"Pity For The Lonely: The Ko Ko Singles Volume 1" by LUTHER INGRAM – US 45s from 1968 to 1971 on the Ko Ko Records Label (July 2007 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation – Nick Robbins and Bob Shread Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Love The Way You Carry Yourself…"

Featuring the legendary first ten singles issued by Memphis Soul Man LUTHER INGRAM on the Ko Ko label between 1966 and 1971 (A&B-sides) – this Kent-Soul CD represents something of a wet dream for Soul aficionados. Rated by many Soul Vocalist fans as one of the great voices of the period – Ingram's "Pity For The Lonely" is primo Ace reissue territory – and typically they’ve done a bang-up job. Here are the ‘more reasons than one’ to buy this CD reissue beauty…

UK released July 2007 – "Pity For The Lonely: The Ko Ko Singles Volume 1" by LUTHER INGRAM on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 279 (Barcode 029667227926) breaks down as follows – all USA 7" singles unless otherwise noted (60:08 minutes):

1. You've Got To Give Love To Get Love

2. I Can't Stop (Version 1) 

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records 101, 1967, both tracks by Luther Ingram

3. Missing You (Version 1)

4. Since You Don't Want Me (Version 1)

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records 103, 1968, both tracks by Luther Ingram and Leslie McFarland)

5. You Can Depend On Me

6. Looking For A New Love

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2101, November 1968, A-side by Luther Ingram, B-side a co-write with Leslie McFarland

7. Pity For The Lonely

Using "Looking For A New Love" as the B-side (see 6) - the A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2102, March 1969, A-side by Dorian Burton and Gertrude Jones

8. Puttin' Game Down

9. Since You Don't Want Me (Version 2)

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KAO-2103, July 1969. "Puttin' Game Down" (written by Stacy Johnson) was also issued as his first 45 in the UK on Stax Records STAX 142 in February 1970 - but with (10) "My Honey And Me" as its A-side. "Since You Don't Want Me (Version 2)" also turned up as the USA B-side to "Be Good To Me Baby" on Ko Ko Records KOA-2107 in 1971. "Puttin' Game Down" also showed up as the B-side to the April 1972 USA 45 issue of "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" on Ko Ko Records KOA-2111. 

10. My Honey And Me

11. I Can't Stop (Version 2)

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KAO-2104, November 1969. Luther Ingram and Leslie McFarland wrote the A, Ingram the B-side. A-side was also his 1st UK 7" single on Stax 142 (see 8 and 9 above) in February 1970. "I Can't Stop (Version 2)" also turned up in 1972 on the USA B-side of "I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm)" on Ko Ko Records KOA-2113. 

12. Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One)

13. Home Don't Seem Like Home

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2105, April 1970. It was issued as his 2nd single in the UK in June 1970 on Stax Records STAX 148 but with the sides reversed. "Ain't That Lovin' You…" was written by Homer Banks and Allan Jones and first recorded by Johnnie Taylor at Stax in 1967. It charted at Number 6 on the R&B charts in the USA and at No. 45 on Billboard Pop. "Home Don't Seem Like Home" is a Johnnie Taylor and John Baylor song. 

14. To The Other Man

15. I'll Just Cost You Honey 

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2106, December 1970. "To The Other Man" was also used as the B-side to "Love Ain't Gonna Run Me Away" in 1973 on Ko Ko Records KOA-2116. 

16. Be Good To Me Baby 

Using "Since You Don't Want Me (Version 2)" as its B-side (see 9) – the A&B sides of Ko Ko Records 2107, June 1971

17. I'll Love You Until The End 

18. Ghetto Train

The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2108, September 1971. 

19. My Honey And Me (Radio Promo) – Radio Advert Snippet (Previously Unreleased Until 2007)

The 16-page booklet has liner notes handled by Soul Expert TONY ROUNCE whose knowledge and warmth for the music exudes out of every sentence (with help from Dean Rudland, Steve Guarnori and other collectors/fans). Rounce has done literally dozens of these booklets for Ace and Edsel and it makes for a properly informative and entertaining read. The song-by-song breakdown text - is also peppered by photos of those uber-desirable Ko Ko and Stax 45s that make collectors weak at the knees. Ace have even managed to locate sheet music for "My Honey And Me" with the lyrics – typically wicked stuff. 

