"The Lost Motown Album" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR (June 2015 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review for Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 315 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2023 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00MTCDTWS&asins=B00MTCDTWS&linkId=f95dca2244c8856012cccc3c6c25fff6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

RATING: *****

 

"...How Sweet He Is..."

Motown lovers/aficionados will be licking their lips in glee on this one – and with damn good reason. Supposed to have been issued on the Motown subsidiary label Soul SS-722 in early 1971 – the vinyl album "How Sweet He Is" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR was cancelled at the last minute and unceremoniously pulled from the schedules – thereafter remaining a sought-after holy grail for label collectors and lovers of quality Soul.

Five of the 12 cuts made it onto American 7" singles and a further three tracks later turned up on various European CD compilations in the Nineties and Naughties (see lists below). But what's so exciting about this 2015 CD reissue is that researchers for Ace Records of the UK went back into the vaults looking for the album and its associated B-sides and found 'dozens' of outtakes of an extremely high quality. Hence this Expanded CD Remaster gives you the whole 12-track album intact at last and in gorgeous remastered audio – along with a whopping 13 Bonus Tracks - 10 of which are Previously Unreleased. It’s a bit of a reissue sensation really. Here are the vaulted details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "The Lost Motown Album" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 434 (Barcode 029667243421) is a 25-track CD compilation and breaks down as follows (77:28 minutes):

1. Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy

2. Just Another Lonely Night

3. If This World Were Mine

4. A Little Too Much

5. We Can Work It Out

6. Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love)

7. On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World

8. Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me)

9. I'm Gonna Carry On

10. I Feel Like I’m Falling In Love Again

11. You Turn Me Around

12. I Just Can't Forget About You Baby

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "How Sweet He Is" by The Fantastic Four - reputedly scheduled for American release in early 1971 on Soul SS-722 but cancelled...

"Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy" and "Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love)" were first released in August 2010 on the CD compilation "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" (Motown 882 4009). The cover version of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine" first appeared on the September 1998 CD compilation "Motown Sings Motown Treasures" (Motown 530 960 2).

Three US 7" singles on the Soul Label were issued around the aborted album as follows:

1. I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again b/w Pin Point It Down

Released 13 March 1969 in the USA on Soul 35058 (No UK equivalent)

The version of "I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love" on the album is Stereo at 3:09 minutes – the Mono Single edit at 2:48 minutes can be found on the 2007 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969". The B-side was non-album and is track 15 on this CD compilation.

2. Just Another Lonely Night b/w Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me)

Released 23 September 1969 in the USA on Soul 35065 (No UK equivalent)

The versions on the album are Stereo at 3:04 and 3:01 minutes respectively. The Mono single mixes at 2:54 and 3:12 minutes can be found on the 2007 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969".

3. On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World b/w I'm Gonna Carry On

Released 23 April 1970 in the USA on Soul 35072 (No UK Equivalent)

The versions on the album are Stereo at 3:57 and 2:56 minutes respectively. The Mono single edits at 2:48 and 2:45 minutes respectively are available on the 2008 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10: 1970"

BONUS TRACKS:

13. How Big Is Your Heart

14. It Keeps Raining Down Tears

15. Pin Point It Down

16. Loving You (Is Hurting Me)

17. I've Found My Goal

18. Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy

19. Fan The Flame

20. In A Bad Way

21. I Hate Myself For Loving You

22. I'm Still A Struggling Man

23. Forgive My Jealousy

24. I Shall Not Be Moved

25. The Double Cross

"Loving You (Is Hurting Me)" first appeared on the October 2007 CD compilation "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 3" (Motown 530 3228 2). "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" first appeared June 2003 on the CD compilation "Tamla Motown Connoisseurs, Volume 2" (Spectrum 067 016 2).

The booklet firstly has 4-pages of detailed track-by-track breakdowns – Producers, Recording Dates, Overdubs etc – followed by 8-pages of new liner notes from Soul Expert and long-time Ace associate TONY ROUNCE (a name that’s graced probably hundreds of reissues). The text is peppered with repros of those rare Soul labels (American white label promos too) along with a few publicity shots of the four lads – (Brothers) Joe and Ralph Pruitt, Toby Childs and lead Vocalist "Sweet" James Epps.

