"Chess SOUL SISTERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked by MOJO" by VARIOUS (August 2005 Universal/Chess/Mojo CD Compilation – Gary Moore Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Joyful Stuff…"

  

The respected and much-loved MOJO Magazine of the UK decided in 2005 to use their knowledge and compile a series of rather cool (and cheap) Chess Records CD compilations.

Four appeared using generic card digipak artwork with the '20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO' logo in the bottom left corner - "Chess ORIGINALS" (actually has 25 tracks, total playing time of 70:08 minutes), "Chess NORTHERN SOUL" (58:48 minutes), "Chess TEARJERKERS" (58:50 minutes) and this girly love fest at 56:09 minutes - "Chess SOUL SISTERS".

There was also a 15-track CD sampler of sorts that preceding the four themed comps called "Chess CLASSICS" which was given away with copies of the MOJO August 2005 magazine when it went on sale in July of that year. It came in a jewel case (no catalogue number nor barcode) and actually had several tracks not featured in the four comps but that are on other Chess CD Remaster compilations (acts like Chuck Berry, Do Diddley and so on).

When it comes to three CDs on classic Soul Music - of course Ace Records of the UK and their Kent-Soul label imprint have had this sort of comp down pat for nearly three decades and have been thrilling fans like me with further trawls in the digital age almost on a monthly basis. But I feel that the "Chess SOUL SISTERS" entry is one of those fabulous little CD compilations that slipped through the cracks in a crowded reissue onslaught. Time to grab the Johnson's talcum powder out, don your dancing pom-poms and rectify that unforgivable anomaly by your woefully out-of-touch wallet. Here come the grooviest go-go gals...

UK released August 2005 - "Chess SOUL SISTERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked by MOJO" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830155 (Barcode 602498301555) plays out as follows (56:09 minutes):

1. Seven Day Fool - ETTA JAMES (1961 USA 7" single on Argo 5402, B-side to "It's Too Soon To Know")

2. Yes, It's Good For You - KOKO TAYLOR (from the 1969 US LP "Koko Taylor" on Chess 1532)

3. Liberation Conversation - MARLENA SHAW (from the 1969 album "The Spice Of Life" on Cadet LPS-833)

4. Git Out - MITTY COLLIER (1967 USA 7' single on Chess 2035, A)

5. Dirty Man - LAURA LEE (1967 USA 7" single on Chess 2013, A)

6. Take Me For A Little While - JACKIE ROSS (1965 USA 7" single on Chess 1938, A)

7. Don't Knock Love - BARBARA CARR (1967 USA 7" single on Chess 1985, B-side of "Shake Your Head")

8. In Orbit - JOY LOVEJOY (1967 USA 7" single on Checker 1188, A)

9. Cheater Man - IRMA THOMAS (1967 USA 7" single on Chess 2010, A)

10. Don't Mess With The Messer - KOKO TAYLOR (1965 USA 7" single on Checker 1106, A)

11. Fire - ETTA JAMES (1968 USA 7" single on Cadet 5620, A)

12. I Don't Wanna Fuss - SUGAR PIE De SANTO (1964 USA 7" single on Checker 1093, A)

13. I Surrender - FONTELLA BASS (1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1137, A)

14. We Got Something Good - IRMA THOMAS (1968 USA 7" single on Chess 2036, B-side to "Good To Me")

15. It's How You Make It Good - LAURA LEE (1968 USA 7" single on Chess 2062, B-side to "Hang It Up")

16. My Babe - MITTY COLLIER (from the 1965 album "Shades Of A Genius" on Chess LPS-1492)

17. Tease Your Man - MITTY COLLIER (from the 1972 album "Basic Soul" on Chess CH 50018)

18. Rescue Me - FONTELLA BASS (1965 USA 7" single on Checker 1120, A)

19. Sally, Go 'Round The Roses - THE JAYNETTS (1963 USA 7" single on Tuff 369, A)

20. California Soul - MARLENA SHAW (1969 USA 7" single on Cadet 5638, A)

GARY MOORE at Universal carried out the excellent remasters that can dip and jump because of the time frame. For instance the relatively low-fi Northern Soul monster "In Orbit" by Joy Lovejoy isn't an audiophile recording by any means and is followed by the superb production values of "Cheater Man" by Irma Thomas - but the contrast of audio quality is blown out of the water by the sheer joy of the music - recorded well or not. And that's what I love so much about Chess compilations in general - even when someone is being done 'bad' by someone who should know better - the music transcends everything - it's irrepressibly joyful stuff. The 16-page oversized booklet has full-page plates of Etta James, Sugar Pie De Santo, Marlena Shaw and Laura Lee and even pictures the rare "New Look" Chess album by Fontella Bass on Page 7 in colour. Very tastefully done...

