"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 4: 1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Won't You Have Mercy Baby..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. 'Have Mercy Baby' because 'This Is Where The Heartaches Begin' if you know what I’m saying 'Rockin' Daddy-O'....

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 4: 1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17282 AR (Barcode 4000127172822) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 85:21 minutes):

1. Have Mercy Baby – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12068, A)

2. The Wheel Of Fortune – THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 958, A)

3. Be True – THE VOCALEERS (Red Robin 113, A)

4. Baby Don't Do It – THE '5' ROYALES with Charlie Ferguson – His Tenor and Orchestra (Apollo 443, A)

5. That's When Your Heartaches Begin – BILLY BUNN and HIS BUDDIES (RCA Victor 20-4657, A)

6. One Mint Julep – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 963, A)

7. But I Forgive You – THE SERENADERS (Coral 65093, A)

8. Every Beat Of My Heart – THE ROYALS (Federal 12064, A)

9. Rock Me All Night Long – THE RAVENS (Mercury 8291, A)

10. Hold Me – THE LARKS featuring Eugene Mumford (Apollo 1194, A)

11. That's The Way It's Gonna Be – THE FOUR KNIGHTS (Capitol 2195, A)

12. Beside You – THE SWALLOWS (King 4525, A)

13. You're Part Of Me – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 845, A)

14. Don't Cry Baby – THE ORIOLES with Buddy Lucas Orchestra (Jubilee 5092, A)

15. Let's Give Love Another Chance – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 20-4968, A)

16. The Last Of The Good Rocking Men – THE FOUR JACKS (Federal 12087, A)

17. Make Me Thrill Again – THE MARYLANDERS with Buddy Lucas and His Band Of Tomorrow (Jubilee 5091, A)

18. Rug Cutter – THE FOUR BLAZES (United 127, A)

19.  Don't Be Angry – THE SULTANS (Jubilee 5077, B-side to “Blues At Dawn”)

20. A Beggar For Your Kisses – THE DIAMONDS (Atlantic 981, A)

21. Can’t Do Sixty No More – THE DU-DROPPERS with Ben Smith’s Quintet (Red Robin 108, A)

22. I've Lost – THE ENCHANTERS (Jubilee 5080, A)

23. Flame In My Heart – THE CHECKERS (King 4558, A)

24. Serve Another Round – THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3158, A)

25. One More Time – THE MEL-O-DOTS featuring Ricky Wells (Apollo 1192, A)

26. You're My Inspiration – THE FIVE CROWNS (Rainbow 179, A)

27. Rockin' Daddy-O – THE HEARTBREAKERS (RCA Victor 20-4662, A)

28. Later – THE FOUR FLAMES (Speciality 429, A)

29. That's What You're Doing To Me – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12059, A)

30. Stormy Weather – THE FIVE SHARPS (Jubilee 5104, A)

31. Ting-A-Ling – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 969, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 77 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 45 labels like Atlantic, Red Robin, King, Jubilee, Savoy, Mercury, RCA-Victor, Coral, Apollo and Specialty (one pic is the uber rare 'red vinyl' version of "Baby Don't Do It" by The '5' Royales on Apollo which books at $400.00) and an occasional trade advert (The Four Buddies at the Circle Theatre in October 1952). The CD repros the rare "Don’t Be Angry" by The Sultans on Jubilee and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 31 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 85:21 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. It's also noticeable how many are Independent labels without whom none of this fabulous music would have seen the light of day. It opens on an upbeat R&B tip with the fantastic boogie of "Have Mercy Baby" by The Dominoes lead by the vocals of the legendary Clyde McPhatter. It was a smash and a huge influence on the young Smokey Robinson who explains in the liner notes how McPhatter's high voice (which seemed to win over the girls) gave him hope. "Wheel Of Fortune" is a known Atlantic Vocal Groups rarity and here it sounds spiffing (really clean). "Be True" by The Vocaleers is a pleader while the shuffling boogie of "Baby Don't Do It" by The '5' Royales is classy R&B. "That's Where Your Heartaches Begin" sounds like a post WWII smoocher – a gorgeous vocal by Billy Bunn who clearly admired The Ink Spots the most.

If I was to pinpoint one song on here that shows up how good the Audio Transfer is – it would be the beautifully recorded "Every Beat Of My Heart" by The Royals (written by Johnny Otis). It's just Lead Baritone Charles Sutton and the close harmony voices of The Royals and a tiny amount of chimes. It sold nada on release and is correspondingly rare as the proverbial hen's molars with a stock copy booked at $1500 while a blue vinyl version will set you back a paltry $3000. And here it is sounded minty fresh. "Hold Me" by The Larks is equally lovely with a top vocal from Eugene Mumford. A welcome upping of the pace comes with The Four Knights and their R&B "That's The Way It's Gonna Be" (a bit rough on the audio though) and then back to pleaders from The Swallows and The Four Buddies. There can't be too many genre enthusiasts who don't hear The Orioles and get a bit weak at the knees – but actually better is the genius inclusion of "Let's Give Love Another Chance" by The Four Tunes where the velvet immaculate voice of Baritone William Best (who also doubled on Guitar) makes the song (this is seriously classy stuff).

