"The Complete Greatest Hits" by EAGLES - Band-Chosen 31-Track Compilation Covering 1972 to 2003 featuring Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit (March 2008 UK Rhino Records Card Sleeve 2CD Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Here In My Heart..." 

 

When I was growing up with this Country Rock music including pulling a few hotties close to the slow dance warmth of "The Best Of My Love" in 1974 - few in 1974, 1975 and 1976 onward could have imagined the commercial and Rock-cultural juggernaut that the EAGLES would become (I'm 64 now). 

 

On Page 11 of the 12-page booklet that accompanies this skinny but pretty twofer gatefold card-sleeve compilation (chosen by the band to include their output from the 1972 self-titled debut to a rare DVD-single track from 2003) is a picture gallery of their albums - their first "Greatest Hits 1971-1975" LP (from 1976) still being among the biggest selling album of 'all time'. Their second "Greatest Hits" set in 1982 did the same. So this March 2008 band-chosen CD-only compilation uses those same artworks as a point of similar-looking reference, updating those phenomenal unit shifters to a 'Complete' version. 

 

Yet I can remember a time when the EAGLES were terminally unhip, even derided for their globe-conquering success. No anymore; these last two decades of Twenties have seen the EAGLES become the very definition of what is Classic Rock. And when you play through their ludicrously catchy melodies, their cocaine and tequila pickled tales of liars with nice eyes, limits that must be taken and sunny hotels you can't check out of (no one panics quite like Americans) - is it any wonder they not only shifted product but have endured despite internal squabbling that the Depp family would be proud of. Another sweet touch is excepting those tracks clearly indicated as a 'single', all the rest are the full album versions - so no cut-off beginning for "One Of These Nights" like there was on that first "Greatest Hits" set all those years ago. To the good old new kids in town...

 

UK released 17 March 2008 - "The Complete Greatest Hits" by EAGLES on Rhino 8122-79933-7 (Barcode 081227993375) is a 31Track 2CD Compilation in a Mini LP Styled Artwork Gatefold Card Sleeve that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (73:27 minutes):

1.Take It Easy 

2. Witchy Woman 

3. Peaceful Easy Feeling 

4. Desperado 

5. Tequila Sunrise 

6. Doolin-Dalton  

7. Already Gone 

8. The Best Of My Love 

9. James Dean 

10. Ol '55

11. Midnight Flyer 

12. On The Border

13. Lyin' Eyes 

14. One Of These Nights 

15. Take It To The Limit

16. After The Thrill Is Gone

17. Hotel California

Tracks 1 to 3 from their June 1972 debut album "Eagles" 

Tracks 4 to 6 from their April 1973 second studio album "Desperado"

Tracks 7 to 12 from their June 1974 third studio album "On The Border"

Tracks 13 to 16 from their June 1975 fourth studio album "One Of These Nights"

Track 17 from their December 1976 fifth studio album "Hotel California" 

 

CD2 (71:36 minutes): 

1. Life In The Fast Lane 

2. Wasted Time 

3. Victim Of Love 

4. The Last Resort 

5. New Kid In Town 

6. Please Come Home For Christmas

7. Heartache Tonight 

8. The Sad Cafe 

9. I Can't Tell You Why 

10. The Long Run 

11. In The City 

12. Those Shoes

13. Seven Bridges Road (Live) 

14. Love Will Keep Us Alive 

15. Get Over It 

16. Hole In The World

Tracks 1 to 5 also from their December 1976 fifth studio album "Hotel California"

Track 6 is a November 1978 US 45-single A-side 

Tracks 7 to 12 are from their September 1979 sixth studio album "The Long Run"

Track 13 is from their November 1980 first live double-set "Eagles Live"

Tracks 14 and 15 from November 1994 seventh studio album "Hell Freezes Over"

Track 16 is a July 2003 DVD-Single release 

EAGLES were:

DON HENLEY, GLENN FREY, RANDY MEISNER, BERNIE LEADON, DON FELDER, JOE WALSH and TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT

 

Mastering is by long-time producer to the band BILL SZYMCZYK and he's using the gorgeous TED JENSEN CD Remasters from 1999 so the tracks sound utterly stupendous in their clarity. For old-timers like me stuff like the deep album cuts of "Doolin-Dalton", "Midnight Flyer" and the lovely "I Can't Tell You Why" (a huge concert fave amongst fans) sound full at last - it's the same throughout. The 12-page booklet has some very cool colour/black and white photos from different time periods as well as track-by-track personnel/release details using Billboard. The only disappointment would be that although they picture the 2007 double-CD comeback album "Long Walk Out Of Eden" in the booklet, there are no songs from it for contractual reasons. To the chunes...

