"MORE GREAT MOMENTS OF VINYL HISTORY"

In 1987 Andy Kershaw assembled, from his personal collection, a splendid compilation of musical curios, rarities and downright oddities which he entitled 'Great Moments In Vinyl History'. This album, now long -deleted, was a great success and has itself become a much sought-after item. Now, seventeen years later, doubtless in a shameless attempt to cash in on this initial success he has put together a second volume. Thankfully this unseemly haste has in no way detracts from the overall quality of this new selection, most (though not all) of which has until now been largely unobtainable but which Andy has sought out and with typical enthusiasm he now wants to share. Kershaw has always been first and foremost a music fan - not for him rarity for raritys sake. Hence the presence among this somewhat arcane selection of Joe Tex's sublime 'Buying A Book' for, I suspect, no other reason than it is a damn fine track which sits rather comfortably inthis mixture of blues, folk, country and pop from all points of the compass, wonderful stuff. (wrasserecords.com)Seventeen years after releasing his first compilation, BBC radio jockey Andy Kershaw pieced together a new mishmash of songs from around the world. The idea isn't particularly to collect "world music" per se, but instead simply to collect worthwhile singles without boundaries, and this approach seems to work well, providing an album of relative rarities and interesting pairings. Opening the disc is Shiyani Ngcobo, a maskanda musician only recently given an album on World Music Network. A pre-Clash Joe Strummer heads up the 101'ers, and country almanac Dale Watson provides an old Merle Haggard number. Some southern soul is presented by Joe Tex, an ultra-rare Dorothy Masuka number is tossed in, and the Magic Black Men, random rappers from Bamako, provide some less slickly produced (than the usual Dakar-Parisian sound) African rap. A bit of experimental British dub follows (complete with a pre-Genesis Phil Collins), as does Miracle Legion, with a sound similar to early R.E.M. More southern soul from Stanley Winston precedes some gutbucket country from the Butlers and Dan Pickett. Ali Farka Touré introduces a fine Malian songstress along with his trademark guitar playing, Parisian/Algerian Youcef Boukella provides a bass heavy loop, and English folk, speech, and Punjabi aesthetics are fused together by a collective headed by the Angel Brothers. Ethno-trance is represented by Kristi Stassinopoulou, South African reggae is represented by the MK Platoon (actually affiliated with the Spear of the Nation movement), and fiddler Jim Eldon covers some Springsteen surprisingly ably, if rather unorthodoxically. The album finishes on the somewhat unknown but seminal Surfin' Dave, with some proto-alt. The album is full of oddities, but the bulk of the music is entirely listenable. Casual listeners may be put off a bit by the sheer indie-record-store elitism of the liner notes and the attitude taken toward the music, but there are plenty of treats to be had for all listeners regardless of such. (Allmusic)

trax:
1. uMendo - Shiyani Ngcobo 2. Motor Boys Motor - The 101'ers 3. Mama Tried - Dale Watson 4. Buying A Book - Joe Tex 5. Ghana - Dorothy Masuka 6. Can 2002 - Magic Black Men 7. Johnny Too Bad - John Martyn 8. I'll Get By In Pittsburgh - Jona Lewie 9. The Backyard - Miracle Legion 10. No More Ghettos In America - Stanley Winston 11. Sundown in Nashville - Carl & Pearl Butler 12. 99.5 Won't Do - Dan Pickett 13. Patience - Ali Farka Toure & Hayra Arby 14. Salam (Peace) - Youcef Boukella 15. Captain Beefheart and Mr Neal - The Angel Brothers & Ian McMillan 16. General Synopsis - The Rootsman 17. We Are Flying - Kristi Stassinopoulou 18. Apartheid Dead (We Stop Use Lead) - MK Platoon 19. Dancing In The Dark - Jim Eldon 20. Grey Skies - Surfin Dave 21. Motor - MOTOR
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"SIR DOUGLAS PRESENTS LONE STAR JUKEBOX" Two Decades Of Texas Treats (disc 1)

Excellent collection from the great Crazy Cajun label - don't miss this! (Very hard to find now)There are no hits on WestSide's double-disc, 40-song set Sir Douglas Presents Lone Star Jukebox: Two Decades of Texas Treats. That doesn't mean that it's not worth hearing, or even owning, however. The collection draws from Huey P. Meaux's Crazy Cajun label, finding highlights that range from pounding rock & roll and greasy blues to tear-in-my-beer honky tonk and soulful stomps -- or the occasional track that brings it all together. None of this made the national charts, but that's the charm of it. This is pure Tex-Mex music, and while nothing here might be among the most seminal works in the genre (even if it does feature such heavy-hitters as T-Bone Walker, Doug Sahm & the Sir Douglas Quintet, Roy Head, Barbra Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, Ivory Joe Hunter, Freddy Fender, Mickey Gilley, and Moe Bandy), it's all really enjoyable, especially for listeners that already have a fondness for Tex-Mex. Yes, this collection is for the already converted, since it doesn't just collect lesser-known cuts from the '60s and '70s, it never gives specific recording or release dates. This is the kind of thing that will frustrate collectors, but they'll still like having these songs, since they're all very good. It may not be perfect, but it sure is fun. (Allmusic)

trax:
1. All Night Long - T-Bone Walker 2. One Way Out (It'S A Man Down There) - Him (Sir Douglas Quintet) 3. I Can'T Stand It - Roy Head & The Traits 4. You Left The Water Running - Barbara Lynn 5. Think It Over - Jimmy Donley 6. I Know It'S Wrong - B. J. Thomas & The Triumphs 7. Hello Mary Ann - Ronnie Milsap 8. There Is Something On Your Mind - Freddy Fender 9. It Makes No Difference Now - Floyd Tillman 10. Ask You For The Last Time - Ivory Joe Hunter 11. The Image Of Me - Sir Douglas 12. I Settled For Less - Gloria Edwards 13. It Wasn'T God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels - Mickey Gilley 14. Without You - Delbert McClinton 15. Colinda - Rod Bernard 16. In The Still Of The Night - Freddy Fender 17. Don'T Make Promises You Can'T Keep - T-Bone Walker 18. Mama - B. J. Thomas & The Triumphs 19. I'm Going To Make My Home Where I Lay My Hat - Johnny Copeland 20. You Send Me - Sunny & The Sunliners
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JOE MEEK'S FREAKBEAT "You're Holding Me Down" 30 FREAKBEAT, MOD AND R&B NUGGETS

JOE MEEK'S FREAKBEAT: 30 FREAKBEAT, MOD AND R&B NUGGETS is a great place to sample Meek's big-sounding, hard-driving pop projects. With huge, booming sonics and a fair amount of echo, effects, and proto-psychedelic atmosphere, Meek keeps the beat in the foreground, making this comp an electrifying trip through early-'60s British rock.
Subtitle: You're Holding Me Down. Whether you are hip to the jive or not, Joe Meek remains one of the most celebrated producers of '60s and this compilation shows why. Featuring 30 Freakbeat, Mod and R&B nuggets from the Meek vaults, all produced by the magical fingers and twisted mind of one of the most creative (and crazy) British Rock 'N Roll icons of all time. Artists include The Blue Rondos, Buzz, The Cryin' Shames, Birds Of Prey, Riot Squad (not the Punk band of the same name), The Tornados, Heinz & The Wild Boys and more. - Castle. 2006.

trax:
1. You're Holding Me Down - The Buzz 2. Come On Back - Paul Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames 3. Baby I Go For You - The Blue Rondos 3. What Can I Do - The Blue Rondos 4. Crawdaddy Simone - The Syndicats 5. She Conforts My Sorrow - The Bystanders 6. Love Gone Again - The Birds Of Prey 7. Little Baby - The Blue Rondos 8. I Love To See You Strut - David John & The Mood 9. What'cha Gonna Do Baby - Jason Eddie & The Centremen 10. It Ain't Right - The Saxons 11. Let Me In - The Cryin' Shames 12. I Take It That We're Through - The Riot Squad 13. Diggin' For Gold - David John & The Mood 14. Summer Without Sun - Charles Kingsley Creation 15. Walking On Ice - The Riot Squad 16. Big Fat Spider - Heinz & The Wild Boys 17. Come On Baby - Jason Eddie & The Centremen 18. What's News, Pussycat - The Cryin' Shames 20. City Lights - The Birds Of Prey 21. No More You And Me - The Tornados '66 22. Too Far Out - The Impac 23. Shake With Me - The Puppets 24. Leave My Kitten Alone - The Syndicats 25. Bluebirds Over The Mountain - Shade Joey & The Night Owls 26. Bring It To Jerome - David John & The Mood 27. I Gotta Buzz - The Buzz 28. I Don't Love Her No More - Hotrod 29. I'm Not A Bad Guy - Heinz & The Wild Boys 30. Singing The Blues - Jason Eddie & The Centremen
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"THE ROOTS OF TAJ MAHAL"

