"Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (27 February 2019 UK Ace/Kent Soul Compilation - 2LPs Remastered Onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Spaced Out..."

Between July 1971 and April 1979 - Norman Whitfield's Motown Soul/Funk band THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH issued eight studio albums in the USA - six on Gordy Records and the final two on his own label Whitfield Records (they were on Tamla Motown and Whitfield in the UK). And much like that other off-kilter Motown act RARE EARTH - their digital output has been a minefield for fans across the decades.

Well at last, with this 27 February 2019 twofer release, Ace Records of the UK (via their Kent-Soul label imprint) has plugged the final CD gaps - their fifth and sixth albums "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October). So for fans of this wicked and often underrated band - this 2019 double-disc reissue will finally allow to purchase their entire catalogue on CD (see list below) and I for one couldn't be a happier Little Red Riding Hood (cosmically speaking of course). Here are the boogie bump boogie details...

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) offers two albums from 1975 Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonus material) and they play out as follows:

CD1 "Cosmic Truth" (41:20 minutes):

1. Earthquake Shake [Side 1]

2. Down By The River

3. UFO's

4. Lil' Red Ridin' Hood

5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me

6. Spaced Out [Side 2]

7. Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'

8. 1990

9. (I Know) I'm Losin' You

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Cosmic Truth" - released March 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-970S1 and June 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8023. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 44 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Disc 2 "Higher Than High" (39:40 minutes):

1. Higher Than High [Side 1]

2. Poontang

3. Life Ain't So Easy

4. Boogie Bump Boogie

5. Help Yourself [Side 2]

6. I'm In The Red Zone

7. Overload

8. I Saw You When You Met Her

9. Ma

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Higher Than High" - released October 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-972S1 and November 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12009. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 52 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Overlooking the alarming period photo of five gold and silver painted faces beneath bleached white afros that adorns the fullness of the centre pages for the 16-page booklet (it might be cosmic man, but my God do they look silly) - Soul and Funk aficionado and long-time associate to Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE provides the suitable loaded and affection liner notes. They're packed with repros of US and UK single labels, rare Euro picture sleeves for "Poontang", "Earthquake Shake", "Higher Than High" and "I Saw You When You Met Her" as well as Promo Photos and LP labels. It's a typically thorough job and the NICK ROBBINS Remasters pack a hefty punch. Great stuff as you would expect from Ace...

The full album cut of "Earthquake Shake" opens proceedings on a fabulous and frantic funky groove - disappearing half way through the song into almost silence (probably though it would make a great single edit) before the Funk slides back on in like a dude entering a bar (the "Cosmic Truth" album opener is a co-write with Joe Harris). Whitfield's band then dives into unusual territory - a fantastic cover version of Neil Young's "Down By The River" from his second album in 1969, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere". Across its six and half minutes, the pace is slowed right down, turning a once hard-edged angry rocking tune and converting it into an ache ballad, the Isley Brothers fuzz guitar floating over sublime vocals. Reminds me of the best tracks on September 1971's "Givin' It Back" by The Isley Brothers where they Soul-ified a whole album of contemporary Rock tunes. It segues right into more drum-driven Funk - the very cool "UFO's" telling us that there's unidentified objects in the sky and the concerned band wants to know where do these uptight lights come from? It was an obvious single and in April 1975 Gordy paired it with "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'" on the B-side of Gordy G 7143F but the Hendrix trippy vocal and groove didn't chart. As far back as October 1974, Gordy had issued "Lil' Red Riddin' Hood" as a US 45 ahead of the "Cosmic Truth" album with "Big John Is My Name" from 1974's "Down To Earth" as its B-side (Gordy G 7140F). It's 'funny smelling cigarette' lyrics reflected the times and again it's a fab Whitfield groove amped up with layers of vocals and stinging guitars over on the left channel. Cool and Funky cuts like "Spaced Out" give us floating keyboard notes that reflect the song's title while their returns to "1990" and a six-minute "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (both originally done by The Temptations) pour on the spacey synth notes and chug-a-bug grooves while telling the people there's trouble in the White House as Americans walk the streets with no food breathing dirty air. Love the whole damn album...

