"Volume Two" by THE SOFT MACHINE – August 1969 Second US Album on Probe/ABC/Command Records in Stereo (November 1969 in the UK on Probe Records, Their First LP released in the UK) – featuring Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge and Hugh Hopper with Guest Brian Hopper on Saxophone (August 2009 UK Polydor/UMC Straightforward CD Reissue – Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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THE GROOVIEST 1960s MUSIC ON CD 

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"...Dada Was Here..."

Do you remember when weird was good, even beloved and revered? Well, welcome to The Soft Machine's second album – all late 60ts Experimental, Prog Rock, Avant Garde, Jazz Rock, Comedic and at times my post-pandemic brethren of Covid-19 bleary-eyed zombie monsters - just plain batshit. Would we have it any other way...

Following immediately on from an intense and exhausting two-month US tour with Jimi Hendrix and his Band of Gypsys which saw Kevin Ayers up and leave – the new trio of Drummer and Singer Robert Wyatt, Keyboardist Mike Ratledge and Bassist Hugh Hopper joined forces with former Wilde Flowers Saxophonist Brian Hopper (brother of Hugh) to make their second platter in February and March of 1969.

Seventeen cuts were made with the 10-Track seventeen-minutes-ish Side 1 being called "Rivmic Melodies" and the 7-Track sixteen-minute-ish Side 2 wittily entitled "Esther's Nose Job" (well of course it is). Many of the cuts were just snippets really (less than a minute) some including only dialogue (Wyatt reciting the alphabet forward and backwards). And as other reviewers have quite rightly commented – with slot number two, Soft Machine moved into all manner of genre-realms that seemed to leave ordinary song structure in the dust. They really don't make record albums like this any more, and in September 2020, there appears to be little room for them even they did.

By the time the vinyl gatefold LP hit the American shops in early August 1969 on Probe/ABC/Command Records CPLP 4505 (UK fans would see it be the band's first LP release in Blighty in November 1969 on Probe Records SPB 1002 in a single laminate sleeve) – Ayers was already signing to the then emerging Prog-Rock based Harvest Records label for his first solo album. But let's get pataphysical baby and go back to platter numero duo, then on to this rather good 2009 Paschal Byrne Remaster...

UK released 3 August 2009 - "Volume Two" by THE SOFT MACHINE on Polydor/UMC 532 050-6 (Barcode 600753205068) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of their second studio album from 1969 and plays out as follows (33:33 minutes):

RIVMIC MELODIES [Side 1]

1. Pataphysical Introduction - Pt. I

2. A Concise British Alphabet - Pt. I

3. Hibou, Anemone And Bear

4. A Concise British Alphabet - Pt. II

5. Hulloder

6. Dada Was Here

7. Thank You Pierrot Lunaire

8. Have You Ever Bean Green?

9. Pataphysical Introduction - Pt. II

10. Out Of Tunes

ESTHER'S NOSE JOB [Side 2]

11. As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still

12. Dedicated To You But When You Weren't Listening

13. Fire Engine Passing With Bells Clanging

14. Pig

15. Orange Skin Food

16. A Door Opens And Closes

17. 10:30 Returns To The Bedroom

Tracks 1 to 17 are their second studio album "Volume Two" - released August 1969 in the USA on Probe/ABC/Command Records CPLP 4505 and November 1969 in the UK on Probe Records SPB 1002. Produced by THE SOFT MACHINE - it didn't chart in either country.

 

The 16-page booklet is a pleasingly in-depth and pretty affair. It even gives a photo of The Wilde Flowers with three of the Softs looking suitably 'with it' as they ponder Beat Poetry and Dadaism - brothers Hugh and Brian Hopper with Robert Wyatt and drummer Richard Coughlan (who would later join those other Canterbury stalwarts Caravan). There are trade adverts (would you feed your daughter to the soft machine?), Psychedelic posters of the period, a label repro of their ultra-rare February 1967 debut British 45 "Love Makes Sweet Music" on Polydor 56151, the band as a three-piece and then a four-piece and so on. MARK POWELL of Esoteric Recordings fame does the superbly detailed liner notes for both the self-titled "The Soft Machine" debut and "Volume Two" in this 2009 CD Reissue and Remaster series (both discs are dedicated to Hugh Hopper who had passed in June 2009).