The band clearly rate 1974's "On The Border" to the more famous "Desperado" from 1973 ("Border" quite rightly gets five selections including the Tom Waits cover version "Ol' 55"). And of course, the beast that is 1976's "Hotel California" sees a whopping six cuts and yet we miss the brilliant "Try And Love Again" - a superb Randy Meisner moment (it would have been cool to see his fantastic instrumental "Journey Of The Sorcerer" from 1975's  "One Of These Nights" make the choices here - but alas). Speaking of cool - those sliding notes that open "One Of These Nights" still thrill. 

 

I thought at first that I'd be all cheesed out by the sappy "Please Come Home For Christmas", but as ever Don Henley could sing the County Jail phonebook and make it sound fab. Speaking of fabulousity - it's good to see guitar-hero Joe Walsh acknowledged with his quietly brilliant "In The City" - whilst the gorgeous and moving "Long Run" album finisher "The Sad Cafe" still whomps after all these decades. Clever inclusion is the exclusive live track "Seven Bridges Road" that came with "Eagles Live" in November 1980 - a Steve Young cover version they virtually do Acapella. "Seven Bridges Road" was actually issued as a seven-inch single in December 1980 on Asylum E-47100 where even something as obscure as that peaked at No. 21 on the US pop charts - because it was new from the Eagles. Steve Young's original song and LP of the same name was first issued 1971 on Reprise Records - see my separate review for an Ace CD that reissued Steve Young's work then and after. 

 

Fans will not be surprised either to see the gorgeous "Love Will Keep Us Alive" be on here - a Timothy B. Schmit sung ballad they co-wrote with Jim Capaldi of Traffic and Paul Carrack of Ace and Squeeze fame. And it ends rather hammily with the Rock guitar riffage of "Get Over It" - Henley having a go at TV victims and poor-me culture in general. But far better is "Hole In The World" - again a Henley/Frey original that uses the band's harmonies to sing about fractious politics and remind of just how good they are when the Eagles hit all the marks. 

 

I've seen this 2CD set "The Complete Greatest Hits" for as little as three quid and even in 2023 (as I write) - it's just below seven British pounds brand new from most retail sites. That's a whole lot of dids for just a few quids. Get flappin' birdies... 

"Wrap It Up: Isaac Hayes And David Porter Songbook" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (30 September 2022 UK Ace Records CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Nearly 195 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

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

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

 

Your Guide To The Best CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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"...I Thank You..."

 

****

I had a feeling that this Ace CD would be a humdinger and with 24-tracks spanning 1966 to 1985 giving us the cream of STAX Records writing-team ISAAC HAYES and DAVID PORTER - it's a joyful and surprisingly varied listen - all seventy-five minutes and 42 seconds of it. To the bad go-getters...

 

UK released Friday 30 September 2022 - "Wrap It Up: Isaac Hayes and David Porter Songbook" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1622 (Barcode 029667106924) is a 24-Track CD compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (75:42 minutes):

 

1. 60 Minutes Of Your Love - HOMER BANKS (September 1966 US 45-single on Minit 32008, A-side - January 1967 UK 45-single on Liberty LIB 12047, A-side)

2. As Long As I've Got You - THE EMOTIONS (first appeared on the 2009 Emotions UK CD compilation "Song Of Innocence And Experience...And Then Some" on Stax CDSXD 138)

3. B-A-B-Y - RACHEL SWEET (November 1978 UK 45-single on Stiff BUY 39, A-side - a Carla Thomas cover version)

4. Can't Trust Your Neighbor - FREDDIE KING (from the June 1972 US LP "Texas Cannonball" on Shelter Records SW-8913 - originally done by Johnny Taylor)

5. May I Baby - PETER FRAMPTON (from the 1979 US LP "Where I Should Be" on A&M Records SP3710 - features Tower Of Power horns, Steve Cropper on Guitar and Bob Mayo on duet vocals - was also 45-single B-side of "I Can't Stand It No More" issued May 1979 USA on A&M Records 2148. The song was originally a Sam & Dave B-side to "Soul Man" in 1967)

6. You're Taking Up Another Man's Place - ARETHA FRANKLIN (first issued on the 1986 Aretha Franklin US LP "The Delta Meets Detroit" on Atlantic 81696-1)

7. Hold On, I'm Comin' - THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS (from the 1967 US LP "Sayin' Somethin'" on Verve Records V6-5010 in Stereo - a Sam & Dave cover).

