“The Platinum Collection” by PERCY SLEDGE. A Review of the Rhino 2007 CD Compilation.

“I’m Gonna Stop Wasting Time…I’m Hanging Up My Heart For You…”

"The Platinum Collection" is essentially Rhino's 1992 compilation "It Tears Me Up: The Best Of..." minus one song ("That's The Way I Want To Live My Life"). The track running order has been rearranged, there's new cheaper artwork and it's now at a budget price.

This remastered reissue (from the original tapes) is part of a slew of releases to celebrate Atlantic's 60th Anniversary (see full list below) and for a paltry four pounds in stores (even less online), you get 22 slices of gutsy, classic 60's soul.

Sledge released 4 albums on Atlantic and many non-album 7" singles sides too - both A's & B's - seven of which appear on this set (they're listed below). But the trade off for the budget price is that the well-annotated 18-page booklet of the original is now an informationless slip of paper - so here's a detailed breakdown of what's on what...

Track List:
1. When A Man Loves A Woman (2:50)
2. Warm And Tender Love (3:20)
3. It Tears Me Up (2:49)
4. Try A Little Tenderness (2:49)
5. The Dark End Of The Street (2:45)
6. Take Time To Know Her (3:04)
7. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road (Edit) (2:48)
8. Stop The World Tonight (3:15)
9. It's All Wrong But It's Alright (2:59)
10. Out Of Left Field (3:14)
11. Cover Me (3:00)
12. Put A Little Lovin' On Me (2:45)
13. Love Me Like You Mean It (2:29)
14. I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You (2:37)
15. Bless Your Sweet Little Soul (3:02)
16. Sudden Stop (2:47)
17. Drown In My Own Tears (4:01)
18. Kind Woman (4:40)
19. Push Mr. Pride Aside (3:24)
20. It Can't Be Stopped (3:15)
21. Love Me Tender (3:05)
22. Rainbow Road (2:55)

"When A Man Loves A Woman", June 1966 US Stereo LP, Atlantic SD-8125
(CD Tracks 1, 12 and 13)
"Warm And Tender Soul", November 1966 US Stereo LP, Atlantic SD-8132
(CD Tracks 2, 3, 4, 14 and 21)
"The Percy Sledge Way", August 1967 US Stereo LP, Atlantic SD-8146
(CD Tracks 5 and 17)
"Take Time To Know Her", May 1968 US Stereo LP, Atlantic SD-8180
(CD Tracks 6, 9, 10, 11 and 16)

Non-Album Single Sides...
Track 7 is "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road", 1969 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2679 [B-side of "Faithful & True"]
Track 8 is "Stop The World Tonight", 1970 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2826 [A]
Track 15 is "Bless Your Sweet Little Soul", 1968 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2594 [B-side of "My Special Prayer"]
Track 18 is "Kind Woman", 1969 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2646 [B-side of "Woman Of The Night"]
Track 19 is "Push Mr. Pride Aside", 1971 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2719 [B-side of "Too Many Rivers To Cross"]
Track 20 is "It Can't Be Stopped", 1967 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2396 [A]
Track 22 is "Rainbow Road", 1971 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2848 [A]

Possessed of a great voice, but unable to pen a tune himself, when Sledge got his hands on good material he was the equal of many more famous and revered names - Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham's gave him the wonderful "It Tears Me Up" while Don Covay co-wrote the cleverly worded 'run around' message song "I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You". Bobby Robinson's "Warm And Tender Love" is delivered with a slinky organ wrapped around Sledge's pleading vocals - and the speakers literally rattle with the bass and drums of the slow but stunning "Bless You Sweet Little Soul" - all great stuff.

"When A Man Loves A Woman" will forever be his signature song of course, but like the equally underrated Arthur Conley who was lumbered with "Sweet Soul Music" - it seems that 'one' strong song is all that Percy Sledge and Arthur Conley are remembered for - when there was so much more to enjoy. And this is a great place to start - and for absolute fiscal peanuts too.

