"Sweet Soul Music – 29 Scorching Classics From 1968" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 8 of 15] (2009 GERMANY Bear Family CD Compilation of Jurgen Crasser Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Down On Funky Street…Diggin' The Funky Beat…"

Being a voracious collector of Soul and Funk music on CD for over 20 years now, I'd initially resisted buying this series of themed compilations because glancing at the track lists, I realised that I'd at least 60 to 70% of the songs on each CD already - so why buy them again?

Well - this is Bear Family to start with - uncompromising in their quest for quality presented in the very best way. But the truth is simpler - you buy just one of these peaches and you're screwed - they're so good, you'll need the whole damn lot…

Released September 2009 in Germany, "Sweet Soul Music - 29 Scorching Classics From 1968" is on Bear Family BCD 16973 AS and is part of a 10-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1970 (I've reviewed 1969 and 1970). Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1968 has "Funky Street" by Arthur Conley on Atco – lyrics above), the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in their award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of a singer leaning into an audience to make a handshake - I think it's Otis Redding). This 1968 issue has 96 pages in its booklet (yes 96!), Wilson Pickett is on the front sleeve with Charlie & Inez Foxx pictured inside and runs to a whopping 79:58 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES:
I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the 1969 and 1970 editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with an amazingly warm remaster of Smokey Robinson’s "I Second That Emotion” which quickly slides into the sublime "I'm In Love" by Wilson Pickett (written by Bobby Womack, later recorded by him). Genius inclusions include "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited – an instrumental few people recognize by title, but know instantly on hearing the brassy line that runs through its upbeat shimmy-shaking length (it's been used in countless movies). Then there's the truly lovely "Love Makes A Woman" by Barbara Acklin that jumps out of your speakers like summer itself (she lived with Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites and co-wrote "Have You Seen Her" with him). Then there's the slinky "Take me in…" song "The Snake" by Al Wilson and a Chess/Cadet rarity - collectors should note that "Stay In My Corner" by The Dells is the lesser seen 45-Single 7" Edit at 3:05 minutes and not the more commonly featured full-album version.

As with the other years, Booth took his time with this compilation - actually playing the set through - mixing the famous with the obscure and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. One clever coupling is the lesser known pair of "Girl Watcher" by The O'Kaysions which follows the brilliant “Lover’s Holiday” by Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like "(Sitting On) The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye are sorted out by the next big plus...the beautifully clear sound...

THE SOUND:
Ace Records of the UK and Rhino of the USA issued the Stax and Atlantic stuff respectively throughout most of the Nineties, but I find that their remasters (good as they were at the time) are now sounding decidedly dated – especially given what is being presented to us on these 2009 sets. Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care. The sound is GLORIOUS – clarity, warmth, details popping out at you at every turn. The drums and vocals in “We’re A Winner” by The Impressions is just incredible, the strings and brass of “Cowboys To Girls” by The Intruders is beautiful and the churchy organ of Percy Sledge’s “Take Time To Know Her” makes you sit up and take notice – and also realise just how underrated his contribution to Sixties Soul is. And on it goes – it truly is a sonic embarrassment of riches.

THE BOOKLET:
Like the other issues, the booklet is astonishing. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 91, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured, the 7" single beside it and even the album it came off (most of it in colour). The titles are centred in each review like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with contributions from good names like Colin Escott and Martin Koppel - and because the booklet allows him to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast (sources are listed) - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

Niggles - except that the cost would put off prospective buyers (which would be a shame) - I don't have any!

To sum up - I know as imports, they're expensive, but I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these beautifully prepared sets - they'll be hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year – "1968" is damned near perfect - and 'the' place to start.

Bear Family does it again folks. Fabulous stuff - and wholeheartedly recommended.

Track List for 1968

(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. I Second That Emotion - SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla T-54159)
2. I'm In Love – WILSON PICKETT (Atlantic 2448)
3. (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count The Days – CHARLIE & INEZ FOXX (Dynamo D-112)
4. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay – OTIS REDDING (Volt 157)
5. We're A Winner – THE IMPRESSIONS (ABC 11042)
[Written by and featuring Curtis Mayfield]
6. Dance To The Music - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (Epic 10256)
7. The End Of Our Road - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul S-35042)
8. Cowboys To Girls – THE INTRUDERS (Gamble G-214)
9. I Thank You – SAM & DAVE (Stax 242)
10. Tighten Up Part 1 - ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS (Atlantic 2478)
11. Take Time To Know Her – PERCY SLEDGE (Atlantic 2490)
12. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing – MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (Tamla T-54163)
13. Lover's Holiday – PEGGY SCOTT & JO JO BENSON (SSS International SSS 736)
14. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone – ARETHA FRANKLIN (Atlantic 2486)
15. Funky Street – ARTHUR CONLEY (Atco 6563)
16. Stay In My Corner (7” Single Edit – See Review) – THE DELLS (Cadet 5612)
17. I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) – EDDIE FLOYD (Stax STA-0002)
18. Grazing In The Grass – HUGH MASEKELA (Uni 55066)
19. Slip Away – CLARENCE CARTER (Atlantic 2508)
20. Love Makes A Woman – BARBARA ACKLIN (Brunswick 55379)
21. Say It Loud - I'm Black & I'm Proud (Part 1) – JAMES BROWN (King 6187)
22. Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do – BETTY WRIGHT (Alston 4569)
23. Girl Watcher – THE O'KAYSIONS (North State 1001)
[Re-issued and charted on ABC 11094]
24. The Snake – AL WILSON (Soul City 767)
25. Hey, Western Union Man – JERRY BUTLER (Mercury 72850)
26. Soulful Strut – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (Brunswick 55391)
27. Who's Making Love – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Stax STA-0009)
28. Cloud Nine – THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy G-7081)
29. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – MARVIN GAYE (Tamla T-54176)