8. I've Got To Love Somebody's Baby - PETER GALLAGHER (from the 2005 CD "7 Days In Memphis" on Epic 8-2796-97753-2 - a Johnnie Taylor cover) 

9. I'll Understand - EDWIN STARR & BLINKY (from the September 1969 US LP "Just We Two" on Gordy Records GS 945 in Stereo)

10. I Take What I Want - THE BISHOPS (April 1978 UK 45-single on Chiswick Records NS 33, A-side - a Sam & Dave cover version from 1965)

11. I Thank You - ZZ TOP (from the 1979 US LP "Deguello" on Warner Brothers HS 3361 - also January 1980 US 45-single on Warner Brothers WBS 49163, A-side)

12. My Baby Specializes - DELANEY and BONNIE (from the October 1969 US LP "Home" on Stax STS 2026, March 1970 UK on Stax SXATS 1029 - a Judy Clay cover version) 

13. Never Like This Before - MARCIA BALL (from her 1985 US LP "Hot Tamale Baby" on Rounder Records 3095)

14. Soul Man - SAM & DAVE (August 1967 US 45-single on Stax S-231, A-side)

15. Left Over Love - RUBY JOHNSON (from the 1993 Ruby Johnson UK CD compilation "I'll Run Your Hurt Away" on Stax CDSXD 049)

16. The Sweeter He Is (Parts 1 & 2) - THE SOUL CHILDREN (from the 1969 US debut album "The Soul Children" on Stax STS 2018 in Stereo) 

17. Toe Hold - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Previously Unreleased Complete Version of Stax 202 from 1966) 

18. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - OTIS REDDING and CARLA THOMAS (from the 1967 duet album "King And Queen" on Stax S-716 in Stereo)

19. Wrap It Up - ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS (October 1970 US 45-single n Atlantic 45-2768, A-side)

20. You Don't Know Like I Know - KEITH and BILLIE (Keith Powell and Billie Davis) (June 1966 UK 45-single on Piccadilly 7N.35321, A-side)

21. "You Got Me Hummin' - THE HASSLES (October 1967 US 45-single on United Artists UA 50215, A-side - band featured Billy Joel)

22. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) - MABLE JOHN (May 1966 US 45-single on Stax 192, A-side)

23. Love Is After Me - CHARLIE RICH (1966 Us 45-single on Hi Records 2116)

24. I'm Dedicating My Life - DANNY WHITE (1965 US 45-single on Atlas 1257)

Tracks 1, 22, 23 and 24 are MONO - all others are STEREO

Track 17 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

 

A 24-page jam-packed booklet gives you typically superb liner notes from Soul expert and genre lover TONY ROUNCE - all of it pumped up with US and UK 7" single labels (stock and promo copies of Stax, Atlantic, Liberty, Sue, Verve etc). There are rare US, UK and European picture sleeves, sheet music and publicity photos from artists you don't see too much of like The Emotions and Edwin Starr and Blinky. With quality mastering from their resident Audio Engineer - the uber experienced DUNCAN COWELL - it has the overall wallop all of these Ace Records CD compilations have - quality. To the chunes... 

 

It's a measure of their class-act status that something as lovely as The Emotions doing "As Long As I've Got You" - a demo probably recorded 1969 in their Stax Records heyday and first unearthed for a 2009 Rarities CD - sisters Sheila, Janette and Wanda Hutchinson shining like Dionne Warwick. Four very clever choices include US actor Peter Gallagher doing a Michael Bolton passionate rendition of "I've Got To Love Somebody's Baby" (originally a Johnnie Taylor cover on Stax), a superbly 1979 Pop-Soulful Peter Frampton version of "May I Baby" that sees the ex Herd and Humble Pie vocalist backed up by Steve Cropper on Guitar, Bob Mayo on Duet Vocals with the Tower of Power horns lifting all ("May I Baby" was originally the B-side of Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" 45-single in 1967). Third and fourth choices are Rachel Sweet's forgotten Soul sweetness on "B-A-B-Y" on England's largely Punk and New Wave label in 1979 with The Count Bishops taking a few leaves out of Rory Gallagher's guitar book when he covered Sam & Dave's "I Take What I Want" for his 1975 Chrysalis Records album "Against The Grain" - The Counts mixing in his guitar boogie with their own chugging rhythms to make a great dancer issued on England's Chiswick Records in 1978. 

