Peanut Butter Falcon (The) - A Review of the 2019 Film Starring Shia LeBeouf, Zak Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden-Church, John Hawkes and Yelawolf - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...All Of My Wishes..."

The Peanut Butter Falcon – Film Review  

I know we've been to this territory before and as the weary father of a 30-year old son with severe Autism - this film would have a lot of triggers for me that are too painful to even think about.

Based in North Carolina, the barely surviving fishing town and inappropriate care home settings where Tyler and Zak live are scenic yet sparse and peopled with believable characters who are just as broke as our heroes (Shia LeBeouf and Zak Gottsagen in the lead roles as Tyler and Zak). 

In lonely flashbacks, Tyler dreams of his bigger brother Mark and their beer nights, laughs by the fish pots, nets and traps – an obvious anchor in his aimless life (Jon Bernthal making a huge impression even if he does get little to say). But then just one-step away from yet another confrontational kicking, fate trusts a chubby young man at Tyler with a pudding-bowl haircut, stunted speech, white underpants and not a lot else to his name. Tyler can either leave him this obviously ill protected person by the wooden quayside or take him on-board, a reluctant decision at first that will eventually change him – and for the better.

The naive Zak and turmoil-inside Tyler are both almost childishly headstrong, their confront-or-die way of living often bringing them more grief than satisfaction – constantly in the face of authorities that are either too despondent or tired to care. Other times people chase our duo with guns and could indeed use them (the multi-tattooed Yelawolf and John Hawkes). The simple-talking Zak is easily led too, so vulnerable and open to abuse by rednecks - while Tyler just wishes he could rise above the filth of his teeshirt and baseball cap sometimes.

As they walk miles on foot through heat and flies and tall fields, traverse dangerous rivers and float on makeshift rafts through glades and light fires and catch fish on beaches where they can sleep free and dream - their car-crash lives somehow melt into an unlikely friendship - one escaping past mistakes – the other seeking a wrestling coach he has seen on video tapes (Thomas Haden Church). Tyler just wants to get one thing right, and doing right by this unguarded and wound-exposed young man could be it.

The casting is extraordinarily good, with top actors who you suspect know they're working on a wee gem. And the two leads - Shia LeBeouf and Zak Gottsagen - knock it out of the ballpark so many times as their characters move begrudgingly towards each other.

Added into the stew, the beautiful Dakota Johnson plays Eleanor - a young lady carer for this vulnerable Downs Syndrome man who is at the mercy of the system. It was maybe her trusting fault that let Zak free in the first place and now her boss wants him found regardless. Zak has no back-up family to route for him and after escape could be considered a flight risk. As she goes door to door in her neatly sprayed care-home van, Eleanor knows that Zak could be sent someplace much worse. Helped all of this along the way – we also get the gruff real-world charms of Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden-Church and John Hawkes - actors who lift anything up that they lend a hand to.

"The Peanut Butter Falcon" is a little film with a big heart and traversing such dangerous waters as 'special needs' and highly unlikely bonds while on the run - it still managed to move me, made me laugh and occasionally had dialogue between the two lost souls that made blubb.

As they float on their makeshift raft into an unknown and maybe even hostile future – simple Zak notices Tyler is lost in another head-down low moment. So putting his arm around his bearded gruff new buddy, Zak helpfully offers - "...I am going to give you all my wishes for my birthday..." (a big deal for him). My equally worn-out missus cried at dialogue like this - a genuinely beautiful moment.

"The Peanut Butter Falcon" is a hopeful tale of humanity winning in a world too often lacking either. Well done to all involved...

"Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Single and Album Tracks from Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, The Ohio Untouchables, Solomon Burke, Patti Labelle, Doris Troy, Carla Thomas, Tommy Hunt, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Walter Jackson, Judy Clay, The Dynamics, The Sweet Inspirations, Howard Tate, Donny Hathaway, Jackie Moore, King Floyd, The Spinners, Sam & Dave, Baby Washington, The Persuaders, Hall & Oates and more (October 2007 USA Rhino Handmade 4CD 82-Track LP-Sized Box Set – Billy Vera Compiled Selection - Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Come See About Me…"

Given the label – Atlantic Records – and the reputation/legend of the reissue company involved – Rhino and the hugely sought-after releases of their Mail-Order division Rhino Handmade Records – then 2007's "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" should have been a shoe-in for masterpiece with a bullet. 

But – and this is a genuine surprise to me - the actual listen and its slightly jarring presentation go against it way more than a fan would like. Rarities often don't make for good plays – they're just rare. And this Box Set all too often includes the obscure over the joyous. Rhino Handmade would argue that that's what they were all about – providing for the deep dive collector. I just wish that in this case, the playback would elicit the excitement in me the title of the set does. 

Rhino Handmade issued three Box Sets in this BILLY VERA-compiled LP-Sized series - each 4CD set with a generic silk-screened sepia-look, a 32 to 36-Page LP-Sized Booklet (Limited Numbered Edition on the last page, 3000 copies), silk-screen look Picture Card Sleeves inside lipped die-cut trays and new Remasters courtesy of long-time Audio Engineers for Rhino and WEA – BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH. But the best way to explain is to go into details. Let's have at them...