An interesting concept to say the least, here's an exemplary collection of blues tunes all covered by Taj Mahal at one point or another. But here's the original versions of classics by Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Leadbelly, Sleepy John Estes, Son House, Washboard Sam, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Blind Boy Fuller and they sound every bit as fine -- if not infinitely superior -- as Taj's later covers. If you want to know where it all really came from, here's a perfect starting point, and one hell of a blues collection bargain. (Cub Koda, Allmusic)

trax:
1. Milk Cow Blues - Sleepy John Estes 2. Come On In My Kitchen - Robert Johnson 3. Sugar Mama - Sonny Boy Williamson 4. Statesboro Blues - Blind Willie McTell 5. John The Revelator - Blind Willie Johnson 6. Lining - Lead Belly 7. Corinna Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson 8. Everybody Ought To Make A Change - Sleepy John Estes 9. Stack O'Lee Blues - Mississippi John Hurt 10. Sweet Home Chicago - Robert Johnson 11. Sophisticated Mama - Washboard Sam 12. Good Morning Little School Girl - Sonny Boy Williamson 13. Fishing Blues - Henry Thomas 14. Keep Your Hands Off Her - Lead Belly 15. You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond - Blind Willie Johnson 16. Railroad Bill - Will Bennett 17. Divin' Duck Blues - Sleepy John Estes 18. Dust My Broom - Robert Johnson 19. Motherless Child - Barbecue Bob 20. Sittin' On Top Of The World - Mississippi Sheiks 21. Walkin' Blues - Son House 22. Frankie And Albert - Mississippi John Hurt 23. Piccolo Rag - Blind Boy Fuller
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"BLACK TOOTSIE ROLL" Early Rockin' Rhythm & Blues

Original early rare and wild R&B recordings. Wacky title, but great music, most never before on CD.trax:
1. Oh Yeah - Dean & Jean 2. Jumping This Morning - Tippo Lite & The All Stars 3. Farewell Blues - Rosette Perry & Milliard Lee Orch. 4. Bermudas - Big Jay Mercer & Joe Anderson & THe Groovers 5. Tootsie Roll - Bobby Martin 6. Pretty Little Baby - Modest "Show Stopper" Clifton 7. The Rock And Stomp - J. Mercy Baby 8. Snatching Back - Rayfield Brown 9. Shonuff' Miss Brown - Bob Mackey & King Alex Band 10. Kissin' Boogie - Beverly Wright & Preston Love Orch. 11. Good Jax Boogie (Beer) - Dave Bartholomew 12. Long Tall Sally - Bobby & The Troubadours 13. Flipping Their Top - The Egyptians 14. Tootsie Roll - L.D. Ludy 15. Weird (Inst.) - Albert & Charles & Gus Jenkins Orch. 16. Boss Chick - Shortie Billups 17. Come Dance With Rudy - Monroe Chapman & Bob Fenville Orch. 18. Flu-bug (Inst.) - The Asiatics 19. She Fooled Me - T.C. Crumpler & Bobbie Richard & Band 20. T.C. Boogie (Inst.) - T.C. Crumpler & Bobbie Richard & Band 21. Touch Of Your Love - Eddie Moore 22. No, No Baby - Carmen Davis & Ernie Freeman's Combo 23. Runnin' (Inst.) - The Fortunes 24. Boogie In The Bones - Laurel Aitken 25. Telegram - Charles Kelly/The Three-Of-Us Trio & The Dillard-Kelly Orch.
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THE PLAYBOYS "Feelin' Good" 1996

The Playboys' 1996 album features some of the wildest Rock 'n' Roll and Bluesabilly Bop.trax:
01 Feelin' Good 02 T.Bone Blues 03 Holy Mackeral 04 Mean Ol' Frisco 05 Looking For My Baby 06 I Ain't Gonna Take It 07 Eyes Like A Cat 08 Baby Please Don't Go 09 Rockin' In The Coconut Top 10 Rip It Rip It Up 11 Slippin' The Strings 12 Little 'Lil
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LEW LEWIS REFORMER "Save The Wail"

Lew Lewis, one of the maverick characters of the British pub rock boom, first came to prominence as a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods. An electrifying live act, the Hot Rods were well established on the London circuit by the time of the advent of Punk. In March 1976, they found themselves being supported at the Marquee by a young band called The Sex Pistols.
Lewis left the Hot Rods the following year and set about putting together the first line-up of the Lew Lewis Band. After initially signing to United Artists, they then released a single on Stiff Records, 'Boogie on the Street'/'Caravan Man', which is featured here.
He then put together a second band called Lew Lewis Reformer which released an LP, 'Save The Wail' on Stiff Records in 1979. The whole of the original LP appears on this compilation. The band then appeared on Top of the Pops, performing their most famous song, 'Lucky Seven'. One final single on Stiff, '1-30 2-30 3-35'/'I'm In the Mood I'm In' (also featured here), was released the following year.
Essentially a 'Best Of', this compilation is brimming with taut R&B energy. The live bonus tracks were recorded in June 1977 (tracks 15-18) and July 1979 (tracks 19-21).

trax:
01 Do Just What You Want 02 Wait 03 Win Or Lose 04 High Temperature 05 Mr. Bartender 06 Lucky Seven 07 Hometown Blues 08 Photo-Finish 09 Night Talk 10 Rider 11 Boogie On The Street 12 Caravan Man 13 1-30 2-30 3-35 14 The Mood I'm In 15 Watch Yourself 16 One Stop Town 17 Messin' With The Kid 18 Out For A Lark 19 Shake & Fingerpop 20 Romance 21 Long Grey Mare
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"CAJUN DANCE PARTY" - Fais Do-Do

This album is a bit misleadingly titled. What you get is a collection of some of the absolutely earliest and most important commercial recordings of Cajun music. The biggest price of the whole thing, however, is that you get the first four recordings of Amede Ardoin with Dennis McGee, which is in itself worth the CD, but doesn't exhaust it. A definitive recording. (Amazon)The title of this stirring if low-fi collection may be misleading (it actually consists of vintage 78s recorded between 1929 and 1934), but the emotional heft is undeniable. Like country music and the blues, Cajun music expresses the sorrows and regrets of daily life in a celebratory catharsis. Cajun is arguably the world's most familial music, and the majority of the tracks here are devoted to the three Breaux brothers and their wonderful sister, Cleoma, whose prickly pear of a voice cuts clean through husband Joseph Falcon's accordion accompaniment. The music is recorded in duet or trio formats, and all these performers made a mighty passionate and free-ranging racket for their time. You can hear French, Celtic, Appalachian, and Western swing influences in tracks by Dewey Segura, a singer regarded as highly for his bootlegging as for his accordion skills. And Creole accordionist Amedee Ardoin's duets with white fiddle legend Dennis McGee demonstrate an early and inspiring cultural exchange. --Richard Gehr, Allmusic

trax:
1. Ma Blonde Est - Amedee Breaux 2. Les Tracas Du Hobo - Amedee Breaux 3. Two Step De Mama - Amédé Ardoin 4. La Valse Ah Abe - Amédé Ardoin 5. Two Step De Eunice - Amédé Ardoin 6. Two Step De Prairie Soileau - Amédé Ardoin 7. Rosalia - Dewey Segura 8. You're Small And Sweet - Dewey Segura 9. Far Away From Home Blues - Dewey Segura 10. Fais Do-Do Negre - Breaux Freres 11. Tiger Rag Blues - Breaux Freres 12. One Step A Marie - Breaux Freres 13. Mazurka De La Louisiane - Breaux Freres 14. Le Vieux Soulard Et Sa Femme - Cleoma Breaux 15. Marie Buller - Cleoma Breaux 16. Mon Coeur T'appelle - Cleoma Breaux 17. C'est Si Triste Sans Lui - Cleoma Breaux 18. Madam Atchen - Amédé Ardoin 19. Taunt Aline - Amédé Ardoin 20. Le Blues Du Petit Chien - Breaux Freres 21. La Valse Du Vieux Temps - Breaux Freres 22. La Valse D'Auguste - Breaux Freres 23. La Valse D'Utah - Breaux Freres
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"THE BEST OF PROFILE RECORDS"

