"Born Under A Bad Sign" by ALBERT KING (June 2013 'Stax Remasters' Expanded Edition CD – Joe Tarantino Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Hard Luck And Trouble…"

I’ve been collecting and reviewing this “Stax Remasters” series since they first started to appear in May 2011 - and this is only release number 9 – but what a belter it is.

USA released June 2013 - "Born Under A Bad Sign" by ALBERT KING on Stax/Concord Music Group STCX-34334-02 (Barcode 888072343344) offers his 1967 Stax LP Remastered onto CD plus Five Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows (47:00 minutes):

1. Born Under A Bad Sign [Side 1]

2. Crosscut Saw

3. Kansas City

4. Oh, Pretty Woman

5. Down Don't Bother Me

6. The Hunter

7. I Almost Lost My Mind

8. Personal Manager

9. Laundromat Blues

10. As The Years Go Passing By

11. The Very Thought Of You

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Born Under A Bad Sign" – released August 1967 in the USA on Stax Records S-723 (no UK release)

BONUS TRACKS (All Previously Unreleased):

12. Born Under A Bad Sign (Take 1 – Alternate)

13. Crosscut Saw (Take 1 – Alternate)

14. The Hunter (Take 1 – Alternate)

15. Personal Manager (Take 15 – Alternate)

16. Untitled Instrumental

The 16-page booklet has typically insightful and fun liner notes from Chicago's resident Blues and R 'n' B writing genius BILL DAHL – a man whose talent and passion for the music has graced literally hundreds of reissues and major Box Sets. The pages that follow Dahl reproduce Michael Point's observations from the 2002 CD reissue – then the original liner notes on the back of the 1967 LP - and finally musician and reissue credits. JOE TARANTINO has handled the remaster (as he has for the whole "Stax Remasters" series) and it's superb – full of life and clarity. There's hiss (as there always is on Stax sessions) – but it doesn't detract from the listen – if anything – it feels more live-in-your-living-room for it.

"Born Under A Bad Sign" opens with that title track winner (surely his signature tune) and follows it with another – "Crosscut Saw". Real fast you notice the tight and uber cool band – Stax House players BOOKER T & THE M.G.'s (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Al Jackson, Jr and Booker T. Jones) themselves backed up by the fabulous MEMPHIS HORNS (Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love and Joe Arnold). It's as classic Stax Blues as you can get (Soul too). "Kansas City" still sounds slightly out of place but "The Hunter" turned FREE on and "Personal Manager" is just genius. Unappreciated gems include his cover of Fenton Robinson's "As The Years Go Passing By" and his barroom bluesy take on the crooner classic "The Very Thought Of You" (a 1934 classic).

With the CD having only 47:00 minutes playing time – the 7" single edit of "Personal Manager" (which excludes Albert's guitar solo) could easily have been tagged on – especially as it's actually one of the best tracks on here. But what we do get is a genuine thrill for King fans – a unreleased take. You can see why it was canned though – it runs a tad too fast and looses that fabulous Bluesy feel the master take has. And I love the song’s slyly salacious lyrics "...I want to be your milk man every morning…and your ice-cream man when the day is through…" In fact the other Take 1 Alternates are brilliantly recorded – really clear – you can hear he's getting a feel for the songs but the power on each is there – right from the start. Even the short but untitled 'instrumental' is a winner.

Great stuff – and a must buy…

PS: "STAX REMASTERS" Series to August 2014 are (all reviewed):

1. Green Onions – BOOKER T & THE M.G.’S (1962)

2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (1970)

3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)

5. Born Under A Bad Sign - ALBERT KING (1967)

6. I'll Play The Blues For You – ALBERT KING (1971)

7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)

8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)

9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)

"Running Water" by CLARENCE REID (October 2012 Japan-Only 'Atlantic 1000 R&B Best Collection' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…If It Was Good Enough For Daddy…"

I first stumbled on Clarence Reid through a writing credit - "Clean Up Woman" by Betty Wright - a fabulous slice of funky Seventies Soul that Reid co-wrote with Willie Clarke (the song was an American Number 2 and Number 6 on the R&B and Pop charts). Producers and Writers Steve Alamo and Willie Clarke first recorded that smash at their Miami based Alston Records label with Willie 'Little Beaver' Hale in attendance. And that's where this CD reissue comes in (it was recorded by the same trio in Miami). Here are the details...