Although the transfer is a little rough - I'm loving "The Last Of The Good Rocking Men" – a fantastic R&B shuffler very similar to "Sixty Minute Man" by The Dominoes only with Will 'Dub' Jones on Lead Vocals (the actual lead is the deep voiced Ellison White who used to be with The Wings Over Jordan Choir). What a find and I can completely understand its inclusion despite the crackle. "Rug Cutter" is a Duke Ellington cover by The Four Blazes sounding not unlike Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – wickedly enjoyable. We then get a masterpiece of the genre and a flipside rarity – "Don't Be Angry" by The Sultans (written by Lead Vocalist Clyde Wright). On release it was hooked up with a faster "Blues At Dawn" on the A - but it's the B that draws gasps and I'm not surprised this beautiful pleader ("...don't be angry...let me stay") commands $800+ on the collector’s market. Love the witty R&B dancer "Can't Do Sixty No More" by The Du Droppers where our hero advises his woman that even though he loves her he can’t do that speed anymore...so a short thirty minutes will have to suffice (oh dear).

"Flame In My Heart" and "Serve Another Round" by The Checkers and The Five Keys are Vocal Group and R&B – even if the Five Keys track is a bit rough around the transfer edges. Time to dance with The Mel-O-Dots and The Dominoes who give us infectious boppers "One More Time" and "That's What You're Doing To Me" where Clyde tells us he's "...gonna rock...gonna roll..." - and who am I to disagree. The Five Sharps cut is very rough ("Stormy Weather") clearly dubbed from a worn disc - but the finisher is the wickedly cool and altogether better-sounding "Ting-A-Ling” by The Clovers On Atlantic. To sum up – a hugely enjoyable entry in the series of 15 with many standout moments – the kind of compilation enthusiasts will love.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear... 

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 3: 1951" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Lemon Squeezing Daddy..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. You get 32 tracks and a genre-expanding total playing time of 89:05 minutes – some kind of record I think. So let’s talk about 'The Glory Of Love' with our 'Lemon Squeezing Daddy'...if I might be so bold...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 3: 1951" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17281 AR (Barcode 4000127172815) breaks down as follows (I've provided American 78" catalogue numbers on all tracks – 89:05 minutes):

1. Sixty-Minute Man – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12022, A)

2. The Glory Of Love – THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3099, A)

3. Sweet Slumber – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 779, A)

4. Don't You Know I Love You – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 934, A)

5. Will You Be Mine – THE SWALLOWS (King 4458, A)

6. Baby Please Don't Go – THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 5065, A)

7. Gotta Find My Baby – THE RAVENS (Columbia 39194, A)

8. My Reverie – THE LARKS (Apollo 1184, A)

9. Shouldn't I Know? – THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 938, A)

10. Wine – THE HOLLYWOOD'S FOUR FLAMES (unique 003/Fidelity 3001, A)

11. Where Are You (Now That I Need You) – THE MELLO-MOODS with The Schubert Swanston Trio (Robin 105, A)

12. Who'll Be The Fool From Now On – THE MARSHALL BROTHERS (Savoy 825, A)

13. That's What The Good Book Says – BOBBY NUNN with The Robbins (Modern 807, B-side of "Rockin'")

14. I'm Afraid – BILLY BUNN and His Buddies (RCA Victor 20-4483, A)

15. Asking – THE CAP-TANS (Coral 65071)

16. Lemon Squeezing Daddy – THE SULTANS (Jubilee 5054, A)

17. Heartbreaker – THE HEARTBREAKERS (RCA Victor 20-4327, A)

18. My Dear – THE FOUR DOTS (Dot 1043, B-side of “You Won’t Le Me Go”)

19. Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues – THE FOUR KNIGHTS (Capitol 1707, A)