"Sweet Soul Music – 28 Scorching Classics From 1969" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 9 of 15] (2009 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...We've Got To Live Together…"

Being a voracious collector of Soul and Funk music on CD for over 20 years now, I'd initially resisted buying this series of themed compilations because glancing at the track lists, I realised that I'd at least 60 to 70% of the songs on each CD already - so why buy them again? Well - this is Bear Family to start with - uncompromising in their quest for quality presented in the very best way. But the truth is simpler - you buy just one of these peaches and you're screwed - they're so good, you'll need the lot!

Compilations like this live or die based on a few ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (sometimes) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does.

Released September 2009 in Germany, "Sweet Soul Music - 28 Scorching Classics From 1969" is on Bear Family BCD 16974 AS and is part of a 10-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1970 (I’ve reviewed 1970). Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1969 has “What Does It Take…” by Jr. Walker & The All Stars), the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in their award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of a singer leaning into an audience to make a handshake – I think it’s Otis Redding). This 1969 issue has 92 pages in its booklet (yes 92!), Jerry Butler on the front sleeve with Johnny Adams and Shelby Singleton pictured inside and runs to a whopping 80:32 minutes.

1. Everyday People - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (Epic 10407)
2. I Forgot To Be Your Lover – WILLIAM BELL (Stax 0015)
3. Build Me Up Buttercup – THE FOUNDATIONS (Uni 55101)
4. Can I Change My Mind – TYRONE DAVIS (Dakar 602)
5. There'll Come A Time – BETTY EVERETT (Uni 55100)
[Written by Eugene Record of THE CHI-LITES – see also 13]
6. Take Care Of Your Homework – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Stax 0023)
7. Twenty-Five Miles – EDWIN STARR (Gordy 7083)
8. Foolish Fool – DEE DEE WARWICK (Mercury 72880)
9. Soul Shake - PEGGY SCOTT & JO JO BENSON (SSS International 761)
10. Only The Strong Survive – JERRY BUTLER (Mercury 72898)
11. Snatching It Back – CLARENCE CARTER (Atlantic 2605)
12. It's Your Thing – THE ISLEY BROTHERS (T-Neck 901)
13. Give It Away – THE CHI-LITES (Brunswick 55398)
14. The Chokin' Kind – JOE SIMON (Sound Stage 7 2628)
15. T.C.B. Or T.Y.A. – BOBBY PATTERSON (Jetstar 114)
(Take Care Of Business Or Turn Yourself Around)
16. Color Him Father – THE WINSTONS (Metromedia 117)
[B-side “Amen Brother” is a huge sample in Hip Hop records]
17. Cissy Strut – THE METERS (Josie 1005)
18. What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) – JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35062)
19. I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man’s Fool) – CANDI STATON (Fame 1456)
20. Mother Popcorn (You Got To Have A Mother For Me) – JAMES BROWN (King 6245)
21. Choice Of Colors – THE IMPRESSIONS (Curtom 1943)
[The Impressions featured Curtis Mayfield at this time]
22. Reconsider Me – JOHNNY ADAMS (SSS International 770)
23. Nobody But You Babe – CLARENCE REID (Alston 4574)
[Note: also issued on Alston 4576]
24. In A Moment – THE INTRIGUES (Yew 1001)
25. Baby, I'm For Real – THE ORIGINALS (Soul 35066)
26. Someday We'll Be Together - DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES (Motown 1156)
27. Backfield In Motion – MEL & TIM (Bamboo 107)
28. I Want You Back – THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1157)

TRACK CHOICES:
I raved about Dave “Daddy Cool” Booth’s sequencing on the 1970 edition – it’s the same here. Proceedings open nicely with Sly Stone’s “different strokes for different folks” social-awakening song “Everyday People” (lyrics above) and are followed by an unexpectedly slow Johnny Taylor tune on Stax – but it works. Genius inclusions are Betty Everett’s “There Comes A Time” – an unbelievably strong torch ballad sounding not unlike Aretha Franklin at her Atlantic Records best, the lesser heard but equally impressive “Foolish Fool” by Dee Dee Warwick and the original of “Soul Shake” by Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson which was later covered by Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett in a more rock vein.