Clever song choices abound here - snappy B-sides instead of overplayed A's - combined with crowd pleasers like "Rescue Me" and "Dirty Man" - all sided by rare album cuts and obscure groups. "Soul Sisters" also prides itself in featuring the unsung heroes of Chess, Cadet and Checker like Laura Lee, Marlena Shaw, Koko Taylor and Mitty Collier to name but a few. Check out Marlena Shaw’s cover of the Ashford & Simpson classic "California Soul" – a B-side to "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love" on Cadet 5656. Both are winners from the fantastical Cadet records "The Spice Of Life" album – an LP I’ve featured in an e-Book I’ve done on Obscure Albums that deserve martyrdom. Any compilation that brings you to that artist and that wicked US LP in particular is already exuding class in my locker room.

The vibe is mostly uptempo - cracking dancers like "It's How You Make It Good" and "Git It" - storming Etta James giving it some shimmy on "Seven Day Fool". Lyrically these sassy ladies also have to deal with cheaters, backstabbers and men of a generally Don Draper shag-around lowlife disposition. Equally - when they're not chastising them - they've forgiving them their trespasses or singing their praises. It's all blindingly good fun as you can imagine - song after song just walloping you with quality and emotion - and so much of it from that unbelievable year - 1967. Even the obscurities are excellent - The Jaynetts (an early New York girl group) who got a lilting Soulful sound on their Tuff Records 1963 rarity "Sally, Go 'Round The Roses" (probably more by accident than design) - such a great tune.

A superb introduction to the Soulful side of a Blues/Rhythm 'n' Blues label - "Soul Sisters" should be the first of the four Chess Mojo titles you get. And it's online for peanuts too...nice...

The Four Compilation Titles in the 20 August 2005 (UK)

UNIVERSAL/CHESS/MOJO CD Series are:

1. Chess ORIGINALS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830156 – Barcode 602498301562)

2. Chess NORTHERN SOUL: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830153 – Barcode 602498301531)

3. Chess SOUL SISTERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830155 – Barcode 602498301555)

4. Chess TEARJERKERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830154 –Barcode 602498301548)

"Chess TEARJERKERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked by MOJO" by VARIOUS (August 2005 Universal/Chess/MOJO CD Compilation) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Losers Weepers…"

The respected and much-loved MOJO Magazine of the UK decided in 2005 to use their knowledge and compile a series of rather cool (and cheap) Chess Records CD compilations.

Four appeared using generic card digipak artwork with the '20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO' logo in the bottom left corner - "Chess Originals", "Chess Soul Sisters", "Chess Northern Soul" and this emotional little sniffler - "Chess Tearjerkers". There was also a 15-track CD sampler of sorts that preceding the four themed comps called "Chess Classics" which was given away with copies of MOJO August 2005 when it went on sale in July (that actually had several tracks not featured in the four but on other Chess CD Remasters).

The MOJO magazine's respected Soul authority and uber-fan LOIS WILSON did the smart-choice compiling and I've always dug them as short but oh so sweet listens. And even now in September 2019, most are still available at a frankly laughable pre Brexit outlay (get them before the panic sets in and they shut down the emotional borders on us all). Here are the aorta-wrenching details for the Tearjerkers set...