Hailing out of Michigan's Detroit - this Soul Group's history with Motown was a frustrating one. Moving on from the small-time independent of Ric Tic to the now mighty Motown must have seemed like a logical step but it turned out to be one of missed opportunities and a career staler (they had further hits in the mid to late Seventies with Westbound Records). Of the 11 singles The Fantastic Four released on Ric Tic Records between 1966 and 1968 – they charted an impressive five (with "The Whole World Is A Stage" going as high as Number 6). But newly signed to Motown - apart from "I Love You Madly" on Soul 35052 which managed Number 10 on the American R&B charts in May 1969 – the band couldn’t get arrested on Berry Gordy's Mothership. And it wasn’t because they lacked the vocals – out front was one of Soul Music’s truly great (unheralded) voices – "Sweet" JAMES EPPS (he's on the far right of the photo). Weighing in at a sizeable poundage – he looks like Solomon Burke but has the sweet pipes of Eddie Ruffin crossed with Ben E. King. This guy has 'SWEET SOUL' in his vocal chords like James Brown has 'HEAVY FUNK' hotwired into his very DNA. It’s now fairly clear that the album title was going to centre around Epps’ name – How "Sweet" He Is – but compiler TONY ROUNCE speculates that perhaps Motown had intended for him to go Solo. Whatever happened – we’re left with the musical legacy...so let’s get to that...

You’re hit with two pleasing elements on first hearing the Side 1 opener "Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy" – the quality of the NICK ROBBINS Remaster and the gruff edge of Epps fantastic voice. This is classy sophisticated late Sixties Soul (the song traces back as far as April 1967 for its backing track with overdub vocals added in 1969). By the time you get to the warm and lovely strings of "This World Is Mine" (Stereo Version) – the vocals are as touching as Soul singing gets. Heartache and drinking pour out of "A Little Too Much" – once again his voice backed up by "too much" chants from the boys. The cover of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" is good rather than great for me but far better is "On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World" which is a typically grieving Motown mid-tempo tune with clever use of a harpsichord. You also notice the omnipresent talents of Producers Al Kent and Bobby Taylor – each of their Productions reeking of that suave Soul sophistication that seemed effortless to the label in the late Sixties. The whole album holds up very well and leaves you wondering why pull such a classy collection...

Of the bonuses there’s a non-album B-side in "Pin Point It Down" – two CD compilation exposures for "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)" and "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" in 2003 and 2007 respectively – and the rest are new for 2015. Things get off to a very promising start with "How Big Is Your Heart" – a shoe in surely for some Northern Soul compilation to come – where Epps sounds so like Eddie Kendricks letting rip. But genuinely gorgeous comes in the form of "It Keeps Raining Down Tears" – a smoocher about walking in the park before his baby says goodbye. The B-side is fab too as are so many of the others...

In their 40th Anniversary Year of reissues – "The Lost Motown Album" by The Fantastic Four is a wonderful release from Ace's Kent Soul label imprint – the kind of CD that only reaffirms why this brilliant reissue company has been beloved by collectors for four solid decades. Way to go boys and a Reissue of the Year for 2015...

CD Reissues (to July 2015) by ACE RECORDS covering the MOTOWN label:

1. Dance With The Contours – THE CONTOURS (March 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 350)
2. Just A Little Misunderstanding: Rare And Unissued Motown 1965-68 - THE CONTOURS and DENNIS EDWARDS (June 2014, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 419)
3. The Lost Motown Album – THE FANTASTIC FOUR (June 2015, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 434)
4. It Moves Me: The Complete Recordings 1958-1964 - EDDIE HOLLAND (January 2012 2CD Set, Ace CDTOP2 1331)
5. The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway with Bonus Tracks from The Motown Vaults - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (November 2013, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 406)
6. Love & Desire: The Patrice Holloway Anthology  – PATRICE HOLLOWAY (June 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 354)
7. I’ll Pick A Rose For My Rose: The Complete Motown Recordings 1964-1971 - MARV JOHNSON (April 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 351)
8. Here Comes...The Complete Motown Stereo Masters - SHORTY LONG (March 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 369)
9. Say You! The Motown Anthology 1963-1968 - THE MONITORS (June 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 355)
10. The Complete Motown and Tamla Singles Plus – THE SATINTONES (April 2010, Ace Deluxe CDLUX 002)
11. Truly Yours: Their First Motown Album With Bonus Tracks 1963-1967 - THE SPINNERS (June 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 371)
12. Finders Keepers: Motown Girls 1961-1967 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (March 2013, Ace CDTOP 1364)
13. Satisfaction Guaranteed: Motown Guys 1961-69 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (October 2014, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 424)
14. The One Who Really Loves You/Two Lovers: Two Classic Motown Albums - MARY WELLS (December 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 387)

"Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" by MAN (2007 and 2014 Esoteric Recordings EXPANDED CD REISSUE Of Their 1972 LP on United Artists) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Map Of Wales..."

