"The Singles Volume Five: 1967-1969" by JAMES BROWN - Featuring Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Nolen, Nat Jones and Clyde Stubblefield of The Famous Flames with guests Vikki Anderson, Alfred “Pee Wee“ Ellis, Marva Whitney and The Dapps (February 2008 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology of Remasters - No. 5 of 11 Volumes of Singles Compilations – Alan Leeds Annotation and Seth Foster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Say It Loud... I'm Black And I'm Proud..."

The 43-Tracks of "The Singles Volume 5..." by all things JAMES BROWN covers November 1967 through to March 1969 – fifth in a truly stunning 11-Volume Series of 2CD-Compilations that has had most fans reaching for the say-it-loud superlatives, and genuinely finding there aren't enough. 

Alongside every A&B-side, we also get mistakenly pressed Stereo mixes, a European Alternate Take different to its US variant and sidebars into JB associated stuff by Bobby Byrd, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, Vicki Anderson, Marva Whitney and his backing vocalists band - The Dapps. 

Volume Five also has the same spectacular Audio and beautifully presented 28-page fact-filled booklet on Soul Brother No. 1 that all these volumes have - with a feast of fan-pleasing details and memorabilia provided by a team of experts on all things JB Productions (printed on a sort of sepia feel paper – ALAN LEEDS, his manager and pal being principal among them).

Make no mistake - all eleven volumes of "The Singles" Series for 'James Brown' are superlative 2CD Reissues, and along with the 'Motown' and 'Chess' Book Set Reissues has gone a long way to emblazoning 'Hip-O Select' as a reissue label dear to collector's hearts. Here are the When You Touch Me details...

USA released 29 February 2008 - "The Singles Volume Five: 1967-1969" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0010411-02 (Barcode 602517536715) offers 43-tracks Remastered onto 2CDs (a Limited Edition). 

All catalogue numbers provided below are US 45-singles (unless otherwise noted) sided with their peak US R&B and Pop Chart placing (no entry means it didn't chart). Each disc breaks down as follows...

Disc 1, 22-Tracks, 66:02 minutes:

1. I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me) 

2. There Was A Time

Tracks 1 and 2 are King 6144, released November 1967, as by James Brown And The Famous Flames. The B-side is a live 3:35-minute edit of a 20-minute track called "Let Yourself Go" recorded at The Apollo Theatre, Harlem in June of 1967. But at the time of this 45-release in November 1967, neither version had been on any album – so was exclusive. US chart peak No. 3 R&B and No. 36 Pop 

3. The Soul of J.B. 

4. Funky Soul No.1 

Tracks 3 and 4 are King 6133, released November 1967, as James Brown and The Famous Flames. Track 4 is an Instrumental of a Bobby Byrd tune  

5. You've Got To Change Your Mind 

Track 5 is the A-side of King 6151, released January 196, as by Bobby Byrd and James Brown. The B-side is a Bobby Byrd solo track called "I'll Lose My Mind" - Track 18 on Disc 2 

6. Bringing Up The Guitar

7. Gittin' A Little Hipper

Tracks 6 and 7 are King 6147, released January 1968, as by The Dapps featuring Alfred Ellis 

8. I Got The Feelin'

9. If I Ruled The World 

Tracks 8 and 9 are King 6155, released February 1968, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 1 R&B and No. 6 Pop

10. You've Got The Power 

Track 10 is the A-side of King 6152, released March 1968, as by Vicki Anderson and James Brown. The A-side is a remake of James Brown's own tune available originally as the B-side to "Think" on Federal 12378 in August 1960 - itself a duet with Bea Ford. The B-side of King 6152 was "What The World Needs Now Is Love" by Vicky Anderson (not on this compilation)

11. Shhhhhhhh (For A Little While)  

12. Here I Go 

Tracks 11 and 12 are the instrumental A&B-sides of King 6164, released April 1968, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames

13. America Is My Home - Pt. 1

14. America is My Home - Pt. 2

Tracks 13 and 14 are King 6112, released May 1968, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 13 R&B and No. 52 Pop 

15. Licking Stick - Licking Stick (Part 1)

16. Licking Stick - Licking Stick (Part 2)

17. Licking Stick - Licking Stick (Part 1) Stereo Mix

18. Licking Stick - Licking Stick (Part 2) Stereo Mix

Tracks 15 and 16 are King 6166 in Mono (all Promo copies were Mono too), but some copies were mixed into Stereo - hence Tracks 17 and 18. Released May 1968 as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. US chart peak No. 2 R&B and No. 14 Pop. "Licking Stick - Licking Stick" is a co-write with Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis and Bobby Byrd and marks Byrd's exit from the band/Fred Wesley's entrance 

19. There Was A Time 

Track 19 is the A-side only of King 6169, released June 1968, as by The Dapps featuring Alfred Ellis. It is an instrumental Saxophone solo version of the vocal "There Was A Time" issued as the B-side to King 6144 (see Tracks 1 and 2 on CD1). The B-side of King 6169 is an instrumental called "The Rabbit Got The Gun" by "Pee Wee" Ellis (not on this compilation). King 6169 US chart peak was No. 3 R&B and No. 36 Pop 

20.I Guess I'll Have To Cry, Cry, Cry 

21. Just Plain Funk 

22. I Guess I'll Have To Cry, Cry, Cry (Alternate Take)

Tracks 20 and 21 are the American A&B-sides of King 6141, released June 1968, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Track 22 is the version issued as the A-side in Germany (also June 1968) on Polydor 59226. King 6141 US chart peak was No. 15 R&B and No. 55 Pop 

Disc 2, 21-Tracks, 61:09 minutes:

1. Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud (Part 1) 

2. Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud (Part 2)

Tracks 1 and 2 are King 6187, released August 1968, as by James Brown. US chart peak No. 1 R&B and No. 10 Pop