Between July 1971 and April 1979 - Norman Whitfield's Motown Soul/Funk band THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH issued eight studio albums in the USA - six on Gordy Records and the final two on his own label Whitfield Records (they were on Tamla Motown and Whitfield in the UK). And much like that other off-kilter Motown act RARE EARTH - their digital output has been a minefield for fans across the decades.

Well at last, with this 27 February 2019 twofer release, Ace Records of the UK (via their Kent-Soul label imprint) has plugged the final CD gaps - their fifth and sixth albums "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October). So for fans of this wicked and often underrated band - this 2019 double-disc reissue will finally allow to purchase their entire catalogue on CD (see list below) and I for one couldn't be a happier Little Red Riding Hood (cosmically speaking of course). Here are the boogie bump boogie details...

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) offers two albums from 1975 Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonus material) and they play out as follows:

CD1 "Cosmic Truth" (41:20 minutes):

1. Earthquake Shake [Side 1]

2. Down By The River

3. UFO's

4. Lil' Red Ridin' Hood

5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me

6. Spaced Out [Side 2]

7. Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'

8. 1990

9. (I Know) I'm Losin' You

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Cosmic Truth" - released March 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-970S1 and June 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8023. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 44 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Disc 2 "Higher Than High" (39:40 minutes):

1. Higher Than High [Side 1]

2. Poontang

3. Life Ain't So Easy

4. Boogie Bump Boogie

5. Help Yourself [Side 2]

6. I'm In The Red Zone

7. Overload

8. I Saw You When You Met Her

9. Ma

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Higher Than High" - released October 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-972S1 and November 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12009. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 52 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Overlooking the alarming period photo of five gold and silver painted faces beneath bleached white afros that adorns the fullness of the centre pages for the 16-page booklet (it might be cosmic man, but my God do they look silly) - Soul and Funk aficionado and long-time associate to Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE provides the suitable loaded and affection liner notes. They're packed with repros of US and UK single labels, rare Euro picture sleeves for "Poontang", "Earthquake Shake", "Higher Than High" and "I Saw You When You Met Her" as well as Promo Photos and LP labels. It's a typically thorough job and the NICK ROBBINS Remasters pack a hefty punch. Great stuff as you would expect from Ace...

The full album cut of "Earthquake Shake" opens proceedings on a fabulous and frantic funky groove - disappearing half way through the song into almost silence (probably though it would make a great single edit) before the Funk slides back on in like a dude entering a bar (the "Cosmic Truth" album opener is a co-write with Joe Harris). Whitfield's band then dives into unusual territory - a fantastic cover version of Neil Young's "Down By The River" from his second album in 1969, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere". Across its six and half minutes, the pace is slowed right down, turning a once hard-edged angry rocking tune and converting it into an ache ballad, the Isley Brothers fuzz guitar floating over sublime vocals. Reminds me of the best tracks on September 1971's "Givin' It Back" by The Isley Brothers where they Soul-ified a whole album of contemporary Rock tunes. It segues right into more drum-driven Funk - the very cool "UFO's" telling us that there's unidentified objects in the sky and the concerned band wants to know where do these uptight lights come from? It was an obvious single and in April 1975 Gordy paired it with "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'" on the B-side of Gordy G 7143F but the Hendrix trippy vocal and groove didn't chart.

As far back as October 1974, Gordy had issued "Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" as a US 45 ahead of the "Cosmic Truth" album with "Big John Is My Name" from 1974's "Down To Earth" as its B-side (Gordy G 7140F). Its 'funny smelling cigarette' lyrics reflected the times and again it's a fab Whitfield groove amped up with layers of vocals and stinging guitars over on the left channel. Cool and Funky cuts like "Spaced Out" give us floating keyboard notes that reflect the song's title while their returns to "1990" and a six-minute guitar-work-out of "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (both originally done by The Temptations) pour on the spacey synth notes and chug-a-bug grooves while telling the people there's no love in the White House as poor Americans walk the streets with no food and their children are breathing in dirty air. Funky and still amazingly relevant – I love the whole damn album. The second album presented here "Higher Than High" simply offers up more of the same - and again with a shockingly high quality rate. Cuts like the Sly & The Family Stone homemade feel to "Poontang" (Hollywood types beware) and the piano-groove of "I'm In The Red Zone" are just brilliant. Gotta tell you papa indeed.