This Cd is an excellent mixture of Rock & Roll, Blues and R&B groups that recorded for the Chicago-based Profile Record label during the 50's & 60's.trax:
1. Bip Bop Boom - Mickey Hawks & The Night Raiders 2. You Don't Care - Junior Wells 3. Trust In Me - The Foster Brothers 4. It's A Fad, Ma - Bobby Dean 5. Oh What A Feeling - Lil' June & The Januarys 6. Dirty Robber - The Noblemen 7. So Weak - Jessie & The Sequins 8. Little By Little - Junior Wells 9. Rock And Roll Rhythm - Mickey Hawks & The Night Raiders 10. Shirley - Dick & Jack w/The Politicians 11. Come On In This House - Junior Wells 12. Oh My Love - Lil' June & The Januarys 13. I'm Lost - The Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 14. Forever Lonely - The Noblemen 15. Prison Bars All Around Me - Junior Wells 16. Hold My Hand - Jessie & The Sequins 17. Hidi Hidi Hidi - The Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 18. Just Between Teens - Bobby Dean 19. Scatterbrain - Dick & Jack w/The Politicians 20. Cha Cha Cha In Blue - Junior Wells 21. Why Yi Yi - The Foster Brothers 22. Screamin' Mimi Jeanie - The Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 23. Cottonpickin' - Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 24. I Could Cry - Junior Wells
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"IT'S OKEH UP NORTH" - A Collection of 24 Classic Northern Soul Monsters From The Vaults of Okeh

This magnificent compilation comes from Okeh Record sides, the Windy City company that produced some of the best soul music of the '60s. Offering over 20 tracks, the CD is top heavy with seven Major Lance songs. The romantic "Call Me Tomorrow," an early track by Major "Love Won't Let Me Wait" Harris, is also featured, along with contributions from the hard-singing Tommy Tate with the aching "I'm Taking On Pain," and Larry Williams and Johnny "Guitar" Watson, who wail on two saucy duets: "Too Late," and "A Quitter Never Wins." Included as well are Billy Butler's most famous song "Right Track," the Artistics' biggest Okeh release "This Heart of Mine," a soulful Little Richard on "I Don't Want to Discuss It," two tear jerkers from Walter Jackson, and more. by Andrew Hamilton, Allmusic

trax:
1. I Don't Wanna Discuss It - Little Richard 2. I'm Coming To Your Rescue - The Triumphs 3. Don't Fight It - Major Lance 4. Right Track - Billy Butler 5. This Heart Of Mine - The Artistics 6. Investigate - Major Lance 7. A Quitter Never Wins - Williams & Watson 8. He Who Picks A Rose - The Carstairs 9. You Don't Want Me No More - Major Lance 10. You're Gonna Make Me Love You - Sandi Sheldon 11. This Old Heart (Is So Lonely) - Larry Williams 12. Fiding Out The Hard Way - The Vibrations 13. I'm Taking No Pain - Tommy Tate 14. (Get My Hat) Nothing Can Stop Me - Major Lance 15. Too Late - Williams & Watson 16. Where Have All The Flowers Gone - Walter Jackson 17. Gonna Get Along Without You Now - The Vibrations 18. I Still Love You - Seven Soul 19. Everybody Loves A Good Time - Major Lance 20. I Can't Do It - The Autographs 21. Call Me Tomorrow - Major Harris 22. The Beat - Major Lance 23. It's An Uphill Climb To The Bottom - Walter Jackson 24. Ain't No Soul (In These Old Shoes) - Major Lance
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"YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!" VOL 2

Rare and Modern Soul Gems From The Vaults of Atco, Atlantic, Cotillion, Reprise, and Warner Brothers 1967-1979English DJ Richard Searling has painstakingly compiled this most perfect AMAZING collection. There are rarities galore on this disc!!!! You will be in awe!! (Amazon)

trax:
1. I'm About Loving You - Al Hudson & The Soul Partners 2. Behind Closed Doors - Jackie Moore 3. We're On Our Way - Frankie Newsome 4. If Only (We Had Met Sooner) - Linda Jones 5. Girl, You're My Kind Of People - The Olympics 6. I Want Sunday Back Again - Bettye Swann 7. Rising Cost Of Love - Darrow Fletcher 8. If You Want Me To Be More Of A Woman (You Got To Be More Of A Man) - Lorraine Johnson 9. Strangers In The Dark Corners - Johnny Bristol 10. Only The One You Love - Dee Dee Warwick 11. You're All I Got In This World - Prince Phillip Mitchell 12. Don't Try To Take The Fifth - The Pointer Sisters 13. Bitter With The Sweet - Tony & Tandy 14. Plain And Simple Girl - Garland Green 15. You Make Me So Hot - Barbara Lynn 16. Girl, You Know That I Love You - The Hypnotics 17. Cancel My Subscription - Mary Wells 18. Hey It's Over - The Windy City 19. I'm So Thankful - Barbara Lewis 20. Signed Miss Heroin - Sam Dees 21. Waiting For Tomorrow - Bettye LaVette 22. If You Do Love Me - The Duponts 23. Coldest Days Of My Life - Walter Jackson
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"HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU" The Best Of Jubilee Gospel 1949-1969

Rare precious and extremely soulful Gospel from jubilee records most of which was never issued anywhere prior to this CD. Artists featured include many of the genres biggest names. (Amazon)This excellent collection from 1949-69 contains many never before released cuts & a whole 10-track collection by the Selah Singers, who later found fame as the Larks; album also features Della Resse & the Meditation Singers, Alex Bradford, Edna McGriff & others. Includes liner notes by Opal Louis Nations. (Allmusic)trax:
1. The Lord'S Prayer - The Orioles 2. In My Heart - The Jubilators (Selah Singers) 3. Your Family Prayer - The Jubilators (Selah Singers) 4. (Die Right) Heaven Belongs To You - The Selah Singers 5. Don'T Drive Your Children Away - The Selah Singers 6. Downward Road - The Selah Singers 7. Tree Of Level (Tree Of Lebanon) - The Selah Singers 8. Why Not Today? - The Selah Singers 9. All Right Now - The Selah Singers 10. Down Here I'Ve Done My Best (I Want To Go To Heaven And Rest) - The Selah Singers 11. I'm On My Way - The Selah Singers 12. Certainly Lord - The Meditation Singers 13. Hard To Get Along - The Meditation Singers 14. Jesus Will Answer Prayer - The Meditation Singers 15. Amen - The Meditation Singers 16. In The Chapel By The Side Of The Road - Edna McGriff 17. It Will Be Grand - Traveling Innerlights 18. Get Your Heart Right With God - Alex Bradford & Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir (Vocalist Unidentified) 19. I Found A New Doctor - Alex Bradford & The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir 20. Too Close To Heaven Parts 1 & 2 - Alex Bradford & The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir
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"YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!" Vol 1

Rare and Modern Soul Gems From The Vaults of Atco, Atlantic, Cotillion, Reprise, and Warner Brothers 1967-1978English DJ Richard Searling has painstakingly compiled this most perfect AMAZING collection. There are rarities galore on this disc!!!! You will be in awe!! (Amazon)trax:
1. If You Can't Give Her Love (Give Her Up) - Mary Wells 2. You'll Never Be Sorry - Gerald Sims 3. I've Got To Come In - Jean Battle 4. Smooth Sailing - Ben E. King 5. Paint Yourself In A Corner - The Classic Sullivans 6. Without A Doubt - Major Lance 7. Save Your Love For Me - Vivian Reed 8. Free (I'm Coming Home) - The Cool Sounds 9. Let's Get Together Now - The Aristocrats 10. One On One - Prince Phillip Mitchell 11. Kiss My Love Goodbye - Bettye Swann 12. I L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. - Terry Collins 13. Nice And Easy - Barbara Lynn 14. When You Left Heartache Began - Archie Bell & The Drells 15. Always Be My Baby - The Duponts 16. Beware Of The Stranger - The Hypnotics 17. Love, Love, Love (Alternate Mix) - Donny Hathaway 18. Calling For Your Love - The Enticers 19. Better Believe It - Brenton Wood 20. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream - Aretha Franklin 21. Fragile, Handle With Care - Sam Dees 22. Let Me Prove That I Love You - The Dynells 23. I May Not Be What You Want - Bobby Sheen 24. So Very Hard To Go - Tower Of Power 25. Nobody's Gonna Get Your Mama - Peggy Scott
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ROBERT JR. LOCKWOOD "Steady Rollin' Man" 1970

