-seen picture sleeves for The Messengers, Jack Hammer and Sunday Funnies, trade adverts for Valerie Simpson and her "Exposed" debut album, another for The Temptations grinning at the supposedly high advance orders for their "Superstar... " 45 and a period/with-it photo of white-boy Folkie Dave Prince giving it some Gordon Lightfoot as he tells of Jesus Christ in his humble song offering "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" (doesn't he mean Berry Gordy).

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 120 tracks by The Messengers, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, The Originals, David and Jimmy Ruffin, Stoney & Meatloaf, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Kendricks, The Rustix, Diana Ross, Valerie Simpson, Lodi, Four Tops, Popcorn Wylie, My Friends, Chuck Jackson, G.C. Cameron, Sunday Funnies, The Elgins, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Jack Hammer, Michael Jackson, Suzee Ikeda, Tom Clay, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, Tony & Carolyn, Bobby Taylor, Thelma Houston, Rare Earth, Virgil Henry, The Undisputed Truth, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Bobby Darin, Dave Prince and P.J. - you can also feel the winds of change creeping in as soppy Saturday night girly themes get supplemented with the 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. A fantastic snapshot of an amazing year...

 

£95 to over £120 for half a year is a lot I know (and some of it is rightfully forgotten), but 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 January 2021)

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

"The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11A: 1971" (January to June) by VARIOUS ARTISTS – featuring The Jackson 5, Joe Hinton, Brass Monkey, Chuck Jackson, R. Dean Taylor, Marvin Gaye, The Undisputed Truth, Ken Christie And The Sunday People, David Ruffin, Kiki Dee, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Eddie Kendricks, Sammy Davis Jr., Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings, Edwin Starr, David & Jimmy Ruffin, Letta, Diana Ross, P.J. (Patti Jerome), Stoney & Meatloaf, The Supremes, Bobby Darin, The Impact Of Brass, King Floyd, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Four Tops, Ivy Jo, The Crusaders, Hugh Masekela & The Union Of South Africa, Arthur Adams, The Stylists, Hearts Of Stone, Rare Earth and Tom Clay (February 2009 US Hip-O Select/Motown 5CD 119-Track Compilation – Hardback DigiBook Set With Front-Cover Attached 45 Vinyl Single – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 8000 Copies – CD Volumes Nos. 56 to 60 in the Series - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 285 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...What's Going On..."

Thankfully, as I perused the Soul Section of Oxford Street’s HMV Megastore in early 2009, I saw the Marvin Gaye US 45 for "What's Going On" attached to the front cover of this thing-of-beauty and was a goner. Had to have it. I had diligently collected all of these now-legendary Hip-O Select American-issued Hardback DigiBook Volumes except of course (like a pillock) the elusive and expensive Vol. 6 covering 1966 (a very stupid oversight that will now set you back about £300 or more). I was not about to make that 'I'll pick it up later' mistake yet again. 

Volume 11A featured all 45-singles issued January to June 1971, whilst 11B did July to December 1971. You get the Tamla, Motown, Rare Earth, V.I.P., Soul, Ecology, MoWest and Chisa labels all featured and even unreleased alternate mixes and rare promo-only versions. So much to discuss, so let's hear those 'spend it on the have-nots' lyrics one more time, but with proper praise...

US released February 2009 - "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11A: 1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select/Motown B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555) is a 5CD 119-Track Book Set covering January to June 1971. It comes with a Front-Cover Attached Vinyl 45 (a repro of the US single "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye on Tamla T 54201 inset into a die-cut hole so you can see the label) and is a Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 8000 Copies (CDs are Volumes 56 to 60) that plays out as follows:
 
CD1, Disc 56, 73:38 minutes (23 Tracks)
The A&B-sides of 11 US singles by The Jackson 5, Joe Hinton, Brass Monkey, Chuck Jackson, The Temptations, R. Dean Taylor, Marvin Gaye, The Undisputed Truth, Ken Christie And The Sunday People, David Ruffin and Kiki Dee (extra track is an Alternate Mix of the Kiki Dee A-side "Love Makes The World Go 'Round")