20. Little Small Town Girl (With The Big Town Dreams) – THE BLENDERS (Decca 27403, A)

21. I Guess You're Satisfied – THE VICTORIANS (Specialty 411, A)

22. I Gotta Go Now – THE RHYTHM KINGS with Isaac Royal & Orchestra (Apollo 1181, A)

23. Just In Case You Change Your Mind – THE 4 DEEP TONES (Coral 65061, A)

24. How Blind Can You Be – THE FALCONS featuring Goldie Boots (Regent 1041, A)

25. Give Me One More Chance – THE ROYALS (Apollo 434, A)

26. Honey Chile – THE DRIFTERS (Excelsior 1314, A)

27. I'll Try To Forget I Loved You – THE VARIETEERS (MGM 10888, A)

28. Rain Is The Teardrops Of Angels – KING ODOM FOUR (Derby 757, A)

29. Would I Mind – STEVE GIBSON and The Original Red Caps (RCA Victor 50-0138, A)

30. May That Day Never Came – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 2200131, A)

31. Fool, Fool, Fool – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 944, A)

32. I Am With You – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12039, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 78 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 78 and 45 labels like Columbia, Apollo, Unique, Robin, Savoy, Dot, RCA Victor, Excelsior, Coral, Regent and Specialty. There is an occasional other photo (a neon of The Robins at the Savoy Ballroom for gigs on the 2, 3 and 4 of July) and a trade advert (The Tingling Harmony of The Four Tunes). The CD repros the rare "Just In Case You Change Your Mind" by The 4 Deep Tones on Coral and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 32 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 89:05 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. It opens with the sublime crossover smash "Sixty-Minute Man" by The Dominoes – one of the wittiest and sexiest of R 'n' B tunes that must have slayed them in the aisles back in the day – the girls screaming as Bill Brown advises them 'to come up and see old Dan' for his one-hour wonder session. We immediately melt into proper Vocal Group magic with the deep harmonies and warmth of "The Glory Of Love" where we "...got to cry a little...and laugh a little..." in order to appreciate the glories of being head-over-heels. We get further sappy sleepyhead with "Sweet Slumber" by The Four Buddies (sounding beautifully clear despite its age) while the slinky 'Don't You Know I Love You" shows why collectors adore the sheer class of The Clovers – surely one of Atlantic's best 50ts R&B acts. Uber rare and sounding awesome is "Will You Be Mine" by The Swallows featuring the sweet Lead of Eddie Rich joined half-way through by Norris 'Bunky' Mack. Perennial favourite of every bar-boogie band that's every existed – Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go" gets a Vocal Group going over by The Orioles (and again sounds fabulous).

"...Well, well...I came home this morning just about the break of dawn...the house was empty...all the pillows was gone..." There can't be any genre lovers who don't get weak at the knees at the deep-as-an-ocean voice of Jimmy Ricks going at a jaunty R&B number backed by The Ravens – what a treat! You’re then hit with a double whammy of vocal-group loveliness - "My Reverie" from The Larks and "Shouldn’t I Know?" by The Cardinals – both sounding glorious and massively evocative of the age. We get boozy with The Hollywood's Four Flames on their drink some "Wine" dancer that is followed by the sombre echo of The Mello-Moods and their cautionary tale of love. Worse - The Marshall Brothers warn us that she may have "...found someone new..." - unforgiveable frankly.

Genius songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller get their first ever record credit on the flipside of a Bobby Nunn 78" – "That's What The Good Book Says" – accompanied by The Robins (misspelt of the label as The Robbins). All the hallmarks of their witty rocking R&B is there – the irresistible rhythm and those great words hat just seem to roll off the tongue "...Noah was taking that brim and mixing it with wine...having himself a real crazy time..." It's followed by a gorgeous inclusion – "I'm Afraid" by Billy Bunn who's crying high falsetto was described by RCA Victor as their answer to Johnnie Ray – and on the strength of this wonderfully evocative smoocher – you have to say that RV weren't talking trash. Chimes lead in Sherman Buckner's unique vocal twinge on the weepy "I'm Asking" as he wonders what made his gal cry (his royalty cheques maybe) - only to have that innocence trounced by the decidedly fruity "Lemon Squeezing Daddy" from The Sultans where Clyde Wright tells us that out in California they grow big and round (whatever can that nice boy be talking about). Gorgeous Audio greets dear listeners for the genre-defining "Heartbreaker" by The Heartbreakers where you can just see five guys in matching suits standing under lampposts singing out their warning to all the ladies – "...I'm a heartbreaker from now on..." (many women in the district packed in relationships for good after this). Clearly dubbed from a very old Dot 78" - "My Dear" by The Four Dots is not just here for sheer rarity value - but because it’s a genuine lost beauty (you wish there was a better take of it).

But best track on the whole compilation may very well be the brilliant "Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues" - a cover of the Les Paul B-side to "How High The Moon" - also from 1951) that does what it says on the tin. You get footsteps acting as the backdrop while the voices go "ooh" throughout and then Lead Tenor Gene Alford starts whistling after his smooth as velvet lines. It's the kind of nugget that will surely turn in some hip TV program soon where a man with a Fedora or Pork-Pie Hat tips the rim at the camera before he shoots someone who deserves his comeuppance. As if "Walkin'..." isn’t sweet surprise enough – you're then hit with another gorgeous winner – the lovely and lilting "Little Small Town Girl (With The Big Town Dreams)" fronted by the beautiful voice of Ollie Jones of The Ravens (what a total peach - it's going on a CD compilation of mine right now). More R&B boppers come in the shape of the organ-driving "I Gotta Go Now" by The Rhythm Kings and "Honey Chile" by The Drifters. Rough transfers include the impossibly rare "I Guess You're Satisfied" (the Specialty 45 is pictured on Page 51) and "Just In Case You Change Your Mind" by The 4 Deep Tones. Final genius inclusion is the beautiful (almost Ink Spots feel to) "Rain Is The Teardrops Of Angels" by the unlikely sounding King Odom Four (what a sweetheart of a tune). Then it all ends on two winners fans will surely own already – "Fool, Fool, Fool" by Atlantic's The Clovers and "I Am With You" by The Dominoes with Clyde McPhatter warbling a goodun (both sounding better than anything I've had them on before)...