A really great reissue then from Kent-Soul (should we expect anything less) and one that fans will eat up. I miss Funk and Soul like this - rare grooves, social commentary, damn but them was the days my man...

By way of info for fans - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH CD REISSUES, A 2019 LIST:

1. "Nothing But The Truth – 3 Motown Albums on 2 CDS Plus Bonus Tracks"

Issued 25 August 2017 in the UK on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP2 469 (Barcode 029667084628)

Contains "The Undisputed Truth" Debut US LP from July 1971, third album "Law Of The Land" from July 1973 and fourth LP "Down To Earth" from August 1974 (all on Gordy Records) Plus Six Bonus Tracks

2. "Face To Face With The Truth" - their second album from February 1972 on Gordy Records – first reissued May 2003 as a CD Remaster on Universal Music Group/Gordy/Miracle Records 067 100-2 (Barcode 044006710020) - see review

3. "Face To Face With The Truth" – June 2015 second CD Reissue of their second album on Universal/Elemental 88509 (Barcode 8435395500941)

4. "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" – Their Fifth and Sixth albums both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October), reissued 27 February 2019 in the UK on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) on 2CDs (no bonus material) – review above

5. "Method To The Madness/Smokin'" – their seventh and eight albums from January 1977 and April 1979 on Whitfield Records reissued 20 November 2015 in the UK on Robinsongs WROBIN2CDD (Barcode 5013929950221) as a 2CD set (no bonus tracks) - see review

"Down Town Albums Collection, The" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (February 2019 UK Doctor Bird Records Compilation - 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs Plus Extras) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Spreading Love..."

Now here's a doozy worth donning your porkpie hat for. Continuing on from their 50th Anniversary celebrations of all things 'Trojan Records' (see list of reissues below) – this fantastic Doctor Bird Records 2CD set offers up a whopping four period LPs on their offshoot label 'Downtown Records' (two from 1969 and two from 1970) and even throws in three relevant bonus seven-inch cuts. There is a vat of vino to be slurped, so let's get to the vintage inside...

UK released Friday, 8 February 2019 (15 February 2019 in the USA) - "The Down Town Albums Collection" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-020 (Barcode 5013929272033) offers 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs with Three Bonuses and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (76:08 minutes):

"Red Red Wine" LP by VARIOUS ARTISTS (November 1969)

1. Red, Red Wine - TONY TRIBE (April 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-419, A-side - for the B-side, see Track 25 on Disc 2)

2. Games People Play - THE ISRAELITES (1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-421, A-side)

3. Move Your Mule - DANDY (November 1968 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-401, A-side)

4. I'm Your Puppet - DANDY (March 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 416, A-side)

5. Lead Them - DESMOND RILEY

6. Love Me Tonight - AUDREY (February 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-414, A-side)

7. Reggae In Your Jeggae - DANDY (January 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 410, A-side – for the B-side see Track 26 on Disc 1)

8. Lovers Concerto - AUDREY (April 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-418, A-side)

9. Sentimental Reason - GENE RONDO (June 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-431, A-side)

10. Night Train - SONNY BINNS & THE RUDIES (May 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-424, B-side of "Wheels")

11. You'll Lose A Good Thing - AUDREY (July 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-436, A-side)

12. Lovers Question - GENE RONDO (1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-422, A-side)

Tracks 1 to 12 are the UK album "Red Red Wine" - released November 1969 on Downtown/Trojan TTL-11. Track 5 first appeared on this compilation

"Red Red Wine, Volume Two" LP by VARIOUS ARTISTS (September 1970)

13. Someday We'll Be Together - AUDREY (February 1970 UK 7" single on Down DT 457, A-side)

14. Got To Come Back - DANDY 

15. Somebody's Baby - DESMOND RILEY [as LITTLE DES] (January 1970 UK 7" single on J Dan JN 4400, A-side)

16. Spreading Love [aka "Spreading Peace"] - GENE RONDO (May 1970 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 459, A-side)

17. I'm Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got - TONY TRIBE (August 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 439, A-side)

18. Raining In My Heart - DANDY (February 1970 UK 7" single on Down DT 456, A-side)

19. Can't Get Used To Losing You - DANDY (April 1970 UK 7" single on J Dan JN-4410, B-side to "Can't Help From Crying")

20. Song Bird - LYNDON JOHNS (October 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 444, B-side, for A see Track 24)