3. Maybe Good, Maybe Bad (Part 1)

4. Maybe Good, Maybe Bad (Part 2)

Tracks 3 and 4 are King 6159, released September 1968, as by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Both sides are instrumentals and this is the last record to credit The Famous Flames

5. Goodbye My Love

6. Shades Of Brown 

7. Shades Of Brown (Pt. 2)

Tracks 5 and 6 are King 6198, released October 1968, as by James Brown. US chart peak No. 9 R&B and No. 31 Pop. Track 7 released February 1969 as by Steve Soul (Alabama DJ Steve "Soul" Meyers) on King 6216. The A-side of 6216 was called "James Brown - A Talk With The News" but was the DJ name-checking soundbites on previous JB hits and because it doesn't actually feature JB, isn't included

8. Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto 

9. You Know It 

Tracks 8 and 9 are King 6203, released November 1968, as by James Brown

10. Tit For Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)

11. Believers Shall Enjoy (Non Believers Shall Suffer) 

Tracks 10 and 11 are King 6204, released November 1968, as by James Brown. The B-side is an instrumental that features the Bass Line from Brown's 1964 hit "Maybe The Last Time" as arranged by Bassist Nat Jones

12. Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas 

13. In The Middle (Part 1)

Tracks 12 and 13 are King 6205, released November 1968, as by Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis

14. In The Middle (Part 2) 

Track 14 is the A-side of King 6206, released December 1968, as by Marva Whitney and The James Brown Band. Also issued as King 6214 in February 1969 as by Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis

15. Little Green Apples 

16. Come On In The House 

Tracks 15 and 16 are King 6199, released December 1968, as by Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis featured with The James Brown Band

17. Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose 

18. I'll Lose My Mind 

Tracks 17 and 18 are King 6213, released January 1969, as by James Brown. US chart peak No. 1 R&B and No. 15 Pop

19. Soul Pride (Part 1) 

20. Soul Pride (Part 2)

Tracks 19 and 20 are King 6222, released March 1969, as by James Brown. US chart peak No. 33 R&B and No. 117 Pop 

21. You Got To Have A Job (If You Don't Work-You Don't Eat) 

Track 21 is the A-side of King 6218, released March 1968, as by Marva Whitney and James Brown. B-side was a reissue of the "I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired" track by Marva Whitney (not included in this series)

Like all 11 Volumes in this Hip-O Select 2CD series, the 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at — a hugely informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert posters, trade adverts, magazine covers and a thoroughly detailed recording Sessionography. Produced with affection and firsthand knowledge by HARRY WEINGER and ALAN LEEDS (Leeds was Tour Manager from 1970 to 1974) - the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has a repro of the R&B News magazine review for SOUL BROTHER No. 1 and his triumphant shows in Africa. 

Photos include JB in the studio at the dials, atop a car giving it some Say It Loud salutes, Soul Santa dressed up in red and white, Marva Whitney trade adverts and even a hairstyle comment telling black kids in the neighborhood to wear their colour natural like JB. There is a gorgeous tinted colour photo on the rear of the booklet that has JB with the four smiling white boys of The Dapps at the Living Room Club in Cincinnati, Ohio mid funky routine that literally oozes pleasure (would love that as a poster on my wall). 

Cool and smart attention to detail shows that both compilers know what fans want - for instance the song by song Sessionography in the last few pages provides master numbers, band personnel, 45 and LPs with catalogue numbers noted, Disc and Track location etc. So you learn that the extended version of "You've Got To Change Your Mind" on the King LP 1030 has three trumpets and three more trombones that aren’t on the single mix – and that "Gittin' A Little Hipper" by Marva Whitney was scheduled to appear on the album "I Sing Soul with James Brown" on King LP 1053 but was not issued – so the single mix is exclusive here. The only clunker/mistake I can see is that the A-side "You Got To Have A Job" on King 6218 (by Marva Whitney) had a James Brown-penned B-side "I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired" that isn’t included on Disc 2 when there was room. If you want that track and many more besides, seek out the 1998 2CD compilation "James Brown's Original Funky Divas" on Polydor/Chronicles 537 709-2 (Barcode 31453770928). You'll find Marva Whitney, Vikki Anderson, Lyn Collins and more in stunning Suha Gur Remasters.  

As in previous issues, SETH FOSTER has transferred the first-generation master tapes for the single mixes and he's done a truly superlative job — warm, clear and fabulously alive. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay – numbers are not stated but presumably it's a worldwide limited edition of 5000 copies like its predecessor (Volume 5 is dedicated to Bobby Byrd, 1934 to 2007, who had just passed). Now to the music that transitioned key horn players Bobby Byrd and Fred Wesley out of and into The JB’s...

Good God, uh, early in the morning, James Brown gets excited when his lady gets all touchy-feely – the "I Can't Stand Myself... " CD1 opener as tight as a nun's winklepickers on a Saturday night out with the gals (live B-side too). But my poison is the fantastic Guitar vs. Saxophone groove in "The Soul Of J.B." and the organ grinder flipside "Funky Soul No. 1" – not a single you hear every day of the week - and one where the A-side is the kind of hep-thing that might turn up on a New Breed R&B compilation CD real soon. Other goodies include the baby-baby-baby groove of the fantastic "I Got The Feeling" – and easy to hear why its cold-sweat groove must have destroyed radio at the time (another No. 1 R&B hit). 

I have to admit that I rushed to the STEREO mixes of that mama come here quick with your "Licking Stick... " – it just leaps out of your speakers (that Maceo solo) with a fullness that is unnerving having been used to the standard Mono mix for so long. Same goes for "There Was A Time" where JB's live vocals are mixed out in favour of a red hot "Pee Wee" Ellis Saxophone solo version – it did the trick and put the incessant groove up to No. 3 R&B. 

