"Givin' It Back" by THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1997 Epic/Legacy ‘Rhythm & Soul’ CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

and 

"...If You Can't Be With The One You Love...Love The One You're With..."

Originally released on LP in September 1971 in the USA on T-Neck TNS 2008 as an album entirely made up of cover versions - "Givin' It Back" by THE ISLEY BROTHERS is one of those Soul Nuggets that seems to have slipped through way too many nets. Because I'd argue that it's an absolute friggin' masterpiece - and one you need to own. Here are my Soulful interpretations...

1. Ohio/Machine Gun [Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young/Jimi Hendrix covers - segued as one track - 9:13 minutes]

2. Fire And Rain [James Taylor cover - 5:29 minutes]

3. Lay Lady Lay [Bob Dylan cover - 10:22 minutes]

4. Spill The Wine [War cover] – Side 2

5. Nothin' To Do But Today [Stephen Stills cover]

6. Cold Bologna [Bill Withers cover - also features BW on Guitar]

7. Love The One You're With [Stephen Stills cover]

Tracks 1 to 7 are the studio LP "Givin' It Back" – released September 1971 in the USA on T-Neck Records TNS-3008 (no UK release). It peaked at No. 13 on the US R&B charts.

The 1st reissue of it onto CD came as part of Epic's "Legacy Rhythm & Soul Series" in June 1997 on Epic/Legacy 487513 2 (Barcode 5099748751324) - a straightforward remaster with no bonus tracks and a 12-page booklet (41:56 minutes). The liner notes are by CLAYTON RILEY (did booklets for Legacy reissues on Gamble & Huff and Phyllis Hyman) and the mastering is by TOM RUFF at Sony. The sound quality is wonderful - power and clarity that leaps out of the speakers at you without being trebled up the nines for the sake of it. It's a superb remaster and adds hugely to your enjoyment of the music.

Containing only 7 tracks - all of which were cover versions of contemporary Rock & Soul acts of the day - it was a good idea to begin with because whenever the Isley Brothers got their chops around other people's tunes - they always seemed to bring more to them - even outdo them at times. The album opens with a stunning double-whammy - the running together of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Ohio" with Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun". Combining a truly impassioned vocal from Ronnie Isley with Ernest Isley's Prince-like lead guitar - "Ohio" (written by Neil Young) chronicles the shooting dead of 4 students at Kent University in April 1970 who were protesting peacefully against the Vietnam War. It's impossible not to be moved by it. At one point Ronnie screams, "...Tell Me Why!" against the mantra of "...Four Dead In Ohio..." sung in the background. It's a nine-minute Soul powerhouse that brings customers to the counter in Reckless every single time we play it - amazing stuff.

Next up is James Taylor's "Fire And Rain" completely reworked into a different Soul groove with a clever echoed-vocal on the lead. The pace is funky-slow to start with - then at about 2 minutes - the acoustic guitars kick in (similar to the opening of "Harvest For The World") and it brings the song to life. It still retains the languid and melancholic vibe of the original, but now extends it into a five and half minute Soul workout. It's lovely stuff and a brilliant reinterpretation. Side 1 of the original LP then ends with a cover of Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" which at 10:21 minutes length and none-too-different arrangements - sounds nice - but probably overstays its welcome a bit.

Side 2 opens with a cover of War's "Spill The Wine" which was lifted as 7" single on T-Neck 932 (its B-side was "Take Inventory" from the 1970 album "Get Into Something"). It sticks close to that great War sound, but it's also superb in its slinky delivery. It's followed with the first of two Stephen Stills covers from his debut "Stephen Stills" album (1970) - "Nothing To Do But Today" and the superlative "Love The One You're With". The first is funked-up as only the Isleys can (great track) - while their take on the sublime "Love The One You're With" arguably outshines the original (lyrics above). The curio in the seven is a Bill Withers original called "Cold Bologna" which also features the great man himself on Lead Guitar. As far as I'm aware it's not on any of Bill's studio albums (there's a version on the classic 2LP set "Live At Carnegie Hall") and is therefore an exclusive here.

Since its initial release, this original CD has become something of a pricey rarity. However, it's available cheaply in the 2008 5CD "Original Classic Albums" mini box set along with other gems like "Brother, Brother, Brother" from 1972 and "3 + 3" from 1973. The mini box set gives you 5 card repro sleeves (the other 2 albums are "The Brothers: Isley" and "Get Into Something" - both from 1970) with the liner notes downloadable from Sony's website. See separate review.

To sum up - "Givin' It Back" is a criminally forgotten release - a ridiculously good album that cries out for rediscovery. Get it whatever way you can and enjoy...