21. The Boy I Love - BLOSSOM JOHNSON

22. The Way You Move - AUDREY (January 1970 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 452, B-side to "Sweeter Than Sugar")

23. Party Rush - THE MUSIC DOCTORS

24. Don't Gamble With Love - LYNDON JOHNS (October 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT 444, A-side)

25. Come Together - THE ISRAELITES (1969 UK 7" single as "Let's Come Together" on Downtown DT 445, A-side)

Tracks 13 to 25 are the UK album "Red Red Wine, Volume Two" - released September 1970 on Downtown/Trojan TBL 116. Tracks 14, 21 and 23 first appeared on this compilation.

BONUS TRACK: 

26. Reggae Shuffle - DANDY (January 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown DT-410, B-side to "Reggae In Your Jeggae")

Disc 2 (71:59 minutes):

"Blow Your Horn" LP by RICO & THE RUDIES (December 1969)

1. Reco's Message

2. Niyah Man

3. Jumping The Gun

4. The Lion [by Dandy]

5. Caribbean Serenade

6. Mighty Dan

7. Quando Quando

8. Session Man

9. Doctor Sure Shot [by Dandy & The Israelites]

10. Muma Muma [by Dandy & The Israelites]

11. Biafra

Tracks 1 to 11 are the UK album "Blow Your Horn" – released December 1969 on Downtown/Trojan TTL-12

"Dandy Your Musical Doctor" LP by DANDY (February 1970)

12. Here I Go Again

13. I'm Gonna Give Her All The Love I Got

14. Run Girl

15. Doctor At Work

16. Running Wild

17. Meeting Over Yonder

18. Voicing Our Choice

19. Everybody Loves A Winner

20. Music Doctor

21. Gumption Feeling

22. Touch Of Poison

23. Come On Home

Tracks 12 to 23 are the UK LP "Dandy Your Musical Doctor" – released February 1970 on Trojan TTL-26

BONUS TRACKS:

24. Won't You Come Home – DANDY (December 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown 453, A-side)

25. Blues - RICO RODRIGUEZ & THE RUDIES as THE RUDIES (April 1969 UK 7" single on Downtown 419, B-side to "Red, Red Wine" - for A-side see Track 1 on Disc 1)

The 16-page booklet is the usual feast of memorabilia, some really great foreign picture sleeves, master tape boxes, trade adverts and reviews and walls of those gorgeous mottled Downtown 45 labels. ANDY LAMBOURN [aka Charlie Chalk) and MARC GRIFFITHS of Bosssounds provide the superb liner notes – deep level info on all four of the albums. With its fourteen schillings and six pence sticker – along with "Tighten Up" Volumes 1 and 2 – the Various Artists compilation "Red, Red Wine" was the second most common British Reggae album you saw in second hand record shops (with the Dandy album probably a close second). But how good is it to see pictures of and details on those other two harder-to-find pieces. Best of all is new mastering by my face Engineer ANDY PEARCE – a gent with a huge Rock catalogue to his name and now many of these new Trojan related releases as well. Best I’ve ever heard these...

While the collection of popular 1969 singles that is the "Red Red Wine" compilation album will tickle many (it even had the first single release on Downtown Records DT-401 – the cool "Move Your Mule") - I’m loving the obscure "Blow Your Horn" album – Rico blasting that trumpet with such feel and dare we say it - Soul. And I’d forgotten just how much Dandy Livingstone contributed in those amazingly productive years too. It’s all so good.

What a winner and a top reissue...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)

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 & 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)

"Gonna Rock Tonite! The Complete Recordings 1969-1971" by FLAMIN GROOVIES (February 2019 UK Grapefruit Records 3CD Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gonna-Tonite-Complete-Recordings-1969-71/dp/B07LG1C9GB?crid=XOTDH99H9JQT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XP6S8Qfu4w0sUo9zPBu4mg.8JsXE5OLP6ZrudaDIxgpf1nKydX0trYgrZQhDRJwXPY&dib_tag=se&keywords=5013929185104&qid=1714293914&sprefix=5013929185104%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=d11a8f65d985c31c2f918db0bfd65d1e&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 371 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 2,755 E-Pages (2024 Update)

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Just Click Below To Purchase

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B06XFXCG47&asins=B06XFXCG47&linkId=6b6b550334019077ff7a777cb9cf83a4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

RATING: *****

"...Pistol Packin' Mama..."