UK released 29 August 2005 - "Chess Tearjerkers" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830154 (Barcode 602498301548) and breaks down as follows (58:50 minutes):

1. Losers Weepers – ETTA JAMES (September 1970 USA 7" single on Cadet 5676, A)

2. He Will Break Your Heart – LAURA LEE (July 1968 USA 7" single on Cadet 2052, B-side of "Need To Belong")

3. You Left The Water Running – MAURICE and MAC (March 1968 USA 7" single on Cadet 1197, A)

4. Since I Fell For You – FONTELLA BASS (from the March 1966 US LP "The 'New' Look" on Checker Records LPS-2997 in Stereo)

5. Can't Make It Without You – FRED HUGHES (February 1968 USA 7" single on Cadet 5579, B-side of "Come Home Little Darlin")

6. Somewhere Crying - IRMA THOMAS (July 1967 USA 7" single on Chess 2010, B-side of "Cheater Man")

7. Only Time Will Tell - ETTA JAMES (January 1966 USA 7" single on Cadet 5526, A)

8. Temptation 'Bout To Get Me - THE KNIGHT BROTHERS (May 1965 USA 7" single on Checker 1107, A)

9. I Had A Talk With My Man - MITTY COLLIER (August 1964 USA 7" single on Chess 1907, A)

10. Nothing But Tears - MARLENA SHAW (from the 1967 US LP "Out Of Different Bags" on Cadet LPS 803 in Stereo)

11. Need To Belong – LAURA LEE (July 1968 USA 7" single on Chess 2052, A)

12. Without A Woman - KIP ANDERSON (August 1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1145, A)

13. You'll Never Know aka You'll Never Ever Know - FONTELLA BASS (August 1966 USA 7" USA single on Checker 1147, B-side of "Safe And Sound")

14. After The Laughter - GENE CHANDLER (April 1967 USA 7" single on Checker 1165, B-side of "To Be A Lover")

15. It's Mighty Hard - LAURA LEE (July 1967 USA 7" single on Chess 2013, B-side of "Dirty Man")

16. I'd Rather Go Blind - ETTA JAMES (October 1967 USA 7" single on Cadet 5578, B-side of "Tell Mama")

17. Have Pity On Me - BILLY YOUNG (May 1966 USA 7" single on Chess 1961, B-side of "You Left The Water Running")

18. Drown In My Own Tears - MITTY COLLIER (a Ray Charles cover from her 1965 US LP "Shades Of A Genius" on Chess LPS-1492 in Stereo)

19. Yours Until Tomorrow - IRMA THOMAS (Previously Unreleased July 1967 session at Fame Studios - first issued Japan 1984 on the LP "Down At Muscle Shoals" on Chess/P-Vine PLP 6013 - then August 1990 on the US CD compilation "Something Good/The Muscle Shoals Sessions" on Chess CHD 93004 - Barcode 076741300426 as one of two bonus tracks)

20. I Fooled You This Time - GENE CHANDLER (October 1966 USA 7" single on Checker 1155, A)

Compiled and annotated by LOIS WILSON - the oversized 16-page booklet (inside a gatefold card digipak) is a lovely thing to behold - insightful paragraphs on each of the songs - 7" single labels reproduced (Laura Lee and Etta James on Chess and Cadet), black and white and colour publicity shots of Gene Chandler, Fontella Bass and gorgeous colour shots of the Mitty Collier album "Shade Of A Genius" and Fontella's 1967 Cadet Records gem "Out Of Different Bags". Very nicely done...

Same as the other compilations in this series - long-time Audio Engineer GARY MOORE at Universal carried out the excellent remasters. The audio varies from source-to-source - incredible one moment and more than acceptable the next. But as with the "Soul Sisters" entry in this series - all of that gets blown out of the water by the sheer joy of the music (recorded well or not). And once again very clever song choices abound here 'hand-picked' by those canny bods at England's fabulicious MOJO magazine. You get deep LP cuts from Marlena Shaw and Fontella Bass, a Fame Studios unreleased cut by Irma Thomas that first surfaced in Japan in 1984, Curtis Mayfield songs like Laura Lee's take on "Need To Belong", overlooked B-sides instead of overplayed A's and all of it combined with talcum-powder crowd pleasers like Maurice & Mac's "You Left The Water Running" and the Etta James classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" that would become a future pluck-your-eyes-out cover version for England's Chicken Shack. Sung by Christine Perfect prior to her marrying John McVie and later becoming an integral part of Fleetwood Mac - Etta's "I'd Rather Go Blind" was in fact the 1967 flipside of the dancefloor killer "Tell Mama" – talk about a shifting moods double-whammy...

