"Original Album Series" by THE METERS – Five Albums on Reprise and Warner Brothers Records USA and UK including "Cabbage Alley" (1972), "Rejuvenation" (1974), "Fire On The Bayou" (1975), "Trick Bag" (1976) and "New Directions" (1977) featuring Art Neville and the Songs/Productions of Allen Toussaint (January 2014 UK Rhino/Warners Music Group 5CD Capacity Wallet Mini Box Set of Remasters with Five Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"…Funkify Your Life…"

This brilliant addition to the Warners Music Group Original Album Series strips the five 2001 Rhino CD remasters of The Meters Seventies LPs of their bonus tracks and presents them in simple album form - 5 x 5" singular card repro sleeves (no inners) inside an outer card slipcase. And what a New Orleans blast they are too. Here are the rejuvenating details y'all...

UK released January 2014 - "Original Album Series" by THE METERS on Rhino/Warner Music Group 8122796156 (Barcode 081227961565) is a 5CD Capacity Wallet Mini Box Set of Remasters with Five Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (40:27 minutes):

1. You've Got To Change (You've Got To Reform)

2. Stay Away

3. Birds

4. The Flower Song

5. Soul Island

6. Do The Dirt - [Side 2]

7. Smiling

8. Lonesome And Unwanted People

9. Getting' Funkier All The Time

10. Cabbage Alley

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Cabbage Alley" - released June 1972 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2076 and in the UK on Reprise K 44242

Disc 2 (44:13 minutes):

1. People Say

2. Love Is For Me

3. Just Kissed My Baby

4. What'cha Say

5. Jungle Man

6. Hey Pocky A-way - [Side 2]

7. It Ain't No Use

8. Loving You Is On My Mind

9. Africa

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Rejuvenation" - released October 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2200 and October 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54027

Disc 3 (45:59 minutes):

1. Out In The Country

2. Fire On The Bayou

3. Love Slip Upon Ya

4. Talkin' 'Bout New Orleans

5. They All Ask'd About You

6. Can You Do Without? - [Side 2]

7. Liar

8. You're A Friend Of Mine

9. Middle Of The Road

10. Running Fast

11. Mardi Gras Mambo

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Fire On The Bayou" - released August 1975 in the USA on Reprise MS 2228 and August 1975 in the UK on Reprise K 54044

Disc 4 (42:16 minutes):

1. Disco Is The Thing Today

2. Find Yourself

3. All These Things

4. I Want To Be Love By You

5. Suite For 20 G

6. (Doodle Loop) The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather - [Side 2]

7. Trick Bag

8. Mister Moon

9. Chug-A-Lug

10. Hang 'Em High/Honky Tonk Woman

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Trick Bag" - released September 1976 in the USA on Reprise MS 2252 and September 1976 in the UK on Reprise K 54078

Disc 5 (41:10 minutes)

1. No More Okey Doke

2. I'm Gone

3. Be My Lady

4. My Name Up In Lights

5. Funkify Your Life - [Side 2]

6. Stop That Train

7. We Got The Kind Of A Love

8. Give It What You Can

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "New Directions" - released June 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 3042 (No UK release)

There's no booklet as is usual with these card packs but the front and rear album artwork looks great. Also there's no mention of who mastered what but on comparing with my "Rejuvenation" CD of old - these are all the 2001 Rhino remasters done by GIOVANNI SCATOLA - and they boogie like a mother. There's fantastic presence and warmth to these discs that clobbers you time and time again as you go through the albums.

Fronted by Art Neville (brother of Aaron Neville) - The Meters already three albums under their belt on Josie Records before they signed to Reprise - "The Meters" and "Look Ka Py-Py" from May and December 1969 and "Struttin'" from June 1970 - so their New Orleans choppy-guitar bad backbeat Funk style was well established. 

The Reprise/Warner Brothers albums refined their simpler Josie Records funk and featuring the songwriting chops of mentor and friend ALLEN TOUSSAINT – 1972 to 1977 contained some of their best-loved songs like "Do The Dirt" and "Cabbage Alley" (1972), "Hey Pocky A-way" and "People Say" (1974), "Running Fast" (1975), "Disco Is The Thing Today" and "Trick Bag" (1976) and "Be My Lady" (1977). The non-album single "Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Parts 1 & 2)" is not here - they're bonus tracks on the Rhino 2001 CD of "Cabbage Alley" if you want them. 

Killer album cuts include the Little Feat Funk of "Stay Away", "Getting' Funkier All The Time" and their mellow cover of Neil Young's "Birds" (all on "Cabbage Alley") while "Rejuvenation" provides unexpected moments of melody warmth and mid-tempo Hall & Oates soulfulness amidst the butt-boogie - "Love Is For Me" and "It Ain't No Use" while "Jungle Man" has a fantastic nasty groove (might just be their best album).

One of the prizes on here is the stunning "Fire On The Bayou" album from 1975 - which is a wonderful combo of sophisticated Soul meets their unique brand of Orleans Funk. It opens on a nasty groover "Out In The Country" – followed by the guitar chug of "Fire On The Bayou" where they sound like the title – on 'fire' – the tightest rhythm section ever. They go a bit Funk-Rock with their cover of the Russ Ballard/Argent song "Liar" - while nasty returns with "Can You Do Without?" complete with "Meow! Vocals. Things get mellow with "You're A Friend Of Mine" – so Allen Toussaint – so sweet. A keyboard tinkle introduces the Little Feat/Atlanta Rhythm Section slink of "Middle Of The Road" – a fantastic 8-minute instrumental that has been a Jazz-Funk prize for decades. What a winner this track is and it features gorgeous audio too as Leon Nocentelli lets rip with those warm summer evening fret flourishes – sounding not unlike an ultra-inspired George Benson circa "Breezin'".