CD2, Disc 57, 77:50 minutes (25 Tracks)
The A&B-sides of 10 singles by Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Eddie Kendricks (extra track is a Long Promo Version of the A-side "This Used To Be The Home Of Johnnie Mae" on Tamla T 54203), Sammy Davis Jr. (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "In My Own Lifetime" on Ecology E 10000), The Jackson 5, R. Dean Taylor, Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings (two extra tracks are a Long Promo Version and Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Strung Out" on Motown M 1180), Edwin Starr, David & Jimmy Ruffin, Letta and Stevie Wonder (extra track is the Stereo Promo Version of "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer", originally the B-side of "We Can Work It Out" on Tamla T 54202 in March 1971, reissued as a double-sided promo-only 45 to promote the "Where I'm Coming From" LP)
 
CD3, Disc 58, 75:24 minutes (24 Tracks)
The A&B-sides of 9 singles by Diana Ross (two extra tracks are a Long Stereo Promo Version and Short Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Reach Out I'll Be There" on Motown M 1184), P.J. (Patti Jerome), Stoney and Meatloaf (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "What You See Is What You Get" on Rare Earth 5027), The Supremes (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Nathan Jones" on Motown M 1182), Bobby Darin, The Impact Of Brass (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Never Can Say Goodbye" on Rare Earth 5028), King Floyd, Diana Ross with The Jackson Five (B-side is Diana Ross & Bill Cosby) and Gladys Knight & The Pips (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" on Soul S 35083), 

CD4, Disc 59, 75:22 minutes (24 Tracks)
The A&B-sides of 9 singles by The Supremes & The Four Tops (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart" on Motown M 1181), The Undisputed Truth, Ivy Jo (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "I'd Still Love You" on V.I.P. 25063), The Four Tops, Diana Ross (extra track is a Mono Promo Version of "Reach Out I'll Be There" on Motown M 1184 issued May 1971 – see Disc 58 for original), The Crusaders (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Pass The Plate" on Chisa C 8013), Hugh Masekela & The Union Of South Africa (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Dyambo (De-Yambo) Weary Day Is Over" on Chisa C 8014, Arthur Adams, The Stylists and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (extra track is Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Crazy About The La La La" on Tamla T 54206F), 

CD5, Disc 60, 78:49 minutes (23 Tracks)
The A&B-sides of 8 singles by Marvin Gaye (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Mercy Mercy (The Ecology)" on Tamla T 54207F), Hearts Of Stone (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "If I Could Give You The World" on V.I.P. 25064), Ken Christie & The Sunday People (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "The Reverend John B. Daniels" on Rare Earth 5029F), R. Dean Taylor (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Candy Apple Red" on Rare Earth 5030F), Rare Earth (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "I Just Want To Celebrate" on Rare Earth R 5031F), The Jackson 5 (extra track is a Stereo Promo Version of the A-side "Maybe Tomorrow" on Motown M 1186F), Tom Clay (extra track is a Short Promo Version of the A-side "What The World Needs Now/Abraham, Martin and John" on MoWest 5002F) and The Temptations

The thing about a set like this is how it allows you to go deeper - acts like Ken Christie And The Sunday People, Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings, Letta, The Stylists, The Impact Of Brass, Brass Monkey, Tom Clay, P.J. or even Ivo Jo (who turns out to be Ivory Joe Hunter of Atlantic Records fame) are not exactly household names that trip of your average Soul fan's tongue.  Marvin Lee Aday and Cheryl "Shaun" Murphy are the real names of Meatloaf and Stoney, while P.J. is the life loving and damn sexy Patti Jerome – wife of Harry Balk – a musical power couple who went back to the end of the 50ts and beginning of the 60ts. And while Groove-Ambassador for his troubled country Hugh Masekela and crossover Rock-Soul-Funk crews like The Undisputed Truth and Rare Earth will up any compilation with class and swivel-hips - how cool is it to see great names like Guitarist Arthur Adams, male and female Soulful vocalists from different sides of the pond in the shape of Sammy Davis Jr. and Kiki Dee – all sided by the best Jazz-Funk band on the planet - The Crusaders. There are an awful lot more Stereo Promo Versions too – one for almost all of the singles on CD60. 