It's hard to be rational about "Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud... " – the 'we demand a chance to do things for ourselves, tired of banging our heads against the wall working for someone else' lyrics lighting a cultural torch – amazing stuff. Cool discovery time comes in the shape of the fabulous slow Joe Turner Blues of "Maybe Good, Maybe Bad... " – JB giving it some in your face piano chops that although rooted in the traditional – feel fresh and new. He lent his pleading vocals to the I-believe-you-got-another-man smooch and punch of "Goodbye My Love" – that floating organ note carrying the pain until he erupts again (great stuff). And on it goes to the monster groove in "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" – the band cooking despite minor mistakes as they take it to the bridge – another No. 1 on the R&B charts in a year where he seemed to be pumping out a winning 45 every month. There are more...  

I've diligently collected this entire series of 11 x 2CD 'Singles' sets for JAMES BROWN - first released Stateside in September 2006 by Universal's highly collectable mail-order wing - Hip-O Select. Stunning is a word often overused - but on these wickedly good Remasters, it hardly does these twofer peaches justice. And his band would only go on to re-route Soul and Funk come Volumes 6, 7 and 8 that take us up to the early-to-mid Seventies. 

For those wanting to know why Funk happened or simply hear evidence of his relentless musical genius during those amazingly productive years - its an absolute must own. Come on in the house, indeed...

"New Breed R&B: Saturday Night Special" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Tracks from 1958 to 1966 by Aaron Collins and The Teen Queens, Rob Robinson, Freddie Williams, Prince Conley, Pee Wee Foster, Sterling Magee, Johnny Talbot, Tony Clarke, Margaret Lewis, Flora D, Curly Mays and more (July 2020 Ace Records/Kent Dance CD Compilation of Remasters – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Way Out Baby..."

Entry number seven in an increasingly cool and essential Ace Records CD series (see list below) – "New Breed R&B: Saturday Night Special" goes after 60ts American Blues and R&B with a Mod dance rhythm and like its predecessor - more often that not got my increasingly ancient loin-juices flowing to the point of physical embarrassment. 

We all know Ace Records make great compilations, but there is a sense of fun permeating this CD that just doesn't let up right to the shuffling end – pleaser after pleaser - the whole dancin' shebang bolstered up by a shockingly good haul of unissued.  

Most of the 24-cuts span 1960 to 1966 with some nods towards the 50ts topped off by Seven Previously Unreleased Period Tracks, whilst the remainder are hard-to-find 45s and unissued rarities that first saw the light of day on CD compilations in the 90ts and 00s. Here are the knee-slapping and hip-twitching details...

UK released Friday, 31 July 2020 (February 2016 in the USA) – "New Breed R&B: Saturday Night Special" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records/Kent Dance CDKEND 492 (Barcode 029667098823) is a 24-track CD compilation and plays out as follows (55:03 minutes):

1. Every Saturday Night – AARON COLLINS & THE TEEN QUEENS (2020, Previously Unissued 1966 Modern Records recording)

2. I'll Never Do It Again – THE CORVAIRS (2020, Previously Unissued 1966 Arock Records recording)

3. Ain't That Good – PRINCE CONLEY (originally unissued 1961 Stax recording, first appeared on the 1995 UK CD compilation "4000 Volts Of Stax & Satellite – Rare & Unreleased Tracks From The Golden Era Of Soul" on Stax CDSXD 107)

4. Compact Baby – ROB ROBINSON (originally unissued 1963 Galaxy Records recording, first appeared on the 2004 UK CD compilation "Diggin' Gold: A Galaxy Of West Coast Blues" on Ace Records CDCHD 1017)

5. Triple Zero – ESKO WALLACE (June 1963 US 45-single on Graham 802, B-side of "I Don't Think (There Could Be Another You)")

6. Purty Li'l Mama – FREDDIE WILLIAMS (originally unissued 1961 Norman Petty recording, first appeared on the January 2020 US CD compilation "Norman Petty Studios – Vault Series No. 8 (1960-1964)" on Nor-Va-Jak NVJCD20)

7. Something's Wrong Baby – MARGARET LEWIS (June 1961 US 45-single on RAM 2451 (Royal Audio Music Inc), B-side of "John DeLee")

8. Way Out Baby – FLORA D (1961 US 45-single on Paso 103, B-side of "You Gonna Cry")

9. Family Man – SLIM and THE TWILITES (1962 US 45-single on Dore 645, A-side)

10. You're Gonna Need Me – BIG CHARLEY & THE DOMANS (originally unissued 1961 Lanjo Records recording, first appeared on a 2016 US 45-Single on Ohio's Hilltop Records 901, B-side of "Can't Even Enjoy My Home")

11. Wait A Minute Baby – JOHNNY "Guitar" WATSON (1964 US 45-single on Highland 1151, A-side)

12. Almost Midnight – KING SOLOMON (originally unissued 1966 Kent Records recording, first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960s Vol.3" on P-Vine Records PCD-3065)

13. Show Me How To Shake Like That – THE LON-GENES (originally unissued 1963 Glo-Rae Records recording, first appeared on the 2012 UK Various Artists CD compilation "Kent Harris' R&B Family" on Ace Records CDCHD 1334)

