“Quantum Of Solace” on BLU RAY. A Review of the 2008 film now on 2009 Blu Ray.

"You Don’t Have To Worry About Me…"

If I were to nail down what's wrong with "Quantum Of Solace" in a single word - it would be "cold". Bond used to be fun, Bond used to be entertaining, Bond used to grab you by the short and curlies and pleasure the engorged gonads off you for the allotted two hours it was given. And it never failed. Even the worst Roger Moore dreck of the late 1970's had something that encouraged repeat viewing. But on Bond 22 - you're bored half way through it and by the predicable end not much has changed.

I suppose after 22 films about the same thing, you're bound to have a case of diminishing returns, but there are times on "Quantum" where you have a shocking sense of pointlessness. Marc Forster directs chase sequences that feel contrived and have been done so much better before either in previous Bond films or others (principally Bourne). You feel like your watching Alien 3 - made by some inexperienced buck that made videos for a living. And don't get me started on the crap song and the woeful opening credits that were clearly a hurried last minute thing.

The opening car chase is the first offender. At the cinema, I along with others couldn't believe they'd do this - when you think of how Bourne simply nailed that - this Italian sequence is workmanlike at best. It should have opened with a reconfigured flashback sequence that included the car chase, the interrogation scene (how they got there) and then ended in the chase across the rooftops and the fabulous hand-to-hand fight sequence in the scaffolding afterwards (one of the films best moments) - all very Bond.

You have to feel sorry for Craig too - who seems to be putting in twice the effort for half the return. There is also a worrying ongoing lack of chemistry between him and Judy Dench who quite clearly pines for Brosnan to return - an actor who could convey both charm and edge in equal abundance and was comfortable as Bond and evolved as him.

It would of course be easy to blame Daniel Craig as the lead - I don't. It isn't that his Bond is charmless by choice, it's that he's being forced to be that way. Check out Craig's acting chops in "Flashbacks Of A Fool" or "The Mother" or "Defiance" - he's absolutely riveting and brilliant in all three - displaying all manner of emotion - shockingly good when given the material. But the under-worked script of "Solace" has straight-jacketed his version of 007 into a particularly nasty corner. It's far 'too' hard-edged and has left him with little or no room for acting manoeuvre. He isn't warm towards anyone - especially women - and his character needs to be.

The dispatching of Gemma Arterton's character Fields in black oil (aping the famous Goldfinger scene) is perhaps the crassest moment ever in a Bond film and a huge mistake. Her character could have died in a far more interesting and brave way - letting Craig and Kurylenko get away - but no - this is a man's movie made by men who have no interest in women.

After Mads Mikkelsen's fabulous and believable turn as the card-playing Le Chiffre in "Casino Royale", Mathieu Amalric is just hopeless as Dominic Greene - one of the most insipid bad guys ever - about as frightening as a teddy bear with a wonky eye. His expressions of anger and hate in the opera scene when Bond outs The Quantum group are just laughable. Bond's feisty companion Camille played by the truly gorgeous Olga Kurylenko is a smart choice as a leading lady, but she gets little to work with. Both the tremendously likeable Giancarlo Giannini and Jeffrey Wright as René Mathis (police chief ally in Casino Royale) and Felix Leiter (his CIA buddy) distinguish themselves, but again Rene is disposed off in a cold and crass way. And on it goes to the inevitable mega-explosive ending...

Then there's the Blu Ray itself - the picture quality is gorgeous as you would imagine, but the menu is irritating to navigate - the interviews use the same Daniel Craig footage almost three times where he looks tired and bored rigid and again utterly charmless. And you finish watching them very quickly indeed. Again you just know there's more - and sure enough - sometime in 2009 - the inevitable 2-Disc Ultimate Edition to fleece fans will appear.

It isn't that "Quantum" is really, really bad - it just that it isn't that good either. I can't see myself looking at it again and that's almost unforgivable after the out-and-out triumph of its predecessor. The makers need to go back to the drawing board and lighten up big time, because this is a very disappointing and dreary chapter in one of the most cherishable film franchises in history.