With its elaborate laminate gatefold sleeve and gorgeously illustrated pop-up "Map Of Wales" inner (which is reproduced both sides as a separate sheet and housed in a pouch on the left flap of this CD digipak) - Man’s sixth studio album "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" on United Artists used to be a stalwart of secondhand record shops – along with other faves like 1974's "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" and "Slow Motion". It remains a fan favourite and a good entry point into the more stoner rock elements of this fondly remembered Welsh Prog Rock band...

Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have afforded the 1972 record a lavish CD reissue that comes resplendent with two instrumental extras (there’s also a digital download version available). And in truth - having not listened to my vinyl copy in many decades – I’d forgotten how good this 4-track beast actually is. Here are the self-flagellating details...

UK released November 2007 (reissued June 2014) – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2019 (Barcode 5013929711921) pans out as follows (65:23 minutes):

1. C'mon (11:05 minutes)
2. Keep On Crinting  (8:18 minutes)
3. Bananas (9:28 minutes) [Side 2]
4. Life On The Road (7:18 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 4 are the studio album "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" by MAN – released November 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29417 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA077-F.

BONUS TRACKS:
5. Bananas (Early Instrumental Version) (7:05 minutes)
6. Rockfield Jam (3:14 minutes)

MAN was:
Guitars & Vocals - MICKY JONES
Guitars & Vocals – CLIVE JOHN
Keyboards & Vocals – PHIL RYAN
Bass & Vocals – WILL YOUATT
Drums and Percussion – TERRY WILLIAMS

The three-way foldout digipak holds a 16-page booklet in the right flap and the repro'd "Map Of Wales - Man's Family Jungle" pop-up in the left. There are breakdowns of everyone’s backgrounds and which bands they all came from or migrated into (their revolving door line-up touched upon a huge number of British bands like The Grease Band, Pete Brown’s Piblokto, Badfinger, Gentle Giant and Eyes Of Blue – to name but a few). The booklet has new and witty liner notes by long-standing band member DEKE LEONARD explained how the group kicked him out as Lead Guitarist for this album and brought on board MICKY JONES instead. The text and reminiscences are peppered by memorabilia – a 'aveMANana' button, a Sundown stage pass from September 1972, an October 1972 ticket stub, January to February UK tour dates advertised in one of the trade newspapers of the time, on stage and in the studio photos and other items of 1972/1973 note. It’s very tastefully done.

But the big news is a new remaster from original tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE – a name associated with a whole slew of much-praised Prog Rock CD reissues – the Polydor, Decca, Deram, Island and Vertigo 3CD Mini Box Sets on Universal (I've reviewed all of them – see my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1960s and 1970s Volume 1" Book for full and detailed reviews). BEN WISEMAN and head honcho at Esoteric MARK POWELL remastered the bonus cuts – again from 8-track master tapes. The audio is fantastic – really bringing out the duelling guitars – the bass is warm too – but I’d say that the Terry Williams drums lack a certain something. They’re way back in the mix and I don’t know if that’s just the way they were recorded in July of 1972 at Rockfield Studios (produced by Dave Edmunds) or something that can’t be made better in the transfer. For instance on "Bananas" at about 2:40 when the song goes into that beautiful keyboard solo – not surprisingly the keyboard pings are to the fore as are the chiming guitars left and right – but you’re also aware that the rhythm seems to be in the background distance – just a little too much.