Highly recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker, Archie Bell & The Drells, Brook Benton, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

- Atlantic Records - LP DISCOGRAPHY for PERCY SLEDGE -

“When A Man Loves A Woman”
Atlantic SD-8125, June 1966, US Stereo LP
Side 1: When A Man Loves A Woman/My Adorable One/Put A Little Lovin' On Me/Love Me All The Way/When She Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters)/You're Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
Side 2: Thief In The Night/You Fooled Me/Love Makes The World Go Round/Success/Love Me Like You Mean It

“Warm And Tender Soul”
Atlantic SD-8132, November 1966, USA Stereo LP
Side 1: It Tears Me Up/I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You/You've Really Got A Hold On Me/That's How Strong My Love Is/A Sweet Woman Like You/Love Me Tender
Side 2: Warm And Tender Love/Try A Little Tenderness/So Much Love/I Stand Accused/Heart Of A Child/Oh How Happy

“The Percy Sledge Way”
Atlantic SD-8146, August 1967, USA Stereo LP
Side 1: The Dark End Of The Street/You Send Me/I Had A Talk With My Woman/What Am I Living For/I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)/Tell It Like It Is
Side 2: My Special Prayer/Drown In My Own Tears/Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)/Pledging My Love/You Don't Miss Your Water

“Take Time To Know Her”
Atlantic SD-8180, May 1968, USA Stereo LP
Side 1: Take Time To Know Her/Feed The Flame/Sudden Stop/Come Softly To Me/Spooky/Out Of Left Field
Side 2: Cover Me/Baby Help Me/It's All Wrong But It's Alright/High Cost Of Leaving/Between These Arms/I Love Everything About You

“The Best Of Percy Sledge”
Atlantic SD-8210, March 1969, USA Stereo LP
Side 1: When A Man Loves A Woman/Out Of Left Field/Take Time To Know Her/Warm And Tender Love/Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)/The Dark End Of The Street
Side 2: Cover Me/Sudden Stop/Baby Help Me/It Tears Me Up/My Special Prayer/You're All Around Me

“Gone Baby Gone”. A Review of the 2008 Film on Blu Ray.

“ …I Always Think That Life Is About The Choices You ‘Don’t’ Make…”

There's a moment about 5 minutes into "Gone Baby Gone" when you think you might just have stumbled on a genuine masterpiece...

As Casey Affleck ruminates in a weary beaten-up voiceover about good and evil and the life choices we make and how neighbourhoods shape us as people and those choices, the camera pans across the locals he’s talking about and their Boston inner city terrain.

These are real people in the real world – all manner of faces, colours and creeds - just going about their business – a man sat on the steps of a tenement building having a midday cigarette – kids of 8 and 9 flipping open their mobile phones – murals on walls declaring all sorts – a white father plops his baseball cap on the head of his gorgeous son of one who giggles, while a black father positions his equally gorgeous older son on the baseball circle in the local park with a sense of pride – all of it eventually making its way to a media circus outside a suburban home and a picture of a 9-year old girl on a tree…

The opening minutes are full of these beautifully realised vignettes - the use of real Bostonians and their downmarket suburbs adding a reality and power to Gone Baby Gone that is simply stunning – and that gritty reality continues throughout the film. And when you learn that the director is pretty boy Ben Affleck whom everyone loves to hate – you’re more than impressed.

But then of course it all goes to mush when the frankly ludicrously cherubic face of Casey Affleck appears with his equally drippy girlfriend Michelle Monaghan (an amazingly dull part for her) in tow beside him – they’re the leads? We’re expected to believe these dweebs?? While Casey is good in parts, he’s out of his depth in others – and worse - a lot of the time you feel he’s literally going to burst into a fit of the giggles at any moment. Monaghan is fabulous expressively as an actress, but her character Angie is a bit weedy and therefore difficult to care about – Angie seems almost superfluous to requirements (she was more fleshed out in the book).

But then you ask yourself why did top quality actors like Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris get involved in this movie – and the answer is the truly fabulous script adapted by Aaron Stockard from Denis Lehane’s book of the same name. This is “Mystic River” territory - Lehane has worked in child abuse and abduction cases and knows his monsters and their families so well that his observations of them hurt you – literally. There are many scenes in this excellent film where I found myself tearful – and not always for the grotesque things that Miramax must show you about pervs and their ways – but for the humanity of the other people involved – an emotion that seems all too often missing from other films about this easy-to-exploit subject. Ben Affleck has imbibed his debut with genuine heart even if the story does go off the rails a bit towards the end.

Given real meat to work with, the large varied cast is uniformly brilliant right down to even the smallest part - and just when you think you’ve seen all that Harris and Freeman have to give – they floor you – both of them - adding a gravitas throughout that must have had the older Affleck tingling in his Director’s chair. John Ashton is superb too as Ed Harris’ sidekick and Titus Welliver as the child’s father Lionel who may or may not be a nice guy. And Edi Gathegi as the Haitian drug-dealer Cheese is wonderfully sinister as a man with less than enlightened views about women - especially ones who need his powder to get through their day.