NICK ROBBINS and BOB SHREAD have done the Audio Restoration and Mastering at Sound Mastering in the UK and these primo slices of Southern Soul and Funk sound fabulous. The earlier Ko Ko Recordings are crude (to be blunt) but the audio quality here is clear and full of Mono presence. By the time you get to Single 3 onwards – the audio ups its game considerably to a point where it's filling your room –overall a great job done. 

There's an embarrassment of riches here – there really is. Ingram was possessed of an amazingly expressive voice - at home with groovers and ballads alike. Tunes like "Looking For A New Love" (so Wicked Pickett), "Pity For The Lonely" (lilting Ben E. King) and the truly gorgeous "Ain't That Loving You…" are the kind of gems that make fans declare Soul Music as being the only genre worth listening too. I regularly used to slip "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)" onto a CD-R in Reckless - and without fail it would bring punters to the counter - some with tears in their eyes from memories stirred (lyrics from it title this review).

The CD is also funky in the shape of the guitar-driven "My Honey And Me" (how did this not chart in the UK or its UK B-side not get airplay?) while the slinky "Home Don't Seem Like Home" is such a winner. "I'll Just Call You Honey" and the socially conscious "Ghetto Train" end it on an upbeat note. Using the backdrop of "My Honey And Me" as it plays, the 42-second Radio Spot for the 'House Of Wax' Record Shop, 1205 East Washington Avenue, North Of Little Rock is a curio – but a damn cool one. 

Ingram passed away in March 2007 aged 69 – but with this and the subsequent volumes – the mighty Ace Records of the UK have done his recorded legacy a total solid. Genius and then some…

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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"Original Album Series" by GROUNDHOGS - Including Their Second to Sixth UK Studio Albums on Liberty and United Artists Records - "Blues Obituary" (September 1969), "Thank Christ For The Bomb" (June 1970), "Split" (March 1971), "Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs!" and "Hogwash" (March and November 1972) - featuring Guitarist Tony McPhee (February 2015 UK Parlophone/Warners Music Group 5CD Capacity Wallet Mini LP Card Sleeve Box Set Containing Five Albums with 1996, 2003 and 2013 Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

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A HUGE 3,136 e-Pages 

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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"...Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs..."

When the "Original Album Series" first appeared in 2010 it was entirely WEA artists and albums. But when the EMI umbrella of labels came into the fold - punters were suddenly getting fresh blood - a whole flurry of associated labels and artists in this massive and popular 5CD Mini Box Set series. 

So far we've had Robin Trower, Edgar Broughton Band, Kiki Dee, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull - and in amongst them is of course England's very own grunge-before-there-was-grunge rockers Groundhogs fronted by ace guitarist Tony McPhee.

This 2015 instalment in the "Original Album Series" misses out their uber-rare debut album "Scratching The Surface" from 1968 on Liberty and gives us the five studio efforts that followed (all now rare and expensive on original British vinyl). And at a tad above two quid a CD - this 5CD Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Card Sleeves and tasty Remasters is properly great value for money.

Each of these albums has received a quality CD remaster in the last two decades (many in 2003) - each fitted out with bonus tracks and comprehensive booklets. As it is with most "Original Album Classics" - the bonuses have been stripped away and each album placed in a dinky 5" card repro sleeve with just the front and rear artwork reproduced. But as fans will know Discs 2, 3, 4 and 5 listed below came with tremendous original artwork when first released on vinyl all those years ago (gatefolds, cartoon sleeves, die-cut holes etc) and that's completely lost here which is a damn shame really. But the good news is that there's been no compromise on the Audio front - they've simply used the PETER MEW Abbey Road Remasters (mostly from 2003) and each is ballsy, clear and full of presence. Here are the world saving details...

UK released February 2015 - "Original Album Series" by GROUNDHOGS is a 5CD Mini Box Set (with 5 x 5" Repro Card Sleeves) on Parlophone/Warners Music Group 0825646179732 (Barcode the same) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (33:55 minutes):

1. B.D.D. [Side 1]

2. Daze Of The Weak

3. Times

4. Mistreated

5. Express Man [Side 2]

6. Natchez Burning

7. Light Way The Day

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 2nd studio album "Blues Obituary" - released September 1969 in the UK on Liberty Records LBS 83253 and in the USA on Imperial LP 12452. The 1996 CD Remaster is used.