But first - 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 (even Sammy Davis Jr. looks hip with his head band). The five 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 119 tracks, you get 47 singles and there are just so many great discoveries in here – the beautifully soulful Joe Hinton urging us to "Let's All Save The Children" – a one-off single that was also featured on one of the rarest Motown LPs ever issued called "Souvenir" – an album handed out to attendees only at a Benefit gig in April 1971 in Detroit, the wall of male-singer class that was Chuck Jackson on his "Is There Anything Love Can't Do" and the lovely voice of Letta Mbulu from Soweto. 

And of course you get to return to absolute Mono classics as you would have heard them on the radio of the day – the film-staple "Reach Out I'll Be There" by Diana Ross, the flange-tastic "Nathan Jones" by The Supremes and Stevie Wonder doing the Fabs with his excellent cut of "We Can Work It Out". Then there are probably three of my all time rave-faves in the Soul World - "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Undisputed, "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" by The Temptations and the sublime heaven that is "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye ("Mercy Mercy Me (Ecology Song)" is probably up there too). And so much more...
 
The physical product in 2021 ranges from £80 to over £125 - with the MP3 download version somewhere about £75 (individual tracks are usually 99p). But it's the real deal that you need. 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 Hardback Digibook Releases as of January 2021)

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

"The Funk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 55-Tracks from 1970 to 1982 featuring James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Byrd, Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, The Chakachas, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Billy Preston, Lyn Collins, The Fatback Band, The J.B.'s, Marvin Gaye, War, Cymande, The New Birth (featuring Bobby Womack), Barry White, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Tower Of Power, The O'Jays, Kool & The Gang, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, The Blackbyrds, B.T. Express, The Meters, Ohio Players, The Temptations, Average White Band, Jermaine Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Graham Central Station, Parliament, Brothers Johnson, Brass Construction, Brick, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Funkadelic, Rick James, Bohannon, Cameo and more (November 2000 USA Universal/Hip-O Compilation – Remastered 55-Track 4CD Velvet-Overlaid Digibook – Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 284 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Pass The Peas..."

Touchy-feely and Funky-footy! Pass The Peas Baby!

When compact discs first hit the market - for almost a decade or more - Rhino of the USA were always the reissue company of go-getter choice for collectors when it came to Soul, R&B and Funk – especially as they had unfettered access to the mighty array of labels in the Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Records cannon. But spare a thought for the mail-order branch of Universal, Hip-O, later to become the more famous Hip-O Select. And especially for this long-forgotten and rarely seen American-only thing of swivel-hip-beauty - "The Funk Box". Four CDs chock full of primo bootyliciousness and all of it delivered in neighbour-concerning speaking-thumping glory. Talk about a proper blast from the past...and one that needs to be reappraised. 

Released Stateside-only in late 2000 by Universal/Hip-O - its 55 stunningly-remastered tracks trace James Brown in July 1970 on King Records getting up and feeling like a Sex Machine all the way through to December 1982 on Capitol Records where Parliament's George Clinton was getting Atomic with his Dog (he could never leave that mutt alone). Woof-woof indeed! 

You get a slew of rare 45-single cuts, uncompromising full album versions, cleverly chosen CD compilation rarities from the 80ts and 90ts and even the occasional Promo-Only 12-inch single mix making its digital debut. It is without doubt one of those vault-trawls that I cannot stop playing and admiring. There is a lot to shake our booties too, rubbers to burn and ounces to bounce - so let's get some jungle fever and tear the roof off of this brick house... 