 

A fave Audio Engineer of mine PASCHAL BYRNE has done the remaster - 24-bit transfers from original tapes and it sounds amazing to my ears. I had the British LP for decades and it was good, but not like this. We're not talking audiophile here, but the upgrade is palatable and to my ears, properly improved. To the experimental artefacts of earnest men and their questionable choice of trouser patterns...

 

RIVMIC MELODIES opens proceedings with a throwaway pairing - Robert Wyatt introducing the 'British Alphabet' behind a one-minute piano refrain while his actual ABCs that follow lasts only 10 seconds. The first song-proper is actually "Hibou, Anemone And Bear" - nearly six minutes of Prog Jazz Rock - Ratledge giving it some wildman on the organ while the rhythm section tries to keep up with his soloing. More alphabet musings but this time Pt. 2 of the alphabet is 'backwards' - which is in turn followed by "Hulloder" – a 60-second pondering on FBI surveillance of humanoid counter-culture threats (pesky things called people – or students – depending on which Communist you talk to). The manic and cluttered "Dada Was Here" has always felt to me like something special is going on – a vibe almost – a lingering in that rhythm section that exudes period cool. Wyatt’s voice floats in "Have You Ever Bean Green?" over the instruments searching for a groove whilst the Side 1 finisher "Out Of Tunes" is just insufferable tuneless nonsense.

 

The Softs go Crimson before-the-debut-jagged with "As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still" while "Dedicated To You..." is uncharacteristically pretty sporting a whole heap of great lyrics about Chicken Pox and Oxygen and Geophysics and advise not to use magnets (it also has probably the best Production values of the whole album). "Fire Engine..." is once again a discordant nonsense too far but Wyatt goes on about time wasted in the rapido "Pig". The final three see the band jag and jab in full-on Prog Jazz Rock fashion – taking no prisoners as they break down musical boundaries and live up to that freaky front-sleeve artwork.

 

"...Everyone's heads are more together. After hearing this album, yours will be also..." read the original LP sleeve in 1969.

 

In September 2020 those rather embellishing liner notes may not exactly ring true for today's musical journeyman (Soft Machine's second will absolutely not be for everyone). But in you are up for a bit of a whig out accompanied by the falsetto voice of a Radio 1 presenter doing drugs – then lie perfectly still man and embrace the weird baby (you know you want to)...

"The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10: 1970" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2008 US Hip-O-Select 6CD Book Set 146-Track Compilation - Book Set With Front-Cover Attached 45 Single – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 8000 Copies – CD Volumes Nos. 50 to 55 in the Series - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, RnB and Funk
Exception CD Remasters  

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"…Good God Y'All!"

This extraordinary Hip-O Select series began in the States in January 2005 with Volume 1 covering 1959-1961 and ended a total of 14 book sets later in December 2013 with Volume 12B covering the second half of 1972. For Motown fans - it's been an exhilarating if not costly ride - a whopping 75 numbered-volumes on CD, 14 specially pressed 7" singles attached to the front and a staggering 1847 songs. Each 'Book Set' gives you the USA 7" single mixes in true MONO from the original Motown Master Tapes – promo STEREO versions where applicable and even Rare and Alternate Takes. Each volume is a sumptuous wow (see full list below). I own them all except Volumes 1 and the ever-elusive Volume 6 (now extortionately expensive).

"1970" (like much of 1969) saw Motown on the cusp of change (and badly needed it was too). Norman Whitfield and others saw Motown tentatively move away from the naïve but lucrative 'love on a Saturday night' song-writing machine that dominated Tamla’s Sixties output - to individual Artists and Producers expressing themselves and the real social change sweeping across America and the world ("Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations and Edwin Starr's explosive "War"). Not that they didn't have their eye on the commercial – you get all the big hits of the year as well. So like 1969’s Volume 9 – Volume 10 is a strange hybrid of the right-on versus the happy-wappy. Here are the Tears Of A Clown…

Released June 2008 in the USA on Hip-O Select's B0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209) – "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 10: 1970" by VARIOUS ARTISTS has 6CDs housed in a hardback book set with a 148-page oversized book inside and a 7” single on the front – "The Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (a repro of Tamla T 54199). It’s a non-numbered Limited Edition of 8000 and plays out as follows (basic breakdown)…

Disc 1 (Volume 50), 25 songs, 77:30 minutes:

Disc 2 (Volume 51), 23 songs, 70:13 minutes:

Disc 3 (Volume 52), 25 songs, 75:54 minutes:

Disc 4 (Volume 53), 24 songs, 78:22 minutes:

Disc 5 (Volume 54), 23 songs, 74:50 minutes:

Disc 6 (Volume 55), 24 songs, 76:02 minutes:

The first thing that hammers you (as with all of these releases) is the glory of the packaging – surely a standard by which all others are to be judged. The 7" single lodged in the front lip is not surprisingly "The Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – an exact repro of the October 1970 USA R&B No. 1 single on Tamla T 54199. But inside is the real deal – 147-pages of stunning liner notes and full-colour artist plates – some of which will literally stop you in your tracks they're so beautifully rendered. Stevie Wonder is on Page 24, The Supremes (Trio) on Page 31, Marvin Gaye on Page 62, Rare Earth on Page 77, Martha Reeves And The Vandellas on Page 102, Edwin Starr on Page 113 and so on. The in-depth BILL DAHL liner notes are fabulous giving you a full history of each song and if the B-side is on a previous volume – he tells you which one. Each entry has catalogue numbers, master details, playing credits, Pop and R 'n' B chart positions and so on. There are even three Indexes at the rear – by Artist, Title and Catalogue Number so you find anything easily. And while the packaging is gorgeous – the Audio Remastering is just as thrilling…

Digitally remastered from original Motown Master Tapes by ELLEN FITTON – she’s handled the entire series – and stunning is the only word for it. Most of these single mixes are in MONO – so the punch is pretty lethal when it comes out of your speakers. The effect is to feel like you’re hearing these things anew.

Disc 1 opens with a beauty – "The Bells" and "I'll Wait For You" by The Originals – with both sides co-written by and produced by Marvin Gaye. Edwin Starr gets his production day too with the kicking "Time" while dancing enthusiasts will dig the obscure "Expressin' My Love" by Stu Gardner. Highlights on Disc 2 include the gritty Soul Rock of The Rustix with "Come On People", the lovely ballad "On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World" by The Fantastic Four, while Motown's in-house guitarist Arthur Adams sees his ultra-rare Chisa single "My Baby's Love" b/w "Loving You" get a CD outing for the first time since its 1970 release. And Chuck Jackson's double-ender "Two Feet From Happiness" b/w "Let Somebody Love Me" is one of those singles that should have done better.

Disc 3 and 4 sees the emergence of Soul Artists getting real with what was going on all around them in American politics both National and International - "Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations and Edwin Starr's extraordinary "War" (apparently done in one take – Good God Y'all!). The commercial side is "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 and the underrated "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops. Obscure - but none the less winning are Kiki Dee, Bob & Marcia, Blinky, Danny Hernandez and Yvonne Fair. I also love The Jazz Crusaders, Jr. Walker and Rare Earth on Discs 5 and 6. In truth – like all of these compilations – there is a lot of filler – and it's easy to see why so many of these songs and acts fell by the wayside – but overall the listen is voyage of joy and discovery. Any compilation with the fabulous "Hum Along And Dance" by The Temptations gets my vote.

What I would give to see someone tackle ATLANTIC or STAX or CHESS SINGLES in this manner – but that’s another strengthened shelf sometime in the future. Genius and then some…

 "The Complete Motown Singles" Series by Hip-O Select

(14 Releases as of September 2020)

75 x CD Volumes, 1847 CD Tracks Plus 28 Tracks On 14 x 7" Vinyl Singles

1.  Volume 1: 1959-1961, Released January 2005, Catalogue No. Hip-O Select B-0003631-02 (Barcode 602517643310), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 5000 (Non-Numbered), 155 Tracks, CDs are Volumes 1 to 6

2.  Volume 2: 1962, May 2005, 4CDs, B-00004402-02 (Barcode 602517807552), Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 112 Tracks, Volumes 7 to 10

3.  Volume 3: 1963, October 2005, B-0005352-02 (Barcode 602517845691), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 11 to 15

4.  Volume 4: 1964, February 2006, B-0005945-02 (Barcode 602517882443), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 163 Tracks, Volumes 16 to 21

5.  Volume 5: 1965, August 2006, B-0006775-02 (Barcode 602517789414), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 166 Tracks, Volumes 22 to 27

6.  Volume 6: 1966, November 2006, B-0007872-02 (Barcode 602517092761), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 125 Tracks, Volumes 28 to 32

7.  Volume 7: 1967, May 2007, B-0008993-02 (Barcode 602517341906), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 33 to 37

