"Let It Be: 2CD Edition" by THE BEATLES – May 1970 Final Studio Album on Apple Records featuring Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr with guests Billy Preston, George Martin and Linda McCartney (October 2021 UK Apple/Universal 2CD Edition Reissue with Giles Martin, Sam Okell and Miles Showell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Everybody Had A Hard Year...Everybody Had A Good Time..."

 

There have been oceans of words eulogised and satirised about how Phil Spector ruined the "Let It Be" album with additional strings and choirs - a Production-obsessed nutter handed the poison chalice of haphazard recordings made by men already disinterested and in personal disarray. But as Ringo repeatedly said - once the count-in came - The Beatles were a band once more - and even half-baked - the magic was still there.

 

So I have always said knob to the detractors. I loved "Let It Be" as an album - that gorgeous four-photograph artwork where they looked like the coolest dudes on the planet (ruined for the 2003 Naked revamp by some negative atrocity photo in silver) - the beautiful ballads that literally stopped me in my tracks and made the hairs stand up on my arms - the fresh in-your-face feel to the rockers - and the witty asides that hovered around the main songs. And I know both of the snippets "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" remain kind of superfluous, but they were in keeping with a band that had a laugh (the Naked disc was no fun at all).

 

So I am thrilled with this long overdue 50^th Anniversary reissue of "Let It Be" in October 2021 (one year late due to Covid-19) in all its myriad versions. 2021's reissue goes back to basics - the album remixed and remastered onto CD1 with CD2 offering us tasty unreleased from the original sessions - and all of it in what can only be described as glorious audio - the best I have ever heard this album sound. And although I would have liked to buy the sexier Deluxe Edition Box Set with 4CDs and a BLU RAY (Apple 0602507138691) – I have had to settle (due to Gas Bills) for this sweaty little brute – the 2CD Edition. 

 

Let's get to the long and very detailed road...

 

UK/EUROPE released 15 October 2021 – "Let It Be: 2CD Edition" by THE BEATLES on Apple/Universal 0602507138622 (Barcode 602507138622) is 2CD Edition Reissue. CD1 offers a New 2021 Mix and Remaster of the Album, while a Second CD offers 14 Outtake Highlights of Previously Unreleased material featured on the Deluxe Edition Box Set. It platys out as follows:

 

CD1 - Let It Be 2021 Mix (35:02 minutes):

1. Two Of Us [Side 1]

2. Dig A Pony

3. Across The Universe

4. I Me Mine

5. Dig It

6. Let It Be

7. Maggie Mae

8. I've Got A Feeling [Side 2]

9. One After 909

10. The Long And Winding Road

11. For You Blue

12. Get Back

Tracks 1 to 12 are their final released studio album "Let It Be" – released 8 May 1970 in the UK on Apple PXS 1 as a Limited Edition Box set with 168-Page Photographic Booklet and then November 1970 as a Single LP only on Apple PCS 7096. It was issued 18 May 1970 in the USA on Apple AR 34001 in a Gatefold Sleeve (the UK variant was a single sleeve) and was never a box set there.

 

CD2 – Outtake Highlights (52:35 minutes):

1. Morning Camera (Speech – Mono) / Two Of Us (Take 4)

2. Maggie Mae /Fancy My Chances With You (Mono)

3. For You Blue (Take 4)

4. Let It Be / Please Please Me /Let It Be (Take 10)

5. The Walk (Jam)

6. I've Got A Feeling (Take 10)

7. Dig A Pony (Take 14)

8. Get Back (Take 8)

9. Like Making An Album? (Speech)

10. One After 909 (Take 3)

11. Don't Let Me Down

12. The Long And Winding Road (Take 19)

13. Wake Up Little Susie / I Me Mine (Take 11)

14. Across The Universe (Unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 Mix)

 

The oversized Let It Be 40-page booklet is both visually beautiful and cool – a rare feat in this reissue game. Before pouring on the historical detail for every song on the album including the Outtakes, there’s a 1-Page Forward by surviving Beatle PAUL McCARTNEY (Page 5), a 2-Page Introduction by Remix and Remaster Engineer GILES MARTIN (Pages 6 and 7) and a stunning history by noted Beatles authority KEVIN HOWLETT (Pages 8 to 17). Gorgeous colour photos intersperse and follow discussions of the back-to-basics project and its convoluted history. I did not know that the Guitar Solo George did for the single mix of Let It Be was done 31 January 1969, while the LP cut was overdubbed 4 January 1970 with Linda McCartney doing some Backing Vocals too. Keyboardist Billy Preston added huge contributions to the songs and he is given good credit for (which did not happen when the LP came out).

