“Rocks” by SMILEY LEWIS. A Review of the 2010 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…I’m Goin’ Home…Never More To Roam…Spend The Rest Of My Life…Right There With My Wife…"

Released February 2010 on Bear Family BCD 16676 AR, "Rocks" offers up 36 slices of primo Smiley Lewis New Orleans style Rhythm 'n' Blues on the Colony and Imperial labels from 1950 through to 1958 - and at an envelope-pushing 85:36 minutes, doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (40-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the 1953 7"single of “Blue Monday” complete with its Imperial Records record bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch). The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 28 by BILL DAHL who did such stunning work on Bear's "Sweet Soul Music" Series from 1961 to 1971 (see separate reviews for all 10 compilations). There's even a Discography for all 36 tracks from Page 29 to 39 by WOOTER KEESING and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE which in itself pictures each 78" and 45" at the base of every page (very tasty to look at). Knowledgeable people like DAVE “DADDY COOL” BOOTH and others contributed information and illustrations too.

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER who handling the “Sweet Soul Music” series I raved about. One or two tracks are rough (“Dirty People” is one) because they’re dubbed off discs, but the sound on the others is fabulous - far better than previous CDs I've had of the same material.

Musically Smiley Lewis was like Louis Jordan, Amos Milburn and Louis Prima - an irrepressible force of rockin' joy. His big pipes had the room-filling fun of Big Joe Turner at his Atlantic Records best, while his rolling piano fills made every track a Fats Domino blast. You can just 'feel' the good vibes of a hot gig on a Saturday Night at the local bar coming off these songs (his mischievous lyrics to "Ain’t Gonna Do It" title this review).

Given the vintage of the material, this CD is expensive for sure (as most of Bear Family's product is), but it's the best representation of Lewis’ material I've ever heard or seen. If you want to go deeper, there’s the “Shame, Shame, Shame” 4CD Box Set they issued in 1993. But if you want to get a taster of the songs and sound quality for a reasonable cost - try the 36-track "All We Wanna Do Is ROCK" sampler for this series - it has the 1953 Imperial single of "Big Mamou” (see separate review).

Great stuff – and such fun. In the vernacular - recommended the most daddy-o...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

“Rocks” by AMOS MILBURN. A Review of the 2009 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Let’s Get In The Mood…A Real Groovy Mood…Let’s Have A Party…"

Released June 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16926 AR, “Rocks” offers up 31 slices of primo Amos Milburn Rhythm ‘n’ Blues on the Aladdin label from 1948 through to 1957 – and at a whopping 82:38 minutes, doesn’t scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, “Rocks” comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (48-pages for this one). The CD itself reproduces the 1956 7”single remake of his huge “Chicken Shack” song complete with its Aladdin Records label bag and that’s continued on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 3 to 33 by BILL DAHL who did such stunning work on Bear’s “Sweet Soul Music” Series from 1961 to 1971 (see separate reviews for all 10 compilations). There’s even a Discography for all 31 tracks from Page 34 to 45 by MICHAEL CUSCANA, STBVE LaVERE and MICHEL RUPPLI, which in itself pictures each 78” and 45” at the base of every page (very tasty to look at). Good names like BILL MILLAR and COLIN ESCOTT contributed information and illustrations too.

The remastered sound is handled by CHRISTIAN ZWARG and is far better than previous CDs I’ve had of the same material.

Milburn was like Louis Jordan, Smiley Lewis and Fats Domino – an irrepressible force of rockin’ joy - and even when tracks like “Boogie Woogie” sound a bit rough, the ‘feel’ of a Saturday Night dive jumping with bodies going at it like Sunday’s never going to come permeates every track (lyrics above to “Let’s Have A Party”).

Given the vintage of the material, this CD is expensive, as most of Bear Family’s product is, but it’s the best representation of Milburn’s material I’ve ever seen.

If you want to get a taster for a reasonable cost – try the “All We Wanna Do Is ROCK” sampler for this series – 36 tracks and it’s cheap (see separate review). It has “Chicken Shack” on it – and it’s a monster…

In the vernacular – recommended the most big daddy-o.

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

“Sweet Soul Music – 31 Scorching Classics From 1961” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 1 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mary Barry...