To sum up – I hadn't really expected to enjoy this 1951 instalment as much as I have but it's typical of these compilations – surprises and discoveries that floor you. Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. But Bear Family will argue '...not in this sound quality or looking this good...' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by an independent record company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 2: 1950" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…If You See The Tears In My Eyes..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. You get 30 tracks and a genre-expanding total playing time of 83:04 minutes. So let’s talk about a 'Cool Saturday Night' where you're so romantically enamoured with your gal that you'll practically beg the boss at the Fire Station to 'Chief, Turn The Hose On Me'...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 2: 1950" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17280 AR (Barcode 4000127172808) breaks down as follows (I've provided American 78" catalogue numbers on all tracks – 83:04 minutes):

1. Count Every Star – THE RAVENS (National 9111, A)

2. Turkey Hop, Part 1 – THE JOHNNY OTIS ORCHESTRA – Vocal By: The Robins (Savoy 732, A)

3. I'd Rather Be Wrong Than Blue – THE BEAVERS (Coral 65026, A)

4. Do Something For Me – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12001, A)

5. When You Come Back To Me – THE CLOVERS (Rainbow 122, B-side to "Yes Sir, That’s My Baby")

6. Chief, Turn The Hose On Me – THE CAP-TANS (Dot 1018, A)

7. If You See The Tears In My Eyes – THE DELTA RHYTHM BOYS (Atlantic 900, A)

8. At Night – THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 5025, A)

9. Jumping Jack – THE THREE RIFFS (Apollo 1164, A)

10. I'll Never Love Anyone Else – STEVE GIBSON and The Red Caps (Mercury 5380, A)

11. I've Got No Time – THE WHISPERS (Apollo 1156, A)

12. I Will Wait – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 769, A)

13. Old Fashioned Love – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 22-0085, A)

14. Cool Saturday Night – THE STRIDERS (Apollo 1159, A)

15. Do You Love Me – THE CATS and THE FIDDLE (Gotham 239, A)

16. I Don't Mind Being All Alone – THE COLEMANS (Regal 3297, A)

17. Gone (My Baby’s Gone) – THE BLENDERS (Decca 48156, A)

18. I’ll Never, Never Let You Go – THE SHADOWS (Sittin' In With 583, A)

19. She's Gone – THE DOZIER BOYS (Aristocrat 409, A)

20. As Long As I Live – THE FOUR BLUES (Apollo 1160, A)

21. I Don't Have To Ride No More – THE RAVENS (National 9101, A)

22. Mr. Blues – THE MASTERKEYS (Abbey 3017, A)

23. Please Believe In Me – THE CAROLS (Columbia 30210, A)

24. Nevertheless – THE MILLS BROTHERS (Decca 27253, A)

25. My Heart Cries For You – THE 5 LARKS (Apollo 1177, A)

26. Young Girl – THE FLAMES (Selective 113, A)

27. Who Is There To Blame – THE FOUR ACES (4 Star 1408, A)

28. Love Come Back To Me – KING ODOM FOUR (Derby 736, A)

29. Rival Blues – THE RIVALS (Apollo 1166, A)

30. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes – THE JUBALAIRES (Capitol 845, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 78 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 78s like Savoy, Derby, Apollo, Abbey, National, Sittin’ In With, Rainbow and Dot and a solitary advert poster for The Cats And The Fiddle. The CD repros the rare "Turkey Hop, Part 1" by The Johnny Otis Orchestra on Savoy and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 30 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 83:04 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. 1950 opens with the "...Da Da Dum..." of "Count Every Star" by The Ravens - the stunning vocals of Louis Heywood out front instead of Jimmy Ricks who provided the Bass lines (classy NYC vocal group sounding gorgeous too). We up a gear for "Turkey Hop" with its R&B shuffle – Bobby Nunn giving it some Bass while the band saxophone shimmies through the later half of this excellent shuffler. Clearly dubbed from a 78" – the audio on the lovely "I'd Rather Be Wrong Than Blue" is still amazing – featuring a beautiful central tenor vocal from Freddy Hamilton that gives us "...you make me tick...you make me tock...just like my grandfather's clock..." Clyde McPhatter sails out of your speakers for "Do Something For Me" while the rest of The Dominoes give it some classy "ooh" in the background. Uber rare flipside "When You Come Back To Me" by The Clovers is a million miles away from their usual rocking Atlantic Records fare – it features the high as a steeple vocals of Johnny 'Buddy' Bailey and came out on the tiny independent Rainbow Records – hardly surprising then that its ballad magic is booked at a cool $1,500. Lead Tenor Sherman Buckner of The Cap-Tan's wants an immediate watering down in "Chief, Turn The Hose On Me" because he’s developed a temperature of 1000 degrees since he kissed his baby (methinks she’s hot).