Bond tells M in one of their spiked conversations, "You don't have to worry about me..." but on the strength of this and hundreds of other 3-star (and less) reviews - we clearly do.

In the words of Gerry Rafferty boys, "Get It Right The Next Time"...

“The Genius Of Ray Charles” by RAY CHARLES. A Review of the 2005 Atlantic Masters CD Reissue of his 1960 album on Atlantic Records.

"…High As A Mountain…Deep As A River…"

At the age of 27, Ray Charles had already put out a half-dozen albums of superlative Fifties R ’n’ B - but it was time to make a change and the February 1960 release of “The Genius Of…” was the result.

An LP full of covers, the 6 tracks on Side 1 made up the blasters and dancers from Louis Jordan’s “Let The Good Times Roll” through to “Deed I Do”, while the 6 tracks of Side 2 were the romantic ballads and standards. The famed BILL SHWARTAU and TOM DOWD filled in as engineers, while the strings were beautifully arranged by RALPH BURNS - QUINCY JONES doing much of the brass parts.

Personally I find some of the brass on Side 1 a bit too harsh to listen to now – but the lush music of Side 2 is a whole different ballgame. Side 2 contains three genuine masterpieces “Just For A Thrill”, “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’” and the stunning album finisher “Come Rain Or Come Shine” (lyrics above). The remaster brings out all the instruments involved and is just ‘so’ sweet – a really great job done.

The CD comes in a card digipak with a foldout 10-page inlay, which contains a new essay on the album by noted soul writer CHARLES WARING followed by the album’s original liner notes by NAT HENTOFF. Detailed production credits are on the rear of the digipak and this 2005 remaster is part of the massively extensive “Atlantic Masters” series – there are other Charles titles in that series (see comprehensive list below).

“The Genius Of Ray Charles” was recognized as a gem then and still is now.

“Daddy’s Done Turned Salty…And Baby’s Made Him So Sore…” Ray sang in “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’”. Yeah baby is all I can say!

Recommended – big time.