Released October 2012 in Japan - "Running Water" by CLARENCE REID on Alston/Atlantic 1000 R&B Best Collection/Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-27542 (Barcode 081227970321) is a straightforward CD transfer of the American album originally released on Alston Records SD-7027 in 1973 (36:18 minutes):

1. Living Together Is Keeping Us Apart [Side 1]

2. New York City

3. If It Was Good Enough For My Daddy

4. Real Woman

5. Please Accept My Call

6. The Truth [Side 2]

7. Ruby

8. Love Who You Can

9. Please Stay Home

10. Like Running Water

The Japanese CD Series "Atlantic 1000 R&B Best Collection" first appeared in October and November 2012 and has been ongoing ever since (there's now a whopping 250+ titles across every WEA label, genre and time frame). The '1000' in the title refers to their price code - each features a budget price tag of 952 Yen which (depending on exchange rates) is roughly $9 to $11 for US customers, £5.50 to £7.50 for UK buyers and 8 to 9.20 Euros for Europeans (with P&P added on of course). As of early 2015 - roughly speaking they weigh in between £5 to £10 sterling per title including post - which is the cheapest I've seen quality Japanese CDs ever go for.

And what's really enticing is that all issues feature 2012, 2013 and 2014 Digital Remastering (DSD) with many titles reissued that are either entirely new to CD or have been long out of print and due sonic upgrades. Each release comes in a standard jewel case (not mini repro sleeves nor SHMs) with an inner booklet (10-pages on this one) containing the English lyrics. There's the usual outer Obi strip and an essay in Japanese (no liner notes nor other details). The CD label design will usually mimic the original release too (the Alston logo here). Some (like this one) even appear to have a EU release - this title is catalogue number 8122-79703-2 as opposed to the more usual WPCR code...

After "Clean Up Woman" - I then heard what is probably his most popular track "If It's Good Enough For Daddy" on the "Right On Volume 4" CD compilation in 2002 and again on the fabulous Rhino 4CD Box Set "What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves From The Vaults..." from 2006. You can so hear why they chose it - cool, funky and even funny in places - a hip cut if ever there was one. The album is not all like that slick and slinky tale of sibling loverman - tracks like "Please Accept My Call" and "New York City" are straight up Soul - very Johnny Taylor or Don Covay.

Reid gives it a bit of deep-voiced Gil-Scott Heron righteousness in "The Truth" (again co-written with Willie Clarke) where he preaches, "it seems everyone is afraid of the truth..." Upbeat and dancer-friendly "Ruby" was put out in 1973 as a 45 on Alston 4613 - but for me the hidden album nugget is the impossibly catchy  "Love Who You Can". It features a great guitar-flick backbeat by Little Beaver accompanied by brass punctuations and lyrics about "girls always chasin' guys with millions...when the guy next door...will give you the whole wide world..." The suicide song "Please Stay Home" is a Clarence Carter talker and hasn't dated at all well. Better is the finisher "Like Running Water" which returns he faith.

It's not all genius by any means - but the good stuff is kind of magical. Reid would later become Blowfly the outspoken American comedian with a line in rude-crude (you can so hear some of that racy humour in "Daddy"). A very cool CD-reissue and for a Japanese import - it's cheaper than a palimony suit too. Yeah baby...

PS: I've posted a full list of all 255 titles in the Series to January 2015 - just Google "Atlantic 1000 R&B Best Collection"...