US released November 2000 - "The Funk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Hip-O 314 541 789-2 (Barcode 731454178921) is a 55-Track 4CD Velvet-Covered Digibook Compilation featuring 45-Single A-sides and Full Album Tracks ranging from 1970 to 1982 (versions noted in text below) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (75:21 minutes):

1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like A) Sex Machine (Part 1 & 2) - JAMES BROWN (June 1970 US 45 on King 45-6318 - features The J.B.'s - Full Length Version, 5:15 minutes)

2. Express Yourself - CHARLES WRIGHT AND THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (August 1970 US 45 on Warner Brothers 7417, 3:51 minutes)

3. Give It Up Or Burnit A Loose - JAMES BROWN (unedited, undubbed mix first issued on the CD compilation "Funk Power - 1970: A Brand New Thang" in 1996 on Polydor/Chronicles 531 684-2 - features The J.B.'s, 6:23 minutes)  

4. Rock Steady - ARETHA FRANKLIN (October 1971 US 45 on Atlantic 2838 and on the "Young, Gifted & Black" LP, 3:11 minutes)

5. Slippin' Into Darkness - WAR (from the November 1971 US LP "All Day Music" on United Artists UAS 5546, Full Album Version at 6:59 minutes)

6. I Know You Got Soul - BOBBY BYRD (Extended Version at 4:42 minutes, first issued on the 1988 LP/CD compilation "James Brown's Funky People (Part 2)" on Polydor 835 847)

7. Jungle Fever - THE CHAKACHAS (November 1971 US 45 on Polydor 15030, 4:21 minutes) 

8. It's Just Begun - THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (from the March 1972 US LP "It's Just Begun" on RCA Victor LSP-4640, 3:41 minutes)

9. Outa-Space - BILLY PRESTON (December 1971 US 45 on A&M Records AM-1320, B-side of "I Wrote A Simple Song", 4:07 minutes)

10. Think (About It) - LYN COLLINS (The Female Preacher) (May 1972 US 45 People 608, 3:19 minutes)

11. Goin' To See My Baby - FATBACK BAND (from the 1972 US LP "Let's Do It Again" on Perception Records PLP 28, 3:16 minutes)

12. Pass The Peas - J.B.'s (from the July 1972 US LP "Food For Thought" on People PE-5601, features James Brown and Fred Wesley, 3:28 minutes)

13. "T" Plays It Cool - MARVIN GAYE (from the December 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Trouble Man" on Tamla T 322L, Full album Version at 4:26 minutes)

14. The Message - CYMANDE (from the December 1972 US LP "Cymande" on Janus JLS 3044, Full Album Version at 4:15 minutes)

15. I Can Understand It - THE NEW BIRTH [featuring BOBBY WOMACK on Lead Vocals] (from the 1972 US debut album "Birth Day" on RCA Victor LSP-4797, Full Album Version at 6:21 minutes)

16. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby - BARRY WHITE (from the April 1973 US LP "I've Got So Much To Give" on 20th Century T-407, Full Album Version at 7:10 minutes)  

CD2 (77:30 minutes):

1. Future Shock - CURTIS MAYFIELD (from the June 1973 US LP "Back In The World" on Curtom CRS 8015, Full Album Version at 3:36 minutes)

2. The Bottle - GIL SCOTT-HERON and BRIAN JACKSON (from the May 1974 US LP "Winter in America" on Strata-East SES-19742, Full Album Version at 5:05 minutes) 

3. What Is Hip? - TOWER OF POWER (from the May 1973 US Debut LP "Tower Of Power" on Warner Brothers BS 2681, Full Album Version at 5:04 minutes)

4. The Payback - JAMES BROWN (from the December 1973 US 2LP-set "The Payback" on Polydor PD 2-3007 (April 1974 in the UK), Full Album Version at 7:25 minutes)