Disc 2 (41:14 minutes):

1. Strange Town [Side 1]

2. Darkness Is No Friend

3. Soldier

4. Thank Christ For The Bomb

5. Ship On The Ocean [Side 2]

6. Garden

7. Status People

8. Rich Man, Poor Man

9. Eccentric Man

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "Thank Christ For The Bomb" - released June 1970 in the UK on Liberty Records LBS 83295 and in the USA on Liberty LST 7644. The 2003 CD Remaster is used.

Disc 3 (39:49 minutes):

1. Split - Part One [Side 1]

2. Split - Part Two

3. Split - Part Three

4. Split - Part Four

5. Cherry Red [Side 2]

6. A Year In The Life

7. Junkman

8. Groundhog

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th studio album "Split" - released March 1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83401 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 5513 (with different artwork). The 2003 CD Remaster is used.

Disc 4 (36:32 minutes):

1. Earth is Not Room Enough [Side 1]

2. Wages of Peace

3. Body In Mind

4. Music Is The Food Of Thought

5. Bog Roll Blues [Side 2]

6. Death Of The Sun

7. Amazing Grace [Traditional Song cover]

8. The Grey Maze

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 5th studio album "Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs!" - released March 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29347 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 5570. The 2003 CD Remaster is used.

Disc 5 (39:21 minutes):

1. I Love Miss Ogyny [Side 1]

2. You Had A Lesson

3. The Ringmaster

4. 3744 James Road

5. Sad Is The Hunter [Side 2]

6. S'one Song

7. Earth Shanty

8. Mr. Hooker, Sir John

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 6th studio album "Hogwash" - released November 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29419 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA008-F. The 2013 CD Remaster is used.

Proceedings open with "B.D.D." (Blind, Deaf & Dumb) which clearly lays out the bands Rocking Blues credentials (all songs on the "Blues Obituary" album are by McPhee). But as well as (Reverend as he's known on the sleeve) McPhee's frantic axe playing - you also get his not-so-great monotone voice and the very basic production values he gave everything. This is down and dirty stuff as evidenced by the wicked Blues of "Daze Of The Weak" - a standout on the record. The Bass of Peter Cruickshank and Ken Pustelnik's Drums on "Time" and "Mistreated" are now clear in the remaster transfer and give the track a very Juicy Lucy swagger.

For most people 1970's "Thank Christ For The Bomb" and its illustrious 1971 follow

Up "Split" are probably their first introduction to the band's particular brand of Rock with a Blues and even Prog twist. "Shafts of moonlight light up the floor..." McPhee tells on "Darkness Is No Friend". In April 1970 Liberty Records UK tried a 45 on LBF 15346 by coupling the unlikely duo of "Eccentric Man" and the slow plod of "Status People" on the B-side - but it raised little interest. There are times when "Ship On The Ocean" sounds like doom-laden Black Sabbath on a jangly guitar tip. The four-parts of "Split" are probably fan's go-to Groundhogs rave up while the hard-rocking "Cherry Red" takes no prisoners chugging along on its rough 'n' ready path. The near six-minute "Groundhog" has McPhee going solo - sat on a chair with his amped up slide guitar - stomping his foot like John Lee Hooker meets ZZ Top meets Rory Gallagher as he whizzes up and down those strings like he owns the Blues. What a winner and it ends the album on a real high (the remaster is fabulous).

1972 was a busy time for The Hogs - two albums in one year. For March's "Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs!" - McPhee seemed to have discovered Funk or at least his guitar-strumming version of it. The opening three tracks are all almost Jonathan Richmond in their frantic jagged pace and I love them. There's also a warmth and mellowness to his Side 1 finisher "Music Is The Food Of Thought" where he increasingly sounds like a concerned Michael Chapman or Roy Harper over on EMI's Harvest Records. The Audio Remaster on this album is superb by the way - cymbals, flute and bass - all the backing-instruments so clear. The crudely recorded and doom-treated guitars return with Side Two's "Bog Roll Blues" which again swings in a strange Groundhogs kind of way. The fantastically played Acoustic Guitars on "Death Of The Sun" are superb but again the song is undone by his deadpan vocals treated with some echo in the mix. There's a Soulful church organ and guitar version of the Traditional "Amazing Grace" which is ruined by fuzzed excess and the album finishes on the ten-minute Ten Years After boogie of "The Grey Maze" sounding like a throwback to the best stuff on "Split".