Like most fans of San Francisco's all-partying, all rocking, all greasy FLAMIN GROOVIES – I've had the 2009 Rev-Ola CD that offered up their kicking third and fourth albums on Kama Sutra Records - "Flamenco" from June 1970 and "Teenage Head" from March 1971. They've been snottily leaping around my mancave shuffle plays for years now. And before that - the double-album you used to pick up in secondhand record shops in the late 1970s that paired those two crackers together for our voracious vinyl consumption and my Dustbuster battered Garrard SP25 turntable.

Well reissue heroes ahoy but England's Grapefruit Records have gone and decided to expand into the album prior as well ("Supersnazz" from September 1969) and throw in a whopping seventeen bonuses too – all three albums and extras newly remastered in a cool and tactile pre Brexit mini box set. Why it’s enough to make me wanna rub jam all over my soggy doughnuts (while its still legal like). Here are the Super Snazzy details...

UK released 22 February 2019 (1 March 2019 in the USA) - "Gonna Rock Tonite! The Complete Recordings 1969-71" by FLAMIN GROOVIES on Grapefruit CRSEGBOX051 (Barcode 5013929185104) offers their second, third and fourth albums Remastered onto 3CDs in a Clamshell Box Set with Seventeen Bonus Tracks (Singles and Outtakes) that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Supersnazz" Album + Bonus Tracks (47:12 minutes):

1. Love Have Mercy [Side 1]

2. The Girl Can't Help It

3. Laurie Did It

4. Apart From That

5. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu

6. The First One's Free [Side 2]

7. Pagan Rachel

8. Somethin' Else/Pistol Packin' Mama

9. Brushfire

10. Bam Balam

11. Around The Corner

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "Supersnazz" - released September 1969 in the USA on Epic Records BN 26487 in Stereo (no UK issue). Produced by STEVE GOLDMAN - it didn't chart.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu (Single Mix) - 18 July 1969 US 7" single on Epic 5-10507, A-side

13. The First One's Free (Single Mix) - 18 July 1969 US 7" single on Epic 5-10507, B-side

14. Somethin' Else (Single Mix) - 31 December 1969 US 7" single on Epic 5-10564, A-side

15. Laurie Did It (Single Mix) - 31 December 1969 US 7" single on Epic 5-10564, B-side

FLAMIN GROOVIES for "Supersnazz" was:

CYRIL JORDAN - Lead Guitar, Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

TIM LYNCH - Lead Guitar, Cello, Vocals and Harmonica

MIKE LANG - Keyboards

GEORGE ALEXANDER - Bass, Vocals and Harmonica

DAVID MIMH - Drums and Percussion

Disc 2 "Flamingo" Album + Bonus Tracks (65:04 minutes):

1. Gonna Rock Tonite [Side 1]

2. Comin' After Me

3. Headin' For The Texas Border

4. Sweet Roll Me On Down

5. Keep A Knockin'

6. Second Cousin [Side 2]

7. Childhood's End

8. Jailbait

9. She's Falling Apart

10. Road House

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third studio album "Flamingo" - released June 1970 in the USA on Kama Sutra Records KSBS 2021 (no UK release, but see Note below).

BONUS TRACKS (Recorded Live in Studio A, 13 January 1971):

11. Shakin' All Over

12. That'll Be The Day

13. Louie Louie

14. My Girl Josephine

15. Around And Around

16. Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu

17. Going Out Theme (Version 1)

Tracks 11 to 16 first issued on the 1976 US-only vinyl compilation "Still Shakin" on Kama Sutra BDS 5683

Track 17 first issued as one of the six Bonus Tracks on the 1999 'Original Masters' CD Reissue of "Flamingo" on Buddah 74321 71691 2

Disc 3 "Teenage Head" Album + Bonus Tracks (52:07 minutes):

1. High Flyin' Baby [Side 1]

2. City Lights

3. Have You Seen My Baby?

4. Yesterday's Numbers

5. Teenage Head [Side 2]

6. 32-20

7. Evil Hearted Ada

8. Doctor Boogie

9. Whisky Woman

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fourth studio album "Teenage Head" - released March 1971 in the USA on Kama Sutra Records KSBS 2031 (no UK release, but see Note below).

