"Right On! Vol. 3 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Volume 3 of 5 – Featuring 18 Tracks from 1967 to 1974 by The Fabulous Counts, The Soul Survivors, David Newman, Phil Moore Jnr, Memphis Horns, Shirley Scott, Earth, Wind & Fire, Young-Holt Unlimited, The Beginning Of The End, Keith Jarrett, Richard Evans, Allen Toussaint (with The Meters), Little Richard, Claudia Lennear, Black Heat and more (June 2001 UK Warner/ESP CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky..."

Sometime in the late Nineties, the UK branch of Warner Brothers (or WEA to us in the know) seemed to suddenly get hip to the public's needs. And WEA did this at the exact moment they also sheepishly realised they'd an abundance of riches in their glorious back catalogue to meet those cravings.

I recall the 3 sets of "Funk Drops", 3 more for Northern Soul in "After Hours", 2 for Philly in "Crème De La Creme", more Soul, Funk and Gospel rarities in "You Better Believe It" - and on it went. 

Which brings us to here – the superlative "Right On!" series of compilations (on CD and 2LP VINYL Sets) that tapped the Funkier side of Jazz, Fusion and Rock albums issued on Atlantic, Atco, Cotillion, San Francisco, Reprise, Alston and of course Warner Bros between 1967 and 1975. So, September 1999 through to August 2004 saw Five Volumes of "Right On!" in all with a 4CD mop-up 'Box Set' in-between for Volumes 1 to 3 that contained a fourth Bonus Disc of 6 Rare Tracks. 

Suddenly, underground names held in collector awe like Eugene McDaniels, David Axelrod, David Newman, Funk Factory, Black Heat, Young-Holt Unlimited, Memphis Horns, Shirley Scott, The Beginning of The End, Claudia Lennear (lyrics from her song titles this review), Keith Jarrett and loads more got pride of place and new recognition. And much to the joy of collectors/album fetishists alike - the "Right On!" series was also backed up by 2LP VINYL sets, all of which boasted a lone Bonus Track over their CD counterpart (see Discography below).

Remastered and compiled with serious smarts by CHAS CHANDLER and STUART KIRKHAM (Comp Producer Florence Halfon) – these comps quickly became a way for cash-strapped fans and other genre-curious-types of getting rare and largely forgotten Funk and Soul for a decent price (I diligently pickled up each as they appeared). Frankly all five volumes are filled with Mr. Cool and still relatively cheap too in 2025 (at least the first three are) - so let's get busy with a highlight in the series - Door Number Three...to the details...

UK released 11 June 2001 - "Right On! Vol. 3 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" on Warner/ESP 9548392072 (Barcode 095483920723) is a 18-Track CD/19-Track 2LP compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (71:33 minutes - CD):

1. Moment Of Pain – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (from the March 1971 US Debut LP "Earth, Wind & Fire" on Warner Brothers WS 1905)

2. Wah Wah Man – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from their seventh album "Born Again" released October 1971 in the USA on Cotillion SD 18004 – featuring Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt with ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardists Bobby Lyle and Kenneth Chaney – Guests include Donny and Eulalah Hathaway on Backing Vocals) 

3. Goin' Down – ALLEN TOUSSAINT (from his second album "Life, Love And Faith" released July 1972 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2060 – backing band is The Meters)

4. Jan Jan – THE FABULOUS COUNTS (from the August 1969 US Debut LP "Jan Jan" on Cotillion SD 9011 in Stereo – written by Keyboardist Mose Davis of the bands Moses (1978) and Free Spirit (2003) – The Fabulous Counts aka The Counts also included Guitarist Leroy Emmanuel)

5. Mama Soul – SOUL SURVIVORS (from their second studio album "Take Another Look" released January 1969 in the USA on Atco SD 33-277 in Stereo – while much of the album was produced by Gamble & Huff - this song was Produced by Rick Hall of Fame Studios, the Muscle Shoals Southern Soul Sound)

6. Nuki Suki – LITTLE RICHARD (from the studio album "The Second Coming" released September 1972 in the USA on Reprise RS 2107)

7. When She Made Me Promise – THE BEGINNING OF THE END (from the November 1971 US LP "Funky Nassau" on Alston SD 33-379 in Stereo)

8. You Should've Listened – BLACK HEAT (from the March 1974 US Second LP "No Time To Burn" on Atlantic SD 7294 – written by Guitarist Bradley Owens)

9. Messie Bessie – SHIRLEY SCOTT (from the February 1970 US LP "Something" on Atlantic SD 1561 in Stereo – Shirley Scott on Keyboards with Guests Eric Gale and Billy Butler on Guitars, Charles Rainey on Bass with Ralph McDonald and Jimmy Johnson on Percussion and Drums)

10. Bumpin' On Young Street – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from the February 1973 US LP "Oh Girl" on Atlantic SD 1634 – a Bobby Lyle song featuring Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt with ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardists Bobby Lyle and Kenneth Chaney)

11. It's Love – THE YOUNG RASCALS (from the July 1967 US Third Studio LP "Groovin'" on Atlantic SD 8148 in Stereo – Lead Vocalist Felix Cavalieri with Atlantic Records Guest Hubert Laws on Flute) 

12. Funky Canyon – PHIL MOORE JR. (from his third US LP "Right On" released July 1969 on Atlantic SD 1530 in Stereo – written by Organist Phil Moore III – Guests Also Included Guitarist Steve Khan, Keyboards from Clarence McDonald with Bass and Drums by Wilton Felder and Nesbert "Stix" Hooper of the (then) Jazz Crusaders - later as The Crusaders)

13. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky - CLAUDIA LENNEAR (from her US Debut LP "Phew!" released January 1973 on Warner Brothers BS 2654 – an Allen Toussaint song (one of five on her album) featuring (amongst others) Arthur Adams and Marlin Greene on Guitars, Spooner Oldham on Electric Piano, Harold Battiste, Jr and Gene Cipriano on Saxophones with Allen Toussaint on Backing Vocals)

14. Soul Bowl – MEMPHIS HORNS (from the US Debut LP "Memphis Horns" released February 1970 on Cotillion SD 9014 in Stereo – features Saxophonist and Producer Andrew Love, Saxophonist Floyd Newman, Trumpeter, Trombonist and Producer Wayne Jackson, Guitarist Charlie Freeman and Keyboards from Don Chandler) 

15. Shiloh – DAVID NEWMAN (from his third US LP "The Many Facets Of David Newman" released July 1969 on Atlantic SD 1524 in Stereo – features David Newman on Flute, Joe Zawinul (later with Weather Report) on Piano with Richard Davis on Bass and Bruno Carr on Drums)

16. Let Me Fix It – BROOK BENTON (from the US LP "Home Style" released August 1970 on Cotillion SD 9028 in Stereo – Written and Sung by Brook Benton with Backing Vocals from Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations, Rhythm Section by The Dixie Flyers, Saxophone from King Curtis and Production by Arif Mardin) 

17. Mortgage On My Soul (Wah-Wah) – KEITH JARRETT (from his studio album "Birth" released May 1972 on Atlantic SD 1612 in Stereo – recorded July 1971 - LP featuring Keith Jarrett on Keyboards and Saxophone with guests Charlie Haden on Bass and Dewey Redman on Tenor Saxophone)

18. Angela, My Sister – RICHARD EVANS (from the US LP "Dealing With Hard Times" released February 1972 on Atlantic SD 1604 in Stereo – Richard Evans plays Bass, Arranges and Produces with guests Phil Upchurch on Guitar, Odell Brown on Organ and Leonard Druss on Flute)

The gatefold slip of paper that masquerades as a booklet offers very basic Discography info on the inner two-page spread with a single-page rear set of liner notes from the compilers. You get no photos of those funky and rare LP sleeves – no musician credits - Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations guesting with Brook Benton, Allen Toussaint and Arthur Adams with Claudea Lennear, members of The Crusaders with Phil Moore Jr., Joe Zawinul of Weather Report with David Newman, The Meters of New Orleans with Allen Toussaint and so on (my notes provide those details after each entry).