5. For The Love Of Money - THE O'JAYS (from the October 1973 US LP "Ship Ahoy" on Philadelphia International KZ 32408, Full Album Version at 7:20 minutes)

6. Hollywood Swinging - KOOL & THE GANG (from the October 1973 US LP "Wild And Peaceful" on De-Lite DEP 2013, Full Album Version at 4:35 minutes)

7. Tell Me Something Good - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (from the June 1974 US LP "Rags To Rufus" on ABC Records ABCX-809, Full Album Version at 4:36 minutes)

8. Do It, Fluid - THE BLACKBYRDS (from the June 1974 US LP "The Blackbyrds" on Fantasy F-9444, Full Album Version at 5:25 minutes) 

9. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) - B.T. EXPRESS (from the November 1974 US LP "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" on Scepter Records SPS 5117, Full Album Version at 5:51 minutes)

10. Just Kissed My Baby - THE METERS (from the October 1974 US LP "Rejuvenation" on Reprise MS 2200, Full Album Version at 4:42 minutes)

11. Skin Tight - OHIO PLAYERS (from the April 1974 US LP "Skin Tight" on Mercury SRM-1 705, Full Album Version at 7:54 minutes)

12. I Get Lifted - GEORGE McCRAE (October 1974 US 45 on T.K. Records TK 1007, B-side to "I Can't Leave You Alone", 2:46 minutes)

13. Shakey Ground - THE TEMPTATIONS (February 1975 US 45 on Gordy G 7142F, 4:02 minutes)

14. School Boy Crush - AVERAGE WHITE BAND (October 1975 US 45 on Atlantic 45-3304, 4:58 minutes)

15. Erucu - JERMAINE JACKSON (from the October 1975 US Soundtrack LP "Mahogany" on Motown M6-858S1, 3:29 minutes) 

 

CD3 (78:45 minutes):

1. Fight The Power Parts 1 & 2 - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (from the June 1975 US LP "The Heat Is On" on T-Neck PZ 33536, Full Album Version at 5:20 minutes)

2. The Jam - GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION (from the August 1975 US LP "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" on Warner Brothers BS 2876, Full Album Version at 3:38 minutes)

3. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) - PARLIAMENT (from the February 1976 US LP "Mothership Connection" on Casablanca NBLP 7022, Full Album Version at 5:46 minutes)

4. Get The Funk Out Ma Face - BROTHERS JOHNSON (August 1976 US 45 on A&M Records 1851-S, Full Album Version at 5:57 minutes)

5. Changin' - BRASS CONSTRUCTION (from the December 1975 US Debut LP "Brass Construction" on United Artists UA-LA545-G - charted February 1976, Full Album Version at 8:12 minutes)

6. Dazz - BRICK (September 1976 US 45 on Bang B-727, Full Album Version at 5:35 minutes)

7. Superman Lover - JOHNNY GUITAR WTSON (from the 1976 US LP "Ain't That A Bitch" on DJM Records DJLPA-3, Full Album Version at 5:42 minutes)

8. The Pinocchio Theory - BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND (February 1977 US 45 on Warner Brothers WBS 8328, Full Album Version at 6:07 minutes)

9. Slide - SLAVE (from the March 1977 US LP "Slave" on Cotillion SD 9914, Full Album Version at 6:49 minutes)

10. The Hump - PATRICE RUSHEN (from the March 1977 US LP "Shout It Out" on Prestige P-10101, Full Album Version at 6:08 minutes) 

11. Running Away (12" Mix) - ROY AYERS (August 1977 US 12" Single on Polydor PD D502, 6:54 minutes)

12. Brick House (12" Mix, A Special Length Disco Version) - THE COMMODORES (August 1977 US 12" Single on Motown M00007D1, 6:11 minutes)

13. Let's Have Some Fun - BAR-KAYS (from the November 1977 US LP "Flying High On Your Love" on Mercury SRM-1-1181, Full Album Version at 6:02 minutes)