Then Husband and Wife team Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett do Judy Clay's "My Baby Specializes" from their excellent "Home" album on Stax (1969 USA, 1970 UK) - white people digging the black sounds and then some while South Louisiana's Marcia Ball gets her considerable larynx around "Never Like This Before" - a track that Hayes and Porter gave to William Bell. You could argue that you might never again want to hear Sam and Dave's "Soul Man" it's been so overdone - but once it's working your speakers - resistance will be difficult. A properly Bluesy Soulful duo of tracks comes at you with Ruby Johnson's gorgeous take on "Left Over Love" - a 1967 nugget from this lady cult hero of Soul (I've got to get more of her stuff) - and then The Soul Children lay on the suffering-today for "The Sweeter He Is". What sends it into the stratosphere is that Ace has smartly included the full album cut Parts 1 & 2 of the song (6:17 minutes) where the ladies handle the uh-huh on the first part but lead vocalist John Blackfoot goes ballistic guttural in Part 2 - a gem worth the price of admission alone.

 

Racing to the end we get more guts-for-garters vocals with Johnnie Taylor's "Toe Hold" - it's 1966 rendering restored with the intro edited into the whole so its become a 2022 new cut - very cool indeed. Mable John has been a fave of deep Soul lovers for decades and her piano-and-guitar shuffling take on "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)" from 1966 on Stax is fabulous - you can so hear why Bonnie Raitt and Lou Rawls did covers of it in the 70ts. "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" sees the powerhouses of Otis Redding and Carla Thomas trade vocals in this famous been-through-so-much-together Stax Records smoocher. But for me even that genuine piece of Soul masterclass by Otis and Carla is outdone by the CD's title piece - the fabulous shake-yer-booty brass and tambourine joy of "Wrap It Up" by Archie Bell & The Drells - the kind of dancer gem that makes you believe Soul Music is the greatest!  

For sure a few choices don't really work - The Hassles with a very young and inexperienced Billy Joel, Charlie Rich not quite silver-foxing it or the supposed white boy soul of The Righteous Brothers. But overall this is another great installment from Ace Records amongst so many celebrating heroes. Recommended...

"Where Soul Begins... KENT/MODERN - For Dancers Forty" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - a 24-Track '40th Anniversary' CD Compilation That Celebrates Ace Records first Kent Records LP Compilation Issued August 1982 (October 2022 UK Ace/Kent-Soul CD with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Nearly 195 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

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

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

 

Your Guide To The Best CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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"...That's It!..."

 

*** 3 Stars 

I've had "...For Dancers Forty" for over two months now since its release in late October 2022 of last year, but in truth (and despite being a self-confessed Kent compilation loon) - I've struggled with this release big time. 

 

Without saying that much of it isn't actually any good - for me there are maybe only five tracks out of twenty-four on the CD variant that I'd play at any further time - the rest feel like second rate R&B, out of place Blues, Seventies Funk that feels just wrong and four uninspired unreleased that were clearly canned for very obvious reasons. Hence this is the first time I've slapped 3-stars review on a Kent-Soul CD compilation in decades. But let's get to what we do have...details...

 

UK released Friday, 28 October 2022 - "Where Soul Begins... KENT/MODERN For Dancers Forty" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records/Kent-Soul-40 CDKEND 514 (Barcode 029667107327) is a 24-Track CD compilation that plays out as follows (62:53 minutes):

 

1. Satisfied Feeling - MARY LOVE (January 1967 US 45-single on Modern M 1033, B-side of "Baby I'll Come")

2. You'd Be Good For Me - JEANETTE JONES (Originally an Unissued Golden State recording in Stereo, first released on the 2007 UK CD compilation "Super-Funk Is Back - Rare And Classic Funk 1968-1977" on Beat Goes Public CDBGPD 183)