14. Head Doctor – GAY MEADOWS (2020, Previously Unreleased 1963 Chant Records recording)

15. You Can Be My Honey – PEE WEE FOSTER (2020, Previously Unreleased 

1958 Cleveland R&B Records recording)

16. Turn The Lamps Down Low – PAT GARVIS (1963 US 45-Single on Freida Records 6061, A-side)

17. Your Yah-Yah Is Gone – THE TREN-TEENS (1962 US 45-Single on Carnival 501, A-side)

18. The Long John (Dog) – JARVIS JACKSON (1966 US 45-single on Sims 291, B-side of "Something I Never Had")

19. Tighten Up & Pull Yourself Together – STERLING MAGEE (2020, Previously Unissued 1967 Sylvia Records recording)

20. Satisfied – JOHNNY TALBOT (2020, Previously Unissued 1965 Modern Records recording)

21. Love Must Be Taboo – TONY CLARKE (1962 US 45-Single on Fascination F-1010, B-side of "Cry")

22. I'll Conquer The World – J. D. WRIGHT & THE METALLICS (February 1963 US 45-Single on Baronet 18, A-side)

23. Walking The Track – LITTLE MACEY & THE VALIANTS (2020, Previously Unissued Terry Records recording)

24. I'm Walkin' On – CURLY MAYS (1964 US 45-Single on Carnival 505, A-side)

Tracks 1, 2, 14, 15, 19, 20 and 23 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

All tracks in MONO 

The 20-page booklet is the usual Ace info-fest – track-by-track explanations by Compiler and Enthusiast ADY CROASDELL (has handled most of these New Breed CD compilations) – the text peppered with rare label repros from Graham, Paso, Highland, Dore, Glo Rae and even the Hilltop Records unearthing only issued in 2016 (how many copies of this are there!). There are publicity of photos of names that are too long forgotten – three of The Flares looked suited and booted stood beside an equally flash Betty and Aaron Collins, The Teen Queens smiling and beguiling, a signed photo of Rob Robinson looking all Sam Cooke suave, Margaret Lewis and her immaculate frock bathed in spotlight on stage, Jarvis Jackson clutching his Double Bass and a truly memorable black and white 80ts photo of guitarist Sterling Magee and Harmonica player Adam Gussow busking in Harlem as (wait for it) Satan and Adam. 

There is even a stunning psychedelic-type-face Otis Redding poster for the Fillmore Auditorium where Johnny Talbot got to be the support act on Wednesday the 21st of December 1966 (you could see an emerging Grateful Dead the night before). As you can imagine, the facts come fast and furious and compliment the listen and your appreciation of these largely forgotten names. Long-time Sound Engineer NICK ROBBINS has done the transfers and Remasters and a typically great job it is too despite the obviously less than Audiophile sources. There is also an in-yer-face vitality to the Mono recordings that apes Saturday Night sweating down at Smokey Joe's All Night Juke Joint. To the beat-lovers and dodgy under-covers... 

Hundreds come from miles around to sample the steel guitar, the big beat, the buttered beans, homemade brew and chilli too in a fantastic opener that gives this seventh compilation its name "Every Saturday Night" – Aaron Collins and The Teen Queens sharing the vocals and the good news. Taking it down a gear is a cool two-stepper where the lead singer of The Corvairs assures us that he has learned his lesson in "I'll Never Do It Again". The man knows what is right and he knows what is wrong – so from now on neither he nor his band mates will be touching other girlies while his baby is gone (oh no, no, no – well maybe a little). Prince Conley's is also terribly pleased that his gal has money in her hand and is going to make it back to her man in "Ain't That Good" – a sort of Clovers Saxophone shuffler with an unusual Booker T. type organ solo (an unissued Stax Records recording from 1961). 

While everyone else is digging Cadillacs, Rob Robinson wants his "Compact Baby" where he has only to put his mojo hands on the gas and she really knocks him out (the none too subtle lyrics and a saxophone solo that is too far back in the mix probably kept this in the can, but that doesn't stop it from being a winner to us in 2020). The Esko Wallace cut oozes R&B class - his Coasters-type shuffler reassuring his lady that even though she may be currently in the arms of another, he will always be understanding of said arrangement and see her as a triple zero. Such is the similarity, the fabulous voice of Freddie Williams on the novelty-sounding "Purty Li'l Mama" will have lovers of La Vern Baker and Ruth Brown over on 50ts Atlantic Records double-take -is that really a man? And speaking of firecrackers - white gal Margaret Lewis gives a toppermost performance on the excellent "Somethin's Wrong Baby" - sounding not unlike Wanda Jackson or Ella Mae Morse getting her teeth into a tasty little R&B shuffler. 

The fun and dancing continue with Flora D telling us that her man's 'good as gold and sweet as he can be' in "Way Out Baby" - a tremendous Saxophone romp with rolling Fats Domino piano complimenting the backbeat. With all that preceding beer-sodden joy and figure-hugging shimmy shaking, it's probably time for some domestic misery. So we should spare a thought for poor old Slim and The Twilites – Slim's house overrun with kids (no fault of his own) while his no-good wife pulls up the bed sheets over her head once again at the thought of another day. It's gotten so bad for our slender entirely faultless hero in "Family Man" that one afternoon, Slim opened up his work pale only to find a lone sardine staring back at him masquerading as 'lunch' (yikes). 

Other highlights include Johnny "Guitar" Watson pleading with his gal on "Wait A Minute Baby" admitting that his wandering-mits slow dance with Mary Lou on Saturday Night probably wasn't his finest hour - or The Lon-Genes loving their three-times-seven big mama in "Show Me How To Shake Like That" - one hand on her knee, one hand on her hip, doing the sexy backflip (she's giving them five-star chills). Meanwhile Sterling Magee is getting all "Tighten Up & Pull Yourself Together" in what feels like Ike Turner hitting all the right and tight guitar funk, while Tony Clarke goes all Dion-vocals in his sorry-man no-can-do "Love Must Be Taboo" tale of woe (his gal won't go steady never mind marry his sorry little sock ball ass). It is up to the nephew of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Curly Mays - to bring it all to a superb bop finish with a Dave Edmunds retro Rock & Roll shuffler called "I'm Walkin' On" - a corkin' end to a really great listen. 