 

It goes into how after being recorded before the Abbey Road album - the Let It Be LP (then titled Get Back) got waylaid for a while. Abbey Road was then released in September 1969 and legendary 60ts Producer Phil Spector was called in with a Carte blanch remit to make Let It be ready for marketplace in April 1970. The booklet shows the track by track changes he made – seventeen violins, cellos and other strings added to the big ballads and even I Me Mine. The remixed and completely rejiggered album was worldwide released May 1970 as their last studio album – the group having officially broken up only a month prior in bitterness and acrimony. The booklet also shows the photo they took at EMI Studios recapturing the young lads on the balcony as in Please Please Me – it was to be used as the Get Back artwork but ended up being applied to the 1973 Red and Blue Album double-albums.

 

It’s well documented that John Lennon hated what Spector did to "Across The Universe" in particular and started a feud with Macca that ultimately brought our best loved foursome to a horrible end (all discussed). So reinterpreted 'Naked' version aside - I for one am glad to be back at what I know and loved. 

 

We (Joe Public) have been listening to Spectre's mix of "Across The Universe" for 50+ years straight and have genuinely loved it - were impossibly moved then and remain so to this day. In fact it’s hot-wired into my brain and I want it that way. The song "Let It Be" is the same – the strings that elevated "The Long & Winding Road" to a hymn too - the witty 'Pot Smoking FBI members' jibe from Lennon is at the end of "For You Blue" again (it was edited out on Naked). The larking-about 'sweet Loretta fart' Lennon intro to "Get Back" is here as is the song's punch when they kick in. I say all of this because many of us hardcore Beatles nuts will recall with a sigh the utter rubbish that CD2 of Let It Be...Naked offered – 21:56 minutes of big name tracks that turned out to 9 and 30-second snippets sandwiched between spoken cack you would never play again. Thank God this time in 2021, we get actual whole songs on CD2 – outtakes - albeit in rehearsal form. 

 

 

The second you debut the simplistic "Two Of Us" – the Remaster makes its presence known immediately. This is clear and has muscle – something the rather weedy original seemed to lack. The riffage of "Dig A Pony" is the same. But oh my God when it goes into Lennon’s moment "Across The Universe", I am grinning from ear to ear. Paul’s "Let It Be" too is the most beautiful I have ever heard it on this 2021 mix. The rocking "Get Back" with that fantastic George solo – all of it. The only slight let down is fuzziness in Harrison’s "For You Blue" which I suspect is inherent in the recording, but outside of that, songs like "I’ve Got A Feeling" are awesome. Let’s discuss the new stuff...

 

The thrill is hearing the Fabs work out glitches, develop the tunes, noticing the differences, how the tracks evolved. Again, it feels like you are eavesdropping on history, being allowed into something great, even if they and their tired-of-it tetchiness is sort of hidden from the stew by this reissue (you see it in the BLU RAY of the movie). That swing to "I've Got A Feeling" where Take 10 is a tad faster and more in your face is fabulous and the Glyn Johns unadorned mix of "Across The Universe" left me in tears – what a song – his voice and those lyrics. There are some disappointments – the "Don’t Let Me Down" take on the roof top feels off somehow (probably one of the best songs and it was inexplicably left off the album only to become a B-side to Get Back) and the much lauded unreleased cover of Jimmy McCracklin’s R&B classic turns out to be less than 50 seconds because the tapes were being changed over. You can hear the genius even in a rehearsal of Let It Be where the boys acknowledge Macca has indeed penned a winner.

 

This is a beautiful reissue despite what reservations some might have about the original LP as being a half-assed afterthought messed up by someone else. I dig this 2CD Edition of "Let It Be" and it has beautiful audio. Damn – I will need that Deluxe Edition, bills or no...

 

FANTASY TIME!