But the big surprise is Amy Ryan (Oscar nominated) who plays the devious trailer-trash druggy mum Helen McCready whose daughter Amanda is the girl pictured everywhere and abducted. You hate her and yet empathise with her in equal measure – and you wonder (like Affleck’s character does) should a 9-year old girl be back with this train wreck of a person - or does Helen McCready deserve a second chance at life like everyone else? And who makes that decision?

The Blu Ray print is surprisingly bad – speckled and blurry in the indoor and night scenes and hardly revelatory anywhere else. Also 2 of the special features cavalierly give away far too much of the plot and the twists – so don’t watch either before you see the movie. Also of note is David Buckley’s tenderly evocative music, which gives many of the down and up scenes a hugely powerful lift.

Despite being just a few notches short in places, “Gone Baby Gone” is a superb film – a genuine sleeper from 2008 - and Ben Affleck has arrived as a Director - big time.

I was moved, confused, hurt and left thinking about difficult decisions.

Highly recommended.

"The Chess Story - 1947 - 1975". A Review of the 15CD Universal Box Set.

You Can Get Less For More…And Should…

When this Chess label behemoth was released by Universal USA in 1999 - as you can imagine - it was something of an event. Remastered by tape maestro ERICK LABSON (over 800 credits to his name), it was housed in a hard card outer with three colour-coded wood-effect books inside and a further printed 70-page hardback beside them. It certainly looked the part.

Each book carried 5CDs - 15 in total - offering up 340 tracks dating from 1947 to 1975 across 13 audio discs - Disc 14 and 15 being an interview disc and a CD-Rom. Many were first time on CD and exclusive to this set. It was later broken down into 3 separate releases in 2001 offering a cheaper option. Ten years down the line into 2009, however, and time hasn't been to kind to either the original big box or the three reissues.

Each of the three 'books' has a crappy centred booklet at the top which lists the song and artist, but amazingly for a retrospective of this size, doesn't provide a catalogue number nor which personnel played on what. The 70-page hardback book is nice to look at, but again deceptively slight - it gives us a history of the label by Robert Pruter (of Chicago Soul magazine), a printed version of the interviews on Disc 14 (repeating itself) and a Chess R&B Charts list at the very end. While Pruter's story of Chess is very entertaining, and the music on Disc 1 to 13 simply sensational, precisely because of its cost, you still feel like you've been short changed.

I've reviewed all 3 boxes separately and provided track-by-track catalogue numbers, but reviewing the full box now - something occurs to me.

Good releases - especially between 2007 and 2009 - have made much of the box's exclusivity redundant and its price tag since deletion a bit of an expensive extravagance (300 to 400 sterling or 500 to 600.00 dollars). The now ludicrous cost of acquiring this set coupled with the less than stellar packaging makes me think that you must be able to get better elsewhere. So I set about a trawl to find alternatives and have come up with the following list, which will provide fans with 90% of what's on this 15CD box while throwing in a good 20% more - and all of it for less than half the money...

All of the following are remastered by the best labels and have superb and detailed liner notes:

1. The Very Best Of - FONTELLA BASS (2006 CD, 25 Tracks)
2. Gold - CHUCK BERRY (2005, 2CDs, 50 Tracks, Remasters)
3. Standing Ovation - The Very Best Of - THE DELLS
(2007, 2CDs, 39 Tracks, Remasters)
4. Go Go Power - Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966 -SUGAR PIE DeSANTO
(2009 CD, 26 Tracks)
5. Gold - BO DIDDLEY (2008, 2CDs, 41 Tracks, Remasters)
6. Gold - JOHN LEE HOOKER (2007, 2CDs, 35 Tracks, Hip-O Select Remasters)
7. The Real Folk Blues/More Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF
(2003, 2LP on 1CD, 24 Tracks, US Hip-O Select)
8. Gold - ETTA JAMES (2007, 2CDs, 36 Tracks - Hip-O Select Remasters)
9. The Chess Collection - LAURA LEE (2006 CD, 20 Tracks)
10. Hoochie Coochie Man - Complete Chess Masters Vol.2 - MUDDY WATERS
(2004, 2CD Hip-O Select Book set, 51 Tracks)
11. The Real Folk Blues/More Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS
(US Hip-O Select)
12. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (2001, 2LP set on 1 CD with bonus tracks)
13. The Real Folk Blues/More Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
(2003, 2LPs on 1CD, US Hip-O Select)
14. Chess Uptown Soul - VARIOUS (1997, 24 Tracks, UK Kent Compilation)
15. Chess Club Rhythm & Soul - VARIOUS
(1996, 25 Tracks, UK Kent Compilation)
16. Chicago Radio Soul - VARIOUS
(1996, 26 Tracks, Chess Labels, UK Kent Compilation)
17. Chess Chartbusters Vol. 1 to 6 - VARIOUS
(UK Budget-Priced 20 Track Compilations, 120 songs in total)
18. Chess Tearjerkers - VARIOUS (UK Mojo Comp 20 Tracks)
19. Chess Soul Sisters - VARIOUS (UK Mojo Comp, 20 Tracks)
20. Chess Northern Soul - VARIOUS (UK Mojo Comp, 20 Tracks)
21. Chess Blues - VARIOUS (1993, 4CD Box Set, 101 Tracks)
22. Just Keep On Dancing - Chess Northern Soul - VARIOUS
(1996, 24 Tracks, UK Kent Compilation)

There are over 500 tracks on 1 to 22 above and the cost is about £150 including P&P. Universal can't of course be held responsible for retailers trying to chance £350 on a deleted and desirable rarity, but punters should know that the same material - and better - is available elsewhere - and for a fraction of the cost.

Like Atlantic and Motown, Chess is a label worth taking that time and effort for.

“The Mist”. A Review Of the 2009 Film by Frank Darabont.

“Don’t Go Out There! There’s Something In The… Ahhhhh!!!!!”

"The Mist" is another superb adaptation by Frank Darabont of a Stephen King story, but this time instead of redemption, Frank's going for terror - hoping to get you to soil your jockeys or at least nibble your fingernails more than you normally would. He achieves a bit of both actually in this terribly endearing Seventies-feel Sci-Fi schlock fest.

First up, Darabont cleverly doesn't go for big names in the lead roles - there are faces in there you'll recognize for sure (William Sadler and Jeffrey DeMunn - who were both in the mighty "Shawshank Redemption" for instance), but it's mostly actors you vaguely know or don't recognize at all. It has the effect of making their predicament more real - ordinary townsfolk locked into a battle for survival - where common sense quickly takes a back seat and bravery becomes a luxury few are willing to deploy...

Here how it goes - the Army's been experimenting up in the mountains (aren't they always) and have unleashed something nasty on our world (don't they always). As the 'mist' creeps in over a small US town after an unnatural storm, half the not-so-bright populace gets trapped in the local supermarket where it becomes quickly evident that it's probably not a good idea to go outside into the dense creeping fog, because people who do tend to either not come back or get eaten. Ropes that were attached to torsos - fall limp, there's a sound; a scream and someone's entrails end up on the potato chips stand...(thoughtless of them you have to say)...

All the usual elements are in place - the irritating stupid ones who do something they shouldn't and end up as fodder, the lying Army types covering their uniformed asses, the wise old ones who sacrifice for the young, the cowardly big talkers who then sit in corners and whinge - the women who are ballsier and brainier than the men - all manner of parents who are just trying to protect their families...the resourcefulness and guts of those who do fight back and win...

Darabont also cleverly ratchets up the tension by having no music for ages so that when the sinister synth drone does kick in - it really kicks in - and when the wailing vocals of Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance on "The Host of Seraphim" comes in towards the end - it has the emotional impact of a fist in the face. It's on an album called (not surprisingly) "The Serpent's Egg"...

Toby Jones is superb as the grounded Supermarket owner, Thomas Jane as the father who must keep safe his son at all costs and Andre Braugher as his difficult neighbour who doesn't buy into the hysteria and conspiracy theories and pays the webbed price.

But the film belongs to Marcia Gay Harden who is stunningly effective as the town's religious zealot who seizes her it's-the-wrath-of-God moment with non-stop apocalyptical-jabbering. Of course after two days of ranting about sins and the End of the World and her being God's conduit, she begins to make twisted sense to the terrified folks desperate to placate the beasties outside. Enter the inevitable Lord Of The Flies scenario - a sacrifice must be made...