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Scratch My Back

11. Carol

12. Rumble

13. Somethin' Else

14. Walking The Dog

15. Going Out Theme (Version 2)

Tracks 10, 11 and 15 first issued as three of the seven Bonus Tracks on the 1999 'Original Masters' CD Reissue of "Teenage Head" on Buddah 74321 71690 2 (Track 14 was also one of those bonuses)

Tracks 12 and 13 first issued as two of the six Bonus Tracks on the 1999 'Original Masters' CD Reissue of "Flamingo" on Buddah 74321 71691 2

Track 14 first issued on the 1976 US-only vinyl compilation "Still Shakin" on Kama Sutra BDS 5683

FLAMIN GROOVIES for "Flamingo" and "Teenage Head" was:

CYRIL JORDAN - Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar, Percussion and Vocals

TIM LYNCH - Lead Guitar, Cello, Percussion and Vocals

ROY LONEY – Guitar, Lead Vocals and Percussion

GEORGE ALEXANDER – Bass and Percussion

DAVID MIMH – Drums, Percussion, Piano and Organ

Guests:

Commander Cody plays Piano on three "Flamingo" album tracks - Comin' After Me, Keep A Knockin' and Second Cousin

Jim Dickinson plays Piano on three "Teenage Head" album tracks - High Flyin' Baby, City Lights and Have You Seen My Baby?

Note: In August 1971, Kama Sutra in the UK issued both the "Flamingo" and "Teenage Head" LPs for the first time as a belated British double-album package on Kama Sutra 2683 003, simply called "Flamin' Groovies" (it was also issued in Germany entitled "2 Original LP's" on Kama Sutra 2623 101). That 1971 British double album was again reissued in October 1976 (by Pye Records) as "Teenage Head", but in slightly different artwork on Kama Sutra KSMD 101.

DAVID WELLS provides the superb October 2018 liner notes in the new and chunky 24-page booklet. Even though its not part of the remit for this set - the notes explain how the band's self-made 1968 "Sneakers" debut on their own Snazz Records came about - a 7-Track 10" Mini LP of 4500 copies they sold themselves in Tower Records (pressed up in three batches of fifteen hundred). Its artwork (front and rear) is pictured on Page 5. There are trade adverts, a Billboard piece from November 1970, publicity and live photos, rare single artwork and a line of those Epic and Kama Sutra singles (including Promo copies). Interviews with band members Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan are included illuminating the hectic 1969 to 1971 period. Experienced and dedicated names like DAVID WELLS and JOHN REED collated and organised the Box while Remaster Engineer OLI HEMINGWAY of The Waxworks did the audio tweaking. Like the Rev-Ola CD - this baby sounds amazing – huge presence and all the muscle you would want without being over done...and I like the three single card sleeve repros...nice

Apart from the cover versions of Little Richard's Rock 'n' Roll masterpiece "The Girl Can't Help It", the barroom R'n'B of Huey Smith's "Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu" (which Kama Sutra issued as a US 45) and the Eddie Cochran twofer "Somethin' Else/Pistol Packin' Mama" - most of the "Supersnazz" album sees us bombarded with flashy originals from both Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan. "Love Have Mercy" and another single "The First One's Free" rip and roar while "Bam Balam" and "Around The Corner" round things off very nicely. And I have to admit that I've never heard the single mixes - very nice touch.

"...Ten head hunters...with a buzz saw...and they was comin' after me..." - the boys tell us in the raw and raunchy guitar-pop of "Comin' After Me" - ten state troopers chasin' close behind with meat hooks. But the Proto-Punk edginess really starts to come screaming in on "Headin' For The Texas Border" where the band is headed to New Orleans to get their mojo back. I love the rapid guitars and the transfer gives it serious wallop. It's 1970 for gawd sake but it could be 1976 - so damn sharp. They then cleverly switch to Acoustic Rock 'n' Roll with "Sweet Roll Me On Down" as they Buddy Holly 'ah-ha' through the chorus. I'm reminded of the British band Fumble who also did Little Richard's brilliant "Keep A Knockin'" in the same all out rocking way - letting the inner joy of this Fifties anthem rip. Roy Loney stumps up another rocker in the excellent "Second Cousin" - the lyrics straying dangerously into Jerry Lee Lewis lawsuit territory.