The album opens with "C'mon" – a sort of boogie riff that builds and builds – lyrics first "get up!" – guitar battles – then about three minutes in – it suddenly slows like a Yes magnum opus would and goes into this slow marching pace bluesy/trippy passage where the Phil Ryan keyboards suddenly add this whole extra Prog Rock dimension to the song – and it doesn’t quit for the whole eleven-minute duration. It's actually a magnificent passage of music – very 1970s – but also very good. Finishing Side of the original vinyl LP - "Keep On Crinting" is an instrumental that lasts a paltry seven minutes  - but is still a huge part of the MAN set playlist to this day. It’s probably one of their most musical Prog pieces – the guitars counter-melody off each other – and this time at least you can hear the drums. Side 2 gives us a perennial that no MAN concert can be without – "Bananas". Again the guitars do battle and are very much to the fore in the mix – the drums once again pushed back when you wish they had more oomph. The Ten Years After chugging-boogie of "Life On The Road" ends the record in style ("...ain't got no money...living in a caravan..."). Thankfully the guitars and rhythm are in-your-face this time (in a good way) – in fact it feels like The Allman Brothers have sent up camp in Pontypridd...

At first I thought the first Bonus Track "Rockfield Jam" a rather pointless instrumental of just over three minutes that showcases some good guitar playing but otherwise remains a bit disappointing. But the bugger’s actually grown on me. Genuinely better however is the Alternate Early Version of a huge fan fave – "Bananas". This early version is minus the lyrics about marijuana that used to thrill audiences so. It’s a couple of minutes shorter than the final album cut but still has that great guitar battle/duet thing going on for its duration – it’s a genuinely superb bonus.

So there you have it – "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" is a wicked early Seventies Rock album that’s been done a proper solid by a reissue label that cares.

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010. Esoteric have reissued and remastered the entire MAN catalogue in the same upgraded manner with full co-operation from the band (see list below) and I’ve reviewed 4, 6, 9 and 10 to date.

Esoteric Recordings MAN discography is as follows:
1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)
2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)
3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)
4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)
5. Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)
6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (November 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with "Map Of Wales" insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)
7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)
8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)
9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)
10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)
11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)
12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)
13. All's Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 (Discs 2 and 3) newly mixed from the 24-track tapes. There is also a repro of the "History Of Man" insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)

"Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2015 Ace/Kent Soul CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Gettin' Back Into Circulation..."

The first volume in this series "Dore L.A. Soul Sides" issued in April 2014 – caused a bit of a stir amongst lovers of Sixties Soul (Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 417). With a tasty stew of 24 more cut from the same Soul cloth (2 Previously Unreleased) – Volume 2 is likely to elicit just as much affection and excitement (even if the audio is not as sharp as one would have hoped for). Here are the elusive West Coast details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 433 (Barcode 029667243322) is a 24-track CD compilation and fleshes out as follows (65:03 minutes):

1. Getting’ Back Into Circulation – THE ENTERTAINERS IV (2015 Previously Unreleased Remix of a 1965 USA 7” single on Dore 759, A)

