"Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring The Veltones, Carla Thomas, The Mar-Keys, William Bell, Booker T & The MG's, Rufus Thomas, Wendy Rene, Otis Redding, The Astors, Sam & Dave, The Mad Lads, Mabel John, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, Ollie & The Nightingales, Linda Lyndell, Judy Clay, The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, The Emotions, Isaac Hayes, Jean Knight, The Dramatics, Little Milton, The Soul Children, Frederick Knight, Mel & Tim, The Temprees, Ollie & The Nightingales, Shirley Brown, Linda Lyndell and some duets (September 2017 UK/EU Craft Recordings/Universal/Stax 3CD 60-Track Compilation Spanning 1959 to 1974 with Joe Tarantino Remasters – Part of the 'Stax 60 Series: Celebrating 60-Years Of The Memphis Sound') - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soulsville-U-S-Celebration-Stax/dp/B073JSFCVR?crid=14RENQUZD934I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.i_gcTdCDGyJg0DHTGaiszBWIjREEWhpzvjdg74dDa8c.ehZCsYMT2DXJfTqyx5MxXEAEvk2L-0WPpk-BI99Lc8o&dib_tag=se&keywords=888072029392&qid=1720457995&sprefix=888072029392%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=5b220c8bdef7ee62ba95adc5ad7d368c&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...I Got A Sure Thing..."

In 2024 the world will look at another Stax Records CD Compilation like its unnecessary. Musical nostalgia trips aside – it was nice and even cool back in the day but do I really need the return of Woolworths to my High Street right now? 

Well, my beloved Wimpy are gone too, but that doesn't mean I still don't crave me a delicious all-singing calories-be-damned Banana Boat dessert!

There are so many Large and Small Box Sets, Multi-Disc Compilations, 2CD Anthologies and Single-Disc Best Of's to choose from when it comes to nabbing a Stax Music one-stop - it's frankly dizzying. So why this digital threesome in the Stax 60 Series – Celebrating 60 Years Of The Memphis Sound – because it's a Craft Recordings release. Originally out of the USA in 2017 and also given a EU/UK release that year - this satisfying 3CD-overview has some of the loveliest and clearest Remasters of this Classic Soul label to date.

I have a thing for Craft Recordings - they have also done John Lee Hooker, Authentic Cuban Music from the Sixties, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Terry Callier's beautiful Folk-Soul debut album on Prestige Records in 1968 and even Travis at Glastonbury. And I've loved (reviewed most too) their many celebratory releases on all things Stax-related with stunning Box/Book Sets on Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Stax '68: A Memphis Story (a pivotal year for Soul and Politics), Stax Singles 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest, the rare 45s of The Gospel Truth Label, Writer Demos and loads more – many on celebrated well-mastered VINYL outings too that audiophiles have been waking up to across this last decade.

"Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" comes housed in a four-flaps foldout Digipak with a 20-page colour booklet inside – 60-Tracks offering up US 45s on Satellite, Stax, Volt, We Produce, Enterprise and Truth Records from The Veltones in September 1959 through to Shirley Brown in August 1974. It includes all their major US Billboard chart-toppers and more - legendary Soul names like Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave, Booker T & The MG's, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Isaac Hayes, Shirley Brown, The Mad Lads, The Staple Singers, Frederick Knight et al. Time to Tramp – to the details…

UK/EU released 22 September 2017 - "Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Craft Recordings/Universal/Stax 0888072029392 (Barcode 888072029392) is a 3CD 60-Track Compilation of Remasters spanning The Veltones from September 1959 to Shirley Brown in August 1974. All tracks are US 45-single A-sides (unless otherwise stated) and the order of information is; release date, catalogue number, and highest attained number positions on the USA Billboard R&B and Pop charts. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (55:23 minutes):
1. Fool In Love – THE VELTONES (September 1959, Satellite 100)
2. Gee Whizz – CARLA THOMAS (November 1960, Satellite 104, R&B No.5, Pop No.10)
3. Last Night – THE MAR-KEYS (June 1961, Satellite 107/Stax 107, R&B No.2, Pop No.3)
4. You Don't Miss Your Water – WILLIAM BELL (November 1961, Stax 116, Pop No.95)
5. Green Onions – BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (August 1962, Stax 127/Volt 102, R&B No.1, Pop No.3)
6. Walking The Dog – RUFUS THOMAS (September 1963, Stax 140, R&B No.5, Pop No.10)
7. After Laughter – WENDY RENE (August 1964, Stax 154)
8. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) – OTIS REDDING (April 1965, Volt 126, R&B No.2, Pop No.21)
9. Candy – THE ASTORS (May 1965, Stax 170, R&B No.12, Pop No.63)
10. You Don't Know Like I Know – SAM & DAVE (November 1965, Stax 160, R&B No.7, Pop 90)
11. Don't Have To Shop Around – THE MAD LADS (July 1965, Volt 127, R&B No.11, Pop No.93)
12. Let Me Be Good To You – CARLA THOMAS (March 1966, Stax 188, R&B No. 11, Pop No.62)
13. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) – MABLE JOHN (May 1966, Stax 192, R&B No.6, Pop No.95)
14. Knock On Wood – EDDIE FLOYD (July 1966, Stax 194, R&B No.1, Pop No.28)
15. Hold On! I'm Comin' – SAM & DAVE (March 1966, Stax 189, R&B No.1, Pop No.21)
16. Try A Little Tenderness – OTIS REDDING (November 1966, Volt 141, R&B No.4, Pop No.25)
17. B-A-B-Y – CARLA THOMAS (July 1966, Stax 195, R&B No.3, Pop No.14)
18. Hip Hug-Her – BOOKER T & THE MG'S (February 1967, Stax 211, R&B No.6, Pop No.37)
19. Soul Finger – THE BAR-KAYS (April 1967, Volt 148, R&B No. 3, Pop No.17)
20. Tramp – OTIS & CARLA [Otis Redding and Carla Thomas] (April 1967, Stax 216, R&B No.2, Pop No.26)

CD2 (60:16 minutes):
1. Born Under A Bad Sign – ALBERT KING (May 1967, Stax 217, R&B No.49)
2. Soul Man – SAM & DAVE (August 1967, Stax 231, R&B No.1, Pop No.1)
3. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay – OTIS REDDING (January 1968, Volt 157, R&B No.1, Pop No.1)
4. Big Bird – EDDIE FLOYD (February 1968, Stax 246)
5. I Got A Sure Thing – OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (February 1968, Stax 245, R&B No.16, Pop No.73)
6. Soul Limbo – BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (May 1968, Stax 0001, R&B No. 7, Pop No.17)
7. What A Man – LINDA LYNDELL (June 1968, Volt 4001, R&B No. 50)
8. Private Number – JUDY CLAY & WILLIAM BELL (July 1968, Stax 0005, R&B No. 17, Pop No.75)
9. I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) – EDDIE FLOYD (May 1968, Stax 0002, R&B No.2, Pop No.40)
10. The Weight – THE STAPLE SINGERS (from the LP "Soul Folk In Action" released January 1969 in the USA on Stax STS 2004 and May 1969 UK on Stax SXATS 1004 in Stereo -a Cover Version of The Band song)
11. Who's Making Love – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1968, Stax 0009, R&B No.1, Pop No.5)
12. I Like What You're Doing (To Me) – CARLA THOMAS (January 1969, Stax 0024, R&B No.9, Pop No.49)
13. I Forgot To Be Your Lover – WILLIAM BELL (November 1968, Stax 0015, R&B No.10, Pop No.45)
14. Time Is Tight – BOOKER T & THE MG'S (February 1969, Stax 0028, R&B No.7, Pop No.6)
15. Do The Funky Chicken – RUFUS THOMAS (November 1969, Stax 0059, R&B No.5, Pop No.28)
16. So I Can Love You – THE EMOTIONS (March 1969, Volt 4010, R&B No.3, Pop No.39)
17. Walk On By – ISAAC HAYES (July 1969, Enterprise 9003, R&B No.13, Pop No.30)
18. Keep On Loving Me – JOHNNIE TAYLOR & CARLA THOMAS (June 1969, Stax 0042, R&B No.4, Pop No.36)
19. Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom) – THE STAPLE SINGERS (November 1970, Stax 0083, R&B No.6, Pop No.27)
20. (Do The) Push And Pull (Part 1) – RUFUS THOMAS (October 1970, Stax 0079, R&B No.1, Pop No.25)