Guitarist Robert Jr. Lockwood had Robert Johnson not only as a stepfather but also as a guitar tutor. What Johnson couldn't have taught him, however, was how to come by ears big enough to take in the playing of Charlie Christian, but the fact that he did gives this music an edge it might otherwise have lacked. Where Lockwood could have fallen back on every blues cliché in the book, he instead produces lines of exceptional fluidity that are arguably as much a product of a jazz musician's sensibility as it's that of a dyed-in-the-wool bluesman.
Recorded in 1970, this was remarkably Lockwood's first session as a leader, and it makes for deeply satisfying listening. His guitar work, by comparison with his efforts on Walking The Blues (Candid, 1972) and Otis Spann Is The Blues (Candid, 1960), both cut under Spann's leadership on the same day in 1960, has here a mellow edge informed perhaps by the passing of years.
Happily however it doesn't dilute his fervor on the likes of "Mean Red Spider," where he shows just why he was the right choice for one of the guitar places on Sonny Boy Williamson's Nine Below Zero (Indigo, 2006), recorded in the same period as the Spann dates referred to above. His evocation of the Mississippi delta in the intro is also more than timely, reminding listeners of that place even in the midst of his big city sophistication, two considerations that are pleasingly reconciled on both takes of "Lockwood's Boogie."
Whilst Lockwood's voice might lack a certain authority, its edge of world-weariness on "Ramblin' On My Mind" is far more apt than any amount of polish, especially when his guitar meshes with that of Louis Myers' in a manner that could almost be telepathic.
That area of Mississippi comes to mind again on "Kind-Hearted Woman," where Lockwood muses lyrically on one of the great preoccupations of the blues over a bed of guitars, bass and drums that's clearly the product of countless sessions together and the empathy that those have engendered.
All in all, the title of this one just about sums it up, and by way of underscoring the point there is a fundamental honesty to this music that simply doesn't seem to be out there these days. It could just be one of the many things that makes it so special. (Nic Jones, All About Jazz)

Personnel:
Robert Jr. Lockwood: vocals, guitar; Louis Myers: guitar; Dave Myers: bass; Fred Below: drums.

trax:
01 Steady Rollin' Man 02 Western Horizon 03 Take A Walk With Me 04 Steady Groove (Instrumental) 05 Mean Red Spider 06 Lockwood's Boogie (Instrumental) 07 Ramblin' On My Mind 08 Blues And Trouble 09 Worst Old Feeling 10 Kind-Hearted Woman 11 Can't Stand The Pain 12 Tanya (Instrumental) 13 Worst Old Feeling (Alternate) 14 Lockwood's Boogie (Alternate)
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GLORIA EDWARDS "The Soul Queen Of Texas" (The Crazy Cajun Recordings)

trax:
01 Money (That's What I Want) 02 I Don't Need Nobody (To Help Me Keep Up With My Man) 03 Settled For Less 04 Blues (Part 2) 05 Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby) 06 Real Love 07 Don't Mess With My Man 08 Lonely Girl 09 My Love Keeps Getting Stronger 10 You Ain't Enough Woman To Take My Man 11 I Can't Take Another Heartache 12 Just Enough Woman 13 Anything You Want 14 Something You Couldn't Write About 15 Our Love's Not For Three 16 Come On Over 17 Pushover 18 Tell You About A Feeling 19 I Really Got It Bad For My Baby 20 Blues (Part 2) (Alternate Take) 21 Real Love (Alternate Take)
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"THE LANOR RECORDS STORY" 1960-1992

Retrospective of Louisiana producer Lee LaVergne and his Lanor label features Shirley Bergeron, Charles Mann, Donald Jacobs, Elton Anderson, Drifting Charles and many others. Re-mastered from the original analog tapes, this collection takes the listener through swamp pop, R&B, soul and zydeco. Slipcased CD includes a 28-page full color booklet, historic photographs and a fully researched story. (Amazon)Lanor Records was founded in 1960 to capitalize on the burgeoning Cajun music market emanating from Louisiana's bayou region. In its first decade, the label is credited with launching the careers of countless Crescent City artists. Following the death of Lee LaVergne in 1998, Lanor's back catalog was eventually acquired by the heir of New Orleans' All South Distribution Company, Warren Hildebrand. The imprint presently operates out of Jennings, Louisiana along with its sister companies, Sound Center Recorders, Swimal Music BMI, & The Sound Center.

trax:
1. J'ai Fait Mon Ede'e - Shirley Bergeron 2. Parlez Vous Francais - Bill Matte 3. I Love My Baby - The Eltradors 4. Life Problem - Elton Anderson 5. Can't Stop My Loving You - Little Victor 6. Drifting Cloud - Drifting Charles 7. Keep Your Arms Around Me - Charles Mann 8. You're No Longer Mine - Charles Mann 9. I'll Be Your Jim - Willie Mallory 10. Running Out Of Fools - Hugh Boynton 11. Love Don't Love Nobody - Ella Brown 12. Red Red Wine - Charles Mann 13. Crazy Face - Jay Randall 14. Hot Hot Lips - Ralph Prescott 15. I Found My Woman - Roy Carrier 16. Chewing Gum - Donald Jacob 17. Walk Of Life - Charles Mann 18. Accordion Players Waltz - Tim Broussard 19. Drop That Ego - The Generation 20. Zydeco All Night - Joe Walker 21. My Name Is Beau Jocque - Beau Jocque
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CHICAGO COOL BREEZIN' - A Windy City Rhythm 'n' Soul Compendium 1966-1983 - Vol 3

trax:
1. You Got Me Walking - Cicero Blake 2. Too Late to Turn Back Now - The Chi-Lites 3. Somebody I Know - Wales Wallace 4. Someone Else's Arms - Channel 3 5. There It Is - Lionel Hampton 6. I'll Bake Me A Man - Barbara Acklin 7. What Goes Up (Must Come Down) - Tyrone Davis 8. Living in the Footsteps of Another Girl - The Promises 9. It Only Happens (When I Look At You) - Jackie Wilson 10. Broken Home - Ben Monroe 11. It's Worth a Whippin' - Margie Alexander 12. I Don't Do This (to Every Girl I Meet) - Sidney Joe Qualls 13. Especially for You - Manchild 14. Let Me Make Love to You - Gene Chandler 15. I Still Love You - Windy City 16. I Choose You - Paris 17. All About the Paper - The Dells 18. All I Want to Do Is Make Love to You - The Impressions 19. I'll Make the Living If You Make the Loving Worthwhile - Gene Chandler 20. Touching in the Dark - Walter Jackson
...served by Gyro1966...

JOHN EDWARDS "Careful Man"

Once an extremely popular regional attraction, John Edwards moved from the chitlin circuit to the big time when he joined the Spinners. Born in St. Louis, Edwards began singing in men's clubs while stationed in Germany during his Army days. When he was discharged, Edwards came to Columbus, GA. He appeared once with Wilson Pickett and then did several dates in Chicago, where he met Curtis Mayfield in 1968. Mayfield got Edwards a session at Weis Records and Jo Armstead produced "If I Don't Lose My Head" in 1969. Armstead produced other singles for Weis and Twin Stacks before Edwards moved to Bell in 1972. Floyd Smith co-wrote and produced "The Look on Your Face," after which Edwards moved again to Aware, in 1973. Smith produced his LP John Edwards, and "Messing up a Good Thing" generated some attention. But it was "Careful Man" in 1974 that got Edwards his first and only hit as a single act; it reached number eight. When Aware folded, Edwards did a few dates with The Spinners in 1973, but continued his solo career with Cotillion. His 1976 LP Life Love and Living contained some excellent deep soul tunes, particularly "Baby, Hold on to Me," but didn't get much attention. Edwards joined The Spinners full-time in 1977 and remains with them currently. "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" and "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time" in 1980 are the biggest Spinners hits featuring Edwards to date. (Dusty Groove)

trax:
01 Cold Hearted Woman 02 How Can I Make It Without You 03 Vanishing Love 04 Tin Man 05 The Look On Your Face 06 It's Those Little Things That Count 07 It's Got To Be The Real Thing This Time 08 Ain't That Good Enough 09 Time 10 We Always Come Back Strong 11 I Had A Love 12 Everybody Don't Get A Second Chance 13 The Way We Were 14 Stop This Merry-Go-Round 15 Spread The News 16 Careful Man 17 Claim Jumpin' 18 I'll Be Your Puppet 19 You Were Made For Love 20 You're Messing Up A Good Thing 21 It's A Groove 22 Excercise My Love 23 Danny Boy
...served by Gyro1966...