USA released 31 October 2007 – "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7739 (Barcode 603497773923) is a 4CD 82-Track LP-Sized Themed Box Set of Remasters that breaks down as follows (all catalogue numbers are either US 45-singles or LPs unless otherwise stated):

CD1 (from 1959 to 1964, 49:28 minutes, 20 tracks, Solomon Burke pictured):

1. Come Rain Or Shine - RAY CHARLES (November 1960, Atlantic 45-2084, A-side)

2. You're The Boss - LaVERN BAKER & JIMMY RICKS (December 1960, Atlantic 45-2090, A-side)

3. On The Horizon - BEN E. KING (April 1961, Atco 45-6194, B-side of "Stand By Me")

4. Your Old Lady - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (July 1961, Atlantic 45-2110, B-side of "Write To Me")

5. I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) - THE IKETTES (November 1961, Atco 45-6212, A-side)

6. Daddy Rollin' Stone - JIMMY RICKS & THE RAVES (March 1962, Atco 6220, B-side of "Homesick")

7. Darling - THE FALCONS (June 1962, Atlantic 2153, A-side - features WILSON PICKETT on Lead Vocals)

8. Stupidity - SOLOMON BURKE (July 1963, Atlantic 45-2196, B-side of "Can't Nobody Love You")

9. My Man - He's A Lovin' Man - BETTY LaVETT (September 1962, Atlantic 45-2160, A-side)

10. Take This Love I've Got - THE FALCONS (February 1963, Atlantic 45-2179, A-side - features WILSON PICKETT)

11. Just One Look - DORIS TROY (April 1963, Atlantic 45-2188, A-side)

12. Love Is Amazing - OHIO UNTOUCHABLES (May 1963, Lu Pine L-1010, B-side of "Forgive Me Darling")

13. (Do The) Mashed Potatoes - Part 1 - NAT KENDRICKS & THE SWANS (1963, Dade 45-5004, A-side)

14. He'll Have To Go - SOLOMON BURKE (January 1964, Atlantic 45-2218, A-side)

15. My Girl Sloopy - THE VIBRATIONS (February 1964, Atlantic 45-2221, A-side)

16. I'm Tired - OHIO UNTOUCHABLES (February 1964, Lu Pine L-1011, A-side)

17. Mojo Hannah - LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS (May 1964, Atlantic 45-2229, A-side)

18. Baby I'm Coming Home - MACK RICE (March 1964, Lu Pine L-1019, B-side of "My Baby")

19. I'm Gonna Cry - WILSON PICKETT (June 1964, Atlantic 45-2233, A-side)

20. I've Got No Time To Lose - CARLA THOMAS (July 1964, Atlantic 45-2238, A-side)

CD2 (from 1964 to 1967, 57:37 minutes, 21 tracks, Ben E. King pictured):

1. Come See About Me - DON COVAY (from the 1964 US LP "Mercy" on Atlantic 8104 in Mono)

2. I Found A Love Oh What A Love - JO ANN & TROY (October 1964, Atlantic 45-2256, A-side - Jo Ann Campbell and Troy Seals)

3. I'm Gonna Run Away From you - TAMI LYNN (March 1965, Atco 45-6342, A-side)

4. Some Things You Never Get Used To - LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS (December 1964, Atlantic 45-2265, A-side)

5. I Don't Want To Lose You - TOMMY HUNT (February 1965, Atlantic 45-2278, A-side)

6. Thank You John - WILLIE TEE (May 1965, Atlantic 45-2287, A-side)

7. Let's Go Get Stoned - THE COASTERS (May 1965, Atco 45-6356, B-side of "Money Honey")

8. Let Me Know When It's Over - ESTHER PHILLIPS (September 1965, Atlantic 45-2304, A-side)

9. Have You Ever Been Disappointed – THE ISLEY BROTHERS (September 1965, Atlantic 45-2303, B-side of "Move Over And Let Me Dance")

10. Groovy Kind Of Love – PATTI LaBELLE & THE BLUEBELLES (January 1966, Atlantic 45-2318, B-side of "Over The Rainbow" - A-side is Track 13 on CD2)

11. Dear Lover - MARY WELLS (December 1965, Atco 45-6392, B-side of "Can't You See (You're Losing Me)")

12. Sookie Sookie - DON COVAY and THE GOODTIMERS (February 1966, Atlantic 45-2323, B-side of "Watching The Late Late Show")

13. Over The Rainbow - PATTI LaBELLE & THE BLUEBELLES (January 1966, Atlantic 45-2318, A-side - B-side is "Groovy Kind Of Love" - Track 10 on CD2)

14. Where's The Girl - BEN E. KING (July 1968, Atco 45-6596, B-side of "It's Amazing")

15. Iron Out The Rough Spots - DON COVAY & THE GOODTIMERS (June 1966, Atlantic 45-2340, B-side of "You Put Something On Me")

16. Make Me Belong To You - BARBARA LEWIS (July 1966, Atlantic 45-2346, A-side)

17. Some Kind Of Wonderful - SOUL BROTHERS SIX (May 1967, Atlantic 45-2406, A-side)

18. Why (Am I Treated So Bad) - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (May 1967, Atlantic 45-2410, A-side)

19. Storybook Children - BILLY VERA & JUDY CLAY (October 1967, Atlantic 45-2445, A-side)

20. It Ain't What You Got - JIMMY HUGHES (November 1967, Atlantic 45-2454, A-side)

21. A Change Is Gonna Come - ARETHA FRANKLIN (from the 1967 US LP "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" on Atlantic 8139)