CD4 (75:39 minutes):

1. You And I – RICK JAMES (from the May 1978 US LP "Come Get It!" on Gordy G7-981R1, Full Album Version at 8:04 minutes)

2. I Like Girls – FATBACK (from the June 1978 US LP "Fired Up 'N' Kickin'" on Spring Records SP-1-6718, Full Album Version at 7:37 minutes)

3. Let's Start The Dance - BOHANNON (from the June 1978 US LP "Summertime Groove" on Mercury SRM-1-3728, Full Album Version at 5:53 minutes)

4. One Nation Under A Groove - FUNKADELIC (from the September 1978 US LP "One Nation Under A Groove" on Warner Brothers BSK 3209, Full Album version at 7:27 minutes)  

5. Bustin' Loose - CHUCK BROWN & THE SOUL SEARCHERS (from the January 1979 US LP "Bustin' Loose" on Source Records SOR-076, Full Album Version at 7:41 minutes)

6. I Just Want To Be (12" Extended Mix) - CAMEO (June 1979 US Promo-Only 12" Single on Chocolate City CCD-20016, 6:21 minutes)

7. Glide - PLEASURE (from the 1979 US LP "Future Now" on Fantasy F-9578, Full Album Version at 6:28 minutes)

8. Behind The Groove – TEENA MARIE (from the March 1980 US LP "Lady T" on Gordy G7-992R1, Full Album Version at 6:03 minutes)

9. More Bounce To The Ounce – ZAPP (from the September 1980 US Debut LP "Zapp" on Warner Brothers BSK 3463, Full Album Version at 9:27 minutes)

10. Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – GAP BAND (from the January 1981 US album "Gap Band III" on Mercury SRM-1-4003, Full Album Version at 5:16 minutes)

11. Atomic Dog – GEORGE CLINTON (December 1982 US 45 on Capitol B-5201, Instrumental B-side Single Version at 4:44 minutes)

The digibook is covered in blood-red velvet with a sort of plastic embossed THE FUNK BOX logo attached on the front and a card track list on the rear. One tiny irritating thing about the otherwise completely exemplary 60-page booklet attached inside is that none of the inside entries tell the song’s actual playing time – you have to refer to the sheet on the back of the box. So you can’t easily tell which is a single edit and which is an album cut (I’ve provided this info in each entry above). But what is brill are the STEPHEN IVORY intro and song-by-song history/explanations – each entry with just that right touch of discography detail, scene-setting background and lingo-wit. 2 Live Crew and Public Enemy have sampled the sex-pot moaning of "Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas while everyone from Heavy D to Pharcyde have plundered the J.B.s doing "Pass The Peas” – info like that which brings this genre into today. 

A huge draw is going to be the stunning Remastered Audio by a fave Engineer whose name I actually seek out – SUHA GUR. He's had his name on loads of Universal and Hip-O Select quality reissues including swathes of the Motown catalogue and the "Gold" 2CD compilations. When you clap ears on say the seven-minute album cut of Barry White giving it some Walrus of Love in his "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby" song – the Audio will blow you away – clear, ballsy, none too amped for the sake of it – just full-on and thrillingly present. Time and time again as you remember stuff you’d forgotten, the audio just keeps on whomping you with its quality.

But it's also the clever choices - take the Bobby Byrd cut which an extended variant of 4:42 minutes that turned up on a now long-forgotten James Brown-related CD compilation in 1988 - instead of giving you the dated false live roaring voices of the single - you get an undubbed cut that is quite literally the definition of Funky Nirvana. The Marvin Gaye cut from his hugely influential "Trouble Man" soundtrack is ""T" Plays It Cool" - probably the best instrumental cut on the album. Speaking of influential non-vocal sides, DJs quickly flipped the rather ordinary "I Wrote A Simple Song" by former Let It Be Beatles and Sticky Fingers Stones sidekick Billy Preston, only to find gold on the flipside - a 4:07-minute piece of clavinet synth Funk called "Outa-Space". It's the link between Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" Funk and all the way back "Green Onions" almost. 