So much to savour on "New Breed R&B: Saturday Night Special" - fans of Jivin' R&B and Blues with a Soul twist are going to have to own it. Very good indeed and another winner and possible best yet CD (in the series) from those smart compilation-making hipsters over at Ace Records UK...

Titles in Ace's "New Breed R&B" CD Compilation Series on Kent Dance

In Release-Date Order from 2001 to 2020

1. New Breed R&B: Soulful 60s Blues For Today's Dances (July 2001, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 199 – Barcode 029667219921)

2. King New Breed Rhythm & Blues (July 2002, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 210 – Barcode 029667221023)

3. New Breed R&B With Added Popcorn – Early 60ts R&B Dancers Right In Today's Groove (February 2008, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 291 – Barcode 029667229128)

4. King New Breed R&B Volume 2 (April 2012, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 373 – Barcode 069227237321)

5. New Breed Blues with Black Popcorn (April 2013, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 393 – Barcode 029667239325)

6. New Breed Workin': Blues With A Rhythm (January 2016, Ace/Kent Dance CDKEND 443 – Barcode 029667244329)

7. New Breed R&B: Saturday Night Special (July 2020, Ace Kent Dance CDKEND 492 – Barcode 029667098823)

"Spring NYC Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Rarities from New York's SPRING, EVENT and POSSE labels issued between 1967 and 1983 (mostly 70ts) including Six Previously Unreleased Tracks – featuring Joe Simon, The Determinations, Ray Godfrey, Clare Bathe, The Joneses, Garland Green, The Internationals, (Prince) Phillip Mitchell, C-Brand, Maxine Weldon, Tavares and more (January 2020 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 289 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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

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"...Your Time To Cry..."

The truth lies somewhere in-between. A cleverly put together CD compilation on New York's Spring Records and its imprints Event and Posse that takes in a broad-spectrum of dates (1967 to 1983). Problems lie in those titles that veer aware from its 70ts heyday - later syrupy concoctions from 1980 and 1983. 

But still, with that huge playing time of nearly 79-minutes as a genuine plus, and enough Northern Soulish late 60ts and early 70ts dancer-orientated B-sides towards the end – we can declare CDKEND 487 yet another winner in Ace's cannon of exemplary Kent Soul reissues. Let's get determined baby...

UK released 31 January 2020 - "Spring NYC Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records/Kent Soul CDKEND 487 (Barcode 029667097529) offers Rarities from New York’s SPRING, EVENT and POSSE labels issued between 1967 and 1983 including Previously Unreleased and plays out as follows (78:58 minutes): 

1. Save The Best For Me - THE DETERMINATIONS (2020, Previously Unissued Edited Version, Original opens Side 1 of the 1976 US LP "One Step At A Time" on Event Records EV-7001)

2. Do You Feel It - ACT 1 (November 1974 US 45-single on Spring SPR-152, B-side of "Party Hardy People")

3. I Love You More Than Anything - RAY GODFREY (2020, Previously Unissued 1970 Spring Recording)

4. Since You've Been Gone - GARLAND GREEN (2020, Previously Unissued Unedited Version, Original on the 1990 UK LP "The Spring Sides" by Garland Green on Kent Records KEND 090)

5. Magic's In The Air - RONNIE WALKER (August 1975 US 45-single on Event Records EV 225, A-side)

6. If You Could Turn Into Me - THE FATBACK BAND (from the August 1975 US LP "Yum Yum" on Event Records EV-6904)

7. Your Time To Cry - JOE SIMON (November 1970 US 45-single on Spring SPR 108, A-side)

8. I'm The Other Half Of You - MAXINE WELDON (2020, Previously Unissued 1973 Spring recording)

9. Forever - CLARE BATHE (1980 US 45-Single on Posse POS 5004, A-side)

10. The Storm Is Passing Over - JACKIE VERDELL (from the 1986 US LP "Lay My Burdon Down" on Spring 33-6739)

11. Plenty Of Love - C-BRAND (1982 US 45-single on Spring SP 3029, B-side of "Wired For Games")

12. (Beauty (Is In The Eye Of The Beholder) - THE JONESES (1980 US 45-single on Posse POS 5003, A-side)

13. Hold on - RAY GODFREY (2020, Previously Unissued 1979 Spring recording)

14. Kill The Monster - FLOWER SHOPPE (March 1971 US 45-single on Spring SPR 111, B-side of "You've Come A Long Way Baby")

15. If We Get Caught, I Don't Know You - PHILLIP MITCHELL (1975 US 45-single on Event EV 223, B-side of "There's Another In My Life")

16. If You Say You Love Me - US (2020, Previously Unissued 1975 Spring recording)

17. Falling In Love - VICTOR TAVARES (2020, Previously Unissued 1975 Spring recording)

18. (I Have Fallen Into) The Tender Trap - LEROY RANDOLPH (January 1972 US 45-single on Spring SPR 121, A-side)

19. Boiling Like Water - THE EQUATIONS (August 1971 US 45-single on Spring SPR 117, B-side of "You Make Me Feel So Good")

20. Sugar Plum (Give Me Some) - LITTLE EVA HARRIS (Previously Unreleased 1968 recording first issued on the 2004 CD compilation "Where The Girls Are - Volume Six" on Ace Records CDCHD 1032)

21. Get Right - RICHARD BARBARY (January 1968 US 45-single on Spring SK701, B-side of "When Johnny Comes Marching Again")

22. Daddy's Coming Home - PRINCE HAROLD (January 1968 US 45-single on Spring SK702, B-side of "Ain't It Amazing")

23. Of Your Life - VERNON BROWN (March 1971 US 45-single on Spring SPR 112, B-side of "I'm A Lover")

24. I Ride Alone – THE INTERNATIONALS (August 1972 US 45-single on Spring SPR 129, B-side of "Lead Me On")

Tracks 7, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are MONO - all others STEREO