But "Right On! Vol. 3…" hammers where it matters – the Audio is fantastic even if like the first and second volumes from 1999 and 2000 - there are no mastering credits anywhere on this CD. The Funk is most deaf-in-ite-ly in the ascendancy here so when you play this beast the music hits you with unapologetic breaks - Drums and Saxophones and Bass Lines getting high-ya - rattling out of your speakers like a show-off Reggae Stack in Notting Hill. Now - to the actual content...

Not surprising to any Funk nut, all three Volumes dig into the Earth, Wind & Fire debut LPs catalogue on Warner Brothers Records before they signed with Columbia for a world-beating run of winners and success. "Moment Of Pain" is more blatantly 70ts Funk – a fabulous opener from EWF. Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardists Bobby Lyle and Kenneth Chaney made up the super-cool Young-Holt Unlimited – so their Flanged Guitar and Vocal "Wah Wah" is both Rhythm Sexy and Fun. Proper New Orleans genius and underground hero Allen Toussaint gets down with The Meters on his choice-cut "Goin' Down" (see my separate review for the must-have Raven Records compilation from August 2015 called "Toussaint: The Real Thing 1970-1975" that gathers up three LPs onto 2CDs including the one used here "Life, Love And Faith"). 

While The Fabulous Counts do the butt-wiggling business with their LP title track "Jan Jan" – Northern Soul Dancers are liable to bust a nut let alone a blood vessel for the wickedly good "Mama Soul" by The Soul Survivors – a classy Soul-Funk obscurity from early 1969 that deserves to be bloody huge. Little could hold back the-beauty-on-duty – 50ts Rock and Roller Little Richard getting seriously boot-tay with right-now people on his fantastic Grooveathon tune "Nuki Suki" (the full 5:28 minute LP version) – the band given the chance to stretch out and let rip like The Meters and The JBs are competing for Funky trophies as the Boss James Brown looks on with a stop-watch (gimme some).

Was not expecting The Beginning Of The End Santana-like instrumental "When She Made Me Promise" to be so good even if it is (fair warning) not exactly an audiophile recording marvel (cracking inclusion though). Next up is blasting Audio Goodness in the Brass and Flutes warning song from Black Heat (father told me when I was young) – where you can so hear why this band and the LP with "You Should've Listened" on it are so sought after. The hairy-chested man in a lift organ-cool instrumental "Messie Bessie" by Shirley Scott also features equally cool licks from guitarists Eric Gale and Billy Butler (check out her fab groovy cover version of The Isley Brothers' late 60ts killer "It's Your Thing" on Volume 2 of this series). Drum breaks and Bass plucks ahoy on the mucho-sampled Funk vs. Lounge Music Young-Holt Unlimited cut "Bumpin' On Young Street" – another day at the office work out for them – but what a gem and clever compilation inclusion.

The groovin' slightly Psych-period Young Rascals with Felix Cavalieri singing lead - rope in the Flute talents of Hubert Laws to weird and hipster up "It's Love" and it works. But better for me is the brilliant vibes-groover "Funky Canyon" by Phil Moore Jr. that includes fantastic guests who make all the difference including Guitarist Steve Khan, Keyboards from Clarence McDonald with Bass and Drums by Wilton Felder and Nesbert "Stix" Hooper of The Crusaders. If the last two were off topic a tad, the drop-dead gorgeous Claudia Lennear (said to the be the inspiration behind "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones) absolutely hammers it good with her "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky" aided and ably abetted by songwriter and New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint and the guitar chops of Arthur Adams as well as a whole host of other Funky luminaries. 

Final run of five includes brilliance from the Memphis Horns – their "Soul Bowl" being the kind of instrumental that sweaty DJs would bite your hand off for. I prefer to start the David Newman flute-driven groover "Shiloh" at 1:00 minute exactly to avoid the unnecessary Rotary Connection-ish lead-in (I know people go mad for this almost Native American Indian Chant vs. Fusion Funk Fest). Fun and old-school class exude from the Arif Mardin produced Brook Benton track – "Let Me Fix It" being his timber-voiced crooner attempt at getting down with the street – and succeeding (Cissy Houston and The Sweet Sensations join in on Duet and backing Vocals while Mike Utley of The Dixie Flyers provides the fantastic groovy organ). In all honesty, I can do without the final two but I know some who love the strangulated Keith Jarrett and the strange Richard Evans entries. So, to sum up, like its two cheapish predecessors (covering 1967 to 1975) - "Right On! Volume 3…" is another brilliant little CD play that will make you want to own the whole series (see list below accurate to January 2025).

In the late Sixties and especially into the first half of the Seventies - across the pond Funk, Soul, Latin, Jazz and Fusion was at its fabulous inventive best. And on Volume 3 of this series – you can so hear why - because at about 3:50 minutes into the Young-Holt Unlimited instrumental "Bumpin' On Young Street" (Track 10) – the keyboards and complimentary band enter such a sexy groove – it may in fact need to be patented and bottled for future posterity.

"Right On!" indeed...

RIGHT ON! 

CD and Vinyl 2LP Series by Warners UK 

A List of Releases

1. Right On! Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 1967-1975 
CD, 17-Tracks: released 27 September 1999 UK on Warner/ESP Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548378052 (Barcode 095483780525) - 67:23 minutes
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: released September 1999 UK on Warner/Atlantic Reprise 9548-378041 (Barcode 95483780401) – Bonus is "North Carolina" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 9:20 minutes

2. Right On! Vol.2: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: released Monday, 29 May 2000 UK on Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548384002 (Barcode 095483840021) - 69:30 minutes
VINYL, 20-Track 2LP-set: Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548-38401-1 (Barcode 095483840113) – Bonus is "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 5:55 minutes

3. Right On! Vol.3: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 18-Tracks: released Monday, 11 June 2001 on Warner Music UK 9548392072 (Barcode 095483920723) - 71:33 minutes
VINYL, 19-Track 2LP-set: Warner Music UK 9548392061 (Barcode 095483920617) – Bonus Track is "Can you Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 5:51 minutes

4. Right On! Vol.4: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: 26 August 2002 UK Warner Strategic Marketing UK 0927-42567-2 (Barcode 809274256720) - 69:42 minutes
VINYL, 20-Tracks 2LP set: Warner Strategic Marketing 9274-6388-1 - Bonus Track is "Respect Yourself" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 6:50 minutes

5. Right On! Vol. 5: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD: 17-Tracks: 26 January 2004 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 5046691472 (Barcode 5050466914729)
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: Warner Strategic Marketing 5046696401 (Barcode 5050466964014) – Bonus Track is "Schirokko" by Passport, last track on Side 4 – 5:44 minutes

6. Right On! Box Set: Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
2001 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 092 740477 2 (Barcode 809274047724) 
4CD 67-Track Box Set housed in Book Packaging containing CD Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Series (61 Tracks) with a further fourth Bonus CD of Six Tracks. 

The six bonuses for the Box Set are (1) "People Say" by The Meters, (2) "Fried Okra" by The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, (3) "Can You Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, (4) "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, (5) "People" by Graham Central Station and (6) "North Carolina" by Les McCann.

Three of the six Book Set CD Bonuses appeared only on the VINYL 2LP variants of Volumes 1 to 3 (Tracks 3, 4 and 6) – the other three (Tracks 1, 2 and 5) are new to the series here and do not appear on the CD variants of Volumes 4 and 5.

"Right On! Vol. 2 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Volume 2 of 5 – Featuring 18 Tracks from 1969 to 1975 by Charles Wheeler & The Enforcers, Stovall Sisters, Donny Hathaway, Oscar Brown, Jr., Black Heat, Funk Factory, Macondo, Paul Kelly, Young-Holt Unlimited, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris, Freddie King, Arif Mardin and more (May 2000 UK Warner/ESP CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-Grooves-Atlantic-Warner-Vaults/dp/B00004T2JV?crid=3H5JRK9OJLYDU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fQhE716khfAaC74VexZC4A.80WkMjsGHgWhpNeD7Vf8C8__xSaK_8INC96uiE4L2w8&dib_tag=se&keywords=095483840021&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1735747748&sprefix=095483840021%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=5a41992e9de9b4e0e8309f954576aeac&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 350 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2025 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Doin' What We Wanna..."

Sometime in the late Nineties, the UK branch of Warner Brothers seemed to suddenly get hip to the public's needs. And WEA (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic) did this at the exact moment they also sheepishly realised they'd an abundance of riches in their glorious back catalogue to meet those cravings. 

I recall the 3 sets of "Funk Drops", 3 more for Northern Soul in "After Hours", 2 for Philly Soul in "Crème De La Creme", more Soul, Funk and Gospel rarities in "You Better Believe It" - and on it went. 

Which brings us to here – the superlative "Right On!" series of compilations (on CD and 2LP VINYL Sets) that tapped the Funkier side of Jazz, Fusion and Rock albums issued on Atlantic, Atco, Cotillion, San Francisco, Reprise, Alston and of course Warner Bros between 1967 and 1975. So, September 1999 through to August 2004 saw Five Volumes of "Right On!" in all with a 4CD mop-up 'Box Set' in-between for Volumes 1 to 3 that contained a fourth Bonus Disc of 6 Rare Tracks. 

Suddenly, underground names held in collector awe like Eugene McDaniels, David Axelrod, David Newman, Funk Factory, Black Heat, Young-Holt Unlimited, Clarence Wheeler (lyrics from his song titles this review), Charles Wright and his Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Gene Page, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Wade Marcus, Tony Joe White, Air, Cold Blood and loads more got pride of place and new recognition. And much to the joy of collectors/album fetishists alike - the "Right On!" series was also backed up by 2LP VINYL sets, all of which boasted a lone Bonus Track over their CD counterpart (see Discography below).

Remastered and compiled with serious smarts by CHAS CHANDLER and STUART KIRKHAM – these comps quickly became a way for cash-strapped fans and other genre-curious-types of getting rare and largely forgotten Funk and Soul for a decent price (I diligently pickled up each as they appeared). Frankly all five volumes are filled with Mr. Cool and still relatively cheap too in 2025 (at least the first three are) - so let's get busy with Door Number Two...to the details...

UK released 29 May 2000 - "Right On! Vol. 2 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" on Warner/ESP 9548384002 (Barcode 095483840021) is a 19-Track CD/20-Track 2LP compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (69:30 minutes - CD):

1. Right On – CLARENCE WHEELER & THE ENFORCERS (from the April 1970 US LP "Doin' What We Wanna" on Atco SD 1551 in Stereo – a Leo Rolland cover version, female backing vocalists include Cissy Houston, Jackie Verdell and Judy Clay)

2. Giggin' Down 103rd – THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (from their second studio album "Together" released April 1969 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1761 in Stereo – instrumental written by Gabe Flemings, Trumpeter with the band) - see also CHARLES WRIGHT on Track 17

3. Get Ready – ELLA FITZGERALD (from her October 1969 US Cover Versions LP "Ella" on Reprise Records RS 6354 in Stereo – a Smokey Robinson cover featuring Nicky Hopkins on Piano)

4. It's Your Thing – SHIRLEY SCOTT & THE SOUL SAXES (from the December 1969 US LP "Shirley Scott & The Soul Saxes" on Atlantic SD 1532 in Stereo – an Isley Brothers cover featuring guests King Curtis on Saxophone, Eric Gale on Guitar, Richard Tee on Piano with Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie on Bass and Drums)

5. Magnificent Sanctuary Band – DONNY HATHAWAY (from his second studio album "Donny Hathaway" released April 1971 in the USA on Atco SD 33-360 in Stereo – a Dorsey Burnett cover)

6. Teasin' – KING CURTIS (from the August 1970 US LP "Get Ready" on Atlantic SD 33-338 in Stereo – a King Curtis and Delaney Bramlett song featuring Eric Clapton on Lead Guitar with Delaney Bramlett on Rhythm Guitars)

7. Gang Bang – OSCAR BROWN, Jr (from the November 1972 US LP "Movin' On" on Atlantic SD 1629 in Stereo)

8. Wanaoh – BLACK HEAT (from the October 1972 US Debut LP "Black Heat" on Atlantic SD 7237 – written by Guitarist Bradley Owens)

9. Rien Ne Va Plus – FUNK FACTORY (from the March 1975 US Debut LP "Funk Factory" on Atlantic Records SD 36-116 – featuring Solo Vocalists Urszula Dudziak (see also Track 19) and Bernard Kafka (aka Kawka) with Secondary Vocalists Ann Tripp, Bill Ruthenberg, Linda "Tequilla" Logan and The Bernard Kafka Singers - Plus Keyboardist Wlodek Gulgowski, Bassist Anthony Jackson and Drummer Steve Gadd – song title is a French phrase used by croupiers in the game of Roulette that loosely means no more bets)

10. Almendra – MACONDO (from the August 1972 US Debut LP "Macondo" on Atlantic SD 7234 – featuring Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar by Max Uballez, Guitarist and Backing Vocals by Albert Hernandez, Keyboardist Fred Ramirez with Drummer Frank Ramirez)

11. Slow Flow – PAUL KELLY (from the April 1972 US LP "Dirt" on Warner Brothers BS 2605) 

12. Rubber Lips – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from their ninth US LP "Oh Girl" released March 1973 on Atlantic SD 1634 in Stereo – written by Drummer and Band Founder Isaac "Redd" Holt)

13. Hang On In There - THE STOVALL SISTERS (from the August 1971 US Debut LP "The Stovall Sisters" on Reprise RS 6446 – featuring Gospel and Funk Vocalists Joyce and Netta Stovall with Guests - Guitarist Russell DaShiell later with Crowfoot and The Don Harrison Band and Bassist Doug Killmer ex-The Beau Gentry and later with Commander Cody) 

14. Drunk Man – EDDIE HARRIS (from the August 1973 US 2LP-set "Excursions" on Atlantic SD 2-311 – features Guitarist Ronald Muldrow, Frank Gordon and Billy Howell on Horns with Rufus Reid and Billy James on Bass and Drums respectively) 

15. South Street Stroll – FREDDIE HUBBARD (from the June 1969 US LP "A Soul Experiment" on Atlantic SD 1526 in Stereo – features Kenny Barron n Piano, Billy Butler on Guitar, Carlos Garnett on Tenor Saxophone, Jeremy Jemmott on Bass, Grady Tate on Drums with Freddie Hubbard on Trumpet – a Kenny Barron cover version)

16. Funky – FREDDIE KING (from the March 1969 US LP "Freddie King Is A Blues Master" on Cotillion SD 9004 in Stereo – guest musicians include Billy Butler on Guitar with David "Fathead" Newman and King Curtis on Saxophones – song written by Freddie King and King Curtis) 

17. Express Yourself (Album Version, 3:50 minutes) – CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (from their fourth studio album "Express Yourself" released June 1970 on Warner Brothers WS 1864 in Stereo)

18. Forms – ARIF MARDIN (from the October 1974 US LP "Journey" on Atlantic SD 1661 in Stereo – features Randy and Michael Brecker on Horns, Urszula Dudziak on Vocals, Pat Rebollit on Keyboards and Tony Levin on Bass)

19. Sandy's Love – HAROLD ALEXANDER (from the July 1974 US LP "Raw Root" on Atlantic SD 1657 in Stereo – featuring Junior Hansen on Guitars and Joe Bonner on Keyboards)

The gatefold slip of paper that masquerades as a booklet offers very basic Discography info on the inner two-page spread with a single-page rear set of liner notes from the compilers. You get no photos of those funky and rare LP sleeves – no musician credits (Judy Clay singing on the Clarence Wheeler opener, Eric Clapton playing Guitar on the King Curtis cut, Eric Gale getting funky on his axe for Shirley Scott, England’s Nicky Hopkins playing keyboards the Ella Fitzgerald cover etc). 

But "Right On! Vol. 2…" hammers where it matters – the Audio is fantastic even if like the first Volume from 1999 - there are no mastering credits anywhere. Play the brilliant Macondo, Funk Factory, Paul Kelly or Young-Holt Unlimited and their Latin-Funk-Soul-Rock tracks (9, 10, 11 and 12) and you may have to lower that volume dial – and not in a bad way. Add to the fact that you probably do not know most of this fabness (hard as nuts to find gems) – and then it really does start to Funk your mancave with grooves that please and save dosh. Focusing on music with 'breaks' - there are drums ahoy too and they rattle and bash out of your speakers with real intent. The only slight let down audiowise is the raucous and rough-sounding Freddie King track towards the end (Track 16) – not the greatest audio because it was not the best recording in the world (quickly remedied by the audio-stun-punch of "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright & The 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Track 17) that feels like it might mean your stereogram harm. Other than that - to the content...

It opens with the truly fantastic "Right On" from Clarence Wheeler and His Enforcers - primarily a Funky instrumental workout calling to the 'Brothers and Sisters' - it lays down a bad-ass groove of Saxophone, Organ and a girly chorus singing "You Gotta Come On! Right On!" The goodies continue with a true neck-jerking instrumental from The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band written by their Trumpeter Gabe Flemings - "Giggin' Down The Road" being the kind of US LP deep dive that fills you with envy (their first three albums didn't credit leader Charles Wright in the name - that would occur with album number four - see Track 17). The surprises keep coming when you next clasp eyes on the old-school Jazz Vocalist 'Ella Fitzgerald' as the next artist. She went to London to record an album of covers which opened with the Smokey Robinson funk-vehicle "Get Ready" - Ella sounding comfortable and even excited to be getting down. A seriously cool inclusion.

Back to instrumental big-time busy-busy Funk with Saxophonist Shirley Scott doing a fabulous groovy cover version of The Isley Brothers' late 60ts killer "It's Your Thing" - her band bumping and grinding with Organ and Guitar - the whole unit going at proceedings with a James Brown Band type tightness. I adore Donny Hathaway - cannot be rational about anything he made. "Right On! Vol.2..." chooses the LP cut of an old timey song that appealed to his deeply held religious beliefs - the Gospel-tinged "Magnificent Sanctuary Band". Even if it is a tad 'bringing in the sheep' cheesy - it's Donny Hathaway - and he pulls it off. For the first time we enter the realms of Rock-Funk with the guitar-led King Curtis instrumental cut "Teasin'" featuring no less than Eric Clapton on Lead Guitar and the ex Cream and Derek & The Dominoes lad's on fire. Another sexy inclusion you probably get to hear under normal circumstances. 

The Oscar Brown, Jr. tune "Gang Bang" has (as you can imagine) the most unfortunate song title about area invaders (can't say it's my cup of tea really) so the Black Heat War-like Funkathon "Wanaoh" is a welcome Flute 'n' Guitars workout. But even that is whomped by my fave-rave - the stunning Rotary Connection groove of Funk Factory giving us "Rien Ne Va Plus". Apparently a French phrase used by Croupiers on the Roulette tables that roughly means 'no more bets' - the 1975 debut album has a legendary rep amongst Soul-Funk fans. Latin Guitar and Heavy Organ come at you with Macondo's "Almendra" from 1972 - a very Malo groove. Other nuggets include the 'Stealing In The Name Of The Lord' Paul Kelly getting all Sly Stone geetar-funky with his deceptively sexy "Soul Flow" while it doesn't get much cooler than Young-Holt Unlimited finding yet another instrumental gem in their "Rubber Lips" (reissue-labels - where is their Box Set?). I would admit that the final two offerings from Arif Mardin and Harold Alexander aren't for me - but the previously mentioned foursome of Stovall Sisters, Eddie Harris, Freddie Hubbard and the wonderful "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright and His 103rd Watts Street Rhythm Band are all audio manna to me. 

Like its predecessor (covered 1967 to 1975) - "Right On! Volume 2…" is a brilliant little CD play that will make you want to own the whole series (see list below accurate to January 2025). And frankly, Volume 3 (which I'm about to review next) is even better. 

In the late Sixties and especially into the first half of the Seventies - across the pond Funk, Soul, Latin and Fusion was at its fabulous inventive best. Wheeler and his Enforcers named their album "...Doin' What We Wanna..." - and on the evidence of this fantastic series of compilations - man were they doin' it well. 

"Right On!" indeed...

RIGHT ON!

CD and Vinyl 2LP Series by Warners UK 

A List of Releases

1. Right On! Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 1967-1975 
CD, 17-Tracks: released 27 September 1999 UK on Warner/ESP Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548378052 (Barcode 095483780525) - 67:23 minutes
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: released September 1999 UK on Warner/Atlantic Reprise 9548-378041 (Barcode 95483780401) – Bonus is "North Carolina" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 9:20 minutes

2. Right On! Vol.2: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: released Monday, 29 May 2000 UK on Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548384002 (Barcode 095483840021) - 69:30 minutes
VINYL, 20-Track 2LP-set: Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548-38401-1 (Barcode 095483840113) – Bonus is "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 5:55 minutes

3. Right On! Vol.3: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 18-Tracks: released Monday, 11 June 2001 on Warner Music UK 9548392072 (Barcode 095483920723) - 71:33 minutes
VINYL, 19-Track 2LP-set: Warner Music UK 9548392061 (Barcode 095483920617) – Bonus Track is "Can you Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 5:51 minutes

4. Right On! Vol.4: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: 26 August 2002 UK Warner Strategic Marketing UK 0927-42567-2 (Barcode 809274256720) - 69:42 minutes
VINYL, 20-Tracks 2LP set: Warner Strategic Marketing 9274-6388-1 - Bonus Track is "Respect Yourself" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 6:50 minutes

5. Right On! Vol. 5: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD: 17-Tracks: 26 January 2004 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 5046691472 (Barcode 5050466914729)
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: Warner Strategic Marketing 5046696401 (Barcode 5050466964014) – Bonus Track is "Schirokko" by Passport, last track on Side 4 – 5:44 minutes

6. Right On! Box Set: Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
2001 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 092 740477 2 (Barcode 809274047724) 
4CD 67-Track Box Set housed in Book Packaging containing CD Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Series (61 Tracks) with a further fourth Bonus CD of Six Tracks. 

The six bonuses for the Box Set are (1) "People Say" by The Meters, (2) "Fried Okra" by The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, (3) "Can You Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, (4) "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, (5) "People" by Graham Central Station and (6) "North Carolina" by Les McCann.

Three of the six Book Set CD Bonuses appeared only on the VINYL 2LP variants of Volumes 1 to 3 (Tracks 3, 4 and 6) – the other three (Tracks 1, 2 and 5) are new to the series here and do not appear on the CD variants of Volumes 4 and 5.

"A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology" by MARIANNE FAITHFULL - A 2CD-Only Compilation Covering 10 albums on Island Records Between 1979 and 1995 including New Remasters, Compilation and Soundtrack Rarities, A Non-LP B-side and Promo-Only Track (Both First Time on CD) Plus Five Previously Unreleased Outtakes from 1988 Sessions (October 1998 UK Island/Chronicles 35-Track 2-CD Compilation of Kevin Reeves Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Stranger-Island-Anthology/dp/B00000DC4K?crid=25KNYUEVXDR94&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.j0QyfjZaxUKGdzKaCb5tqQ.-ZTVHPu93VQOjQTb8Pv7Vx4A1apJSTg4-W89oSIsvUU&dib_tag=se&keywords=731452457929&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1734032437&sprefix=731452457929%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=86c838e7bfe80fdec022154748449bbb&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

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Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

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RATINGS:

Overall **** to *****

Audio *****

Presentation ****

"…It Is Strange To Sleep Alone In A Place No One Knows…"

Some digital compilations scream class, and you know you must own them. 

Welcome to one such set in Universal's Chronicles Series of the Nineties (1998 in this case). "A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology" offered up 35-tracks covering albums between 1979 and 1995 by one of Rock's truly great conduits – the heart-on-her-sleeve 60ts ingenue and survivor Marianne Faithfull.

There is a fantastic range of material on this weighty twofer and all of it Remastered to perfection by one of my fave Audio Engineers KEVIN REEVES – a name you see across huge swaths of upgraded CD reissues covering A&M Records, Mercury, Vertigo, Blue Thumb, Verve, Polydor and Island Records to name but a few (all under the umbrella of Polygram and Universal Music Catalogue aka UMC). 

Faithfull has a career heading all the way back to 1965 with Decca and of course The Rolling Stones. This twofer chronicles her real solo years when she broke out of those constraints and forged a legacy of her own. A working-class hero is indeed something to be – lots to discuss in Broken English – to the details…

UK released 27 October 1998 - "A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology" by MARIANNE FAITHFULL on Island/Chronicles 524 579-2 (Barcode 731452457929) is a 35-Track 2CD Compilation covering 1979 to 1995 (17 years). It has new Kevin Reeves remasters and comprises of 26 Album Tracks, one Kurt Weill CD Compilation contribution, one Soundtrack song, one Non-LP B-side and one Promo-Only 12" Single Version (both first time on CD) plus Five Previously Unreleased songs from a 1988 Album Session. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (76:32 minutes):
1. Broken English
2. Witches' Song
3. Guilt
4. The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan
5. Working Class Hero
6. Why D'Ya Do It
7. Sister Morphine
8. Sweetheart
9. Intrigue
10. For Beauty's Sake
11. So Sad
12. Truth Bitter Truth
13. The Blue Millionaire (Long Version – see Notes)
14. Falling From Grace
15. Running For Our Lives
NOTES on CD1: 
Tracks 1 to 6 are from the album "Broken English" – released October 1979 in the UK on Island Records M1 and in the USA on Island ILPS 9570
Track 7 is the Non-LP B-side of a May 1982 UK 12" Single for "Broken English (Long Version)" on Island Records 12MF 100; the first seven-inch issue of "Broken English" was released January 1980 on Island WIP 6542 with "What's The Hurry?" on the B-side while the 12" version had "Why D'Ya Do It" on its B-side. "Sister Morphine" was only on the 1982 release. Track 7 is Previously Unreleased on CD
Tracks 8 to 12 are from the album "Dangerous Acquaintances" – released October 1981 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9648 (same details for the US issue)
Track 13 is from a 1983 US-Only Promo-Only 12" Single for "The Blue Millionaire" on Island Records DMD 627; Track 13 is Previously Unreleased on CD
Tracks 14 to 15 are from the album "A Childs Adventure" – released February 1983 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9734 and as "A Child's Adventure" in the USA on Island Records 7 90066-1

CD2 (77:48 minutes):
1. Ballad Of The Soldier's Wife
2. Trouble In Mind (The Return)
3. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
4. Yesterdays
5. Strange Weather
6. Gloomy Sunday
7. Hello Stranger
8. As Tears Go By
9. A Perfect Stranger
10. Conversation On A Barstool
11. A Waste Of Time
12. Isolation
13. Blazing Away
14. When I Find My Life (Live)
15. Times Square (Live)
16. Ghost Dance
17. Sleep
18. Love In The Afternoon
19. Bored By Dreams
20. She
NOTES on CD2: 
Track 1 is from the Various Artists compilation LP "Lost In The Stars; The Music Of Kurt Weill" released 1985 on A&M Records AMA 5104 in the UK and A&M Records SP 9-5104 in the USA
Track 2 is from the Mark Isham and Marianne Faithfull Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP to "Trouble In Mind" released 1986 in the EU-UK on Island Records 208 056 and in the USA on Island Records 7 90501-1-E
Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 are from the July 1987 UK LP "Strange Weather" on Island Records ILPS 9874 (Track 6 is an Outtake from these sessions)
Tracks 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are Previously Unreleased Studio Recordings – Recorded February 1988 in New York
Tracks 13, 14 and 15 are from the April 1990 UK CD album "Blazing Away" on Island CID 9957 – a live album recorded at St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn, NYC. Note: the title song "Blazing Away" is a Studio Recording done February 1988 in New York – the only studio recording on the album
Track 16 is an Exclusive 1994 Recording from the August 1994 CD Compilation Album "Faithfull: A Collection Of Her Best Recordings" on Island CIDX 8023
Tracks 17 to 20 are from the April 1995 CD Album "A Secret Life" on Island CID 8038

Compiled by BILL LEVENSON and JERRY RAPPAPORT and featuring a new essay by ANN POWERS – the 24-page booklet fills out all the Biographical and Discography details from 1979 to 1995 and a few places before. Album artwork and period photos are peppered throughout the text while Powers fills out the song histories – Billie Holiday doing "Yesterdays" – the live performance of "Times Square" in from of an adoring American audience getting a rare chance to see their hero up close and personal. The track-by-track musician and album credits take up the rest of it. But for me the real meat and potatoes comes with the gorgeous, muscular and not overly trembled KEVIN REEVES Remasters. To the music…

It will come as no surprise to any Faithfull fan that a whopping six of the eight tracks of her huge comeback album "Broken English" from October 1979 are represented on CD1. Armed with a stellar crew of musicians – Barry Reynolds of Blodwyn Pig and Pacific Drift on Guitar, Darryl Way on Violin, Frank Collins and Diane Birch of Kokomo on Vocals with Terry Stannard (also of Kokomo) on Drums, Steve York of Manfred Mann, Graham Bond and Vinegar Joe on Bass, Steve Winwood of Traffic and Blind Faith on Keyboards and Vocals with Joe Cuomo of The Global Village Trucking Co. on Saxophone – the album was packed with Grace Jones-type excellence. Expertly Produced by Mark Miller-Mundy - not only are the grooves of cleverly chosen covers like John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" and Shel Silverstein's "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan" wickedly good – the emotional gut-punch of her own lyrics in Barry Reynold's "Guilt" and the extraordinary viciousness of "Why D'ya Do It" will shock even in 2024. 

There is a fearlessness in these craftily comforting rhythms – subversive like barbed wire or cut glass. To then have those six complimented by a stunning B-side – her non-LP cover of "Sister Morphine" from The Stones' 1971 "Sticky Fingers" album which she co-wrote with Jagger and Richards as far back as 1969 – only makes CD1 tingle even more. Her equally hurting remake of "Sister Morphine" turned up on the flipside of a 1982 12" Single for the Full-Length Version of the LP title track "Broken English" (Island 12MF 100) and it is surely a prize for collectors and Stones fans.

Her second album for Island "Dangerous Acquaintances" turned up September 1981 and I for one was a bit disappointed. CD1 offers up five of its nine cuts – unsurprising to see the better tracks like Steve Winwood's what-are-you-taking "For Beauty's Sake" and the seven-minute-plus mourning of her lost youth in "Truth Bitter Truth" – a fantastic journey song. By now Guitarist Barry Reynolds was provided a lot of the co-writes with Marianne Faithfull and that hugely produced Grace Jones "Warm Launderette" Compass Point Studios sound was on every track. "Sweetheart" and "Intrigue" go for a sort of Reggae Synth Pop feel – bopping to lyrics about sacrificing too much for a relationship. Softer in "Intrigue" - looking for harmony – looking for hope past the fatigue and the big Herb Alpert-type brass breaks. I have grown to appreciate these grooves more as the years have passed – go back to revisit them more. 

The sound is stupendous and clear on CD1. Never is this more evident that the utterly infectious 8:23 minute 'Long Version' of "The Blue Millionaire" exclusive to the A-side of a US Island Records 12" Promotional Single (Island DMD 627) – I know DJs (when I worked at Reckless Records in the West End of London) who scoured racks for this slightly-forgotten almost secret groove that devastated Electronica and Synth Pop dancefloors everywhere when played. But you would also have to say that even with super-slick production values and now great audio remasters – the other two songs from February 1983's "A Child's Adventure" feel somehow lacking compared to the freshness of the "Broken English" release from four years earlier. Keyboardist Wally Badarou had a co-write hand in "Running For Our Lives" and "The Blue Millionaire". 

What was sent from Oslo or the wealth of Amsterdam to the "Soldier's Wife" – all stomping piano and vaudeville sounds - Faithfull starts CD2 by channeling her inner Tom Waits circa "Swordfishtrombones" or "Frank's Wild Years". "Soldier's Wife" is a contribution to the 1985 compilation "Lost In The Stars: The Music Of Kurt Weill". Far better is a genius complete reinterpretation of a song most closely associated with 50ts Big Joe Turner Rhythm 'n' Blues on Atlantic Records – "Trouble In Mind". An inclusion in a soundtrack called "Trouble In Mind" - our Marianne strips it down to a droning keyboard note while Trumpeter Mark Isham adds pathos jabs to the Paris at Night vibe. The cover version is very Barb Jung - flipping the dynamic - gorgeous audio too. The la-da-da-da mellow continues with five tracks from the "Strange Weather" album of 1987 – the downbeat "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" and just plain sad "Yesterdays". Title track "Strange Weather" is a Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan song aided successfully by undercurrents from guests - Bill Frisell on Guitars with Accordion by Garth Hudson of The Band.

Track 6 "Gloomy Sunday" begins a flurry of five Previously Unreleased cuts on CD2 (the other four are Tracks 9, 10, 11 and 12). Dr. John provides piano while Avant Garde artist Michael Gibbs arranged the strings for "Gloomy Sunday" – the first of two outtakes from the "Stormy Weather" album (the other is a remake of her 60ts Rolling Stones-associated hit "As Tears Go By"). But you can understand the "Gloomy Sunday" exclusion – well meaning, but essentially too downbeat and a forced vocal. The acoustic-strings remake of "As Tears Go By" however is a lovely find and a genuine bonus for CD2. 

This compilation takes its name from "A Perfect Stranger" – a beautifully recorded ballad that is shockingly one of the unreleased – someone who knows when to leave and when to stay – and isn't it sad that we never had it that way. Another unreleased and another decent-tune shocker - Singer Bono of U2 contributing "Conversations On A Barstool". A sorrow and sympathy tale of a lonely American Bar lady who does not want to dance for senators anymore – Bill Frisell once again adding understated echoed guitar on this $45 ache. A cover of the John Lennon moody "Isolation" is good but not great despite the efforts of Barry Reynolds on Guitar. With one eye on insanity and the other on the wheel (one turning, one burning) – Marianne is "Blazing Away" – the title song from the 1990 CD album. "Blazing Away" is a weird one – an entirely live album – the title song was however the only studio song on it. The other two representatives here are live versions of "When I Find My Life" and "Times Square" – her very appreciative and quiet audience treated to a band featuring Dr. John Piano on TS and Garth Hudson of The Band with his Accordion on WIFML. And on it goes to a slew of Keyboardist Angelo Badalamenti songs on the 1997 album "A Secret Album" – sweet and mournful. 

I appreciate that not everything here will be for everyone – Marianne Faithfull's strained voice alone is enough to divide listeners. But I have always thought this English singer-songwriter brilliant – a more contemplative Grace Jones. 

Forgotten now in the dying embers of 2024 - this wickedly good sounding 2CD set "A Perfect Stranger" only hammers home a level of greatness worth rediscovering...

"Now Yearbook '77" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Eighty Single and Album Tracks by Queen, E.L.P., Status Quo, Elvis Presley, E.L.O., Hot Chocolate, Candi Staton, 10cc, Donna Summer, Boney M, Elkie Brooks, Rock Follies, The Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello, The Stranglers, The Ramones, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Jonathan Richman, Mink DeVille, Tom Robinson Band, Ram Jam, Boston, Boz Scaggs, Santana, Bryan Ferry, Paul Simon, Thin Lizzy, Racing Cars, Yes, The Clash, Donna Summer, The Emotions, Marvin Gaye, The Drifters, Heatwave, The Floaters, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Moments, Billy Ocean, Darts, Belle Epoque, Dead End Kids, Mike Oldfield, Andrew Gold, Rita Coolidge, Denice Williams, Commodores, The Trammps, Baccara, Meri Wilson, Andrew Gold, Smokie, Rah Band, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Manhattan Transfer, Alessi, Olivia Newton-John and more (November 2024 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD 80-Track Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Varying Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOW-Yearbook-1977-Various-Artists/dp/B0DHJFXN5K?crid=2RF9UFJSMZ7IT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MDMArNgD2qPd37DGkmQ2dg.C_E0W8idEkrl0wMB0EH9Tbm0Hpg09BQ18e26fWfP5w4&dib_tag=se&keywords=198028303422&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733934004&sprefix=198028303422%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=d1e3c286860d82f8a11083119a8e0c47&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 269 Others Is Available In My

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

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RATINGS:

Overall ***

Audio ****

Presentation ***

"…Chocolate Stains On My Pants…"

I have about ten of these Now Yearbook Compilations (the 4CD variants) – most of which are accompanied by a further Yearbook Extra release of 3CDs - bringing the year haul to well over 140 songs (Friday, 10 January 2025 is the release date for the Extra Set on 1977). So a compilation covering a pivotal year in my youth '1977' appealed to me greatly (I bought the 1978 and 1979 4CD issues as well – see separate reviews). 

But the same problem to my listening ears occurs here as it does with all the 80ts titles – you are suckered by quantity (80 Tracks in the case of 1977). Because when you start to play this - the solid wall of second-rate Pop and Disco cack alongside cringe-inducing ballads starts to seriously mount up. Now Yearbook '77 does not reflect the overriding theme (for me anyway) of that pivotal year – New Wave, New Rock and Punk. I have an open earhole when it comes to all genres – but man is there some dross on here (hence the 3-star rating).

You see, the tendency with these Now Yearbook sets is to go down the less-trodden path - to get songs out there that haven't been on compilations before. The flaw with this 'let's do Top 5 to Top 40-only' is that there was so much you want to forget, and of course other gems they could have chosen but have been left off. Few will want to endure weepy turds like Liverpool Express and Julie Covington (tail-ending CD1) bawling her eyes out for shoes and Argentina. And when you get to most of CD3 and CD4 – the listen in my book takes a serious nosedive. 

Also, you will notice from the total playing times provided below that CD2 at 69:22 and CD4 at 65:08 minutes are frankly a bit anaemic for a compilation like this and could easily have been pumped up with better material to join the better total playing times of CD1 and CD3 at 74:50 and 76:26 minutes.

In their favour, however, these Now Yearbook 4CD Sets start out at about ten quid, but after a few months are quickly reduced to six or seven quid which frankly represents serious value for money. You may not be getting anything packaging-wise, but at least 40 to 50% of the choices will please somebody somewhere and the audio is crackerlackin'. Here be the details for the nineteen seventy-seven…

UK released Friday, 1 November 2024 - "Now Yearbook '77" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW77 / 0198028303422 (Barcode 198028303422) is a 4CD 80-Track Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Single Edits, Album Versions and Various 1990s and 00s Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 (74:50 minutes):
1. We Are The Champions – QUEEN (October 1977, EMI Records EMI 2708, A-side)
2. Fanfare For The Common Man (Single Edit, 2:58 minutes) – EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (May 1977, Manticore K 10946, A-side)
3. Rockin' All Over The World – STATUS QUO (September 1977, Vertigo 6059 184, A-side)
4. Way Down – ELVIS PRESLEY (July 1977, RCA Victor PB 0998, A-side)
5. Good Morning Judge – 10cc (April 1977, Mercury 6008 025, A-side)
6. Telephone Line – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (May 1977, Jet Records UP 36254, A-side)
7. When I Need You – LEO SAYER (January 1977, Chrysalis CHS 2127, A-side)
8. Don't Give Up On Us – DAVID SOUL (December 1976, Private Stock PVT 84, A-side – an Albert Hammond cover version)
9. So You Win Again – HOT CHOCOLATE (June 1977, RAK Records RAK 259, A-side)
10. Nights On Broadway – CANDI STATON (July 1977, Warner Brothers K 16972, A-side – a Bee Gees cover version)
11. From New York To LA – PATSY GALLANT (July 1977, EMI Records EMI 2620, A-side)
12. Love's Unkind – DONNA SUMMMER (December 1977, GTO Records GT 113, A-side)
13. Ma Baker – BONEY M (June 1977, Atlantic K 10965, A-side)
14. The Crunch (Part 1) – THE RAH BAND (February 1977, Good Earth GD 7, A-side - instrumental)
15. Tear Me Apart – SUZI QUATRO (February 1977, RAK Records RAK 248, A-side)
16. OK? – ROCK FOLLIES of '77 [aka Julie Covington, Charlotte Cornwell, Rula Lenska, Sue Jones-Davies] (May 1977, Polydor 2001 714, A-side)
17. Living Next Door To Alice – SMOKIE (November 1976, RAK Records RAK 244, A-side)
18. Pearl's A Singer – ELKIE BROOKS (February 1977, A&M Records AMS 7275, A-side – a Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller co-write song)
19. Every Man Must Have A Dream – LIVERPOOL EXPRESS (December 1976, Warner Brothers K 16854, A-side)
20. Don't Cry For Me Argentina – JULIE COVINGTON, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and TIM RICE (November 1976, MCA Records MCA 260, A-side – from the Evita Opera)

CD2 (69:22 minutes):
1. No More Heroes – THE STRANGLERS (September 1977, United Artists UP 36300, A-side)
2. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker – RAMONES (May 1977, Sire RAM 001, A-side)
3. White Riot – THE CLASH (March 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5058, A-side)
4. All Around The World – THE JAM (July 1977, Polydor 2058 903, A-side - featuring Paul Weller)
5. Lookin' After No. 1 – THE BOOMTOWN RATS (August 1977, Ensign ENY 4, A-side – featuring Bob Geldof)
6. Do Anything You Wanna Do (Single Edit) – EDDIE & THE HOT RODS (originally credited as RODS) (July 1977, Island WIP 6401, A-side)
7. Roadrunner (Once) – JONATHAN RICHMAN and THE MODERN LOVERS (July 1977, Beserkley BZZ 1, A-side)
8. Spanish Stroll – MINK DeVILLE (June 1977, Capitol CLX 103, A-side – featuring Willy DeVille)
9.  Watching The Detectives (Single Version) – ELVIS COSTELLO (October 1977, Stiff BUY 20, A-side)
10. Peaches (Single Edit) – THE STRANGLERS (May 1977, United Artists UP 36248, A-side)
11. 2-4-6-8 Motorway – TOM ROBINSON BAND (October 1977, EMI Records EMI 2715, A-side – 2013 Remaster)
12. Ram Jam – BLACK BETTY (August 1977, Epic S EPC 5492, A-side)
13. More Than A Feeling (Single Version) – BOSTON (October 1976, Epic S EPC 4658, A-side)
14. Lido Shuffle – BOZ SCAGGS (April 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5136, A-side)
15. She's Not There (Single Version) – SANTANA (September 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5671, A-side – a Zombies cover version)
16. This Is Tomorrow – BRYAN FERRY (January 1977, Polydor 2001 704, A-side – 1999 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
17. Slip Slidin' Away – PAUL SIMON (October 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5770, A-side – 2010 Remaster)
18. Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In Its Spotlight) – THIN LIZZY (July 1977, Vertigo 6059 177, A-side – featuring Phil Lynott)
19. They Shoot Horses Don't They (Single Version) – RACING CARS (December 1976, Chrysalis CHS 2129, A-side – 2020 Remaster)
20. Wondrous Stories – YES (September 1977, Atlantic K 10999, A-side)

CD3 (76:28 minutes):
1. I Feel Love (Edit) – DONNA SUMMER (July 1977, GTO Records GT 100, A-side)
2. Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – BACCARA (July 1977, RCA Victor PB 5526, A-side)
3. Black Is Black – LA BELLE EPOQUE (August 1977, Harvest HAR 5133, A-side)
4. Daddy Cool – BONEY M (October 1976, Atlantic K 10827, A-side)
5. Star Wars Them/Cantina Band (7" Radio Edit) – MECO (August 1977, RCA Victor XB 1028, A-side)
6. Disco Inferno (Single Edit) – THE TRAMMPS (April 1977, Atlantic K 10914, A-side)
7. Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) 7" Edit – CHIC (November 1977, Atlantic K 11038, A-side – 2018 Remaster)
8. Boogie Nights (Single Version) – HEATWAVE (January 1977, GTO Records GT 77, A-side – a Rod Temperton song)
9. Car Wash (Single Version) – ROSE ROYCE (December 1976, MCA Records MCA 267, A-side)
10. Best Of My Love – THE EMOTIONS (August 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5555 A-side)
11. Don't Leave Me This Way (Single Version) – THELMA HOUSTON (January 1977, Tamla Motown TMG 1060, A-side – a Gamble & Huff song)
12. The Shuffle – VAN McCOY (March 1977, H&L Records 6105 766, A-side)
13. Got To Give It Up – Pt.1 – MARVIN GAYE (April 1977, Tamla Motown TMG 1069, A-side)
14. Baby Don't Change Your Mind – GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (May 1977, Buddah BDS 458, A-side)
15. You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) – MARILYN McCOO and BILLY DAVIS, Jr. (October 1976, ABC Records ABC 4147, A-side)
16. You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book – THE DRIFTERS (December 1976, Arista Records ARISTA 78, A-side)
17. Jack In The Box – THE MOMENTS (January 1977, All Platinum 6146 318, A-side)
18. Free (Single Version) – DENIECE WILLIAMS (February 1977, CBS Records S CBS 4978, A-side)
19. Easy (Album Version) – COMMODORES (from the March 1977 UK LP "Zoom" on Tamla Motown Records STML 12057 – released March 1977 in the USA as "Commodores" on Motown M7-884R1 – written by and featuring Lead Vocals from Lionel Richie)
20. Float On (Single Version) – THE FLOATERS (July 1977, ABC Records ABC 4187, A-side)

CD4 (65:08 minutes):
1. Mull Of Kintyre – WINGS (November 1977, Capitol R 6018, A-side – featuring Paul McCartney – 1993 Remaster)
2. Chanson D'Amour – MANHATTAN TRANSFER (January 1977, Atlantic K 10886, A-side)
3. Silver Lady – DAVID SOUL (August 1977, Private Stock PVT 115, A-side)
4. Sam – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (May 1977, EMI Records EMI 2616, A-side – 2022 Remaster - a John Farrar song – ex The Shadows)
5. Angelo – BROTHERHOOD OF MAN (June 1977, Pye Records 7N 45699, A-side)
6. You're Moving Out Today – CAROLE BAYER SAGER (May 1977, Elektra K 12257, A-side)
7. Telephone Man – MERI WILSON (August 1977, Pye International 7N 25747, A-side)
8. Oh Lori – ALESSI (May 1977, A&M Records AMS 7289, A-side – aka Alessi Brothers)
9. The Things We Do For Love – 10cc (December 1976, Mercury 6008 022, A-side)
10. We're All Alone – RITA COOLIDGE (June 1977, A&M Records AMS 7295, A-side – a Boz Scaggs cover)
11. Lucille – KENNY ROGERS (April 1977, United Artists UP 36342, A-side – 2006 Remaster)
12. Desiree (Single Version) – NEIL DIAMOND (November 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5869, A-side)
13. Think I'm Gonna Fall In Love With You – THE DOOLEYS (May 1977, GTO Records GT 95, A-side)
14. Red Light Spells Danger – BILLY OCEAN (March 1977, GTO Records GT 85, A-side)
15. Lonely Boy – ANDREW GOLD (February 1977, Elektra K 13076, A-side)
16. Have I The Right (Edit) – DEAD END KIDS (February 1977, CBS Records S CBS 4972, A-side)
17. Dancin' Party – SHOWADDYWADDY (October 1977, Arista Records ARISTA 149, A-side)
18. Daddy Cool/The Girl Can't Help It – DARTS (October 1977, Magnet MAG 100, A-side – a Medley of cover versions – The Rays from 1957 and Little Richard from 1956)
19. Portsmouth – MIKE OLDFIELD (November 1976, Virgin VS 163, A-side – 2009 Remaster)
20. Floral Dance – BRIGHOUSE And RASTRICK BRASS BAND (October 1977, Transatlantic BIG 548, A-side)

Discography: this Basic Edition has a four-panel foldout card sleeve with each CD in a printed-info pouch on the inside (see photos). There is a Limited Edition Hardback DigiBook version that has liner notes on all the songs – Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW77 - 0198028303521 (Barcode 198028303521) – and even a truncated 49-Track 3LP VINYL variant on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW77 (Barcode 198028303613) in BLUE VINYL – both also released 1 November 2024. The further 'Now Yearbook EXTRA '77' compilation arrives Friday, 10 January 2025 as a CD-only 3-Disc 62-Track set.

Odd for these 4CD sets and especially 1977 which has been reissued to death – there are only six mentions of Remaster Dates across the four discs (see lists above). And yet as everyone knows who buys these sets – the audio is uniformly great across the whole shebang. Rarely does the sound dip or duck or dive – mostly it impresses and at times (like say Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Stranglers and The Jam to name but a few) – you may have to turn it down. Fans of 45s will also note the large number of Single Versions, Edits and so forth where many year compilations opt for the Full LP Variants. The info as always is sparse if not non-existent (you get more Discography info in my review than you do on any side of the card flaps) – but you cannot argue sheer value for money. To the loons and the tunes...

I cannot tell you how unbearable it is to hear Boney M doing cod Chicago gangster with "Ma Baker", David Soul and his age-hiding sepia-tinted "Silver Lady", Leo Sayer crooning the Albert Hammond weepie "When I Need You" or Smokie getting all sincere on the cloying and teeth-rotting "Living Next Door To Alice" – yuck central! Pseudo geetar-rawk like the Rock Follies of 77 and Suzi Quatro sit uncomfortably beside crooner schlock like Kenny Rogers and Neil Diamond. For sure we get Queen being typically bombastic with "We Are The Champions", a strangely touching and hurtful E.L.O. aching down the "Telephone Line" (a forgotten gem of theirs), a lost Elvis Presley getting funky (while he can) with his final hurrah "Way Down", Status Quo doing the 12-Bar Boogie with a crowd-pleasing cover of John Fogerty's "Rockin' All Over The World" (the song they would open 'Live Aid' with in 1985), Elkie Brooks (ex-Vinegar Joe) getting sentimental about "Pearl" the Singer - and so on - all better moments on CD1. But that is only to lure you into a false sense of security because much of the rest is not good at all.

But then on CD2 you get a near perfect run of 20 New Wave, Punk and better Rock cuts – clever inclusions like Mink DeVille doing a street hustle on "Spanish Stroll" (they say he's crazy on the coast), Paul Simon and one of two new songs included on his 1977 solo-career round-up LP 'Greatest Hits, etc.' called "Slip Slidin' Away" (the other was "Stranded In A Limousene"), Bryan Ferry and his famous warble telling us "This Is Tomorrow" (a single you've forgotten from his overlooked "In Your Mind" album on Polydor Records) or Thin Lizzy disobeying another warning and staying out to 3 a.m. only to come home with chocolate stains on their pants (the on-the-money "Dancin' In The Moonlight…"). A huge pulse pounder from Emerson, Lake & Palmer ("Fanfare For The Common Man") nestles alongside Ram Jam doing the Boogie with "Black Betty" and Boston getting all guitar-layered on the mighty "More Than A Feeling" (a 1976 monster that charted 1977 in the UK) - while Soul acts Commodores (with Lionel Richie on lead vocals) and The Floaters chill with the gorgeous "Easy" and the cheesy-but-nice-talker "Float On". 

But CD3 with its overtly Disco/R&B run loses the plot in too many places – the Euro Disco of Baccara is dreadful while La Belle Epoch is not a whole lot better. Boney M rear their ugly head again with Daddy Cool but there must be a special place in Hades for the Meco version of the Star Wars Theme – oh God! Things finally improve around Track 6 with the fabulous groove of The Trammps and their Saturday Night Fever burn-baby-burn anthem "Disco Inferno" – a floor-filler for all the right reasons. Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic fame get all Yowsah with "Dance, Dance, Dance…" while genius Rod Temperton (pre-Thriller songwriting) shows why his band Heatwave always had a stone-to-the-bone dancefloor hit up their sleeves in "Boogie Nights". Rose Royce and The Emotions are both gonna please butt-shaking aficionados with "Car Wash" and the fabulous "Best Of My Love" (surely one of the great Soul-Funk tunes ever and used in hundreds of movies because of it). The dynamic songwriting duo of Gamble & Huff provided Thelma Houston with her Motown Disco hit "Don't Leave Me This Way". A welcome inclusion is the unstoppable Funk of Marvin Gaye – ladies having a ball (or two) throughout Part 1 of "Got To Give You Up" And you have forgotten how good Deniece Williams and her "Free" is and especially Lionel Richie hitting the mark on his gorgeous "Easy" (during his time with the Commodores) – here in its full album version complete with that sensational guitar solo. 

CD4 mixes up Pop with Soul with Nostalgia and a few Rock points inbetween and like CD3 and CD1 – it is a decidedly mixed bag with the emphasis unfortunately on the iffy. If I never hear the whine of "Mull Of Kintyre" ever again – it will be a blessing (and I loved Wings) – while the cod Twenties rat-ta-ta of the Manhattan Transfer doing "Chanson D'Amour" is equally cheesy. More strings and syrup as Olvia Newton-John tells us how she pines for "Sam" but it only gets worse as Brotherhood Of Man try on their ABBA-esque "Angelo". By the time you reach Track 6 the fun of Carole Bayer Sager and "You're Moving Out Today" comes as something of a relief (pack up your rubber duck and mangy cat) as she sends her mistake-of-a-lover out into the world. Finally, we get some actual cleverness with Meri Wilson working the words of "Telephone Man" – her fingers doing the walking. Yacht Rock makes a rare appearance with the Alessi Brothers and their never-say-goodbye 10cc-sounding "Oh Lori" – sounding amazing here. Not surprisingly the compilers have spotted the musical follow-through and literally give us 10cc doing the irritating yet excellent "The Things We Do For Love" (great audio). 

Rita Coolidge goes deep on the smooch with her so-1977 weepy "We're All Alone" – another horrible cringe. Just as you thought it can't get any worse, Kenny Rogers waltzes in with his radio-friendly Country Rock tale "Lucille" – the kind of awful crud that has been mercilessly lampooned over the years with word replacements. Neil Diamond does his reputation no favours with "Desiree" – a long way from his excellent singles for Uni Records back in the early Seventies. A series of dogs follows with The Dooleys and Billy Ocean – saccharine Disco-Pop only to have a terrible CD4 saved by the songwriting talent of Andrew Gold and his superb "Lonely Boy" – a radio staple that still stands up to this day. Dead End Boys sound like a weedy Bay City Rollers with their awful "Have I The Right" and on it goes to other tut – CD4 whimpering out nonsense from Mike Oldfield and the dire Brighouse Brass Band. 

Like its '1978' and '1979' four-disc equivalents - the 4CD compilation "Now Yearbook '77" offers a whole lotta listens, some welcome returns and a slew of familiar spiky-hair-do flashbacks. But unfortunately, '1977' is also seriously weighed down with too many cheese-puff cringes to be (actually) enjoyable. For sure this journey comes at a cheap-as-political-morals price - but just remember to taper those expectations once you're deep into those satin-pants runs of CD3 and 4.

Finally - I wish I could say that 1977 in the Yearbook Series is worth buying - but excepting CD2 - I found it to be a very flaccid and depressing listen despite the great audio. It’s like the Now compilers went out of their way to find as much crud as they could locate and call it a service to us listeners. 

I would counsel a listen first when it comes to '77… and hope they do better for the years they haven't catalogued as yet - 1975, 1976, 1972, 1971 and 1970.

PS: "Don't Leave Me This Way" Thelma Houston implored in January of 1977 – well EMI and Sony won't because the 'EXTRA '77' 3CD set is due in January 2025...