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through – mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 and “”Cissy Strut” by The Meters are sorted out by the next big plus...the beautifully clear sound…

THE SOUND:
Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. I often found that Rhino sets (good as they were) trebled up everything - here it's a much warmer feel and the clarity is fab.
The clarity of the guitar and vocals on Jerry Butler’s “Only The Strong Survive” is astonishing as is the beefed-up funkiness of Clarence Carter’s floor-filler “Snatching It Back”. In fact ALL the Atlantic stuff sounds far better on here than the Rhino remasters of the mid Nineties. The same applies to “It’s Your Thing” by The Isley Brothers and “Color Me Father” by The Winstons (shame its famous hip-hop sampled B-side “Amen Brother” isn’t on here). Track after track just blows you away…

THE BOOKLET:
The booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 86, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured, the 7" single beside it and even the album it came off (most of it in colour). The titles are centred in each review like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes (with contributions from good names like Colin Escott and Martin Koppel) and because the booklet allows him to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

Niggles – I wouldn’t have included “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations or “Give It Away” by The Chi-Lites – the first is more pop than soul and the second is just too lightweight. But these are minor points in a sea of brilliance…

To sum up - I know as imports, they're expensive, but I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one - they'll be hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - this is the place to start.

Bear Family does it again folks. Fabulous stuff - and wholeheartedly recommended.

“Hellooo Baby! You Know What I Like! – A Wiggle In Her Walk And A Giggle In Her Talk” by THE BIG BOPPER. A Review of the 2010 Bear Family CD.

"…You Know What I Like…”

Released July 2010 in Germany, the CD “Hellooo Baby! You Know What I Like!” has 31 tracks and runs to a generous 73:26 minutes. There’s a lot on here, so let’s get to the details…

Bear Family BCD 17109 AH will finally allow The Big Bopper’s fans to sequence all 6 of his rare US 7” singles – and then follow them with the tribute songs that came after his untimely loss at the age of only 28 (he died in a plane crash in early February 1959 with Richie Valens and Buddy Holly). It breaks down as follows…

BIG BOPPER
1. Chantilly Lace b/w Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor [Tracks 1 and 9] March 1958, D Records 1008
(Reissued September 1958 on Mercury 71343, charted at Number 3)

2. Monkey Song (You Made A Monkey Out Of Me) b/w A Teen-Age Moon [Tracks 18 and 19]
1958, Mercury 71312 (credited to THE BIG BOPPER with THE ECHOES)

3. Big Bopper’s Wedding b/w Little Red Riding Hood [Tracks 3 and 2]
1958, Mercury 71375

4. Someone’s Watching Over You b/w Walking Through My Dreams [Tracks 17 and 15]
1959, Mercury 71416
[Note: the A-side is Version 2 and the B-side is Version 1 – there are other Versions on this CD]

5. It’s The Truth Ruth b/w That’s What I’m Talkin’ About [Tracks 14 and 16]
1959, Mercury 71451
[Note: the 45 A-side is Version 1 – Version 2 of the song (Track 7) is on the album]

6. Pink Petticoats b/w The Clock [Tracks 4 and 11]
1959, Mercury 71482

TRIBUTE SONGS by OTHER ARTISTS

1. Bopper 4860009 by DONNA DAMERON (1959, Dart 113) [Track 25]
2. The Man I Met (A Tribute To The Big Bopper) by RAY CAMPI (1959, D Records 1047) [Track 26]
3. Three Stars by EDDIE COCHRAN (1966, UK 7” on Liberty LIB 10249) [Track 27]
4. That Makes It by JAYNE MANSFIELD (1965, Original Sound OS 51) [Track 28]
5. She Giggles by DON TERRY (1959, Lin Records 5018) [Track 29]
6. Chantilly Lace Cha Cha by BILL KIMBROUGH (1959, D Records 1053) [Track 30]

His lone US album “Chantilly Lace” issued December 1958 on Mercury MG-20402 [Mono] can now also be sequenced using the following tracks:

Side 1:
1. Chantilly Lace [1]
2. Pink Petticoats [4]
3. The Clock [11]
4. Walking Through My Dreams [8] (Version 2)
5. Someone Watching Over You [17] (Version 2)
6. Old Maid [12]
Side 2:
1. Big Bopper's Wedding [3]
2. Little Red Riding Hood [2]
3. Preacher And The Bear [6]
4. It's The Truth Ruth [7] (Version 2)
5. White Lightning [10]
6. Strange Kisses [5]

Finally - Tracks 24 and 31 are “Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor” and “Sweet Lips” by GORDON RITTER [performing as Rick Johnson] and were recorded as a demo session in July 1958 for KTRM Radio Station in Beaumont, Texas – they are newly released on this CD.

The gatefold card digipak sports a superlative 50-page attached-booklet with photos from the fateful Winter Dance Party Tour, heartfelt and informative liner notes by JOHNETTE DUFF (with co-operation from family & friends) and an ANTOON VAN OLDEREN/ANDY BROWN Discography (Van Olderen runs a truly fabulous Eddie Cochran online website). The discography features photos of those original 7” singles and even pictures the press release that came with Donna Dameron’s single (recorded while he was alive, posthumously released). Like so many of Bear Family’s issues, the booklet is a thing of beauty and liable to make fans beam from ear to ear. Then there’s the SOUND…

The original masters tapes have been given the polish of their lives by Bear Family’s own JURGEN CRASSER. I’ve raved about this guy before – his work on the award-winning “Blowing The Fuse” R&B Series (1945 to 1960) and the subsequent “Sweet Soul Music” Series (1961 to 1970) jumps to mind - simply mind-blowing (check out reviews of them). You haven’t heard these Bopper tracks until you’ve heard his careful remastering of them. The sound is huge, clean and a revelation.
Musically – there is dreck on here for sure (one too many Chantilly soundalikes), but when he wasn’t hamming it up and took on a ballad like say “Walking Through My Dreams” or a rocker like “White Lightning”, The Big Bopper had a voice that was a cross between Charlie Rich and Elvis Presley – impressive to say the least. And listening to the fully sequenced “Chantilly Lace” album now (50 years after the event) is both great fun and an eye-opener.