PS: For info purposes, other remastered CDs in the ATLANTIC MASTERS Series are:
1. Your Mind Is On Vacation – MOSE ALLISON (1976)
2. Daddy Bug (& Friends) – ROY AYERS (1967)
3. Stoned Soul Picnic – ROY AYERS (1968)
4. Virgo Vibes – ROY AYERS (1967)
5. Experience And Judgment – ANDY BEY (1970)
6. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk – ART BLAKEY and THELONIOUS MONK (1958)
7. Bad For Me – DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (1979)
8. Just Family – DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (1977)
9. Fresh – OSCAR BROWN, JR. (1975)
10. Movin’ On – OSCAR BROWN, JR. (1972)
11. Thank You For F.U.M.L (Funking Up My Life) – DONALD BYRD (1978)
12. Fire On Ice – TERRY CALLIER (1978)
13. Turn You To Love – TERRY CALLIER (1979)
14. The Great American Songbook – CARMEN McRAE (1972 Live Set)
15. Hallelujah I Love Her So – RAY CHARLES (1962)
16. The Genius After Hours – RAY CHARLES (1961)
17. The Genius Of Ray Charles – RAY CHARLES (1960)
18. The Genius Sings The Blues – RAY CHARLES (1961)
19. Crosswinds – BILLY COBHAM (1974)
20. Spectrum – BILLY COBHAM (1973)
21. Total Eclipse – BILLY COBHAM (1974)
22. Change Of The Century – ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
23. The Shape Of Jazz To Come – ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
24. This Is Our Music – THE ORNETTE COLEMAN QUARTET (1960)
25. Twins – ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
26. Free Jazz – A Collective Improvisation - ORNETTE COLEMAN DOUBLE QUARTET (1960)
27. Eternity – ALICE COLTRANE (1975)
28. Radha Krsna Nama Sankirtana – ALICE COLTRANE (1976)
29. Transcendence – ALICE COLTRANE (1977)
30. Transfiguration – ALICE COLTRANE (1978 Live Set)
31. Giant Steps – JOHN COLTRANE (1959)
32. Olé Coltrane – JOHN COLTRANE (1961)
33. Chris Craft – CHRIS CONNOR (1958)
34. Amandla – MILES DAVIS (1989)
35. Doo Bop – MILES DAVIS (1991)
36. Live Around The World – MILES DAVIS (1988 Live Set)
37. Tutu – MILES DAVIS (1986)
38. The Sounds Of ’66 – SAMMY DAVIS JR., and BUDDY RICH (1966)
39. Love Island – EUMIR DEODATO (1978)
40. New Orleans Suite – DUKE ELLINGTON (1970)
41. The Paris Concert, Edition 1 – BILL EVANS (1979 Live Set)
42. The Paris Concert, Edition 2 – BILL EVANS (1979 Live Set)
43. You Must Believe In Spring – BILL EVANS (1981)
44. People Get Ready – THE FREEDOM SOUNDS [featuring Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders] (1967)
45. Nightingale – GILBERTO GIL (1979)
46. Nomad – CHICO HAMILTON (1979)
47. Crossings – HERBIE HANCOCK (1972)
48. Fat Albert Rotunda – HERBIE HANCOCK (1970)
49. Mwandishi – HERBIE HANCOCK (1971)
50. Instant Death – EDDIE HARRIS (1971)
51. !Salud! Joao Gilberto – JON HENDRICKS (1963)
52. A Soul Experiment – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1969)
53. Backlash – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1966)
54. Sing Me A Song Of Songmy – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1971)
55. Bags & Trane – MILT JACKSON and JOHN COLTRANE (1959)
56. Birth – KEITH JARRETT (1971)
57. A Certain Mr. Jobim – ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1967)
58. Love Strings & Jobim - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1966)
59. Terra Brasilis - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1980)
60. The Wonderful World Of - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1965)
61. Urubu - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1976)
62. A Meeting Of The Times – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK/AL HIBBLER (1972)
63. The Case Of The 3-Sided Dream In Audio Colour – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1975)
64. The Inflated Tear – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1967)
65. Inside Hi-Fi – LEE KONITZ (1956)
66. The Blue Yusef Lateef – YUSEF LATEEF (1968)
67. The Diverse Yusef Lateef – YUSEF LATEEF (1970)
68. At The Village Gate – HERBIE MANN (1961 Live Set)
69. Memphis Underground – HERBIE MANN (1969)
70. The Common Ground – HERBIE MANN (1960)
71. Daktari – SHELLY MANNE (1967)
72. Hustle To Survive – LES McCANN (1975)
73. A Change Is Gonna Come – BROTHER JACK McDUFF (1966)
74. Tobacco Road – BROTHER JACK McDUFF (1966)
75. Double-Barrelled Soul – BROTHER JACK McDUFF /DAVID NEWMAN (1967)
76. Suddenly – MARCUS MILLER (1983)
77. Blues And Roots – CHARLES MINGUS (1959)
78. Me Myself An Eye – CHARLES MINGUS (1978)
79. Pithecanthropus Erectus – CHARLES MINGUS (1956)
80. Tonight At Noon – CHARLES MINGUS (1957)
81. Blues On Bach – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1973)
82. Fontessa – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1956)
83. Pyramid – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1959)
84. The Sheriff – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1963)
85. I’m Fine, How Are You? – AIRTO MOREIRA (1977)
86. Latin Bugalu – CHARLIE PALMIERI (1968)
87. Invitation – JACO PASTORIOUS (1983)
88. The Birthday Concert – JACO PASTORIOUS (1981)
89. Word Of Mouth – JACO PASTORIOUS (1981)
90. Jazz For The Jet Set – DAVE PIKE (1965)
91. Carry On – FLORA PURIM (1979)
92. Members, Don’t Git Weary – MAX ROACH (1968)
93. Mongo ’70 – MONGO SANTAMARIA (1970)
94. The Source – JIMMY SCOTT (1970)
95. Flight Path – SPHERE (1983)
96. Four In One – SPHERE (1982)
97. Come Morning – GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1981)
98. Paradise – GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1979)
99. Winelight – GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1980)