Prompted by multi-track finds in the Spring Records vaults - Ace have once again dug deep (six Previously Unreleased on top of American vinyl-only rarities). ADY CROASDEL pours on the charm and details in 20-pages of liner notes - giving a song-by-song analysis - itself peppered with those fab repro labels and classy black and white publicity photos of names less seen like Richard Barbary, Clare Bathe and Phil Flowers who is sporting a floral shirt with a collar so big there may indeed be a law against it somewhere. There is a trade advert for Spring Records, an elated Joe Simon being interviewed by an even more-pleased white DJ and a rarely seen Kent LP in the shape of Garland Green's "The Spring Sides" - Kent 90 being only the ninth last vinyl LP in the series before CDs took over completely (as I recall). The details are of course fascinating - The Fatback Band doing a Soulful smoocher when they are of course more associated with booty-waddling Funk - Jackie Verdell and her modern-Gospel LP from 1982 (once a member of The Davis Sisters in the 50ts) and how most copies of the secular 45s put out by The Internationals feature "Lead On Me" on both sides, hence Ace have chosen the rarer and more sought after B-side "I Ride Alone" for inclusion. The usual class act in other words. Audio is care of the vastly experienced DUNCAN COWELL and again – these transfers have oomph and lovely warm vitality - poppermost of the toppermost. To the music...

Things start dancing immediately with the 'everything that glitters may not all be gold' stepper "Save The Best For Me" - a joyful slice from The Determinations that will have Northern Soul fans weeping in the aisles. "Do You Feel It" by Act 1 graces all of the rear of the 20-page booklet, resplendent in its Spring Records label bag - another shimmy-shaker. Next up is the first of six new discoveries - a 1970 brassy upbeat tune called "I Love You More Than Anything" by Ray Godfrey - not quite NS-magical but more than respectable and a pretty damn cool discovery after 50 long years in oblivion (produced and co-written by Joe Simon). 

The deep-as-walnut voice of Garland Green lifts up the truly lovely "Since You've Been Gone" - a very smart choice indeed - especially as the LP isn't that easy to find (the edit is small, 3:36 minutes for the original LP cut but 3:17 for this newer version). The unnervingly heavy synth and Stylistics type beat/strings of "Magic's In The Air" may be a skip for many and The Fatback Band sound frankly uncomfortable with the sappy "If You Could Turn Into Me" (a bad vocal too). But things are rescued by the genuinely gorgeous expressiveness of Joe Simon's "Your Time To Cry" - his 1970 voice and ache - a hundred times more real than the two cheese-puffs that preceded it (a highlight for me this). 

Another newbee is the 'feeling sad and blue' of Maxine Weldon giving it some hey baby come on over because "I'm The Other Half Of You" - a fabulous ballad find and truly worthy of the moniker 'Bonus'. Clare Bathe is a Jazz singer who had stints with August Darnell's Kid Creole & The Coconuts and actually sang on the Chic debut LP - but her "Forever" has that big 80ts polish that almost threatens to drown the otherwise pretty tune. Better is a Joe Simon co-write with Jackie Verdell - her straight-up 1983 Gospel anthem "The Storm Is Passing Over" just the right side of hallelujah righteous Soul - the 1970's sounding LP famously featuring a young gal called Whitney Houston pre superstardom. The slap-bass chugging Funk of "Plenty Of Love" combined with its 1982 Pop-Soul Heatwave backbeat has made it a sought after 45 - and again - a smart inclusion here - if not a wee bit out of place. 

Other highlights for me are "Kill The Monster" by Flower Shoppe featuring the Sly Stone exciting vocals of Phil Flowers - a warning song for kids in the neighbour. It seems that sexpot (Prince) Phillip Mitchell finds that everything is the 'other' girl's fault - his witty and funky B-side "If We Get Caught, I Don't Know You" (I have reviewed his 1978 and 1979 albums for Atlantic Records - "Make It Good" and "Top Of The Line" - they were part of Rhino's "Classic Soul Album - Expanded And Remastered" Series of CD reissues in 2007). The old-stylee Vocal-Group performance of "(I Have Fallen Into) The Tender Trap" benefits greatly from Leroy Randolph's expressive pipes (Don Covay's brother) - while fans of future disco divas Tavares will have to have the Victor Tavares ballad outtake "Falling In Love" (not my cup of Java mind). And it ends on a flurry of Mono single-sides aimed squarely at the hips and not the quivering lips. 

For sure the CD stumbles a few times mid-stream (as others have mentioned), but there is still just so much to like and dig on "Spring NYC Soul". And isn't that typical of Ace's Kent Soul releases - the quality far outweighs everything else...

"Small Talk/High On You/Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – US Albums from July 1974, November 1975 and December 1976 on Epic Records – guests featuring Eric Gale, Bobby Lyles and Peter Frampton (September 2017 UK Beat Goes On Reissue (BGO) – 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 289 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Loose Booty..."

Time is a cruel mistress, especially in the music business. Sly & The Family Stone are a case in point. They had achieved what few could have managed outside of Isaac Hayes and his extraordinary LP run on Stax. 

"Greatest Hits" from November 1970, the huge November 1971 opus that was "There's A Riot Goin' On" and "Fresh" from June 1973 had all achieved Number 1 status on the US R&B LP charts for Sly & The Family Stone – three in a row - with "...Riot..." going to Number 1 on the Rock LP charts also. Very, very rare that any Soul acts outside of Isaac Hayes and James Brown ever got to do this. Even before the 1970 "Greatest Hits" set – their fourth album "Stand!" from April 1969 had peaked at No. 3 (material from it was featured at Woodstock) - high numbers and high praise all round. Impressive stuff. 