Jiles Perry Richardson will probably always be a one-hit wonder in the annals of pop history, but he deserved more – and at least he is now properly remembered in this top-drawer CD reissue.

The mighty Bear Family does it again folks. Respect given and respect due…

“Someday We’ll All Be Free” by DONNY HATHAWAY. A Review of the 2010 Rhino/Warner Brothers France 4CD Box Set.

"…Take It From Me…Someday We’ll All Be Free…"

Released in February 2010 in Europe only, "Someday We'll All Be Free" is the first ever box set given over to the wonderful American soul artist Donny Hathaway. It has good points and bad, so let's get to the details first...

Warner Brothers France/Rhino 8122798076 breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (76:37 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut LP "Everything Is Everything" released October 1970 in the USA on Atco SD 33-332 and 1971 in the UK on Atco 2465 019
Tracks 10 to 16 are the first 7 of 9 tracks from his 2nd album "Donny Hathaway" released April 1971 in the USA on Atco SD 33-360 and in the UK on Atlantic 2400 143

Disc 2 (66:26 minutes):
Tracks 1 and 2 are the last two songs on the "Donny Hathaway" album (as above)
Tracks 3 to 12 are his 5th album (4th studio) "Extension Of A Man" released July 1973 in the USA on Atco SD-7029 and 1973 in the UK on Atlantic K 40487
Tracks 13 to 17 are Previously Unreleased - "Jealous Guy (Studio Version)". "No Other One But You [1974 Demo]", "The Essence Of Destiny [1974 Demo]", "Going Down [1974 Demo] and "Make It On Your Own [1975 Demo]"

Disc 3 (78:15 minutes)
Track 1 is "This Christmas", a single-only release from November 1970 in the USA on Atco 45-6799 (see Track 4)
Track 2 is "Little Ghetto Boy", title track from the album "Come Back Charleston Blue" - a USA Soundtrack released July 1972 on Atco SD-7010
Track 3 is "A Dream", a previously unreleased bonus track on the "Everything Is Everything" CD reissue from 1995
Track 4 is "Be There", non-album B-side to "This Christmas" (see Track 1)
Track 5 is "Lord Help Me", a bonus track on the "Extension Of A Man" CD reissue from 1993
Track 6 is "You Were Meant For Me" is from "A Donny Hathaway Collection" from 1990 on Atlantic
Track 7 is "What A Woman Really Wants", a previously unreleased track on the 2006 CD compilation "Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers" (recorded January 1973)
Tracks 8 to 15 are his 3rd album "Donny Hathaway Live" released March 1972 in the USA on Atco SD 33-386 and Atlantic K 40369 in the UK

Disc 4 (77:35 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 5 are 5 of the 6 tracks from the 1980 posthumously released live album "In Performance" on Atlantic
Tracks 6 to 11 are the 6 previously unreleased live tracks that were featured on the 14-track posthumous CD compilation "These Songs For You, Live!" issued by Atlantic/Rhino in 2004.
Tracks 12 and 13 are "Nu-Po" and "Love, Love, Love" - two previously unreleased live tracks recorded June 1973 in New York

As you can see from the details above, there are 7 previously unreleased tracks on this box set - 5 demos tagged onto the end of Disc 2 and 2 Live Tracks at the end of Disc 4. The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that the "Robert Flack & Donny Hathaway" album from 1972 is entirely absent and only one track appears from the 1972 "Come Back Charleston Blue" soundtrack, but that's available as a separate Rhino Remaster from 2007 should you want it (see my review).

Niggles - although new and shrink-wrapped, my copy arrived with one of its plastic clip teeth rattling around in the cheap cardboard digi box. But that's nothing to the hugely underwhelming booklet, which is entirely in French and is next to useless. Its paltry 16 pages do have album sleeves and 7" singles pictured, but little else (4 of those pages are taken up with barely legible track listings for God's sake!). There is at least a nice touch beneath the see-through CD trays where 4 different label variations are reproduced - including the rare US Quadraphonic Version of "Extension Of A Man". But overall - for such a stellar artist - this is yet another shoddy and cheap set of packaging from Rhino - added to a worryingly growing list of them. The demos are ok, but not great - the best probably being "Make It On Your Own" from 1975. And why oh why wasn't this given a British or American release?