2. I’m Givin’ You Notice Baby – THE FIDELS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 761, A)

3. What Did You Gain By That? – KENARD (1970 USA 7” single on Dore 848, A)

4. Wind In My Sails – THE SUPERBS (1972 USA 7” single on Dore 872, A)

5. Funny With my Stuff – THE NATURAL RESOURCES UNPOLLUTED (1971 USA 7” single on Dore 854, A)

6. Pictures In My Window – EDDIE WILLIAMS (1970 USA 7” single on Dore 839, A)

7. That’s What Love Will Do – MILTON JAMES (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 767, A)

8. I Wanna Chance – THE VOWS (1962 USA 7” single on Markay 103, A)

9. I Want You – DEE TORRES (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 762, A)

10. My Pillow – THE DARLINGS (1963 USA 7” single on Dore 677, A)

11. We Together Baby – SMOKY & THE BEARS (1967 USA 7” single on Dore 790, A)

12. Keep On Movin’ – LITTLE JOHNNY HAMILTON & THE CREATORS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 760, A)

13. The Girl That I Loved – BOBBY & EDDIE UNLIMITED (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 809, A)

14. Nitty Gritty City – THE SWANS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 777, A)

15. I Only Cry Once A Day Now – THE PUFFS (1966 USA 7” single on Dore 757, A)

16. Goddess Of Love – THE SUPERBS (1965 USA 7” single on Dore 739, A)

17. Nothing Lasts Forever – THE NATURAL RESOURCES (1969 USA 7” single on Dore 1003, A)

18. Just Ain’t My Day – THE ENTERTAINERS IV (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 802, A)

19. Stuffin’ The Bird – RAMLING WLLIE & THE EUOPHONICS (1976 USA 7” single on Dore 918, A)

20. Just A Little Ugly – GAIL ANDERSON (1981 USA 7” single on Dore 973, A)

21. This Girl Is A Good Girl – JOHNNY BRAFF (1975 USA 7” single on 904, A)

22. Saigon To San Francisco – TOUSSAINT McCALL (2015 Previously Unreleased Dore Recording)

23. As I Sit Here – THE WHISPERS (1965 USA 7” single on Dore 740, A)

24. I Look In The Mirror – EDDIE KOOL (1968 USA 7” single on Dore 807, A)

Notes:

Tracks 1 and 22 are Previously Unreleased – all tracks are MONO except 1, 19, 20 and 22 – which are STEREO

The 16-page booklet by long-standing Northern Soul expert and lover ADY CROASDELL and gives a track-by-track history of what’s what and who slept with who...while NICK ROBBINS has done the remasters. There are label repros of rare American 45s for Dore, Nu-Sound, Mackay, Dee Dee Sounds  and Burn Records as well as publicity shots of Little Johnny Hamilton and The Superbs as well as a Trade Advert for The Whispers from April 1968. Tasteful and informative...

It opens with a devastating one-two - both of which are likely to send Northern Soul aficionados (and dancers in general) into something of a lather – an alternate mix of “Gettin’ Back Into Circulation” by The Entertainers IV and the Motown brass-belter “I’m Givin’ You Notice Baby” by The Fidels. I can’t imagine what they cost as 45s but I’m thinking there wouldn’t be much change from a month’s salary (each). We then enter the realm of the genuinely strange – a Soul song that sounds more like some bizarre socially conscious message tune sung by Kenard (lead singer with The Entertainers). Many thought it was never released – it’s rougher than the preceding tracks but is included for its £1000+ rarity value. The Superbs have had their Kent-Soul “Best Of” CD compilation (CDKEND 417) and their “What Did You Gain By That” is another talcum-powder shuffle.

The pace ups with the 1971 “Funky With My Stuff” which is very Shaft influenced (and in a good way). Flicking back to 1966 “Pictures In My Window” by Eddie Williams feels epic too but suffers from what seems to have an ever so slight pitch wobble. The Milton James cut is worse sounding like it was mastered from a stretched tape. Things pick audio-wise with the very Smokey Robinson vocal group feel to “I Wanna Chance” – a lovely mixture of Girl-Group and Soul. That same feel continues with “I Want You” by Dee Torres where the guitar almost feels like Hank Marvin of The Shadows doing Soul with another vocalist at the mike.  Identikit to “Louie Louie” – “We Together Baby” by Smoky & The Bears is a great dancing instrumental that packs a mean punch. Although it’s good – “Keep On Movin’” again sounds ever so slightly bootleg – but I can hear why its been included (very Mayfield). Another winner is “Nitty Gritty City” by The Swans as is the truly funky instrumental “Stuffin’ The Bird”. Traditional Vocal Groups warmth wafts over you as The Whispers do “As I Sit Here” – quite possibly the loveliest track on here.

It’s not all genius for sure and unfortunately the Audio really dips on quite a few tracks – but the feel of a 'discovery' hangs over so many of the more Soulful sides. Kent-Soul buyers will love it...

"Blowing The Fuse - 26 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox In 1945" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2004 Bear Family CD Compilation, Volume 1 of 16, Jurgen Crasser Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Went Downtown To Buy You Some Hair...As The Good Lord Never Gave You None..."

Bear Family's truly fabulous "Blowing The Fuse" series of CD compilations chronicles the transition of minority ghettoized Blues into national Rhythm 'n' Blues and stretches across 16 individual single-disc volumes that cover the years 1945 to 1960. Released across 2004 and 2005 –"Blowing The Fuse" was then followed in 2008 and 2009 by Bear’s equally magnificent "Sweet Soul Music" series of 15 sets from 1961 to 1975 - complimented in turn by their spiritual and musical partners - 15 volumes of Vocal Group sets called "Street Corner Symphonies" covering 1939 to 1963 (released 2012 and 2013). I suppose you could argue that I just say, "Buy the lot man!" in a very loud voice - but bluntly they're so good - each deserves a thorough review (and that’s what I’ve done). So here goes with Volume 1 of the R&B Series "Blowing The Fuse"…