"The Fame Singles Volume 2 – 1970-73" by CLARENCE CARTER (October 2013 Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...If Samson Had Kept His Head..."

I love Clarence Carter to pieces – have done for decades - his 60ts Soul was the utter business - and in 2018 still is. But this second CD volume from Ace Records of the UK of Carter’s 7” singles for Fame Records will test even the most ardent fan - because like him or not - there is some truly awful crap on here. Let’s get details out of the way first...

UK released 28 Oct 2013 - “The Fame Singles Volume 2 – 1970-73” by CLARENCE CARTER on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 407 (Barcode 029667240727) is a 22-Track CD Compilation of New Remasters and plays out as follows (65:17 minutes):

1. Patches [Mono]

2. Say It One More Time [Mono]

3. It’s All In Your Mind

4. Till I Can’t Take It Anymore

5. The Court Room

6. Getting The Bills (But No Merchandise) [Mono]

7. Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love

8. I Hate To Love And Run

9. Scratch My Back (And Mumble In My Ear)

10. I’m The One

11. If You Can’t Beat ‘Em

12. Lonesomest Lonesome

13. Back In Your Arms [Mono]

14. Holdin’ Out (On My Baby)

15. Put On Your Shoes And Walk

16. I Found Somebody New [Mono]

17. Mother-In-Law

18. Sixty Minute Man [Mono]

19. I’m The Midnight Special [Mono]

20. I’ve Got Another Woman [Mono]

21. Love’s Trying To Come To You [Mono]

22. Heartbreak Woman [Mono]

Collectors will note that many of these American 45s were issued in MONO – so they are making their CD debut here. But for me the compilation doesn't really pick up until nearly 9 tracks in when "I Have To Love And Run" on Atlantic 2818 comes to save the day. The duet with CANDI STATON on "If You Can't Beat Us" is not bad either (lyrics above). But then we get schlock like "Lonesomest Lonesome" where he literally uses "crying into my cornflakes" as lyrics. Oh dear...

The booklet with liner notes by DEAN RUDLAND is the usual classy presentation from Ace and the sound quality of the remaster by NICK ROBBINS is superlative - I just wish the listen was as joyful as Volume 1 - instead of being a chore.

Unless you're a fan of his 1970's fall from grace - I'd look for the first 3 albums from 1968 and 1969 instead. "This Is" (Amazon reference B008PVDA2G), "Dynamic" (B008PVDA5S) and "Testifyin'" (B008PVD8SM) have all been reissued in Japan under the "Atlantic 1000: Best R&B Collection" series. They're 2012 DSD remasters and chock full of quality Sixties Soul in stunning sound quality (see my three reviews for Joe Turner to get a list) and retailing at under eight quid in most cases - they're absolute bargains. There's also Volume 1 of this which is an altogether better listen (see my review).

One to avoid I'm afraid because there is so much better elsewhere...

"From The Motion Picture Rock, Rock, Rock!" by THE MOONGLOWS, CHUCK BERRY and THE FLAMINGOS (2004 Universal 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...A Jumpin' Little Record...I Want My Jockey To Play..."

When the movie "Rock, Rock, Rock" was released in December 1956 - the big draw for the youth of America was that over half the film’s viewing time was taken up with live performances - a lethal combination of vocal group Rhythm 'n' Blues and the brand new rage of the year - Rock 'n' Roll. 

So taking 3 of their biggest recording acts - THE MOONGLOWS, CHUCK BERRY and THE FLAMINGOS - Chess Records put together their first ever 12-track album on Chess LP-1425. Like most of these early Fifties LPs - "Rock, Rock, Rock..." comprised of twelve tried-and-tested US singles/45s. In this case each act was given four songs (some recorded specifically for the film) and thus a vinyl and film legend was born. 