CD3 (from 1967 to 1969, 61:00 minutes, 21 tracks, Aretha Franklin pictured):

1. Get Down – HARVEY SCALES & THE 7 SOUNDS (September 1967, Magic Touch 2007, A-side)

2. Looking For A Fox – CLARENCE CARTER (December 1967, Atlantic 45-2461, A-side)

3. What Can You Do When You Ain’t Got Nobody – SOUL BROTHERS SIX (November 1967, Atlantic 45-2456, B-side to "You Better Check Yourself")

4. Baby Don't You Do It - ALVIN ROBINSON (May 1968, Atco 45-6581, A-side - cover of a Marvin Gaye 1964 single)

5. I Found A True Love - WILSON PICKETT (September 1958, Atlantic 45-2558, A-side)

6. I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) - SOLOMON BURKE (April 1968, Atlantic 45-2507, A-side) 

7. I've Come A Long Way - WILSON PICKETT (February 1968, Atlantic 45-2484, B-side of "Jealous Love")

8. My Song - ARETHA FRANKLIN (November 1968, Atlantic 45-2574, B-side of "See Saw")

9. Hard To Handle - OTIS REDDING (June 1968, Atlantic 45-6592, A-side)

10. I Say A Little Prayer - ARETHA FRANKLIN (August 1968, Atlantic 45-2546, B-side of "The House That Jack Built")

11. Too Weak To Fight – CLARENCE CARTER (October 1968, Atlantic 45-2569, A-side)

12. Soul Sister, Brown Sugar – SAM & DAVE (December 1968, Atlantic 45-2590, A-side)

13. Ice Cream Song – THE DYNAMICS (January 1969, Cotillion 44021, A-side)

14. You Are The Circus – C And THE SHELLS (March 1969, Cotillion 44024, A-side)

15. Crying In The Rain - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (March 1969, Atlantic 45-2620, A-side)

16. Kind Woman - PERCY SLEDGE (July 1969, Atlantic 45-2646, A-side)

17. I Don't Know – BABY WASHINGTON (August 1969, Cotillion 45-44047, A-side)

18. Reaching For The Moon – BILLY VERA & JUDY CLAY (July 1969, Atlantic 45-2654, A-side)

19. Anyway That You Want Me – WALTER JACKSON (October 1969, Cotillion 45-44053, A-side)

20. Greatest Love – JUDY CLAY (December 1969, Atlantic 45-2697, A-side)

21. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream – BABY WASHINGTON (August 1970, Cotillion 45-44086, A-side)

CD4 (from 1969 to 1975, 71:24 minutes, 20 tracks, Donny Hathaway pictured):

1. Sister Pitiful - JUDY CLAY (September 1969, Atlantic 45-2669, A-side - answer song to Otis Redding's "Mr. Pitiful")

2. Breakfast In Bed - BABY WASHINGTON (November 1969, Cotillion 45-44055, A-side - Gamble & Huff song)

3. (Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover, Part 1 - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (December 1969, Atlantic 45-2686, A-side)

4. God Gave Me A Song - INTERDENOMINATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR of WASHINGTON, D.C. & MARYLAND (February 1970, Cotillion 45-44062, A-side)

5. That's The Way My Baby Is - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (March 1970, Atlantic 45-2720, B-side of "At Last I Found A Love")

6. Precious, Precious - JACKIE MOORE (October 1970, Atlantic 45-2681, B-side of "Willpower")

7. Groove Me - KING FLOYD (September 1970, Atlantic 45-435, B-side of "What Our Love Needs")

8. Plain And Simple Girl - GARLAND GREEN (January 1971, Cotillion 45-44098, A-side)

9. Hold On - JAMES CARR (July 1971, Atlantic 45-2803, A-side - Tommy Tate cover)

10. Thin Line Between Love And Hate - THE PERSUADERS (July 1971, Atco 45-6822, A-side) 

11. A Song For You - DONNY HATHAWAY (from the April 1971 album "Donny Hathaway" on Atlantic SD-360 in Stereo)

12. She's A Burglar - HOWARD TATE (February 1972, Atlantic 45-2860, A-side, for B-side, see 14)

13. Victim Of A Foolish Heart - BETTYE SWANN (April 1972, Atlantic 45-2869, A-side)

14. You Don't Know Nothing About Love - HOWARD TATE (February 1972, Atlantic 45-2860, B-side, for A, see 12)

15. Giving Up - DONNY HATHAWAY (from the April 1971 album "Donny Hathaway" on Atlantic SD-360 in Stereo)

16. How Could I Let You Get Away - THE SPINNERS (July 1972, Atlantic 45-2904, A-side)

17. I Can Understand It, Part 1 - VALENTINOS (March 1973, Clean CN-60005, A-side - Bobby Womack cover)

18. Some Guys Have All The Luck - THE PERSUADERS (September 1973, Atco 45-6943, A-side)

19. She's Gone - DARYL HALL & JOAN OATES (November 1973, Atlantic 45-2803, A-side, 3:24 minutes edit, reissued November 1976 on Atlantic 45-3332, A-side - charted again)