Things finally settle into a Hank Williams saunter with "Childhood's End" - a very witty childhood song from Ron Loney where he sounds amazingly like Mick Jagger circa "Exile On Main St." doing his best Hillbilly impression. "Jailbait" is a cool and snarly blues chugger where he pleads 'baby what you tryin to do!' to a mean guitar barrage. The fantastic "Gonna Rock Tonight" is the kind of out-and-out Rock 'n' Roll homage that Dave Edmunds would have loved when his regal Zonophone 'Rockpile' album was in play over in Blighty - ooh-wee baby indeed (and dig that huge grungy Bass solo too). The weird but utterly wonderful "She's falling Apart" follows - a song that feels wildly out of synch with the rest of the album but actually a song I return to most. It then blasts into a frantic Punk-rocking finish with the trashy "Road House" - rapid guitars a go-go.

For album number four we go Dr. Feelgood with the fabulous slide guitar intro to "High Flyin' Baby" – a superb little Ron Loney and Cyril Jordan rocker. We then return to "Exile On Main St." with the boozy swagger of the acoustic barroom "City Lights" and it’s hard to understand why this wickedly cool Acoustic Blues was slagged off at the time (still sounds so damn good to me). The hard-rocking and deliberately grungy "Have You Seen My Baby?" was probably too much Rock 'n' Roll for delicate minds back in the day - but I love it and "Yesterday's Numbers" that follows it which could have been Brinsley Schwarz or Help Yourself or even Free - stunning acoustic Rock that stays with you. Amidst the bonus stuff you’re clobbered with a fantastic loose cover of Link Wray’s guitar magnum opus – the album outtake of "Rumble". Jordan and the boys are clearly having riffage fun with the famous menace Link’s song exudes – a very cool bonus indeed that even includes giggles at the end from a band that would have worshipped at Wray’s feet in the blink of an eye.

Summing up - how cool is it to see these three storming platters in the one place and with so much excellent bonus material too (Sundazed issued the debut in 1996 as an Expanded CD should you want to check out their beginnings).

The New York Dolls, MC5 and especially The Stooges are constantly name-checked as keeping the wild snotty pure spirit of Rock 'n' Roll alive in the early Seventies - a time when Hard Rock and Prog Goliaths dominated the chart landscape and bedsits of the world threatening to swamp all three-minute blasts of proto-punk with hairy chests, tales of wizards and semi classical pomp. I loved them too (truth be told) - but spare a dime brother for the Bay's FLAMIN GROOVIES – fab, groovy and side burning into the Devilish bargain. Well done to all involved...

"Pushin' Too Hard: The Seeds - Original Soundtrack" by THE SEEDS (UK February 2019 Big Beat CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Try To Understand..."

Now here's a sweetie for fans of 60ts Garage and Psych (and even a bit of 50ts Blues) - "Pushin' Too Hard: The Seeds" – another Big Beat Records compilation - but this time offering an aural CD companion to the 2019 Neil Norman Directed/Alec Palao Produced Documentary Movie and Soundtrack of the same name celebrating the explosive career of THE SEEDS who took L.A. by storm in the latter half of that amazing decade.

You get twenty-one tracks that include an impressive thirteen previously unreleased – mouth-watering and saucy stuff indeed for such a sought after and influential group. In the words of the song - let’s try to understand - here are the skyward details…

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Pushin' Too Hard: The Seeds – Original Soundtrack" by THE SEEDS [and Other Artists] on Big Beat CDWIKD 342 (Barcode 029667093224) is a CD compilation that offers up 21 tracks (including unreleased) as follows (73:23 minutes):

1. Pushin' Too Hard

(November 1965 Debut US 7" single on GNP Crescendo GNP 364X, A-side originally credited as "You're Pushing Too Hard" by The Seeds Featuring Sky Saxon with "Out Of The Question" on the flipside - reissued July 1966 again as The Seeds Featuring Sky Saxon on GNP 372X as "Pushin' Too Hard" with "Try To Understand" on the B-side)

2. They Say by RITCHIE MARSH (1963 USA 7" single on Shepherd SR-2203, A-side)

3. No Escape (Take 3) (recorded 20 July 1965, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

4. Can't Seem To Make You Mine (February 1967 USA 7" single on GNP Crescendo GNP 354, A-side)

5. Try To Understand (Take 3) (recorded January 1966, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

6. Out Of The Question (Alternative Mix) (Take 8 recorded 14 Sep 1965, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

7. The Perfect Wave by NEIL NORMAN (from the 1982 US compilation LP "Bustin' Surfboards" on GNP Crescendo GNPS 2152)

8. Tripmaker (Live) (recorded 29 April 1967 at the Hollywood Bowl, intro by "Humble Harve" Miller, 2019 unreleased)

9. Evil Hoodoo (Full Length Stereo Mix) (from the April 2011 10" EP "Evil Hoodoo" on Big Beat LTDEP 101)

10. Mr. Farmer (Stereo Album Version) (from the 1966 "A Web Of Sound" US Stereo LP on GNP Crescendo GNPS 2033)

11. Up in Her Dream (Take 1, recorded 2 April 1968, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

12. Satisfy You (Version 3) (Take 6, recording details as per Track 11)

13. Night Time Girl (Take 8) (Take 8, recording details as per Track 11)

14. Baby Please Don't Go (Live) by MUDDY WATERS (1954 live recording performed for GNP's Gene Norman in Los Angeles - 2019 Previously Unreleased)

15. The Gardener (Take 1) (recorded 4 October 1966, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

16. A Faded Picture (Stereo Album Version) (from the 1966 "A Web Of Sound" US Stereo LP on GNP Crescendo GNPS 2033)

17. Fallin' Off the Edge Of My Mind (Take 12) (recorded 3 September 1968, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

18. The Wind Blows Your Hair (Version 3) (Take 6, recorded 10 August 1967, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

19. A Thousand Shadows (1993 Mix) (from the 1993 CD compilation "Travel With Your Mind" on GNP Crescendo GNPD 2218)

20. Ballad Of Sky Saxon by KIM FOWLEY (1:20 minute monologue recorded 2009, 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording)

21. YMCA Spot/ SKY Speaks (1:03 minute Radio Promo Advert) 2019 Previously Unreleased GNP Crescendo recording

Tracks 1 to 6, 8,14 and 21 are MONO - all others in STEREO

The three-way foldout card digipak sleeve features a festooned 24-page booklet inside rammed to the gills with period photos, trade adverts, mastertape boxes and even a fan's Fact Sheet on the back page from the September 1967 issue of Teen Set. Beneath the see-through CD tray is a repro photo of the second issue US single for "Pushin' Too Hard" on GNP Crescendo GNP 372. Alec's notes talk of the songs in recording order with additional notes on the stragglers - the Kim Fowley monologue and the 1954 Muddy Waters live recording (is that Little Walter warbling on the Harmonica). It's very tastefully done and the artwork gives it that Garage/Psych look too. Long-time Audio Engineer NICK ROBBINS has once again done the honours and even the rougher stuff sounds tickettyboo...

Historically accurate or not - the Ritchie March inclusion feels unnecessary and a tad lame (Sky Saxon’s real name). Not so the Neil Norman hey big bird frat surf of "The Perfect Wave" (so cool) and the live reasonably well recorded Muddy Waters cut of "Baby Please Don't Go" before the fabulous bluesy Take 1 of "The Gardener" are cleverly placed. Even better are the two superlative sounding Stereo cuts from the "Weed..." LP of 1966 - "Mr. Farmer" and "A Faded Picture" – those keyboards and guitars so fantastically clear (like a Them recording). The phased Kim Fowley vocals for "Ballad Of Sky Saxon" is backed by cool fuzzed-up boogie guitar while old Kim waffles on about leather jackets and Sky’s arrival on the West Coast. The flower children and colours and really groovy talk in the YMCA slot is a hoot – Sky telling the kids to drop wars and get down with the vibe of love.

For sure its not all brill, but there's more than enough in those unreleased versions to keep fans happy and the uninitiated understanding why the band was held in such affection then and still is now. Very cool indeed...