By the time "Hogwash" arrived in late 1972 - the public wasn't really listening and as a result it's hard to find an original vinyl copy - so its CD presence here is welcome. Stuff like "I Love Miss Ogyny" just don't have a tune - better is the jagged Prog rhythms of "You Had A Lesson". But again his vocals grate. The live-in-the-studio "3744 James Road" is preceded by a "1, 2, 3 4!" count in and is probably the best track on the album where the band sound like Alvin Lee's Ten Years After in 1972 with McPhee letting rip on some truly impressive and wild guitar playing. "Hogwash" was another McPhee Self-Production - but this time the audio quality was on the up and you can really hear it in the power of the remaster where both Cruickshank's Bass and the Drums of Clive Brooks leap out of the speakers at you.

"Original Album Series" by GROUNDHOGS is not all genius by any means and with that deadpan set of pipes of his - I've always felt that his band was an acquired taste. But if you've any affection for them - then this latest addition to the impressive "Original Album Classics" is a must own... 

"Survival" by GRAND FUNK – April 1971 US Fifth Album (Fourth Studio set) on Capitol Records (June 1971 in the UK) – featuring Mark Farner and Don Brewer (November 2002 UK Capitol Records Expanded Edition CD Reissue in the Grand Funk Remasters Series) - A Review by Mark Barry…

This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"…I Can't Get Along With Society…"

With three studio efforts under their Capitol Records musical belt - "On Time" and "Grand Funk" in 1969 and the "Closer To Home" 1970 effort (the obligatory double "Live Album" was also 1970) – GRAND FUNK RAILROAD finally delivered what most feel was their best studio album ever in April 1971 (June 1971 in the UK) – "Survival" - where the much-derided American Rock Band band was simply credited as GRAND FUNK. 

It came complete with artwork where the hard-rocking band literally looks like society outcasts and not-to-be-messed-with Neanderthals on the front cover. And with 5 cracking bonus tracks actually worthy of inclusion – this cheap-as-chips CD remaster is a fantastic way into this most American of Rock bands. Men in caves indeed, here are the details…

UK released November 2002 – "Survival" by GRAND FUNK on Capitol 5417252 (Barcode 724354172526) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Five Bonus Tracks that breaks down as follows (73:14 minutes):

1. Country Road [Side 1]

2. All You've Got Is Money

3. Comfort Me

4. Feelin' Alright

5. I Want Freedom [Side 2]

6. I Can Feel Him In The Morning

7. Gimme Shelter

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 5th album "Survival" – released April 1971 in the USA on Capitol SW 764 and 4 June 1971 in the UK on Capitol E-SW 764

BONUS TRACKS (all Previously Unreleased):

8. I Can't Get Along With Society (2002 Remix)

9. Jam (Footstompin' Music)

10. Country Road (Unedited Original Version)

11. All You've Got Is Money (Unedited Original Version)

12. Feelin' Alright (Unedited Original Version)

The CD remaster on all of their early albums was always going to be tricky – notoriously recorded with no sense of audiophile – but every sense of 'how it feels'. This is down 'n' dirty American Rock with hiss levels that takes no prisoners. EVREN GOKNAR has 24-bit remastered from original tapes and while the hiss is still there – he’s given more muscle to the overall sound. These tracks come at you with renewed power – not dampened down – but allowed to breathe. The all-over-the-place vocals are there – as are the guitar/drum combos – and keyboard interludes – but with more punch. It’s well done.

"All You've Got Is Money" sounds like Ten Years After unleashed and wild. Once again it's rough and raw production is the song's making – this is gritty unapologetic American Rock and is very much the better for it. The remaster lifts up the great duet vocals between Mark Farner and Don Brewer on the near seven-minute "Comfort" (even if it is hissy) – an unusually soft and melodic song in many ways for GFR and one of Side One's highlights. We now hit the album's first single – their cover of Traffic's “Feelin' Alright” (Capitol Records 3095 in April 1971 – reached No. 54). Written by Dave Mason – its staggering Soulful-Rock crossover potential was spotted almost instantly and covered by a slew of huge artists in a very short period of time – Joe Cocker, David Ruffin, Lulu, Rare Earth, Three Dog Night, The Chairmen Of The Board and even Jazzers Hubert Laws and Wade Marcus all had a go. Grand Funk starts the song out slowly but builds into that fantastic groove they had - Don Brewer's drums shining throughout.