There's something terribly old-fashioned about The Mist. It wants to frighten the G-string further up the crack in your girlfriend's bum - and it does this on several occasions with genuinely squeamish aplomb. Coming over a bit like an Irwin Allen Seventies epic, The Mist is basically a very, very good B-movie.

For Blu Ray owners - the special effect creatures are Jurassic Park meets Alien meets the bug scene in King Kong - creepy, scary and deliciously icky. The Blu Ray images are really clean and crisp and even when huge things lurk over cars in a blurry haze, you still see their monstrous outlines and 'feel' their size as the pumped-up audio does its thing.

By the time the unexpected and staggeringly downbeat ending finally comes - you know someone has done their job right, because you've been rightly and royally entertained. And more importantly - you've rooted for these people - so much so that you end up thinking about them and their decisions - days later...

Recommended.

PS: the USA version is a 2-disc set

“The Platinum Collection” by BARBARA LEWIS. A Review of the 2007 Rhino CD Compilation.

Barbara Lewis is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

“…I’ll Be Yours Until The Stars Fall From The Sky…”

As part of the legendary label's 60th Anniversary celebrations, Atlantic issued a slew of budget-priced compilations under the title "The Platinum Collection" (see below for the full list). This Barbara Lewis set is a straightforward reissue of the "Hello Stranger: The Best Of" compilation issued by Rhino way back in 1994; it's minus the detailed liner notes, but still has that great remastered/restored sound.

Its superb 20 tracks cover her 5 Atlantic albums and some of her non-album single sides. The original 12-page booklet is reduced to a 4-page inlay that doesn't provide much info, so here's a breakdown of what track came from what (51:22 minutes):

"Hello Stranger"
July 1963, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8086 (CD Tracks 1 to 5)
"Snap Your Fingers"
January 1964, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8090 (CD Track 7)
"Baby, I'm Yours"
August 1965, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8110 (CD Tracks 6, 8 and 12)
"It's Magic"
April 1966, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8118 (CD Tracks 10, 13, 14 and 17)
"Workin' On A Groovy Thing"
June 1968, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8173 (CD Tracks 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20)

Track 9 is "Spend A Little Time", a 7" single issued April 1964 on US Atlantic 2227
Track 11 is "Pushin' A Good Thing Too Far", a 7" single issued in October 1964 on US Atlantic 2255

Lewis is like so many of the fabulous Soul Ladies of the Sixties (Maxine Brown on Wand, Barbara Acklin on Brunswick, Clydie King on Stateside, Mabel John on Tamla Motown, Mitty Collier on Chess jump to mind) - beloved by soul fans everywhere for their sheer class and the strength of the material they issued. The fact that Lewis penned six of these tunes is even more impressive. Doo Wop fans should also note that the wonderful Chess group 'The Dells’ provided backing vocals on seven tracks (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11) while the strings were arranged and conducted on Track 17 by ace producer Arif Mardin.

A great compilation then for peanuts amount of money - and a top way of introducing yourself to the extraordinary richness of the Atlantic label - big-time recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: - LaVern Baker, Archie Bell & The Drells, Brook Benton, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley, Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

- Atlantic Label ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY -

“Hello Stranger” [1963]
Atlantic 8086 (Mono), Atlantic SD 8086 (Stereo SD-8086) in the USA
Side 1: Hello Stranger/Puppy Love/On Bended Knees/My Heart Went Do Dat Da/My Mama Told Me/Gonna Love You Till The End of Time
Side 2: Would You Love Me/Longest Night Of The Year/Does Anyone Want A Lover/We're Too Young To Marry/Love Is A Castle/Think A Little Sugar

“Snap Your Fingers” [1964]
Atlantic 8090 (Mono), Atlantic SD SD-8090 (Stereo) in the USA
Side 1: Snap Your Fingers/Please, Please, Please/Frisco Blues/I'll Bring It Back Home To You/Just A Matter of Time/Twist And Shout/I Don't Want To Cry
Side 2: Turn On Your Love Light/Stand By Me/If You Need Me/What'd I Say/Baby, Workout/Shame, Shame, Shame

“Baby, I’m Yours” [1965]
Atlantic 8110 (Mono), Atlantic SD-8110 (Stereo) in the USA
Side 1: Baby, I'm Yours/My Heart Went Do Da Dat/Come Home/Think A Little Sugar/If You Love Her/Stop That Girl
Side 2: Puppy Love/Hello Stranger/Someday We're Gonna Love Again/Snap Your Fingers/How Can I Say Goodbye/Straighten Up Your Heart