I've always loved the "Trick Bag" album because of their funkified covers of an obscure James Taylor instrumental from "One Man Dog" called "Suite For 20 G" and their New Orleans version of the Stones "Honky Tonk Women" while their cover of Earl King's "Trick Bag" is superb too. They get a great groove going on "Doodle Loop..." too.

The final album "New Directions" sees the Funk and Brass get louder and more Isley Brothers - opening with the fab funk of "No More Okey Doke". Their New Orleans roots come out in their cover of Allen Toussaint's "I'm Gone" and a nod is given to Reggae in their take of Peter Tosh's "Stop That Train" (sounding contemporary). But the tune for me is "Funkify Your Life" which is just fantastic - a guaranteed floor-filler and a sure fire way to lose a few pounds after those Festive indulgences. "New Directions" ends with another dancefloor winner in the shape of "Give It What You Can".

So there you have it - Funky, Soulful and Nasty - The Meters had it all. A properly great addition to a series that's getting better and better...

PS: See also my review for the stunning SoulMusic Records 6CD Box Set of 2020

"Gettin' Funkier All The Time: The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Recordings 1968-1977" by THE METERS...

"Map Of Tiny Perfect Things, The" - A Film Review by Mark Barry of the 2021 Movie Available as an Amazon Download...

"...We're All Looking For The Fourth Dimension..." 

A beautifully scripted and played-out film and released just in time for Valentine's Day mush celebrations – February 2021's "The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things" on Amazon Download/Stream is a better-than-a-romantic-comedy movie idea that pitches 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower' against 'Groundhog Day'. 

And despite the pitfalls for a movie that would take on either of those wee mini filmic masterpieces – "Map..." comes up trumps in both cases. It's a sort of Sci-Fi Rom Com set on Planet Earth with its Heart and Soul firmly looking up to and longing for  magic in the stars.

The two principal leads Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton play Mark and Margaret – college lovers who don't know they're on a collision course towards each other - or even that hanging out together will enrich their locked-in worlds - maybe even save their sorry judgemental/philosophical nerd-like asses.

Happily predicting every little movement that will happen in his sunny day from the moment he wakes up and his mom drives off to work to his eventual plonking on his suburbia bed – Mark is inexplicably on a 24-hour-loop that melts and resets a second after midnight back into the same day – again and again and again.

And at first – when we meet him – the tall medium-attractive eighteen-year old is apparently happy with this. He repeats his younger sister Emma's "loser" taunt each breakfast for fun (not with malice) while hurting for her three-nil soccer game loss later that afternoon (cool role for Cleo Fraser). His dropped out of a good job now stay-at-home Dad (Josh Hamilton) is trying to write that Civil War novel he's always promised himself he would write, and later on, give his son that awkward parent-child chit-chit on the birds and the bees (but who is the smarter one in the room).

Mark will also drop in on his same-age pal Henry who seems incapable or unwilling to ever leave his game console bedroom as he gets character-trashed every time (if only he knew about that grenade throwing trait that will bring him to the key). Yet despite Mark's carping sister, dreaming Dad, shadowy mum that he never gets to hug and Henry's savvy-yet-somehow-useless advice on girlfriends and maps and life in general (wittily played by Jermaine Harris) – Mark is a positive soul that isn't as yet jaundiced or trapped by his predicament. If anything, he seems even smug in his mastering of unfolding events, whistling his way through it – getting right what he got wrong the repeated day prior.

So with each 24-hour stretch, Mark breezily catches falling crockery, nabs a carton of coffee from off of the roof on a stationary car as he passes on his bicycle, only to deposit the finished latte sup into a passing garbage truck at the exact moment both opportunities present themselves. He pushes a pedestrian back to avoid a falling bird poop - drops down a middle-aged lady's skirt with a steel thongs he's brought for just that purpose, her unwieldy dowdy garment having become wedged behind without her noticing - a potentially embarrassing moment that would have people laughing at her - and so on. Despite the opportunity to hurt and get away with it without consequences, Mark chooses not to.

But then one day by the local pool - a gorgeous young woman of his age catches a beach ball that should have hit another girl he's been trying to get the attention of. Then this mystery girl with her golden ringlets (a luminous Kathryn Newton) just waltzes out of frame – like she doesn't want to be caught - let alone be even spoken to. Could it be that someone else is trapped in this loop with him - and does she offer a way out? Maybe even have an answer as to why they're the only two people in the entire world rotating days in an inescapable time anomaly in the first place?

Without giving too much away, the story unfolds in ways you don't expect and the chemistry between the two leads is real, sweetly handled and like all good movies – something you become seriously invested in. Mark and Margaret start a journey where they begin to discover everyday beauties – seemingly ordinary yet pretty things that they hadn't seen in their own self-centred and egocentric loops. And this is where the movie really starts to fly.