20. Hooked For Life - THE TRAMMPS (August 1975, Atlantic 45-3286, A-side)

The LP-sized booklet has some amazing rare photos, Soul Brothers Six with their instruments get all of Page 24, Don Covay and Atlantic Records supremo Jerry Wexler wave at us from Page 21 (with snaps of the Tami Lynn and Jo Ann & Troy 45 labels to the left) and there's a very tasty full-colour plate given over to Donny Hathaway on Page 30 sat at a piano live in concert - his trademark tweed beret on. At the beginning of the book are some beautifully reproduced trade adverts for Barbara Lewis, the Betty LaVett B-side "My Man - He's A Lovin' Man" while Baby Washington gets a colour publicity photo. A lot of the time it feels like the images are taking up space where words and critique could have been, but I have to say it's nice to see artists outside of Atlantic's more famous roster (Aretha, wilson, Otis etc) get pride of place.  

The Audio is a very mixed bag despite BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH transfers and remastering - especially on the rarer stuff on Discs 1 and 2. I felt a lot of it sounded well Mono-rough, but once you get past 1964, the production values go up accordingly and by the time you're playing Howard Tate or The Persuaders on Disc 4 - the Audio is properly gorgeous. It's also nice to see this set dip into Lu Pine, Clean, Chimneyville and other off-shoot Atlantic labels. Niggles: small but worth noting, wrong catalogue number for The Isley Brothers and Howard Tate's "She's A Burglar" is misspelt, the whole sepia thing is both lovely and ever so slightly irritating, the card sleeves fly about inside the box die-cuts and can easily buckle (the tracks lists are almost unreadable on them too) and the first three CDs really should have had more tracks (the playing time on CD1 is a joke). To the tunes... 

Disc 1 leads superbly with the gorgeous "Come Rain Or Shine" by Ray Charles – an early R&B ballad with Soul at its core and a brilliant opening gambit for a compilation like this. But then CD1 kind of gets lost, filled up with R&B New Breed tunes like "You're The Boss" by LaVern Baker and "Daddy Rollin' Stone" by Jimmy Ricks (of The Ravens) - and good as they may be to some people, its not until we get to "Darling" by The Falcons (Track 7) do we get anything that actually approximates Soul as we know it (Wilson Pickett and his distinctive rasp, a Mack Rice and Eddie Floyd-penned ballad). Both of the B-sides by Ben E. King and The Isley Brothers feel like they're searching for some kind of commercial groove and not finding it. Pickett and The Falcons provide a Disc One shouting Soul dancer later on in the shape of "Take This Love I've Got" – a rarity worth showcasing. Rough but clean sound on the equally rare Nat Kendricks & The Swans dance-craze chugger "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes". 

Doris Troy rescues the situation with the classic "Just One Look" but the impossibly rare "Love Is Amazing" by The Ohio Untouchables feels more novelty than Soul (their "I'm Tired" – Track 16 – is far better). Little Esther Phillips is taking a lock of her man's hair and a five dollar bill to a woman called "Mojo Hannah" down in Louisiana – gonna work that thing to get her chap back home real soon (good bopper). Solomon Burke's cover of "He'll Have To Go" is excellent (what a voice and that Ben E. King shuffle in the song), but again the novelty element creeps in with the mock-live frat party take of "My Girl Sloppy" by The Vibrations – a forgettable answer tune to The McCoys 1965 mega-hit "Hang On Sloopy". It ends well though on the torch Soul of "I've Got No Time To Lose" by Carla Thomas and a rare New Breed dancer B-side from Mack Rice in "Baby I'm Coming Home" - down on his knees - begging to wherever his baby is. 

Things pick up immeasurably on Disc 2 with the likes of Don Covay going to the doctor only to realise that his baby's love is the only medicine he needs - "Come See About Me". The goodies continue with a Jeanie Allen tune "I Found A Love Oh What A Love" - Jo Ann Campbell and Troy Seals duetting on a ballad that rises above its soppy lyrics. But given there was room on CD2 to put their B-side cover of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love" in here too - I think a rarity trick was missed on that one. The two Patti LaBelle covers of "Groovy Kind Of Love" and "Over The Rainbow" come across as cringe-worthy cheese. Little Esther can't believe that she and her squeeze are through in the melodrama Soul of "Some Things You Never Get Used To". 

That is trounced however by the gorgeous smoocher "I Don't Want To Lose You" from Pittsburgh's golden-throated Tommy Hunt - a huge tune amongst British collectors who are liable to go into Northern Soul seizures at the mere though of it. Shufflers don't come much better than the summer breeze of "Thank You John" - a strangely happy song about a man who doesn't do right by his gal either physically or monetarily - Willie Tee assuring her that everything will be alright. And while both Esther Phillips and The Isley Brothers acquit themselves admirably in pleader-ballads "Let Me Know When It's Over" and "Have You Ever Been Disappointed" - the "Money Honey" B-side "Let's Go Get Stoned" by The Coasters feels plain out-of-place to me. 

But Disc 2 picks up again with Don Covay's fantastic neck-jerker "Sookie Sookie" - an obscure B-side that hairy-assed John Kay led Steppenwolf would of course almost make their own in 1968 when they rocked that mother on their fab self-titled debut album on ABC/Dunhill. Organist Booker T. Jones, Guitarist Steve Cropper and singer David Porter of Stax fame gifted Don Covay a second groove winner on here in the shape of the seldom-heard "Iron Out The Rough Spots". Another sexy hip-shaker is "It Ain't What You Got" – Jimmy Hughes eating up that Rick Hall Fame Studios production and Fame Gang backing band. CD2 goes out with the scent of social change in the air when The Sweet Inspirations put their hurting ladies touch on the Pops Staples song "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" followed by Aretha taking the beautiful Sam Cooke plea in "A Change Is Gonna Come" into a virtual national anthem.  

CD3 brings us a brand new dance from the Mid West where Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds want to sock it to that girl out there in her bad dress – the frantic feel-so-good "Get Down" surely the kind of tune that will show up in the sequel movie "Baby Driver 2: Driven Again". The very cool neck jerkers continue with Clarence Carter and his fantastic hah-hah-hah "Looking For A Fox" - while Sam & Dave get sweeter than the honey bees make in "Soul Sister, Brown Sugar". Hadn't heard "Ice Cream Man" by The Dynamics – a pretty two-stepper – and even better is "I Don't Know" by Baby Washington, unable to tell us when her man is coming home. Speaking of pretty (perhaps a little too soppy) is The Sweet Inspirations with their "That's The Way My Baby Is" and there's a live-in-a-hall vibe to the obscure "God Gave Me A Song" – a holy roller that's rare but too far for me. And on it goes to the superb doggone funk of "Groove Me" by King Floyd and domestic heartache captured in “Thin Line Between Love And Hate" – The Persuaders and their moment of glory. 

Sat in 2021, you could argue that many of these rarities have been put out by diligent reissue companies in the 14 years since this box set first appeared – so their exclusive inclusion here might not be as relevant as it once was. But like so much on Rhino and Rhino Handmade, I love this label and I had to own it. Just try to get one for a decent price. Onwards and upwards peeps...

RHINO Handmade (USA) Themed Series of 

Atlantic Records 4CD Box Sets

Compiled by BILLY VERA – DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT Remasters

1. "Atlantic Blues {1949-1970}" - September 2007 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7737 (Barcode 603497773725) 4CDs, 80-Tracks in 5" picture card sleeves housed in die-cut hollows in a 12" x 12" Silk Screen Printed Box Set. Inside is a 36-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

2. "Atlantic Soul {1959-1975}" – October 2007 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7739 (Barcode 603497773923) - 4CDs, 82-Tracks, 36-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

3. "Atlantic Vocal Groups {1951-1963}" - June 2008 USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7738 (Barcode 603497773824) - 4CDs, 82-Track, 32-page full-sized booklet, numbered to 3000 on the last page.

TOMMY HUNT - "The Complete Man: 60s NYC Soul Songs" – Single, Album and Previously Unreleased Recordings from 1962 to 1986 on Scepter, Dynamo, Atlantic and Capitol Records (February 2019 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Lonely For You..."

Amongst the 25 goodies contained within "The Complete Man" by Tommy Hunt are his classy 1962 to 1968 Soul recordings for the Scepter and Dynamo labels, nestled alongside a duo of stand-alone 45s on Atlantic and Capitol Records respectively (1965 and 1966), two exclusives on a 1968 'Greatest Hits' set and Five Previously Unreleased newbees recently unearthed in the Scepter vaults in 2018 and 2019. 

It's a typically tasty little listen from Ace and their beloved Kent Soul imprint. To the details and the Big Apple Soul...

UK released 26 February 2019 - "The Complete Man: 60s NYC Soul Songs" by TOMMY HUNT on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 480 (Barcode 029667094221) offers 25 Remastered Tracks from 1962 to 1969 (including five unreleased) and plays out as follows (65:10 minutes):

1. I Don't Want To Lose You

2. Hold On (Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a February 1965 US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2278)

3. I'll Make You Happy 

4. The Clown (Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of an April 1966 US 45-single on Capitol 5621)

5. Lonely For You (2018, originally unissued 1964 Scepter recording)

6. The Pretty Part Of You (1965 Scepter recording first issued on the June 1987 UK compilation LP "No, No, No, No, No Not My Girl - And 15 Other Northern Soul Dancers" on Kent KENT 069) 

7. Never Love A Robin (January 1967 US 45-single on Dynamo D-101, B-side of "The Biggest Man")

8. The Work Song (May 1962 US 45-single on Scepter 1231, A-side)

9. What's The Matter Baby (2019, Previously Unissued 1962 Scepter recording)

10. One Of These Days (2019, Previously Unissued 1963 Scepter recording)

11. Who You Gonna Thrill Tonight (2019, Previously Unissued 1962 recording)

12. And I Never Knew (August 1962 US 45-single on Scepter 1236, B-side of "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself")

13. Human (from the 1968 US LP "Tommy Hunt's Greatest Hits" on Dynamo DS 8001 in Stereo)

14. Searchin' For Love

15. The Complete Man (Tracks 14 and 15 are the B&A-sides of a July 1967 US 45-single on Dynamo D-100, Note that "The Complete Man" is the A-side)

16.  Searchin' For My Baby (Lookin' Everywhere) 

17. I Need A Woman Of My Own (Tracks 16 and 17 are the B&A-sides of a December 1967 US 45-single on Dynamo D-113, Note that "I Need A Woman Of My Own" is the A-side)

18. You're So Fine (from the 1962 US LP "I Don't Know What To Do With Myself" on Scepter SLP 506 in Mono)

19. I'm With You (October 1963 US 45-single on Scepter 1261, B-side to "I Am A Witness")

20. The Door Is Open (November 1961 US 45-single on Scepter 1226, A-side)

21. How Young Is Young (May 1964 US (2nd issue) 45-single on Scepter 1275, B-side of "You Made A Man Out Of Me")

22. Girls Are Sentimental (2019, Previously Unissued 1962 Scepter recording)

23. Son, My Son (May 1963 US 45-single on Scepter 1252, A-side)

24. Born Free (September 1968 US 45-single on Dynamo D-124, B-side of "Just A Little Taste (Of Your Sweet Lovin')")

25. I Believe (from the 1968 US LP "Tommy Hunt's Greatest Hits" on Dynamo DS 8001 in Stereo)  

All Tracks are MONO except 8, 10, 12 and 13

Tracks 5, 9, 10, 11 and 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The 20-page booklet features new liner notes from Soul aficionado ADY CROASDELL and classy black and white photos and publicity shots that go right back to his stint with one of the most beloved Vocal Groups of all time - The Flamingos. There are trade adverts for Dynamo's "The Biggest Man", a rare UK Demo 45 for "The Door Is Open" on Top Rank JAR-605, those Atlantic and Capitol Records labels and even Pittsburgh’s finest giving it some Northern Soul at the Wigan Casino - Tommy dressed to impress - microphone stand in hand like he's channelling wicked Wilson Pickett dance moves. 

Hunt had his autobiography published in 2008, so Croasdell puts together a potted history of his extraordinary life with alarming amounts of detail including early poverty and trouble with the law up to his triumphs and lows with British and European Soul fans, run down venues and touring without family. At 87 years of age in 2021, the great singer is still with us, suited and booted and ready to go...

But it keeps coming back to the music and once again, long-standing and uber-experienced Audio Engineer for Ace Records NICK ROBBINS has done the master tapes a solid. Both Mono and Stereo mixes swooning and bopping with equal gusto. And those songwriting-names entice too - Luther Dixon (whose wedding to singer Inez Foxx is pictured in a January 1966 Cash Box article on Page 10), Van McCoy, Jimmy Radcliffe, Ed Townsend, Thomas Bell - names that tingle Deep Soul lovers from the toes up. To the music...

In a very smart move, the compilation opens with the kind of smooch-fest Northern Soul fans would shoot Granny for – the A-side of his lone 1965 Atlantic Records single "I Don't Want To Lose You". A gorgeous slow deep Soul gem, everything about it is right – his voice, the subtle brass accompaniment that slinks in just when needed and of course, a genuinely lovely song from the pen of Van McCoy. Other hidden torch-ballads include two LP cuts on the Greatest Hits set from 1968 – a the best girl in the world but I am only a man tune in "Human" and the Lord hear my words "I Believe" – Hunt lifting up both with his husky Richie Havens vocals despite some heavy on the seaside town organ threatening to derail everything. 

The sub-Jackie Wilson brass bopper "You're So Fine" wouldn't be my fave nor the worthy cover of John Barry's lion-theme soundtrack song "Born Free", but tasty B-sides include "I'm With You" and "Searchin' For Love" make up for it. And although the inclusions are great, I think the compilation missed a trick in not placing the gorgeous almost Bacharach/David soft Soul of "Lover” – a Scepter out-take that appeared on the Ace/Kent Soul CD compilation "Manhattan Soul 3" in January 2017. I dug that track big time and it would have fit right in here. 

Still, a lovely CD release that will appeal to fans and newcomers alike and one that leaves me sentimental for Manhattan Soul...

"The Complete KEEN Years: 1957-1960" by SAM COOKE – Featuring Five Albums – "Sam Cooke" (January 1958, Mono Only), "Encore" (November 1958, Mono Only), "Tribute To The Lady" (April 1959, Mono and Stereo Mixes Included), "Hit Kit" (October 1959, Mono Only, Eight Bonuses, Seven In Stereo) and "The Wonderful World Of Sam Cooke" (October 1960, Mono Only, Six Bonuses all in Mono) (January 2020 US ABKCO 5CD Clamshell Box Set with Oversized Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves, 36-Page Booklet and Teri Landi Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...You Send Me..."

I'm 62 years of age and will be 63 come 28 September 1958. 

I mention these numeric milestones, because by the time I was 2 months old in November 1958 (swivelling no doubt in a very aromatic terry towel), our handsome hero over in a highly segregated Americas had already clocked up two whole albums on Keen Records. And in September 1957 (the year prior) at the suited-and-booted age of only 26, Samuel Cook (he added the 'e') had already launched that label with a genuine sensation - the sublime "You Send Me" – a song which some say started what we now affectionately call SOUL MUSIC. What are you doing today Sam? Oh, I'm just inventing Soul Music Mark. Ok bro. 

The sophisticated sway and lilt in "You Send Me" was a ballbreaker – the Cooke original smashing down genres walls everywhere. It topped the Pop and R&B charts in the States selling 2-million copies in the process and in November 1957 would see his first UK 45/78 on London reach No. 29 on the fledgling NME charts. You could (and should) of course argue that Ray Charles had already done R&B that bordered on Soul Music on Atlantic Records (and had been since 1953, no deference meant). But Sam Cooke will always be the man in my books – the Man who took Gospel and Secular Music to the next level and invented Soul in the morphing process. Which brings us to this truly gorgeous splurge from ABKCO of America.

Truth be told (and apart from the rather maudlin crooner tunes Keen and RCA Victor both foisted on him to appeal to a white market that bought LPs), Cooke's 'Keen' recordings have been out of the 50-year copyright parameters for some years now, so you can pick up variants of the 65-tracks contained within this January 2020 release elsewhere for say eight quid. I paid £32 for my "Complete KEEN Years..." in an Amazon reduction, but it can go for nearer £40. So why pay more? 

All the right reasons - the care given this Box Set is exemplary starting with five beautifully reproduced oversized Mini LP Card Sleeves (see photos supplied) of those staggeringly rare Fifties and 1960 originals (two offering you both Mono and Stereo mixes while two others lop on the straggler singles and stand-alone stuff as Bonuses). They can be lifted out of the Clamshell Box Set by a white ribbon and a very smart move is to supply each with an inner protective bag like those Japanese issues (classy). The 36-page oversized booklet is gorgeous too, comprehensive new liner notes by Cooke expert MICHAEL CORCORAN, black and white and colour photos (a proof sheet of shots holds the centre pages), master-tape boxes, trade adverts, singles and LP discographies (US and UK), session details and so on. 

But the real deal is the stunning transfers and mastering courtesy of a team at ABKCO headed up by TERI LANDI. In a nutshell, this Box Set features Five Albums – "Sam Cooke" (January 1958, Mono Only), "Encore" (November 1958, Mono Only), "Tribute To The Lady" (April 1959, Mono and Stereo Mixes Included), "Hit Kit" (October 1959, Mono Only, Eight Bonuses, Seven In Stereo) and "The Wonderful World Of Sam Cooke" (October 1960, Mono Only, Six Bonuses all in Mono). As you can see, two of the CDs give you both MONO and STEREO Mixes of the albums while some of the Bonus Tracks have rare STEREO-Only 45 Mixes and there are two exclusives from the 1960 Various Artists "I Thank God" LP. 

Unlike dodgy budget issues, these tapes have been given a dust off that will make even the most weary fan sit up and grin, maybe even (like me) shed a wee Soulful tear. To say that these are actually Audiophile (especially given their vintage) isn't an understatement - they will wow you. And if there's ever a VINYL variant of this set, collectors will need to grab that sucker with both hands because playable copies of the original US or UK LPs are so hard to locate. Loads to discuss - let's pay tribute to the great man...

US released 24 January 2020 - "The Complete KEEN Years: 1957-1960" by SAM COOKE on ABKCO Records 018771850328 (018771850328) is a 5CD 65-Track Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves and New Remasters that plays out as follows: 

CD1 "Sam Cooke" (34:01 minutes): 

1. You Send Me [Side 1]

2. The Lonesome Road 

3. Tammy 

4. Ol' Man River 

5. Moonlight In Vermont 

6. Canadian Sunset 

7. Summertime (Part 2) [Side 2]

8. Around The World 

9. Ain't Misbehavin'

10. The Bells Of St. Mary's 

11. So Long 

12. Danny Boy 

13. That Lucky Old Sun 

Tracks 1 to 13 are his second album "Sam Cooke" [aka "Songs By Sam Cooke"] - released January 1958 in the USA on Keen A-2001 and March 1958 in the UK on H.M.V. CLP 1261 (both only in Mono). Produced by Bumps Blackwell. 

CD2 "Encore" (31:31 minutes):

1. Oh, Look At Me Now [Side 1]

2. Someday (You’ll Want Me To Want You)

3. Along The Navajo Trail 

4. Running Wild 

5. Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive 

6. Mary, Mary Lou 

7. When I Fall In Love [Side 2]

8. I Cover The Waterfront 

9. My Foolish Heart 

10. Today I Sing The Blues 

11. The Gypsy 

12. It's The Talk Of The Town 

Tracks 1 to 12 are his third album "Encore" - released November 1958 in the USA on Keen A-2003 and July 1959 in the UK on H.M.V. CLP 1273 (both only in Mono). Producer BUMPS BLACKWELL. Note: The British LP changed the running order by reversing the Sides entirely; When I Fall In Love begins Side 1 in the UK and Oh, Look At Me Now begins Side 2.

CD3 "Tribute To The Lady" (57:53 minutes):

1. God Bless The Child [Side 1]

2. She's Funny That Way 

3. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 

4. Good Morning Heartache 

5. T'aint Nobody's Business (If I Do) 

6. Comes Love 

7. Lover Girl (Man) [Side 2]

8. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off 

9. Lover Come Back To Me 

10. Solitude 

11. They Can't Take That Away From Me 

12. Crazy She Calls Me

Tracks 1 to 12 are the MONO version of "Tribute To The Lady" - is fourth album released April 1959 in the USA on Keen A-2004 (no UK issue). 

CD3 BONUS TRACKS: 

Tracks 13 to 24 are the US STEREO version of "Tribute To The Lady" (Keen S-2004) - no UK issue. Arranged and Produced by RENE HALL. 

CD4 "Hit Kit" (53:29 minutes): 

1. Only Sixteen [Side 1]

2. All Of My Life 

3. Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha 

4. Blue Moon 

5. Win Your Love For Me 

6. Lonely Island 

7. You Send Me [Side 2]

8. Love You Most Of All 

9. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons 

10. Little Things You Do 

11. Let's Go Steady Again 

12. You Were Made For Me

Tracks 1 to 12 are his fifth album "Hit Kit" - released October 1959 in the USA on Keen 86101 in Mono (no UK issue). 

CD4 BONUS TRACKS:

13. Lonely Island (Single Version)

Track 13 is a February 1958 US 45-single B-side to "You Were Made For Me" on Keen 3-4009 (4-4009 for the 78")

14. Win Your Love For Me (Stereo)

15. Almost In Your Arms (Love Song From "Houseboat") (Stereo)

Tracks 14 and 15 are the July 1958 US A&B-sides of a STEREO 45-single on Keen 3-2006 (4-2006 for the 78")

There was also a special BLUE COLOURED VINYL issue released on Keen 5-2006

NOTE: "Love You Most Of All" b/w "Win Your Love For Me" were issued as the A&B-sides of a January 1959 UK MONO 45-single on HMV 45-POP 568 (POP 568 for the 78")

16. Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha (Stereo)

17. Little Things You Do (Stereo) 

Tracks 16 and 17 are the February 1959 A&B-sides of a US STEREO 45-single on Keen 3-2018 (4-2018 for the 78")

May 1959 UK STEREO 45-single on HMV 45-POP 610 (POP 610 for the 78")

18. Only Sixteen (Stereo) 

19. Let's Go Steady Again (Stereo)

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a June 1959 US STEREO 45-single on Keen 5-2022 (May 1959 for the MONO variant on Keen 3-2022). Released July 1959 UK STEREO 45-single on HMV 45-POP 642 (POP 642 for the 78")  

20. With You (Stereo) - July 1960 US STEREO 45-single on Keen 8-2117 (B-side was "I Thank God") 

21. Ee-YI-Ee-YI-Oh (Stereo) - December 1960 US STEREO 45-single on Keen 8-2122 (B-side of "Mary, Mary Lou")

CD5 "The Wonderful World Of Sam Cooke" (45:41 minutes):

1. (What A) Wonderful World [Side 1]

2. Desire Me 

3. Summertime (Part 1)

4. Almost In Your Arms (Love song From "Houseboat")

5. That's Heaven To Me 

6. No One (Can Ever Take Your Place) 

7. With You [Side 2]

8. Blue Moon 

9. Stealing Kisses

10. You Were Made For Me

11. There I've Said It Again 

12. I Thank God 

Tracks 1 to 12 are his seventh album "The Wonderful World Of Sam Cooke" - released October 1960 in the USA on Keen 86106 in MONO only. Although not originally issued in the UK, it was eventually given a release in 1966 on Immediate Records IMLP 002 in Mono. 

CD5 BONUS TRACKS:

12. Steal Away (Album Version) - see NOTES

14. Deep River - see NOTES

15. One Hour Ahead Of The Posse - September 1959 US 45-single on Keen 8-2105, Non-LP B-side of "There, I've Said It Again". November 1959 in the UK on HMV 45-POP 675 

16. Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh [aka "Ee-Yi-Ee-Yi-Oh"] - December 1960 US 45-single on Keen 8-2122, Non-LP B-side of "Mary, Mary Lou" 

17. So Glamorous  

18. Steal Away (Single Version) - Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of an October 1960 US 45-single on Keen 8-2118 (as Sam Cooke And The Stars)

NOTES: June 1960 saw a US Various Artists album called "I Thank God" on Keen 86103 in Mono that contained four contributions by Sam Cooke. Two cuts are on the "Wonderful World Of..." LP - "I Thank God" and "That's Heaven To Me" (Tracks 12 and 5 on CD5). The two exclusives to the "I Thank God" LP are "Steal Away" and "Deep River" - both in the Bonuses of CD5 (Tracks 13 and 14). 

The Teri Landi remasters are gorgeous, but I will admit that some of that crooner material they so often made him sing to cover a wide appeal – now feels so dated and even ever-so-slightly offensive (if those are the right words). But when you get into tunes like "Blue Moon", "Summertime" and even that old trickster "Ol’ Man River" – Cooke was like Presley – he could make anything sound good – imprint it with a stamp of his own. 

"Hit Kit" finally saw Cooke flex some real songwriting muscle because amidst the covers are six hugely successful originals (three or four of which were US and UK singles) - "Only Sixteen", "Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha", "Win Your Love For Me", a new version of "You Send Me", "Love You Most Of All" and "You Were Made For Me".

I know closing on forty-smackers will be a sum too much for many a casual listener, but this is a beautiful reissue to me and one that is worth the outlay. But if you have any affection for this maverick singer, musical gamechanger and golden-throated swoonfest – then "The Complete KEEN Years: 1957-1960" by Sam Cooke is the biz-schnizz for you. 

ABKCO 018771850328 made me well up inside and bawl like a 2-year old, and it's not often that you say that about any catalogue number (especially one with a Barcode). "You Send Me" is damn right...