Old-fashioned harmonies dominate two lovelies in a row – "If You See The Tears In My Eyes" by The Delta Rhythm Boys and "At Night" by The Orioles – both emotionally hopeless pleaders. Time to bop when The Three Rifts want you to do the "Jumping Jack" – and irresistible saxophones and piano boogie will make sure you comply. Worse sounding track has to be "I'll Never Love Anyone Else" by Steve Gibson & The Red Caps clearly taken from a wrecked disc – but it's so rarely ever heard – inclusion is a clever choice. The audio immediately leaps into the startling with "I've Got No Time" by The Whispers where the unknown Lead Vocalist sounds like Brook Benton in full-on wooing mode (what a lovely tune). More audio excellence follows in the charming and innocent "I Will Wait" by The Four Buddies where Leon 'Larry' Harrison puts in a stunning vocal backed by the "oohs and aahs" of his singing pals and a simple guitar (a brilliant choice by the compilers).

Impossible romantic yet not cloying in any way – the gorgeous "Old Fashioned Love" by The Four Tunes is wonderful stuff up until they inexplicably punch up the pace to fast half way through it and ruin the loving vibe created in the first half. The chant of "Ping, ping, ping..." time opens "Cool Saturday Night" where the weather is not on the minds of The Striders - pining like muppets in a local park for their gals. Rough transfer for "I Don't Mind Being All Alone" by The Colemans (still a pretty song though) while romance dominates "I'll Never, Never Let You Go" by The Shadows and the swooning "As Long As I Live" by The Four Blues where the Lead Vocalist assures us that "...love sees with the heart and not the mind..." (so he ain't going nowhere). "...Daddy why should you roam...when everything you want is right here at home..." sings Jimmy Ricks in the saucy "I Don't Have To Ride No More" by The Ravens (I hope that boy’s listening). More bopping fun comes in the shape of "Mr. Blues" by The Masterkeys where the group want Mister Blues to come back and Hucklebuck some more (and shout too if he feels up to it).

Undiluted genius arrives with The Mills Brothers (a colour photo of them adorns Page 57) and a beautifully transferred "Nevertheless" where they croon those immortal opening lines "...Maybe I'm right and maybe I'm wrong and maybe I'm weak and maybe I'm strong...but nevertheless I'm in love with you..." The audio on this truly lovely song is reference – congrats to all involved. And on it goes with more crooners in "Young Girl" by The Flames, "Who Is There To Blame" by The Four Aces and "Lover Come Back To Me" by King Odom Four. It has to be said that the last few cuts mentioned and "Rival Blues" by The Rivals that follows them are all dubbed from badly worn discs – so don't expect miracles on the Audio front. It ends on a real high though - a wistful winner from The Jubalaires called "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" where the boys happily advise all to "...have faith in your dreams...and your rainbow will come smiling through..." - I say amen to that.

To sum up – 1950 seemed to be dominated by smoochers and pleaders telling us of their undying fidelity and commitment so this is probably the most out-and-out 'romantic' compilation in the series so far. By the time you get to 1951 and onwards - lewd naughtiness and rambunctious behaviour was creeping in and people were having more fun (thank Gawd). Having said that - the run is broken up nicely with just enough fun R&B dancers to make it enjoyable – even if some of those transfers are rough. Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. But Bear Family will argue '...not in this sound quality or looking this good...' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by an independent record company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"A Third Of A Lifetime" by THREE MAN ARMY [feat Adrian and Paul Gurvitz and Buddy Miles] (2016 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded CD' Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Take Your Fun While You Can..." 

Sandwiched between late 60ts GUN on CBS Records, the early 70ts solo years of PARRISH and GURVITZ on Regal Zonophone and finally 1974's BAKER GURVITZ ARMY with GINGER BAKER on Vertigo is the completely but unfairly overlooked interim group THREE MAN ARMY featuring the musical link between them all – the dynamic brother-duo of ADRIAN and PAUL CURTIS (or GURVITZ as they became known).

Three Man Army's rather good little debut album "A Third Of A Lifetime" from 1971 on B&C's short-lived offshoot label Pegasus Records has built up a serious rep amongst collectors – so its 2016 CD reissue in real style by England's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) is good news for fans and lovers of Classic Seventies Rock. Let's get to those gun-totting Wah Wah Pedals and Moody Mellotrons...