The thing is that the writer had to spot all of these moments (there is a lot of them) and then set them up to be filmed - so scene after scene unfolds with wondrous stuff. And combined with a really pretty acoustic score from Tom Bromley that lifts up key scenes when they really need it - the effect at times is quite magical. There is also an unfolding of love – a scene where Mark sets up a fantasy set for Margaret – a handmade cardboard realisation of a career dream (Margaret longs for NASA and space exploration and she also seems to know a lot about the Fourth Dimension).

For sure, the ideas are directly linked to and lifted from other movies we movie nerds know well (they are actually referenced throughout the film) - but for sheer inventiveness and a genuinely joyful feel and approach to life's ups and downs and young love - "The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things" is a breath of fresh air. It doesn't really have a cynical bone in its body.

I suppose some may find that just a tad too cosy. But I thought it was gorgeous and Writer Lev Grossman and Director Ian Samuels are to be congratulated for pulling off such a pick-me-up coup in a 2020 world so full of loss, hurt and negativity.

And it will surely make the golden-haired Kathryn Newton (the kind of gal every 18-year lad wants to fall in love with) an even bigger star.

Lovely and then some...

"Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing" by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS – Two US Albums Originally Released April and December 1968 on Atlantic Records in Stereo, Plus Bonuses (November 2004 UK Rhino/Warner Strategic Marketing Reissue – 2LPs Remastered onto 1 CD with Five Bonus Tracks in the 'WSM Soul Masters' Series - Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Jazz Dancers, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more... 

 

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"...You're Mine..."

A very cool reissue indeed from 2004 (if not a tad forgotten in 2021) - loads of primo 60ts Atlantic Records Soul (two whole albums worth), Five Bonuses that include Three Unreleased and all of it in raucous remastered Stereo. And it's cheaper than a Steak and Chips at a Houston hoedown (their hometown). Let's do the monkey time and tighten up to the details...

UK released 15 November 2004 - "Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing" by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS on Rhino/Warner Strategic Marketing 5046-76155-2 (Barcode 5050467615526) offers 2LPs from 1968 Remastered onto 1CD with Five Bonus Tracks (WSM Soul Masters Series) and plays out as follows (68:10 minutes):

1. Tighten Up (Pt. 1) [Side 1]

2. Tighten Up (Pt. 2)

3. I Don't Wanna Be A Playboy

4. You're Mine

5. Knock On Wood 

6. Give Me Time [Side 2]

7. In The Midnight Hour 

8. When You Left, Heartache Began 

9. A Thousand Wonders

10. A Soldier's Prayer, 1967

Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut album "Tighten Up" – released April 1968 in the USA on Atlantic SC-8181 (CSG Stereo)

NON-ALBUM SINGLES:

11. Dog Eat Dog (April 1968 US 45-single non-album B-side to "Tighten Up" on Atlantic 45-2478)

12. Tighten Up (Pt. 1) Original Single Version (April 1968 US 45-single non-album B-side to "Tighten Up" on Atlantic 45-2478)

13. I Can't Stop Dancing [Side 1]

14. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay

15. Do The Choo Choo

16. You're Such A Beautiful Child 

17. Monkey Time 

18. Do You Feel It ? [Side 2]

19. I've Been Trying 

20. Jammin' In Houston 

21. Love Will Rain On You

22. Sometimes I Wonder

Tracks 13 to 22 are their second studio album "I Can't Stop Dancing" – released December 1968 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8204 (Stereo)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SELECTIONS:

23. Low Down

24. Going Out Of My Head (Demo)

25. Who's Loving who (Demo)

Most folks will settle for the four-pound costing budget CD "The Platinum Collection" that came out in March 2007 as part of Atlantic's 60th Anniversary celebrations. But although its 20-track selection from all three of their Atlantic Records albums (that also includes four non-LP single sides) represents great value for money - the gatefold slip of paper that came with all of those budget compilations tells you bugger all. 

Here in this 2004 dedicated release you get a 16-page booklet with typically in-depth and informative liner notes from CHARLES WARING - a name you see across large amounts of Beat Goes On (BGO) Soul and Jazz CD reissues and a contributor to many key magazines like Blues & Soul, Mojo and Record Collector. His booklet gives you background, photos and publicity shots of the finger-clicking four boys looking dapper in their matching suits, label repros of those fab 45s and a track-by-track credits section. 

The cool extends also to new DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT Remasters from original tapes - Audio Engineer names generic to every Rhino CD reissue for decades. And the STEREO (some re-processed) is fab throughout. Spending the few more quid on this specific reissue is way better than a budget presentation - more thorough with those bonuses too. To the dancing daddies of Houston, Texas...

Forgotten gems include the smooch of "Love Will Rain On You" – a leaving me plea to deaf ears. "Dog Eat Dog" - the rare non-LP B-side of their first British 45 "Tighten Up" on Atlantic 584 185 (May 1968) is a welcome addition to CD - great 60ts Soul (a bit rough around the two-minute edges in the Mono audio department it must be said). The string-drenched/high-vocals of "When You Left, Heartache Began" has adorned Northern Soul compilations for years – its joyous oh girl chorus feeling like a celebration rather than relationship misery. That debut also sported the classy shuffler "You're Mine" and even if his vocal-delivery feels ever so slightly off – it so works – all feel as he promises to never let his girl go. 