"…I Don't Know Why I Love You...But I Do…" 

Compilations like this live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does. The entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to.

Originally released July 2008 in Germany - “Sweet Soul Music - 31 Scorching Classics From 1961" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 16867 AS (Barcode 4000127168672) was Volume 1 in a 15-set series stretching from 1961 to 1975 – one CD to each year (I've reviewed all of them in depth).

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 (1961 has the instrumental "Hide Away" by Freddy King), 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 Bear Family's 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 Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake – it’s in the 1963 set). This 1961 issue has 80-pages in its booklet (yes 80!) with a live shot of Solomon Burke on the front sleeve and Berry Gordy standing by his first million-seller gold disc award on the inner flap (“Shop Around” by The Miracles – Track 2) - and it runs to a generous 79:23 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES:

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear guitar intro to "The Watusi" by The Vibrations – as infectious a dance number as the breakthrough Tamla establisher “Shop Around” by The Miracles. I’ve never heard the melodrama of either “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas or “All In My Mind” by Maxine Brown sound so clear (even if both aren’t exactly audiophile recordings). Genius choices include the Doo Wop of “Daddy’s Home” by Shep And The Limelites which is soulful in it’s own lovely slow-paced way and the New Orleans shuffle of "Let The Four Winds Blow" by Fats Domino (stupendous Stereo sound quality).

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. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. 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 "Blue Moon", "Stand By Me" and "Last Night" 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. The clarity on the brass and drums of “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do" by Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry is so clear you’ll probably have to turn the volume down, while Dee Clark’s “Raindrops” opens with just that – an explosion of falling rain before the song kicks in – it’s so sweetly remastered that it may make you double-take on the weather outside…

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 77, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, the 7" single is usually sat beside that - and even if it isn't - the album it came off is - with most of it in colour. Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

Niggles - purists might say that as many as a third of the tracks on here have little to do with "Soul" and more to do with R&B, Doo Wop and even Blues - but personally I like the way Booth blurs the lines. And I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of the heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week. 

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1961" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. I’m now going to have to frighten the bank manager as I acquire the preceding 16 Volumes in the “Blowing The Fuse” series from 1945 to 1960 – I’m just going to have to own them.

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1961

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

1. The Watusi – THE VIBRATIONS (Checker 969)

2. Shop Around – THE MIRACLES (Tamla T 54034)

[Featuring Smokey Robinson and co-written with Berry Gordy]

3. All In My Mind – MAXINE BROWN (Nomar N45-103)

4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? – THE SHIRELLES (Scepter 1211)

[Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin]

5. (I Don't Know Why) But I Do – CLARENCE ‘FROGMAN’ HENRY (Argo 5378)

[Written by Robert Guidry [aka Bobby Charles] and Paul Gayten]

6. You Can Have Her – ROY HAMILTON (Epic 9434)

7. Rainin' In My Heart – SLIM HARPO (Excello 2194)

8. I Don't Want To Cry - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 106)

9. Hide Away – FREDDY KING (Federal 12401)

[An Instrumental]

10. Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) – CARLA THOMAS (Satellite 104/Atlantic 2086)

11. Some Kind Of Wonderful – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2096)

12. Big Boss Man – JIMMY REED (Vee Jay VJ 380)

13. Blue Moon – THE MARCELS (Colpix 186)

14. Daddy's Home – SHEP AND THE LIMELITES (Hull H-740)

15. Mother-In-Law – ERNIE K-DOE (Minit 623)

16. Driving Wheel – LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER (Duke 335)

17. Tossin' And Turnin' – BOBBY LEWIS with Joe Rene Orchestra (Beltone 1002)

18. Every Beat Of My Heart – THE PIPS (Vee Jay VJ 386)

[Featuring Gladys Knight on lead vocals]

19. Stand By Me – BEN E. KING (Atco 6194)

20. Raindrops – DEE CLARK (Vee Jay VJ-383)

21. My True Story – THE JIVE FIVE with Joe Rene And Orchestra (Beltone 1006)

22. It's Gonna Work Out Fine – IKE and TINA TURNER (Sue 749)

23. Last Night – THE MAR-KEYS (Satellite 107)

24. I Like It Like That, PART 1 – CHRIS KENNER (Valiant/Instant 3229)

25. A Little Bit Of Soap – THE JARMELS (Laurie 3098)

26. Let The Four Winds Blow – FATS DOMINO (Imperial 5764)

27. Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) – SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2114)