Now in a world of 80-minute-plus compilations - even the expanded "Rock, Rock, Rock" is admittedly short for a reissue (39 minutes on the nose) - but there’s just something so utterly charming about this LP and ditto for its snazzy and well thought out CD reissue. Here are the details for all that duck-walking Maybellene and that tone-deaf Beethoven rolling over in their Cadillac Coupe De Ville…

USA released March 2004 - "Rock, Rock, Rock - From The Motion Picture" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Chess B0001751-02 (Barcode 602498614303) is a CD Reissue and Remaster of the famous 1955 LP bolstered up with Three Extras. 

Part of Universal's Rock ’n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition CD Reissue Series (see list below) - it’s an Expanded Edition that adds on three relevant Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (39:00 minutes): 

1. I Knew From The Start - THE MOONGLOWS (December 1956, Chess 1646, B-side of "Over And Over Again")

2. Would I Be Crying - THE FLAMINGOS (December 1956, Checker 853, A-side)

3. Maybellene - CHUCK BERRY and His Combo (July 1955, Chess 1604, A-side)

4. Sincerely - THE MOONGLOWS (November 1954, Chess 1581, A-side)

5. Thirty Days (To Come Back Home) - CHUCK BERRY and His Combo (October 1955, Chess 1610, A-side)

6. The Vow - THE FLAMINGOS (October 1956, Checker 846, A-side)

7. You Can’t Catch Me - CHUCK BERRY (November 1956, Chess 1645, A-side)

8. Over And Over Again - THE MOONGLOWS (December 1956, Chess 1646, A-side)

9. Roll Over Beethoven - CHUCK BERRY and His Combo (May 1956, Chess 1626, A-side)

10. I’ll Be Home - THE FLAMINGOS (January 1956, Checker 830, A-side)

11. See Saw - THE MOONGLOWS (July 1956, Chess 1629, A-side)

12. A Kiss From Your Lips - THE FLAMINGOS (May 1956, Checker 837, A-side)

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Rock, Rock, Rock - From The Motion Picture“ - released December 1956 in the uSA in Mono only on Chess LP-1425.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent - FRANKIE LYMON and THE TEENAGERS (November 1956, Gee GG-1026, A-side)

14. Rock & Roll Boogie - ALAN FREED and his ROCK ’N’ ROLL ORCHESTRA (from the 1956 compilation LP “Rock ’n’ Roll Dance Party Vol.1” on Coral CRL 57063)

15. Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track) - THE JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO (December 1956, Coral 9-61758, A-side)

ERICK LABSON - one of Universal's top engineers - has remastered all 15 tracks from the 1st generation mono master tapes and the sound quality is better than its ever been - warm, romantic, fun - most of the songs dripping with echo and atmosphere - and all of them extraordinarily evocative of the time. The CD's 3 bonus tracks are also from the movie - the lust-buster "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" by FRANKIE LYMON and THE TEENAGERS (he has only 13 at the time), the dancer instrumental "Rock & Roll Boogie" by ALAN FREED and his ROCK 'N' ROLL ORCHESTRA and the railroad Rockabilly vibe of "Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track)" by JOHNNY BURNETTE'S ROCK 'N' ROLL TRIO. 

The 12-page booklet contains a new essay on the album and film history by noted writer BILLY ALTMAN which doesn't duplicate much of the very informational original album liner notes by MILTON SUBOTSKY (reproduced on Pages 7, 8 and 9). There's a lobby card reproduced featuring Frankie Lymon and Alan Freed and a page of 7" labels including the fab "See Saw" by The Moonglows. The lovely black and silver original deep groove label of the album is reproduced on the inlay beneath the see-through tray - all nice touches and attention to detail that collector's love. 

Quite apart from the historical significance of being Chess Records first-ever long player LP - only four of the original twelve tracks actually appeared in the movie - “I Knew From the Start” and “Over And Over Again” by The Moonglows, “Would I Be Crying” by The Flamingos and Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me” - his first appearance on LP too. 