The near two-minutes of in-studio pissing about at the beginning of the Side 2 opener “I Want Freedom” sounded cool back in the day but irritates now. Better is when the actual song kicks in - Farner's keyboards to the fore and that cross-speaker drum thing at the end sounding just great. "If you're bad…you’ll die when you die…" echoes after children explain God and what it means to be good at the beginning of "I Can Feel Him In The Morning". It's a fabulously over-the-top track and next to their wild finisher – one of my favourites. Speaking of which – their fuzzy-up manic guitar version of the Stones' "Gimme Shelter" is Grand Funk Railroad in full sway – boogieing like mad men – to hell with the critics – damn the musical torpedoes.

But what puts this CD into special territory is the quality of the Bonus Material. "I'll tell you mister you'd better watch your mouth or you'll get busted by the police…" Farner sings on the Alternate Mix of the censorship song "I Can't Get Along With Society" which features a more prevalent upfront guitar. "Jam (Footstompin' Music)" is an early version (they re-recorded it for the "E Pluribus Funk" album in late 1971) and it’s a five-minute fast boogie with a driving Bass line. But the real prizes for fans are three-in-a-row newly reassembled 2002 mixes. First up is "Country Road" which restores the 2nd verse, middle eight and a Guitar solo edited out of the released version (now runs to 7:38 minutes). "All You've Got Is Money" restores a Guitar solo, harmonica parts and several extra verses pushing the tune to nearly eight and half minutes. The Traffic cover "Feelin' Alright" extended versions restore the third verse and features an Alternate Vocal on the first verse (it now stretches to just under six minutes).

Derided by critics and beloved by fans in equal measure – Grand Funk Railroad were huge back in the day – and on the evidence of this cool reissue – it's easy to hear why…

"Fuchsia" by FUCHSIA – November 1971 UK Debut LP on Pegasus Records featuring Tony Durant and Madeline Band (November 2015 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue with Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

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Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

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Just Click Below To Google, Purchase or See My Author Page

For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"…A Song To The Moon…"

Released on the then obscure Pegasus Records label in England in November 1971 – Fuchsia's lone Acid-Folk Prog-Rock LP had gorgeous artwork courtesy of Anne Marie Anderson, dense and impressive layers and trippy Acoustic based music that felt genuinely magical at times - but typically - garnished bugger all sales on its initial release.

The band were to tour the complex largely acoustic-based arrangements in December of that year but the tour never materialised – and with only a shared advert in the Melody Maker alongside the likes of UK rockers Nazareth and British folkies Shirley Collins and the Fairport Convention offshoot The Albion Band – "Fuchsia" received no other promotion - and so like much on the B&C Records label imprint - Pegasus PEG 8 sank without a trace. 

Cue a decade later and Prog aficionados go all Mellow Candle on its rarity ass and start forking out serious money on the very hard-to-find vinyl LP (listed at £250 but often sells for much more). So Mark Powell's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) seems determined to rescue this lovely obscurity from the grips of bootleggers and give the album the release and remaster it deserves. And indeed they have. Here are the scented and flowery details…

UK released 27 November 2015 (December 2015 in the USA) – "Fuchsia" by FUCHSIA on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2518 (Barcode 5013929461840) is a straightforward CD transfer of the November 1971 LP on Pegasus Records PEG 8 and plays out as follows (40:56 minutes):

1. Gone With The Mouse [Side 1]
2. A Tiny Book
3. Another Nail
4. Shoes And Ships [Side 2]
5. The Nothing Song
6. Me And My Kite
7. Just Anyone
Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 written by Tony Durant – Track 3 written by Tony Durant and Robert Chudley – Track 6 written by Robert Chudley

FUCHSIA was:
TONY DURANT – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar and Lead Vocals
MADELINE BLAND – Cello, Piano, Harmonium and Backing Vocals
JANET ROGERS – Violin and Backing Vocals
VANESSA HALL-SMITH – Violin and Backing Vocals
MICHAEL DAY – Bass
MICHAEL GREGORY – Drums and Percussion

The 16-page booklet features reminiscences by principal songwriter Tony Durant on the formation of the band, the making of the album and the disappointing aftermath of no sales and no tours – as well as lyrics and a photo of the six-piece ensemble - three of whom were ladies and their violins. The famed Decca/Deram Producer DAVID HITCHCOCK did the original Producer honours at the console - giving the whole album a real polished feel (his work from the period 1968 to 1975 includes Caravan, Camel, East Of Eden, Genesis, The Pink Fairies, Curved Air and not surprisingly Mellow Candle). PASCHAL BYRNE – a name that's graced oodles of these classy reissues – has handled the exclusively licensed Remaster – and the audio on songs like "Shoes And Ships" and "Just Anyone" can only be described as wonderful – clean, warm and expressive. This is a beautiful sounding CD reissue...