UK released Friday 29 July 2016 (August 2016 in the USA) - "A Third Of A Lifetime" by THREE MAN ARMY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2558 (Barcode 5013929465848) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of their 1971 debut LP with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (59:41 minutes):

1. Butter Queen

2. Daze

3. Another Day

4. A Third Of A Lifetime

5. Nice One

6. Three Man Army [Side 2]

7. Agent Man

8. See What I Took

9. Midnight

10. Together

Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut LP "A Third Of A Lifetime" - released October 1971 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 3. Produced by LOU REIZNER - It didn't chart.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. What's Your Name

12. Travellin'

Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-album A&B-sides of a November 1971 UK 7" single on Pegasus Records PGS 1

THREE MAN ARMY was:

ADRIAN CURTIS (GURVITZ) - Guitar, Organ, Mellotron and Vocals

PAUL CURTIS (GURVITZ) - Bass and Vocals

MIKE KELLY - Drums

BUDDY MILES - Drums on "Butter Queen", Bass on "Nice One" and Organ on "Midnight"

Arranged and compiled by MARK and VICKY POWELL - the 16-page booklet repro's the original gatefold artwork of the rare Pegasus vinyl LP across its front and rear (the three black and white photos of the boys playing live that were on the inner gatefold sleeve are also reproduced in the booklet) and features new liner notes of the band's history by noted writer MALCOLM DOME. There's discussion on the brothers beginnings as The Knack which morphed into Gun which went into the self-titled solo Parrish-Gurvitz album in 1971 (produced by George Martin) - through the Three Man Army years and eventually ending up to at The Baker Gurvitz Army where they shared much mayhem and music with Cream's legendary drummer - Ginger Baker. But the big news is a superlative new 24-bit CD Remaster by BEN WISEMAN at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire - very clear - full of power and presence without ever feeling over amped for the sake of it...

The 'gun and guitar' artwork of their first platter (care of Terry Pastor) clearly gave a nod back to those early CBS days of GUN – promising mucho Guitar pyrotechnics amidst the occasional Prog-like tune. And that's pretty much what you get here - the new band also benefitting greatly from BUDDY MILES guesting on Drums, Bass and Organ. It opens with a speaker-rattling "Butter Queen" where Curtis seems determined to show how fast he can play guitar whilst Mike Kelly tries to keep up. "Daze" calms things down for a few moments before going into Man-like guitar soloing while "Another Day" is excellent Seventies Rock - funkier than most but still keeping it melodic. The Instrumental Acoustic title track has gorgeous Audio (such a lovely tune) and sees both strings and Mellotron come floating in like they're auditioning for a Procol Harum 45 or the woodwind section of ELO. I also dig "Agent Man" - five minutes of Funky Acoustic Rock where Adrian's prowess isn’t without doubt - but his quest to play in a group is hampered by the so-called professionals he needs to get into a decent band...

My introduction to this album came via a search for Funky Soulful Rock Instrumentals and the fabulous slink of "Midnight" jumped off the album - a kind of Brian Auger meets Jeff Beck guitar work out with sexy Organ passages from Buddy Miles (normally plays the drums and was with Hendrix). The song "Midnight” is a winner but even that cool wonder is trumped by "Together" - a very melodic Prog finale. The six and half-minute tune eases in at first with gentle Acoustic Guitars and a floating Mellotron note - Adrian singing about longing to live on a ship with his lady to escape it all. Way more mellow Moody Blues than hard-hitting Cream - it's the guitar flourishes that kick in at about 3:35 (after a silent Genesis type passage) that impresses hugely - where I'm reminded of Barclay James Harvest in their early Harvest Records days.

Even now THREE MAN ARMY are an obscurity – they sold jack zip on release - their albums have always been hard to find - and of late increasingly pricey. It isn’t undiluted genius – but this Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue and Remaster is typical of their commitment to getting rarities out there is quality form. Both fans and the curious should dive in…

"L.A. Turnaround" by BERT JANSCH (2009 EMI/Charisma 'Expanded & Enhanced' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Let The Sunshine In..."

After eight years with Transatlantic (1965 to 1971) and a brief flit with Reprise Records for "Moonshine" in 1972 - Pentangle's gifted Guitar Player and perennial folky BERT JANSCH recorded three albums with Tony Stratton Smith's Charisma Records - all beloved, revered and absent from CD for decades - 1974's "L.A. Turnaround", 1975's "Santa Barbara Honeymoon" and 1977's "A Rare Conundrum".

All three of these rare and sought-after UK vinyl originals have been given a digital dust-up by Charisma (now part of EMI) and reissued/remastered with Bonus Tracks and Enhanced CD Video. And what a tasty job they've done too. In fact I'd argue you need the lot (never enough Bert in our house) - but if I was to zero in on just one for the house-is-burning-down arm pile - then you'd have to say that this melodic peach should be singled out. Here's one to let the sunshine in...

UK released June 2009 - "L.A. Turnaround" by BERT JANSCH on EMI/Charisma CASCDX 1090 (Barcode 5099996486306) is an 'Extended & Enhanced' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks and an 'ECD Section' (three of the Bonus and the 13:12 minute movie are Previously Unreleased). It plays out as follows (49:28 minutes):

1. Fresh As A Sweet Sunday Morning

2. Chambertin

3. One For Jo

4. Travelling Man

5. Open Up The Watergate (Let The Sunshine In)

6. Stone Monkey

7. Of Love And Lullaby [Side 2]

8. Needle Of Death

9. Lady Nothing

10. There Comes A Time

11. Cluck Old Hen

12. The Blacksmith

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 9th studio album "L.A. Turnaround" - released September 1974 in the UK on Charisma CAS 1090 (no US release - didn't chart in the UK).

BONUS TRACKS (see Notes for 13, 14 and 15):

13. Open Up The Watergate (Alternate Version)

14. One For Jo (Alternate Version)

15. The Blacksmith (Alternate Version)

16. In The Bleak Midwinter - non-album A-side to a December 1974 UK 7" single on Charisma CB 240 (the album cut "One For Jo" was the B-side). Produced by Ralph McTell

ECD SECTION:

L.A. Turnaround...The Movie (13:12 minutes)

Contains: There Comes A Time, Fresh As A Sweet Sunday Morning, Travelling Man and One For Jo.

Filmed during the making of "L.A. Turnaround" at Tony Stratton-Smith's home, Luxford House in Sussex.

Features Bert Jansch, Mike Nesmith, Red Rhodes and others

NOTES: Tracks 13, 14, 15 and the ECD Section are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The 8-page booklet shows the lyric insert that came with original British LPs (centre pages) and is complimented by superb and informational liner notes from noted music writer and lover - MICK HOUGHTON. There's even a footnote from the man who signed him and ran Charisma - Tony Stratton Smith. There's a 'mad hatter' Famous Charisma Records repro label on the CD, a shot of Jansch and acoustic guitar during recording beneath the see-through CD tray and stills from the 'boys in the country' film that's part of the ECD Section. But the big news is a gorgeous CD Remaster by BERT JANSCH and PETER MEW at Abbey Road Studios - the whole album (and its previously unreleased outtakes) sounding sublime...

Very Folk orientated with a dash of Acoustic Rock thrown in here and there – surrounded by Yes, ELP, Genesis, Led Zeppelin and Roxy Music - "L.A. Turnaround" was decidedly downbeat and maybe even 'too simple' for late 1974. And yet it’s beautiful because of that. Produced by Pentangle's John Renbourn in Paris in 1972 - the four-minute "Chambertin" with just Jansch on Acoustic Guitar is a good example – the kind of swirling, rolling, finger-picking work-out that gives Instrumentals a good name (beautiful audio on this highlight). Equally tasty is his cover of John Renbourn's "Lady Nothing" – another pretty melody that feels almost spiritual in its 'just the music' warmth. As some of have already mentioned the 'bird chirping' that opens "Fresh As A Sweet Sunday Morning" is AWOL - and without explanation either (couldn't get copyright on nature). But in truth - the song is so lovely, so soothing and bathed in beautiful Pedal Steel Guitar work from Red Rhodes – that bluntly I’m not that bothered.

"One For Jo" feels like an ancient English folk song - but it's a modern-day tale of dreamer that Jo clearly loves despite Bert's worries that he's all mouth and even a bit 'slow'. Politics rears its ugly head in the decidedly upbeat "Open Up The Watergate (Let The Sunshine In)". With Jesse Ed Davies playing  superb slide guitar - Klaus Voorman on Bass and Danny Lane on Drums - it sounds more like Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance than the Bert Jansch we know (it's one of my faves on the album). Mike Nesmith of The Monkees plays Guitar on "Stone Monkey" while Red Rhodes puts in Pedal Steel - it's the kind of song that took me a while to like.

No such problem with Side 2's opener - the beautiful "Of Love And Lullaby" - a gorgeous lilting folk ballad you can't help thinking that both Robert Plant and Jimmy Page would have given up a gonad to pen. Drug abuses seeps off the dark "Needle Of Death" - while the ghosts of a 1970 Matthews Southern Comfort permeate the whole of "There Comes A Time" - again aided and abetted by Mike Nesmith and especially Red Rhodes on the Pedal Steel. Kansas man Byron Berline brings his ex Dillards fiddle and mandolin to "Cluck Old Hen" - a song that feels like a Fairport Convention/Nitty Gritty Dirt Band hybrid. Doc Watson's "The Blacksmith" ends the LP - a wickedly upbeat song dominated by Mike Cohen's beautifully complimentary 'electric' keyboards (Cohen wrote "Mary, Mary" for The Monkees and was part of Mike Nesmith's band).

After a nice album - I wasn't expecting much from the Bonus Tracks - but I agree with Mike Houghton's assessment that the Pedal Steel variant of "Open Up The Watergate" and Mike Cohen's use of Acoustic Piano rather than electric is just as fab as the released version - if not better. Crisply produced by Ralph McTell – Jansch’s 2:22 minute cover of the seasonal Traditional "In The Bleak Midwinter" keeps a beautiful melody simple – bolstering it up towards the end with male and female Christmas voices like a soft-spoken Colliery Choir. Sweet as...