The Cymande track "The Message" had its positivity featured on the premier US R&B TV program "Soul Train" where it became an anthem for the times and deep in the second side of a sappy "Mahogany" soundtrack was Jermaine Jackson's deeply cool "Erucu" - another DJ find - like that of Jimmy Castor. And those full-on album versions are fabulous - Bobby Womack with The New Birth on "I Can Understand It", JB giving it seven-minutes of "The Payback", Aaron Neville with The Meters and Chaka with Rufus telling us to "Get Into Something Good". I've reviewed the Patrice Rushen album "Shout It Out" where "The Hump" resides - her still only 24 and playing like a brother twice her years. Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Bar-Kays, Funkadelic, The Gap Band and Bohannon – great choices and it just keeps on keeping on like that, to the butt-waddling finish...

"The Funk Box" has been deleted years now, as is every title on Hip-O and Hip-O Select - all sought after and pricey into the bargain. But sometimes, these reissue company’s just get it 'so right'. And this smooth operator is one of those. 

You may have to pay for it, but I'd say, it's worth a shell out just to get that 'More Bounce To Your Ounce" sounding and looking this good...

"I Think Of You: The Westbound Singles 1969-75" by THE DETROIT EMERALDS - featuring James Mitchell with Ivory (Ivy) and Abrim (Abe) Tilmon (September 2017 UK Ace Records/Westbound Records CD Compilation of Remasters – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review Along With 284 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms..."

A beautiful and deeply classy CD compilation from those on-the-money gents over at Ace Records of the UK (via the Westbound label imprint) - the complete Detroit Emeralds 45-single output on CD for the first time (1969 through to 1975). Even though (sadly) there are two British 45 B-sides amiss (time constraints no doubt), this compilation will also allow Blighty fans to sequence most of these elusive 45-mix nuggets on CD too for the first time. So much to wade through, here are twenty-three Emeralds from the motor city...

UK released Friday, 29 September 2017 - "I Think Of You: The Westbound Singles 1969-75" by THE DETROIT EMERALDS on Ace Records/Westbound Records CDSEWD 160 (Barcode 029667085625) is a 23-Track CD Compilation of US-45 Single Remasters (with UK 45-equivalents also listed) that plays out as follows (73:49 minutes): 

1. Holding On 
2. Things Are Looking Up
Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a February 1969 US 45-single on Westbound W 147 

3. I Bet You Get The One (Who Loves You) 
4. If I Lose Your Love 
Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a December 1969 US 45-single on Westbound W 156

5. I Can't See Myself Doing Without You 
6. Just Now And Then 
Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a May 1970 US 45-single on Westbound W 170

7. Do Me Right 
Track 7 is the A-side of a January 1971 US 45-single on Westbound W 172 (B-side is Track 6)
Tracks 7 and 6 are the A&B-sides of their debut UK 45-single from March 1971 on Pye International 7N 25544

8. Wear This Ring (With Love) 
Track 8 is the A-side of a June 1971 US 45-single on Westbound W 181 (B-side is Track 3)
Tracks 8 and 3 are the A&B-sides of their second UK 45-single from December 1971 on Janus 6146 004

9. You Want It, You Got It 
10. Till You Decide To Come Home 
Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of a December 1971 US 45-single on Westbound W 192
Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of a March 1972 UK 45-single on Janus 6146 007
Track 9 UK issued April 1973 on Westbound 6146 103 with Track 18 "Whatcha Gonna Wear Tomorrow" as its B-side 

11. Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms) 
12. I'll Never Sail The Sea Again
Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of a May 1972 US 45-single on Westbound W 203
Tracks 7 ("Do Me Right") and 11 are the A&B-sides of a June 1972 UK 45-single on Janus 6146 015