And they dance too – the "Tighten Up" 45 was huge – catching the dance-crazes of 1967 and 1968. The identikit Tighten Up opener to their second LP "I Can't Stop Dancing" is a masterstroke – similar to the previous Funky Beat tune but just different enough (and check that flicking guitar). They cover the Major Lance hit "Monkey Time” with a shouting come-on-and-do-it version while their Otis Redding nod to his anthem "Dock Of The Bay" is perhaps too reverential to the original. "Do The Choo Choo" is awful - a poor attempt at a dance craze after the number one success of "Tighten Up" on both sides of the pond.

For sure it isn't all genius and some say that this kind of late 60ts Soul has a dated feel now more than five decades on (2021). But for me, there is a dance and make a fool of yourself in the living room infectiousness to Archie Bell & The Drells that I love - and I keep coming back to those soft-centre slowies too that I admire more and more as the years pass. A sweetheart of a release really, and recommended like a Bass Jam in Houston...

PS: 

Their third album "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" would appear in August 1969 on Atlantic SD-8226 and is also subject to a November 2004 CD Reissue and Remaster (use Barcode 5050467615625 to locate it). It features the 12-track LP in Stereo with a huge 15 Bonus Tracks, 10 non-album single-sides and Four Previously Unreleased.

"The Singles Volume Four: 1966-1967" by JAMES BROWN - Featuring Billy Butler, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Nolen, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, Dud Bascomb, Waymon Reed, Laman Wright, St. Clair Pinckney, Nat Jones, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Clyde Stubblefield of The Famous Flames with guests The Jewels and The Charmaines (October 2007 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology of Remasters - No. 4 of 11 Volumes of Singles – Alan Leeds Annotation and Seth Foster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Cold Sweat..."

The 42-Tracks of "The Singles Volume 4..." by all things JAMES BROWN covers releases from February 1966 through to October 1967 – fourth in a truly stunning 11-Volume Series of 2CD-Compilations that has had most fans reaching for the Mr. Dynamite superlatives, and genuinely finding there aren't enough.

Alongside every King, Smash and Bethlehem Records A&B-side, we get the altered mix for "This Old Heart" that appeared on King 6044 ("This Old Heart" is also on Volume 3 in the series as King 5995 for February 1965), both sides of the unissued King 6087 single for "It's A Gas Part 1 and 2" and King 6111 for "It Won't Be Me" b/w "Mona Lisa", both versions of King 6122 because "Get It Together" was issued with two different edits and those lesser-seen Christmas singles too. And of course there are the career/world-altering monster number one hits in the shape of "It's Man's Man's Man's World" and "Cold Sweat". 

Volume Four also has the same spectacular Audio and beautifully presented 28-page fact-filled booklet on Soul Brother No. 1 that all these 45-single anthologies have. The booklet is a feast of fan-pleasing details and memorabilia provided by a team of experts on all things JB Productions - ALAN LEEDS, his manager and pal, being principal among them (it's printed on a sort of sepia-feel paper). It should also be noted too that the eleven volumes in "The Singles" Series for 'James Brown', along with the 'Motown' and 'Chess' Book Set Reissues - has gone a long way to emblazoning 'HIP-O SELECT' as a reissue label dear to SOUL and R&B collector's hearts (they've handled some Rock and Pop titles too). Here are the details...

USA released 19 October 2007 - "The Singles Volume 4: 1966-1967" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0009472-02 (Barcode 602517407725) offers 42-tracks Remastered onto 2CDs (a Limited Edition). All catalogue numbers provided below are US 45-singles (unless otherwise noted) sided with their peak US R&B and Pop Chart placing (no entry means it didn't chart). Each disc breaks down as follows...

Disc 1, 21-Tracks, 55:03 minutes:

1. Ain't That A Groove Part 1

2. Ain't That A Groove Part 1

Tracks 1 and 2 are King 6025, released February 1966, as by James Brown And The Famous Flames. Both parts amount to 3:33-minutes playing time, so 60-seconds of Part 2 is a repeat of what is in Part 1. US chart peak No. 6 R&B and No. 42 Pop

3. New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (Part I)

4. New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (Part II)

Tracks 3 and 4 are Smash 2028, released March 1966, as James Brown. Both are Instrumentals with Part II featuring loops of Part I

5. It's Man's Man's Man's World

6. Is It Yes Or Is It No

Tracks 5 and 6 are King 6035, released April 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 1 R&B, No. 8 Pop

7. James Brown's Boo-Ga-Loo

8. Lost In A Mood Of Changes 

Tracks 7 and 8 are Smash 2042, released June 1966, as by James Brown

9. Money Won't Change You Part 1

10. Money Won't Change You Part 2

Tracks 9 and 10 are King 6048, released July 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 11 R&B and No. 53 Pop

11. This Old Heart

Track 11 is the B-side of King 6044, released August 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. The A-side is "How Long Darling" which was originally on King 5876 in March 1964 - itself a B-side to "Again" (both of those 1964 recordings are available as Tracks 3 and 4 on Disc 1 of Volume 3 in this series). King 6044 from August 1966 was King Records endlessly plundering his back catalogue once again, but its inclusion here is because the 6044 version is a remix and therefore exclusive. 