In truth - with the 50-year copyright law going through the 00's and 10’s like a dose of salts - huge swathes of tracks by Blues, Doo Wop, R ’n' B and Rock 'n' Roll artists have now entered the Public Domain - so you see Doo Wop and Rock 'n' Roll Box sets containing say 100 songs for absolute peanuts. So why would anyone give say £10 or 10 dollars for only 15 tracks on this obscure compilation? It doesn’t even seem like particularly good value for money…

Well - there's the track run (which so works) - the lovely presentation - and of course the truly great sound. But mostly there's just something incredibly evocative about this album. It seems to capture a transition in our history - a joy almost - a newfound freedom - it was young then and still is now. When I listen to the irresistible naughtiness of "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry - followed by the streetlamp serenade of The Flamingos' "I'll Be Home” - which in turn is followed by the finger-clicking "See Saw" by The Moonglows - I'm transported back to a time of jukeboxes topped off with beautiful fluorescent tubes - drive-in movies with monster screens and a thrilling promise in the backseat. This very cool little CD transports me back to that time - when all things seemed possible - innocent even - when the world was literally our generation's oyster…

The Original Soundtrack to “Rock, Rock, Rock” is a lovely album - yet it's one that you feel is all but forgotten now - and it shouldn't be. A fantastic listen and an important and timely reissue on CD...

For sure it’s become hard to find since 2004 especially for UK and European buyers (you can pick it up Stateside for as little as four bucks). Even if you use the Barcode provided above on Amazon UK - you get some other 'Rock Rock Rock' compilation that isn't the same. But I’d say take a chance on romance you children of Alan Freed and buy it. You may have to engage in your own version of Payola to get one - but the payoff will be dancing in the aisles - well maybe dancing in the man cave with a Zimmer frame at our age… 

PS: There are seven releases in the Rock 'n' Roll "50th Anniversary Series" and eleven in their "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" Series and I've loved the lot - great sound, clever title choices and all bumped up with bonus tracks and decent booklets (I'm reviewed almost all of them).

Fans of Holly, Haley, Berry, Diddley and Rock'n'Roll in general should quickly acquire all of these exemplary CDs (use the Barcode numbers provided below to locate the right issue). They make for the best basis of a collection in a minefield of lesser compilations...and Buddy Holly deserved nothing less...

Universal's 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary' CD Reissue Series:

1. After School Session by CHUCK BERRY (1958 Mono Debut LP on Chess) - CD is Geffen/Chess B0001685-02 (Barcode 602498613504) 

2. St. Louis To Liverpool by CHUCK BERRY (1964 Stereo LP on Chess) - CD is Geffen/Chess B0001687-02 (Barcode 602498613528)

3. The Chirping Crickets by THE CRICKETS [feat Buddy Holly] (1957 Mono Debut LP) - CD is Geffen/Decca B0001686-02 (Barcode 602498613511) 

4. Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger by BO DIDDLEY (1960 Stereo LP on Checker) - CD is Universal/Geffen B-0001761-02 (Barcode 602498614471) 

5. Rock Around The Clock by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (December 1955 Mono LP on Decca) - CD is Geffen/Decca B0001705-02 (Barcode 602498613627)

6. Buddy Holly by BUDDY HOLLY (1958 1st Solo LP, Mono on Coral) - CD is Universal/Geffen B0001592-02 (Barcode 602498129524)

7. Rock, Rock, Rock  - From The Motion Picture by THE MOONGLOWS, CHUCK BERRY and THE FLAMINGOS (1956 Chess Records 'Rock 'n' Roll Movie Soundtrack LP) - CD is Universal/Chess B0001751-02 (Barcode 602498614303)

Universal's "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" CD Reissue Series:

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON (1972 USA LP with 4 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 56:10 minutes) (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON (SUHA GUR Remaster) (1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes) (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)  (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes) (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes) (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - Tracks 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes) (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends (ERICK LABSON Remaster)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes) (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remasters - 2LPs on 1CD) (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes) (Barcode 008811282325)