My May 1970 "Let It Be" as a Double-Album with a 4-Track "Get Back" EP as a Bonus

Each Side has the four on Lead Vocals; then next side mixes up the order and so on

The EP would be Rock 'n' Roll Orientated - A Nod to the Old Days in Germany 

 

Side 1:

Get Back (Paul on Vocals)

Across The Universe (John on Lead)

I Me Mine (George on Lead)

Maggie Mae (ditty in-between tracks)

It Don't Come Easy (Ringo on Lead)

 

Side 2:

For You Blue (George on Lead)

Dig It (ditty in between tracks)

I've Got A Feeling (Paul and John on Leads)

Back Off Boogaloo (Ringo on Lead)

The Long And Winding Road (Paul On Lead)

 

Side 3:

Dig A Pony (John on Lead)

Two Of Us (Paul on Lead)

Beaucoup Of Blues (Ringo on Lead)

All Things Must Pass (George on Lead)

 

Side 4:

Oh My My (Ringo on Lead)

Don't Let Me Down (John)

Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul)

Isn't It A Pity (George)

 

Get Back E.P. (4-Track Picture Sleeve Extended Play Single at 45rpm)

Side 1:

One After 909

Teddy Boys

Side 2:

Let It Be Me (Everly Brothers cover)

I'm Ready

"These Foolish Things" by BRYAN FERRY of ROXY MUSIC - October 1973 UK Debut Solo Album on Island Records (Atlantic Records USA) featuring Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music on Guitar, Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music and UK on Keyboards, David Skinner of Twice As Much, Uncle Dog and Clancy on Keyboards, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan and Henry Lowther on Horns, Ruan O'Lochlainn of Bees Make Honey on Saxophone, John Porter of Uncle Dog and Front on Bass with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and Angelic Upstarts on Drums (October 1999 UK Virgin HDCD Reissue with Bob Ludwig Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...It's My Party...And I'll Cry If I Want To... "

 

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall!

 

Who would have thought it – in the year of 1973 - with its serious Progressive Rock breakthrough into the mainstream music charts - "The Six Wives Of Henry The VIII" by Rick Wakeman in January - "The Dark Side Of The Moon" and "For Your Pleasure" by Pink Floyd and Roxy Music in March – "Aladdin Sane" by David Bowie in April – "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield in May - "A Passion Play" by Jethro Tull in July and the double-album "Tales From Topographic Oceans" by Yes in December - Mister Sharp Suits of Leggy Models Inc., does an album of eclectic Thirties to Sixties cover versions and wins The Cool Dude of the Year Award – yet again!

 

With two attention-grabbing genre-redefining albums already in the Island Records bag for Roxy Music (June 1972 for the self-titled "Roxy Music" debut and March 1973 with "For Your Pleasure") - Lead Singer and Principal Songwriter for those Glam Rock darlings wasted no time in getting his solo album debut out into the marketplace. Ferry would set up something of a trend with such albums - following the October 1973 starter in September 1974 with another album of the same ilk – aptly called "Another Time, Another Place".

 

And yet from this most unhip and unlikely of concepts (an album of covers for Gawd’s sake) - Bryan Ferry came up with a Poptastic gem (more or less) that had Avant Garde types donning their Fedora Hats and stroking their satin scarves and feather boas with glee. And it’s good too – in fact 50-years down the line (here in 2023) - Ferry’s brilliantly arranged debut "These Foolish Things" has stood the test of time. It should not work – but with just a hint of Vivian Stanshall wit and tongue-in-cheek, sidling up to Peter Skellern Brass Band nostalgia – our fave uppercrust warbler pulled off an album that keeps you glued – a record filled with less obvious crafty song choices – all reworked to a place where they became something different altogether yet still recognizable.

 

But my real reason for the review is the SOUND. The Bob Ludwig HDCD-Format Remaster on this sucker is an absolute blaster – beautifully clear in a way the original VINYL LP I owned all those decades ago never was. The wallop of the girls giving it woo-woo as BF's session band builds and builds in his version of The Stones anthem "Sympathy For The Devil" is huge. They are clear again on the title track that plays out Side 2. It all sounds bloody glorious.

 

So much to discuss - to the reminders of You and I and our foolish things...

 

UK released October 1999 - "These Foolish Things" by BRYAN FERRY on Virgin FERRYCD1 (Barcode 724384759827) is a straightforward Reissue of the original 1973 album onto Remastered 1999 HDCD (High Density CD) that plays out as follows (43:51 minutes):

 

1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall [Side 1]

2. River Of Salt

3. Don't Ever Change

4. Piece of My Heart

5. Baby I Don't Care

6. It's My Party

7. Don't Worry Baby

8. Sympathy For The Devil [Side 2]

9. The Tracks Of My Heart

10. You Won't See Me

11. I Love How You Love Me

12. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

13. These Foolish Things

Tracks 1 to 13 are his debut solo album "These Foolish Things" – released October 1973 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9249 and Atlantic SD 7304 in the USA. Produced by BRYAN FERRY, JOHN PORTER and JOHN PUNTER – it peaked at No. 5 in the UK (didn’t chart USA).