CHICAGO COOL BREEZIN' - A Windy City Rhythm 'n' Soul Compendium 1966-1983 - Vol 2

trax:
1. Is It Something You've Got - Tyrone Davis 2. Have You Seen Him - Dana Valery 3. Troubles' A-Comin' - The Chi-Lites 4. Baby Jane - Otis Clay 5. You're So Young, But You're So True - The Lost Generation 6. Let This Be A Letter (To My Baby) - Jackie Wilson 7. You Babe - Dana Valery 8. I Forgot To Tell You - Chuck Jackson 9. You Brought Out The Good In Me - Otis Leavill 10. I'll Belong To You - Jean Shy 11. Let Me Come Back - Walter Jackson 12. Love Uprising - Mister "T" 13. All The Waiting Was Not In Vain - Tyrone Davis 14. Sweeter As The Days Go By - Major Lance 15. You Hurt Me For The Last Time - Otis Clay 16. The Man And The Woman - Chuck Jackson 17. I'll Be Right Here - Mighty Doug Haynes 18. The Young, Tough And The Terrible - The Lost Generation 19. Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy - Lyn Roman 20. Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Jackie Wilson 21. Run To Me - Sidney Joe Qualls 22. Turn Back The Hands Of Time - Lionel Hampton
...served by Gyro1966...

EARL GAINES "Lovin' Blues" (The Starday/King Years 1967-1973)

The years covered on WestSide's 1999 compilation Lovin' Blues: The Starday-King Years 1967-1973 are not necessarily among Earl Gaines' best-known or most-celebrated sides. The singles he cut in the late '50s and early '60s, primarily for Excello, form the core of his legacy, but this music is high-grade Southern soul all the same. It's in a similar vein as the Excello recordings, but it's clear that this is post-Stax material with the punchy horns and gritty rhythm section. The first part of the compilation is devoted to the 1969 album Lovin' Blues, which is a tight, passionate, unheralded minor gem of soul-blues, and then the rest of the compilation is devoted to singles and unreleased tracks. Some of this material is a little generic and faceless, while others are simply serviceable covers of R&B standards like "Sixty Minute Man," but it's all listenable and its completeness is certainly a boon to collectors. But the real reason to get this compilation (once you've already absorbed the Excello recordings, that is) is that Lovin' Blues is a fine Southern soul-blues record, worth seeking out by aficionados. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusictrax:
01 My Woman 02 The Things I Used To Do 03 Three Wishes For A Fool 04 Fruit From Another Man's Tree 05 From Warm To Cool To Cold 06 It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day) 07 My Pillow Stays Wet 08 The Door Is Still Open 09 The Meaning Of A Sad Song (Medley) 10 Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go) 11 Everyday I Have The Blues 12 Have Faith (In Me) 13 Tell Me Tonight 14 You Belong To Me 15 Good Good Lovin' 16 Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go (Thrill On The Hill) 17 What In The World (Can I Call My Own) 18 Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go) (Overdubbed Version) 19 I'm The One You Need 20 House Full Of Rooms 21 Sixty Minute Man 22 Little Boy Blue 23 Finger Lickin' (Instrumental)
...served by Gyro1966...

CHICAGO COOL BREEZIN' - A Windy City Rhythm 'n' Soul Compendium 1966-1983 - Vol 1

trax:
1. I've Lost You - Jackie Wilson 2. Keep Your Chin Up - Jackie Ross 3. Have More Time - Marvin Smith 4. Glad I Met You - The Artistics 5. Whispers (Gettin' Louder) - Erma Franklin 6. Wrong Number - Lee Charles 7. The Chase Is On - Johnny Howard 8. Love Grows Bitter - Billy Butler 9. Hope We Have - The Artistics 10. I'm the One to Do It - LaVern Baker 11. Those Were the Good Old Days - Gene Chandler 12. I'm in Danger - The Visitors 13. It's All Over Between Us - Lee Charles 14. You Brought About a Change in Me - Jackie Wilson 15. Price of Love - Marshall & The Chi-Lites 16. Anywhere But Nowhere - Gene Chandler & Barbara Acklin 17. I'll Bet You - Billy Butler 18. 24 Hours Of Sadness - The Chi-Lites 19. Somebody's Changing My Sweet Baby's Mind - Johnny Sayles 20. Getting Nowhere Fast - Floyd Smith 21. After You - Barbara Acklin 22. California Montage - Young-Holt Unlimited
...served by Gyro1966...

JERRY WILLIAMS JR. aka Swamp Dogg "Swamp's Things" (The Complete Calla Recordings, Plus!)

A collection of Swamp Dogg's '60s Calico sides, making their first time on CD appearance with the bonus of a whole album's worth of new-to-CD '70s recordings. The first ten tracks were released as Jerry Williams or Little Jerry Williams while the remainder came out under the sobriquet of Swamp Dogg. Highlights include "Eat the Goose (Before the Goose Eats You)," "Call Me Nigger," "Paradoxical (No Bugles)," "Baby, Bunny, Sugar, Honey," "Philly Duck," and "Baby You're My Everything." A stellar collection of '60s and '70s soul-funk. (Cub Koda, Allmusic) read more about Swamp Dogg here:
http://sinkfullofdishes.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/swamp-dogg-swamps-things-the-complete-calla-recordings-plus/trax:
01 If You Ask Me 02 Yvonne 03 Just What Do You Plan To Do About It 04 Baby You're My Everything 05 What's The Matter With You Baby 06 Baby Bunny 07 Philly Duck 08 Your Man 09 Kiss Me 10 Baby You're My Everything 11 Paradixical 12 Buzzard Luck 13 Ebony And Jet 14 Eat The Goose 15 Don't You Try To Be My Man 16 Call Me Nigger 17 I Can't Stand To Hear Her Say Please 18 I'm Still In Love With You 19 Or Forever Hold Your Peace 20 I've Never Been To Africa
...served by Gyro1966...

Don Haven & His Hi-Fi's (Gotham Rock 'n' Roll)

Originally an LP on the English Krazy Kat label. A set of 14 sides from Gotham's rock 'n 'roll subsidiary 20th Century. Most of the tunes are in a Bill Haley-ish rockaphilly jive style featuring brass sections, sax solos and forced-sounding "teenaged" lyrics. The best here are the 5 earliest Charlie Gracie sides, pre-Cameo, backed by The Wildcats - helped quite a bit by Charlie's great guitar solos - Honey Honey/ Wildwood Boogie + 3. There's a couple alternate takes by Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers, unissued material by The Playboys and coverboys Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's (which may also be The Playboys, The Nu-Tones, heard here on Jump Figaro Jump and The Bombers) and finally 2 by Mike Pedicin Quintet including his hit cover of Shake A Hand. (Roots 'n' Rhythm)

trax:
1. My Baby Loves Me - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 2. Head Home Honey - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 3. Wildwood Boogie - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 4. Honey Honey - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 5. Shake A Hand - Mike Pedicin Quintet 6. Mambo Boogie - The Playboys 7. Everybody'S Going Crazy - The Playboys 8. Jump Figaro Jump - The Nu-Tones 9. Have Yourself A Ball - Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's 10. Everybody's Going Crazy - Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's 11. Rockin' And Rollin' The Blues - Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers 12. Dilly Dally - Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers 13. Disc Jockey's Boogie - Mike Pedicin Quintet 14. Frankie And Johnny - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats
...served by Gyro1966...

BETTY HARRIS "The Lost Soul Queen"

Betty Harris' solid 1960s work with New Orleans songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint certainly deserved more audience and attention than it got at the time, and this fine compilation is the proof of that. Songs like "I Don't Want to Hear It," "Sometime," "Nearer to You" (which was a Top 40 R&B hit), and the stone-driving, funky "There's a Break in the Road" all show a solid soul singer working with top-notch material and the production by Toussaint is appropriately spooky, atmospheric, and dripping with New Orleans soulfulness. Also included here is Harris' pre-Toussaint cover of Solomon Burke's "Cry to Me," which she recorded in 1963 for Jubilee Records, and her version is definitive, no easy accomplishment when you're up against a singer as good as Burke. ~ Steve Leggett, Allmusic

trax:
01 Cry Baby 02 I Don't Want To Hear It 03 The Trouble With My Lover 04 Nearer To You 05 I'm Evil Tonight 06 What Did I Do Wrong 07 I'm Gonna Get You 08 Mean Man 09 Hook Line And Sinker 10 Twelve Red Roses 11 Lonely Hearts 12 Ride Your Pony 13 I Can't Last Much Longer 14 I'll Be A Liar 15 Sometime 16 All I Want Is You 17 What A Sad Feeling 18 Bad Luck 19 Break In The Road 20 Take Care Of Our Love 21 Love Lots Of Lovin'
...served by Gyro1966...