The compilation begins with a duo of heavy-hitter torch-song ladies giving it some serious bemoaning of their between-the-sheets misery – Etta walloping out Part 1 of "Losers Weepers" from 1970 and Laura Lee covering the fabulous Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and Clarence Carter tune "He Will Break Your Heart" from two years earlier in 1968 (both were Cadet Records 45s in the States – the Lee track tucked away as a B-side). From that tasty starter – we get Maurice McAlister and Green McLauren ordinarily known as Maurice And Mac for the US R&B charts. Both formerly vocalists in The Radiants, their sexy shuffling 1968 variant of "You Left The Water Running" (a hit Barbara Lynn had had on Atlantic Records two years earlier) was a huge Northern Soul club-spin in Seventies Blighty and has subsequently become a mucho-placed entry on American LP and CD compilations (the Rhino "Soul Shots" LP series comes to mind as does their fabulous 6CD 1995 Single-Shaped Box Set "Beg, Scream & Shout! The Big ‘Ol Box Of 60s Soul")

Other hidden gems include the impassioned Fontella Bass version of "You'll Never Know" (the Oliver Sain song is actually credited as "You'll Never Ever Know" on the original American 45) - another 'standing in the shadows with tears streaming down my face' flip-side on the Chess Records subsidiary Checker or the identikit Otis Redding voice of Billy Young on the Tommy Roe song "Have Pity On Me" - an on-your-knees pleader to his gal for an emotional stay of execution (oddly enough I think our Billy did her wrong again).

Gospel man (Rev) James Cleveland scribed "It's Mighty Hard" and along with Cadet Concept leading light Charles Stepney (future Arranger for Terry Callier, Rotary Connection and The Dells) - they gifted Laura Lee a fantastic vehicle for her voice, even it was relegated to the B-side of the more catchy and controversial "Dirty Man" on the Plug Side. There's a genuinely eerie feel to "Without A Woman" - Kip Anderson prior to drug addiction, jail and rehabilitation - and as a counter to that - Gene Chandler possessing such a great expression as he pours on the heartbreak in the Billy Butler written "After The Laughter". And there's plenty more where that came from...

So there you have it - so many great tunes you don't know and need to. "Chess Tearjerkers" is the kind of Soul CD compilation that has gotten lost in an overcrowded marketplace but deserves rediscovery. My advice - shopping basket some Talcum Powder and a box of Kleenex and check this cool little misery guts out...

The Four Compilation Titles in the 20 August 2005 (UK)

UNIVERSAL/CHESS/MOJO CD Series are:

1. Chess ORIGINALS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830156 – Barcode 602498301562)

2. Chess NORTHERN SOUL: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830153 – Barcode 602498301531)

3. Chess SOUL SISTERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830155 – Barcode 602498301555)

4. Chess TEARJERKERS: 20 Tracks Hand-Picked By MOJO

(Universal/Chess/Mojo 9830154 –Barcode 602498301548)

"Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters" by THE UPSETTERS featuring Lee 'Scratch' Perry (April 2019 UK Doctor Bird Records Compilation – 2LPs onto 2CDs Plus 24 Bonus Tracks From The Period Involving Producer Lee Perry – Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Rightful Ruler..."

In the world of Reggae (especially Jamaican Reggae) – two names elicit a certain knee-trembling excitement amidst arthritic old-fart collectors like me. And this fabulous April 2019 Doctor Bird Records 2CD reissue out of the UK offers up truck loads of both – the magical Pama Records label - and the wonder-kid Producer and Arranger, the rightful ruler himself - Lee 'Scratch' Perry. It’s enough to make me throw my spaghetti at a Western. So what’s on offer partner?

For a few dollar more you get two hugely sought-after British-issued Pama Records LPs from 1969 and 1970 (pricey and so rare on original vinyl) bolstered up with a whopping 24 Bonus Tracks featuring period productions by Perry, much of it making its digital debut after half a century in genre obscurity (48 tracks in all remastered by top Audio hero Andy Pearce). Time to don the poncho, holster the pistols, spit on mangy dogs and get to the big shots within...