“Patches/The Dynamic Clarence Carter” by CLARENCE CARTER (June 2000 Collectables CD covering his 4th and 2nd albums for Atlantic Records) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…That Was Another Place…And Another Time…"

Here's the breakdown for this 2LPs onto 1CD Reissue of "Patches/The Dynamic Clarence Carter" by CLARENCE CARTER on Collectables COL-CD-6416 (Barcode 090431641620) released June 2000 (69:56 minutes):

1. Willie And Laura Mae Jones

2. Say Man

3. I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin’)

4. Let It Be

5. I Can't Leave Your Love Alone

6. Your Love Lifted Me

7. Till I Can't Take It Anymore

8. Patches

9. It's All In Your Mind

10. Changes

11. C.C. Blues

12. Getting The Bills (But No Merchandise)

Tracks 1 to 12 make up the stereo LP "Patches" his 4th album issued October 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8267 and Atlantic 2400 027 in the UK

13. I'd Rather Go Blind

14. Think About It

15. The Road Of Love

16. You've Been A Long Time Comin'

17. Light My Fire

18. That Old Time Feeling

19. Steal Away

20. Let Me Comfort You

21. Look What I Got

22. Too Weak To Fight

23. Harper Valley P.T.A.

24. Weekend Love

Tracks 13 to 24 are the stereo LP "The Dynamic Clarence Carter", his 2nd album, issued March 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8199 and Atlantic 588 172 in the UK

[His 1st album, the December 1968 "This Is Clarence Carter" and his 3rd album, the August 1969 "Testifyin'" also for Atlantic Records are available on another CD from Collectables]

To date there's been a 1993 Rhino best of set called "Snatching It Back” - some Sequel reissues of the 4 albums in the UK about 1997 and the recent 2007 compilation "Platinum Collection" from Warners/Rhino Europe (basically a slight re-run of "Snatching It Back"). What makes this Collectables USA reissue from 2000 so desirable is the SOUND - it's SUPERB - far better to my ears than any of the others. It doesn't say where or when it was remastered - but the sound 'is' markedly better...

This is odd because Collectables have never had the best of reputations for either packaging or sound - but when I A/B the wonderfully slinky "That Old Time Feeling" or "Two Weak To Fight" with the 1993 Rhino issue for instance - the sound on this 2000 version is twice as good - clearer and basically more punchy. The other point to note is that the 2 Best Of sets include only 5 tracks out of the 24 here - so there's a lot to discover on this CD - ace Sixties/Seventies Atlantic soul all of it.

The slip of an inlay reproduces the liner notes of each of the original LPs and the rear inlay provides session details for both albums - Duane Allman played guitar on "Dynamic" - Travis Wammack on "Patches" - stuff like that.

Highlights include his great cover of Tony Joe White's "Willie And Laura Mae Jones" (issued as the B-side of "It's All In Your Mind" in the UK in January 1971 on Atlantic 2091 045) complete with his trademark chuckle after the lyrics (title above). The backing vocals are provided by Donna Rhodes and Charles Chalmers on that track - they also wrote the cool and funky "Look What I Got" on "Dynamic".  "C.C. Blues" and "The Road To Love" are his own compositions and are superb too - especially the slow soulful blues of "C.C." A lesser-known soul man called Obie McClinton penned the lovely "Let Me Comfort You" and "Your Love Lifted Me" (he also penned tunes for James Carr). Another highlight is Carter's funked-up cover version of Jimmy Hughes' hit "Steal Away" - it's so clear now too - drums, keyboards, brass - fabulous stuff.

So much on here to treasure and enjoy - a wicked little reissue really. And with its tremendously clear sound - it’s big time recommended…

“The Platinum Collection” by JOE TURNER. A Review of the 2007 Rhino CD Compilation.

“…Monday Washing On The Line…I See Yours Right Next To Mine…”

Europe's "The Platinum Collection" is one of a large number of collections issued in 2007 to celebrate the label's 60th Anniversary - and Big Joe Turner deserves his place in that list of excellence. It consists of 21 mostly rocking Fifties Rhythm' n' Blues tracks - a huge number of which charted between 1951 and 1959. It's issued at a budget price and has that great Rhino remastered sound throughout.