FRED HUGHES "Baby Boy" & JOHNNY SAYLES "Man On The Inside"

In 1999, Westside released Baby Boy / Man on the Inside, which contained two complete albums -- Baby Boy by Fred Hughes (1970, originally released on Brunswick) and Man on the Inside by Johnny Sayles (1973, originally released on Dakar) -- on one compact disc. Many singers passed through Brunswick's doors that deserved more acclaim, and these men made one well-crafted album for the label before moving on. Neither of these albums sold well.~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi

trax:
Fred Hughes
1. Ooh Wee Baby I Love You 2. The Son Of Hickery Holler's Tramp 3. In My Time Of Need 4. Georgia On My Mind 5. Baby Boy 6. I Understand 7. San Fransisco Is A Lonely Town 8. Don't Let This Happen To Us 9. Who You Really Are 10. People
Johnny Sayles
11. Snake In The Grass 12. Good Golly 13. Troubles A Comin' 14. My Love (Ain't No Love Without Your Love) 15. Voices From The Inside 16. Ooh Wee Baby I Love You 17. I Understand 18. Feeling Is Believing 19. You're So Right For Me 20. Somebody's Changing My Sweet Baby's Mind
...served by Gyro1966...

Sol Hoopii "Master of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" Vol. 1

Sol Hoopii (or Ho'opi'i, which indicates the correct pronounciation) was one of the first and most influential hawaiian steel guitarists to become famous in the u.s., in fact, beside some others, it was his recordings who started the hawaiian music craze in the late 20's/early 30's. Many (continental) u.s. musicians of that era have cited him as an important influence on their music while on the other side, Hoopii was combining traditional hawaiian music styles with influences he got from popular styles as jazz, swing, blues, country and folk.In my opinion this record, which includes some of his finest recordings from '26 to '29 is essential for any music historian as well as for any aficionado of relaxed, rootsy kind of music. If you like Django Reinhardt or Robert Johnson you should give Mr. Hoopii a listen. If you want to know where the steel guitar sound of, say, Hank Williams came from - here's what i have to offer. Fix yourself a nice drink (a reefer won't do any harm, too), download, and ENJOY!!

trax:
1) Twelfth Street Rag 1927 2) I Ain't Got Nobody 1928 3) Hula Blues 1927 4) Chimes 1927 5) Sweet Lei Lehua 1927 6) Most Of All I Want Your Love 1926 7) Feelin' No Pain 1928 8) Kilohana 1929 9) Stack O'Lee Blues 1926 10) St. Louis Blues 1927 11) Patches 1928 12) Alekoki 1928 13) Farewell Blues 1926 14) Singing The Blues 1928 15) Hilo 1929 16) Tin Roof Blues 1927
...served by TV Age...

"MR. TOYTOWN PRESENTS: OBSCURE PSYCHEDELIC, POPSYKE & SOFT - POP 45'S , 1969-1974"

Soft-Pop 45s 1969 -1974.' 2009 repress. "Mr. Toytown Presents... focuses on singles by mostly European bands from the early 70s, originally published on small Spanish cult labels like Opalo, Accion, Poplandia, Bocaccio, Top, Goma ... Music ranges from heavy guitar psych (Honest Men doing a psychedelic cover of The Beatles 'Help', Schizo, featuring a young Richard Pinhas on fuzz guitar) to twee UK pop-psych a la Mark Wirtz ('Brother Jack' by ex-Majority One Barry Wigley, White, The Panics, Dorians, Mike & Toti doing a superb Spanish cover version of 'Ice Cream Man', from Circus Days fame), nice orchestrated toytown syke (Napoleon, Morning Glory, ex-The End guys Tucky Buzzard with an Spanish only 45), mellow folk-psych from Demsey & Dover and Jumbo, weird studio psych (Big Cherry, Electric Machine, Christophe, Children Of The Morning...) and much more. 21 tracks with remastered sound, 8 pages booklet with informative linernotes in English about each band and amazing sleeve design. Limited edition of 500 copies.trax:
1. Da Da Song Part 1 - Christophe 2. Schizo & The Little Girl - Schizo 3. Alice - J. Bastos 4. Help - The Honest Men 5. Samanta Vien A Casa (Samantha's Coming Home) - Electric Machine 6. Come In Bonzo - Big Cherry 7. Go Where The Rain Goes - Black Swan 8. Sing Little Bird Sing - White 9. De Nata, Fresca Y De Limon - Mike Y Toti 10. Brother Jack - Barry Wigley 11. Jimmy Joe - Napoleon 12. Marjory Daw - Morning Glory 13. Sugar Suzy - Ginger Ale 14. Torch Song - Dorians 15. I'm Leaving Today - Jumbo 16. Emptiness Of Mind - Demsey & Dover 17. You're All Alone - Tucky Buzzard 18. Worshippin' The Sun At Dawn - Sunshine 19. Children Of The Morning - Children Of The Morning 20. Sunday - Edel & Weiss 21. Come With Me - The Panics
...served by Gyro1966...

"LIVING IN THE PAST" 19 Forgotten Nederbiet Gems 1964-1967

Very nice limited edition comp of 19 forgotten Nederbiet gems 1964-1967 by Midnatt Fyran, Alligators, Goldstar Brothers, Sany Coast, Sheiks, Johnny Kendall And The Heralds, Interpreters, Jumping Jewels, Young Ones, De Maskers etc. Cool photopacked insert with linernotes by Lenny Helsing and top collector Eric Meinen!digging out some incredible cool beat and freakbeat tracks from the rich dutch archives. Besides the wild sounds of JOHNNY KENDALL & THE HERALDS, SHORT 66, SHEIKS, CAVALIERS, MASKERS, SANDY COAST and THE DUKES there are many obscurities like MYDNATT FYRAN, YOUNG ONES, FASHIONS, ALLIGATORS, SHARONS and more incredibly rare singles. Enjoy the awesome mastering, the cool op-art lay out and the insert with many previously unseen pictures and liner notes.trax:
1. Johnny Lion & The Jumping Jewels - I Wanna Dance With You 2. The Crazy Rockers - I Feel Allright 3. Johnny Kendall & The Heralds - You Tell Me Why 4. The Silverstars - She's Gone 5. Short '66 - I Don't Know Why 6. The Sheiks - Lost Love 7. The Cavaliers - It's Done 8. The Royal Four - Hey Girl 9. Midnatt Fyran - When You're Lonesome 10. The Interpreters - The Only Man For You 11. The Twilight Kids - A Wondering Man 12. De Maskers - Living In The Past 13. The Goldstar Brothers - May Be 14. The Sandy Coast - We'll Meet Again 15. The Young Ones - She Won't Even Let Me In 16. The Dukes - It's My Turn 17. The Fashions - All Alone 18. The Alligators - I Feel Like Crying 19. The Sharons - I Can't Leave
...served by Gyro1966...

"PSYCHEDELIA AT ABBEY ROAD" 1965-1969

This is a phantasmagorical collection of 60's psychedelic rock and pop. Either a great way introduce yourself to a fascinating era in music, or an excellent way to get ahold of some hard to find tracks. Of interest also to prog rock fans (prog rock's roots lie in psychedelia) for the tracks by Tomorrow (featuring a 17-year old Steve Howe on guitar before he joined up with Yes) and "Kites" by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, a precurser to the band Gentle Giant. The CD comes with colourful detailed liner notes too. A must buy for any fan of psychedelic music! (Amazon)A 22-track single CD seems a bit paltry given the scope of the title -- except, of course, that the 1969 cutoff date here puts the material from Harvest (a label started late that year and containing the lion's share of EMI psychedelia) out of reach. Of course, there are no Beatles tracks and, likewise, no Pink Floyd here, but we do get cuts by the Hollies, Donovan, Tomorrow, the Fingers, Focus 3, the Tales of Justine, Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, the Pretty Things, the Aquarian Age, the Koobas, the Nocturnes, Locomotive, the Gods, Mandrake Paddlesteamer, Mark Wirtz, and Syd Barrett. Most of this stuff, apart from "Sunshine Superman," "My White Bicycle," and "King Midas in Reverse," isn't exactly routine material, and two tracks -- "Delighted to See You" by the N'Betweens and "Why" by Tomorrow -- are previously unissued. The latter, a cover of the Byrds' song, features a tour de force guitar break by future Yes member Steve Howe. Just as revelatory is "Monday Morning," a 1967 single by the largely forgotten the Tales of Justine, featuring David Daltrey, with arrangement and production by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, respectively. Everything on the album has been remastered in 24-bit digital sound, and the long version of Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" has been remixed, bringing out extraordinary detail in the percussion section, from the choppy rhythm guitars and harpsichord down to the exceptionally busy drumming. The annotation by Brian Hogg is detailed without going overboard on trivia, and the entire collection turns out to be great fun. (Bruce Eder, Allmusic)

