"Down To Love Town" by THE ORIGINALS (August 2014 Big Break Records (BBR) Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Kevin Reeves and Wayne A. Dickson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I'm Going Down To Love Town..."

A high–energy Disco dancer - Down To Love Town on Soul Records (USA) was in fact their 8th album (The Originals had formed in 1966) and this amazing-sounding 2014 CD reissue and remaster from BBR of the UK (Big Break Records) adds on a Previously Unreleased "Alternate Take" for good measure. Here are body beautiful details…

UK released August 2014 - "Down To Love Town" by THE ORIGINALS on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0303 (Barcode 5013929060333) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with One Bonus Track and plays out as follows (42:33 minutes):

1. Hurry Up And Wait [Side 1]

2. Down To Love Town

3. You Are A Blessing To Me

4. Call On Your Six Million Dollar Man [Side 2]

5. Mother Nature's Best

6. Sunrise

8. Been Decided

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Down To Love Town" released February 1977 in the USA on Soul S6-74951.

BONUS TRACK:

9. Down To Love Town (Alternate Take) 

The 12-page booklet has excellent and detailed liner notes by JUSTIN COBER LAKE that include band photos, the US Motown artwork and rare 12" single sleeves as well as very detailed recording/discography info. But the big news as always with BBR releases is the stunning remaster. KEVIN REEVES (whose been involved in huge numbers in the Universal Soul and Jazz "Originals" series) did the initial remaster with more touches by BBR's resident tape wizard WAYNE A. DICKSON after the fact.

The sound is wonderful especially on the Number 1 Disco hit "Down To Love Town" - Jeff Porcaro of Toto whacking those Drums with Ray Parker, Jr. and Jay Graydon on Guitars (Graydon did the stunning solo on Steely Day's "Peg" from "Aja"). Funky breaks galore come at ya in "You Are A Blessing To Me" - major sessionman David T. Walker taking over the guitars for that one. The ballad "Mother Nature's Best" turned up as the B-side to the other album hit - "(Call On Your) Six Million Dollar Man". It ends on the funky "Been Decided" (surely another potential single). The "Alternate Take" of "Down To Love Town" runs to 3:51 minutes and ups the Disco high-hat beat even more…

Great sound and presentation – fans should also make a way to the Lamont Dozier produced "California Sunset" from 1975 - BBR reissued that a few years back…

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Let Me Be Your Angel" by STACY LATTISAW (October 2015 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Nick Robbins and Wayne A. Dickson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Jump To The Beat...."

Containing the huge Soul/Funk/Disco hit "Jump To The Beat" - Stacy Lattisaw's "Let Be Your Angel" album originally came out June 1980 on Cotillion Records SD-5219 in the States and amongst its heavy-hitter contributors were the combined talents of Narada Michael Walden and the Chic boys - Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

The British 12" single of "Jump To The Beat" on Warner Brothers K 11496 (T) pictured on Page 10 of the 16-page booklet (resplendent in its distinctive die-cut sleeve) was a massive UK club hit and the same pretty much everywhere else. Produced by Soul/Funk wonder-boy Narada Michael Walden and featuring a hand-picked band of quality sessionmen (the distinctive Funk-Bass runs of T.M. Stevens in particular) - the album hit R&B No. 9 Stateside and even impacted on the rock charts at No. 44. Here are the jumpy details...

UK released 16 October 2015 - "Let Me Be Your Angel" by STACY LATTISAW on Big Break Records WCDBBRX 0317 (Barcode 5013929061736) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD reissue and remaster with Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows: 

1. Jump To The Beat [Side 1]

2. Dynamite

3. You Don't Love Me Any More

4. Dreaming

5. Let Me Be Your Angel [Side 2]

6. Don't You Want To Feel It (For Yourself)

7. You Know I Like It

8. My Love

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Jump To The Beat (Single Version, 3:33 minutes)

10. Dynamite! (Single Version, 4:25 minutes) 

Remastered by Audio experts NICK ROBBINS (of Ace Records fame) and BBR's own WAYNE A. DICKSON - this CD has fabulous sound and reflects the top quality original production values laid down by NMW.  The substantial booklet has in-depth liners by noted Soul, Disco and Funk genre expert CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE and also features new input from Stacy. There's photos and all the usual period memorabilia.

Typical of so many albums of the day - there are gems and ordinary tracks aplenty. The other hit was "Dynamite!" - a Disco No.1 and No. 8 on the national R&B charts written by NMW and Bunny Hall - a lady who's recorded and written for Peabo Bryson and D.C. LaRue. Another dancefloor winner comes in the shape of "You Don't Love Me Anymore" where NMW practically plays every instrument while that meaty Slap-Bass of Stevens dominates the excellent "You Know I Like It"  – very similar in feel to "Jump To The Beat". Edwards and Rodgers contribute to "Dreaming". It's not all CHIC-funky genius for sure - but the good stuff is excellent and that "Jump To The Beat" full album version at 5:22 minutes is joyous dancefloor stuff to this day.

Superb audio – great liner notes and classy presentation - another winner from BBR of the UK. Fans should dig in right away...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Love For What It Is" by ANITA POINTER (2014 Big Break Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

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HIGHER GROUND

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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)

"…Temporarily Blue…"

The lead singer with one of the most successful Female Vocal Groups in R&B and Soul throughout the Seventies and Eighties (with multiple Grammy award wins on their walls) practically guaranteed ANITA POINTER a shot at Solo stardom – and yet in late 1987 her “Love For What It Is” album barely scraped up to 48 on the US Cash Box R&B charts - while its two singles did even less business. And yet those champions of Soul, Funk and Disco CD reissues Big Break Records of the UK (BBR) seem to think it’s a forgotten piece of Soul class – and on occasion – they’re probably right. Here are the big hair do details…

UK released October 2014 – "Love For What It Is" by ANITA POINTER on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0309 (Barcode 5013929060937) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (77:49 minutes):

1. Overnight Success

2. Love Me Like You Do

3. The Pledge [duet with Philip Bailey]

4. You Don’t Scare Me

5. More Than A Memory

6. Have A Little Faith In Love

7. Love For What It Is

8. Beware Of What You Want

9. Temporarily Blue

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album “Love For What It Is” – released October 1987 in the USA on RCA Records 6419-1-R and RCA Records PD86419 in the UK and Europe

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Overnight Success (12” Dance Mix)

11. More Than A Memory (12” East Coast Mix)

12. Overnight Success (Single Mix)

13. More Than A Memory (12” West Coast Mix)

14. Overnight Success (Instrumental)

15. More Than A Memory (Instrumental)

You get one of those curve-corner jewel cases, a see-through tray that advertises BBR’s other Pointer Sister CD reissues beneath it, a 12-page inlay with excellent liner notes by Christian John Wikane (with memories from Anita) and best of all – a NICK ROBBINS and WAYNE A. DICKSON remaster that elevates everything to amazing clarity.

I wish I could say that the album is a forgotten masterpiece – it isn’t. But as ever – there’s those great moments and songs that warrant a re-listen. Stuff like “You Don’t Scare Me” and “Have A Little Faith In Me” are afflicted with that awful Eighties Drum sound and cluttering brass jabs that keep the tunes busy but lack anything like a soul. Better is the obvious singles “Overnight Success” and “More Than A Memory” – the sort of tunes George Benson would polish of on “20/20”. And the ballad “Temporarily Blue” and “Love Me Like You Do” are the kind of songs you’d hear at the end of a movie as the credit roles on some tropical island where the couple are walking off into the sunset. Actually more interesting from a collector’s point of view is the “Instrumental” mixes of “Overnight Success” and “More Than A Memory” – some cool funk moments.

It’s not genius by any stretch of the imagination – but if you’re a fan – the presentation and the superb audio quality are going to be the biog draws…

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD & SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Stay Free" by ASHFORD and SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception 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)

"...Finally Got To Me..."

Like many Soul and Funk fans I’ve been waiting for Big Break Records of the UK to have a proper go at the superb Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson catalogue on Warner Brothers Records having had to do with the Warner Bros 2CD set Rhino put out a few years back (2008). And here BBR comes with "Is It Still Good To Ya" from 1978 (see separate review) and this - “Stay Free” from 1979 – both Remastered and Expanded to perfection with a decent cache of cool bonus mixes. Found A Cure indeed - here are the details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) - "Stay Free" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0325 (Barcode 5013929062535) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Version with 4 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (62:37 minutes).

1. Found A Cure

2. Stay Free

3. Dance Forever

4. Nobody Knows [Side 2]

5. Crazy

6. Finally Got To Me

7. Follow Your Heart

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Stay Free" – released September 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS-3357 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56703

BONUS TRACKS:

8. Found A Cure (Single Version)

9. Nobody Knows (Single Version)

10. Stay Free (Mike Maurro Groove Mix)

11. Found A Cure (Single Version)

There’s a 16-page booklet with liner notes by a veteran of these releases CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - along with photos of US Warner Brothers 45s and those sought after American Promo 12" singles ("Nobody Knows" on PRO-A-437 and "Found A Cure" on DWBS 8874). There are rare 7" pictures sleeves for "Found A Cure" (a huge Number 2 hit at the time) and "Nobody Knows" as well as in-the-studio shots and other quality publicity photos. The remaster is by BBR's own WAYNE A. DICKSON with additional work from the vastly experienced NICK ROBBINS (does tons of work for Ace and other labels). The audio is fabulous – full of power and the amazing Production values afforded the album in the first place. Fans are going to love those 7" single mixes after the extended workouts of the album versions...

While both the slick Bass and Piano Funk of "Found A Cure" and the mega dancefloor filler of "Nobody Knows" (what a tune and one that DJs still spin today) dominated the charts at the time (they reached No. 2 and 19 in July and December 1979 on the US R 'n' B singles charts) – album cuts like the brilliant strings and Soul-Funk of "Stay Free" and the pretty mid-tempo ballad of "Crazy" (played in bedrooms everywhere in 1979) will thrill fans of this criminally forgotten A&S album. I remember the LP built strongly on the good stuff from "Is It Still Good To Ya" record from the year previous - to a point where Ashford & Simpson seemed to be on every dancefloor everywhere at the end of that eventful decade. There's fabulous Audio too on another fave of mine – "Finally Got To Me" – beautifully handled and full of punch (I'd honestly forgotten how good this song is). The 7-track LP ends of the pretty "Follow Your Heart" – all swooning strings, rolling piano keys and breathy Valerie Simpson vocals.

The 7" single mix of "Found A Cure" runs to 3:47 minutes and comes as a punchy shock having been so used to the longer album version (all these years). The 3:51 minutes of "Nobody Knows" is the same. Another sweet surprise the 6:23 minute mix of "Stay Free" by ace mixer Mike Maurro who accentuates the slap bass lines and strings (very smartly done). As much as I know his revered reputation amongst Disco and Soul fans – I'm not so sure I'd want to wade through the 10:30 minutes of Tom Moulton's Remix of "Found A Cure" again – too much of a good thing methinks...

So there you have it. Great sound and tasty presentation – another winner from BBR and one that fans of this long-lasting Soul/Funk/R&B duo will need...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)