At budget price, the inlay isn't detailed, and there's a few gems on here that are off the beaten track when it comes to hits sets for the lovely Big Joe - so here's a song-by-song breakdown (58:33 minutes):

All tracks (except 16) are USA 7" singles:
1. Shake, Rattle And Roll - 1954 on Atlantic 1026 [A]
2. Flip, Flop And Fly - 1955 on Atlantic 1053 [A]
3. Honey Hush - 1953 on Atlantic 1001 [A]
4. Well All Right - 1954 on Atlantic 1040 [A]
5. Hide And Seek - 1955 on Atlantic 1069 [A]
6. Morning, Noon And Night - 1956 on Atlantic 1080 [B-side to 7]
7. The Chicken and The Hawk (Up, Up And Away) - 1956 on Atlantic 1080 [A]
8. Corrine Corrina - 1956 on Atlantic 1088 [A]
9. Boogie Woogie Country Girl - 1956 on Atlantic 1088 [B-side to 8]
10. Midnight Special Train - 1957 on Atlantic 1122 [A]
11. Rock A While - 1956 on Atlantic 1100 [B-side to 12]
12. Lipstick, Powder And Paint - 1956 on Atlantic 1100 [A]
13. Midnight Cannonball - 1955 on Atlantic 1069 [B-side to 5]
14. The Chill Is On - 1951 on Atlantic 45-949 [A]
15. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop - 1953 on Atlantic 1016 [B-side to 17]
16. You're Driving Me Crazy - 1956 USA LP "Boss Of The Blues" on Atlantic 1234
17. TV Mama - 1953 on Atlantic 1016 [A]
18. Tomorrow Night - 1959 on Atlantic 2044 [A]
19. Don't You Cry - 1952 on Atlantic 45-970 [A]
20. Sweet Sixteen - 1952 on Atlantic 45-960 [A]
21. Chains Of Love - 1951 on Atlantic 45-939 [A his debut single for Atlantic]

"TV Mama" features Elmore James on trademark slide guitar and it's said that Fats Domino is the one tinkling away on the ivories in the background. Both "Corrine Corrina" and "Lipstick, Powder And Paint: feature backing vocals from the girl group The Cookies, while Van "Piano Man" Walls puts in lovely keyboard flourishes on "Boogie Woogie Country Girl".

"Teen-age Letter" has witty and sharp lyrics that are the equal of Chuck Berry's finest, while "Morning, Noon And Night" features the wicked brass of The Blues Kings - as well as racy words that will put a naughty smile on your face. "Tomorrow Night" is a cover of LaVern Baker's 1955 Atlantic hit, while "You're Driving Me Crazy" is not a track you see on most JT compilations and it's a gem - almost like WWII swing in places - the brass uplifting like Glenn Miller. In fact there's not a duffer on here anywhere...

Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, The Clovers, The Coasters - they were all sensational Fifties acts for Atlantic, but my heart has always been with "Big" Joe Turner. My son - who is 18 and has Autism - has played this man's wonderfully uplifting R 'n' B since he was 5 - driving us near crazy with it sometimes - and yet in truth - I never tire of him or his music. Cracking tunes, huge voice, big personality, witty and clever lyrics - everything about Big Joe Turner's Atlantic sides is magic.

Sold for four pounds retail and even less online - this compilation is a steal at twenty times that price - and something you need in your life.

Dig in and enjoy and I envy you the journey.

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), Arthur Conley (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 and Betty Wright

“The Platinum Collection” by THE CLOVERS (2007 Warner/Rhino CD Compilation - Reissue of "Down In The Alley- The Best Of..." from 1991 plus extra track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...One Mint Julep...Was The Cause Of It All..." 

The UK and Europe-only CD reissue "The Platinum Collection" by THE CLOVERS is essentially Rhino's American 21-Track CD compilation "Down In The Alley – The Best Of The Clovers" from 1991 - but with one more song added on to it at the end - "I Played The Fool".