28. Ya Ya – LEE DORSEY (Fury 1053)

29. Please Mr. Postman – THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54046)

30. Gypsy Woman – THE IMPRESSIONS (ABC-Paramount 10241)

[Written by and featuring Curtis Mayfield]
31. Turn On Your Love Light – BOBBY BLAND (Duke 344)

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

“Sweet Soul Music – 28 Scorching Classics From 1962” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 2 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…All Aboard The Night Train…" 

Soul compilations live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well, Bear Family’s magnificent “Sweet Soul Music" CD series slays them in the aisles on all counts - it really does. There are 15 volumes now and the entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to. 

Originally released July 2008 in Germany - "Sweet Soul Music - 28 Scorching Classics From 1962" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Bear Family BCD 16868 AS (Barcode 4000127168689) and is part of a 15-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1975 - one volume to each year (I’ve reviewed them all in depth). 

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 (1962 has "You Better Move On" by Arthur Alexander) - 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 Bear Family's 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 Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake - it's in the 1963 compilation). This 1962 issue has an impressive 72-page booklet with The Isley Brothers on the front sleeve and Barbara George on the inner flap - and runs to a format-busting 79:58 minutes playing time.

TRACK CHOICES: 

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear piano intro to Barbara George and her 'All For One' New Orleans soul shuffle "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" (covered later by Ike & Tina Turner and Fats Domino among others) which is then cleverly followed by Gladys Knight's "Letter Full Of Tears" - a tune full of girl-group melodrama. Genius choices include "Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson sounding not unlike Brook Benton at his slinkiest best (stunning production values) and the name-that-city funk of James Brown's "Night Train" which is crystal clear and an absolute joy to listen to (lyrics above). And although "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker and "Stormy Monday Blues" by Bobby Bland are really Blues and not Soul, I'm loving them on here for the same reason that I played "Green Onions" to the boys in the shop - the awesome clarity of sound - especially in the rhythm sections...

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. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. 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. 

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. The clarity of every instrument on Chuck Jackson's "Any Day Now..." is incredible and the lesser-heard Jazz Instrumental of Jimmy McGriff's Ray Charles cover "I've Got A Woman..." is huge too. 

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 5 and ends on Page 69, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using a quality publicity shot which is then sided by the album cover the track came off (the LP sleeve is usually in colour and a clever contrast against the black and white record company photographs). Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read. 

Niggles - in terms of "Soul" music as many would define it, I'd say that doesn't actually arrive until track 5 which is Solomon Burke's wonderful "Cry To Me". Gene Chandler's "Duke Of Earl" is really Doo Wop and Little Eva's overplayed "Loco-motion" is more Pop than anything else. Esther Phillips' "Release Me" has forever been poisoned for me by the man who tears up telephone books and kept The Beatles off Number 1 in the UK. 

But while the compilation does feel a little all over the place at times, I personally like the way Booth blurs the lines and as a straight-through listen, it works. The Motown-followed-by-Atlantic tracks are 'overplayed' for many of us too, but again - and I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of these heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week.  

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1962" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. 

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1962

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

1. I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) - BARBARA GEORGE with the A.F.O. STUDIO COMBO (A.F.O. 302)

2. Letter Full Of Tears - GLADYS KNIGHT and THE PIPS (Fury 1054) 

3. Let Me In - THE SENSATIONS (Argo 5405) 

4. Duke Of Earl - GENE CHANDLER (Vee Jay VJ 416)

5. Cry To Me - SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2131)

6. Something's Got A Hold On Me - ETTA JAMES with the RILEY HAMPTON ORCHESTRA (Argo 5409)

7. I Found A Love - THE FALCONS & BAND (Ohio Untouchables) (Lu Pine Productions L-1003) [Features Wilson Pickett on Lead Vocals]