"Blowing The Fuse - 26 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox In 1945" is on Bear Family BCD 16700 AS (Barcode 4000127167002) and was released November 2004 in Germany. Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures an original record relevant to the year (1945 has "Harlem Nocturne" by Johnny Otis on Savoy), the centre flap holds a 70 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 15 volumes of "Sweet Soul Music" and "Street Corner Symphonies" - each of the "Blowing The Fuse" spines makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a fantastic black & white shot of a crowd of hip dudes and their gals dancing at some Saturday night bar). As you can see from the cover photos of these compilations too, the theme of people dancing and artists enjoying themselves is repeated right across all of these wonderfully restored photographs (they're from The Showtime Music Archive in Toronto). Siding the text and black/white publicity photos are uber rare trade adverts and of course those equally scarce 78’s in their lovely label bags. This 1945 issue has 72-pages in its booklet and the CD runs to a fulsome 78:06 minutes.

THE SOUND and TRACK CHOICES:

Sourcing the best disc available (or occasional tape) Bear’s Audio Engineer genius JURGEN CRASSER has mastered each cut with care. Depending on the condition of the disc – the audio varies wildly - and as you can imagine it’s a case of astonishingly clean transfer one moment and hiss & cackle-laden version the next. Overall though I’m more than pleased with what I’m hearing...all of it imbibed with huge musical and lyrical talent and a sheer sense of to "hell-with-it-all!" – let's have some fun...

THE BOOKLET:

The booklet is to die for. There's an intro on Page 4 with the text for the songs beginning on Page 5 and ending on Page 70, so there's almost no wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, and every now and then, a beautiful page plate of lesser-seen trade adverts, or a rare 78” in its label bag (long ago American Record labels like Majestic, Bluebird, Victor, Decca, Exclusive, Philo and others). Each song then has an essay on its history by noted writer COLIN ESCOTT 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.

THE SONGS:

Volume 1 of 16 opens with what many believe to be the first Independent R&B release of importance – the lo-fi but emotionally charged "I Wonder" by the returned WW II soldier from Tennessee Private Cecil Gant. It was recorded by other bigger names that year under more professional studio circumstances – but something in Gant’s garage-recorded version tapped into the longing of the populace after the war and made it a No. 1 hit on the Harlem Parade (Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin recorded versions of it years later). There’s a hint of the 78" being played but the audio is surely best ever for this historic recording.

Speaking of impressive audio - the Louis Jordan cut "Caldonia" is incredibly clean and full of vim - as is the stunning Blues of "Things Have Changed" by T-Bone Walker and "Left A Good Deal In Mobile" by Herb Jeffries – but the acoustic and piano boogie of Sister Rosetta Tharpe is covered in cackle (that doesn’t mean it isn’t brilliant and actually one of the highlights on here). Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "Rock Me Mamma" is beautifully clear and powerful for it. The hilarious Lucky Millinder boozy parable "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well" where Deacon Jones wants his sinners to repent (but first he's got to find out whose spiking his holy water font) occupies the middle ground. The track features Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris on his debut vocal and audio-wise is a half-way house – some clicking and clacking on the vocal passages but thereafter mostly clean. The World War II brass laden shuffle of "That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch" by Buddy Johnson features a cautionary vocal by Ella Johnson about wandering eyes that lead to wandering hands...

Other winners include the Hadda Brooks boogie-woogie piano instrumental "Swingin' The Boogie" – a happy song that transcends its rough transfer. Piano blues kicks in with the fabulous “Things Have Changed” from Big Maceo (real name Major Merriweather) with superb sound – very Curtis Jones (Tampa Red plays the guitar). Criminally unacknowledged great R&B voice comes in the shapely warm tones of Herb Jeffries who recorded "Left A Good Deal In Mobile" apparently as the same session as the legendary "Honeydripper" track by Joe Liggins (also on this disc). I love, love, love "I'll Be Home Soon" by The Golden Gate Quartet - a vocal group in the vein of the Ink Spots. Think the beginning of The Shawshank Redemption where Andy sits in his car drunk listening to the radio about to commit a crime he'll pay for forever  - the song has beautiful deep longing tones and none other than Elvis Presley instinctively knew that it would suit his vocals (he does a gorgeous version of "I'll Be Home Soon" on his 1960 RCA album masterpiece "Elvis Is Back"). It's more Vocal Groups than driving R&B but I applaud its inclusion here. "I Ain't Mad At You Pretty Baby" was written by Gatemouth Moore about a woman who whacked her lover in a drunken tiff across the face with her stiletto and out popped the song title. Favourites include the Joe Turner boppin feel to "Be-Baba-Leba" by Helen Humes - which is very Little Esther territory and the instrumental finisher "Beulah's Boogie" which like Glenn Miller announces that the battles are over and its time to dance...