But by June 1974 when the "Small Talk" LP came out – he made No. 15 on the Rock charts (didn't register with R&B) - "High On You" from October 1975 made No. 45 (No. 11 R&B) and December 1976's "Heard Ya Missed Me... " seemed to have a ego-title too far because it didn't bother the Rock charts at all and scraped No. 33 on R&B (even with complimentary liner notes from top Philly Producer and admirer Kenneth Gamble). What had started out as Sly & The Family Stone mixed-race mixed-cultural world-changing stellar-music in the late 60ts - was by 1974, 1975 and 1976 – old hat and fizzling out fast. This was Sly on the downturn, lost in power and accolades, obscene amounts of money and schizoid drugs dependence despite the cosy holding a baby/we're all wholesome now album sleeve. This is Sylvester Stewart before unreliability destroyed any chance of gigs, shabby RVs and homelessness thirty ears later and no calls returned - newspapers preparing obituaries. 

So in some respects – these three albums have been ignored over the years (the second is credited to Sly Stone only, the other two to Sly & The Family Stone) – and that's where this superb twofer reappraisal from BGO of England comes a-boogieing in. It's not all primo Soul-Funk for sure, but there are enough nuggets across the three platters, great new Audio and quality presentation to soften the sub-Booty blow (guitarist Eric Gale and Peter Frampton guest alongside keyboard whizz Bobby Lyles too). I'm givin' and livin' y'all. To the Mother Beautiful...

UK released Friday, 1 September 2017 - "Small Talk/High On You/Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE on Beat Goes on BGOCD1294 (Barcode 5017261212948) offers 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows: 

CD1 (37:25 minutes):
1. Small Talk [Side 1]
2. Say You Will 
3. Mother Beautiful 
4. Time For Livin' 
5. Can't Strain My Brain 
6. Loose Booty [Side 2]
7. Holdin' On 
8. Wishful Thinkin' 
9. Better Thee Than Me
10. Livin' Where I'm Livin' 
11. This Is Love 
Tracks 1 to 11 are their seventh studio album "Small Talk" - released July 1974 in the USA on Epic PE 32930 and August 1974 in the UK on Epic S EPC 69070. Musicians included Freddie Stone on Vocals and Guitar, Rose Stone Banks on Vocals and Keyboards, Cynthia Robinson on Trumpet, Vet Stewart on Vocals and Keyboards, Jerry Martini on Saxophone, Pat Rizzo on Flute and Saxophone, Sid Page On Violin with Rusty Allen on Bass and Bill Lordon on Drums. Produced and Arranged by Sly Stone - he features on Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards and Bass.  

CD2 (68:46 minutes):
1. I Get High On You [Side 1]
2. Crossword Puzzle 
3. That's Lovin' You 
4. Who Do You Love? 
5. Green Eyed Monster Girl 
6. Organize [Side 2] 
7. Le Lo Li
8. My World 
9. So Good To Me 
10. Greed 
Tracks 1 to 10 are the group's eight studio outing "High On You" and his first (technically) solo LP as SLY STONE - released October 1975 in the USA on Epic PE 33835 and December 1975 in the UK on Epic S EPC 69165. Musicians included Dawn Silva, Tiny Melton, Vet Stewart and Rudy Love on Vocals, Freddie Stone on Vocals and Guitar, Cousin Gale on Guitar, Bobby Lyles and Tricky Truman Governor on Keyboards (Little Moses plays Organ on "I Get High On You" only), Jerry Martini and Dennis Marcellino on Saxophones, Cynthia Robinson on Trumpet and Vocals, Bobby Vega on Bass (Rusty Allen plays Bass on "Organize" only), Michael Samuels and Jim Strassburg on Drums (Bill Lordon Drums on "That's Lovin' You" only and Willie Wild Sparks Drums on "Le Lo Li" only). Sly Stone plays multiple instruments – everything else. 

11. Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back [Side 1]
12. What Was I Thinkin' In My Head 
13. Nothing Less Than Happiness
14. Sexy Situation 
15. Blessing in Disguise 
16. Everything In You [Side 2]
17. Mother Is A Hippie
18. Let's Be Together 
19. The Thing
20. Family Again 
Tracks 11 to 20 are the group's ninth studio album "Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back" - released December 1976 in the USA on Epic PE 34348 and December 1976 in the UK on Epic EPC 81641. Musicians included  Cynthia Robinson on Trumpet, Joe Baker on Guitar and Vocals, John Colla and Steve Schuster on Horns, John Farey on Keyboards with Dwight Hogan and Anthony Warren on Bass and Drums (and others). Peter Frampton [ex The Herd and Humble Pie] plays Guitar on "Let's Be Together".

The seven players on "Small Talk" are pictured in the 24-page booklet, the Steve Lake of Melody Maker 1974 liner notes and other aspects of the gatefold sleeve (but not the lyrics). Same for the other two albums, but its CHARLES WARING (principal Soul and Jazz contributor to "Mojo" magazine) that provides the thoroughly even-handed liner notes. As fans will know, the press and reviewers have always given Sly's mid-70ts output a snoot - some good stuff sided with treading water and rehashes of old flames. And I guess some of that is unfortunately true. But hearing these albums again - and this time with 2017 High Def Remasters from BGO's long-standing Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON – and I'm feeling a wee bit more generous. And the card slipcase always makes these BGO reissues feel that just that little bit classier than most. To the music...

I never could stand that baby crying throughout the title track no matter how good the funky backdrop (like he was deliberately trying to reflect the chaos in his brain), but things pick up with the chilli con carne sexiness of "Say You Will" – lovely brass and synth backdrops to the life worth living lyrics. For every season, Sly's best friend is "Mother Beautiful" – the kind of Family Stone Soul-Funk tune that wouldn't have been out of place on albums as far back as the "Everyday People" of "Stand!" in 1969. Hardly surprising that Epic chose the sheer clavinet commerciality of "Time For Livin'" as the lead-off 45-single for the album in June 1974 (Epic 5-11140 was b/w "Small Talk") - rewarded as they were with a No. 10 on the US R&B singles charts. Other faves on a 'good' Sly/Family album would be funky-bass chug of "Better Thee Than Me", the 'I might as well admit it' smoocher LP finisher "This Is Love" and the second single off the album "Loose Booty" that should have done better than No. 22. 