The new 2007-issued 22-track running order is shuffled around a bit for sure and it comes with different/lesser artwork too. But it still has that great Rhino Remastered sound of old - and at budget price (under four quid from most retailers) - costs a fraction of the now deleted and pricey 1991 original. The compromise is losing the decent booklet - but little else.

Part of a large number of collections issued in 2007 to celebrate the label’s 60th Anniversary - "The Platinum Collection" consists of 22 Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues 78" and 7" singles by Atlantic's first R&B superstar Vocal Group - the much loved CLOVERS. A huge number of these tracks charted big time on the US R&B charts between 1951 and 1957.

Being a cheapo reissue the new reissue inlay on Warner/Rhino 8122-79995-6 (Barcode 081227999568) is merely a gatefold slip of paper with barely any details - so here’s a track-by-track breakdown of all those cool American R&B 45s on this new 2007 variant (61:15 minutes):

1. One Mint Julep – 1951 on Atlantic 963 [A]

2. Good Lovin' – 1953 on Atlantic 1000 [A]

3. Ting-A-Ling – 1951 on Atlantic 969 [A]

4. Lovey Dovey – 1954 on Atlantic 1022 [A]

5. Down In The Alley – 1957 on Atlantic 1152 [B-side to "There's No Tomorrow"]

6. Fool, Fool, Fool – 1951 on Atlantic 944 [A]

7. Don't You Know I Love You – 1951 on Atlantic 934 A, debut single]

8. Wonder Where My Baby's Gone – 1951 on Atlantic 969 [B-side to "Ting-A-Ling"]

9. Crawlin’ – 1953 on Atlantic 989 [B-side to "Yes It's You"]

10. Hey, Miss Fannie – 1952 on Atlantic 977 [B-side to "I Played The Fool"]

11. Middle Of The Night – 1951 on Atlantic 963 [B-side to "One Mint Julep"]

12. I've Got My Eyes On You – 1954 on Atlantic 1035 [B-side to "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash"]

13. I Confess – 1954 on Atlantic 1046 [A]

14. Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash – 1954 on Atlantic 1035 [A]

15. Little Mama – 1953 on Atlantic 1022 [B-side to "Lovey Dovey"]

16. Nip Sip – 1955 on Atlantic 1073 [A]

17. Devil Or Angel – 1956 on Atlantic 1083 [A]

18. Blue Velvet – 1955 on Atlantic 1052 [A]

19. In The Morning Time – 1955 on Atlantic 1060 [B-side to "Love Bug"]

20. Love Bug – 1955 on Atlantic 1060 [A]

21. If I Could Be Loved By You – 1955 on Atlantic 1073 [B-side to "Nip Sip"]

22. I Played The Fool – 1952 on Atlantic 977 [A]

The 5-piece Washington DC vocal group had two great leads in John "Buddy" Bailey and later Billy Mitchell and were backed up with killer fun songs from Rudolph "Rudy" Toombs, Jesse Stone and even the label’s founder Ahmet Ertegun (often credited with his name spelt backwards as Nugetre). They could handle jump and ballads with ease and scored a No.1 with their debut single "Don't You Know I Love You" released in June 1951 - pretty much dominating that decade thereafter (the liner notes mentions their biggest hit "Love Potion No.9" from 1959, but it isn’t on here because it was on United Artists). Their success allowed the fledgling Atlantic label top class signings like Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker and the wonderful Big Joe Turner – and of course paved the way for so much astonishing music to come.

Highlights include the classic too-many-drinks song "One Mint Julep", the 'gotta have all your' demands of "Good Lovin'" and the dancing penicillin that is "Love Bug" – they’re all R&B wonders that would make any heart go 'bippety bam'. In fact listening to these half-century old boppers, strollers and smoochers - it’s hard not to be grinning from ear-to-ear with admiration at their timeless brilliance. They really are 'so' good…

A fantastic listen then, and at a retail price that is laughable, it’s a great place to start your Atlantic Rhythm 'n' Blues journey – and God do I envy you that!