CD3 (69:13 minutes):
1. Mr. Big Stuff – JEAN KNIGHT (March 1971, Stax 0088, R&B No.1, Pop No.2)
2. Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (December 1970, Stax 0085, R&B No.1, Pop No.28)
3. Never Can Say Goodbye – ISAAC HAYES (April 1971, Enterprise 9031, R&B No.5, Pop No.22)
4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – THE DRAMATICS (May 1971, Volt 4058, R&B 3, Pop No.9)
5. Respect Yourself – THE STAPLE SINGERS (September 1971, Stax 0104, R&B No.2, Pop No.12)
6. Theme From Shaft – ISAAC HAYES (September 1971, Enterprise 9038, R&B No.2, Pop No.1)
7. Son Of Shaft – THE BAR-KAYS (November 1971, Volt 4073, R&B No.10, Pop No.53)
8. That's What Love Will Make You Do – LITTLE MILTON (December 1971, Stax 0111, R&B No.9, Pop No.59)
9. Hearsay – THE SOUL CHILDREN (February 1972, Stax 0119, R&B No.5, Pop No. 44)
10. In The Rain – THE DRAMATICS (February 1972, Volt 4075, R&B No.1, Pop No.5)
11. Do Your Thing – ISAAC HAYES (January 1972, Enterprise 9042, R&B No.3, Pop No.30)
12. I've Been Lonely For So Long – FREDERICK KNIGHT (February 1972, Stax 0117, R&B No.8, Pop No.27)
13. I'll Take You There – THE STAPLE SINGERS (March 1972, Stax 0125, R&B No.1, Pop No.1)
14. Starting All Over Again – MEL & TIM (May 1972, Stax 0127, R&B No.4, Pop No. 19)
15. Dedicated To The One I Love – THE TEMPREES ((July 1972, We Produce 1808, R&B No.17, Pop No.93)
16. Hey You! Get Off My Mountain – THE DRAMATICS (February 1973, Volt 4090, R&B No.5, Pop No.43)
17. Cheaper To Keep Her – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1973, Stax 0176, R&B No.2, Pop No.15)
18. If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) – THE STAPLE SINGERS (September 1973, Stax 0179, R&B No.1, Pop No.9)
19. I'll Be The Other Woman – THE SOUL CHILDREN (November 1973, Stax 0182, R&B No.3, Pop No.36)
20. Woman To Woman – SHIRLEY BROWN (August 1974, Truth 3206, R&B No.1, Pop No.22)

Formed by ex-Banker JIM STEWART and his record-shop owning sister Estelle Axton (the ST and AX in STAX) – their McLemore Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, USA was an oasis for artists of ANY colour – something highly unusual in the deeply race-riven South of the Fifties and Sixties. 

When you think that out of nearly 800 45-single releases across their fifteen-year tenure (and 300 albums) – Stax Records and their subsidiaries (Satellite, Volt, We Produce, Enterprise and Truth) placed 243 on the Top 100 R&B charts and 167 on the Billboard Pop charts too – picking 60 was always going to be a compromise of sorts and have omissions punters wanted. And you can see the playing times on CD1 and CD2 are a tad shorter than one would like – but "Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" still makes for the most magnificent and pleasing play. 

You get 13 R&B number ones, 1 Pop No.1 (unbelievably, the mighty "Theme From Shaft" only hit No. 2 R&B but went all the way to No.1 on the Pop charts) and countless top-slot near misses at No.2 and No.3 slots. NYC songwriter and regular contributor to Esquire Magazine JEFF SLATE does the liner-notes honours - his STAX RECORDS overview peppered by quality four-photo pages of Stax's main roster including lesser-seen names like Ollie & The Nightingales and even The Stax/Volt European Tour of 1967 entourage. There is then song-by-song credits which I've transcribed above. 

Each CD features major chart hits with just four deep dives – the non-charting but popular 45 fan-choices by The Veltones, Wendy Rene and Eddie Floyd while The Staples Singers get one album track (CD1 and CD2). And the JOE TARANTINO Mastering is gorgeous and clean throughout. The sound quality on The Temprees for instance doing their cover version of the Shirelles 60ts classic "Dedicated To The One I Love" – soaring vocals and strings – clarity and underlying power – so sweet. The same applies to the lesser-celebrated Vocal Group gymnastics of The Dramatics demanding peace and loving in their fab "Hey You! Get Off My Mountain". 

The huge hits like Booker T's "Green Onions", Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood", Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and posthumous number 1 "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay", Sam & Dave's Blues brothers staples "Hold On! I'm Comin'" and "Soul Man", Isaac Hayes' Blaxploitation Movie anthem "Theme From Shaft", Jean Knight's in-yer-face take-no-crap sassy "Mr Big Stuff" and the whole-world falls in love positivity of Mavis Staples fronting The Staple Singers in their gorgeous "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)" are all accounted for. But it's the intermittent stops on the bus to Coolsville that grabs you by the short and talcums - the semi-instrumental head-jerkin' joy of "Last Night" by The Mar-Keys, the sexy domestic squabbling made to sound Soulful in Mabel John's fab "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)" and washing-clothes in a local laundrette shimmy of "What A Man" by Linda Lyndell as she crisp-flicks her latest beau's duds. 

Blues-Soul Boss shows up in the shape Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign" (a tune so many Rock bands adored) and the real-world knowing alimony wit of Johnnie Taylor's "It's Cheaper To Keep Her". The ladies get advisory and a tad mean with Shirley Brown's "Woman To Woman" while The Soul Children's "Hearsay" takes no lyrical prisoners either. Even after all these decades, you forget how good the Isaac Hayes Soul's Burt Bacharach vibe is on his "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Walk On By" reworks - and there's the "Son Of Shaft" follow-up by The Bar-Kays - a Funk gem ripe for playlist rediscovery. For sure I might never want to hear the 'Country' in Otis & Carla's "Tramp" ever again, but I can't get sick of "I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)" or the early Stax Soul groove inherent in The Mad Lads doing "You Don't Have To Shop Around". 

I could go on about "Soulsville U.S.A - A Celebration of STAX" but I'll leave the 60-track rediscoveries to you. I got my copy from an online retailer for a bargain-bin sealed price of under eight quid, but this three-fer can set you back over fourteen pounds and upwards to thirty because its Craft Recordings - so go Smokey Robinson and The Miracles on its tasty ass - and shop around.

Great choices, tasty packaging and above all that quality audio you crave - bit of a belter frankly... 

Old Irish Concerts Ticket Stubs Including Lisdoonvarna Folk Festivals, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Kid Creole and The Cocanuts, The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits and more

These Photos Pages and Old Poems From The Eras

Are featured in my new book

UNDECIDED JINNY JOE 

Available Now On Amazon 

My Author's Pages Is: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJWFFFJT?binding=paperback&linkCode=ll2&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=f5c18b466377b4dc5eb742a7bf277d1a&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"Jon Savage's The Secret Public: How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Little Richard, Esquerita, Billy Fury, Frank D'rone, The Dovells, John Leyton, Joey Dee & The Starliters, The Jaynetts, Lesley Gore, The Velvelettes, Bobby Marchan, The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Elgins, Big Brother & The Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), Norma Tanega, Al Stewart, The Kinks, Sly & The Family Stone, Abaco Dream, Lou Reed, Polly Perkins, Jobriath, Manu DiBango, The Temptations, The Miracles, Labelle, Grace Jones, Patrick Cowley, Jayne County & The Electric Chairs, Buzzcocks, Space, Tom Robinson Band, Sylvester, Michele and more (May 2024 UK Ace Records 2CD 41-Track Compilation In A Three-Way Fold-Out Card Digipak with Duncan Cowell Remasters – a Companion Audio Set to The Book of the Same Name by Faber & Faber) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savages-Secret-Aesthetic-Culture-1955-1979/dp/B000008F2X?crid=4MAQHY6WHJ6C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZcteweekzeTE8MwuNT6QRQ.54o79nxVXnWtJH-bJSurBD8l1vCXnbQAnPmUx08ImGs&dib_tag=se&keywords=029667110723&qid=1719852812&sprefix=029667110723%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=d5ee7712084c6a170226742fe629b453&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Shaved Her Legs And He Was A She..."

Having annotated and compiled nine 2CD sets for Ace Records in their Year-on-Year Single Series (I have reviewed four or five) – author and music-nut Jon Savage is no stranger to the art of how it plays. But with such a huge subject matter to cover and licencing restrictions shutting out obvious choices and gamechanger artists like Queen, David Bowie and Marc Bolan in T.Rex – both has kind of done for this brave and smart 2CD 41-Song attempt at chronicling secret-lifestyles that up until the mid-Seventies were still real-world taboo and probably even dangerous.

You can understand the song choices (CD1 covers 1955 to 1973, CD2 moves on with 1974 to 1979) and the chunky three-way fold-out Digipak Presentation with a 32-page booklet is both classy and substantial, but the listen only half works because some of the music just isn't up to snuff. CD2 suffers from tedious Extended Disco Mixes least not of all being the near 14-minutes of Michele remixed and involving leading light Patrick Cowley. But Savage would argue that left-of-field adventure is key and bold choices very much part of the ethos the LGBTQ community had to employ to just be - albeit under wigs and makeup and nights at the Club or Disco. Still, there is an awful lot to like here, and his journalistic annotation is quietly free of virtual-signalling but big on respect - which is something of a minor miracle in 2024. To the no-longer secret details...