But the really good news, however, is the SOUND. There is a logo on the rear of the box which says HIGH QUALITY MASTERING and its been done by someone called ISAAK JASMIN. Comparing the sound to the 1993 Rhino discs, these 2010 versions are clearer and certainly more `present' than before. At times this ups the hiss levels inherent on the master tapes, but not to a point where it becomes overbearing. Typical would be "Take A Love Song" which opens Disc 2 - the old version was lacklustre, even dull - now it's huge and alive as the girls and strings crescendo. The live "In The Ghetto" is astonishing - a gig I would gladly have given a part of my anatomy to attend.

I've always adored the "Extension Of A Man" LP from 1973 and the opening track "I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)" with its strings, clarinets and oboes is now GLORIOUS. That then segues into the box set's title song - the truly beautiful "Someday We'll All Be Free" (lyrics above) - and I'm in floods of tears! The two instrumentals on the album are huge too - the funky wah-wah guitars and keyboards of "Valdez In The Country" and the monstrous bass line of Willie Weeks in "The Slums". Very cool stuff...

So to sum up - there is an improved sound quality for die-hard fans to enjoy, however, newcomers might be better off with the 5CD mini box "Original Album Series" which is cheaper and offers more.

The Beautiful Donny Hathaway folks. Recommended in any language. But docked a star for a less-than-stellar presentation of his heartfelt musical legacy...

“Kansas City Star” by JULIA LEE. A Review of the 1995 Bear Family 5CD Box Set.

"…I Used To Run Away From The Stuff…But Now Somehow…I Can’t Get Enough…"

“Kansas City Star” is a 5CD Box Set by Bear Family Records of Germany (released March 1995) which offers up a huge 109 remastered tracks in chronological release date order (20 are previously unreleased). It covers everything from her 1st rare 78” on the Meritt label in 1927 where she featured as a Duet Vocalist in her brother George’s jazz band - right through to her last recordings in 1957 – privately pressed 45”s on the obscure Foremost label.

Bear Family BCD 15770 EI breaks down as follows…

Disc 1, 22 Tracks, 61:24 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are - “Wee Baby Blues” (15), “If It’s Good” (16), “I’ve Got A Crush On The Fuller Brush Man” (17), “Two Lovers Have I” (18), “Some Of These Days” (19), “St. Louis Blues” (20), “Shake That Thing” (21) and “Shake It And Break It” (22)

Disc 2, 20 Tracks, 57:47 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are – “Have You Ever Been Lonely” (8) and “The Curse Of An Aching Heart” (17)

Disc 3, 24 Tracks, 73:53 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are – “My Sin” [Takes 1, 2 and 3] (6, 7 and 8)

Disc 4, 19 Tracks, 54:50 minutes
Previously unreleased track is – “Marijuana” (3)

Disc 5, 24 Tracks, 62:51 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks are – “Music, Maestro Please” (7), “If I Didn’t Care” (10), “Lazy River” (11), “Can’t Get It Off My Mind” (13), “Kansas City Boogie” (17) and “Love In Bloom” (18)

CONTENT:
This box will allow you to sequence all her 78”s and 45”s (42 entries) on the Meritt, Brunswick, Capitol, Premier, Mercury, Damon and Foremost labels. Her debut 1950 10” LP “Party Time” on Capitol Records and its extended 1955 12” LP equivalent are here in their entirety - as is her 2nd big official album - 1964 ‘s “Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends”.

During the Eighties Charly Records of England and Jukebox Lil of Sweden began to license unreleased Capitol recordings from her 1940s heyday - and along with 78” sides that had never been on album before - they issued 4 LPs between them. You get Charly’s “Tonight’s The Night” (1983) and “Of Lions And Lambs” (1988) and Jukebox Lil’s “Ugly Papa” (1983) and “A Porter’s Love Song” (1985) – all 4 LPs are here in their entirety too.

BOOKLET/SOUND:
The 32-page album-sized booklet features a superb life/music appraisal by noted UK writer BILL MILLAR, while CHARLES J. HADDIX and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE compiled the very detailed session-by-session Discography. Like most Bear Family booklets of the time, it’s a lovely thing to behold featuring full page black & white shots of Julia in the Capitol Records studio, trade adverts, newspaper clippings, sheet music, repros of those beautiful American 78” labels and so on… And each CD has a different photo with a 78” repro’d on the other side of the single-sheet inlay.

The Disc/Metal Part Transfers have involved great names like WALTER DeVENNE and BOPPIN' BOB JONES - while the mastering was handled by ADAM SKEAPING. Excepting the 4 x 78”s featuring George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra from the 1920s (rough sounding), once you hit the Capitol stuff (bulk of what’s on here), the sound quality is amazingly good. Some of the takes have studio chatter at the beginning and end and Disc 1 contains a newly discovered 8-track session from 1947 that is brilliant.

Musically – Julia Lee was a saucy soul – almost all of her songs involved sexual innuendo of some kind, which was both daring for the day and huge fun. Like her Capitol label mate Nellie Lutcher, you only had to hear that great voice and cast an eye on her ample frame – and good things were bound to happen. Julia had Big Joe Turner in her blood and Bessie Smith in her soul (at times compared to her). Her piano playing was good too.

Highlights for me include the salacious and sly lyrics (title above) of “I Didn’t Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song)” which as you can imagine isn't really about a vitamin supplement. There’s also lot of jazz blues on here too – but towards the end of her career – the ‘naughty’ angle had played itself out – and too many of the songs feel like they’re looking for a hit rather than actually being one.