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 (see REVIEW), Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter (see REVIEW), Arthur Conley (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

"Down In The Alley – The Best Of The Clovers " – 1991 Track List:

1. One Mint Julep

2. Good Lovin'

3. Don't You Know I Love You

4. Wonder Where My Baby's Gone

5. Ting A Ling

6. Crawlin'

7. Hey Miss Fannie

8. Lovey Dovey

9. Middle Of The Night

10. Fool Fool Fool

11. I've Got My Eyes On You

12. I Confess

13. Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash

14. Little Mama

15. Down In The Alley

16. Nip Slip

17. Devil Or Angel

18. Blue Velvet

19. In The Morning Time

20. Love Bug

21. If I Could Be Loved By You

“The Platinum Collection” by CLARENCE CARTER (March 2007 UK Warner Brothers Platinum/Rhino CD Compilation Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Make All The Little Girls Happy…While The Boys Are Out To Play…Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Europe’s "The Platinum Collection" by CLARENCE CARTER is essentially Rhino's USA 21-track 1992 compilation "Snatching It Back: The Best Of..." minus one song ("Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love").

The new UK-released March 2007 CD on Warner Brothers Platinum/Rhino 8122-79994-2 (081227999445) has also had its 20-track running order rearranged, there's cheaper artwork and it's now at a budget price (still also has that great Rhino remastered sound). It's reissued as part of the labels 60th Anniversary celebrations (55:24 minutes). .

Carter made 4 albums for Atlantic and a slew of 7" singles came off them, but his career stretched back to 1965 when he was a duet act with Calvin Scott on the Fame label credited as CLARENCE and CALVIN (some of those rarities are on here).

1. Slip Away 

2. Back Door Santa

3. Snatching It Back

4. Tell Daddy

5. Too Weak To Fight 

6. Looking For A Fox 

7. Road Of Love

8. Soul Deep

9. I Smell A Rat

10. I Can't Leave Your Love Alone 

11. Doin' Our Thing

12. Feeling Is Right 

13. Old Time Feeling

14. I Stayed Away Too Long

15. Making Love (At The Dark End Of The Street)

16. It's All In Your Mind

17. I Can't See Myself

18. Step By Step

19. I'd Rather Go Blind

20. Patches

The detailed booklet of the original CD has been reduced to a fairly slight inlay, so here's a track-by-track breakdown of what song came from what:

"This Is Clarence Carter"

1968 USA STEREO LP on Atlantic SD-8192, Atlantic 588 152 in the UK

(CD Tracks 1, 5, 6, 7 and 17)

"The Dynamic Clarence Carter"

1969 USA STEREO LP on Atlantic SD-8199, Atlantic 588 172 in the UK

(CD Tracks 13 and 19)

"Testifyin'"

1969 USA STEREO LP on Atlantic SD-8238, UK on Atlantic 588 191

(CD Tracks 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 15)

"Patches"

1970 USA STEREO LP on Atlantic SD-8267, UK on Atlantic 2400 027

(CD Tracks 10, 16 and 20)

Tracks 4 and 14 are "Tell Daddy" and "I Stayed Away Too Long", the non-album 7" single A and B-side of Fame 1010 from 1967

Track 18 is "Step By Step", the non-album 7" single A-side on Atco 6362 from 1965

There are so many highlights on here - "Looking For A Fox" (a huge 60ts club classic these last few years), the deliciously naughty "Back Door Santa" with his trademark chuckling after ever saucy lyric (quoted above), the fantastic "I want to tell you about it..." soul of "That Old Time Feeling" with its keyboard and brass build up - irresistible. The only real dog is the awful cheese of "Patches" (his biggest chart hit ironically), but it's a tiny glitch in a sea of great Atlantic Sixties soul.

If you want to go deeper, his 4 albums for the label are available elsewhere as twofers on the USA's Collectables label, but in the meantime this little gem sells for four pounds retail and even less online - and it's a solid gold foxy purchase at ten times that price.

Recommended - big time...

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, 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, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright