"Looking Good" - 75 Femme Mod Soul Nuggets - Disc 1

This collection is similar to the 2011 3 CD collection "Looking Back: 80 Mod, Freakbeat & Swinging London Nuggets", also on the RPM label. If you're into some good music from the Mod era check out that set. The sound on this new collection varies a bit because of the rarity of a number of these sides--so expect a few tracks to sound a bit rough. RPM has used the best sources available, but the main thing--the music--is what's important here, so slight sonic imperfections aren't really an issue. This new set has a 35 page booklet that lists in order each performer, with a concise informative paragraph. There's also color reproductions of record labels, record jackets, and photos of a few of the artists. Each disc slips inside a cardboard jacket with a cool period graphic on the front and track listing on the back. And everything fits inside a substantial lidded cardboard box...
...Fans of girl groups (especially Northern Soul fans) will like this collection. While there's several good collections already available (like Rhino's 4 CD "hatbox" collection), this set focuses on girl group sounds you might hear at a soul/dance club. Most every track is an up-tempo, hand-clapping, get your butt on the dance floor tune. The majority of songs are by U.S. artists, with a few from Britain. And that's where the focus stays and gives this collection it's own identity. No matter if the performer is well known or an unknown with a one-off single before disappearing, this set is full of that great girl group/soul sound of the 60's.
From The Sapphires' "I've Got Mine, You Better Get Yours", to Gigi And The Charmaines' "Poor Unfortunate Me", to The Ladybirds' "Handsome Boy", to Ginger Davis & The Snaps' "I'm No Runarounnd", to The Opals' "You're Gonna Be Sorry", to The Blossoms' "Write Me A Letter", plus other little gems, this is one fine collection. And one listen to Beverly Jones With The Prestons' "Hear You Talking" with it's lyrics "I'm gonna cut you if I hear you talking", you know this is the real deal. And that's just CD 1.
CD 2 has great sides by The Honey Bees, The Toys, The Blossoms, The Yum Yums, Dee Dee Doherty, Reparata And The Delrons, The Pussycats, and more. CD 3 continues the up-tempo heartbreak with tracks by Candy & The Kisses, Honey Love & The Lovenotes, April Young, Barbara Lewis, Eight Feet (with a song written by Al Kooper in tribute to Bob Dylan), titled "Bobby's Come A Long, Long Way", a real rarity, and others like Skeeter Davis, and The Little Foxes, plus a number of others.
Fans (like me) will have a hard time passing up this good collection of girl groups. While some tunes have appeared on other collections or on stand alone albums, the focus on up-tempo, soul/dance club tracks gives this set an identity of it's own. Northern Soul fans will be close to Heaven listening to this collection. All in all, a tightly focused, well produced collection of Mod/Soul from the 1960’s.(Stuart Jefferson, The Guardian)

trax:
1 Do What You're Supposed To Do - The Three Degrees 2 Put Yourself In My Place - Azie Mortimer 3 Someone To Treat Me (The Way You Use To) - the de vons 4 Mister Loveman (mono alternate mix) - Yvonne Carroll 5 I've Got Mine, You Better Get Yours - The Sapphires 6 Poor Unfortunate Me - Gigi And The Charmaines 7 Hear You Talking - Beverly Jones with The Prestons 8 You're So Fine - Dorothy Berry 9 Run Run - The Persianettes 0 Handsome Boy - The Ladybirds 11 You Better Be A Good Girl Now - The Swans 12 Just A Feeling - Irma And The Fascinators 13 Little Baby - Kathy Lynn And The Playboys 14 I'm No Runaround - Ginger Davis & The Snaps 15 Blow Out The Candle - Ronnie & Robyn 16 Magic Island - Kathy And Larry 17 Stop Shovin' Me Around - The Delicates 18 You're Gonna Be Sorry - The Opals 19 He's So Fine - The Corvells 20 Nothing To Write Home About - The Francettes 21 I'll Be Crying - Gwen Owens 22 Write Me A Letter - The Blossoms 23 I Promise - Flo Fay 4 You Ain't So Such A Much - Bette Renne And Thrillettes 5 Here's To Our Love - Cathy Carroll
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