8.  Volume 8: 1968, October 2007, B-0009708-02 (Barcode 602517431775), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 38 to 43

9.  Volume 9: 1969, December 2007, B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 148 Tracks, Volumes 44 to 49

10. Volume 10: 1970, June 2008, B-0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 50 to 55

11. Volume 11A: 1971, February 2009, B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 56 to 60

12. Volume 11B: 1971, January 2010, B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 61 to 65

13. Volume 12A: 1972, May 2013, B-0012935-02 (Barcode 602527044453)), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 117 Tracks, Volumes 66 to 70

14. Volume 12B: 1972, December 2013, B-0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 100 Tracks, Volumes 71 to 75

PS: Volume 10 (like so many of the others) is Deleted in September 2020 with used copies trading for as much as £250. But Amazon offer the whole set as an MP3 download for £59.99. Use link provided above for details...

"The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – featuring Edwin Starr, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, The Originals, David Ruffin, Soupy Sales, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Shorty Long, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Chuck Jackson, The Fantastic Four, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Earl Van Dyke, Jonah Jones, Billy Eckstein, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, The Honest Men, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, The Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Bobby Taylor, The Lollipops, Blinky, Terry Johnson, Wes Henderson, Joe Harnell, Stu Gardner, Monk Montgomery, Arthur Adams, The Spinners, The Jackson 5, Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha, Rare Earth, The Rustix and more (December 2007 US Hip-O Select/Motown 6CD 148-Track Compilation - Book Set With Front-Cover Attached 45 Single – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 6000 Copies – CD Volumes Nos. 44 to 49 in the Series - Ellen Fitton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Nearly 195 Others Is Available in my

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more...

 

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"...Want You Back..."

This is a truly gorgeous CD reissue – the kind of 6CD sexpot that actually is worth standing up Scarlett Johansson for (well maybe).

I diligently collected all of these now-legendary Hip-O Select American-issued Book Volumes except of course (like a pillock) the elusive and expensive Vol. 6 covering 1966 (a very stupid oversight). My advice would be not to make that same mistake with 'any' volume in this extraordinary series. Much to discuss - so let's hear from 'My Cherie Amour' right away...

US released December 2007 - "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Hip-O Select/Motown B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722) is a 6CD 148-Track Book Set with Front-Cover Attached 45 (a repro of the US single "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5) – A Non-Numbered Limited Edition of 6000 Copies (CDs are Volumes 44 to 49) that plays out as follows:

CD1, Disc 44, 72:55 minutes (23 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 10 US singles by Edwin Starr, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, The Originals (one extra Alternate Mix), David Ruffin, Soupy Sales, Stevie Wonder (Promo and Commercial Versions of the A-side as well as the more famous B-side "My Cherie Amour"), The Temptations, Shorty Long (Three Tracks, two different A-sides offered - one was withdrawn) and Gladys Knight & The Pips

CD2, Disc 45, 71:39 minutes (25 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 12 singles by Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Chuck Jackson (one extra Alternate Long Version of the B-side "Are You Lonely For Me Baby"), The Fantastic Four, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Earl Van Dyke, Jonah Jones, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Billy Eckstein, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, The Honest Men and Jr. Walker & The All Stars

CD3, Disc 46, 71:51 minutes (25 Tracks)

The A&B-sides (see NOTE) of 13 singles by The Temptations, The Isley Brothers, The Originals, Diana Ross & The Supremes, (one extra Alternate Take of the A-side "No Matter What Sign You Are"), Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (four tracks - two singles – the second 45 5565 is A-side only but has an extra Alternate Mix), David Ruffin, Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Captain Zap and The Motortown Cut-Ups, Bobby Taylor and The Lollipops

(NOTE: The Isley Brothers, The Originals and one of the two Smokey Robinson & The Miracles single - A-sides only)

CD4, Disc 47, 74:18 minutes (25 Tracks)

The A&B-sides (see NOTE) of 13 singles by Blinky & Edwin Starr, Terry Johnson, Bobby Taylor, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Jackson, The Originals, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Wes Henderson, Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Shorty Long, The Fantastic Four and Joe Harnell

(NOTE: Bobby Taylor - A-side only)

CD5, Disc 48, 71:49 minutes (24 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 11 singles by The Marvelettes, Stu Gardner (three tracks, one extra A-side), Monk Montgomery, Stevie Wonder (three tracks, one extra A-side), Arthur Adams, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Spinners, The Jackson 5, Jimmy Ruffin and Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha

CD6, Disc 49, 75:43 minutes (26 Tracks)

The A&B-sides of 12 singles by Diana Ross & The Supremes, Four Tops, Chuck Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Rare Earth, David Ruffin (one extra Alternate Mix), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (one extra Alternate Mix), Anonymous Children Of Today, The Rustix, The Five Smooth Stones, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations

As you can see from the lists above, CD3 in this 6-disc set for instance contains tracks by The Isley Brothers, The Originals and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles that have only the A-side – this will be because the flip will have been on Volume 8 for 1968 or Volume 7 for 1967 and so on (the liner notes tell you what master-volume contains the B-side). Also, if you take CD1, you notice that it has a Shorty Long release that had different A-sides on the Motown sheets so this set provides both – stunning attention to collector detail. And you can see that acts like Soupy Sales, The Honest Men, Anonymous Children Of Today, The Five Smooth Stones, Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha and Captain Zap and The Motown Cut-Ups are not exactly household names that trip of your average Soul fan's tongue – so deep level stuff sitting alongside hits like Marvin being "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" or The Temptations pondering life in the "Psychedelic Shack".

You have to talk about the presentation of these things that in every case will have a Motown/Soul Music fan weak at the knees. I have bought and reviewed a lot of tasty Hip-O Select reissues – Muddy Waters, Jimmy Cliff, Emitt Rhodes, Tammi Terrell, Howlin’ Wolf, The 15-Disc Chess Story, Stephen Bishop, Buddy Miles and so on. But these Motown Volumes are the best they ever did – a profoundly fab project that eventually stretched out from 1959 to 1972 with 75 CDs and 1847 Tracks. All transfers were taken from original tapes and included the Single Mono Mixes, Stereo Versions if on Promo 45s, Previously Unreleased Variants and full annotation for every single song. You get catalogue numbers, musician personnel, Producers, overdub details, Billboard R&B and Pop chart placements (if any) and long paragraphs on the recording and its history.

As the packaging has to fit a 45 single on the front cover – the 140 pages of text are large inside the hardback book – allowing full-page colour plates that are genuinely some of the most beautifully rendered photos of Soul Artists that I’ve ever seen. The six discs are housed in individual card leaves at the back with three indexes preceding them – By Artist, By Title and By Label. This allows collectors a way of tracking what they need – very thorough. The only minor miscall for UK fans would be that every catalogue number is American – if you want their British equivalents – I cannot recommend enough a book I reviewed a good few years ago now called “TAMLA MOTOWN: The Stories Behind The UK Singles” by TERRY WILSON - a tall paperback with over 710 pages published by Cherry Red Books. It provides both the US and UK details and is the very best reference source on TM you can get.

The Audio comes via an Engineer I’ve sung the praises of before – ELLEN FITTON – one of Universal’s top Remaster types. Across a total of 148 tracks, you get 71 singles and there are just so many great discoveries in here – the beautifully soulful Originals assuring us that "We've Got A Way Out Of Love", the wall of male-singer class that was Chuck Jackson on his "Are You Lonely For Me Baby", Blues Guitarist extraordinaire Arthur Adams feeling "It's Private Tonight" for him and his gal while Rare Earth span that Rock/Soul divide with their wake-up people tune "Generations (Light Up The Sy) ". And of course you get to return to absolute Mono classics, as you would have heard them on the radio of the day - "Twenty Five Miles" by Edwin Starr, "I Can't Get Next To You" by The Temptations, "My Whole World Ended..." by David Ruffin and loads more. You can also feel the winds of change on this Box set like that of 1967 and 1968 as soppy Saturday night girly themes get supplemented with worries of the day – picket signs and picket lines – I'm still a struggling man – everybody needing clarity and a safe home as the dark clouds get even darker both domestically and abroad.

If you can't afford the physical product in 2020 (which ranges from £80 to over £90) - the MP3 version of 1969 sometimes becomes available from Amazon as a Download for £39.99 (individual tracks are usually 99p). 

Either way - if you want to hear 'The Sound Of Young America' at its best – then look no further my fellow traveller. Stunning...