The opening cut "Gone With A Mouse" feels like the more Acoustic and ambitious sections of 1971's "Foxtrot" by Genesis (which David Hitchcock produced) – the remaster allowing the complicated breaks and changes to spread across the speakers with real power and impressive finesse. Durant's obsession with all things plucked-Acoustic comes shining through the violins and clashing cymbals on the delicately lovely "A Tiny Book". The seven-minute "Another Nail" has the three ladies opening with suitably 'scratching' sounds on their ELO-type strings before Michael Day and Michael Gregory gets all Horslips Bass and Drums on the trippy violin song (shades of East Of Eden's "Mercator Projected" and "Snafu").

Time to get really impressed. There are parts in the gorgeous six-minutes-plus of "Shoes And Ships" that feel like Nick Drake at his Spanish Acoustic Guitar best – mixed in with Durant's Duncan Browne sounding Lead Vocals – all topped off with the sheer prettiness of the string arrangements featured on Fotheringay's self-titled 1970 debut LP and Mellow Candle's magnificent 1972 "Swaddling Songs" album (very impressive stuff). "The Nothing Song" is a bit too Prog for me and the harmonium hippy "Me And My Kite" is lovely too – ending on the winner that is "Just Anyone".

Tony Durant later spent time with Punchin' Judy who managed one self-titled album on Transatlantic Records in 1973 – joined the reggae band Greyhound for a while before immigrating to Australia where he became a successful jingles writer. A full 35-years after the initial non-event - Durant returned in 2013 with the CD "Fuchsia 2: From Psychedelia To A Distant Place" and even toured with a Folk-Prog band from Sweden called "Me And My Kites" named in tribute after the track on the album.

You wouldn't say "Fuchsia" is the champ-like obscure-monster of say "Mellow Candle" from April 1972 that regularly sells for £3000 and more and is worth the money (see separate review) – but there is so much to love on this forgotten gem.

And typically - Esoteric Recordings have done the album and its legacy proud. Dig and mucho enjoy…

"Lady In Red: The Columbia Sides Plus" by RONNIE DYSON - Featuring The Whole of the US 1970 LP "(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" on Columbia Records - Issued in 1971 in the UK on CBS Records as "When You Get Right Down To It" (November 2014 UK Soul Music CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Above is the UK CD Compilation on Cherry Red's Soul Music Records

Above is the 1970 US LP Sleeve

Above is the UK LP from 1971 with a Different Name

This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book (on all Amazon sites)

GET IT ON - 1971

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

A HUGE 3,136 e-Pages 

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves 

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Just Click Below To Google, Purchase or See My Author Page

For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

"…Make It With You…"

I love a reissue done with passion and heart and even a sense of pride. And this little beauty is one of them.

Over six foot and possessed of a sweet yet powerful voice - Brooklyn's Ronnie Dyson was only 18 when he landed a prestigious lead vocal role in the Broadway Musical of "Hair" (the Sixties love and peace anthem of "Aquarius" from that production leads off this compilation). A deal with the mighty Columbia Records followed and that's where this classy English CD compilation comes in - put out by Soul Music Records of the UK (part of Cherry Red).

UK released November 2014 - "Lady In Red: The Columbia Sides Plus" by RONNIE DYSON on Cherry Red/Soul Music Records SMCR 5125 (Barcode 5013929082533) is a 23-Track CD-only Compilation of Remasters. Here's an account of who loved who and who cheated while they were doing it (73:51 minutes)...

1. Aquarius (from "Hair") - 1969 USA single on Columbia SP-45-184, A

2. God Bless The Children

3. Are You Ready For Love - Tracks 2 and 3 are the A&B-sides of his debut USA 7" single on Columbia 45-45025 credited as Ron Dyson

4. I Don't Wanna Cry

5. Emmie

6. A Touch Of Baby

7. I Just Can't Help Believin'

8. She's Gone

9. Band Of Gold

10. (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?