UK released Friday, 5 April 2019 (12 April 2019 in the USA) - "Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters" by THE UPSETTERS (featuring LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY) on Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-034 (Barcode 5013929273436) offers 2 x 12-Track LPs from 1969 and 1970 originally on Pama Records (UK) Remastered onto 2CDs with A Further Twenty-Four Period Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (62:36 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are "Clint Eastwood" by THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK MONO LP on Pama Records PSP-1014)

Tracks 5 and 10 exclusive to the LP, other 10 tracks were UK 45s as noted

Side 1:

1. Return Of The Ugly - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 18, A)

2. For A Few Dollars More - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 12, A)

3. Prisoner Of Love - DAVE BARKER (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 20, A - for B see Track 19 Disc 2)

4. Dry Acid - COOL STICKY & THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 19, A)

5. Rightful Ruler - U ROY with COUNT OSSIE & THE UPSETTERS

6. Clint Eastwood - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 21, A)

Side 2:

7. Taste Of Killing - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 13, A)

8. Selassie - THE REGGAE BOYS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 19, B-side to "Dry Acid" - see Track 4 for A)

9. What Is This (Ba Ba) - THE REGGAE BOYS (1969 UK 7" single on Gas GAS 135, A - original credited as "Ba Ba")

10. Ain't No Love (aka I've Never Found A Girl) - WINSTON HOLNESS

11. My Mob - THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 13, B-side of "Taste Of Killing", for A-Side, see Track 7)

12. I've Caught You - COOL STICKY & THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 18, B-side of "Return Of The Ugly", for A-side, see Track 1

BONUS TRACKS – DISC 1:

13. Down In The Park - THE INSPIRATIONS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 11, A)

14. Strange Whisperings - THE WEST INDIANS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 16, A)

15. Hard To Handle - CARL DAWKINS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 16, B-side of "Strange Whisperings" by The West Indians - for the A-side, see Track 14

16. (No) Not Me - THE ETHIOPIANS (1968 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1172, A - credited as "Not Me")

17. Facts Of Life - THE MELLOTONES (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 18, A, for B-side, see Track 20)

18. Can't Get No Peace - MONTY MORRIS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 12, B-side of "For A Few Dollars More" by The Upsetters, for A-side see Track 2 on Disc 1)

19. Freedom Train - ERNEST WILLIAMS (1969 UK 7" single on Crab CRAB 17, A)

20. I'll Be Waiting - THE TERMITES (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 18, B-side to "Facts Of Life" by The Mellotones, for A-side, see Track 17 on Disc 1)

21. Love Oh Love - THE INSPIRATIONS (1969 UK 7" single on Camel CA 11, B-side of "Down In The Park", for A-side, see Track 13 on Disc 1)

22. A Broken Heart - BUSTY BROWN (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 10, A)

23. Cut Down (On Your Speed) - THE ETHIOPIANS (1969 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1172, B-side of "Not Me", for A-side, see Track 16 Disc 1)

24. Anyway - LLOYD DOUGLAS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 6, B-side of "I Can't Take It Anymore", for A-side, see Track 2 on Disc 2)

Disc 2 (63:52 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are "Many Moods Of "The Upsetters"" (1970 UK STEREO LP on Pama Economy SECO 24 in Stereo)

Tracks 1 and 4 to 12 are exclusive to the LP - Tracks 2 and 3 were also British 45s as noted below

Side 1:

1. Exray Vision - THE UPSETTERS

2. I Can't Take It Anymore - DAVID ISAACS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 6, A, B-side is Track 24 on Disc 1)

3. Soul Stew - THE UPSETTERS credited as MEDETATORS on the original 45-label (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 23, B-side to "Ram You Hard" by John Lennon and The Bleechers, for A-side, see Track 21 on Disc 2)

4. Low Lights (I'll Be Waiting) - THE UPSETTERS

5. Cloud Nine - CARL DAWKINS

6. Beware Fade - THE UPSETTERS

Side 2:

7. Serious Joke - THE UPSETTERS

8. Goosy - PAT SATCHMO

9. Prove It - THE UPSETTERS

10. Boss Security - PAT SATCHMO

11. Mean And Dangerous - THE UPSETTERS

12. Games People Play - THE UPSETTERS

BONUS TRACKS - DISC 2:

13. Set Me Free - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 25, A - credited on original 45s as "Shock Of Might (Vocal)" but is "Set Me Free”)

14.  Tribute To A King - BUSTY BROWN (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 10, B-side to "Broken Heart", for A-side, see Track 22 Disc 1)

15. Lennox Mood - LENNOX BROWN & UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 21, B-side of "Clint Eastwood", for A-side, see Track 6 Disc 1)

16. You Betray Me - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 22, A)

17. Never Get Away (Caught You Red-Handed) - ERIC DONALDSON & THE WEST INDIANS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 9, B-side to "Hello Dolly" by Pat Satchmo, for A-side, see Track 22 Disc 2)

18. Feel The Spirit - THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 27, B-side of "The Result", for A-side, see Track 23 Disc 2)

19. Soul Juice - BUSTY BROWN & THE UPSETTERS (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 20, B-side to "Prisoner Of Love", for A-side, see Track 3 Disc 1)

20. Will You Still Love Me (Tomorrow) - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 22, B-side to "You Betray Me", for A-side see Track 16 Disc 2)

21. Ram You Hard - JOHN LENNON and THE BLEECHERS (1970 UK 7"s single on Punch PH 23, A-side, for B-side "Soul Stew" by THE UPSETTERS credited as MEDETATORS, see Track 3 Disc 2)

22. Hello Dolly - PAT SATCHMO (1969 UK 7" single on Punch PH 9, A, for B-side see Track 17 Disc 2)

23. The Result - THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 27, A, for B-side see Track 18 Disc 2)

24. Shocks Of Mighty [aka Hit Me Back] - DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (1970 UK 7" single on Punch PH 25, B-side to "Shock Of Might (Vocal)" on the original 45 but the song is "Set Me Free", for A see Track 13 Disc 2)

The 12-page booklet is the usual feast of memorabilia - the Side 1 and 2 labels of the two rare LPs on Pama and Pama Economy are pictured on Page 2 (not things you see every day of the week). There are black and white photos dotted throughout the text of key players like Eric Morris, The Inspirations, Lee Perry with The Pioneers, Eric Donaldson and of course LP himself. You get two full-page displays of those gorgeous Punch, Camel, Doctor Bird and Gas Records single labels (nine to each page) – British-pressed 45 rarities with their mottled punch-hold centres that are so hard to find. DAVID KATZ provides the superb liner notes – deep level info on both albums and the manic two years that surrounded them, Lee Perry’s early career of brilliance, legacy and so on. And finally there is an advert on the rear inlay of some of the DB releases mentioned in my list below.

New mastering comes by way of my fave Engineer ANDY PEARCE – a gent with a huge Rock catalogue to his name and now, a huge spread of these new Trojan and related releases as well. But even with the best will in the world, almost all of this was recorded in Aunty Flo's Bargain Bucket Basement Studio for three schillings and no pence when there wasn't an electricity-black-out. Anyone expecting Audio miracles can look elsewhere - but given that - when the volume knob goes up - the power and sheer atmosphere of this infectious music is both cool and fabulous. For sure, the audio here is not anything like the whack a body gets off the original British-pressed 45s, and some titles are so rare there are no tapes and the notes admit vinyl dubs, but even then – this is the best I've ever heard these recordings sound. You may to adjust your Supertramp expectations down to 2 on a scale of 10 – but these rarities have been sympathetically handled by a label that gives a monkeys. To the aces and the braces...