13. Feel The Need In Me 
14. There's A Love For Me Somewhere 
Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of an October 1972 US 45-single on Westbound W 209
Track 13 b/w "And I Love Her" are the A&B-sides of a November 1972 UK 45-single on Janus 6146 020
UK B-side not featured on this compilation

15. You're Gettin' A Little Too Smart 
16. Heaven Couldn't Be Like This 
Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of a May 1973 US 45-single on Westbound W 213
Tracks 15 and 17 ("Lee") are the A&B-sides of an April 1974 UK 45-single on Janus 6146 108

17. Lee
18. Whatcha Gonna Wear Tomorrow 
Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of a November 1973 US 45-single on Westbound W 220
Track 18 was also the B-side in the UK of "You Want It, You Got It" (Track 9) issued April 1973 on Westbound 6046 103

19. Set It Out 
20. I'm Qualified 
Tracks 19 and 20 by A.C. Tilmon & The Detroit Emeralds - A&B of July 1974 US 45-single on Westbound W 226

21. Rosetta Stone 
22. Yes, I Know I'm In Love 
Tracks 21 and 22 by A.C. Tilmon & The Detroit Emeralds - A&B of March 1975 US 45-single on Westbound WT-5005

23. I Think Of You (Single Edit) 
Track 23 is the A-side of a July 1973 UK 45-single on Westbound 6146 104 (its B-side "So Long" is not featured on this CD)

The 16-page booklet pictures out three Soul-vocalist heroes - JAMES MITCHELL, IVORY (Ivy) TILMON and his brother ABRIM (Abe) TILMON and of course loads of those tasty Westbound Records and Pye International single labels throughout. Expert and genre-lover TONY ROUNCE gives us a detailed history of the Little Rock quartet first called The Emeralds on Ric-Tic Records up until the threesome became established and signed to Westbound. 

1969's "Holding On" became a darling of the UK's heated Northern Soul scene whilst looking down the writing credits and its impressive to see Abe Tilman's name on almost 95% of the titles (in-between are some nice black and white publicity photos of the boys in less quarrelsome times. Long-standing Audio Engineer for Ace DUNCAN COWELL has handled the Transfers/Remasters and the audio is glorious.   

"It's too nice for a boy like me to have Paradise..." - James Mitchell sings in the fantastic dancer "Holding On" that opens proceedings. The Northern Soul boys took the shuffler to heart and when Westbound Records finally put out the "Do Me Right" LP in 1971 in the USA (Westbound WB 2006) - it became an import sought after. Same could be said for the "Do Me Right" title where our hero wants his lady to take him to the dealer to buy him an automobile (good luck with that). 

Smoocherville arrives with "Wear This Ring (With Love)" - you for me and me always for you. Mid-tempo chugging to and fro comes in the shape of the brassy "I Can't See Myself Doing Without You" - where our lad could be offered the whole wide world but he'd have to turn it down if she's not by his side 24/7. 

The first version of "Feel The Need In Me" that turned up on the 1972 LP "You Want It, You Got It" is such a hit - it's hardly a surprise that ace-remixer Tom Moulton saw the song's potential when he remixed it for the UK market in 1977, upped its pace and changed out Mitchell's vocal to Tilmon (got a No. 12 placing for that). Can't count the number of times I've heard the stunning sexy groove of "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" in a cool movie - I think the kick-ass "Baby Driver" was the last one. Some understated but cool All Green-type geetar work going on in "I Bet You Get The One (Who Loves You)" - another great neck-jerker. Cheesy moments come in the gull-shape of "I'll Never Sail The Sea Again" and the sappy "Till You Decide To Come Home" - but even then – somehow they make it work and mostly it's lovely like that all the way to the end. 

Understatedly sexy and smooth like Al Green getting all righteous in his prime - The Detroit Emeralds have always been special to British Soul boys (elsewhere the same) and on the aural evidence displayed here, it's easy to hear why "I Think Of You"...