3. Gonna Put It On Your Mind - ARTHUR ADAMS (Previously Unissued 1966 Modern recording, 2022)

4. Tobacco Road North - TOMMY YOUNGBLOOD (from the 1970 US LP "The Soul Of Tommy Youngblood" on Kent Records KST-541 in Stereo)

5. Jealous Woman - T-BONE WALKER (Originally Unissued 1964 Modern recording first issued in 1992 UK 3CD Compilation "60 Great Blues Recordings" on Cascade CBOXCD 3)

6. Walk The Chalk Line - AARON COLLINS & THE TEEN QUEENS (Previously Unreleased 1966 Modern recording, 2022)

7. I've Got Papers On You Baby - B.B. KING (from the 1959 US LP "B.B. King Wails" on Crown CLP 5115) 

8. You Changed Me - TEDDY REYNOLDS & THE TWISTERS (from the 1961 US LP "The Twist" on Crown Records CLP 5245)

9. Wanting You - JIMMY BEE (Originally unissued version of Kent 5431 from 1969: an Alec Paolo Remix from 2019)

10. That's It - Z.Z. HILL (1965 US 45-single on Kent K 432, B-side of "What More")

11. Push Me - LOWELL FULSON (November 1967 US 45-single on Kent K 479, A)

12. Here Comes The Judge - LARRY & TOMMY (Originally Unissued Modern recording first released on the 2007 UK CD compilation "Super-Funk Is Back - Rare And Classic Funk 1968-1977" on Beat Goes Public CDBGPD 183)

13. Tramp - FOXFIRE featuring JOHNNY ADAMS (1972 US 45-single on Kent 4578)

14. Freedom And Justice - PACE-SETTERS (1972 US 45-single on Kent 4565)

15. Jimmy's Special - LITTLE JOE BLUE (Originally Unissued 1967 Kent recording, first released on the March 1999 Japanese CD "West Coast Modern Blues 1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3060)

16. Remove My Doubts - STACY JOHNSON (1963 US 45-single on Sony 113) 

17. You Brought It All On Yourself - CLAY HAMMOND (1967 US 45-single on Kent 472)

18. It's Crazy Baby - IKE & TINA TURNER (from the 1967 US LP "The Soul Of Ike & Tina" on Kent LP 5019)

19. On My Way Back Home - FLASH HARRY (1958 US 45-single on Kent 310)

20. Mr. Bad Luck - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 446)

21. Mr. Bus Driver - THE TEEN QUEENS (Previous Unreleased 1966 Modern recording, 2022)

22. No More Tears - THE SWEETHEARTS (1966 US 45-single on Kent 442)

23. Help Me - BEATRICE LEE (1962 US 45-single on Kent 385)

24. I'll Let Nothing Come Between Us - BILLY WATKINS (Previously Unreleased 1965 Kent recording, 2022)

NOTES: 

Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 to 11, 13, 15, 16 and 18 to 24 are MONO

Tracks 2, 12, 14 and 17 are STEREO

Tracks 3, 6, 21 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

There is a 20-page fact-filled booklet (superb ADY CROASDEL liner notes) and the usual great Remasters from DUNCAN COWELL at Sound Mastering – the Mono single sides in particular having real punch. There is 8-disc advert inlay visible through the see-through CD tray at the rear showing New Breed Jazz, Northern Soul comps – all on the Kent Soul/Kent Dance imprints belonging to Ace Records of the UK. To the music...

 

Things start well with two lady boppers, "Satisfied Feeling" by Mary Love (she's featured in the cover photo stood alongside Z.Z. Hill) and "You'd Be Good For Me" by Jeanette Jones - an unreleased recording first issued in 2007. The first of four unreleased appears, the pretty good Arthur Adams funk of "Gonna Put it On Your Mind" but the audio wavers in and out a bit as does his voice. Things start to go wrong for me with Tracks 4 through to 9 where a series of out-of-place grooves occur - some are OK - but that's all. The first real 'Soul' vibe appears when Track 10 offers the fabulous chugger that is "That's It" by Z.Z. Hill - a 1965 hip-shaker that's followed by Lowell Fulson giving it some "Push Me" - tremendous remaster as the steppin' R&B pushes across your speakers all nite long.  