Turning up sometime in late 1969 - the Mono "Clint Eastwood" album features 10 singles from Pama's subsidiary labels Punch, Camel and Gas with two newbees tagged on, one to each side. And like Trojan's popular LP "Return Of Django" - Pama's album title was blatantly tapping into the Sergio Leone spaghetti western film craze taking cinemas by storm (Lee calling Mister Eastwood his favourite cowboy). Perry's rhythm section (also known as The Hippy Boys) consisted for the most part of Glen Adams and Alva 'Reggie' Lewis on Organ, Guitar and Vocals with Bassist Aston 'Family Man Barrett and his Brother/Drummer Carlton Barrett. Side 1's opener "Return Of The Ugly" gives us the familiar Skinhead rhythms - an organ shuffling alongside a vocalist giving it some "...ah ha..." every few seconds. We're helpfully informed on the next Upsetters cut that for a few dollars more we can be lying on the floor (how very thoughtful of them), while Dave Barker has a seriously good stab at cult Soul Vocalist on his "Prisoner Of Love" - a commercial slice of wickedness that should have broken through to the Pop charts. U Roy and Peter Tosh lend Tribe of Juddah vocals to "Rightful Ruler" but my fave cuts are the vocally-sporadic instrumentals "My Mob" and "Dry Acid" - driving organ dancers - the former with Bad Manners type 'pick it up, pick it up' scat vocals.

Of the exclusive LP cuts, Winston Holness's "Ain't No Love" turns out to be a reggae slant on the Eddie Floyd Stax Records classic "I've Never Found A Girl (That Loves Me Like You Do)" that does the original proud. But again (as with so many of these chocker 2CD sets) - the Bonuses from 13 to 24 are shockingly good and I'd argue a better LP that the issued one. The "Love Me Two Times" Top A&B-side Single Award goes to Eric Donaldson's sweet vocals fronting The West Indians on their "Strange Whisperings" b/w a very cool cover of Otis Redding's sure "Hard To Handle" on the flip-side by Carl Dawkins (Camel Records CA 16 from 1969). Disc 2 simply coughs up a further hour and a bit of the same feel-the-spirit Reggae and Ska and many in Stereo - sweet.

I'm eating up these Doctor Bird 2CD reminders (as I’m sure other fans are too) and this is easily another winner/reissue of the year. Recommended big time...

2017 and 2018 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues
(Featuring Larges Amounts of Trojan Records, Treasure Isle, Pama 60s & 70s etc)

1. BOB ANDY & MARCIA GRIFFITHS - Young, Gifted And Black/Pied Pier (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-014 - Barcode 5013929271432)

2. ERROL BROWN/THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Dubb Everlasting/Dub Expression [1977 and 1978 High Note 2LPs on 1CD] (November 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-07 – Barcode 5013929270732)

3. DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS – Double Barrel (June 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-016 - Barcode 5013929271630)

4. DESMOND DECKER & THE ACES – Action!/Intensified (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCD-025 – Barcode 5013929272538)

5. DESMOND DEKKER – You Can Get It If You Really Want (September 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-015 - Barcode 5013929271531)

6. DESMOND DEKKER – Double Dekker [1973 UK 2LP set onto 1CD] (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-018 – Barcode 5013929271838)

7. PHYLLIS DILLON – One Life To Live (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-021 – Barcode 5013929272132)

8. ETHIOPIANS – Reggae Power/Woman Capture Man (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-10 – Barcode 5013929271036)

9. MARCIA GRIFFITHS – Naturally/Steppin’ [1978 and 1979 2LPs on 1CD] (August 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-002 – Barcode 5013929270237)

10. DERRICK HARRIOTT & THE CRYSTALITES – Psychedelic Train (October 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-05 – Barcode 5013929270534)

11. HARRY J. ALL STARS - Liquidator (June 2008 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-012 - Barcode 5013929271234)

12. JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES – From Jamaica With Reggae (February 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-09 – Barcode 5013929270930)

13. THE KINGSTONIANS – Sufferer (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-03 – Barcode 5013929270336)

14. THE MAYTALS – Monkey Man/From The Roots (July 2018 2LPs on 1CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-017 – Barcode 5013929271739)

15. THE PIONEERS – Long Shot/Battle Of The Giants (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-019 – Barcode 5013929271937)

16. THE UNIQUES - Absolutely The...Uniques (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-011 - Barcode 5013929271135)

17. THE UPSETTERS – The Upsetter/Scratch The Upsetter Again (October 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-022 – Barcode 5013929272231)

18. THE UPSETTERS – Return Of Django/Eastwood Rides Again (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-013 - Barcode 5013929271333)

19. VARIOUS – Dancing Down Orange Street [Trojan 1969 LP] (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-04 – Barcode 5013929270435)

20. VARIOUS – Gay Feet, Every Night (October 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-06 – Barcode 5013929270633)

21. VARIOUS – Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae/Reggay At Its Best (October 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-030 – Barcode 5013929273030)

22. VARIOUS – Hot Shots Of Reggae (November 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-08 – Barcode 5013929270831)

23. VARIOUS – King Size Reggae (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-026 – Barcode 5013929272637)

24. VARIOUS – No More Heartaches/What Am I To Do? [2LPs from 1969 and 1970 onto 1CD] (August 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-01 – Barcode 5013929270138)

25. VARIOUS [Duke Reid and Treasure Isle Productions] – Soul Of Jamaica/Here Comes The Duke (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-024 – Barcode 5013929272439)

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2019 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues

1. ROLAND ALPHANSO & THE ORIGINAL ORCHESTRA – ABC Rock Steady (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 43 Bonus Tracks, Doctor Bird DBCDD-023 – Barcode 5013929272330)

2. DENNIS BROWN – Just Dennis/Deep Down (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-027 – Barcode 5013929272736)

3. ERROL BROWN & THE REVOLUTIONARIES – Culture Dub & Medley Dub (12 July 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 25 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-038 – Barcode 5013929273832)

4. ERROL BROWN & THE SUPERSONICS – The Treasure Dub Albums Collection (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with Eight Previously Unreleased, Doctor Bird DBCDD-043 – Barcode 5013929274334)

5. ALTON ELLIS – Greatest Hits/Mr. Soul Of Jamaica [known as Greatest Hits in the UK] (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 47 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-045 – Barcode 5013929274532)

6. THE ETHIOPIANS – Engine No. 5 (17 May 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 17 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-035 – Barcode 5013929273535)

7. THE GAYLADS – Fire And Rain (14 June 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 13 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-036 – Barcode 5013929273634)

8. JOHN HOLT – Like A Bolt (January 2019 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-029 – Barcode 5013929272934)

9. THE MELODIANS – Rivers Of Babylon (9 August 2019 Expanded 1CD Set with 15 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-041 – Barcode 5013929274136)

10. DERRICK MORGAN – Moon Hop/Derrick Morgan In London (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-032 – Barcode 5013929273238)

11. DERRICK MORGAN – Derrick Morgan And His Friends (12 July 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 24 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-039 – Barcode 5013929273931)

12. SONIA POTTINGER – Put On Your Best Dress: Ska & Rock Steady 1966-1967 (14 June 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-037 – Barcode 5013929273733)

13. LORD TANAMO & FRIENDS – Festival Jump-Up [1965] (15 November 2019 Expanded 2CD Reissue of 1965 LP with 40 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-046 – Barcode 5013929274631)

14. LINVAL THOMPSON – The Linval Thompson Trojan Roots Album Collection - Including two LPs by Big Joe And The Trinity called "African Princess" and "Rock In The Ghetto" and one Linval Thompson LP called "I Love Marijuana" (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 10 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-044 – Barcode 5013929274433)

15. LINVAL THOMPSON & THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Negrea Love Dub/Outlaw Dub [1978 and 1979] (15 November 2019 Reissue featuring 2LPs onto 1CD (no bonus), Doctor Bird DBCD-047 – Barcode 5013929274730)

16. THE UPSETTERS featuring LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY – Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-034 – Barcode 5013929273436)

17. VARIOUS – The Down Town Albums Collection [Down Town Label] (February 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-020 - Barcode 5013929272033)

18. VARIOUS – Gay Jamaican Independence Time – Boom Sha-Ka-La (17 May 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-028 – Barcode 5013929272835)

19. VARIOUS – Greatest Jamaican Beat... (March 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-033 – Barcode 5013929273337)

20. VARIOUS – Independence Jump Up Calypso (9 August 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 46 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-040 – Barcode 5013929274037)

21. VARIOUS – The Treasure Isle Ska Albums Collection (January 2019 2CD Set [4LPs and more], Doctor Bird DBCDD-031 – Barcode 5013929273139)

22. VARIOUS – You Can’t Wine/Music Alone Shall Live (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 33 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-042 - Barcode 5013929274235)