"The Complete Motown Singles" Series by Hip-O Select

(14 Releases as of September 2020)

75 x CD Volumes, 1847 CD Tracks Plus 28 Tracks On 14 x 7" Vinyl Singles

1.  Volume 1: 1959-1961, Released January 2005, Catalogue No. Hip-O Select B-0003631-02 (Barcode 602517643310), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 5000 (Non-Numbered), 155 Tracks, CDs are Volumes 1 to 6

2.  Volume 2: 1962, May 2005, 4CDs, B-00004402-02 (Barcode 602517807552), Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 112 Tracks, Volumes 7 to 10

3.  Volume 3: 1963, October 2005, B-0005352-02 (Barcode 602517845691), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 11 to 15

4.  Volume 4: 1964, February 2006, B-0005945-02 (Barcode 602517882443), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 163 Tracks, Volumes 16 to 21

5.  Volume 5: 1965, August 2006, B-0006775-02 (Barcode 602517789414), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 166 Tracks, Volumes 22 to 27

6.  Volume 6: 1966, November 2006, B-0007872-02 (Barcode 602517092761), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 125 Tracks, Volumes 28 to 32

7.  Volume 7: 1967, May 2007, B-0008993-02 (Barcode 602517341906), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 33 to 37

8.  Volume 8: 1968, October 2007, B-0009708-02 (Barcode 602517431775), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 38 to 43

9.  Volume 9: 1969, December 2007, B-0010270-02 (Barcode 602517507722), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 6000 (Non-Numbered), 148 Tracks, Volumes 44 to 49

10. Volume 10: 1970, June 2008, B-0011056-02 (Barcode 602517659209), 6CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 144 Tracks, Volumes 50 to 55

11. Volume 11A: 1971, February 2009, B-0011579-02 (Barcode 602517776555), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non-Numbered), 119 Tracks, Volumes 56 to 60

12. Volume 11B: 1971, January 2010, B-0012227-02 (Barcode 602517876903), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 8000 (Non Numbered), 120 Tracks, Volumes 61 to 65

13. Volume 12A: 1972, May 2013, B-0012935-02 (Barcode 602527044453)), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 117 Tracks, Volumes 66 to 70

14. Volume 12B: 1972, December 2013, B-0019213-02 (Barcode 602537532193), 5CDs, Ltd Edition of 7500 (Non Numbered), 100 Tracks, Volumes 71 to 75

"Freedom/Fire Corner" by CLANCY ECCLES and THE DYNAMITES – January 1970 UK LPs on Trojan/Clandisc Records with 26 Bonus Tracks from 1968, 1969 and 1970 (February 2020 UK Doctor Bird 2CD Reissue – Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

This Review Along With Over 290 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

ALL THINGS MUST PASS - 1970... - Exceptional CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...These Sounds...Leads The Way..."

Doctor Bird Records of the UK (part of Cherry Red) continue their stunning reissue series of all things Trojan Records and affiliated – making available again in 2020 the early releases of Trojan's much-loved 'TTL' Reggae, Rock Steady and Ska LP series issued in bulk between 1969 and 1970 (14 schillings and six old pence to you and I, back in the Brixton Cat days). This time we get two early 1970 UK debut albums from Jamaican Producer, Singer and Player CLANCY ECCLES and his band THE DYNAMITES – the Eccles solo set "Freedom" being new to CD.

Eccles was 29 years old in December 1969 and had already been playing music for a decade, his huge hits on Coxsone and (Nu) New Beat Records back home stretching back as far as the beginning of the Sixties. In fact the early 1970 British debut album "Freedom" (TTL 22) with that famous shot of him riding a motorbike through the Island scrubs had only one new recording on it - itself an update of his 1961 45-classic "Freedom" originally issued on Coxsone Records in Jamaica. The other eleven cuts were largely successful 7" singles A and B-sides ranging from 1967, 1968 and 1969 - so the album was a mop-up greatest hits set of sorts (see detailed list below for catalogue numbers and release dates). The 12-Track Dynamites debut offered four previously released sevens nestling alongside eight new exclusive tracks. Both have been in the Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide for years at hefty sums – original vinyl copies in better than VG grade - particularly difficult to find.

Trojan allocated 'Clandisc Records' to all Clancy-related output - the LP sleeves displaying the Trojan Logo and catalogue number but the labels actually being Clandisc (issues for this label ranged between October 1969 and October 1972). And as if these two rare LPs weren't enough, Doctor Bird amps up this 2CD set with a whopping 26 more Period Bonuses including Previously Unreleased and Six Jamaican Tracks/Singles not originally available in the UK – all of it Remastered by a fave Audio Engineer of mine – Andy Pearce (uncredited). There is a bike-shop of parts to wade through, so once more let's get Fattie Fattie with Auntie Lulu (if you know what I'm saying)...