UK released Friday, 31 May 2024 - "Jon Savage's The Secret Public: How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1647 (Barcode 029667110723) is a 2CD 41-Track Companion Audio Compilation to a book of the same name – and it plays out as follows (most tracks are US/UK 45s unless otherwise stated):

CD1 (78:53 minutes):
1. I Hear A New World – JOE MEEK & THE BLUE MEN (from the cancelled UK 1960 album "I Hear A New World" on Triumph TRX ST 9000 in Stereo – finally UK issued in 1991 on RPM Records RPM 103)
2. Tutti-Frutti – LITTLE RICHARD And His Band (US October 1955, Specialty SP-561, A-side; issued UK as the B-side of "Long Tall Sally" on London HLO 8366 in January 1957, credited as Little Richard and without a hyphen in the song title)
3. Esquerita And The Voola – ESQUERITA (US September 1958, Capitol F4058, B-side of his second US single "Rockin' The Joint")
4. Wondrous Place – BILLY FURY (UK September 1960, Decca F 11267, A-side)
5. Strawberry Blonde (The Band Rocked On) – FRANK D'RONE (US October 1960, Mercury Records 71720, A-side)
6. Foot Stompin' – THE DOVELLS (from the 1961 US Album "Bristol Stomp" on Parkway P 7006)
7. Johnny Remember Me – JOHN LEYTON (UK July 1961, Top Rank JAR 577, A-side)
8. Peppermint Twist - Part 1 – JOEY DEE And THE STARLITERS (October 1961, Roulette R-4401, A)
9. Sally, Go 'Round The Roses  – THE JAYNETTS (from the US 1963 Album "Sally, Go 'Round The Roses" on Tuff TU-5559)
10. You Don't Own Me – LESLEY GORE (from the US 1963 Album "Mixed-Up Hearts" on Mercury Records MG-20849)
11. Needle In A Haystack – THE VELVELETTES (US September 1964, V.I.P. Records V.I.P.-25007, A-side)
12. Get Down With It – BOBBY MARCHAN (US January 1965, Dial Records 45-4002, A-side)
13. I'll Be Your Mirror – THE VELVET UNDERGROUND featuring NICO (US July 1966, Verve Records VK-10472, B-side of "All Tomorrow's Parties")
14. Heaven Must Have Sent You – THE ELGINS (US August 1966, V.I.P. Records V.I.P.-25037, A-side)
15. Stand Up Straight And Tall – JACKIE SHANE (US April 1967, Modern 45xM 1031, B-side of "You Are My Sunshine")
16. Women Is Losers – BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY (US December 1967, Mainstream 675, A-side – featuring JANIS JOPLIN on Lead Vocals)
17. No Stranger Am I – NORMA TANEGA (US March 1967, New Voice 821, B-side of "Run, On The Run" – also on the US Album "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" on New Voice 2001)
18. Pretty Golden Hair – AL STEWART (from the UK 1967 Album "Bed Sitter Images" on CBS Records S BPG 63087 in Stereo)
19. David Watts – THE KINKS (opening track on Side 1 of the April 1968 UK Extended Play 4-Track EP "The Kinks" on Pye Records NEP 24296)
20. Nothing But A Heartache – THE FLIRTATIONS (UK November 1968, Deram DM 216, A-side)
21. Stand! – SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (US March 1969, Epic 5-10450, A-side – see also Track 22 written by Sly Stone)
22.Life And Death In G & A – ABACO DREAM (US August 1969, A&M Records 1081, A-side, song written by Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone, he is not featured in this recoding by a US Rock Group from New York)
23.Nathan Jones – THE SUPREMES (US April 1971, Motown M 1182, A-side – Lead Vocalist Jean Tyrell, Diana Ross had left at this stage)
24. Walk On The Wild Side (Album Version) – LOU REED (from the November 1972 US and UK Album "Transformer" on RCA Victor LSP-4807. The LP version is 4:24 minutes with the verse censored for the US 45 at 3:57 minutes about Candy and giving head. The British UK 45 however had the full version with the naughty verse included and became a hit in April 1973 after it was re-promoted because David Bowie sang with the backing vocalists Thunderthighs as they sing Do De Do before the Ronnie Ross saxophone solo. Herbie Flowers on Double-Bass, Mick Ronson Strings, David Bowie Production)
25. Coochi-Coo – POLLY PERKINS (UK May 1973, Chapter One SCH-R 183, A-side)
26. I'maman – JOBRIATH (US May 1974, Elektra EK-45888, A-side – the title credit is run together as one word) 
27. Soul Makossa – MANU DIBANGO (French 1972 45, African Records 90.571 A, 4:24 minutes, B-side of "Hymne De La 8e Coupe D'Afrique Des Nation")
28. Law Of The Land – THE TEMPTATIONS (UK August 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 866, A-side, 4:45 minutes)

NOTES on CD1: All Tracks MONO 

Except Tracks 1, 7, 10, 15, 16, 18, 20-21 and 23-28 which are in STEREO

CD2 (77:36 minutes):
1. Get Dancin' (Single Version) – DISCO TEX AND THE SEX-O-LETTES Featuring SIR MONTI ROCK III (US September 1974, Chelsea CH 3004, A-side, 3:56 minutes)
2. Lady Marmalade (Album Version, 3:57 minutes) – LABELLE (from the November 1974 US LP "Nightbirds" on Epic KE 33075 – Produced and Arranged by Allen Toussaint)
3. Nobody's Gonna Change Me – THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS (US July 1975, Motown M 1359F, A-side – an Ashford & Simpson song)
4. Ain't Nobody Straight In L.A. – THE MIRACLES (from the September 1975 US LP "City Of Angels" on Tamla T6-339 S1)
5. I Need A Man (12" Disco Mix, 7:30 minutes) – GRACE JONES (US 1977 12" Single, Beam Junction 12-BJ 1004, A-side – Produced/Mixed by Tom Moulton)
6. I Feel Love – PATRICK COWLEY (cover version of the Donna Summer song recorded 1977 in New York and clocking in at 9:48 minutes; first issued October 2020 on the US Patrick Cowley CD Compilation "Some Funkettes" on Dark Entries DE-283CD – see also Tracks 12 and 13 for Patrick Cowley)
7. Orgasm Addict – BUZZCOCKS (UK November 1977, United Artists UP 36316, A-side)
8. F*** Off – ELECTRIC CHAIRS (UK November 1977, Sweet FA WC 1, A-side, featuring Jayne County as Lead Vocalist (credited as Wayne County), Jools Holland on keyboards)
9. Glad To Be Gay – TOM ROBINSON BAND aka TRB (from the UK January 1978 4-Track EP "Rising Free" on EMI Records EMI 2749, Track 2 on Side 1 as "Sing If You're Glad To Be Gay")
10. I Was Born This Way (12" Disco Mix, Vocal, 6:31 minutes) – CARL BEAN (US 1977 12" Single, Motown M 00008D1, A-side (Vocal))
11. Prison (12" Version, 6:25 minutes) – SPACE (Canada 1978 12" Single, Vogue VO-302, A-side)
12. Disco Dance (12" Mega Mix, Vocal, 13:40 minutes) – MICHELE (US 1978 12" Single, West End Records WES 12100, A-side – song written by Patrick Cowley, Remixed by Tom Moulton, Michele was a pseudonym for French Singer Chantal Curtis – for Patrick Cowley see also Tracks 6 and 13)
13. I Need To Love Somebody Tonight (12" Version) – SYLVESTER (US 1979 12" Single, Fantasy 12 XFTC 171, A-side - a co-write between Patrick Cowley and Sylvester James, for Patrick Cowley see also Tracks 6 and 12)

NOTES on CD2: All Tracks are STEREO

The three-flap fold-out Digipak uses every surface (including beneath the see-through CD trays) to show either rare picture sleeves or 45-single label repros and coupled with a chunky 32-page booklet makes for something of a looker. The opening 4-page preamble sets the historical scene – walking a tightrope between declared orientations and the biggest open-secret in Music and the Arts. The text is festooned with images – trade adverts for Little Richard and 'Smash Pop Hit' "Tutti-Frutti", Lesley Gore's '4th Hit In A Row' or a smiling Sly Stone as he and his gang make a "Stand!" with parapet-preaching paragraphs from Epic Records about setting yourself free. Inbetween are sheet music repros for Lou Reed, The Jaynetts and Labelle sided by rare Demo 60ts labels for The Elgins and Joey Dee abutting hard-to-find picture sleeves for The Velvet Underground, Space, The Flirtations and loads more.

Beneath discography info, each paragraph ties in the song, artist or scene the tune featured in – some songs adopted by gay men and women because of lyrics that struck a chord or a perceived secret message. Details come thick and fast – Polly Perkins and her very Suzi Quatro 1973 woman-liberating camp-rocker "Coochi-Coo" entry tells us she was with Dusty Springfield's set and once compared 'Ready Steady Go!' Or the woman who got arrested in Liverpool for the heinous act of wearing a Promo Button on the  lapel of her jacket advertising the Jayne County & The Electric Chairs single. The US burlesque shock-rocker Jayne County from Atlanta had relocated to Blighty for the Punk Revolution and called her song the ever-so-slightly out-of-jointing "(If You Don't Want To Fuck Me) Fuck Off" - her Promo button simply stated, 'FUCK OFF'. But even now, closing in on 45-years after the event, the terribly-spiff British Bobby arresting her seems shockingly reactionary for all the wrong reasons. AUDIO is by long-standing Engineer DUNCAN COWELL and apart from the dreadful Joe Meek opener – songs like the magnificent duo of "Walk On The Wild Side" and "Lady Marmalade" are punching like a mule and sporting equal clarity as they do it. To the tunes and the overall listen…

Although arriving in from another planet (Savage argues that this is how gay men must have felt) – the withdrawn Joe Meek track "I Hear A New World" with its Pinky & Perky backing vocals and acetate production values is an awful start and it is painfully obvious that this compilation should have opened with the explosive Little Richard and his stunning "Tutti-Frutti". Flamboyant and considering himself beautiful – the photo on the front cover of the cool Digipak shows an adoring male fan staring in at Richard Penniman as he fixes his hair in his car with a brush – bare-chested of course. Nicking his style wholesale – Little Richard took liberally from the Esquerita look (Eskew Reeder) whose shrieking vocals and manic piano plinks on the B-side "Rockin' The Joint" is unfortunately another irritation rather than thrill. Far better is the sly world referred to in Billy Fury's Elvis-cool "Wondrous Place" – I want to stay and never go away. Lesbians in the Kings Road of London adopted the Frank D'rone big-band bopper "Strawberry Blond (And The Band Rocked On)" probably because of the lyrics "…waltz across the floor with the chick he adored…" – a very clever choice. 

The Andy Warhol-David Bowie connection to "Foot Stompin'" by The Dovells in 1961 is a longshot but still half a decent tune and I kind of agree with the hostile reaction given by the 1961 Juke Box Jury on John Leyton and his "Johnny Remember Me" – the public thought different though and with its galloping Joe Meek production leapt to No.1. A playlist regular in the Peppermint Lounge, a 45ft Street Gay Bar in New York, we can imagine one of its patrons Andy Warhol giving it some to "Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee & The Starliters. A big fave for American gay men was the girl-group slink in "Sally, Go 'Round The Roses" where they won't tell your secret and you can let your hair down (and anything else for that matter). British Gay Men longing for love and a deeper connection in the La Duce Mod Club bopped to The Velvelettes connecting to the lyrics about how hard it is to find a good man – a "Needle In A Haystack". But much better for me is New Orleans veteran Bobby Marchan pointing his Jackie Wilson-type vocals at the fingersnappin' dancefloor – his superb dancer "Get Down With It" feeling like joy and not a bottled despair.

The arrival of the kick-the-walls-down changes of the mid 60ts are signalled by the lyrics and subtle subversion of Nico fronting The Velvet Underground. The B-side "I'll Be Your Mirror" is a tender Lou Reed love song that begs a different person to see themselves as beautiful too (Savage writes eloquently on this entry). But even that genius is whomped by the sheer in-yer-face bravery and cool in "Stand Up Straight And Tall" – Jackie Shane described as a Black American woman in a man's body – the song, an organ-grinding nightclub shuffler that is a fabulous choice for CD1. Fronting Big Brother & The Holding Company on Columbia Records and a short-stop from Woodstock fame, Janis Joplin hid her bisexuality but not her anger in "Women Is Losers" – even now it is an uncomfortable listen but Savage wants to show a full emotional-landscape. Although not very well recorded (more's the pity), the Joni Mitchell-influenced acoustic of Norma Tanega feels like the first genuine I'm-In-Love-With-You moment on the 2CD set – one woman blown away by another – it is lovely and almost naked in its intensity (I'll leave the Norma Tanega and Dusty Springfield story unfolded in the liner notes for your enjoyment).

Things take a British turn with Al Stewart celebrating more than hair that is fair in colour, The Kinks waxing lyrical about the boy's own private-school hedonism in "David Watts" (The Jam would of course memorably cover it in 1978 on their fab "All Mod Cons" album on Polydor). The US meets the UK occurs when the girly trio The Flirtations from South Carolina found they had a monster Northern Soul and Gay Anthem in Blighty – sinful loving of bad boys in their lyrics appealing. We then enter US Soul Vs. Hard Funk when Sly Stone turns up twice – first with the Family Stone (admittedly over familiar but mightily relevant to the theme) and the superb inclusion of the Hard-Funkin Abaco Dream and their "Life And Death In G & A". Written by Stone, the Abaco Dream turned out to be a New York Rock act who managed two US 45s and this one is a nugget. CD1 now sails into the sublime - "Nathan Jones" by The Supremes (Jean Tyrell fronting) flanging its way into our hearts and wiggle-butts while "Walk On The Wild Side" is just straight up genius and along with say "Green Onions" by Booker T. & The MGs practically owns the word cool and then some. But Savage goes out with a foursome bang – the Pink-and-Proud of it Polly Perkins and Jobriath songs raised their heads in 1973 above the sanctimonious media pulpits, aided by sexy gyrations from Manu DiBango and a socially-aware Temptations - Soul and Funk dominating but with African Rhythms and Norman Whitfield arrangements ("Law Of The Land" by The Temps has long been a fave-rave of mine and is a total winner). 

If I am truthful, I struggled a little with CD2. As I remember, even back in 1974, I found the Disco Tex track gimmicky and too in yer face for comfort. Far better to have opened with a genuine blast – Patti LaBelle and her band Labelle giving it some "…Voulez-vous coucher aver moi!" in the lyrics (French for I want to crochet, or should that be a word ending in k). Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash benefit from great Allen Toussaint production in "Lady Marmalade" and the Bob Crewe/Kenny Nolan song is still a huge radio play a full 50 years on, when everyone I know would rather forget the embarrassing Sex-O-Lettes crud. Motown in 1975 were supporting Gay Acts – the defiant lyrics to The Dynamic Superiors song (supplied by Ashford & Simpson) screaming about convictions and feeling strong in the face of another morning facing the detractors. Clever choice comes in the shape of The Miracles engaging in Miami Latino Rhythms with their lyrically unambiguous "Ain't Nobody Straight In L.A." (homosexuality is a part of society). More relentless Disco beats comes in the guise of ex-model Grace Jones hamming it up with "I Need A Man" – jugular-chasing a marketplace that she knows loves her. The next is an outtake of "I Feel Love" – a 10-minute cover of the Donna Summer anthem that again overstays its synth welcome. 

Although, it still packs a kick-in-the-teeth quality, "Orgasm Addict" feels weird following such a 10-minute Disco bopper, but it does line up the truly brilliant Electric Chairs "F*** Off" – a down and dirty piece of Rock & Roll with lyrics that still make me laugh (hot shit and cold turd). Wayne County sounding like he/she means it! I still find the Tom Robinson depressing – a well-meaning effort that somehow alienates its listeners – and of course the prig BBC banned it. The Carn Bean twelve-inch "I Was Born This Way" is joyous stuff – holding his head high to a lush Philly-based arrangement. Madeline Bell lays into the Vocals for Space on their slow burner "Prison" – a tune that soon gets dancefloor-bootalicious as the synths solos and bass plucks build. The near 14-minutes of Michele giving it orgasmic "Disco Dance" would test the patience of a saint - the final CD2 track "I Need Somebody To Love Tonight" by Sylvester as least feeling honest in his personal pride as the backbeats drive on and on. 

"Jon Savage's The Secret Public: How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979" will delight some (great choices) but bore others (too many long-winded Disco workouts on CD2). 

But whatever way you take your sugar in a tee-pee, Savage has done enough to open our eyes and ears and maybe even on occasion, our hearts, and minds. I liked this compilation a whole bunch. And for that I salute him and his Tutti-Frutti on a Rooty…

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings, Sparks, Mud, Suzi Quatro, T.Rex, Wizzard, The Sweet, Pilot, John Lennon, Rod Stewart, Faces, 10cc, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Golden Earring, Bryan Ferry, Mike Oldfield, Slade, Roxy Music, Cockney Rebel, Alice Cooper, Cozy Powell, David Essex, The Rubettes, Bay City Rollers, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Ace (with Paul Carrack), The Hollies, E.L.O., Andy Kim, Barry White, The Stylistics, The Isley Brothers, Limmie & The Family Cookin', Hot Chocolate, Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross, The Intruders, Johnny Bristol, Aretha Franklin, Hues Corporation, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, The Drifters, Ken Boothe, First Class, Charlie Rich, Charles Aznavour and more (May 2024 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD 82-Track Remastered Compilation in a Special Edition 28-Page Hardback Booklet) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Whatever Gets You Thru The Night..."

The 'Now Yearbook' Series of Compilations from Sony Music and EMI has touched on three for the Seventies - '1979' in September 2022, '1978' in April 2023 and '1973' in September 2023. Each has the same MO - a 4CD 'Now Yearbook' and a 3CD follow-up issued about a month later called 'Extra'. 

Here in May and June 2024 we get a fourth - '1974' - a 4CD Main with Special Edition 28-Page Hardback Book (this review), a Standard Card Sleeve Edition and a Truncated 3LP GREEN VINYL Set (all released 3 May 2024) - those followed by a 3CD Extra Companion Compilation released 7 June 2024 with 64 more songs to accompany the 82 featured on the 4CD Main (see list below for catalogue numbers and barcode details).

As with all these (mostly) cheap and cheerful releases - they concentrate on a mix of Pop and Rock on one disc while Soul and Rhythm 'n' Blues will dominate another with Discs 3 and 4 mixing it up with everything from Easy Listening to Glam to Country to Teenybopper Pop and Sixties Reissues. Some Singles and Albums were issued late 1973 but only charted in 1974.

The problem with charts in the Seventies (especially in the early years) is that genius abutted some seriously awful crud on a weekly basis and that's what you get here too. But compilers would argue that one man's Trabant is another man's Tesla - so we put the kitchen sink in and let the listener sort out the dirty dishes from the sparkling China.

As I said earlier, come this review, I opted for the more expensive but more expansive Special Edition Hardback Book version for '1974' – and I'm glad I did. Probably the nerdy collector in me, but I also notice that on the cover art you get the title as "Now Yearbook '74" – but on the book-spine it is "Now Yearbook 1974" which looks so much classier (see photo provided). A silly little point I know, but when lined up against say the "Now Yearbook 1973" hardback (which is the same) – it makes sense (why did they apostrophe the year date!). Content: great 45-single mix memories and reminders (album versions are noted) - re-discoveries that delight – awful stuff you hoped you had forgotten schmoozing upside saccharine cringes a-go-go – and spiffing audio throughout even though only eight entries give actual dates for the Remasters.

The standard card sleeve issue is roughly nine-or-ten quid for a 4CD set chocker with 82 songs (including 17 Number Ones), while my Hardback Edition (at least initially) is a pricey £16.99 (prices go down then up after they are deleted). But as I say, I love the way this Hardback Book Edition looks and feels and the info/presentation is great (I have added in catalogue numbers, release dates and chart positions – much of which is not in the standard issues).

Let's get to the Killer Queens, the Towns That Ain't Big Enough for any of us, Carl and his Kung Fu Fighting, Pool Hall Richards, Shuffling on Wall Street, Men Who Sold The World to The Most Beautiful Girl in the world whilst Emma, Annie and Mr. Soft let their respective hair blow and feet tiger in the Summer Breeze. To details...

UK released 3 May 2024 - "Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW74 - 0196588423925 (Barcode 196588423925) is a 4CD 82-song Compilation in a 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book Version that plays out as follows:

CD1 (72:12 minutes):
1. Killer Queen - QUEEN (October 1974 UK 45-Single on EMI Records EMI 2229, A-side, UK No.2 - 2011 Remaster)
2. Jet – PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS (February 1974, Apple R 5996, A-side, UK No.7 - 2010 Remaster)
3. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us – SPARKS (April 1974, Island WIP 6193, A-side, UK No.2)
4. Teenage Rampage – THE SWEET (January 1974, RCA Victor LPBO-5004, A-side, UK No.2)
5. Devil Gate Drive – SUZI QUATRO (February 1974, RAK Records RAK 167, A-side, Non-LP single on release, UK No.1)
6. Tiger Feet – MUD (January 1974, RAK Records RAK 166, A-side, UK No.1)
7. Far Far Away - SLADE (October 1974, Polydor 2058 522, A-side, UK No.2 – from the Movie and Album "Slade In Flame")
8. Magic – PILOT (January 1974, Warner Brothers K 16345, A)
9. Gonna Make You A Star – DAVID ESSEX (September 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2492, A-side, UK No.1)
10. Jealous Mind – ALVIN STARDUST (February 1974, Magnet MAG 5, A-side, UK. No.1) 
11. Sugar Baby Love – THE RUBETTES (March 1974, Polydor 2058 442, A-side, UK No.1)
12. Shang-A-Lang – BAY CITY ROLLERS (April 1974, Bell Records BELL 1355, A-side, UK No.2)
13. Billy, Don't Be A Hero – PAPER LACE (January 1974, Bus Stop Records BUS 1014, A-side, UK No. 1)
14. The Show Must Go On – LEO SAYER (November 1973, Chrysalis CGS 2023, A-side, UK No.2)
15. The Wombling Song – THE WOMBLES (October 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1794, A-side, UK No.4)
16. Kung Fu Fighting – CARL DOUGLAS (June 1974, Pye International 7N 45377, A-side, UK No.1)
17. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – BARRY WHITE (August 1974, Pye International 7N 25661, A-side, UK No.8)
18. You Are Everything – DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE (March 1974, Tamla Motown TMG 890, A-side, UK No.5)
19. You Make Me Feel Brand New (Let's Put It All Together Version) – THE STYLISTICS (April 1974, Avco 6105 028, Originally The B-side of "Only The Children", was then flipped and the A-side became a UK No.2)
20. When Will I See You Again (Single Version) – THE THREE DEGREES (June 1974, Philadelphia International S PIR 2155, A-side, UK No.1)
21. Sad Sweet Dreamer – SWEET SENSATION (July 1974, Pye International 7N 45385, A-side, UK No.1)

CD2 (77:06 minutes):
1. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me – ELTON JOHN (May 1974, DJM Records DJS 302, A-side, UK No.16 – 2017 Remaster)
2. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night – JOHN LENNON (October 1974, Apple R 5998, A-side, UK No. 36 – 2010 Remaster)
3. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet – BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE (October 1974, Mercury 6167 025, A-side, UK No.2)
4. Radar Love (UK Single Version, 3:45 minutes) – GOLDEN EARRING (November 1973, Track 2094 116, A-side, UK No.7 - see Paragraphs Below on Single Edits)
5. Dance With The Devil – COZY POWELL (October 1973, RAK Records RAK 164, A-side, UK No.3)
6. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (Single Edit at 3:38 minutes, LP version is 3:52) – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 1974, Warner Brothers K 16349, A-side, UK No.22)
7. Pool Hall Richard (Single Version, 4:24 minutes) – FACES (November 1973, Warner Brothers K 16341, A-side, UK No.8 – featuring Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and Ronnie Lane – 2006 Remaster)
8. Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Tubular Bells) – MIKE OLDFIELD (June 1974, Virgin VS 101, A-side, UK No.31 - 2009 Remaster)
9. Dark Lady – CHER (January 1974, MCA Records MCA 101, A-side, UK No.36)
10. The Man Who Sold The World – LULU (January 1974, Polydor 2001 490, A-side, UK No.3 – A David Bowie cover of his 1970 song, Lulu’s version is also produced by Bowie and features his guitarist Mick Ronson too)
11. The 'In Crowd' (Single Version, 4:16 Minutes Edit) – BRYAN FERRY (May 1974, Island WIP 6196, A-side, UK No.13 – a cover of a 1965 US RnB hit for Dobie Gray)
12. Touch Too Much – ARROWS (April 1974, RAK Records RAK 171, A-side, UK No.8 – a Chinn and Chapman production)
13. Tell Him – HELLO (August 1974, Bell Records BELL 1377, A-side, UK No.8 – also a Chinn and Chapman production)
14. The Cat Crept In – MUD (April 1974, RAK Records RAK 174, A-side, UK No.2 – a Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn production)
15. The Wall Street Shuffle – 10cc (May 1974, UK Records UK 69, A-side, UK No.10)
16. Farewell (Album Version, 4:31 minutes) – ROD STEWART (from the 1974 UK Album "Smiler" on Mercury 9104 001, No.1 LP, 45 went to No.7 – Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne plays Mandolin)
17. Everyday – SLADE (March 1974, Polydor 2058 453, A-side, UK No.3)
18. Rock Me Gently (original Version) – ANDY KIM (June 1974, Capitol CL 15787, A-side, UK No.2)
19. How Long - ACE (September 1974, Anchor Records ANC 1002, A-side, UK No.20 – song written by and featuring vocalist Paul Carrack, went on to play with Roxy Music, be in Squeeze and ex Genesis group Mike & The Mechanics and has had a huge Solo career still going in 2024)
20. The Air That Breathe – THE HOLLIES (January 1974, Polydor 2058 435, A-side, UK No.2 – an Albert Hammond song and cover version)

CD3 (73:07 minutes):
1. You're The First, The Last, My Everything (Edit, 3:25 minutes) – BARRY WHITE (October 1974, 20th Century BTC 2133, A-side, UK Chart Position No.1)
2. Get Dancin' – Part 1 – DISCO TEX and THE SEX-O-LETTES (October 1974, Chelsea 2005 013, A-side, UK No.8)
3. Rock Your Baby – GEORGE McCRAE (June 1974, Jay Boy Records BOY 85, A-side, UK No.1 - written by Harry KC Casey and Richard Finch of KC & The Sunshine Band)
4. Rock The Boat – THE HUES CORPORATION (July 1974, RCA Victor APBO-0123, A-side, UK No.6)
5. The Love I Lost (Part 1) (Single Version) – HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (November 1973, Philadelphia International S PIR 1879, A-side, UK No.21 – Blue Notes featured Teddy Prendergast – a Gamble & Huff song)
6. Hang On In There Baby – JOHNNY BRISTOL (July 1974, MGM 2006 443, A-side, UK No.3)
7. Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies – THE DRIFTERS (May 1974, Bell Records BELL 1358, A-side, UK No.2)
8. Love On A Mountain Top – ROBERT KNIGHT (October 1973, Monument S MNT 1875, A-side Reissue, UK No.10 – originally issued as a B-side of his May 1968 UK 45-single "The Power Of Lover" on Monument MON 1017 – re-entered charts in 1974 – charted on the back of Northern Soul interest)
9. (Win, Lose or Show) She's A Winner (Single Version) – THE INTRUDERS (June 1974 Reissue, Philadelphia International S PIR 2212, A-side, UK No.14 – originally issued November 1972 in the UK on Epic S EPC 8476 which did not chart)
10. A Walkin' Miracle – LIMMIE and FAMILY COOKIN' (March 1973, Avco 6105 027, A-side, UK No.6 – arrangement by Van McCoy)
11. Emma – HOT CHOCOLATE (February 1974, RAK Records RAK 168, A-side, UK No.3)
12. (Hey There) Lonely Girl – EDDIE HOLMAN (October 1974 Reissue, ABC Records ABC 4012, A-side, UK No.4 – originally UK issued by Eddie Holman January 1970 on Stateside SS 2160, A-side, but the original was by American Girl Teen act Ruby And The Romantic as "Hey There Lonely Boy" on Kapp Records (USA) K-544 in August 1963)
13. Summer Breeze (Part 1) – ISLEY BROTHERS (April 1974, Epic S EPC 2244, A-side, UK No.16)
14. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) – ARETHA FRANKLIN (January 1974, Atlantic K 10399, A-side, UK No.26)
15. Everything I Own (7" Mix) – KEN BOOTHE (May 1974, Trojan TR 7920, A-side, UK No.1)
16. Beach Baby – THE FIRST CLASS (May 1974, UK Records UK R 66, A-side, UK No.13 – featuring Tony Burrows of The Flowerpot Men, Edison Lighthouse, The Pipkins and White Plains)
17. Juke Box Jive – THE RUBETTES (November 1974, Polydor 2058 529, A-side, UK No.3)
18. Hey Rock And Roll – SHOWADDYWADDY (April 1973, Bell Records BELL 1357, A-side, UK No.2)
19. Rock N' Roll Winter (Loony's Tune) – WIZZARD (April 1974, Warner Brothers K 16357, A-side, UK No.6 – featuring Roy Wood of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra – Early Production in Mono by Steve Lilywhite of U2 and Simple Minds fame)
20. You You You – ALVIN STARDUST (August 1974, Magnet MAG 13, A-side, UK No.6 – featured Big Jim Sullivan on Guitar)
21. Teenage Dream – T.REX (January 1974, T.Rex MARC 7, A-side, UK No.13)

CD4 (68:24 minutes):
1. Band On The Run – PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS (June 1974, Apple R 5997, A-side, UK Chart Position No.3, String Arrangements Tony Visconti – 2010 Remaster)
2. Candle In The Wind – ELTON JOHN (February 1974, DJM Records DJS 297, A-side, UK No.11 – 2014 Remaster - B-side was "Bennie And The Jets" in the UK which was used as the A-side in the USA - "Candle In The Wind" was not issued as an A-side in the USA originally, it would take until 1992 when Collectables COL 4901 was issued with the track "Levon" from the 1971 album "Madman Across The Water" on its flipside)
3. I Honestly Love You – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (September 1974, EMI Records EMI 2216, A-side, UK No.22 – was issued in other territories (Australia, USA, Canada) as "I Love You, I Honestly Love You" – won a Grammy for Best Record of the Year and Best Female Vocal of the Year)
4. Seasons In The Sun – TERRY JACKS (March 1974, Bell Records BELL 1344, A-side, UK No.1)
5. Summerlove Sensation – BAY CITY ROLLERS (July 1974, Bell Records BELL 1369, A-side, UK No.3)
6. Honey Honey – SWEET DREAMS (May 1974, Bradleys BRAD 7408, A-side, UK No.10 – an Abba cover version (the first) and featuring Polly Brown on Lead Vocals formerly of Pickettywitch)
7. Born With A Smile On My Face – STEPHANIE De SYKES (with Rain) (June 1974, Bradleys BRAD 7409, A-side, UK No.2 – the song was written by Roger Holman and Simon May of her backing group Rain)
8. You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me – THE NEW SEEKERS (November 1973, Polydor 2058 421, UK No.1 – their second UK No.1 and the first No.1 of 1974 – group featured lead-singer Lyn Paul)
9. I See A Star – MOUTH & MacNEAL (March 1974, Decca FR 13504, A-side, UK No.8)
10. Long Tall Glasses – LEO SAYER (September 1974, Chrysalis CHS 2052, A-side, UK No.4)
11. Amateur Hour – SPARKS (July 1974, Island WIP 6203, A-side, UK No.7)
12. Mr. Soft – COCKNEY REBEL (July 1974, EMI Records EMI 2191, A-side, UK No.8, 2012 Remaster – featuring Steve Harley)
13. All I Want Is You – ROXY MUSIC (October 1974, Island WIP 6208, A-side, UK No.12, 2012 Remaster – featuring Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Production from Brian Eno)
14. The Six Teens – SWEET (July 1974, RCA Victor LPBO-5037, A-side, UK No.9 – a Chinn/Chapman Production)
15. Vado Via – DRUPI (September 1973, A&M Records AMS 7082, A-side, UK No.17 – Italian Singer Giampiero Anelli)
16. Go (Before You Break My Heart) – GIGLIOLA CINQUETTI (April 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2294, A-side, UK No.8 – Eurovision Song Contest entry)
17. Annie's Song - JOHN DENVER (July 1974, RCA Victor APB0 0295, A-side, UK No.1 – UK picture sleeve repro on Page 19)
18. The Most Beautiful Girl – CHARLIE RICH (November 1973, Epic S EPC 1897, A-side, UK No.2 – a No.1 in the USA)
19. She – CHARLES AZNAVOUR (May 1974, Barclay BAR 26, A-side, UK No.1 – subtitled (Theme from the TV Series "Seven Faces Of Woman")
20. Lonely This Christmas – MUD (November 1974, RAK Records RAK 187, A-side, UK No.1 – a Chinn/Chapman Production)

The booklet inside the Hardback Special Edition is a feast and has juicy fan-boy titbits like David Paton of Pilot was in a pre-fame line-up of teen sensations Bay City Rollers but redeemed that life of screaming girlies in Tartan by playing Acoustic Guitar on Kate Bush's No.1 "Wuthering Heights" in 1978. How about that ace-axeman Chris Spedding played guitar on the David Essex original "Gonna Make You A Star" or that the now classic 1973 album "Band On The Run" by Paul McCartney and Wings took seven months to rise to No.1 - initially entering the UK charts at a lowly placing of No. 45 in December 1973 (which now seems unimaginable) but classic single releases like "Jet" and the brilliant three-parter title track (String Arrangements by Tony Visconti of Bowie and T.Rex fame) made short shift of that. Speaking of Marc Bolan, the Get It On star adds extra guitar to "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" from ELO's third album "On The Third Day", their first without founder member Roy Wood who had departed for Wizzard (Jeff Lynne took over completely from this album onwards).

Or how about the rare picture sleeve to Virgin VS 101 pictured on Page 9, the future-airline's first 45 for Mike Oldfield from the all-conquering "Tubular Bells". Collectors of Serious Rock Music will also notice from the onslaught of details how staggeringly successful labels like Bell Records and RAK were – so often tapping into the teen zeitgeist by doing angst-ridden mush or cod Rock and Roll dashed with a little fay rebellion and even (dare we say it) sex. Bell Records especially – the home of the Bay City Rollers, David Cassidy, Terry Jacks, Hello and The Rubettes – smashed it chartwise and yet (in truth) have little collectability in 2024 (I was and still am a secret David Cassidy admirer – wrote a poem about him and his effect on my sisters in the early Seventies). The Chinn and Chapman reign of hits on RAK Records is quite astonishing – regular chart toppers or if not, in at No. 2 or No.3. In fact I can see a Box Set being due for the songs and production chops of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.

MICHAEL MULLIGAN provided the liner notes for all releases and thanks The Official Charts for dates and highest poll positions. The AUDIO is uniformly fab throughout with specific Remaster dates noted in the track list pages at the rear. This compilation sounds great and at times – startling. To the music…

CD1 opens with a great run from Queen, Paul McCartney & Wings, Sparks, Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Slade and hell – even Pilot pleases. The clarity is seriously impressive right across the board and as you travel into David Essex and his big moment "Gonna Make You A Star" – a notoriously difficult tune to get good audio on – but here it shines (those huge synths). Things start to spiral down with the Echoed Cod R and R of "Jealous Mind" and the wailing vocals of The Rubettes. They get into cringe territory with Bay City Rollers and Paper Lace while Leo Sayer does well with a gutsy vocal on "The Show Must Go On". The less said about The Wombles the better. Soul, Disco and R&B start to show with Carl Douglas, Barry White and the Diana Ross/Mavin Gaye duet. But while Marvin and Diana get seriously swoonsome with their popular "You Are Everything", it is The Stylistics who own my ticker with their lovely "You Make Me Feel Brand New" featuring two lead vocals – Airrion Love and Russell Thompkins. Jr. (initially a B-side flipped to the A after DJ reactions). CD1 closes with soppy Soul – The Three Degrees giving it Philly ah and ooh while Sweet Sensation doing Sad Sweet Dreamer put it down to experience.

CD2 ups the game considerably with seven corkers in a row – the huge riffage of "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" by Electric Light Orchestra here in its single-edit form, Jeff Lynne roaring brill with help from Marc Bolan on Guitar, John Lennon getting funky with "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" from the excellent "Walls And Bridges" album and Elton going George Michael-soulful with "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". But fun comes in the shape of the best-boozy-boys Faces giving it some on "Poolhall Richard" (watch those broken bottles lads) and Cozy Powell whack that kit for "Dance With The Devil" – both rockers hugely enjoyable and sounding super-duper. But for collectors there is the excitement of a quiet coup: as far back as five years ago I bemoaned the lack of a decent overhaul of Golden Earring's hugely popular album "Moontan" from 1973 on Track Records that sports the fabulous "Radar Love". Then came Red Bullet out of the Netherlands who did a Deluxe and Expanded 2CD version in September 2021 with both the LP version of "Radar Love" at 6:21 minutes and a single edit at 3:45 minutes. But there are American Edits at 2:52 and 5:02 minutes – the longer one has been used on 80s British reissues. Well Now Yearbook 1974 is making the UK Single Edit at 3:45 minutes more widely available here and it's licensed from RB in Remastered form so it sounds great – a cleaner leap from those early 80s MCA versions that used that horrible reissue artwork. Note: the rear artwork of Now 1974 does not advise "Radar Love" is a Single Edit but the pages inside and CD itself credit UK Single Edit at 3:45 minutes.

Cher might have gone to No.1 in the USA with "Dark Lady" but it sounds a tad dated to me, better is Lulu becoming impossibly hip with Bowie and Ronson (who both play, sing and produce) as she does David's "The Man Who Sold The World". But good as that is, in terms of sheer Art-Rock-Cool, it doesn't get better than Bryan Ferry's inspired and ever-so-slightly unhinged cover version of the Dobie Gray 1965 R & B classic "The 'In Crowd'" presented to us as a 4:16 minutes edit. Dressing fine, making time, out of sight – the Virgin Remaster is huge and when those geetars and brass come at you – you will know (show us a real good time). Shaking from my head to the bottom of my toes – The Arrows are concerned with fevers of 90-above on their Eddie Cochran-esque "Touch Too Much" – a far better listen than I remember – like cool Sweet. Continuing the cover version tack, glamsters Hello give us a guitar-crunching very Bell Records meets RAK Records stab at "Tell Him" – the 1963 R&B anthem by The Exciters. 

A clever follow comes in the shape of Mud giving it loads of dual-guitars on "The Cat Crept In". But that is whomped by evolving 10cc brilliance in "The Wall Street Shuffle" – a crucial cut from their second album "Sheet Music" in 1974 – fabulous lyrics, production and big muscle from the Remaster. Very clever follow with Rod Stewart and that huge acoustic/mandolin sound he got on Mercury Records – the gorgeous "Farewell" feeling like world-class Faces or Slim Chance – surely one of the gems waiting for you on this 1974 hodgepodge. Ballads play out CD2 with Slade getting mellow for "Everyday", a gorgeously clear Remaster for Andy Kim discovering his inner Neil Diamond with "Rock Me Gently" – but again as good as they once were – they are floor-wiped by Paul Carrack as Lead Vocalist in Ace as they produce what must be one of the top ten greatest singles of the Seventies - "How Long". What a tune! And the Remaster is so sweet. CD2 comes to a satisfying end with another slice of British ballad genius in "The Air That I Breathe" by The Hollies – Alan Clark smartly revamping the 1973 Albert Hammond song into a strings and melody-based gem that the public everywhere still adores 50 years after the event.

CDs3 and CD4 offer up Soul and R &B with Barry White, Harold Melvin, The Drifters, The Intruders and the gorgeous Isley Brothers tune "Summer Breeze". It then morphs into Glam and Pop-Rock – T.Rex sounding ever so slightly unconvincing with "Teenage Dream" while Alvin Stardust already sounds like he’s going through the Pop Star motions. Particularly sweet are Eddie Holman and a later Aretha flourish. Disc 4 ahs four genuine stormers in Paul McCartney, Elton John, Roxy Music and Sparks but too much of the rest is saccharine with only Charlie Rich and maybe Charles Aznavour lifting proceedings. Speaking of replacements... 

MISSING IN ACTION: We should also mention some biggies that aren't on Now Yearbook 1974 or 1974 Extra and could/should have been (probably because of licensing problems) - "Pick Up The Pieces" by Average White Band, "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton, "Boogie Down" by Eddie Kendricks, "Dreamer" by Supertramp, "Let's Straighten It Out" by Latimer, "Photograph" or "You're Sixteen" by Ringo Starr, "It's Only Rock & Roll" by The Rolling Stones, the fantastic "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie. And where is "I Can Help" by Billy Swan or "Angie Baby" by Anne Murray – both US No.1s - or Abba's Eurovision beginning with "Waterloo" which became their first UK No.1 and began a Blighty love affair with the group that has lasted half a century?

Deep dive cuts could also have included a few roasty-toasties in the shape of "Pinball" by Brian Protheroe, "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" by Yvonne Fair, "Jarrow Song" by Alan Price, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" by Steely Dan, "Homely Girl" by The Chi-Lites, "Amoureuse" by Kiki Dee, "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" by Bad Company, "Living For The City", "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" or "You Ain't Done Nothin'" by Stevie Wonder, "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot, "Roll Away The Stone" by Mott The Hoople or even "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. How about "Best Of My Love" by Eagles – a November 1974 US hit that took until January 1975 for a UK 45-release – but what a tune. And I know it didn't officially chart in Blighty or their native USA until re-promotion in 1976, but I would have had the magnificent "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates – issued November 1974 in the UK and USA but to no takers (rules be-damned - it's too glorious to exclude).

As I say – these Now Yearbook sets infuriate as much as they enliven but with so many tracks (part cool, part cliff-sheer nostalgia), great audio and a reasonable price tag that will probably drop even further as time goes on - "Now Yearbook '74" is to be recommended to even the most sceptical…

NOW YEARBOOK '74 UK Discography

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW74 - 0196588423925 (Barcode 196588423925) – released 3 May 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW74 - 0196588423826 (Barcode 196588423826) – released 3 May 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track Eight-Panel Card Sleeve Standard Edition

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW74 - 01965884240141 (Barcode 1965884240141) – released 3 May 2024 as a 3LP GREEN VINYL Edition with 48-Tracks Truncated down from the 4CD edition.

"Now Yearbook Extra '74 - 64 More Essential Hits From 1974" on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW74 - 0196588903021 (Barcode 196588903021) – released 7 June 2024 as a 3CD 64-Track Companion Volume in a Tri-Gatefold Card Sleeve

White Man Successfully Sings The Blues...Deacon Blue doing "Fergus Sings The Blues" in 2023

"Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" by THOM BELL [Various Artists] - Featuring The Delfonics, The Chargers, Spinners, Eloise Laws, The Stylistics, Ronnie Dyson, Elton John, New York City, Deniece Williams, Lou Rawls, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis, Jerry Butler and more (May 2024 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Everything He Does Seems To Come Out Right..."

"Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" is entry number two in Ace's compilation appraisals of Philadelphia Sound legend THOM BELL (the first was "Ready Or Not..." in 2020, see CD list below) - a hugely influential and commercially successful Soul and R&B Producer and Songwriter.

In his sweet-thang travels, Bell roped in the talents of other hip arranger-names like Tony Randazzo and Burt Bacharach and along with songwriters like Linda Creed, Deniece Williams, Norman Harris, Kenneth Gamble and others - Bell poured on the lush strings, subtle horn charts, plaintive oboes and tinkling chimes - matching them with expressive singers and lurve lyrics. The results across 20-songs and almost eighty-minutes playing time is a lovely listen that only ever slightly falters in a few places. Mostly, you're whomped with a wall of classy tunes presented in that Philly Sound way. To the kissin' details...

UK released Friday, 31 May 2024 - "Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" by THOM BELL (through Various Artists) on Ace Records/Kent Soul CDTOP 522 (Barcode 029667110624) is a 20-Track CD compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (79:47 minutes, all tracks US 45s unless otherwise stated):

1. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - THE DELFONICS (December 1969, Philly Groove 161, A-side)

2. You Gotta Be A Lady - THE CHARGERS (December 1971, Vanguard VRS 35146, A-side)

3. The Rubberband Man - SPINNERS (August 1976, Atlantic 45-3355, A-side)

4. Got You Into My Life - ELOISE LAWS (from the 1980 US-LP "Eloise Laws" on Liberty Records LT-1063)

5. You Are Everything - THE STYLISTICS (October 1971, Avco AV-4581, A-side)

6. Give In To Love - RONNIE DYSON (from the 1973 US LP "One Man Band" on Columbia Records KC 32211 - CBS Records S 65551 in the UK)

7. Nice And Slow - ELTON JOHN (from the 1989 US LP "The Complete Thom Bell Sessions" on MCA Records MCA-39115)

8. Take My Hand - NEW YORK CITY (October 1975, Chelsea CH 3031, A-side)

9. Silly - DENIECE WILLIAMS (July 1981, ARC Records 18-02406, A-side - November 1981 UK on CBS Records A1535)

10. Then You Came - DIONNE WARWICKE & SPINNERS (July 1974 as Atlantic 45-3029 - re-released August 1974 as Atlantic 45-3202, A-side)

11. Will You Kiss Me One More Time - LOU RAWLS (June 1982, Epic 14-02999, A)

12. Lazy Susan - LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (from the 1973 US LP "On A New Street" on Avco AV-11012-598)

13. Betcha By Golly, Wow - THE STYLISTICS featuring Russell Thompkins Jr. (February 1972, Avco AV-4591, A-side)

14. Joe - NANCY WILSON (from the 1970 US LP "Now I'm A Woman" on Capitol ST-451 in Stereo)

15. Loving You-Losing You - JOHNNY MATHIS (February 1977, Columbia 3-10496, A-side)

16. Walking Around In Teardrops - JERRY BUTLER (from the 1969 US LP "Ice On Ice"on Mercury SR-61234 in Stereo)

17. Nobody Knows It - BELL & JAMES [LeRoy Bell and Casey James] (from the 1979 US LP "Only Make Believe" on A&M Records SP-4784)

18. Let Somebody Love Me - PHYLLIS HYMAN (from the 1983 US LP "Goddess Of Love" on Arista AL 9619)

19. One In A Million (Guy) - DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (from the 1980 US LP "Dee Dee Bridgewater" on Elektra 6E-306)

20. Brandy - THE O'JAYS (August 1978, Philadelphia International ZS8 3652, A-side)

The 16-page colour booklet offers liner notes from BOB STANLEY that includes a 2020 interview with THOM BELL. Each artist and song are discussed in detail, the single label repros and LP covers displayed on the left and right of the text along with other memorabilia like sheet music and trade paper adverts (there's a lovely photo of Bell smiling beside Dionne Warwicke as side-by-side heroes grace the front cover of the 'Blues & Soul' magazine - yours at the time for the princely sum of one dollar or 30 new pence UK). It's the usual classy affair from Ace - and the fantastic audio from long-standing Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL only sweetens a very cool listen. To the chunes...

The CD opens with an acknowledged classic of the Philly genre - "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" by The Delfonics lending the compilation its recognisable title. Not so sure The Chargers (from 1971) would pass much muster with 2024 women by singing their "You Gotta Be A Lady" - more likely to get cancelled for an opinion way too outdated. The Spinners (known at The Detroit Spinners in the UK) do their thing - lyrics from "The Rubberband Man" titling this review. The Disco-Soul-Funk of "Got You Into My Life" has Eloise Laws milking that Philly Disco rhythm for all its worth - a relentlessly upbeat dancer. But if I'm honest I prefer the swoon of The Stylistics - such memories of that girl that whomped your senses - their "You Are Everything" being one of those 'each face that I see brings back memories of being with you' songs - the Remaster may be a teeny bit hissy in places, but for 1971 Avco Soul it's pretty much definitive. This is followed by another slice of 'lurve' gorgeousness with Ronnie Dyson wrenching emotion out of every line in the string-laden "Give In To Love" - the Ronster asking his gal to have faith (sweet Remastered audio).  

There's an unfortunate repetitiveness to Elton John's "Nice And Slow" - better is the Bop Soul of "Take My Hand" - a great Remaster giving New York City's moment a quietly luscious oomph - ex Five Satins, Cadillacs and Moonglows members giving their vocals fabulous expressiveness. Deniece Williams puts in a sweetly delicate vocal on the clear-as-a-bell "Silly" - a plea for love to stop making her do foolish things - a deserved No. 11 Billboard R&B chart placing (check out those staggeringly skilful arrangements). Genius is what you would call the pairing of Dionne Warwick with the perfect-match of lead vocalist Philippe Wynne of The Stylistics where he shadows her powerhouse voice rather than outdo the lady - like a match to Diana Ross and Marvin at their duet best. 

But while I normally can't get enough of the cavernous vocals of Lou Rawls, his "Will You Kiss Me One More Time" is too cheesy by far – and Little Anthony with his Imperials sound uncomfortable with the song and themes of "Lazy Susan". Better by a long oar is a tasty twosome from The Stylistics doing the lovely Prince-covered "Betcha By Golly, Wow" followed by a breathy Nancy Wilson doing a classy number on "Joe" - a man she pleads with the public to find saspo. Chasing that Disco dollar, one-time crooner and LGBTQ-icon Johnny Mathis makes a good fist of the ache in "Loving You, Losing You". Another huge persona in the history of Soul, Jerry Butler blasts your speakers with primo 1969 Soul lushness – his typically dramatic delivery in "Walking Around In Teardrops" making you feel like the man might die any second now. Clever follow and comp genius-choice comes with the 1979 uber-smooch of "Nobody Knows It" from Bell & James (ex-Special Blend songwriters LeRoy Bell and Casey James). From the second of three albums "Only Make Believe" - this is surely the discovery on this CD for fans like me – a beautifully produced winner. "Nobody Knows It" by Bell & James is a Ronn Mattlock "Love City" moment for me (check out that stunning album also from 1979 on Atlantic Records reissued on CD by Rhino).

The compilation romps home with a pleasing trio – Eighties times two with Phyliss Hyman and Dee Dee Bridgewater – but culminates with bona fide class from The O'Jays and their fabulous "Brandy" – the kind of emotive memory-jogging Seventies Soul that me reaching for the tissue box – "...played a few bars of a melody and it sounded so sweet to me..." indeed.

"Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" by Thom Bell comes close to perfect, but I personally could have done without some of those 80ts cheesy offerings (so four stars). But make no mistake, if you ever wanted proof of Philly Sound classiness and what a warm-sounding legacy Thom Bell has left us – then look no further my Afro Lovers than this. Gotta shimmy in babycakes…my lurve can't wait (oh dear)…

Other THOM BELL CD Compilations from Ace Records/Kent Soul of the UK

And Philly Soul Sound recommendations (all reviewed):

1. Thom Bell - "Ready Or Not: Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978" 

UK released 25 June 2020, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 488 (Barcode 029667098021)

2. Various Artists - "Nothing But A House Party: The Birth Of The Philly Sound 1967-1971"

UK released 26 May 2017, Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 466 (Barcode 029667083829)

3. Various Artists - "Psychedelic Soul Produced by Norman Whitfield" 

UK released 27 August 2021, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 504 (Barcode 029667103121)

4. Earl Young - "Groove Machine: The Earl Young Drum Sessions"

UK released 24 February 2024, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 1629 (Barcode 029667109925)