"Another Time, Another Place" by BRYAN FERRY of ROXY MUSIC - July 1974 UK Second Solo Studio Album of Mainly Cover Versions on Island Records (Atlantic Records USA) featuring Chris Mercer, Henry Lowther and Chris Pine on Horns with Ruan O'Lochlainn of Bees Make Honey on Saxophone, John Porter of Uncle Dog and Front with David O'List of The Misunderstood, Nice and Roxy Music on Guitars, John Wetton of King Crimson on Bass with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and Angelic Upstarts on Drums (October 1999 UK Virgin HDCD Reissue with Bob Ludwig Remaster)

 

 

 

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"...I'm In With The 'ln' Crowd... " 

 

Common consensus has it that Bryan Ferry's second solo studio album ("Another Time, Another Place" from July 1974) outside of his day job as front man and songwriter for ROXY MUSIC was a disappointment. Another cluster of eclectically chosen cover versions (like its predecessor "These Foolish Things" from October 1973) - it wasn't as well received despite his stunning guitar-mad interpretation of "The 'In' Crowd" and I can understand why. 

The debut "These Foolish Things" hammered an unsuspecting Roxy Music fanbase with a record of cover versions - and in 1973! But despite that awkward game plan, the LP worked. So I suppose the follow-up with more of the same was always going to let down, but I would argue that with repeated listening, it's the one of the two I end up playing more. OK - it overstays its welcome as the Side 1 ender (6:46 minutes) - but I mean that combo of Blues Dobro, Haunting Organ, Tuba oom-pah and Girly Melodrama Vocal on the standard "You Are My Sunshine" - what genius. Ferry turns this overly done seaside town shanty into something new and brilliant. Please don't take my sunshine away indeed. I loved it. And it wasn't square (and I was there). To the details...

UK released October 1999 - "Another Time, Another Place" by BRYAN FERRY [of ROXY MUSIC] on Virgin FERRYCD2 (Barcode 724384760021) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of his Second Solo Album and plays out as follows (42:03 minutes:

 

1. The 'In' Crowd [Side 1]

2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 

3. Walk A Mile In My Shoes

4. Funny How Time Slips Away

5. You Are My Sunshine 

6. (What A) Wonderful World [Side 2]

7. It Ain't Me Babe

8. Fingerpoppin'

9. Help Me Make It Through The Night

10. Another Time, Another Place

Tracks 1 to 10 are his second solo studio album "Another Time, Another Place" - released July 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9284 and Atlantic SD 18113 in the USA. Produced by BRYAN FERRY and JOHN PUNTER - it peaked at No. 4 in the UK (didn't chart USA). 

 

Excepting the last track on Side 2, the whole album is cover versions – original artists being Dobie Gray for Track 1, The Platters for Track 2, a Joe South song for Track 3, a Willie Nelson song for Track 4, a Traditional for Track 5, a Barbara Campbell song done by Sam Cooke for Track 6 (she was his wife), a Bob Dylan song for Track 7, an Ike Turner song done by Ike & Tina Turner for Track 8, a Kris Kristofferson song for Track 9 with Track 10 written by Bryan Ferry. 

 

Musicians: the album featured David O'List of The Misunderstood, Nice and Roxy Music with John Porter of Uncle Dog and Front on Guitars, Chris Mercer, Henry Lowther and Chris Pine on Horns, Ruan O'Lochlainn of Bees Make Honey on Saxophone, John Wetton of King Crimson on Bass with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and Angelic Upstarts on Drums. Ann Odell arranged the Strings and Martyn Ford arranged the Brass. Bryan Ferry played Keyboards and Organ, Harmonica and all Lead Vocals. Many others contributed to the Backing Vocals.

 

The 8-page booklet is hardly the stuff of reissue wet dreams - the lyrics, musician and HDCD Reissue/Remaster credits and that's your lot. The inner artwork to the gatefold sleeve is AWOL, but what whomps big time is the BOB LUDWIG Remaster that uses the HDCD format (High Density CD). Having been so used to hearing the edited 7" single mix for the Dobie Gray cover "The 'In' Crowd" at 4:16 minutes - the full-on wallop and power of those amazing guitars by John Porter when you play the album cut at 4:33 minutes. It may only be 20-seconds or so, but man what a kick in the audio nuts. Unfortunately that single's unreleased B-side "Chance Meeting" is AWOL too and would have made for a cool and obvious bonus track on this CD. 

Spending cash and talking trash, the audio on "The 'In' Crowd" is fantastic and when that wailing and screaming guitar comes a marauding in - the impact is truly hair-raising. Vibe-wise Ferry then does a 360 with a version of The Platters 50ts smoocher "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" which he turns into a piano and strings jaunt - I like it. Many have said that his take on Joe South's Country Rock-ish "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" is the first of too many mistakes on the album and I can understand that criticism. But there's good in it too. Once again Ferry subverts and imbibes a sort of lounge-room lizard menace into "Funny How Time Slips Away" - only to go all Brass and Drums punch half way through. He ends Side 1 with what I think is one of the LP's great moments, the strangely nostalgia elegant "You Are My Sunshine". 

Over on Side 2 Sam Cooke's "(What A) Wonderful World" gets Ferry-ised and I it isn't the LP's greatest triumph for sure - a lack of Soul in a Englishman full of it. And although it starts out promisingly, his version of Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" somehow loses its way in ill-sounding Mellotron keyboards and shouted choruses. The last three are better - an unusual choice in Ike & Tina Turner's "Fingerpoppin'" which he funks up with Vegas Presley brass jabs - another slightly sinister interpretation in his Bass plucking "Help Me Make It Through The Night" - Kris Kristofferson's love song turned into an early-morning light strings-and-girls hungover pleader (let the devil take tomorrow) - and his own rather good title track "Another Time, Another Place" a slow Roxy-type Ballad with doubled-up vocals that somehow fits into the overall sound (dig that fantastic slide guitar burst).

For sure the 1973 Island Records debut "These Foolish Things" is a better overall listen, but I love the moments on this LP - and the Remaster is utterly brill. 

 

"Don't bid me adieu..." Ferry sang on the title track. Well, the dapper gent stuck around a tad longer (50-years plus and counting in 2023) and on the clever interpretations displayed here, it's obvious why he is still so rated. 

 

"If it's square, we ain't there..." - Bryan Ferry was and never has been, square...

"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...