To sum up - even though they were initially expensive as imports - as the years have gone by they've gone down in price (some online retailers via Amazon or eBay are selling them for about £8.50). But I can't help thinking that once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked and need to own the lot. 

For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of R&B Music for a given year - "1945" is 'the' place to start. I've collected the whole set...and they're amongst my favourite reissues...

TRACK LIST for "Blowing The Fuse - 1949" (78:06 minutes):

Volume 1 of 16

Song Title, ARTIST (Record Label and US 78” Catalogue Number, A-Side or B-Side)

1. I Wonder – PRIVATE CECIL GANT (Gilt Edge 500, A)

2. Somebody's Gotta Go – COOTIE WILLIAMS and his Orchestra (Vocals by Eddie Vinson) (Majestic 7184, A)

3. S.K. Blues, Part 1 – JOE TURNER with Pete Johnson’s All Stars (National 9010, A)

4. Tippin' In – ERSKIN HAWKINS and his Orchestra (Victor 20-1639, A)

5. Strange Things Happening Every Day – SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (Decca 8669, A)

6. Rock Me Mamma – ARTHUR "Big Boy" CRUDUP (Bluebird 34-0705, A and reissued on Victor 20-2976, A)

7. V Day Stomp – THE FOUR CLEFS (Vocal Refrain by Johnny Green) (Victor 20-1656, A)

8.  Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well? – LUCKY MILLINDER and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Wynonie 'Mr. Blues' Harris and Congregation) (Decca 18674, A)

9. Caldonia – LOUIS JORDAN and His Tympany Five (Decca 8670, A)

10. Boogie Woogie On A Saturday Nite – FIVE RED CAPS (Joe Davis 7133, A)

11. That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch – BUDDY JOHNSON and His Orchestra (Decca 8671, A)

12. I Will Be Home Again – GOLDEN GATE QUARTET (Okeh 6741, A)

13. The Honeydripper, Part 1 – JOE LIGGINS and His Honeydrippers (Exclusive Master Series 207, A)

14. Jimmy's Blues – COUNT BASIE and His Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Jimmy Rushing) (Columbia 36831, A)

15. Swingin' The Boogie – HADDA BROOKS (Modern 102, A)

16. Sail On Boogie – T-BONE WALKER with Marl Young and his Orchestra (Rhumboogie 4000, B-side of “I’m Still In Love With You”)

17. Things Have Changed – BIG MACEO (Bluebird 34-0735, A)

18. Left A Good Deal In Mobile – HERB JEFFRIES with Joe Liggins' Honeydrippers (Exclusive 208, A)

19. I Ain't Mad At You Pretty Baby – GATEMOUTH MOORE with Dallas Bartley and his Small Town Boys (National 6001, A)

20. Blues At Sunrise – "IVORY" JOE HUNTER with Johnny Moore’s 3 Blazers (Ivory 56, A, and Exclusive Master Series 209, A and further reissued on Dot 1036, A)

21. Baby Look At You – WYNONIE 'Blues' HARRIS with Jack McVea and his All Stars (Apollo 361, A)

22. Be-Baba-Leba – HELEN HUMES with the Bill Doggett Octet (Philo P 106, A and Aladdin 106, A)

23. Harlem Nocturne – JOHNNY OTIS, his drums and his Orchestra (Excelsior 142, A)

24. Garfield Avenue Blues – JAY McSHANN and the Sextet (Premier 29010, A, and reissued on Mercury 8002, A)

25. If It's Good – JULIA LEE with the Tommy Douglas Orchestra (Premier 29012, A, reissued on Mercury 8005, A)

26. Beulah's Boogie – LIONEL HAMPTON and his Orchestra (Decca 18719, A)