UK released Friday, 14 February 2020 - "Freedom/Fire Corner" by CLANCY ECCLES and THE DYNAMITES on Doctor Bird DBCDD-050 (Barcode 5013929275034) is a 50-Track 2CD Reissue Offering Two Early 1970 UK LPs on Trojan/Clandisc Records with an Added 26 Period Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

CD1 by CLANCY ECCLES (70:02 minutes):

1. Freedom (1969 Remake of a 1961 Coxsone song, exclusive to TTL 22) [Side 1]

2. What Will Your Mother Say (1967 UK 45 on Pama PM 701, A-side - for B-side see Track 14)

3. Two Of A Kind (1968 UK 45 on Pama PM 729, B-side of "Push It Up", credited to THE TERMITES)

4. The World Needs Loving (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 201, A-side)

5. Dollar Train (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 201, B-side)

6. Constantinople (March 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 648, A-side - for B-side see Track 20)

7. Fattie Fattie (May 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 658, A-side - for B-side see Track 20 on CD2) [Side 2]

8. Auntie Lulu (May 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 658, B-side)

9. Shu Be Du (1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 9, credited as "Bag-A-Boo" on the B-side of "Auntie Lulu" by Slickers)

10. My Girl (April 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 649, B-side of Val Bennett's "Demonstration")

11. I Need You (1968 UK 45 on Nu Beat NU 006, credited as "I Really Love You" on the B-side of "Festival 68" - for A-side see Track 15)

12. Mount Zion (aka Mounzion) (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA-202, B-side of "Vigorton 2" by King Stitt - for A-side see Track 10 on CD2)

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Freedom" – released January 1970 on Trojan/Clandisc TTL 22 (label actually says Clandisc only)

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Open Up (March 1970 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 209, A-side)

14. Darling Don't Do That (1967 UK 45 on Pama PM 701, A-side - for A-side see Track 2)

15. Festival 68 (1968 UK 45 on Nu Beat NU 006, A-side - for B-side see Track 11)

16. The Revenge - wrong credit - info unknown

17. Bangarang Crash (A Check It) - wrong credit in booklet; probably Trojan TR 647 from March 1969, A-side - for B-side see Track 13 on CD2

18. The Fight (1969 UK 45 on Pama PM 712, A-side - for B-side see Track 21)

19. Don't Brag Don't Boast (aka "Bag-A-Boo") (1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 9, credited as "Bag-A-Boo" on the B-side of "Auntie Lulu" by Slickers)

20. Deacon Don (March 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 648, B-side - for A-side see Track 6)

21. Great (Beat)  (1969 UK 45 on Pama PM 712, B-side – for B-side see Track 18 on CD1)

22. Chinaman (United We Stand) (January 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 638, B-side of "Dulcemania" by Drumbago and Dynamites)

23. Oh My Lover  (August 1968 UK 45 single on Pama PM 740, B-side of "How Come" by Lloyd Terrel - Clancy Eccles is credited as 'Mrs. Miller' on the A-side)

24. Beat Dance (December 1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA-206, B-side of "The Ugly One” by King Stitt)

25. Fattie Fattie (Alternate Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED  

CD2 by THE DYNAMITES (66:24 minutes):

1. Eternally [Side 1]

2. Sam-Fie

3. I Did It

4. This Is The Night

5. One Way Street

6. John Public (June 1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 30, B-side of "Fire Corner" by Clancy Eccles)

7. Skokiaan (Mr Midnight) (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 200, B-side of "Who Yea" by King Stitt - B-side credited as "Mr Midnight" only on some copies) [Side 2]

8. Soul Language (aka "Moonwalk")

9. Say What You Say

10. Vigorton 2 (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA-202, A-side - for B-side by Clancy Eccles see Track 12 on CD1)

11. Next Corner

12. Fire Corner (June 1969 UK 45 on Duke DU 30, A-side - for B-side see Track 6 on CD2) 

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Fire Corner" – released January 1970 in the UK on Trojan/Clandisc TTL 21 (label actually says Clandisc only)

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Rathid by The Dynamites (March 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 647, B-side of "Bangarang Crash" - for A-side see Track 17 on CD1)

14. Who Yea by King Stitt (1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 200, A-side - for B-side by Clancy Eccles see Track 7 on CD2)