“It’s Magic” [1966]
Atlantic 8118 (Mono), Atlantic SD 8118 (Stereo) in the USA
Side 1: It's Magic/The Shadow of Your Smile/Let It Be Me/Quiet Nights/Since I Fell For You/Don't Forget About Me
Side 2: I Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him/Yesterday/He's So Bad/A Taste Of Honey/Sorrow/Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

“Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” [1968]
Atlantic Stereo LP SD-8173 in the USA
Side 1: I'll Keep Believin'/Workin' On A Groovy Thing/Make Me Your Baby/Girls Need Loving Care/I Remember the Feeling/Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do
Side 2: Make Me Belong to You/Love Makes The World Go 'Round/I'll Make Him Love Me/Only All The Time/Sho-Nuff (It’s Got To Be Your Love)/Thankful For What I’ve Got

“The Best Of” [1971]
Atlantic Stereo LP SD-8286 in the USA
Side 1: Baby, I'm Yours/Hello Stranger/Make Me Your Baby/Don't Forget About Me/I Remember The Feeling/Make Me Belong To You
Side 2: Baby, What Do You Want Me to Do/Puppy Love/Stop That Girl/Come Home/Stand By Me/It's Magic

"The Platinum Collection" by ARTHUR CONLEY (March 2007 Rhino CD Compilation Of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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"…Down At The Shack…"

Arthur Conley is one of the great unsung-heroes of Atlantic's extraordinary Soul Music roster – unfairly overlooked as a poor man's Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett clone. It's true that vocally and stylistically he was the same (Redding discovered and mentored him) – but what's also true is that his albums and singles contained some blistering Sixties Soul – and this cheap and cheerful compilation is a great way of accessing a fair dollop of them.

He made 4 albums for Atlantic/Atco and issued over a dozen UK and US 7” singles. Unfortunately this compilation sticks with the albums only – a shame that as he had many non-album B-sides (some A’s too) which are unavailable anywhere. But there's so much to love on here and its dirt cheap too. The inlay is a useless gatefold slip of paper but the sound is lovely – very clean and clear - typically excellent Rhino remasters. So here are the details…

UK released March 2007 - "The Platinum Collection" by ARTHUR CONLEY on Warner/Rhino 8122-79994-6 (Barcode 081227999469) is a CD compilation that breaks down as follows (56:47 minutes)

1. Sweet Soul Music

2. Funky Street

3. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

4. Shake, Rattle & Roll

5. Aunt Dora's Love Soul Shack

6. Hear Say

7. People Sure Act Funny

8. Who's Foolin' Who

9. I Got A Feeling

10. I Can't Stop (No, No, No)

11. Something You Got

12. Stuff You Gotta Watch

13. That Can't Be My Baby

14. Run On

15. Shing-A-Ling

16. I'm A Lonely Stranger

17. Is That You Love

18. Speak Her Name

19. Take A Step

20. Take Me (Just As I Am)

21. This Love Of Mine

22. Otis Sleeps On

His four albums were…

"Sweet Soul Music" (Tracks 1, 8, 10, 16 and 20)

1967 USA Stereo LP on Atco SD 33-215 and UK LP on Atlantic 587 069

"Shake, Rattle & Roll" (Track 4)

1967 USA Stereo LP on Atco SD 33-220 and UK LP on Atlantic 587 084

"Soul Directions" (Tracks 2, 6, 7, 21 and 22)

1968 USA Stereo LP on Atco SD 33-243 and UK LP on Atlantic 588 128

"More Sweet Soul" (Tracks 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19)

1969 USA Stereo LP on Atco SD 33-276 and UK LP on Atco 228 019

There are times when it all goes horribly wrong like the awful soul cover of The Beatles "Ob-La-Di…" and the heavy-handed out-of-place rock guitar in "Speak Her Name" - but these are countered by fantastic brass-chopping workouts like "Funky Street" and "Hear Say". In the UK "Aunt Dora's Love Soul Shack" b/w "Is That Your Love" was issued as a 45 on Atco 584 224 in November 1968 and sank without a trace. But it's a truly superb Sixties Soul 7" single – a perfect funky A-side with a slow meaningful flip (they reversed its running order in the USA on Atco 6622). You get great discoveries like that on here…

For just a few bucks - this 2007 Rhino remaster is a tremendous introduction to the man. For those wanting more his 4 albums and some of his non-album single tracks are out there on other CDs (but often at a cost). In the meantime the budget-priced CD compilation "The Platinum Collection" is highly recommended…