 

But stuff like Larry & Tommy doing "Here Comes The Judge" or the wildly out of place 70s Funk of "Tramp" by Foxfire featuring Johnny Adams are awful. The instrumental Funk Groove of "Freedom And Justice" by Pace-Setters feels like it some be on a another compilation while "Jimmy's Special" is just manic and all over the place - trying too hard. I have to wait until Track 16 to get a bite at last with the brassy confident vocals of "Remove My Doubts" by Stacy Johnson - a great groover with the ladies pleading while Johnson goes all wicked-Pickett on the snarled warning vocals. Clay Hammond's "You Brought It On Yourself" is great too but both Tracks 20 and 21 left me cold, and on it goes. 

 

I'd advise a listen on this one - way too disappointing for me... 

 

PS: Ace have also issued a single LP called "For Dancers Forty - Kent Records 1982-2022" on Ace/Kent Soul HIQLP 103 (Barcode 029667015219) in October 2022. However as you can see from the track list provided below - only three of its fourteen songs (Tommy Youngblood, Aaron Collins and The Teen Queens and Z.Z. Hill on Side 2) are on the 24-cut CD compilation (those marked with * are exclusive to the LP variant). The LP also has different artwork front and rear:

 

Side 1:

1. Long As I Got My Baby - JACKIE DAY *

2. Down In The City - THE MARVELLOS *

3. I Got Love - THE OTHER BROTHERS *

4. I've Got To Win Your Love For Me - SIMS TWINS *

5. My Love She's Gone - THE INTENTIONS *

6. This Couldn't Be Me - THE SWEETHEARTS *

7. The Sun Don't Shine (Everyday) - THE SAINTS *

 

Side 2:

1. Tobacco Road - TOMMY YOUNGBLOOD 

2. Stand Up Straight And Tall - JACKIE SHANE *

3. Walk The Chalk Line - AARON COLLINS and THE TEEN QUEENS 

4. I'm Tired aka Love Line - BILLY WATKINS *

5. Tired Of Walkin' - JOE HINTON *

6. That's It - Z.Z. HILL 

7. I Was Born To Love You - JOHNNY COPELAND *

"The Movie Album/Dancing In The Street" by RAMSEY LEWIS [both from 1967] featuring Cleveland Eaton on Bass and Maurice White (later of Earth Wind & Fire) on Drums (September 2010 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs onto 1CD - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review Along With Nearly 195 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

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

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

 

Your Guide To The Best CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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"...Like A Heat Wave..."

 

Jazz Pianist and period hipster Ramsey Lewis issued three albums in his busy summer of love schedule - March 1967 saw "Goin' Latin" on Cadet LPS-790 which peaked at No. 16 on Billboard's US R&B Album Charts and although recorded in 1966, "The Movie Album" came in July 1967 on Cadet LPS-782 (peaked at No. 124). That finally left the live album "Dancing In The Street" released October 1967 on Cadet LPS-794 in the USA that peaked at No. 16 (charted November 1967).

 

There were Mono variants of each album too (Cadet LP-790 etc), but this September 2010 Beat Goes On (BGO) twofer onto 1CD out of England concentrates on the later two and uses the STEREO mixes. I can't reiterate enough that this is a great sounding CD - I just wish half the material justified it. Because in January 2023 as I write this - both albums are seriously dated fodder – one to three-star material that at least comes with four-to-five-star audio and presentation that will keep those that do want the albums happy.

 

They were probably categorized back in the 60ts day as Jazz or Soul Jazz or R&B even and on occasion have a nugget or two for the Northern Soul Dancers and Mod Jazz circuits - the three-piece band including future Earth Wind & Fire main-man drummer and singer Maurice White in the ranks (the other was Double-Bassist Cleveland Eaton). But today (2023) - you would have say that much of it is Lounge - Elevator Music cover versions that occasionally rise to something higher depending on the song choice. Anyway, to the nitty gritty...

 

UK released 6 September 2010 (14 September 2010 USA) - "The Movie Album/Dancing In The Street" by RAMSEY LEWIS on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD948 (Barcode 5017261209481) offers Two Stereo Albums Fully Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (74:39 minutes):

 

1. Theme From "The Pawnbroker" [Side 1]

2. Saturday Night At The Movies 

3. The Gentle Rain 

4. China Gate

5. Emily 

6. Goin' Hollywood 

7. From Russia With Love [Side 2]

8. The Shadow Of Your Smile 

9. Girl Talk 

10. Matchmaker, Matchmaker

11. Return To Paradise 

Tracks 1 to 11 are the studio LP "The Movie Album" - released July 1967 in the USA on Cadet LP-782 (Mono) and Cadet LPS-782 (Stereo) and in the UK on Chess CRL 4531 in Mono only. Recorded July 1966 at the Universal Recording Studios in Chicago (album's gatefold sleeve photos taken December 1966) - it was arranged and Produced by RICHARD EVANS.