trax:
1. Sunshine Superman (Full Version) - Donovan 2. My White Bicycle - Tomorrow 3. Delighted To See You - The 'N Betweens 4. Sunny South Kensington - Donovan 5. Circus With A Female Clown - The Fingers 6. Why - Tomorrow 7. King Midas In Reverse - The Hollies 8. 10,000 Years Behind My Mind - Focus 3 9. Monday Morning - Tales Of Justine 10. Maker - The Hollies 11. Kites - Simon Dupree & The Big Sound with Jacqui Chan 12. Talkin' About The Good Times - The Pretty Things 13. Walking Through My Dreams - The Pretty Things 14. (He's Our Dear Old) Weatherman - Mark Wirtz Orchestra 15. 10,000 Words In A Cardboard Box - Aquarian Age 16. Carpet Man - The Nocturnes 17. Barricades - The Koobas 18. We Are The Moles (Part 1) - The Moles 19. Mr Armegeddon - The Locomotive 20. Hey Bulldog - The Gods 21. Strange Walking Man - The Mandrake Paddle Steamer 22. Golden Hair - Syd Barrett
...served by Gyro1966...

"IT TAKES TWO" - 23 Prime Cuts Of Classic 60's Soul and R&B Duets

Subtitled "23 Prime Cuts of Classic 60s Soul and R&B Duets," this couldn't be hailed as a definitive best-of for that sub-genre. Not when there's no Sam & Dave, no Peaches & Herb, and no Righteous Brothers, not to mention part-time duet teams like Otis Redding & Carla Thomas, or Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. Still, it's a respectable if idiosyncratically selected batch of soul duets, most but not all of the male-female variety. As for the big hits, there are barely any on board, other than Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford's gospel-charged "I Need Your Loving" and Betty Everett & Jerry Butler's "Let It Be Me." As for reasonably well-known duet teams, there are only a few others: Inez & Charlie Foxx, Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown, Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson, and Lee Dorsey & Betty Harris (well, one-half of the latter was well known, anyway). This, of course, makes this disc more enticing for collectors, who may well not yet have located the cuts by Birdlegs & Pauline, June Conquest & Donny Hathaway, or Laura Greene and Johnny McKinnis, for instance. As for the quality, it's good to average period soul, taken from the vaults of Vee Jay, Sansu, Red Bird, SSS International, Fire, Musicor, Curtom, and Wand, leaning a bit (but not far) toward uptown productions. The most satisfying obscurity is the bluesy and moody "Can't Stay Away" by Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, while Kane & Abel's "He Will Break Your Heart" sounds so much like the Phil Spector-produced Righteous Brothers singles that the liner notes wonder whether it might be that duo recording under a pseudonym. by Richie Unterberger, Allmusic

trax:
1. I Need Your Loving - Don Gardner & DeeDee Ford 2. Lovers Heaven - Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson 3. Picking Wild Mountain Berries - Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson 4. Something You Got - Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown 5. Baby Take Me - Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown 6. Baby Drop A Dime - Inez & Charlie Foxx 7. I Stand Accused - Inez & Charlie Foxx 8. Pledging My Love - Laura Greene/Johnny McKinnis 9. Let It Be Me - Betty Everett & Jerry Butler 10. Ain't That Loving You Baby - Betty Everett & Jerry Butler 11. Spring - Birdlegs & Pauline 12. Lets Go Lets Go Lets Go - Hank Ballard & Betty Lavette 13. Lock Me In Your Heart - Tarheel Slim & Little Ann 14. Can't Stay Away Tarheel - Slim & Little Ann 15. He Will Break Your Heart - Kane & Able 16. I Got What It Takes Part 1 - Brooks & Jerry 17. I Got What It Takes Part 2 - Brooks & Jerry 18. If I'm Hurt You'll Feel The Pain - Barbara & Brenda 19. Too Young To Be Fooled - Barbara & Brenda 20. Lover And Friend - Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham 21. Love Lots Of Lovin' - Lee Dorsey & Betty Harris 22. Take Care Of Our Love - Lee Dorsey & Betty Harris 23. Them Changes - Big John Hamilton & Doris Allen 24. Thank You - Donny Hathaway & June Conquest
...served by Gyro1966...

MITTY COLLIER "Shades Of A Genius"

Singer Mitty Collier is best known for her sensual orchestrated ballad "I Had a Talk with My Man," a 1964 Chess single, which ironically wasn't her highest-charting single. A later single, "Sharing You," was a Top Ten R&B hit.Born June 21, 1941, in Birmingham, AL, Mitty Collier sang in church as a teen and toured with the Hayes Ensemble, a gospel group. While in college, Collier started singing rhythm and blues in local clubs. While visiting her brother in Chicago in the summer of 1959, a former instructor suggested that she enter talent shows. Winning WGES DJ Al Benson's Talent Contest at the legendary Regal Theater for six weeks straight, she was offered a record contract by Ralph Bass of Chess Records in 1960.
Her first charting single was an answer record to Little Johnny Taylor's "Part Time Love," a number one R&B smash in summer 1963. Collier's "I'm Your Part Time Love" b/w "Don't You Forget It" hit number 20 R&B in fall 1963. Her next hit became her signature song. Inspired in part by gospel great James Cleveland's "I Had a Talk with God Last Night" and produced by Chess staff producer Billy Davis, "I Had a Talk with My Man" b/w "Free Girl (In the Morning)" hit number three R&B on Cashbox Magazine's R&B chart in fall 1964. Another hit inspired by Cleveland ("No Cross No Crown"), "No Faith, No Love" b/w "Together," peaked at number 29 R&B in early 1965.
Collier's other Chess singles were "Come Back Baby" b/w "Aint That Love," the local hit "For My Man" b/w "Help Me," "Sharing You" b/w " Walk Away," "Watching and Waiting" b/w "Like Only Yesterday," "That'll Be Good Enough" b/w "Git Out," and "You're the Only One" b/w "Do It With Confidence." In 1969, Collier signed with Peachtree Records of Atlanta, GA and released the singles "True Love Never Comes Easy" and "You Hurt So Good" b/w "I Can't Lose." Her other releases are the single "Let Them Talk" and the CD Shades of Genius.
In 1972, Collier left secular music and began singing gospel music. In the '90s, she was a minister at a church in Chicago. "I Had a Talk with My Man" has been covered by Dusty Springfield (Anthology, 1997), Shirley Brown (Timeless, 1991), Inez Foxx (Memphis & More, 1996), and Marva Wright (Marvalous, 1995), among others. (Allmusic)

trax:
01 I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night 02 Little Miss Loneliness 03 I Got To Get Away From It All 04 My Babe 05 Let's Get Together 06 Would You Have Listened 07 Let Them Talk 08 So Little Time 09 It Looks Like Rain 10 I've Got Love 11 That's What A Man Is For 12 I'm Your Part Time Love 13 Pain 14 Don't You Forget It 15 One More Time 16 I Dedicate My Whole Life To You 17 Don't Let Her Take My Baby 18 Free Girl In The Morning 19 Hallelujah (I Love Him So) 20 Drowned In My Own Tears 21 No Faith, No Love 22 Ain't That Love
...served by Gyro1966...

"A CARNIVAL OF SOUL" Vol 3 - I WANNA BE

The third and final volume exploring the soulful sounds made at Carnival Records in the 1960s. Set up in 1962, Carnival attracted a red-hot 'house' band of young talent - guitarists Eric Gale and 'Snaggs' Allen, drummer Bernard Purdie and bassist Jimmy Tyrell (later a vice president of Columbia Records), among them - and together they forged a distinct new sound. Many of the excellent singers to record for the label were word-of-mouth recommend-ations - singer Barbara Brown was instrumental in bringing The Manhattans to Carnival and later Blue Lovett brought his cousin Phil Terrell along (Phil's I'll Erase You (From My Heart) is on the current volume of recordings). Throughout the 60s, Carnival had hits with The Manhattans, reinvesting the profits in local acts with the occasional licensed-in production. The label's sound developed from doo wop and R&B to mainstream soul and eventually the softer harmonies of The Pretenders.The Pretenders were the label's main preoccupation in the 1970s, even cutting a handful of disco sides for Carnival. The label's catalogue range, though, remained wide including, in addition to the softer soul of such groups as The Three Reasons, southern soul from Little Royal and Jimmy Jules and the blues of Curly Mays (whose Oh Why is today the rarest, most sought-after Carnival 45). In 1982, after five years inactivity, Carnival recorded Love Don't Come Easy by The New Jersey Connection. The last release from Carnival, it showed that the magic had not died. It became a big UK club hit and is still played by the likes of DJ Greg Edwards on his new shows.This 25 track compilation is by Ady Croasdell who also provides the detailed sleevenotes. Full Carnival discography is by Peter Gibbon. (Ace)

trax:
1. I Need You Baby - Lee Williams & The Cymbals 2. I'll Erase You (From My Heart) - Phil Terrell 3. I Wanna Be (Your Everything) - The Manhattans 4. I Call It Love - The Pretenders 5. If Love Comes Knockin' - The Topics 6. Send Him To Me - Barbara Brown 7. I'm The Man For You Baby - The Turner Brothers 8. Just One More Time - Jimmy Jules 9. I'll Be Gone - Lee Williams & The Cymbals 10. What Kind Of Man Are You - Dolores Johnson 11. Oh Why - Curly Mays 12. You Made Me Love You - Little Royal 13. The Git Go - Maurice Simon & The Pie Men 14. Just Be Yourself - The Pretenders 15. April Lady - James Perry 16. Take Me Back - The Three Reasons 17. Lonely Girl - The Lovettes 18. Cry Cry Cry - Kenneth Ruffin 19. Buy This Record For Me - Leon & The Metronomes w/The Kool Kings Band 20. Your Yah-Yah Is Gone - The Trenteens 21. Try Me One Time - Dolores Johnson 22. It's Too Late For Tears - Rene Bailey 23. I Don'T Wanna Go - The Manhattans 24. Groove In G - Wilbur Bascomb & Blue Zodiact 25. Love Don'T Come Easy - New Jersey Connection
...served by Gyro1966...

THE PLAYBOYS "Twenty One" 1994

Wild Rock 'n' Roll from London, England. The Playboys fantastic second album "Twenty One" was originally issued on vinyl by Joker Records in 1994. Now available on CD with two bonus tracks from their rare "Come Back Judy" single.trax:
01 Cast Iron Arm 02 Ooh Wee Pretty Baby 03 Hang On 04 Bip Bop Bip 05 Wild Cherry 06 Twenty One 07 Good Show No Go 08 Bloody Mary 09 Justine 10 Schoolgirl 11 Stop Twistin My Arm 12 El Rocka 13 Gonna Get Drunk 14 Is It Time 15 Come Back Judy 16 El Rocka (Undubbed)
...served by Gyro1966...

"A CARNIVAL OF SOUL" Vol 2 - FEELIN' GOOD

Volume One of this Carnival Records anthology contained one lone R&B hit; this second volume doesn't include any at all. The Manhattans' second record, "There Goes a Fool," is a good little number. Lee Williams & the Cymbals' second-biggest record, "Peepin' Through the Window," still sounds good, and was one of the few Carnival Records releases to get played outside of New Jersey. The Symphonies' "That's What Love Will Do" is a heart-rending girl group ballad and a bonafide tear-jerker, while The Lovettes' "I'm Afraid (To Say I Love You)" is another good slice of female group soul. The Metrics and the Topics sides are always interesting; Joe Evans (Carnival Records' owner) should have taken them in the studio more. Sides by Barbara Brown and Norma Jenkins may have been recorded in New Jersey, but they're deep soul. (Andrew hamilton, Allmusic)

trax:
1. I'm Just A Young Boy - Phil Terrell 2. So In Love - Barbara Brown 3. Hey Girl (Where Are You Going) - The Topics 4. There Goes A Fool - The Manhattans 5. Please Come Back - Harry Caldwell 6. Peeping Through The Window - Lee Williams & The Cymbals 7. I Found You - The Metrics 8. That's What Love Will Do - The Symphonies 9. I'm The One Love Forgot - The Pretenders 10. Sometimes I Wonder - Barbara Brown 11. Don't Let Yourself Go - Jimmy Jules 12. Bugaloo Party - Harold & Connie 13. Little Miss Soul - The Lovettes 14. Love Is Breaking Out All Over - The Manhattans 15. Broken Heart - The Pretenders 16. Warm And Tender Love - Rene Bailey 17. Don't Run Away - Phil Terrell 18. Need Someone To Love - Norma Jenkins 19. I Don't Have To Cry - The Topics 20. I'm Afraid (To Say I Love You) - The Lovettes 21. A New World Is Just Beginning - Harry Caldwell 22. Lost Love - Lee Williams & The Cymbals 23. Leave Me If You Want To - Curby Goggins 24. Feelin' Good - The Carnival Kings
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"DAVE HAMILTON'S DETROIT DANCERS"

We all know that the music industry was blessed by the talent of 'back room boys', 'unsung hero's' and 'mystery men' who, throughout their working lives, left pieces of magic wherever they went.The perseverance of manic record collectors and deranged trainspotters has always ensured that past wrongs are righted, jigsaws pieced together and credit given where credit is due. It is only fitting, therefore, that Kent Records, champions of those whose contributions are often relegated to a one-liner in the autobiographies of their peers, should be the ones to reveal the identity of a man who had spent his life sitting quietly in the back room waiting for his artistry to be acknowledged.
Dave Hamilton is, without doubt, one of those 'unsung heroes' and this compilation, the first in a series dedicated to producers, arrangers, writers and musicians who have moulded the shape of soul music, is the first opportunity many of us have been given to fully appreciate the depth of Hamilton's talent.
Hamilton entered the music business at a very tender age. As an 18 year old he was touring with the Helen Pennilton Quartet and at 23 had his own band, the Noc-Tunes, who cut sides for Sensation. By 1963 he was an integral part of the Detroit music scene, finding himself in constant demand for session work. Contact with Berry Gordy, from playing on Jackie Wilson's Lonely Teardrops, resulted in a solo LP for Workshop Jazz and regular session work at the Hitsville Studios where his guitar graced tracks such as My Guy and Stubborn Kind Of Fellow. He also played the lead guitar on John Lee Hooker's legendary Boom Boom and helped out Hank Ballard & The Midnighters' on several of their Federal sides. This CD contains a number of instrumental tracks that illustrate why he was such 'hot property' at the time.
On a personal level, this is a significant release as it ends a seventeen year wait, more than half of my life, to own a recording of the legendary cover-up When He's Not Around by Rose Valentine & The Sisters Three. First played by Richard Searling in 1980, this track has haunted and fascinated me ever since. Even after all these years, the hair still stands up on the back of my neck when I hear it, and will continue to do so until the day I die.
The quest to ascertain its true identity has fuelled countless rumours, theories and attempts to uncover its true origin. I recall playing the track over the phone to Dale Warren and Sylvia Moy. They thought the mystery singer was Orthea Barnes. When I finally tracked down Orthea she told me, almost apologetically, that it wasn't her. Another dead end.
Fortunately for us, Gilly's detective work proved to be more fruitful and not only do we now know that the singer is Little Ann but the wheels he set in motion have resulted in the long overdue release of the track.
This CD is crammed with Detroit tunes that are equally fascinating. It incorporates a number of different musical styles - from uptempo dancefloor killers, to downtempo sophistication, and all that's good in-between. The illuminating sleeve notes by Ady Croasdell offer us a rare glimpse into the creative process at work behind the scenes and, at the same time, enable us to appreciate how fortunate we are to be able to add this masterpiece to our collections. (Ace)

trax:
1. What Should I Do - Little Ann 2. Happiness Is Here - Tobi Lark 3. You Did - Priscilla Page And Rony Darrell 4. My Sweet Baby - J T Rhythm 5. I'm Shooting High (I Reach For The Sky) - O.C. Tolbert 6. Love Friends And Money - James Lately 7. (Marriage Is Only) A State Of Mind - James Carpenter 8. That's All She Wrote - Gil Billingsley 9. The Deacons - Dave Hamilton 10. You Won't Miss The Water - Chico & Buddy 11. I'll Take My Flowers Right Now - The Barrino Brothers 12. Just A Mistake - The Ebonettes 13. Shoop Doop - Dave Hamilton 14. Sweep It Out In The Shed - Tobi Lark 15. Lean Lanky Daddy - Little Ann 16. Your Love Is What I Want - The Ravins 17. Who Are You Trying To Fool - Dave Hamilton Orchestra 18. Talking 'Bout Love - Tobi Lark 19. I'm Pretending - Priscilla Page 20. Nothing In The World - Dottie & Millie 21. All I Want Is You - O.C. Tolbert 22. Deep Shadows - Little Ann 23. Heavenly Thing - The Mark-Keys 24. Blue Funk - Dave Hamilton
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