11. Make It With You

12. Fever

13. Do What Your Heart Tells You To Do

14. Bridge Over Troubled Water

NOTE: Tracks 4 to 14 are his debut album "(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" released September 1970 on Columbia Records C 30223 in the USA. It was released in 1971 in the UK as "When You Get Right Down To It" on CBS Records S CBS 64779 with a different track line up on Side 2. To sequence the UK LP using this CD use the following tracks

Side 1: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9

Side 2: 16, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14

15. Girl Don't Come - non-album B-side of "(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" - a USA 45 released 1970 on Columbia 45-45110 - taken from the Musical Production of "Salvation". It was also the B-side of the 1970 UK 7" single on CBS Records S 5044 - A-side was "(If You Let Me...)... - Track 10"

16. When You Get Right Down To It

17. Sleeping Sun - tracks 16 and 17 are the A&B-sides of a US 45 on Columbia 45-45387 in 1970. "When You Get Right Down To It" is also the name of and Side 2 opener of the UK LP. It was also released in the UK as a 7" single in September 1971 on CBS 7449

18. Abelene - non-album B-side of "A Wednesday In Your Garden" released 1971 in the US on Columbia 5-45496

19. Jesus Is Just Alright (Extended Version)

20. Love Is Slipping Away - tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of a US 7" single on Columbia 4-45599 released in 1972

21. One Man Band (Plays All Alone) - A-side of a US 7" single on Columbia 4-45776 released in 1973

22. Just Don't Want To Be Lonely - A-side of a US 7" single on Columbia 4-45867 released in 1973

23. Lady In Red - A-side of a US 7" single on Columbia 3-10211 released in 1975

Produced overall by David Nathan - the 16-page booklet has fantastically detailed liner notes from noted Soul Music writer RASHOD OLLISON that document Dyson's career - five albums placed on the US Billboard charts between 1970 and 1983. And yet this singer is all but forgotten and criminally neglected - Rashod quite right surmises that posterity deserves to give Dyson's musical legacy a better rap than that. There's even a pictorial Discography on Pages 12 and 13 but the big news is an ALAN WILSON digital remaster from original tapes - some of it is hissy for sure but all of it is full of presence and warmth.

Produced by the legendary Billy Jackson - the (weirdly titled) debut album has its fair share of contemporary covers - Laura Nyro's "Emmie", BJ Thomas's "I Just Can't Help Believin'" (Mann/Weil song), a frantic funkified "Fever" and Freda Payne's Invictus smash "Band Of Gold". But slaying all comers is his fabulous Soulful take on the David Gates/Bread hit "Make It With You" - as lovely a tune as you've ever heard with a high-octave impassioned vocal. "She's Gone" is the same - a pleader that works. Lending itself to Soulful interpretation - Simon & Garfunkel's magisterial "Bridge Over Troubled Water" sees him get serious - giving it some great Gospel vocals - it's admittedly hissy in places as the piano plays - but its emotionally powerful stuff.

Barry Mann's "When You Get Right Down To It" has him sounding not unlike a male Dusty Springfield while "Sleeping Sun" is probably the most Pop song on here. "Abelene" is HDH Soul while he goes all Isleys on his excellent cover of "Jesus Is Just Alright" while we veer towards the Wigan Casino with his take on Frederick Knight's "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely". Speaking of which - Northern Soul fans will flip for "Lady In Red" - a Norman Harris/Vinnie Barrett Soul/Disco upbeat dancer lathered in strings and great doubled vocals (you can just smell the talcum powder).

Dyson passed away in 1990 aged only 40 - at least this superbly presented CD does his recorded legacy proud. Well done to all involved at Cherry Red's Soul Music Records and a great way to get that 1970 US Debut LP (1971 in the UK) on digital...

"Complimentary Slugs From Glamourpuss And Lugs" by Mark Barry as BAZINMARGATE - August 2026 Paperback - Limericks Volume 3 of 3...

New Paperback Available - 9 August 2026 - Limericks Volume 3 of 3

"COMPLIMENTARY SLUGS FROM GLAMOURPUSS AND LUGS"

Available on Amazon - £9.95

https://link.amazon/B05y2dy1Z