8. You Better Move On - ARTHUR ALEXANDER (Dot 16309)

9. Soul Twist - KING CURTIS & THE NOBLE KNIGHTS (Enjoy 1000)

10. Lover Please - CLYDE McPHATTER (Mercury 71941)

11. Soldier Boy - THE SHIRELLES ((Scepter 1228)

12. Any Day Now (My Beautiful Wild Bird) - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 122)

13. Night Train - JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES (King 5614)

14. Snap Your Fingers - JOE HENDERSON (Todd 1072)

15. Playboy - THE MARVELETTES (Tamla T 54060)

16. I Need Your Loving - DON GARDINER and DEE DEE FORD (Fire 508)

17. Twist And Shout - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (Wand 124) 

18. Boom Boom - JOHN LEE HOOKER (Vee Jay VJ 438)

19. The Loco-Motion - LITTLE EVA (Dimension 1000)

20. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'s (Volt 102 - Reissued on Stax 127)

21. You Beat Me to the Punch - MARY WELLS with Vocal Accompaniment THE LOVE-TONES

22. Do You Love Me - THE CONTOURS (Gordy G-7005) 

23. Stormy Monday Blues - BOBBY BLAND (Duke 355)

24. Up On The Roof - THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2162)

25. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - MARVIN GAYE Vocal Accompaniment The Vandellas (Tamla T-54068)

26. Release Me - ESTHER PHILLIPS ("Little Esther") (Lenox NX-5555)

27. Chains - THE COOKIES (Dimension 1002)
28. I've Got A Woman, Part 1 - JIMMY McGRIFF (Jell 190/Sue 770) [a Ray Charles cover]

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

“Black & Blue” by LITTLE SONNY. A Review Of His Rare 1972 Album On The Stax Affiliate Label “Enterprise” Now Reissued And Remastered Onto CD In 1992.

"…I’m Goin’ Home…Where Women Got Some Meat On Their Bones…"

Little Sonny (real name Aaron Willis) is an Alabama born blues harmonica player not surprisingly often confused with Sonny Boy Williamson (the Chess Records harmonica player) because of his chosen instrument and his nickname. Little Sonny is less well known than his more famous mentor from Tennessee, but nonetheless produced some great records that deserve your attention – especially if you like your Blues with a Funky feel.

Just approaching his Forties, Willis started a trio of albums for Stax and its subsidiary label Enterprise in the early Seventies. “New King Of Blues Harmonica” came first in 1970 with “Hard Goin’ Up” being number three in 1973 (it charted Stateside). “Black & Blue” is the one in the middle – released in 1972 on Enterprise ENS 1018 in the USA – and then remastered and reissued onto this now rare US-only CD in 1992.

His backup band for the album was TOMMY WILLIAMS on Tenor And Baritone Saxophones, RON GORDEN on Organ, BOBBY MANUEL and EDDIE WALLIS on Guitars with WILLIAM HALL on Drums. The Horns were arranged and played by THE BAR-KAYS and production handled by ZORN PRODUCTIONS and AL BELL (Tracks 3, 4, 7 and 9). The tapes were remastered by PHIL DE LANCIE at the Fantasy Studios in the USA and the sound quality is great – full, clear and with muscle where it’s needed. There’s no compression and virtually no hiss.

Stax SCD-8575-2 breaks down as follows (37:35 minutes):

Side 1:
1. Hung Up [Little Sonny writer]
2. Sonny's Fever (Instrumental) [Little Sonny writer]
3. You Got A Good Thing [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
4. A Woman Named Trouble [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
5. Honest I Do [Jimmy Reed cover]
6. Wade In The Water (Instrumental) [Traditional Song cover]
Side 2:
1. Paying Through The Nose [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
2. Memphis B-K (Instrumental) [Little Sonny writer]
3. Where Women Got Meat On Their Bones [Bettye Crutcher/Bobby Manuel writers]
4. I Found Love [Arzel Hill writer]
5. They Want Money [Little Sonny writer]

Musically “Black & Blue” in the vein of Albert King blues except that a harmonica and brass are to the fore rather than a guitar – and more Funk-Soul than Blues. Gems include the funky and irresistible opener “Hung Up” and the ABC-Dunhill Bobby Bland 1970-‘s feel of “You Got A Good Thing” which was issued as a 45 on Enterprise ENA-9034 in 1971 in the States with “A Woman Named Trouble” as its B-side.

As you can see from the track list above, there are 3 instrumentals – each of them has been huge on the dancefloor circuit of the UK. “Wade In The Water” is faster and funkier than the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Marlena Shaw versions of 1966 and not surprisingly has become a Mod favourite – turning up on those cool Ace/Kent CD compilations and BGP LP releases (Beats Goes Public). The hand-clapping harmonica funk of “Memphis B-K” has graced Luv N’ Haight compilations – a sure sign of quality – and on top of all this is one of the great unsung lady-heroes of Soul and Funk – BETTYE CRUTCHER – whose song-writing has made many a Stax platter shine with wit and talent (the lyrics to “Where Women Got Meat On Their Bones” title this review).

So there you have it, a cool little album that’s short but oh so sweet. And although it’s rare and may cost – it’s absolutely worth you seeking out – especially given the quality of the tunes and the fab remastered sound…

"Slow Flux/Hour Of The Wolf/Skullduggery" by STEPPENWOLF (February 2010 Friday Music 2CD Reissue and Remaster of LPs from 1974, 1975 and 1977) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Hundreds of Others Is Available In My

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CLASSIC 1970s ROCK and POP
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £7.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Time Is Wasting…Gotta Get Into The Wind…"

This superb 2CD set gives you three rare albums on Mums and Epic from the Seventies by STEPPENWOLF after their initial stay at ABC/Dunhill Records (1974, 1975 and 1977) - all of which have been hard to find up until now on any format.

Released February 2010 - "Slow Flux/Hour Of The Wolf/Skullduggery" by STEPPENWOLF on Friday Music FRM 2010 (Barcode 0829421210122) offers 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (45:05 minutes):

1. Gang War Blues

2. Children Of Night

3. Justice Don’t Be Slow

4. Get Into The Wind

5. Jereboah

6. Straight Shootin’ Woman

7. Smokey Factory Blues

8. Morning Blue

9. A Fool’s Fantasy

10. Fishin’ In The Dark

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Slow Flux" issued September 1974 in the USA on Mums PZ 33093 and October 1974 in the UK on Mums S MUMS 80358

Disc 2 (71:51 minutes):

1. Caroline (Are You Ready

2. Annie, Annie Over

3. Two For The Love Of One

4. Just For Tonight

5. Hard Rock Rock

6. Someone Told A Lie

7. Another’s Lifetime

8. Mr. Penny Pincher

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Hour Of The Wolf" issued September 1975 in the USA on Epic PE 33583 and in the UK on Mums SMUMS 69151

9. Skullduggery

10. (I’m A) Road Runner

11. Rock ’n’ Roll Song

12. Train Of Thought

13. Life Is A Gamble

14. Pass It On

15. Sleep

16. Lip Service

Tracks 9 to 16 are the album "Skullduggery" issued May 1977 in the USA on Epic PE 34120 and in the UK on Epic EPC 81328

The original Epic/Sony master tapes have been remastered and the sound is huge (if not a little hissy on the "Slow Flux" album). Overall the sound is far better than I expected it to be - clean, clear and ballsy. The foldout inlay merely reproduces the album sleeves front and rear with a small liner note on the back inlay which is visible through the see-through tray.

Musically - JOHN KAY the lead vocalist still dominated all the albums with his fantastic rasping vocals and heartfelt lyrics. But many fans and outsiders had felt Steppenwolf were way past their prime in the Seventies - I would argue not so. They were just a different kind of band to the trailblazers of "Steppenwolf" and "Steppenwolf The Second" from the late Sixties. These 1970's platters were actually more to do with funky rock than straight up hard rock. Even some of the ballads are excellent - "Just For Tonight" from "Hour Of The Wolf" is particularly good. And I've always loved the pumping "Hard Rock Road" and the funky-as-fuck "Get Into The Wind" from "Slow Flux" (lyrics above).

So there you have it. It's not all genius of course, but for fans this fully featured 2CD set is a long-overdue wish fulfilled - especially given the excellent remastered sound...