12. Don't Be A Drop-Out

13. Tell Me That You Love Me

Tracks 12 and 13 are King 6056, released September 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 4 R&B, No. 50 Pop

14. Let's Go Get Stoned 

15. Our Day Will Come

Tracks 14 and 15 are King Smash 2064, released November 1966, as by James Brown At The Organ. The A-side was an Ashford & Simpson song recently made a hit by Ray Charles on ABC-Paramount 10808 in May 1966

16. The Christmas Song (Version 1)

17. The Christmas Song (Version 2)

Tracks 16 and 17 are King 6064, released November 1966 as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. The A-side (a Mel Torme cover) is described as a 'mellow' version sung in the smooth style of Charles Brown, whilst the version 2 cut is in a different key where JB reverts to his own voice. 

18. Sweet Little Baby Boy (Part 1)

19. Sweet Little Baby Boy (Part 1)

Tracks 19 and 20 are King 6065, released November 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames

20. Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year (Part 1)

21. Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year (Part 2)

Tracks 20 and 21 are King 6072, released late November 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. None of his three Christmas singles for 1966 charted, although this one received most airplay 

Disc 2, 21-Tracks, 63:53 minutes:

1. Bring It Up

2. Nobody Knows

Tracks 1 and 2 are King 6071, released December 1966, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. 

3. Kansas City

4. Stone Fox

Tracks 3 and 4 are King 6086, released February 1967, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Both sides are instrumentals and this is the last record to credit The Famous Flames. B-side is an instrumental and features guitarist Troy Seals

5. It's A Gas Part 1

6. It's A Gas Part 2

Tracks 5 and 6 are King 6087, UNRELEASED, was to be by The James Brown Dancers

7. Think

Track 7 is King 6091, released February 1967, as by Vicki Anderson and James Brown. B-side is "Nobody Cares" by Vicki Anderson (solo) and is not on this compilation

8. Let Yourself Go

9. Good Rockin' Tonight

Tracks 8 and 9 are King 6100, released April 1967, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. The B-side is a Roy Brown cover – US chart peak No. 5 R&B, No. 46 Pop. 

10. I Loves You Porgy

11. Yours And Mine

Tracks 10 and 11 are Bethlehem 3089, released May 1967, as by Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis

12. Jimmy Mack

13. What Do You Like

Tracks 12 and 13 are Smash 2093, released June 1967, as by James Brown At The Organ

14. It Won't Be Me 

15. Mona Lisa

Tracks 14 and 15 are King 6111, scheduled for May 1967 but UNRELEASED, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames

16. Cold Sweat – Part 1

17. Cold Sweat – Part 2

Tracks 16 and 17 are King 6110, released June 1967, as by James Brown. US chart peak No. 1 R&B and No. 7 Pop

18. Get It Together (Part 1)

19. Get It Together (Part 2)

20. Get It Together (Part 1) (Version 2)

21. Get It Together (Part 2) (Version 2)

Tracks 18 and 19/Tracks 20 and 21 are King 6122, released October 1967, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Version 2 is a remixed cut at Brown's insistence that adds on a further 25-seconds of playing time.

Like all 11 Volumes in this Hip-O Select 2CD series, the 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at — a hugely informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert posters (Madison Square Gardens in New York, Latin Casino in New Jersey, City Stadium in Richmond etc), trade adverts, official tour programs, in on the joke smiling cops leading JB offstage at a huge outdoor event during his 'Please, Please, Please' microphone-pleading routine, and of course, a thoroughly detailed recording Sessionography. 

Produced with affection and firsthand knowledge by HARRY WEINGER and ALAN LEEDS (Leeds was Tour Manager from 1970 to 1974) - the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has the James Brown's Advice advert for truant young African-American kids to Be The Best – Stay At School. 

Photos include inter-departmental correspondence notes for King Records, a fan club badge for loyal Don't Be A Drop-Out supporters, JB pointing at The Flamingo Club neon in the Nevada Desert distance where Flip Wilson is the support act, alighting a jet for his first barnstorming European Tour and in-the-studio shots with Engineer Ron Lenhoff. There is a gorgeous tinted colour photo on the rear of the booklet that has JB with the four smiling white boys of The Dapps at the Living Room Club in Cincinnati, Ohio mid funky routine that literally oozes pleasure (would love that as a poster on my wall).

Cool and smart attention to detail shows that both compilers know what fans want - for instance the song by song Sessionography in the last few pages provides master numbers, band personnel, 45 and LPs with catalogue numbers noted, Disc and Track location etc. The NOTES stretch for one page. So you learn that "Let Yourself Go" appeared in place of "Kansas City" on some early copies – and that "Kansas City" is extended a further 24-seconds on the King LP version. 

As in previous issues, SETH FOSTER has transferred the first-generation master tapes for the single mixes and he's done a truly superlative job — warm, clear and fabulously alive. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay – numbers are not stated but presumably it's a worldwide limited edition of 5000 copies like its predecessor. Now to the music...

It speaks volumes of his extraordinary work ethic that Brown popped out FOUR singles in November 1966 – three trying to capture the Christmas market – and when that failed – another that wasn’t a Santa-themed message song just in case its groove might catch the holiday season zeitgeist. But you also get to hear the extraordinary - "It's Man's Man's Man's World", "Let Yourself Go", "Cold Sweat" and the huge leap forwards into that Funk grove that "Get It Together" represented. 

I must admit that I could live without the "Porgy And Bess" and "Jimmy Mack" cover versions, but I love the New Breed Boo-Ga-Loo stuff and two of those rare B-sides slipped me by - "Stone Fox" and "Lost In A Mood Of Changes" - very cool stuff. The Audio too – a fabulous feel to each transfer – lifting up the listen so much. 