15. City Demonstration by Val Bennett (April 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 649, A-side - for B-side "My Girl" by Clancy Eccles see Track 10 on CD1)

16. On The Street by King Stitt (November 1969 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 203, B-side of "Foolish Fool" by Cynthia Richards)

17. Mercilina by The Dynamites (Not originally released in the UK)

18. Silbert Dragon by Winston Wright & The Dynamites (Not originally released in the UK)

19. Lick It Back by King Stitt (Not originally released in the UK)

20. Last Call by Silver Stars [actually "Tribute To Drumbago" by The Dynamites] (May 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 658, B-side - for A-side see Track 7 on CD1)

21. Rough Road by Winston Wright & The Dynamites (Not originally released in the UK)

22. I For I by King Stitt (Not originally released in the UK)

23. Sweet Africa by Clancy Eccles (January 1969 UK 45 on Trojan TR 639, A-side)

24. The Lion by The Dynamites (May 1970 UK 45 on Clandisc CLA 208, B-side of "Madamoiselle" by J. Higgs)

25. Dance Beat (Version III) by Clancy Eccles and King Stitt (Not originally released in the UK)

The 16-page booklet is the usual feast of info and visuals - a wall of those Jamaican New Beat 45s you just don't see at any record fair - the lovely colour artwork for both British albums – black label repros of The Dynamites LP – a German 45 pic sleeve on Fontana for "Fattie Fattie" with "Last Call" by the Silver Stars on the flipside (although it actually plays "Tribute To Drumbago" by The Dynamites) - a page of nine UK 45s on Duke, Clandisc and Trojan - trade adverts and LP reviews for the "Freedom" LP and Discography info on all 50 songs (some of which I've corrected above).

TONY ROUNCE - long-time associate writer for Ace Records - has handled the liner notes and does a typically bang-up job - for instance highlighting that "John Public" is in fact a remake of the African instrumental "Tom Hark" and that "Say What You Say" on Side 2 of The Dynamites album features the organ-keyboard prowess of Winston 'Brubeck' Wright. He points out that ace Saxophonist Val Bennett is here too on many tracks. An unsung hero of the scene, Val contributed to one of the most beloved British instrumental hits of the late 1969 period - the no. 5 placed "Return Of Django" by The Upsetters - a Lee Perry song and a true highlight on the November 1969 "Tighten Up Volume 2" compilation LP (that album also featured Clancy’s "Fattie Fattie"). The Audio as you can imagine fluctuates wildly from shockingly good to more than acceptable (this is late Sixties Reggae and Rock Steady after all) - but as its Andy's careful transfers – each listen always feels like an upgrade to me. To the music...

No more sighing, no more crying, go home to my father and be free – Clancy sings as he rides his motorbike across the fields of his beloved country and opens his debut album account with a 1969 remake of "Freedom". We slip back to 1967 for "What Will Your Mother Say" (Clancy and his gal are in love) while that organ sound on "The World Needs Loving" is fantastically clear and present. Other faves include the cool of "Dollar Train", the long-to-hear those joy-bells ringing of "Shu Be Du", the fruitily witty "Auntie Lulu", the weight-busting shuffle of "Fattie Fattie" (dig those girl singers) and the ‘we want to go back home’ of "Mount Zion" that closes out the album – an LP that doesn’t feel like a clump of 45s bunged together hoping to be coherent.

If I’m honest, as much as I like the parent album, the Bonus Cuts on CD1 and CD2 are fabulous stuff – the reggae until morning comes of "Deacon Don", the don’t you brag and don’t you boast and stop acting like a "Bag-A-Boo", the hold me close duet vocal smooch of "Oh My Lover" (dig those guitar changes) – very cool stuff and sounding toppermost.

Most folks will know the shouting swing-with-me song "Fire Corner" by The Dynamites from the "Tighten Up Volume 2" compilation - that wicked organ fill jumping out of your speakers as the tune makes your feet shuffle like a man in need of a penny. Other goodies include the echoed organ chugging instrumental "I Did It" with its irresistible neck-jerking rhythm and the this-is-mad call to arms that is "Vigorton 2" again with fantastic soloing from Winston Wright. And on it goes with heaps more where that came from.

Doctor Bird Records are in their third year of releases (since 2018) that frankly bring a wee tear to my aging myopia (this is their fiftieth title with many more to come). Long may the freedom train keep firing up like this...