Still – listening to these discs has been a joy for me and a real discovery. I’ve even sequenced the 12-track version of her fabulous “Party Time” album and play it often. Niggles – despite a 2-year search, the 2nd 45 from the Foremost label (Foremost 105) with “Trouble In Mind” and “Saturday Night” was never found – so its not here. And being a luxury box set, it's not cheap as an import...

Julia Lee died in December 1958 aged 56 and right up until the end of her life had been working bars in her beloved Kansas City. Her brother George Ewing who gave Julia her first 78” way back in 1927 died the following year. White boys Dave Dexter of Capitol who championed her and saxophonist Big Dave Cavanaugh who was one of her “Boy Friends” (she and her band were almost always credited as Julia Lee and Her Boy Friends) are long gone too. Thankfully this fabulous box set is here to remember them all in grace and style.

The mighty Bear Family folks - another peach from them and recommended like a life-enhancing tin of Spinach.

PS: I've also reviewed the following Bear Family box sets (with discographies) that may be of interest - Louis Jordan, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, Freddie King, Ella Mae Morse and Nellie Lutcher.

PPS: for single discs, see also reviews for 2010 CDs from Bobby Charles "See You Later, Alligator" and the "Rocks" series budget sampler "All We Wanna Do Is ROCK".

"Sweet Soul Music – 24 Scorching Classics From 1970" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 10 of 15] (September 2009 GERMANY Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters - Volume 10 of 15 from 1960 to 1975) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 334 Others Is Available In My

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

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"…Ball Of Confusion…That's What The World Is Today…"

Being a voracious collector of Soul and Funk music on CD for over 20 years now, I'd initially resisted buying this series of themed compilations because glancing at the track lists, I realised that I'd at least 60 to 70% of the songs on each CD already - so why buy them again? Well - this is Bear Family to start with - uncompromising in their quest for quality presented in the very best way. But the truth is simpler - you buy just one of these peaches and you're screwed - they're so good, you'll need the lot!

Compilations like this live or die based on a few ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (sometimes) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does.

Released September 2009 in Germany, "Sweet Soul Music - 24 Scorching Classics From 1970" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Bear Family BCD 16975 AS (barcode 4000127169754)  and is part of a 10-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1970. Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year, the centre flap holds a 60 to 80 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 31 titles in their award-winning "Blowin' The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of Otis Redding leaning into an audience to make a handshake). This 1970 issue has 76 pages in its booklet, pictures the Chairman Of The Board on the front sleeve with Ann Peebles inside and runs to a whopping 82:38 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES:
It's not surprising, given the turmoil in American cities and the horror of the Vietnam War lingering behind everything, that Edwin Starr's "War" is the single which graces the flap of 1970. But therein lies a point... When Track 12 comes up - the equally amazing "Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations (whose lyrics are still scarily relevant), a lazier compiler would have followed it with the obvious "War" - but not Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth. Instead he gives you the lesser known but still apt Paul Kelly track about dodgy preachers called "Stealing In The Name Of the Lord" - and it absolutely 'so' works. A stunningly remastered "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine)" then follows that - and then you finally get "War" blasting its way out of your speakers with a ferocity that hasn't diminished in four decades (with regard to the "Stealin'..." track - it was covered to great effect on David Clayton-Thomas's 1972 self-titled debut LP - he was the lead singer with Blood, Sweat & Tears - see separate review).

Why hanker on about track placing and choices? Because as a long-time maker of CD compilations, I know there's a real art to it. Whoever made these sets took their time with them - working out what would follow what. They actually played these things through - mixed the famous with the obscure in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold" and Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed & Delivered" (brill as they are) - even they're sorted out by the next big plus...

THE SOUND:
Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. I often found that Rhino sets (good as they were) trebled up everything - here it's a much warmer feel and the clarity is fab. Yes - there is hiss on some tracks, but the one-two sucker punches of "Love Bones" by Johnnie Taylor and "Rainy Night in Georgia" by Brook Benton that open the disc - knock you out for sound quality - and it stays that way throughout. The socially conscious funk of Sly Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)" then sits sweetly alongside the mellow girl-boy soul of The Spinners "It's A Shame". The beautiful ache of Luther Ingram's "Ain't That Lovin' You" is soul music at its moving gorgeous best. And so on...

THE BOOKLET:
The booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 72, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured, the 7" single beside it and even the album it came off (most of it in colour). The titles are done like a paper nametag inside a jukebox complete with catalogue number beneath - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes (with contributions from good names like Colin Escott and Martin Koppel) and because the booklet allows him to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read. Droolsome...

To sum up - I know as imports, they're expensive, but I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one - they'll be hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - this is the place to start.

Bear Family does it again folks. Fabulous stuff - and wholeheartedly recommended.

Track List for 1970
(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. Love Bones - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (Stax STA-0055)
2. Rainy Night In Georgia - BROOK BENTON (Cotillion 44057)
3. Gotta Hold On To This Feeling - JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul S-35070)
4. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (Epic 5-10555)
5. Give Me Just A Little More Time - CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD (Invictus IS-9074)
6. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - THE DELFONICS (Philly Groove 161)
7. Cryin' In The Streets Part 1 - GEORGE PERKINS & THE SILVER STARS (Golden 110)
[Re-issued on Silver Fox SF 18]
8. Turn Back The Hands Of Time - TYRONE DAVIS (Dakar 616)
9. You're The One - Part 1 - LITTLE SISTER (Stone Flower S-9000)
10. Love On A Two-Way Street - THE MOMENTS (Stang ST-5012)
11. Band Of Gold - FREDA PAYNE (Invictus IS-9075)
12. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) - THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy G-7099)
13. Stealing In The Name Of The Lord - PAUL KELLY (Happy Tiger HT-541)
14. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine) Part 1 - JAMES BROWN (King 6318)
15. War - EDWIN STARR (Gordy G 7101)
16. Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One) - LUTHER INGRAM (Koko KDA-2105)
17. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - STEVIE WONDER (Tamla T 54196)
18. Express Yourself - CHARLES WRIGHT AND THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (Warner Bros. 7417)
19. Part Time Love - ANN PEEBLES (Hi 2178)
20. It's A Shame - THE SPINNERS (V.I.P. Records V.I.P. 25057)
21. Love Uprising - OTIS LEAVILL (Dakar 620)
[Written by Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites, later covered by Jackie Wilson on Brunswick]
22. Somebody's Been Sleeping - 100 PROOF AGED IN SOUL (Hot Wax HS 7004)
23. Groove Me - KING FLOYD (Chimneyville CH-435)
24. The Tears Of A Clown - SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla T 54199)

“Entrapment” on BLU RAY. A Review of the 1999 Techno Thriller Now Transferred to BLU RAY in 2007.

"…Never Trust A Thief…”

I have to admit to a guilty pleasure on this one - I've always liked the wonderfully cheesy "Entrapment" - especially the slightly odd yet very convincing chemistry between the young and beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones and the old but still incredibly sexy Sean Connery.
You genuinely feel that Connery fancies Jones and she likewise - and apparently that was the case. You can see that Connery actually likes and admires the ballsy Jones and it gives the film a great dynamic. They actually seemed to be enjoying themselves rather than just grinning and bearing it.

Which is a shame, because I was hoping that this would be a decent buy on BLU RAY, but it isn't.

The principal reason is not the film itself (which is very entertaining), but the way it was filmed. There's a sort of filtered haze over at least 75% of the print (possibly hiding someone's age my dear?) that now looks even worse - accentuated by its transfer to the mercilessness of High Def. The picture isn't crap, but it's NOT 1080P DEFINED either - and it's absolutely NOT AN IMPROVEMENT over say a dirt-cheap DVD. "Entrapment" on BLU RAY looks murky and poorly executed most of the time - and for a film that was issued in 1999, that's just not good enough.

The Extra Feature is a commentary by Director Jon Amiel, but that's all (no making of, no interviews). Presentation is in Letterbox 16:9 (so it fills the full screen) and languages include French, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch and English For The Hard-Of-Hearing.

I'd say hire this before you buy it blind. I paid six pounds for it in a Megastore sale and it was a fiver too much.

In a slew of badly transferred movies to this great but sometimes frustrating format, this is yet another sloppy release.

One to avoid I'm afraid.

“See You Later, Alligator” by BOBBY CHARLES. A Review of the 2010 Bear Family CD Compilation Covering His Legendary Chess Label Recordings.

“…After A While Crocodile...”

As a voracious collector of Chess and all its subsidiary labels, I’ve amassed nearly 900 tracks by diligently acquiring heaps of hefty box sets and individual compilations. But even with all that, I’ve only 3 tracks by Bobby Charles. So as you can imagine this fantastically well put-together haul of the Louisiana Rhythm ‘n’ Blues man’s rare sides is a godsend. There’s a lot on here, so let’s get to the details first…

1. LATER ALLIGATOR (SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR)
2. ON BENDED KNEE
3. WATCH IT SPROCKET
4. WHY DID YOU LEAVE
5. DON'T YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU (YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU)
6. WHY CAN'T YOU
7. TAKE IT EASY GREASY
8. TIME WILL TELL
9. AIN'T GOT NO HOME
10. NO USE KNOCKING
11. YOU CAN SUIT YOURSELF
12. LAURA LEE
13. I'M A FOOL TO CARE
14. MR. MOON
15. I'LL TURN SQUARE FOR YOU
16. LONELY STREET
17. OVER YONDER
18. PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME HONEY
19. ONE EYED JACK
20. YEA YEA BABY (YEAH YEAH)
21. GOOD LOVIN'
22. YOUR PICTURE
23. TEENAGERS
24. I'D LIKE TO KNOW
25. TELL ME BABY
26. LOVESICK BLUES
27. HEY GOOD LOOKIN'
28. NO MORE (I AIN'T GONNA DO IT NO MORE)

Released June 2010 in Europe, “See You Later, Alligator” has 28-tracks (67:03 minutes) covering the debut part of his career on Chess Records between October 1955 and March 1961 (Bear Family BCD 17207 AH). It will finally allow fans to sequence all of Charles’ 7” singles for the label as follows:

1. Later Alligator b/w On Bended Knee
Chess 1609, November 1955 [Tracks 1 and 2]
[Note: Only later reissues carry the more famous title, “See You Later, Alligator”; it finally charted in March 1956 for only 1 week at Number 14; Bill Haley and His Comets had a hit with it as “See You Later, Alligator” in February 1956 on Decca; Track 1 features studio dialogue at the end of it that leads into Track 2]

2. Don’t You Know I Love You b/w Why Did You Leave
Chess 1617, March 1956 [Tracks 5 and 4]

3. Time Will Tell b/w Take It Easy Greasy
Chess 1628, July 1956 [Tracks 8 and 7]
[Note: initial adverts ran the A side as “Only Time Will Tell” and subsequent discographies have sometimes carried this title, but it was issued as “Time Will Tell” on record and later adverts carried the shortened title]

4. No Use Knocking b/w Laura Lee
Chess 1638, November 1956 [Tracks 10 and 12]

5. Put Your Arms Around Me Honey b/w Why Can’t You
Chess 1647, January 1957 [Tracks 18 and 6]

6. No More (I Ain’t Gonna Love You No More) b/w You Can Suit Yourself
Chess 1658, May 1957 [Tracks 28 and 11]

7. One Eyed Jack b/w Yea Yea Baby
Chess 1670, September 1957 [Tracks 19 and 20]

Bobby Charles never had an LP of his own during his stay at the famous label, but there were many recording sessions with unaired material. First to document released and previously unreleased material was the 1984 US album compilation “Chess Masters” on CH-9175. This CD will allow fans to sequence that LP as follows:

Side 1:
1. Watch It Sprocket [3]
2. Yeah Yeah [20]
3. You Know I Love You [5]
4. Good Loving [21]
5. I'd Like To Know [24]
6. Ain't Got No Home [9]
7. Time Will Tell [8]
8. Take It Easy Greasy [7]
9. You Can Suit Yourself [11]
Side 2:
1. See You Later Alligator [1]
2. On Bended Knee [2]
3. I'll Turn Square For You [15]
4. I Ain't Gonna Do It No More [28]
5. Put Your Arms Around Me [18]
6. Lonely Street [16]
7. Mr. Moon [14]
8. One Eyed Jack [19]
9. Hey Good Looking [27]

Finally – a further retrospective referenced in the Discography is a rare 1996 28-Track Japanese CD also called “Chess Masters” On MCA/Chess MVCM-22078. It carried six more previously unreleased tracks - “I’m A Fool To Care” [13], “Over Yonder” [17], “Your Picture” [22], “Teenagers” [23], “Tell Me Baby” [25] and a cover of the Hank Williams classic “Lovesick Blues” [26].

The reissue producer is DAVE SAX, while Bear Family’s own JURGEN CRASSER has done the remasters to beautiful effect (as always) and the 30-page liners notes are by New Orleans Rhythm 'n' Blues authority RICK COLEMAN who wrote “Blue Monday: Fats Domino And The Dawn Of Rock ‘n’ Roll” (winner of the Best Music Biography award for 2007). The outtake “Ain’t Got No Home” sounds rough, but most of the cuts here are clean and clear in all the right ways. Once the gatefold is open, there is a Chess themed CD inside with a photo of his debut 7” pictured beneath the see-through tray on the right with an attached booklet to the left.

Staying with packaging – over the last few years Bear Family have moved away from their distinctive white tray jewel cases of old and now issue almost everything in a chunky card digipak of varying sizes. I love them. Visually they are gorgeous and read-wise, they’re the absolute business. They’re always substantial and this is no different. The booklet is awash with trade adverts, pictured Chess singles and a fantastic session-by-session Discography at the rear. Better still is the detail on every release and Charles’ chequered career – both good and bad. Cole’s tales of Chuck Berry doing Bobby’s hair curl for $15 on the Chess tour bus, Leonard Chess’s reaction to him being a white guy on all-black label, Bobby losing two homes – one to fire in 1996 and the other to Hurricane Rita in 2006 and right back to the drunk girl in the “Ol’ Midway” 24-hour restaurant in 1955 who gave the 17-year old young musician the “After A While Crocodile…” idea in the first place - are all fab. The usual classy stuff…

But what really shocks you is the quality of the music… Although Guidry worshiped Fats Domino and clearly followed his New Orleans rolling piano style, Bobby was no cheap imitator. Guidry wrote 15 of the 28 tracks on here with most of the others co-written with his friend and fellow label mate PAUL GAYTEN and they’re uniformly excellent. WILLIE DIXON is on here too and Doo Wop fans should also note that THE CARDINALS are featured on Tracks 1 to 3. Highlights for me are the slow almost soulful blues of “Why Did You Leave”, the lovely jaunt of “Time Will Tell” and the sax boogie of “No Use Knocking”.

Robert Charles Guidry died in January 2010 and probably received a few small obits around the world - this CD may elicit the same lack of interest. But for me, “See You Later, Alligator” is one of the very real reasons why Bear Family is held in such affection among music lovers. It’s beautiful and they’ve done him and his memory proud.

Fabarooney boys and well done. Recommended to lovers of New Orleans everywhere.