"Back Stabbers" by O'JAYS (2011 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

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"...Please Don't Miss This Train..."

Reissued by Big Break Records of the UK (also known as BBR) – their Internet blurb claims to have 'lovingly remastered' the O’JAYS famous album “Back Stabbers” for a new audience. And one minute into this amazing remaster and I know they're right. I've loved this fabulous Soul platter to distraction for decades and what a blast it is to finally hear it sound 'so' good. Let's get to the 'people all over the world' details right away...

UK released in June 2011 – "Back Stabbers" by O’JAYS on Big Break Records CDBBR 0051 (Barcode 5013929035126) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of their 1972 album with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (49:07 minutes):

1. When The World’s At Peace

2. Back Stabbers

3. Who Am I

4. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky

5. Time To Get Down

6. 992 Arguments [Side 2]

7. Listen To The Clock On The Wall

8. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind Of People

9. Sunshine

10. Love Train

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Back Stabbers" - originally released September 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 31712 and October 1972 in the UK on CBS Records S 65257 (it peaked at Number 3 on the US R&B charts in October 1972). It was reissued March 1973 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65932.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. 992 Arguments (7" Single Edit) - 2:24 minutes (the full album version is 6:10 minutes)

12. Love Train (Tom Moulton Mix) - a remix from 1977 running to 6:15 minutes (the album version is 3:03 minutes).

Housed in one those 'Deluxe' rounded jewel cases, the superlative 16-page booklet has a knowledgeable and hugely affection essay on the Group, Philly and the album's making by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE. It includes interviews with surviving members of the group (Eddie Levert), shows Foreign picture sleeves, UK and US trade adverts, 7" single labels and other promo photos - it's very well done and a lovely read. But the really great news is the sound...

Remastered from the first generation master tapes by WAYNE A. DICKSON at the BBR Mastering Studios - the sound quality is mindblowingly good. To put this into a context - I've had the 1996 Columbia 'Legacy' CD of this album to have the music, but I've always found their issues to be very hit and miss. Take the criminally forgotten beautiful ballad "Who Am I". The sound upgrade from 1996 to this is vast - the song has HUGE feeling to it now and isn't trebled up the nines for effect either. It's warm, present and a joy to listen to. The same apples to the big singles we've probably all heard one-to-many times - "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" (lyrics above). It comes as a genuine shock to hear them here - how good they sound - it's like meeting old friends you've missed. I can't praise this remaster enough. 

Content - for most people "Back Stabbers" is the beginning of the Philly Sound - both on 7" single and LP. Nearly 40 years after the event - even its front sleeve portraying the 3 Canton, Ohio Soul boys (Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell) has become iconic and instantly recognisable. Musically the LP was an embarrassment of riches too featuring a lethal crew of staff writers penning all the ace dancers and ballads - Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurst and of course the dynamic duo themselves - Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff (who also produced). Loaded with hits, 8 of its 10 tracks made it onto 45s and this CD reissue will allow you to sequence all of them as follows:

1. Back Stabbers b/w Sunshine (June 1972 USA, September 1972 UK)

2. 992 Arguments b/w Listen To The Clock On The Wall (October 1972 USA, November 1972 UK)

3. Love Train b/w Who Am I (December 1972 USA, February 1973 UK)

4. Time To Get Down b/w Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind Of People (April 1973 USA, May 1973 UK)

Other highlights are the funky opener "When The World's At Peace" - reflecting the political and social turmoil of the time - and the vibes and strings mellowness of the lovely "Sunshine" - boasting an aching heartfelt vocal.

To sum up - BBR dedicate this reissue to songwriters McFadden & Whitehead and William Powell - one of the original group members who sadly died of cancer in 1977 aged only 35. Well - in my books - they've done the absolute business by him and opened up The O'Jays recorded legacy for a new generation. Is this an upgrade you must own – absolutely…

Along with the launch of "Stax Remasters" (see review for "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" by The Staple Singers) - this is one my Soul Reissues Of 2011.

PS: I’ve reviewed these Big Break Records (BBR) CDs – all quality remasters:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

11. I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

12. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

13. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

14. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

15. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

16. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

17. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

18. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

29. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

30. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

31. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

32. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

33. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

34. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

35. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

36. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"McLemore Avenue” by BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S. A Review Of The 1970 Album Now Remastered With Bonus Tracks On A 2011 "Stax Remasters" CD.

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"...Here Comes The Sun King..."

Like "Electric Mud" by Muddy Waters, "McLemore Avenue" by Booker T. & The M.G.'s divided fans and critics alike at the time of release - and has done so ever since. Some call it a masterpiece - even visionary - while others see it as little more than an opportunistic cash-in that only half worked in Stax's otherwise impressively individualistic canon of releases.

More than 40 years after the event - I think it's fair enough to call it a bit of both - good and bad (much like this new reissue actually). Here are the details...

Released May 2011 - "McLemore Avenue" by BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S on Concord Music Group, Inc 0888072328747 (Barcode 888072328747) is an 'Expanded Edition' with Six Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows (59:03 minutes):

1. Medley: Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End/Here Comes The Sun/Come Together

2. Something

3. Because/You Never Give Me Your Money

4. Medley: Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam/She Came In Through The Bathroom Window/I Want You (She's So Heavy)

Tracks 1 to 4 are the album "McLemore Avenue" released April 1970 in the USA on Stax Records STS 2027 and July 1970 in the UK on Stax SXATS 1031

BONUS TRACKS: 

5. You Can't Do That

6. Day Tripper 

7. Michelle 

8. Eleanor Rigby

9. Lady Madonna 

10. You Can't Do That (Alternate Take)  

Tracks 5 to 10 are all Beatles covers - 5 and 6 are from the 1960 album "Soul Men" - Tracks 7 and 9 are from the 1969 album "The Booker T. Set" - Track 8 is from the 1968 album "Soul Limbo" - while track 10 is a PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Alternate Take) of "You Can't Do That" recorded in 1960.

The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by ASHLEY KHAN (author of books on the recording career of John Coltrane and Miles Davis). You also get the original artwork and production credits, a collage of 2 photos on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the disc itself pictures the group too. But it's a shame the booklet doesn't go any further - there's no new photos, no memorabilia - not even a picture of the lone 7" single of "Something" (US or UK). It makes the inlay feel workmanlike at best - even a little dull - when it should have spread its wings a little. But the big news is the SOUND...

I bought and recently reviewed another title in this new "Stax Remasters" series - "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" by The Staples Singers and I duly raved about the fabulous sound quality on that after years of lacklustre reissues in jewel cases and repro digipaks. This is the same. 24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes by JOE TARANTINO at Joe Tarantino Mastering in Berkeley, California - the audio quality is truly GORGEOUS - absolutely incredible clarity that will make you reassess every song. 

To the music - it probably seemed like a good idea at the time - "McLemore Avenue" would cover the recently released "Abbey Road" album by The Beatles (September 1969) and do it all in that distinctive Booker T & The M.G.'s instrumental style. They even aped the famous UK album sleeve and wittily called it after the street on which the Stax Studios resided in Memphis.  They also realigned the 17-songs of the original LP into four new tracks - three lengthy Medleys and one straight up shorter cover of "Something" (which was actually released as a 45 on both sides of the pond to some success). The problem for me is that of the four tracks only two really work - "Something" and the "Because/You Never Give Me Your Money" Medley. The playing and clever interpretation on each is superb. On the other two however - I feel the band sounds way too close to a poor man's Procol Harum without the vocals. But again I must reiterate that if you have any affection for these songs, you 'need' to hear them on this stunningly good new remaster.

Of the five bonus covers - the best is undoubtedly Track 5 - the first version of "You Can't Do That" (from "A Hard Day's Night") - it's really excellent. Unfortunately the cuts of "Day Tripper", "Michelle" and "Lady Madonna" don't fare so well - barely rising above a bar-band doing cheesy Lounge versions of famous Beatles songs - it's not good. The last track is an (Alternate Take) of "You Can't Do That" which is a lot rougher than the first and not as good either.

Too sum up - I wasn't prepared for two things on this reissue - the truly astonishingly remaster by Joe Tarantino - and secondly how it transformed the listen and made me reassess what I had formerly thought of as an anomaly - an LP on Stax best avoided.

If you're a fan of the record - this is no-brainer - it's an absolute must-own. If you're like me and aren't particularly bothered, I'd still say give "Something" and the "Because/You Never Give Me Your Money" Medley a try on iTunes - you'll be more than impressed...

Titles in the "STAX REMASTERS" Series are (all reviewed):

1. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (1962) 

3 September 2012 UK CD on Barcode 888072339606

2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (1970)

10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328747

3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)

13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331778 

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)

13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331761

5. Born Under A Bad Sign – ALBERT KING (1967)

June 2013 UK CD on Barcode 888072343344

6. I'll Play The Blues For You - ALBERT KING (1972)

22 May 2012 UK CD on Barcode 888072337169 

7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)

10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328761

8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)

10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328754

9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)

13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331785