Bare-chested and grinning or not – I recall the "High On You" album arrived with a yawn. Which is a damn shame because there are tremendous grooves in the title track, while Funkadelic would have killed for the crossover AWB-underpinned saxophone swing in "Crossword Puzzle" – never loose a round – all you have to do is be you – everybody getting down. The terribly titled and slightly lame right on sister and right on brother of "Le Lo Li" was issued as a single in December 1975 (Epic 8-50175) – but the hard-hitting Funk of its flipside "Who Do You Love?" interested me more. Unfortunately the War and Peace words of "Greed" felt preachy and not enlightened in 1976. 

By the time he returned as Sly And The Family Stone for "Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back” album (surely a contender for top-twenty worst LP titles) - the world wasn't really interested anymore and that one-man-band artwork probably didn't help much either. Where once Sly seemed clued in - the Kenneth Gamble liner notes asking "...may almighty God give you the strength to control your emotions..." was somehow a sideways jab rather than a plea for understanding. "Blessing In Disguise" had a nice vibe to it (all those girly vocals) but apparently it only reached Promo-stages as a 45 - the album having no other 45 to plug it. Ex Humble Pie axeman Peter Frampton who had just become a global superstar with his "Frampton Comes Alive" double-LP) issued in April of 1976 guests on understated treated guitar for the busy "Let's Be Together". Better for me is swirling Brass and Bass Funk of "The Thing".  

Niggles – the four Previously Unreleased bonus tracks that appeared on the 2007 Expanded Edition CD of "Small Talk" is AWOL on CD1 when there was room. But I suppose as neither of the other two LPs has received such accolades over the years (excepting expensive and deleted Japanese Editions) – their proper Remasters here are something of an exclusive and a bonus of a different kind.  

For damn sure it's not all genius and by the time you get to "Heard..." - you may be hearing 'same old, same old' songs - but when he hits that groove and the stunning backing band he had backs him up - it is a 'high'. Nothing less than happiness? Well, it's close enough for moi...

"SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE Volume 4 - 1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD Exceptional Remasters" by MARK BARRY. Volume 4 of 7...Each Volume With Different Entries

             The SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOKS Series...

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SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE 
Volume 4 of 7

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters...

Including 1960s and 1970s ROCK and POP

PSYCH and UNDERGROUND

BLUES ROCK and PROG ROCK

* Over 1,460 E-pages of info, 205 in-depth reviews, CD reissues 1990 to 2024

* A huge 1,435 different reviews across the whole series of 7 Volumes

* Formats included - CD, SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and Japan Platinum SHM-CD  [Super High Materials]

* Major Label Box Set Retrospectives from – EMI, Sony/Legacy, Universal and WEA

* Best Independent Reissue Labels highlighted...

– Ace, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beat Goes On, Big Break Records (BBR), Craft Recordings, Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Light In The Attic, Mobile Fidelity, Music On CD, Raven, Repertoire, Rev-Ola, Rhino and Rhino Handmade, The Right Stuff, Salvo, Sundazed, Panegyric and more

* Technical data from the discs themselves (total playing times and more)

* Release Date, Catalogue No and Barcode to locate the correct issue

* Track lists and Details on Bonus material (if any)

* Vinyl Discographies referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the discs)

* UK and US catalogue numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7" 45-singles and EPs within each review

* Remaster/Tape Transfer Engineers highlighted

* Packaging descriptions, size of booklets, what’s contained within, who wrote the liner notes, repro artwork explained

* Reference to the Audio Quality of the CD - analysis of songs

* Guest Musicians highlighted – Cover Versions noted

* Find Artists and Guest Musicians (who played on what)

* Find Original Album Producers and Engineers

* Find your favourite Remaster Engineers and Authors of Liner Notes

SIXTIES and SEVENTIES RECORD LABELS covered by the book include:

ABC, ABC/Dunhill, A&M, Apple, Ardent, Asylum, Atlantic/Atco, Bearsville, Blue Horizon, Brain, Capitol, Capricorn, CBS, Charisma, Chrysalis, Columbia, Dawn, Decca, Deram (Nova), DJM, Elektra, EMI, Epic, Fantasy, Fly, Fontana, Harvest, Immediate, Island, Liberty, London, Marmalade, MCA, Mercury, MGM, Monument, Mooncrest, Parlophone, Parrot, Polydor, Probe, Purple, Pye International, RAK, Rare Earth, RCA Victor, Reaction, Reprise, Rolling Stones, RSO, Shelter, Smash, Straight, Track, Uni, Vertigo, Verve, Virgin, United Artists and Warner Brothers

Having worked for RECKLESS RECORDS in London for over 20 years as one of their principal Vinyl and CD buyers (one of the best secondhand record shops in the West End) and having been an Amazon 'Hall Of Fame' Reviewer six times in the past - as you can imagine - I have come across a huge number of reissues - some far more worthy than others. 

To that end I've collated together these SOUNDS GOOD books as guides to Exceptional CD Remasters offering up in-depth reviews on a wide range of titles. And it no longer has to cost the earth to Sound Good either – you just need to know which CD is the right issue to buy. 

Many entries in this large and unique book cost less than £10 while others are under a fiver. And even if some Box Sets/Deletions have acquired a price tag - because they're the best I've included them along with artists/titles that deserve your attention…

Enjoy the reads – Mark Barry (2024)