I've diligently collected this entire series of 11 x 2CD Singles sets for JAMES BROWN - first released Stateside in September 2006 by Universal's highly collectable mail-order wing - Hip-O Select. Stunning is a word often overused - but on these wickedly good Remasters, it hardly does these twofer peaches justice. And his band would only go on to re-route Soul and Funk come Volumes 5, 6, 7 and 8 that take us from the late 60ts up to the early-to-mid Seventies (all reviewed). 

For those wanting to know why Funk happened or simply hear evidence of his relentless musical genius during those amazingly productive years - its an absolute must own. Don't be a drop out JB used to say; well I say, be a drop-in on the whole caboodle...

"SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE Volume 6 - 1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD Exceptional Remasters" by MARK BARRY. Volume 6 of 7...Each Volume With Different Entries

The SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC Books Series 

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SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE 
Volume 6 of 7

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters...

* Vol. 6 - over 1,100 E-pages, 175 in-depth reviews, CD reissues 1990 to 2020

* Volumes 1 to 7 have 175-reviews each also, all different, no duplicates 

* Formats included - CD, SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and Japan Platinum SHM-CD  [Super High Materials]

* Major Label Box Set Retrospectives from – EMI, Sony/Legacy, Universal and WEA

* Best Independent Reissue Labels highlighted...

– Ace, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beats Goes On, Big Break Records (BBR), Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Light In The Attic, Mobile Fidelity, Music On CD, Raven, Repertoire, Rev-Ola, Rhino, The Right Stuff, Salvo, Sundazed and Panegyric

* Technical data from the discs themselves (total playing times and more)

* Release Date, Catalogue No and Barcode to locate the correct issue

* Track lists and Details on Bonus material (if any)

* Vinyl Discographies referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the discs)

* UK and US catalogue numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7” singles and EPs within each review

* Remaster/Tape Transfer Engineers highlighted

* Packaging descriptions, size of booklets, what’s contained within, who wrote the liner notes, repro artwork explained

* Reference to the Audio Quality of the CD - analysis of songs

* Guest Musicians highlighted – Cover Versions noted

* Find Artists and Guest Musicians (who played on what)

* Find Original Album Producers and Engineers

* Find your favourite Remaster Engineers and Authors of Liner Notes

SIXTIES and SEVENTIES RECORD LABELS covered by the book include:

ABC, ABC/Dunhill, A&M, Apple, Ardent, Asylum, Atlantic/Atco, Bearsville, Blue Horizon, Brain, Capitol, Capricorn, CBS, Charisma, Chrysalis, Columbia, Dawn, Decca, Deram (Nova), DJM, Elektra, EMI, Epic, Fantasy, Fly, Fontana, Harvest, Immediate, Island, Liberty, London, Marmalade, MCA, Mercury, MGM, Monument, Mooncrest, Parlophone, Parrot, Polydor, Probe, Purple, Pye International, RAK, Rare Earth, RCA Victor, Reaction, Reprise, Rolling Stones, RSO, Shelter, Smash, Straight, Track, Uni, Vertigo, Verve, Virgin, United Artists and Warner Brothers

Having worked for RECKLESS RECORDS in London for over 20 years as one of their principal Vinyl and CD buyers (one of the best secondhand record shops in the West End) and having over 3620 posts (CDs, DVDs, BLU RAYs) - as you can imagine I come across a huge number of reissues - some far more worthy than others. 

To that end I've collated together these SOUNDS GOOD books as guides to Exceptional CD Remasters offering up in-depth reviews on a wide range of titles. And it no longer has to cost the earth to Sound Good either – you just need to know which CD is the right issue to buy. Many entries in this large and unique book cost less than £10 while others are under a fiver. And even if some Box Sets/Deletions have acquired a price tag - because they’re the best I’ve included them along with artists/titles that deserve your attention…

Enjoy the reads – Mark Barry (2021) 

"Gettin' Funkier All The Time: The Complete Josie/Reprise & Warner Recordings 1969-1977" by THE METERS – Including Eight Albums, Album Outtakes, Single Edits, Stand-Alone Singles and Rarities – Band featuring Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter and Joseph Modeliste with guests Allen Toussaint and Lowell George (January 2020 UK SoulMusic 6CD 116-Track Clamshell Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 289 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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"...Fire On The Bayou..."

What a balls-to-the-wall winner this is. And past the obvious, let me explain why...

Like their 'Doctor Bird' label imprint that has been reissuing stunning Reggae, Ska and Dub CDs for years now (often doubles with large wads on unreleased and first time on digital stuff) - 'SoulMusic Records' is another imprint of 'Cherry Red UK' - and it does what it says on the tin, deals with Soul and R&B Music (vintage stuff mostly). 

So being a collector and sometime nutter for all things 60ts and 70ts - I've nabbed their exemplary Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Dells, Staples Singers and Mother's Finest sets and duly raved unto the joy fantastic about them (see separate reviews). But this reissue is the big league, because for SoulMusic to collate together the entirety of The Meters New Orleans Soul and Bayou Funk output is a very big feather indeed - and in an increasingly huge hat. It's obvious from their thank-you list on the back-page of a pleasingly chockers-booklet, that they are proud of their funky little beast - and damn rightly. So what's shakin' a cissy strut tail feather within...

Across six CDs packing a huge 116-tracks - you get eight full albums in Stereo from their tenure at Josie, Reprise and Warner Brothers Records between 1969 and 1977 - all of it housed inside a glossy mini clamshell box set accompanied by a jam-packed 40-page booklet and dual-sided mini LP card sleeves (matt). As if that's not enough, four of the albums are the Rhino 'Expanded Edition' versions remastered by Giovanni Scatola in 2001 that came with loads of tasty extras, and the last disc here even tags on 4 single edits plus a rare 12" Disco Mix that is first time on CD anywhere in the World. It’s all here. To the truncated details...

UK released Friday, 24 January 2020 - "Gettin' Funkier All The Time: The Complete Josie/Reprise & Warner Recordings 1969-1977" by THE METERS on SoulMusic Records QSMCR-5190BX (Barcode 5013929089006) is a 116-Track, 6CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters with Six Themed Card Sleeves and a 40-Page Booklet that plays out as follows: 

Disc 1 "Here Comes The Meter Man" (26 Tracks, 75:11 minutes): 

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "The Meters" – released May 1969 in the USA on Josie Records JOS 4010 in Stereo 

Tracks 13 and 14 were first issued as Bonus Outtakes on the 2001 Expanded Edition CD of "The Meters" on Rhino 

Tracks 15 to 26 are their second studio album "Look-Ka Py Py" – released December 1969 in the USA on Josie JOS 4011 in Stereo

Disc 2 "A Message From The Meters" (24 Tracks, 66:35 minutes):

Tracks 1 and 2 and 5 to 14 are their third studio album "Struttin'" – released June 1970 in the USA on Josie JOS 4012 in Stereo

Tracks 3 and 4 are "Grass" and "Borro" – Bonus Outtakes on the 2001 Rhino Expanded Edition CD reissue of "Look-Ka Py Py"

Tracks 15 and 16 "Funky Meters Soul" and "Meter Strut" – Bonus Outtakes on the 2001 Rhino Expanded Edition CD reissue of "Struttin'"

Tracks 17 to 24 are Non-Album A&B-sides of Josie Records 45-singles

Disc 3 "Just Kissed My Baby" (18 Tracks, 71:25 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Cabbage Alley" - released June 1972 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2076 and in the UK on Reprise K 44242

Tracks 11 and 12 are a Non-Album A&B-side of a 45 single for "Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push And Shove)"

Tracks 13 to 18 are Side 1 of the album "Rejuvenation" - released October 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2200 and October 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54027

Disc 4 "Mardi Gras Mambo" (18 Tracks, 75:47 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 3 are Side 2 of the album "Rejuvenation" - released October 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2200 and October 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54027

Tracks 4 to 14 are the album "Fire On The Bayou" - released August 1975 in the USA on Reprise MS 2228 and August 1975 in the UK on Reprise K 54044

Tracks 15 to 18 first issued 2001 as Album Outtake Bonus Tracks on the Rhino 2CD Expanded Edition Reissue of "Fire On The Bayou"

Disc 5 "Mister Moon" (16 Tracks, 63:36 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Trick Bag" - released September 1976 in the USA on Reprise MS 2252 and September 1976 in the UK on Reprise K 54078. Note: the final tenth song on Side 2 of the original 1976 LP was a medley of two songs "Hang 'Em High/Honky Tonk Woman". However, the 2001 Rhino Remastered Reissue split them into two separate tracks, so that’s what’s been used here

Tracks 12 to 16 first issued 2001 as Album Outtake Bonus Tracks on the Rhino 2CD Expanded Edition Reissue of "Trick Bag"

Disc 6 "Be My Lady" (14 Tracks, 65:44 minutes): 

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "New Directions" - released June 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 3042 (No UK release)

Track 9 is a Bonus Track Outtake that first appeared on the 2001 CD Remaster of the "New Directions" album

Tracks 10 to 14 are Various Single Edits - Track 13 is the Disco Mix of "Disco Is The Thing Today". At 6:27 minutes, it was issued June 1976 as a Promotional-Only 12" Single in the USA on Warner Brothers PRO 636 and is exclusive to this CD reissue

Long-standing Audio Engineer for Ace and Kent Soul reissues - NICK ROBBINS has done the superb mastering and CHARLES WARING of Mojo and Record Collector contributing fame pours on the factoids and photos in the booklet. The attention to minutiae is everywhere - the card sleeves show you both front and rear cover of the LPs AND the labels - there are repros of promo 45s and black and white publicity snaps - unused artwork and proof sheets for photos shoots - and the whole thing id dedicated to Art Neville who passed in July 2019. Here is a simplified breakdown...

All five of the Reprise and Warners LP have been available since 2014 as part of WEA's Original Album Series for about ten to twelve quid - so the prize here is the first three records, those 2001 bonus cuts only hitherto available on long-deleted CDs and that exclusive twelve-inch. There is also tasty presentation and new mastering. 

Fronted by Art Neville (brother of Aaron Neville) - The Meters quickly established their New Orleans Funk-Soul sound by punching out three rapid succession albums on Josie Records - "The Meters" and "Look Ka Py-Py" from May and December 1969 and "Struttin'" from June 1970. With Art Neville on Keyboards - Leo Nocentelli played Guitar; George Porter handled Bass while Joseph Modeliste whacking the Drums. 