 

12. Dancing In The Street [Side 1]

13. Mood For Mendes 

14. Struttin' Lightly 

15. You Don't Know Me

16. Django 

17. "Black Orpheus" Medley: 

Felicidade/Manha de Carnaval/Samba de Orpheus [Side 2]

18. What Now My Love 

19. Quiet Nights (Corcovado)

Tracks 12 to 19 are the live album "Dancing In The Streets" - released October 1967 in the USA on Cadet LP-794 (Mono) and Cadet LPS-794 (Stereo) and February 1968 in the UK on Chess CRLS.4533 (Stereo only). Recorded at Basin Street West in San Francisco (undisclosed date) - Produced by ESMOND EDWARDS.

 

Personnel for both instrumental albums:

RAMSEY LEWIS - Piano 

CLEVELAND EATON - Upright Bass

MAURICE WHITE - Drums

 

The card slipcase that these BGO reissues have gives this twofer a classy look and the new 16-page booklet with JOHN TOBLER liner notes (April 2010) goes deep into his hugely successful career (reputedly in excess of 80 album releases). The bulk of "The Movie Album" gatefold sleeve artwork is here as are Herb Wong's 1966 liner notes on the original LP sleeve that go into real detail. There's also biogs on both CLEVELAND J. EATON and MAURICE WHITE on Pages 14 and 15.

 

All very tasty - but it's the stunning audio that will captivate - new 2010 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters done in the Sound Performance Studios in London. The clarity reflects the original Production qualities that even on the 'voices in the crowd' vibe for "Dancing In The Street" LP never feels intrusive or forced - the Bass Notes of Cleveland Eaton sliding out of your speakers with precision whilst Lewis is never anything other than impressive and cool – even if the material choices do not always thrill (Matchmaker, Matchmaker for God sake). To the tunes...

 

Voices, Strings and Brass arrangements all crescendo for the serious Lounge Lizard Quincy Jones piano ballad "Pawnbroker Theme", but far catchier and a Mod Jazz CD surety is Richard Evans' own "Saturday Night At The Movies" - a piano-funky coolsville tune. Brazilian Guitarist Luiz Bonfa provides "The Gentle Rain", but again it veers dangerously into schmaltz with a capitol 'sch'. Things get Girly-Vocals awful with the themes to the 1957 film "China Gate" by Victor Young and "Emily" from the 1964 flick 'The Americannization of Emily'. Finally Side 1 produces the first usable 007-boogie in "Goin' Hollywood" - another song from album Producer Richard Evans. Side 2 offers the obligatory Bond theme with "From Russia With Love", a bit better is the big and brassy sounding "Girl Talk" but it's quickly ruined by saccharine male/female vocals from some terrible square white people behind microphones. The album ends with "Return To Paradise" and it becomes obvious why this disappointing set didn't really go into the top 100. 

 

Although it doesn't state it as a 'live in front of a small invited audience' set - the second LP opens with that Martha & The Vandellas Motown classic "Dancing In The Street" - Smokey and Marvin's tune surviving a 'yeah man' hipster render. Billy Taylor's "Mood For Mendes" sees the Trio settle in shuffling drums, flicked double Bass notes and piano-plinking mode - and a gorgeous listen it is too even if a few bodies in the audience can't help yacking. Another contender for Mod Jazz CD compilations everywhere is the very Georgie Fame-esque "Struttin' Lightly" - the band's playing so spot on it feels tighter than the screws on Maurice White's high-hats. The ballad "You Don't Know Me" (made famous by Ray Charles) elicits 'awl right' from the mellow crowd. And on it goes into Latin and Samba moments with the three-piece 'Black Orpheus' section. 

 

You wouldn't want to call either album essential, but if you're a Ramsey Lewis fan - then the audio and typically excellent presentation from England's Beat Goes On of these now obscure 1967 LPs once again proves why this reissue label is a punter favourite...