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker (see REVIEW), Archie Bell & The Drells (see REVIEW), Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter (see REVIEW), The Clovers (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner (see REVIEW) and Betty Wright

“Memorial Collection” by BUDDY HOLLY (February 2009 Universal/MCA 3CD Reissue Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of his Death) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Little Things You Say And Do…Make Me Want To Be With You…"

Released 10 February 2009 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his loss in 1959 - "Memorial Collection" by BUDDY HOLLY on Geffen/Decca/Universal B0011337-02 (Barcode 602517726529) is a bit of a stunner really. 

However - the track list in the 32-page booklet that accompanies this 60-track 3CD retrospective doesn't give the full picture - so here's a detailed listing so fans can work what's what (all discography details are US):

Disc 1 (43:36 minutes)

1. Down The Line (Previously Unreleased In The USA)

2. Soft Place In My Heart (Previously Unreleased)

3. You And I Are Through (Previously Unreleased In The USA)

4. Midnight Shift (February 1958 LP "That'll Be The Day", Decca DL 8707)

5. Love Me (March 1956 7" single on Decca 29854 [B-side to 7])

6. Don't Come Back Knockin' (as per 4)

7. Blue Days, Black Nights (as per 5, A-side)

8. Baby Won't You Come Out Tonight 

(March 1983 LP, "For The First Time Anywhere", MCA 27059)

9. I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down (as per 8)

10. Changing All Those Changes (as per 8)

11. Rock-A-Bye Rock (as per 8)

12. Rock Around With Ollie Vee (as per 4)

13. Girl On My Mind (as per 4)

14. Ting-A-Ling (as per 4)

15. Modern Don Juan (1956 7" single on Decca 30166 [A])

16. Holly Hop (Previously Unreleased In The USA)

17. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (as per 8)

18. That'll Be The Day 

(1957 7" single on Brunswick 55009 [A])

(Also on album 'The "Chirping" Crickets', November 1957, Brunswick BL 54038)

19. I'm Looking For Someone Too Love (B-side to 18, also on the LP)

20. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues 

(1957 7" single on Coral 61852 [B-side to "Words Of Love"])

(Also on the album 'Buddy Holly', February 1958, Coral CRL 57210)

(Tracks 1 to 3 are credited to BUDDY & BOB [Bob Montgomery]; 4 to 17 and 20 are BUDDY HOLLY; 18 and 19 are THE CRICKETS)

Disc 2 (42:03 minutes):

1. Words Of Love 

(1957 7" single on Coral 61852 [A] and 'Buddy Holly' LP)

2. Not Fade Away 

(1957 7" single on Brunswick 55035 [B-side to "Oh, Boy!" and 'The "Chirping" Crickets' LP)

3. Everyday 

(1957 7" single on Coral 61885 [B-side to "Peggy Sue" and 'Buddy Holly' LP)

4. Ready Teddy (on 'Buddy Holly' LP)

5. Tell Me How (on 'The "Chirping" Crickets' LP)

6. Oh, Boy! (as per 2, [A])

7. Listen To Me

(1958 7" single on Coral 61947 [A])

(Also on the 'Buddy Holly' LP)

8. Peggy Sue (as per 3)

9. I'm Gonna Love You Too (as per 7 [B-side])

10. It's Too Late (Chuck Willis cover) (as per 5)

11. Maybe Baby 

(1958 7" single on Brunswick 55053 [A] and the 'The "Chirping" Crickets' LP)

12. You've Got Love (as per 5)

13. Rock Me My Baby (as per 5)

14. Look At Me (as per 4)

15. You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care) (as per 4)

16. Little Baby (as per 4)

17. Rave On (1958 7" single on 61985 [A] and the 'Buddy Holly' LP)

18. Well...All Right (1958 7" single on Coral 62051 [B-side to "Heartbeat"])

19. Take Your Time 

(1958 7" single on Coral 61985 [Non-Album B-side to "Rave On"])

20. Fool's Paradise 

(1958 7" single on Brunswick 55072 [Non-Album B-side to "Think It Over"])

(All Tracks are credited to BUDDY HOLLY)

Disc 3 (41:13 minutes):

1. Think It Over (see 20 on Disc 2)

2. Heartbeat 

3. It's So Easy

4. Lonesome Tears 

5. Love's Made A Fool Of You [1958 Recording with 1964 Overdubs]

(on "Showcase", 1964 USA LP on Coral 57450) 

6. Wishing [1958 Recording with 1963 "Fireballs" Overdubs]

7. Early In The Morning

8. Now We're One

9. Reminiscing [King Curtis cover] [1958 Recording with 1962 "Fireballs" Overdubs]

10. True Love Ways [Minus Studio Chatter] 

11. It Doesn't Matter Anymore 

12. Raining In My Heart

13. What To Do [Previously Unreleased In The USA]

14. Peggy Sue Got Married 

[1979 USA 6LP Box Set "The Complete Buddy Holly", MCA MCA6-80,000]

15. That Makes It Tough [as per 14]

16. Crying, Waiting, Hoping [Previously Unreleased In The USA]

17. Learning The Game [as per 14]

18. You're The One [as per 5]

19. Smokey Joe's Café [Coasters cover] [Previously Unreleased In The USA]

20. Dearest [as per 14]

(Tracks 1, 3 and 4 are credited to THE CRICKETS; all others BUDDY HOLLY)

USA issued 10 February 2009 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his untimely death (delayed until 13 April 2009 in the UK), this 3CD, 60-track retro has divided reviewers on the big three - content, packaging and sound. I feel there's losers and winners on all counts. 

"True Love Ways" isn't in STEREO and is minus the wonderful studio chatter that turned up on Steve Hoffman's "From The Original Master Tapes" of 1987 - disappointing. The sound quality is demo-only on parts of Disc 1 but improves vastly when the studio stuff arrives and is fantastically clear thereafter. CD2 is awesome - content and sound - it could easily act as a stand-alone hits set in it's own right. The stark Buddy/Guitar acoustic performances on Disc 3 are STUNNING ("What To Do") and fans have waited near 30 years to hear them on CD in truly great sound - remaster engineer ERICK LABSON has delivered once again. 

Some have bitched about the card packaging and the CDs do become loose once out of their slots, but the outer card wrap sorts that out and the quality of the colour and black/white shots in the fold-out card digipak is superb. OK - it's not Bear Family beautiful as presentation goes - but I like the 3CD substantial feel of it. For the price, it's as respectful as it can be.

It's also clear now that with "True Love Ways", "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" and Raining in My Heart" and the Apartment demos - Buddy had a truly stunning 3rd album in him - but alas. 

"Memorial Collection" is not perfect for sure - but it is here - and in good shape too - and at reasonable price. I've loved listening to it - I really have. Rave on you beautiful man - rave on.

PS: Buddy and The Crickets played the Granada Theatre in Walthamstow in London in 1958 (Des O’Connor was the warm up comedienne would you believe). It became a cinema and I once met the 70+ doorman on the tube - I took a chance and asked him - lo and behold he was there that night - described Buddy as a gentleman. Isn't that cool - he actually met the great man...wow!

"How To Lose Friends And Alieniate People". A Review of the 2009 Film on BLU RAY.

“…show them a film like this…”

It's hard to imagine a movie that tests your patience more than "How To Lose Friends & Alienate People" does. It's supposed to be a comedy, but you spend most of the time wincing instead of enjoying.

My wife read Toby Jones’ book and loved it - laughed a great deal – and even when he was being a complete prick, it was at least entertaining. But the film version falls flat on its face – time after time after time. And worse – it feels like it actually admires the shallow and cruel celebrity culture it’s supposed to be pillorying. You left wondering why quality people like Jeff Bridges, Gillian Anderson and Kirsten Dunst are in this dog.

Pegg doesn’t help either. He’s not handsome enough to keep women interested and too irritating for men to empathise with or admire. Had it been James McAvoy or Benjamin Chaplin in the lead role, it might have worked – they have the British charm and acting chops to pull off this kind of stunt.

But worse are the alterations to Jones’ story - the set pieces that were so funny in the book are radically changed to supposedly big up the humour, but they either don’t work, strain all believability or you’ve seen them done before - but better. Mostly – the movie just isn't that funny.

Times Square and Manhattan look beautiful on Blu Ray as our hapless hero passes them by in his big yellow taxi – as does Megan Fox in several skimpy outfits – but the film is so bad that any gain is quickly lost as you reach for the stop button and wished you’d bought/hired something else.

A real shame that it hadn’t the balls or conviction of the book - to tell it was – personal warts and all…

One to avoid I’m afraid.