Fellow musical traveller in all things Bayou Funk – we must also mention ALLEN TOUSSAINT in relation to The Meters. The dapper songwriting gent produced those three albums on Josie and after the release of his own second solo album "Life, Love And Faith" on Reprise Records in July 1972 – was instrumental in bringing the band to Sinatra’s old label. The Reprise/Warner Brothers albums refined and upgraded their Josie-years style and sound with guest spots by the likes of Lowell George from Little Feat. Toussaint is even listed as co-producer for "Cabbage Alley" – their debut for Reprise Records released a month before his own LP in June 1972. But you find out in the digs-deep liner-notes that he took a very real back seat – was rarely at any sessions even though he is contractually credited on the LP cover as such - and simply let the band self-produce and explore their own new sound. Three of The Meters - George Porter, Jr., Joseph (Ziggy) Modeliste and Leo Nocentelli – are essentially the backbones of his band for the "Life, Love And Faith" album. All of The Meters (including Art Neville) and three members of Little Feat (including Lowell George) also famously acted as back-up band for Robert Palmer's solo debut album after he'd left Vinegar Joe - "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" – released September 1974 in the UK on Island Records. Palmer even does the Allen Toussaint classic "From A Whisper To A Scream" on that album. In short, there was a whole lotta funkiness going on around The Meters and their pal Toussaint. 

Our Louisiana heroes were no slouches on the seven-inch single front either. Between 1969 and 1977, they punched out a whopping twenty-one 45s across the three labels (charting nine of them on R&B). Impressively, all forty-two A&B-sides are here, including stand-alones. Best-loved grooves include "Sophisticated Cissy”, "Cissy Strut", "Ease Back", "Dry Spell" and "Look-Ka Py Py" (1969), "Chicken Strut", "Hand Clapping Song" and "A Message From The Meters" (1970), "Do The Dirt",  "Cabbage Alley" and "Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Parts 1 & 2)" (1972), "Hey Pocky A-way" and "People Say" (1974), "Running Fast" (1975), "Disco Is The Thing Today" and "Trick Bag" (1976) and "Be My Lady" (1977). 

Killer album cuts include the Little Feat Funk of "Stay Away", "Getting' Funkier All The Time" and their mellow cover of Neil Young's "Birds" (all on "Cabbage Alley") while "Rejuvenation" provides unexpected moments of melody warmth and mid-tempo Hall & Oates soulfulness amidst the butt-boogie - "Love Is For Me" and "It Ain't No Use" while "Jungle Man" has a fantastic nasty groove (might just be their best album).

One of the prizes on here is the stunning "Fire On The Bayou" album from 1975 - which is a wonderful combo of sophisticated Soul meets their unique brand of Orleans Funk. It opens on a nasty groover "Out In The Country" – followed by the guitar chug of "Fire On The Bayou" where they sound like the title – on 'fire' – the tightest rhythm section ever. They go a bit Funk-Rock with their cover of the Russ Ballard/Argent song "Liar" - while nasty returns with "Can You Do Without?" complete with "Meow! Vocals. Things get mellow with "You're A Friend Of Mine" – so Allen Toussaint – so sweet. A keyboard tinkle introduces the Little Feat/Atlanta Rhythm Section slink of "Middle Of The Road" – a fantastic 8-minute instrumental that has been a Jazz-Funk prize for decades. What a winner this track is and it features gorgeous audio too as Leon Nocentelli lets rip with those warm summer evening fret flourishes – sounding not unlike an ultra-inspired George Benson circa "Breezin'".

I've always loved the "Trick Bag" album too because of their funkified covers of an obscure James Taylor instrumental from "One Man Dog" called "Suite For 20 G" and their New Orleans version of the Stones "Honky Tonk Woman" while their cover of Earl King's "Trick Bag" is superb also. They get a great groove going on "Doodle Loop..." too.

The final album "New Directions" saw the Funk and Brass get louder - more Isley Brothers - opening with the fab groove of "No More Okey Doke". Their New Orleans roots come out in their cover of Allen Toussaint's "I'm Gone" and a nod is given to Reggae in their take of Peter Tosh's "Stop That Train" (sounding contemporary). But the tune for me is "Funkify Your Life" which is just fantastic - a guaranteed floor-filler and a sure fire way to lose a few pounds after those Festive indulgences. "New Directions" ends with another dancefloor winner in the shape of "Give It What You Can".

Amongst the Outtake Bonuses and Stand-Alone Singles – I’m loving a nine-minute keyboard and guitar workout from the "Trick Bag" sessions of Neil Young’s "Down By The River" - or even the frantic simplicity of "Meter Strut" – a 2:47 minute guitar-flicking drum-whacking instrumental outtake from the "Struttin'" LP sessions. It's hardly surprising too that the non-LP "Chug Chug Chug-A-Bug (Push And Show)" had its Side B Part 2 shouter groove featured on the award-winning "What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco & Warner Bros. Records 1969-1977" 4CD Box Set - issued by Rhino in October 2006 in a cool-looking cigar-box-type set up. A nugget tucked away on a single flipside. It's just yet another primo example of The Meters and their seemingly effortless Average White Band 'Pick Up The Pieces' groovy groove-ness. And on it goes...

Probably a Soul and Funk 'Reissue of the Year 2020' accolade to SoulMusic Records - and most definitely a big thank you from all of us in the netherworld of Post Covid-19 to all of the good Trick Bag folks involved. Fab and then some...