PS: see also reviews for CD Remasters of "Rosemary Lane" (1971) and "Avocet" (1978)

"Alone Together" by DAVE MASON of Traffic [featuring Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Delaney & Bonnie and Eric Clapton] (2008 Rev-Ola CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Only You Know And I Know..."

A founder member of Traffic (who'd worked with Kim Fowley and The Spencer Davis Group prior to that) – the man who penned their fabulous "Feelin’ Alright" hit was the first to jump ship due to that internal hairyman virus bands seem to suffer perennially from - 'musical differences'.

Ensconced in the USA with a huge cast of key players – Mason went at his first solo LP with the help of Traffic’s Drummer Jim Capaldi and cool contributions from the likes of Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Chris Etheridge, Jim Keltner, Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear and the Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett band (to name but a few) – producing a humdinger in the process. And that’s where this superb 2008 Rev-Ola CD Reissue and Remaster comes in...

UK released 28 May 2008 (June 2008 in the USA) - "Alone Together" by DAVE MASON on Rev-Ola CD REV 251 (Barcode 5013929455122) is a straightforward CD Remaster of his 8-Track 1970 debut solo LP and plays out as follows (34:54 minutes):

1. Only You Know And I Know

2. Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving

3. Waitin' On You

4. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave

5. World In Changes [Side 2]

6. Sad And Deep As You

7. Just A Song

8. Look At You, Look At Me

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut solo LP "Alone Together" – released July 1970 in the USA on Blue Thumb BTS 19 and October 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHTC 251. Produced by DAVE MASON and TOMMY LIPUMA (engineered by Bruce Botnik of The Doors fame) - the US issue famously came in two forms – a triple gatefold sleeve with black vinyl and some copies came with die-cut 'kangaroo-pac' triple gatefold sleeve with a splatter–coloured Vinyl LP inside (both had BTS 19 as their catalogue numbers).

But the big news here is the 'Sound Recreation' Remaster by NORMAN BLAKE and JOE FOSTER done at Studio 3 in Glasgow. This CD sounds glorious - beautiful sound on every track...

Harvest Records took their sweet time in the UK - releasing "World In Changes" b/w "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving" in April 1970 on Harvest HAR 5017. But as the album proper didn’t show until October 1970 in the UK - months of waiting killed any momentum. In-between that they'd issued another 7" single in the shape of the superb "Only You Know And I Know" b/w "Sad And Deep As You" in August 1970 on Harvest HAR 5024 – but again it tanked. Considering how good the four songs were – and how radio catchy too – it's amazing now to think that DJs didn't pick up on either. Mason also contributed to the George Harrison colossus "All Things Must Pass" which saw his work on the 3LP Box Set released late November 1970 - this should have given Dave Mason more profile to the October 1970 UK release of the "Alone Together" LP - but naught happened. In fact when I now replay killers like "Only You Know And I Know" and "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" - it's hard to understand why Joe Public in Blighty didn't pay any attention to their native son. "Only You Know And I Know" in particular is one of those songs that gets covered to buggery precisely because its so damn catchy - Rita Coolidge did it on her 1971 A&M Records LP "Nice Feelin'" - Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett tapped it in October 1971 as a 45 in the UK on Atco 2091 151 - then again on their March 1972 LP on CBS Records "D & B Together" - and as recently as 2002 American R&B lover Joan Osbourne did a stunning Funk version of it for her "How Sweet It Is" covers CD album.

The "...best friend I have is me..." lyrics of "Waitin' On You" threaten to derail a great little rock song and Eric Clapton famously puts in what many feel is his best ever 'guitar solo' on the near eight-minute Side 2 finisher "Look At You, Look At Me". Mason's brilliant "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" was a featured track on the Harvest Records 4CD expansion of the 1970 2LP label sampler "Picnic: A Breath Of Fresh Air" in 2007 - and check out the superb cover of "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving" by Steve Ellis of The Love Affair (and Ellis) on Disc 3 of the June 2015 "Time Has Changed Us" 3CD retrospective on RPM Records (see separate review). The hurting "Sad And Deep As You" is a piano ballad that is so pretty while "Just A Song" could almost be America or even acoustic Supertramp. I’m finding all I need in this great little album...

Since the advent of CD the album "Alone Together" has become something a darling with audiophile reissue companies like Mobile Fidelity and regularly shown up on Japanese SHM-CD versions with that famous 'head and top-hat' die-cut artwork - each falling over themselves to get out a CD variant out there that will easily trounce the dreadful quality of the original splatter-vinyl LPs. Many are deleted now and cost a hefty chunk of change – but the Rev-Ola reissue and remaster offers superb audio for a reasonable sum and makes accessible a truly great album you will want in your CD player. I'll tip my top hat to that...

PS: Rev-ola have also reissued and remastered his 2nd LP with Mama Cass Elliot called "Dave Mason and Cass Elliot" in 2008 on Rev-ola CD REV 255 (Barcode 5013929455528) – use the Barcode on Amazon to locate my review of this equally good Audio delight.