 

The whole album is cover versions – original artists being Bob Dylan for Track 1, Ketty Lester for Track 2, a Jerry Goffin and Carole King song done by The Crickets for Track 3, a Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns song by Erma Franklin for Track 4, a Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song by Elvis Presley for Track 5, Lesley Gore for Track 6, a Brian Wilson song by The Beach Boys for Track 7.

 

Side 2 is a Mick Jagger/Keith Richards song by The Rolling Stones for Track 8, a Smokey Robinson song by The Miracles for Track 9, a John Lennon and Paul McCartney song by The Beatles for Track 10, The Paris Sisters for Track 11, an Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder song by The Four Tops for Track 12 and the American Standard from 1935 is the album’s Title song (Track 13).

 

Musicians - the album featured Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music on Guitar, Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music and 'UK' on Keyboards, David Skinner of Twice As Much, Uncle Dog and Clancy on Keyboards, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan and Henry Lowther on Horns, Ruan O'Lochlainn of Bees Make Honey on Saxophone, John Porter of Uncle Dog and Front on Bass with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and Angelic Upstarts on Drums. 

You could not say that the 8-page booklet is anything to write home about – lyrics – musician lists and reissue credits - and that's it I'm afraid. The spine has the DIGITALLY REMASTERED wording but the disc and tray beneath reflect a generic spiral look for the series that is boring and unimaginative. But the BOB LUDWIG Remastered Audio is truly amazing and I have found it to be so on all these Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music HDCD releases. To the music...

 

Ferry stamps his authority and grabs you by the lapels when he turns Dylan's Freewheelin' song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" into an altogether angrier and more sinister attack and even at 5:20 minutes – it works like a charm (not many cover version 50-years old sound this contemporary still). Other highlights include the teen-tearfulness of "It's My Party" that Lesley Gore brought to her 60ts original and "I Love How You Love Me" – like Ferry is channeling his inner Girl Group. The Wall of Sound treatment appears for the Side 1 closer "Don't Worry Baby" – Ferry lifting The Beach Boys up into Phil Spector territory. Funnily enough, he remains most faithful to the two formerly Soul cuts of Erma Franklin's personal devastation anthem "Piece Of My Heart" and coquettish Motown classic "The Tracks Of My Tears" – brass fills and girly vocals – but not much else. And why he chose "You Won't See Me" as his Beatles representation on any album anyone's educated guess, but you have to say that the Fabs 1965 original is way better.

 

Only weeks after his ushered out the Solo Debut, Roxy Music itself would return to Avant Garde Art Rock with their third platter "Stranded" in November 1973 – an album that hit No. 1 in Blighty and its catchy opening Side 1 track "Street Life" would go up to No. 9 on the singles chart too.

 

For sure "These Foolish Things" is not all genius and when I worked at Reckless Records in Soho, it was a regular sell-in when guys were culling their collection excesses. But there is good stuff to be had here and that Audio is worth tracking down the tears of any clown for...

"The Man In The Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Solo Singles 1968-1974" by WILLIAM BELL - A&B-sides of Twelve American 45-RPM 7" Singles featuring Booker T. Jones, Eddie Hinton, Al Jackson Jr. and more (February 2023 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...All God's Children Got Soul..." 

Always somehow second-tier to the likes of Marvin, Aretha and his own label mates Eddie Floyd and Isaac Hayes - William Bell's seriously classy output on Stax Records is due for ripe rediscovery. 

 

I own and reviewed Ace's Volume 1 in this probable 3-parter series covering his 45-single stay at Stax - May 2020's "Never Like This Before: The Complete 'Blue' Stax Singles 1961-1968" - Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 510 (Barcode 029667105620) being a 28-Track all Mono CD Compilation running to just under 76-minutes. 

 

For Volume 2, we move from the 'Blue' label of Stax USA onto 'Yellow' and get just below 78-minutes this time (Volume 3 will probably deal with his duets with Judy Clay, Mavis Staples, Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor). For this CD release, I've provided both US and UK catalogue numbers for collectors. All of God's children got Soul, got no colour y'all. Let's get to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 24 February 2023 - "The Man In The Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Solo Singles 1968-1974" by WILLIAM BELL on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 515 (Barcode 029667107426) is a 24-Track CD Compilation (21 in Stereo, 3 in Mono) that plays out as follows (77:38 minutes): 

 

1. I Forgot To Be Your Lover 

2. Bring The Curtain Down

November 1968 US 45-single on Stax STA-0015, A&B-sides

February 1969 UK 45-single on Stax STAX 110, A&B-sides (same)

6 February 1976 UK 45-single on Stax STXS 2038 reissued and paired "Happy" on the A-side (see Track 5) with "Bring The Curtain Down" on the B-side

 

3. My Whole World Is Falling Down

4. All God's Children Got Soul

April 1969 US 45-single on Stax STA-0032, A&B-sides

30 May 1969 UK 45-single on Stax 121, A&B-sides (same)

Note: In the UK "Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday" b/w "Ain't Got No Girl" was issued prior to "My Whole World..." as a British 45-single 21 March 1969 on Atlantic 584259 - both tracks are on Volume 1 "Never Like This Before" 

 

5. Happy 

6. My Kind Of Girl 

June 1969 US 45-single on Stax STA-0038, A&B-sides 

22 August 1969 UK 45-single on Stax STAX 128 with "Johnny, I Love You" on the B-side (not on either CD compilation)

 

7. Born Under A Bad Sign

8. A Smile Can't Hide (A Broken Heart)

October 1969 US 45-single on Stax STA-0054, A&B-sides 

13 February 1970 UK 45-single with "Bring The Curtain Down" on the A-side (see Track 2) and "Born Under A Bad Sign" on the B-side. "A Smile Can't Hide (A Broken Heart) possibly contains Lead Guitar by Eddie Hinton

 

9. Lonely Soldier 

10. Let Me Ride 

July 1970 US 45-single on Stax STA-0070, A&B-sides 

No UK release for either side

 

11. A Penny For Your Thoughts 

12. 'Till My Back Ain't Got No Bone

May 1971 US 45-single on Stax STA-0092, A&B-sides

No UK release for either side - however, Stax Records UK issued "Winding, Winding Road" b/w "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" instead, 30 April 1971 on Stax 2025 025 ("I Forgot To Be Your Lover" is Track 1 on this CD, "Winding..." not on either CD volume)

13. All For The Love Of A Woman

14. I'll Be Home 

September 1971 US 45-single n Stax STA-0106, A&B-sides 

No UK release for either side 

15. Save Us

16. If You Really Love Him

April 1972 US 45-single on Stax STA-0123, A&B-sides

21 July 1972 UK 45-single on Stax 2025 123 with "Lonely For Your Love" on the A-side with "Save Us" as the B-side

17. Lovin' On Borrowed Time

18. The Man In The Street

March 1973 US 45-single on Stax STA-0157, A&B-sides

No UK release for either side (for all further releases)

19. I've Got To Go On Without You

20. You've Got The Kind Of Love I Need

August 1973 US 45-single on Stax STA-0175

21. Gettin' What You Want (Losin' What You Got)

22. All I Need Is Your Love 

February 1974 US 45-single on Stax STA-0198

23. Get It While It's Hot 

24. Nobody Walks Away From Love Unhurt 

July 1974 US 45-single on Stax STA-0221

NOTES: 

All Tracks in STEREO except Tracks 7, 10 and 24

Compiled and annotated by Soul aficionado TONY ROUNCE (a long-time writer for Ace compilations), our Tone does his usual brilliantly informative track-by-track explanation in the 16-page booklet itself festooned with all those American 'yellow' label Stax 45s that collectors so adore. Fans will notice that Stax catalogue numbers featuring Judy Clay ("Private Number" and "My Baby Specialises"), Mavis Staples ("Love's Sweet Sensation"), Carla Thomas ("I Need You Woman") and multiple-artist releases with Johnnie Taylor and more are 'not' here - they're probably being lined up for a future-date Volume 3. The Audio is superlative right from the super-clean but full-sounding audio to the gorgeous 1968 Southern Soul feel to "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" on to the inner-city wah-wah funk of "Save Us" from 1972 - Remasters by expert Remaster maestro DUNCAN COWELL.

For me this compilation is all about one of my favourite subjects - B-sides that are better or just plain whomp the A. The sheer cultural joy of "All Of God's Children", the sexy Bluesy Soul of "A Smile Can't Hide (A Broken Heart)" where I think it's Eddie Hinton that rips out the most fantastic and unexpected guitar solo half way through and then the far better Presley-melodrama ballad "'Till My Back Ain't Got No Bone" (a co-write with Eddie Floyd) - walking through the city asking everyone have they seen his baby. The shimmering guitar and brass Funk of "I'll Be Home" is another good example - this time the legendary Eddie Hinton confirmed as the guitarist (shame he didn't share vocals). And while I can understand the social motivation of "Save Us" in 1972 as the A Plug Side - whole cities being drowned in drugs - I still prefer the impassioned straight-up Slow Soul of its flipside "If You Really Love Him".

 

Bell really does bring down the pace with the smooch of "Lovin' On Borrowed Time" - a love-trap captured-by-your-charms pleader where poor Will can't stay away from the arms of another man's wife (we're there for you Bill - stay strong - even if you have to sneak around). A co-write with Horace Shipp, Jr. - "The Man On The Street" is literally Bacharach-Soul - a song that remains moving because of its lyrics - broken folks signing-on-the-dotted-line - pushing forward those repayments to hopefully better days ahead. Stax made the right choice for 'A' with "I've Got To Go Without You" - a gorgeous slow-set song that's backed up with the rather aimless "You've Got The Kind Of Love I Need". By the time we reach 1974, the audio is amazing and William wants to warn us that your woman is looking good to other men on the street and if you're not on the emotional ball, you maybe gettin' what you want elsewhere, but you're "Losin' What You Got". In a nice twofer, the flip is equally good - sweet ladies backing up Bell's vocals for "All I Need Is Your Love" - a co-write with James McDuffe. And it comes to a close with more late-night smooch sides - "Get It While It's Hot" (Bill has been saving up his love) and "Nobody Walks Away From Love Unhurt" - both sides more-than-influenced by Marvin Gaye's 1973 bedroom rummages with "Let's Get It On" (the previous year). 

 

"The Man In The Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Singles 1968-1974" by William Bell isn't all magisterial for sure, but there's some fabulous and largely forgotten sides on this wickedly good CD compilation. Ace Records of the UK do these kinds of retrospectives so good and they have done it again here.

 

I've stashed it alongside 2022's Volume 1 "Never Like This Before" and will cast an affectionate eye on both in the years before the cataracts take over...

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Brenda Holloway, Venetta Fields, The Fantastic Four, Marvin Gaye, Joe Stubbs, Jr. Walker, The Monitors, Frank Wilson, The Contours, Mary Wells, Eddie Holland, The Temptations, Four Tops, Barbara McNair, Earl Van Dyke, Blinky, Tammi Terrell, Ivy Jo Hunter and many more (August 2010 UK Universal/Motown 50-Track 2CD Paul Nixon Collated Compilation of The Rarest Detroit Grooves - Previously Unreleased Tracks from 1962 to 1971 with Jared Hawkes Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Company Time..."

 

Along with British Punk and New Wave multiples, Motown compilations that concentrate on the famous American label's 60ts and 70ts heyday are probably one of the most overdone areas in music. But every now and then, true aficionados of both are allowed to get their aged knickers in a proper twist of self-flagellating excitement when along comes a title/series that actual does rush the blood to all manner of dodgy organs. And for Soul Boys and Gals, Universal's twofer exploration series "A Cellarful Of Motown!" is one of those happy occasions. 

 

Begun in 2002 and making no bones about describing themselves as purveyors of 'The Rarest Detroit Grooves' on their digital label bellies - its last volume was issued 2020. So in over 20 years there have been only five sets - thereby reflecting both the difficulty and time it takes to collate such vault trawls. Door number four is one of my faves - Soul Galore indeed! Let's have at the many (sometimes sketchy) details...  

 

UK released 31 August 2010 - "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Motown 8824009 (Barcode 042288240099) is a 50-Track 2CD Compilation of Remasters covering 'The Rarest Detroit Grooves' between 1962 and 1971 and it plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (69:29 minutes):

1. Kidnapped - THE BLACKBERRIES (Mid-60s, Venetta Fields Lead Vocals)

2. Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love) - THE FANTASTIC FOUR (1967 to 1969 recordings)

3. Your Kiss Kiss - MARVIN GAYE & OMA HEARD (Repaired recording, June 1964)

4. My Baby Moves Me - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (Recovered 1966 Bootleg recording)

5. Cool Cool Baby - JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (March 1966 recording)

6. The Girl I've Chosen To Be My Bride - JOE STUBBS  (Aug/Dec 1968 recordings, brother of Four Tops lead vocalist Levi Stubbs and one-time member of the famed vocal group The falcons)

7. You Didn't Show Girl - THE TEMPTATIONS (March to December 1968 recordings)

8. My Baby Changes Like The Weather - THE VOWS (Unknown recording date)

9. Doctor Of Love - THE MONITORS (1966 recordings, Sandra Fagin Lead Vocals)

10. All I Need Is A Chance - ROBERT DOBYNE (Lead Vocalist with The Artistics, September to October 1965 recordings)

11. The Day You Take One (You Have To Take The Other) - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (June 1967 recordings, considered for the 'Lost & Found' Series, released here)

12. Ain't Gonna Tell You - FRANK WILSON (Unknown recording details)

13. Dancing U.S.A. - THE CONTOURS (Sept 1964 to March 1965 recordings) 

14. That's The Way I See Him - THE MARVELETTES (January 1963 recordings)

15. Have A Little Patience (And Wait) - MARY WELLS (July 1963 recordings)

16. Three Time Loser - MARVIN GAYE (Feb and March 1963 recordings, Backing Vocals by The Vandellas)

17. Lead Me And Guide Me - HOLLAND & DOZIER (May 1963 recordings, probably LaBrenda Ben on Lead Vocals)

18. It's Company Time - THE VERSATONES (July 1963 Novelty recording)

19. Twin Brother - EDDIE HOLLAND (February 1963 for this recording, original was Oct 1962)

20. Think Of The Times - CAROLYN CRAWFORD (And The Velvelettes) (April and December 1964 recordings)

21. You're What's Happening Baby - FOUR TOPS (June 1965 recordings, Levi Stubbs on Lead Vocals)

22. I'll Turn To Stone - DENNIS EDWARDS (June 1967 recordings, Four Tops soloist track)

23. I Need You More Now Than Ever - PAUL WILLIAMS (August 1971 to August 1972 recordings, Temptations soloist)

24. Daddy, Cool - OMA HEARD (No recording details)

25. The Real You - BARBARA McNAIR (Dec 1966, January 1967 recordings) 

 

CD2 (71:58 minutes):

1. Miss Lonely Hearts - THE VANDELLAS (Sept 1956 recordings)

2. The House That Jack Built - J.J. BARNES (October 1966 recordings)

3. The Philly Dog - EARL VAN DYKE (May 1966 recordings)

4. Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You) - THE UTOPIANS (Frank Wilson cover, November 1968 recordings)

5. Only A Lonely Man Would Know - IVY JO HUNTER (August 1968 and June 1969 recordings)

6. It's Gonna Be Always - BLINKY (March, April and June 1969 recordings)

7. Somebody's Waiting For Me - THE CONTOURS (August and September 1966 recordings initially assigned to Marvin Gaye)

8. A Bird In The Hand (Is Worth Two In The Bush) - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (September, October and November 1967 recordings)

9. Don't Let Me Be Lonely - TAMMI TERRELL (Sept to Nov 1965 recordings)

10. Why Don't You Come Home - STEVIE WONDER (July to Sept 1968 recordings)

11. You Can Do It - THE MIRACLES (October 1967 recordings)

12. You Gave Me Love To Live For - DEBBIE DEAN (March 1968 recordings)

13. Head Over Heels In Love With You Baby - THE SPINNERS (Aug, Sept 1966)

14. I'd Cry - CHUCK JACKSON (September 1969 to November 1970 recordings)

15. In The Summer - THE LOLLIPOPS (Sept, December 1969 recordings)

16. Just Let Me Thank You For Loving Me - THE ORIGINALS (1968 to 1970)

17. I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again - DENNIS EDWARDS (1967 to 1968)

18. Sock It Two 'Um - JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (1965 recordings)

19. Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy - THE FANTASTIC FOUR (1967)

20. Born To Be Bad - EDWIN STARR (1969 recordings)

21. She's All I Need (In This World) - MARV JOHNSON (1968 and 1969)

22. Mobile Lil The Dancing Witch - SHORTY LONG (1967 recordings)

23. Hey Girl, Come On Do The Pearl - THE AGENTS (1967 recordings)

24. In The Cool Of The Night - DAVID RUFFIN (1971 recordings)

25. Little Miss Loser - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (1964 recordings)

 

The 20-page booklet is a serious info-fest for the Motown nut who just has to know every nook and cranny. PAUL NIXON - who collated the set - gives a track-by-track detail fest that aims its information at the Archives and the Collectors. For instance when describing the Earl Van Dyke cover version discovery of Smokey Robinson's "The Philly Dog" - we find out it includes the band leader's group The Soul Brothers and is co-written with Warren Moore, Marv Tarpin and Tony Newton - names that will be of interest to label aficionados. Mastering/Remastering was done by JARED HAWKES at Universal and given the nature of unreleased - he's done a bang-up job at making them pop. Loving the colour photos between the pages of label bags, artist publicity shots, Dansette at the ready with 45s strewn around it. Chunes...

 

Finding a Marvin Gaye track no one has catalogued or heard before ("Three Time Loser" on CD1) only to have The Vandellas doing Backing Vocals on it - or a Mary Wells song - or a track by Joe Stubbs - Brother of the Lead Vocalist Levi Stubbs for The Four Tops - is amazing in itself. But this compilation has a Frank Wilson unreleased! To put this into context, Wilson's legendary withdrawn Motown song "Do I Love You" is THE Northern Soul Monster 45 of all time. Reputedly with only one known copy in existence, it changed hands for over half-a-million bucks and is one of the jewels on Ellen Fitton's "The Motown Singles Series" on Hip-O Select. Although the liner notes here tell us that Frank (when contacted) doesn't remember anything about the recording of "Ain't Gonna Tell You" (not even the recording date) - it's enough to have anything new by Wilson to raise the heart-palpitations of any Dancer or Soul fan to the level of needing paramedics standing-by. 

 

And yet this set is full of those kind of finds - names like Robert Dobyne or The Vows or Debbie Dean or The Utopians or The Versatones are not exactly rolling off the tongues of your average listener. The Acetate for "I've Got A Right To Cry" is legendary and despite searches across decades, it was never found in the Motown vaults - until now. The 'Demo' vocal of "Lead Me And Guide Me" attributable to Holland-Dozier-Holland (Track 17, CD1) turns out to be that recording from 31 May 1963. Although other details are sketchy, Paul Nixon nonetheless describes its discovery as 'the' find of the series. Northern Soul rarity hunters will also love "Think Of The Times" which has female hero of the NS scene Carolyn Crawford backed up by The Velvelettes - sounding saucy and leaning into that microphone. You would think too that every Four Tops session would have been plundered by now, but again, Nixon finds a Levi Stubbs lead vocal worth having in the shape of "You're What's Happening Baby" - a worth-having dancer laid down over two days in June 1965. One-time duet vocalist with Marvin Gaye, Oma Heard has The Pipkins-written "Daddy, Cool" while that manic club scene vibe is created for Barbara McNair's "The Real You". 

Fans of floorfillers will dig The Vandellas giving it some on their "Miss Lonely Heart" - a classic Motown driver from September 1965 penned by Smokey Robinson and Ivy Jo Hunter. J.J. Barnes tries manfully to channel his inner Marvin Gaye on "The House That Jack Built" whilst band-leader Earl Van Dyke gives us no such subtlety on his rim-shot scorcher "The Philly Dog" (backed up by The Soul Brothers). A co-write with Beatrice Verdi, Ivy Jo Hunter's "Only A Lonely Man Would Know" pours on the angst - a song Marvin then cut on his 1969 album "M.P.G." Lovers of Edwin Starr's duet partner Blinky will be pleased to see something new in "It's Gonna Be Always" - an Al Hamilton and Jean Toney song from 1969. The ballad found by Marvin's best duet partner Tammi Terrell was recorded September 1965 and tinkered with up until November - is a heart-warmer penned by Smokey and Ivy Jo Hunter. And on it goes back to the start where Brenda Holloway gets to close this fab twofer with her "Little Miss Loser" from 1964 - the year that Motown broke huge. 

Motown, Tamla, Gordy, Tamla Motown - wow! What a rich vein they tapped and by the looks of it will still be doing so for years to come...

 

Titles in the 2CD "A Cellarful Of Motown!" Series are (UK editions):

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown!"

3 June 2002 UK Universal/Motown 544 619-2 (Barcode 731454461924)

All 40-Tracks Previously Unreleased except "Riding High On Love" by Jr. Walker & The All Stars on CD2 (Track 10)

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 2"

4 July 2005 UK Universal/Tamla Motown 982 929-7 (Barcode 602498292976)

All 42-Tracks of The Rarest Detroit Grooves Remastered by Gary Moore

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 3"

15 October 2007 UK Universal/Motown 5303228 (Barcode 600753032282)

45-Track 2CD compilations (hidden tracks) with Gary Moore and Ellen Fitton Remasters

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4"

31 August 2010 UK Universal/Motown 8824009 (Barcode 042288240099)

50-Track 2CD compilation with Jared Hawkes Remasters

 

"A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 5"

18 September 2020 UK Caroline Records/Motown CAROLR090CD (Barcode 600753847008)

43-Track 2CD compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters